Page 92 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“Nay, you’ll get them now. I have a cart, and my orders are to see them to the sea. To keep an eye on you two. He doesn’t trust you, and I can see he was right. Get them now.”
“What are you going to do with them? I’d like to travel on the ship with you,” Clyde declared.
“They’ll be sold across the sea. That’s why he has the biggest ship ever, and he’s going to have three other lasses too. So, get them up and get them to the ship. It’s not far. Straight west from here.”
“I said in a wee bit,” Clyde shouted, but then a loud smack sounded after that.
“What was that?” Merryn asked, standing next to Sheona at the door.
“A fist, I would bet. Hush.” She again leaned her ear against the wood.
“Fine, I’ll get them now.”
The two jumped back just as the door opened. Clyde grabbed Sheona’s arm, and Roger came in behind to grab Merryn. Sheona kicked Clyde in the shins but got a quick slap for it.
Merryn said, “Don’t anger them.”
The men put the two in the cart, the third man watching their movements. He was huge, almost as big as Broc, but not quite as tall as Connor Grant.
“Aye, don’t get us pished,” Clyde drawled.
“Fear not, the Grants will be coming for us.”
The third man snorted. “You think the Grants care about you? They care naught about a couple of lasses. We’ll be gone before they hear anything about you missing.”
Merryn said, “Did you forget that I’m married to a Grant?”
The man who brought the cart grew wide-eyed but said nothing, getting back on his horse and leading it away, the two girls jostled uncomfortably against the bare wood.
Clyde said, “I’ll gladly let the golden-haired one ride with me.”
“You’ll keep your hands to yourself, lying bastard.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I know enough. Is she married to a Grant, Roger?” he asked.
Roger cleared his throat and said, “Aye.”
“Shite. We’re moving.”
The cart bumped and rattled along, but they saw no one else on the way.
Merryn said, “We just have to wait until we’re near the ship. There will be others there who might help us. We must be patient.”
Sheona nodded, recalling that she had one dagger still in the pocket of her leggings, but she couldn’t get to it until her hands were free. “I can help if I get the chance.”
“We will. We’ll fight, but not until we’re on the water. Sound carries far on the water.”
Sheona had to pray their absence had been discovered already.
But how the hell would they know where to find them? She couldn’t help but whisper to herself, “Mama, help us.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Taskill
Taskill was surprised to see the number gathered outside the stables, planning their rescue of the two lasses. He was even more surprised when Lennox and Sloan appeared at the gate, Meg and Eva with them.
