Page 47 of The Iron Highlander
Lily nodded, waiting for the right time to go. Kate knew it was now or never, and she turned back to Reuben who was watching their rear. This was the part of the plan she dreaded the most.She would be leaving both Hudson and Reuben behind, and they would have to find their own way to escape.
She pulled Reuben in for a kiss, holding his head passionately. She pulled away and rubbed his cheek gently, “Make sure ye get out, Reuben, make sure ye do. I will be waiting for ye, and Hudson too.”
Reuben nodded, kissing her back. “Ye need to leave without us. At least get as far away as ye can. Get back to the castle. If we daenae get out, then at least we would have finished the job.”
Kate began to protest, but the laird put a finger to her lips, stopping her.
“We will make it out, how else will I ask ye to marry me?” Reuben asked with a smug grin on his face. “I love ye Kate.”
“Oi, I ken ye both love each other, but we shouldnae stand here talking all day, aye?” Lily asked, cutting them off.
Kate nodded, not sure of what to reply. Reuben squeezed her palm, and then ran out to the open, drawing his sword as he tackled the nearest guard to the ground. Once the man hit the floor, Reuben kicked the side of his head as hard as he could, knocking the man out.
The other guards saw this and quickly made their move, rushing towards Reuben. He had his sword out, and was ready to take them on. The closest man swung his blade, going low, to takeout Reuben’s legs, but the Laird was a seasoned fighter, and he grabbed the man by the beard and drove him chin into his knee, sending the man toppling backwards, as he fell over the body of his unconscious comrade.
“This is it!” Kate called to Lily. She pulled her hand and they raced across the yard, taking the route furthest from the action, and heading straight for the tree. Once they got to it, Kate stayed down, allowing Lily to climb over first. The tree creaked as Lily moved quickly, and once she was high enough, she moved to the fence and slid down the other side. Kate began climbing as well, turning back to see Reuben as he struggled to face off against three men all at once.
She whispered a prayer for him, and continued her climb. Once she got to the branch that would get her up and over, the branch gave out underneath her. The sound of the snapping reached her ears, and in a moment, she was on the ground, right next to the tree.
Trapped in the McGowan estate.
Chapter 24
Reuben had donecrazy things in his life. He had faced off against a raging wildebeest and had tamed a wild horse. He had scaled the deathly mountains of the highlands, and even dined with the Mahoot warrior tribe. Now he was facing off against the guards of the McGowan estate, while looking over his shoulder to make sure that the woman he was in love with, and her sister, would make it over the fence and get to safety.
He had taken her advice, and had been careful as he fought the men, making sure he did not kill any of them. But going up against multiple armed men who were looking to kill you, was something he had done before.
But this time, he could not kill them, and soon he would be overwhelmed. He blocked the blade that rushed for the side of his face, and put his weight into his own sword, shoving the attacking guard backwards. The man staggered a bit, and Reuben put his leg between the man’s and dropped him to the ground, kicking the blade out of his grip.
The laird turned around just in time as another swung a blade for his back, and Reuben rolled away. The blade barely nicked him, leaving a tiny cut across his back. He barely felt it and turned with his blade, ready to face off the new opponent.
The guard on the floor grabbed his foot, stopping him from moving. Without thinking, Reuben kicked the man across the face, and looked up just in time to block another blow. Reuben fell backwards, and almost dropped to the ground, swinging his sword wildly to keep the men from attacking.
Reuben looked back to see Lily get over the fence and he sighed, relieved that one person had gotten over. He turned back to the guards, with four men now looking to take him on all at once. “Is this the best ye can do? Come on!”
Before the men could attack, Reuben heard the sound of a crack behind him, and looked just in time to see Kate hit the floor. His heart skipped a beat, but he turned to face the men, waiting for them to attack. He had to hold them off long enough for Kate to get out.
The doors to the great halls opened, and Max walked out, with another man following closely. Hudson followed sheepishly behind. The guards stopped, holding off their attack as a way to reverence the laird who had just walked out. More of the servants and guards poured out behind him, circling Reuben, and getting to Kate as well. Reuben turned around to see her raise her bow, pointing the arrow at the guards and servants, daring anyone of them to reach for her. One man jumpedforwards, and she shot him in the leg, getting another bolt into the bow before the others could even react.
“Who are ye?” Max asked, walking towards Reuben. Once he was close enough, his eyes lit up in recognition. “Laird Reuben of McDonald, ye are the least person I expected to see turn up at my home. Why have ye come unannounced? I would have had a feast prepared to entertain ye.”
“Max, ye sent yer men to come burn down my home, and ye took someone very dear to me. Ye must think me to be a fool, nae to ken who was behind such an act.” Reuben replied, as Max got closer to him, unafraid.
“Nae, I daenae think any little of ye, Reuben. Ye survived my assassin,” Max gestured to the man who stood by his side. He had a bow and arrow as well, and the tips of the arrow were the same as the ones that had nearly killed Kate and Reuben when they had gone into the forest. “Ye managed to injure him badly. I have nothing but respect for ye, Reuben. But then, ye thought it wise to keep my nieces away from me?”
“Ye and I ken ye daenae treat them as yer blood relatives, Max.”
“How I treat my family is of nae concern to ye. I havenae come to yer home, and told ye how to care for that frail maither of yers, aye?” Max laughed. “So, not only do ye see it fit to take them from me, but when I rescue them, ye decide that ye will come back here, and steal them from me once more?”
“We daenae want to be here, Max. Ye have treated us badly, and ye lied to us!”
Reuben turned to see Kate speaking up, and Max turned at the sound of her voice. He walked by Reuben and made his way to Kate. She pointed the bow up at him, stopping him from getting any closer to him. Max raised his hands, stopping.
“My beautiful Katherine,” Max began, smiling. “I always knew ye would come back to me. Put down yer weapon, go ahead. Put it down, and come with me. I promise, things will be different.”
“Ye can go to hell, Max, I’d rather die than be with ye.” Kate replied.
“Aye, I see. But, it isnae ye that will die Kate, it is the Laird who has come here to spit in my face.” Max turned around and nodded to the assassin who had tried to kill them in the woods. The assassin pulled two short daggers out. Max smiled, “Reuben of McDonald, out of respect, I will grant ye a warrior’s death.”
