Page 41 of The Beast of the Highlands
Indeed, he had been so fixated upon his task that he had not realized the hut had been surrounded by cloaked men. Only when the door had opened, and he had turned around, expecting to see Autumn—albeit an hour too early—had he realized he was backed into a corner.
The men had charged him, and though he had managed to pick up his broadsword and swing it with skill, slicing into a few of his assailants, there had been too many of them. And the hut had been too small for him to get any power behind his swings.
Before he had been given the chance to put up a proper fight, something hard had struck him in the back of the head. After that… there was only darkness, and the vague memory of boots and fists colliding with his unconscious body.
“Soldiers…” he wheezed, keeping his voice low. “They were… soldiers.”
A different voice cut through the blackness. “Aye, but whose?”
“Desmond?” Flynn swallowed to try and rid his mouth of a metallic taste.
“Aye, M’Laird.” Flynn felt a strong hand touch his shoulder. “Did ye get a good look at them?”
Flynn shifted slightly, attempting to ease a throbbing pain in his side. “They… wore red.”
A hissed gasp met his words, coming from Autumn. “Red? Are you certain?”
“They… were English,” Flynn confirmed.
“Hush now, M’Laird,” Desmond urged. “They havenae left yet.”
Doing as he was bidden, Flynn listened to the sound of boots thumping overhead. In that moment, he knew precisely where they were: inside the store hole, where they put venison in the colder months, to keep it frozen. A deep well beneath the floorboards of the hunting hut, well concealed if someone did not know to look for it.
It’s nay wonder I’m shiverin’.
Although, he was not concerned for himself, as he reached out and put his arms around the nearest figure, wanting to heat Autumn’s undoubtedly icy body with his own. But the breadth of Autumn’s bosom felt much too wide and too flat and too hard, and her arms were muscled and firm.
“Gratitude, M’Laird, but I think Miss Montgomery could use yer warmth more,” Desmond whispered, his tone amused despite the dangerous circumstances.
Flynn pulled his arms back sharply. “Sorry, Desmond. Nae that I wouldnae warm ye if ye needed it.”
“I ken, M’Laird. Same goes for me.” Desmond stifled a laugh as Flynn felt through the shadows for Autumn.
She nestled into him, and his arms encircled her fervently. The weight of her head against his shoulder, and the press of her body against his side ignited fresh explosions of blinding pain, but he merely clenched his jaw and endured it. For, when the blow to his head had knocked him out, there had been only one thought in his mind:I’mgoin’ to die without seein’ me wife one last time. Please, daenae let me die without seein’ her face and holdin’ her, just once more.
And in the silence, an audible conversation filtered down into their hiding place.
“He can’t be gone!” an angry, masculine voice bellowed. The accent was undeniably English. “Look again! If he’s escaped, I’ll be blaming whichever one of you tied him up.”
“We’ve looked outside, sir. There are footprints leadin’ back to the castle, and his ropes are out there. He’s gone, sir,” a second voice answered.
A thump suggested something had been thrown, or someone had been hit so hard that he had fallen. “This was our opportunity! After weeks of watching this castle, looking for a moment to strike, that Laird finally made a mistake! Do you think that’s going to happen again? Do you think he’s just going to fall back into our laps?”
“It’s going to be harder, now he’s got all them other soldiers,” a third, chastened voice added.
“No, it’s going to be harder now he knows there are enemies in his forest!” the first voice, presumably belonging to the leader, shot back. “He’ll have these woods swarming with men, quicker than you can say, “God save the King!” and it’s all because of your ineptitude. This should’ve been our crowning glory, and the lot of you ruined it!”
“You were the one who told us to stand back and watch the hut,” a fourth voice said, clearly too bold, or too stupid, to know when to shut his mouth.
Another thump thudded on the floorboards, sending a cascade of dust showering down into the store hole. It tickled Flynn’s nose, forcing him to pinch his nostrils shut as he felt a sneeze coming on. Any sound would draw those wretches to this location, and he could not put Autumn in any more danger than he had already.
I thought it’d be Keira sendin’ her spies to harm Autumn. I should’ve been lookin’ for a greater danger.
There had been fewer English attacks and skirmishes in the last few months, but a constant threat of them always lingered. He had forgotten that in his pursuit of love, and it had almost cost him his life and his beloved’s. And might still.
Laird Dunn was right to be worried. I might nae like his daughter, but I should’ve heeded him… But he can rest assured I’ll make use of his men, as soon as I return to the castle.
“I wanted to see if we could capture anyone else, you dolt!” the leader shouted. “Why else would Laird MacLennan be out here alone, if not to rendezvous with someone? We know Laird Dunn’s daughter has recently arrived at the castle. If we could have claimed her, too, we could have used her for ransom!”
