Page 38 of The Highlander's Inconvenient Wife
“I thought the castle hasn’t been under attack in years,” she almost yelled as they ran through the trees.
“It hasn’t; the only thing I can think of is that Laird MacAdair dinnae take as kindly to us as Hamish thought he did,” he explained over his shoulder as they drew closer to the castle. “It must have been a front as I thought so that we would lower our guard an’ allow them in without resistance.”
Jasper knew in his heart that he’d made the right decision in refusing talks of peace, MacAdair may not have been one of the lairds who took advantage of his father’s death, but he knew how the world worked. The highlands were a cutthroat place where everyone looked out for their own best interests.
They came to a sudden stop as the trees opened up, revealing a fiery battle in front of the castle. Hundreds of torches had been lit on the castle walls, casting light on the men below who raged against their enemies in confusion. Jasper’s men held their own as the assailing Scotsmen fell back, only to come forward again as soon as they regrouped.
Taking a deep breath, Jasper tugged on her hand in an attempt to lead her around the castle where he could take her to safety. He needed to make sure that Joan and his mother were out of harm’s way before he joined his men.
“Wait, I’ve seen that man before,” Joan said as she gripped his arm and held him back. She pointed to a small group of men who were standing by the opposite line of trees giving orders to the soldiers.
“Which one,” he asked with a frown as he tried to make out which man she was pointing at. The group of men in question all looked alike in their green kilts and brown leather boots with light chainmail across their chests. The obscuring shadows of the nearby trees did little to help his vision. It was clear to Jasper that at least one of them must have been the leader by the way the men made sure to keep the fighting away from the line of trees at their backs.
Joan frowned in their direction. “The one with the mustache; he appeared earlier on the cliff before you came back with the flowers,” she explained as she clung to his side.
Jasper gripped her hand and swiftly pulled her behind a tree before placing his hands on her shoulders and searching her face. “Did he say anything while he was there?” he asked as a million scenarios shot through his mind. It couldn’t have been a coincidence that the man has seen them earlier and was now attacking the castle.
“Just asked if I needed assistance,” she frowned as she looked back to the battle.
“He dinnae ask who I was or if I would be long?” he tried his best to piece everything together. “Ye have to think Joan; it’s very important that ye remember what he said.”
“Not that I recall,” she answered honestly. “He was gone the second you came back. He only asked if I needed any assistance.”
“That’s all I need to ken,” he said as he drew her into his arms, hugging her tightly against his body and kissing her forehead. “I need ye to stay hidden here in the trees until I come back,” he explained after gently pushing her away. “The chances of ye being hurt out there are far too great, even if I try an’ sneak around the back. I dinnae ken how many men are surrounding the castle. Besides,” he tilted her chin up slightly and searched her face. “I willnae be able to focus if ye are by my side.”
Joan’s eyes filled with panic as she searched his face. “Please don’t leave me; I’ve never been in a situation like this before. I wouldn’t know what to do if anyone found me here.”
“Ye scream, lass, scream louder than ye’ve ever screamed before an’ I’ll be at yer side. I have to go an’ confront that laird; it’s more than likely that he followed us onto the cliff an’ saw his chance to attack while I was away.” He guided her into the center of a bush and made sure that she was covered by the leaves.
“I’m scared, Jasper,” she said breathlessly as she shut her eyes and held onto his hands.
“I ken,” he bent down and kissed her forehead again. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I need ye to hide here for a while.”
“All right,” she eventually breathed and hunkered down even further in the underbrush until she was barely visible.
Nodding at her, Jasper hurried away in pursuit of the man with a mustache. He looked over his shoulder to ensure that Joan was hidden from sight before skirting his way along the line of trees. It wasn’t long before he was directly behind the men and could hear what they were saying.
“But where is the laird?” One of the men in kilts asked the man with a mustache.
“I dinnae ken, but he has to come out; he cannae still be on the cliff,” the mustached man answered and placed his hands on his hips. The way he carried himself spoke of authority and confidence.
“Why are ye lookin’ for me?” Jasper asked as he stepped into view.
The men lifted their swords and stood their ground as Jasper summed them up. They were all smaller than him and far less intimidating, but he could see that they meant business as they glared at him.
“Are ye Laird MacShaw?” the tall man with the mustache stepped forward. He seemed uncertain as he spoke, looking Jasper over with a suspicious glint of hostility in his eyes.
“Aye, I am Laird MacShaw, who is askin’?” He clenched his jaw as he stared at the men. It was blatantly obvious to him now that they had come with a purpose; it wasn’t every day that men attacked the castle for no good reason and demanded to see the laird. They either wanted his lands or something far more valuable.
“I am Laird MacAdair.” The man stood tall and lifted his head with pride as the battle raged on behind his back.
Battle cries rang out as men engaged in combat, pushing forward as others held them back. Their bodies moved and danced like a nest of ants that had happened upon a piece of food on the ground.
“Yer men were unharmed,” Jasper said angrily. “Why are ye attacking the castle?”
“I thank ye for nae harmin’ me men,” MacAdair replied, “but I am here for the lass that is being held captive in yer castle. I cannae stand by when an innocent lass is being held against her will.” His eyes darkened with and anger as he balled his fists at his side.
“I am nae holding anyone captive in me castle.” Jasper hoped that Joan had been able to remain hidden. “Everyone here is here of their own free will, including the lass.” He looked the men over before addressing the Laird once again. “How is it that ye are aware of her presence here? It cannae be that ye were simply takin’ a stroll on the cliff.”
