Page 31 of Highland Crown
The first gong of the kirk bell seemed to come from a long distance. He hoped he hadn’t imagined it. But another one followed soon after, and then the next. Cinaed allowed his relief to show with a smile as the tolling of the bell filled the sudden silence in the room.
“Bloody hell,” the sergeant cursed, looking out the window. “Why’s that bell ringing?”
Hudson held up a hand to silence his subordinate. “This is your final chance,” he threatened. “Take the pistols and go. And we’ll let you take the old woman with you, too. But you must leave Mrs. Drummond.”
“You clearly know nothing of the Highlands, Lieutenant,” Cinaed taunted, before pausing and listening. “And the bells.”
With the pistol still leveled on the two men, Jean moved to the windows at the end of the room and threw open the shutters.
“Oh, they’ll be coming soon now,” Jean predicted triumphantly.
“Who’ll be coming?” Hudson snapped. “What is this nonsense?”
Davidson shifted uncomfortably. “The locals here use the bloody church bells to call for help, among other things.”
“To help whom?” the lieutenant asked, not comprehending.
“To help us.” The old woman cackled.
Hudson smiled and motioned triumphantly to thewindow. “Let them come. The more Highlander blood we draw in one day, the more cause for celebration. For you’ll soon know I’ve sent for troops, as well. They should be here any time now.”
In any brawl, in any battle, the sweetest moment was when a man knows he’s bested his opponent. Taken him by surprise. Beaten him at his own game. This was that moment.
“The lad with your message was waylaid,” he replied, tossing the letter he’d taken from the boy onto the table. “I believe your request for help somehow fell into the wrong hands.”
Angry patches of red appeared on the lieutenant’s cheeks. His hand went for the place where his saber should have hung. Coming up empty, he sent a murderous glare at his subordinate. The bell continued to ring out.
“The Highlanders in this area will be coming, Lieutenant,” Cinaed assured them. “And they’ll be armed too, even though the British authorities are foolish enough to think there are no firearms to be found around here.”
For the first time since he’d walked into the room, Isabella addressed them directly and disdain dripped from her words. “When they catch you and I tell them who and what you are, you’ll be treated with as little mercy as the scores of innocent people you’ve murdered. You will disappear without a trace, and true justice will be served.”
As she finished, Hudson took a step toward her, hate flashing in his eyes. But the sergeant pulled him back.
“So now let me tell youmyfinal offer,” Cinaed said, pausing until he had the man’s attention. “You will go out that window behind you, and you will run as fast and asfar as your legs will carry you before the men I’ve summoned get here.”
Isabella started to protest but stopped as a furious pounding commenced at the door.
Cinaed waved his pistol toward the window. “And I wouldn’t recommend using the coach road, for out here on your own, unarmed, you’ll be quite vulnerable. And every Highlander knows the only enemy of the common folk is you.”
The hammering on the door grew louder, and the sound of shouting in the hallway was the last straw for the sergeant. “Please, sir. We need to go now.”
Dragging Hudson to the window, he scrambled through, pulling the furious officer after him.
“How could you let them escape?” Waves of anger for these soldiers washed over Isabella as she watched them disappear beyond a rise in the fields. She whirled on Cinaed, speaking over the continued banging on the door. “Hudson was at my house in Edinburgh. He’s a murderer and…”
She forgot the rest of what she was going to say, for Cinaed was about to fall over. She rushed to his side, and he handed her the pistol.
“When they get back, don’t hesitate to shoot him right between the eyes.” He draped an arm around her shoulders to steady himself.
She’d never fired a pistol, but by heaven, she’d use it now. She’d happily give them a reason to hang her if she could stop that killer. She was a condemned woman anyway. Jean pushed a chair up behind him, and Isabella handed her the firearm before helping Cinaed sit.
She was so grateful to him, and she had so much she wanted to say. He’d done the impossible. Only minutes ago, she’d nearly given herself up for lost, and now she was ready to exact retribution on behalf of decent folk who now lay dead.
Isabella had no idea how he’d managed it, or what he’d said to convince the farmers and fishermen in the tavern to come to their assistance. The church bell continued to ring, and she expected an army of people descending on them at any moment.
“Should we open the door?” she asked.
He was struggling to keep his eyes open. She placed her hand on his forehead and was alarmed by the heat.
