Page 11 of To Claim His Highland Bride

As the latch on the door moved down, Rowena gripped the chair and moved closer to the door. Her only chance would be to take the men by surprise, then slip past them and run faster than she ever had in her life.

As the door opened slightly, she widened her stance and brought the chair up over her head. Bryce’s red hair was the first thing she saw. Using all her strength, she brought the chair down, hard. Bryce crumpled to the floor. The two men behind him charged into the chamber, drawing their daggers. The men expected another attack from overhead, so instead Rowena aimed for their legs with the back of the chair, sending them off balance one after the other. She threw the chair aside and darted out the door.

She had no idea where she was on the small isle, but it didn’t matter. Any direction she ran would eventually take her to the water and her only chance for escape. Blood pounded in her ears and the harsh sound of her breath filled the morning air as she raced across the rocky terrain. There were no trees to hide her, only sea grass that made the path before her even more treacherous because she could not see the ragged rocks beneath. Leaping from one rock to the next, she kept up her rapid pace despite the danger.

Behind her she heard a shout then Bryce’s roar of fury. Rowena glanced back over her shoulder. Her stomach twisted into a knot. Bryce and his two henchmen chased her. Merciful heavens. They were going to catch her. The thought sent prickles along her skin.

She returned her gaze to the path ahead and increased her focus on the swiftest route across the ragged rocks. The stomping sounds behind her grew closer. What would they do if they caught her? This time instead of tying her to a chair, they might torture and then murder her.

The thought fuelled her legs to move faster. She could see the waterline as well as nearly fifty harbour seals ahead, basking in the morning sunshine. She forced herself to breathe evenly as she battled against the fear rising in her throat. She had been raised to be wary of the seals. All the MacLeod children had grown up hearing fairy stories, including those featuring selkies who took the form of seals during the daylight hours.

Holding her fear in check, she kept up her rapid pace, despite the slippery surface of rocks covered by algae and kelp. At Rowena’s presence, the seals near her undulated towards the water, making barely a sound as they disappeared below the surface.

“You cannot escape me. Surrender.” Bryce’s words ground out with wrath.

Rowena’s heart hammered at her breastbone. At the water’s edge she hesitated. What would the seals do to her as she swam back towards the castle? A quick glance over her shoulder showed Bryce nearly upon her. He wore the promise of death on his face. Without another thought, she dove into the cool water of the loch, taking her chances amongst the seals.

*

“Bloody hell!” The stupid girl had tricked him. Bryce came to a sudden stop at the edge of the water and turned to his men. “Go in after her.”

Rabbie and Gus simply stared at him with horror on their faces. “We canna swim. Ye go after her,” Rabbie said.

The muscles of Bryce’s back tightened as he fisted his hands at his sides, watching Rowena’s bobbing head grow farther away from him. He’d never learned to swim. The one time he had tried, he’d sunk to the bottom of the loch before his father could pull him back to the surface. It had felt like he’d coughed water from his lungs for days. Bryce had never been brave enough to try again.

“To the boat,” he ordered. “Hurry. If she gets away, one of you will pay for her loss.” The iciness of his words sent the men into a faster pace.

Bryce had hidden the small boat in a narrow cove that would take several minutes to reach on foot. It would be a miracle if they could get to the boat and overcome Rowena before she made it to shore. But then again, if they got close enough, he could always shoot her with his pistol. She deserved to die for ruining his plans. His cousin deserved to lose not only the woman, but also everything he held dear for refusing to pay the ransom Bryce had demanded.

The two of them would get what they deserved. One way or another.

Chapter Five

Marcus stood before the massive gates of Dunvegan. He’d been here many times before as an enemy of the MacLeods. Yet this time when the gatekeeper saw him, he was admitted without question since Marcus had battled with the MacLeods against his own clan.

Had it only been six months ago that he’d betrayed his own people for Rowena? He wasn’t sorry he’d left most of his kin behind, because his mother and father had been allowed to come live at Dunvegan while Marcus had left.

At least that had been the plan. Now six months later, everything was different. He was no longer a man in love. He was a traitor to his clan. And truly, he had no notion if he was better off financially than the day he’d left. Until he parcelled out the treasure to the families of the men he’d lost, he wouldn’t know what remained. He could still be a wealthy man, or he might be a privateer with only a ship to his name.

As Marcus walked across the drawbridge, he thought about his parents. What would happen to them when he broke things off with Rowena? He could always take them with him on The Cliodna until he paid his debts to his lost men, then the three of them could determine a new future together, perhaps in Glasgow where one’s clan affiliation mattered far less than it did in the Highlands.

Marcus frowned. He wasn’t certain he could abandon the Highlands with as much ease as Rowena. War was coming. It was only a matter of time before either the neighbouring clans or the English army clashed with the Highlanders. Pushing his thoughts aside, Marcus proceeded into the courtyard where he was met by Alastair.

Alastair came forward with a smile. “Marcus. Glad we are to see you safely back amongst us. When did you return? We did not see your ship.”

“The Cliodna is anchored off Neist Point. My men and I came by boat to your shore.” Marcus nodded to the men following him into the courtyard. “I came as soon as I was able.” It wasn’t a lie, but an evasion of the truth.

“’Tis good you are back.” Alastair’s smile slipped. “There is no easy way to say this. Rowena has been kidnapped. My brothers are out searching for her. My men and I returned when several of our horses picked up rocks in their hooves. We think whoever took Rowena set a trap for us. As soon as new horses are saddled, we’ll ride out again. Join us.”

Marcus swallowed as all eyes in the courtyard turned to him. “My cousin, Bryce, kidnapped your sister. He was waiting for me on the shoreline when I arrived just now.”

“What did the MacDonald say to you?” Alastair demanded, his features suddenly hard.

“He told me Rowena is in a place none of us would ever find.” Lowering his gaze slightly, Marcus continued, “Bryce demanded I pay a ransom for her return.”

Alastair nodded. “You agreed to these terms.”

“I refused.”