Page 79 of Sutherland's Secret
“They have a man with them. Eleanor’s brother. We need to take him from the soldiers, but I do no’ want ye to put yerself in danger. If things go bad, leave. Ride back to Castle Dornach. Tell MacLean what happened. Do ye understand me?”
They nodded and the foursome set off. They caught up to the soldiers fairly quickly. Per his command, the two men went to the other side of the road and disappeared in the shadows. He and Eleanor did the same on the opposite side. They rode as quietly at they could until they were close enough to the soldiers. Eleanor was still pale—even more so now—and she couldn’t take her eyes off the man in the center.
Brice studied him. There was nothing outstanding about him. He was dressed as an Englishman and had the blond hair of his sister. He was neither tall nor short. He wore a sword at his waist and rode in a relaxed manner.
Brice put his mouth to Eleanor’s ear. “When I capture him, I want ye to take that sword off him.”
“But—”
“He’ll no’ know it’s ye until he sees ye, and I do no’ want him drawing that sword on me before he does.”
She nodded. Now all he needed to do was figure out how to get the man away from the English.
He was contemplating that when a loud noise from the front of the soldiers made their horses sidestep. One reared. The universal Highlander war cry pierced the night, and it confused Brice until he saw Colin appear out of the shadows, his broadsword raised, his mouth open wide, and the battle cry on his lips.
Immediately the soldiers surged forward, leaving the Englishman alone in the middle of the road.
Brice slid off Galad and moved toward the soldiers. He yanked Thomas off the horse, covered his mouth, and dragged him away. He looked over his shoulder and caught Colin’s eye. The MacLean winked just as he was taken down by the four soldiers.
Eleanor’s brother was slight but strong; however, Brice was stronger. He dragged the man into the trees. Eleanor grabbed the sword at his side, and to Brice’s surprise she pointed the tip at his throat. “Cease,” she commanded.
Both her brother and Brice stilled. Pride filled Brice at this woman who, just weeks ago, had been a trembling, terrified mess. Now she was straddling her brother’s legs, dressed in breeches and a white shirt, a sword held confidently in her hand as she looked down on her brother with her yellow hair in her eyes and her expression fierce.
She blew the hair away. “Thomas, it’s me.”
Thomas’s eyes widened. He’d stopped struggling, but his muscles were tensed to fight.
“We have to go,” Brice said to Eleanor, glancing toward the road, where the soldiers were fighting with Colin, who was holding his own but wouldn’t for much longer.
Eleanor leaned down into her brother’s face. “I need you to trust me. Do you trust me, Thomas?”
Thomas continued to stare at her in amazement and confusion.
Eleanor huffed out a breath. “I’m not in any harm, and you’re not, either, but you have to do what Brice and I say.” She glanced over her shoulder. Brice could see her fear that Blackwood would find them. “Thomas?” She looked back at her brother.
Thomas nodded. Brice released him slowly, ready to grab him again should he do anything stupid.
Thomas stood and reached for his sword, but Eleanor held it away from him. “I’ll keep this.”
He peered at his sister. “Eleanor?”
“Aye. I’ll explain later, but now we have to ride.” She stomped over to the horses and grabbed their reins.
Brice watched Thomas watch his sister. “She’s something, isn’t she?” Brice said.
Thomas looked at Brice, then back at Eleanor.
Brice slapped Thomas on the shoulder, and he stumbled forward a few paces. “Just wait, man. There’s more to come.”
Eleanor mounted Galad smoothly, as if born to mounting horses. She nodded to the mount she had been riding. “You take that one,” she said to Thomas. “I’ll ride with Brice.”
Hiding his smile, Brice mounted behind her. “We need to ride hard,” he said softly, but loud enough that Thomas could hear as well. “Can ye ride?” he asked Thomas.
Thomas’s shoulders stiffened. “Of course.”
Brice nodded and led the way. Eleanor sat in front of him, leaning quietly against him, comfortable in his arms. It was as if they were one person, they rode so well together. Brice tried not to think about what would happen next or what the appearance of Thomas meant in their lives. There was time enough for that later. Now he would simply enjoy riding with Eleanor.
His relief was great when they reached Castle Dornach. They’d ridden hard, and it had taken only an hour to get home, but it had been a tense hour. Brice was on edge, expecting soldiers to jump out at any moment.
