Page 94 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
Other men worked the sails, but most ignored the lasses.
“What are we going to do?” Merryn asked.
“I know,” Sheona said in a low whisper. Then she said to the sisters, “Keep an eye out for horses coming or for any men watching us.”
The eldest lass nodded. “I will.”
“What are you planning, Sheona?”
“Didn’t you notice? When they’re not looking, peek at the sack at the end. I saw two bows at least. And I think I see fletchings sticking out. If we can get them, we can shoot our way out of here.”
“How are we going to get them?”
“I’ll do it. Give me a moment. Do you have any daggers?”
“Nay,” Merryn said. “You?”
“I have one, but I’m saving it for Clyde. When he tries to touch me, he’s a dead man. I need you to be able to hit someone with an arrow. Can you do it, Merryn? I doubt I’ll be efficient at all. I just started.”
“But you can scare them.”
Jeanie whispered, “I hear horses.”
Sheona said, “If it’s true, then as soon as the men notice the horses, I’m running for the bows. Listen.”
The five quieted and sure enough, the very distant sound of pounding hooves could be heard. How she prayed they were coming for her and Merryn. “Merryn, when they all look that way, we run. Ready?”
“I’m ready.”
They waited, and within moments, one of the men shouted, “Horses coming! Ready yourselves!”
The men scurried and shoved, grabbed weapons, hid crates, and threw stuff everywhere, just enough confusion for Sheona to hurry over to the sack and lift it, pleased to see three bows and probably a dozen arrows. She tossed one to Merryn, who took a stance and aimed at the men, now off the boat and preparing for battle.
Sheona moved next to her and said, “You shoot that way and I’ll aim in the opposite direction.”
A man yelled, “The lasses grabbed the bows. Get them!”
Clyde yelled, “They can’t shoot those. I’d worry about the dozen men coming up on us with their swords unsheathed already. Forget the lasses.”
And they did.
Sheona fired, missing everyone, but enough for one man to move away from her.
Merryn shot next and hit Roger in his arm.
“Bitch!” he yelled, coming at her. But Merryn was faster. She fired again and hit him in the leg. He fell to the ground, yanking at the arrows.
Sheona took another shot and hit a different man in the leg. At this point, the horses were close enough to attack, and she nearly shed tears of relief.
“Merryn, I see Broc!” And then she saw Taskill right in front, his sword arm ready and taking out two men immediately.
“Tristan, be careful,” Merryn yelled. “Broc, kill the bastards!”
Sheona laughed because she felt the same way. She wanted to tell her father to be careful, but to tell Taskill to kill the bastards too.
The clash of metal rang out, screams echoing around them as men were pierced by the Highlanders’ sharp blades. The men around the boat fought for a bit, but many ran off, one crying out, “I didn’t sign up to die!”
Those who stayed didn’t last long before a sword ended their fight, and for a few, even their lives.
