Page 93 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“Lennox? What the hell?”
“They said Mama was here, so we came. What’s going on? I don’t like this.”
Broc said, “Merryn and Sheona are missing. Roger, Clyde, and a few others kidnapped them. The problem is we don’t know where to look for them.”
Dermot, Neil, Rut, Broc, Taskill, and ten guards stood near the gates. Lennox and Sloan dismounted, helping their wives down, waving to their respective parents along with a shake of a few heads, but they focused on the rescue operation.
Tristan flew through the gates on his horse, panting. “I know where they are.”
“Where?” Dermot asked. “Where’s my wee lassie? I’ll kill that bastard Clyde.”
“When I came across, I noticed a larger ship down the shore. I just checked with someone heading along that path, and they are preparing to leave. He said there have been others, though I did not see our lasses. From what I could hear, that ship will be sailing across the sea soon. Mount up, whoever is going. We don’t have much time.”
Dermot pushed five guards out of the way. “I’m going. Tristan, Broc, and I will go with Sloan and Lennox. The rest of you can wait here. And Rut—don’t you dare leave this castle.” He gave her a pointed look, then headed to the stables as the group broke up.
Taskill found a horse and mounted.
Dermot said, “You aren’t going, MacVey. No reason for you to go.”
“The hell there isn’t. I’m going. Whether you like it or not, I’m in love with your daughter, so I’m going.”
Dermot snorted. “You have an odd way of showing it. Stay back with the rest of the bairns.”
Taskill jumped back off his horse and stood face-to-face with the old warrior while everyone else stopped to observe. “If you weren’t her sire, I’d put my fist in your face. But you aren’t going to stop me, old man. I’m going after Sheona.”
Dermot laughed, the rumble starting from his belly. “Punch me? You don’t have the guts.” He turned away from him and headed to the stables.
Taskill grabbed his shoulder. The old chieftain turned back to look at him and found a fist in his face. Taskill knocked him on his arse. Then he held his hand out to help the old man up.
Rut clapped.
Dermot smiled.
Taskill said, “You’ll not stop me, old man.”
Once Dermot was on his feet again, rubbing his face, he muttered, “Rut, I’m starting to admire your son after all.”
Taskill mounted up and headed out directly behind Tristan. “No one is stopping me.”
Chapter Fifty
Sheona
Sheona and Merryn were thrown onto a large ship by two men, not Roger or Clyde, and found themselves seated next to three other lasses. To Sheona’s surprise, their captors removed their bindings, but then again, their only chance of escape with nearly a score of men nearby was diving over the tall side of the boat into the frigid water.
“How old are you?” Sheona asked one as soon as the men left.
“I’m ten and three.”
“And I’m ten and four. Where are we going?”
“And I’m ten and five. Be quiet, Jeanie. They’ll come back and hit you again.”
“Where did you come from?” Merryn asked.
“They stole us away from home when Papa went to market. Mama died last year. Where are they taking us? I want to go home,” Jeanie wailed.
“Shut your mouths or we’ll gag you,” Roger stopped to yell, but then went on his way, loading items into the lower part of the ship where the rowers sat.
