Page 29 of A Knight To Call My Own
“What do you know of her feelings?” Ian asked harshly as jealousy overtook common sense.
“I am the person who has guarded her, not the one who left her grieving for what she could not have for six years. I was the one who watched her grow into the beautiful young woman she is today. I would be blind if I had not realized where her affections lay, despite my best efforts to let her know another loved her. Given that, I think I know her feelings better than most people, including you.” Rolf made no further comment as to his knowledge of Lynet. Instead, he found his own blanket to keep the cool night air away. Throwing another log on the fire, he at last relaxed and closed his eyes. “Wake me afore the dawn,” Rolf ordered quietly. “We should make an early start to find Lynet.”
Ian harrumphed under his breath, feeling as if he was being likened to some youth who did not know better than to rise early to make the most of the day. He noticed Angus and Connor returning from scouting the area. “Take turns with Rolf’s guards, and continue to keep an eye open to the lurking shadows. I do not wish to be taken unawares whilst I sleep. We ride with the dawn.”
He watched his men meld into the gloom of the evening night. Uneasiness descended around Ian’s soul, as though in forewarning of something dreadful to come. Nervous about what the morrow may bring, Ian had enough of a concern that he took another moment to look at the perimeter of where the campfire light shone beyond the darkness of the trees surrounding them. Seeing nothing noteworthy or any signs of imminent danger, he shook off such an unsettling premonition, thinking he had spent too much time of late with Kenna.
He closed his eyes, thinking of Lynet and how she would view her new home on Loch Ness. He would be most pleased to show her where he had grown up and watch in fascination as she made Urquhart a place to raise their family. He stifled a hearty yawn and settled down for the night. Falling fast asleep, he dreamed of how happy their marriage would be and of the woman he would claim as his lady wife and finally be able to call his own.
Chapter Fifteen
Calum tugged sharply on the rope,causing Lynet to hurtle forward with enough force that she sprawled face first in the dirt. She was a stubborn wench, he would give her that, but he was tired of dallying this day. They needed speed and a fair amount of distance from Berwyck afore he would feel any sense of safety for his sorry hide. They must make haste. He could almost feel the heat from the Devil’s Dragon breathing down his neck!
Momentarily ill at ease, with thoughts of having to come up against such a powerful foe, he tugged again for the girl to pick herself up off the ground. Calum listened to the gasp escape her lips. Her eyes met his in a furious display of contempt. She hated him, not that he cared. ’Twas not hard to miss her loathing look of contempt she so unabashedly tossed him. He knew ’twas because of the uncontrollable situation she found herself in. Lynet was not good at masking her feelings, for what she felt for him was written all over her beautiful visage. A visage that now bore the signs of several scrapes along her cheek and chin. He offered her his hand, but she only slapped at it, as if repulsed to even come this close to him.
He could see her wrists were raw and bleeding from the burns of the coarse rope, yet, he would not loosen the knots, in fear of her escaping. She had gotten past his guards more times than he wanted to admit in the past few days. Such an act had already cost one man his life. At this rate, he would be lucky to reach the Highlands with anyone left other than himself and this troublesome girl.
“If you wish to take care of your personal business, I suggest you pick yourself up post haste,” he growled. “We have wasted enough time this morn with your attempts to dawdle the day away.”
Slowly, she arose from the ground and spit out the dirt that had landed in her mouth during her fall. The glare she tossed him was like the sharpest of daggers thrown in his direction. If she had had a blade, Calum knew her dagger would be protruding, even now, from his chest.God’s blood she has spirit. Perchance, heshouldkeep her for himself after all, and to hell with asking for a ransom. He always did prefer a woman who could stand up to him, instead of some meek little mouse. The more he pondered his alternative, the more he decided against such an action. Keeping her would not fill his depleted coffers and ensure the safeguard of his estate. He needed coin, and he needed it fast. He must needs stick to his plan.
“Untie me,” she snarled.
“Nay, I will not.”
“How am I to see to my needs then with my hands secured like this?”
He studied her for a moment, understanding her dilemma. He went to her. She did not back down, but held out her arms for him to loosen the rope. He considered her request and again noticed the bleeding flesh at her wrists. ’Twas a sharp contrast to the creaminess of her skin. She gave a sigh of relief when the coarse ropes left her abused wrists. But such a freedom was short lived when he refastened the rope quickly around her waist.
“Nay!” she cried out.
He tossed her a smug look, as if he had already read her thoughts. They were mirrored clearly on her face. “Your hands are free. ’Twill have to suffice.”
“But, I need my privacy!”
“I’ve lengthened the rope, lass. ’Tis all the privacy I will allow you, seeing as you canna be trusted. You best be about your morning ablutions and keep the rope taut, else I will be seeing more of your very delectable body than you would no doubt like.”
“You are a brute,” she shouted at him.
“A brute, I may be, but I am also a man who is losing what patience I have left. I care not if you piss in the woods or do so right here in front of me. Make your choice, lass, afore I take it from you and set you back upon my horse,” Calum warned, waiting for her decision.
She stomped her foot. ’Twas a clear indication he spoiled yet another idea in her pretty little head about an attempted escape. He crossed his arms on his chest, giving the rope a flick, almost as if he was putting his mount into motion. His action of treating her like an animal had the desired effect.
“Damn you to hell!” she cursed. She made her way to the nearest tree afore she gave him another glare of those brilliant blue eyes. “The least you could do is turn your back.”
Chuckling, he gave her this one concession, even as he heard her muttering further oaths on his early demise.God…what a woman!
~***~
Lynet peeked around the tree and saw her captor had indeed turned his back. She would have sighed in relief, but instead, cussed him further, much to his amusement, since he was still within hearing distance. How was she to obtain her freedom on her own? She could not fathom another option she had not already tried in the past several days. Now she had this blasted roped tied about her waist. She still agonized that her antics had already cost one man his life, and she choked down the bile threatening to rise in her throat. Yet, she had no doubt in her mind, she would still risk everything to return to her family.
She felt an impatient flick of the rope that became an instant reminder she must needs hurry. Quickly taking care of her business, she at last dropped her skirt and made an attempt to smooth out the material that was fast becoming a rumpled, torn mess. Giving a weary sigh, she gave up any attempt to make herself look more presentable for when Ian at last found her. He had seen her at her worse afore. She supposed now would not make much of a difference, considering her current circumstances.
Leaning her back against the bark of the tree, Lynet brought her hands together, closed her eyes, and took a quick moment to offer up a heartfelt prayer to God to save her. Her mouth silently moved feverishly in her attempt to complete her petition afore she was interrupted yet again by her troublesome abductor. With a hasty amen, she waited with bated breath for some sign her prayers had been heard. But, there was nothing to show that her efforts had pleased God above, no matter how rapidly she had been forced to say them.
She tilted her head, as though listening more intently would give her some form of an answer. Lynet thought it oddly strange the forest was eerily silent. There was no whisper of the breeze rustling the trees, no sound of the birds calling to one another from the treetops, no sounds of small furry animals as they scurried from bush to bush to hide against intruders. Complete silence…something was not right. No forest was ever this still.
“I grow annoyed, Lynet. If you know what’s good for you, then you had best make haste,” Calum called out, only this time with a more forceful tug on the tether that kept her within his reach.
