Page 60 of Never Kiss a Scot
Stay in the coach, that’s what he said. But she couldn’t.
She opened the door farthest from the fighting and crept around the back of the coach. The men had dragged Brock to his feet, and one man, whom she recognized as the first man who’d left the inn, was punching Brock brutally in the face and stomach.
Brock spat out blood and laughed. “Ya hit like a wee bairn, Ewan!”
Stupid man!Joanna wanted to cry, but she had to think of a way to save him.
“Your father sold out my father and the others to an English spy. They were killed because of him, and you…yousit in that castle enjoying the lands and the money that were bought by the blood of good men.”
The man, Ewan, retrieved Brock’s blade from the ground, and the blade flashed again menacingly.
“My father was a monster,” Brock said, and the grim humor vanished from his face. “I’ll not argue with you on that. But I was a child then, as were you. I have no intention of carrying the sins of my father with me. I intend to wash the slate clean.”
Joanna listened with bewilderment. Brock’s father had betrayed men and sent them to their deaths? Why hadn’t he told her?
“Some sins run too deep in the blood to ever be washed out,” Ewan replied.
“So you’ll slit my throat, is that it?” Brock challenged.
“You and that prettySassenachwife will meet with an unfortunate accident. The coach overturned in the dark of night, and no one heard you as you perished.”
Brock’s eyes widened. “Not my wife—she has no part in this.”
“She’s English. You married her, which as far as I’m concerned makes you as much a traitor as your father.”
“Please, Ewan,” Brock begged, and Joanna’s heart tore. He had pleaded once before, when he’d thought her life was in danger from a highwayman. He put aside his pride for her life every time. Despite the icy fear twisting in her gut, she knew that meant something, that he cared enough to set aside his pride for her safety. A man only did that for someone he loved.
His pride… Suddenly an idea blossomed inside her, and she boldly stepped out from behind the coach.
22
“Stop this at once!” Joanna shouted with a deep, furious voice. Her mother would’ve been proud of the way the towering Scots all stopped and stared at her.
“Well now, there’s the lassie! Saved me the trouble of going in there after you.” Ewan laughed, the sound cold and cutting. A flicker of apprehension coursed through her as she stared him down. “Get her.”
Two men took a step forward. Joanna had to work fast. “I have no intention of running, so you can stay right where you are.”
The men stopped and looked at Ewan, uncertain. Ewan sized Joanna up and nodded for the men to step back. “You have courage, lass. I’ll give you that.”
“And you have a code of honor, do you not?”
Ewan glanced at his men before he met her gaze. “Aye. What of it?”
“I should like to challenge that honor.”
Ewan threw his head back and laughed. “You?”
“Yes, me.” Joanna had not been raised to be a cowering fool, no matter how much she quaked with fear on the inside.
“So what’s it to be?” Ewan said with a sarcastic smirk. “Pistols at dawn?”
“I will fight you. If you fall to your knees even once, you lose. My husband and I will be set free, and the matter between you and him will be considered finished.”
The Scots all started to laugh wildly.
“A wee lass like you will fight me? Oh, aye, that’d be something to see.”
“I’m well aware you think I have no skills, but I might surprise you.”
