Page 140 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
When she wriggled down, it set off a small rockfall. A few large pebbles bounced off his head, which no longer had a hat to shield it.
“Ouch,” he said.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Her voice quavered. “I don’t know what else to do.”
“There’s something else we could try, but I don’t want to put you in danger.”
“I don’t care, Nicholas. Just tell me what to do.”
“All right. Get behind that rock just there and throw me one end of your muffler. If you can brace your feet against the rock and hold on to your end, I can try to pull up and get myself over the edge.”
Victoria scrambled up to her knees, unwinding her scarf. As she tossed one end to him, she plunked down behind the boulder.
“All right, love. Just dig in as best you can.”
“I’m ready,” she said stoutly.
Nick let go of his grip on the slope and started to pull himself up. But almost instantly the fabric shredded where it passed over the boulder. He had no choice but to release it and grab desperately for a small outcropping.
Dammit to hell.
Victoria leaned over the edge again. Her bonnet was askew, and her hair straggled around her flushed cheeks. “Oh, God. I thought I’d lost you.”
“I’m still here,” he said, trying to reassure her. “Listen, Victoria, the trail isn’t nearly as steep on the other side of the ridge. You can make it down on your own, if you’re careful.”
“What? I’m not leaving you! You can’t hold on much longer.”
“There’s a crofter’s hut at the bottom of the hill. Tommy Crookston lives there. He can bring a rope and pull me up.”
Nick figured it would take about thirty minutes or so to make it down. With a little luck, he could hang on that long. But if old Tommy wasn’t home, he was royally screwed. There was simply no way he could climb up the rockface on his own.
“I don’t want to leave you,” she said.
Her obvious distress broke his heart, but he couldn’t afford to let her give in to it. Her life, as well as his, was at stake.
“Victoria, there’s no time for schoolgirl hysterics. Get off your arse and get started down that hill.”
She blinked in shock, then she sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve—just like a sweet, adorable schoolgirl.
“All right,” she said, scrambling up. “But don’t you dare fall.”
“It’s not in my plans, I assure you.”
If he lived through this, he would do his bloody best to convince her to forgive him. After that, he would protect her from any man who tried to hurt her again.
She was just turning away when Nick heard a scrabbling noise along the path.
“What the hell is this?” a familiar gruff voice said from above him.
Equal measures of relief and irritation flooded through him. Of course, itwouldbe him come to his rescue. Irony abounded.
“Mr. Kendrick,” Victoria exclaimed. “Thank God! Nicholas is barely hanging on.”
“I’m hanging on just fine,” Nick ground out.
“Doesn’t look like it to me,” Logan said, peering down at him.
“Would you please stow it and just give me your blasted hand.”
