Page 7 of Highland Ruse

At the very latest, it should have graced the path by noon. But it was significantly past noon, and still the coach had not shown, despite the recent bout of good weather.

His stomach tightened against the unease of her delay.

“I dinna think she’s coming tonight.” Donnan appeared beside Kaid with a stealth most found unsettling. “Tomorrow, perhaps.” He rubbed the back of his neck and gave an exaggerated grimace. “This business of kidnapping lasses—it’s no’ sitting with me verra well.”

Kaid let his gaze wander back to the stillness of the puddles. “If I had to choose between seeing more of our clan slaughtered or kidnapping an English noble’s brat, I’ll take my chances with the brat.”

A hollow clattering sounded in the distance. Kaid’s body went taut with anticipation. His fist curled around the hilt of his blade until the fine leather wrapping burned against his palm.

But though his body was still, his heart galloped into a frenzy.

“We’ll no’ hurt her.” Though he’d said it as a statement, Kaid knew Donnan was asking for confirmation.

The world began to sway around Kaid, and the request rankled. “MacKenzie’s men killed our children and raped our women, and ye’re worried about a single lass?”

He forced his gaze forward once more, focused on the puddles.

Not a good idea, not when they were so much like blood.

Sweat prickled at his brow and palms.

No. Not now.

“We’re no’ MacKenzie.” Donnan’s voice sounded distant. “And with all the coin spent around the last few villages in preparation for Lady Elizabeth’s arrival, she’s obviously loved.”

Kaid’s throat pinched tight, and his breath became so difficult to draw that his lips tingled. “She’s obviously well valued,” Kaid corrected. “There’s a difference.”

Though he couldn’t see the coach yet, its rattling became easy to discern. Donnan straightened and drew his sword.

With a quick nod, Donnan darted across the narrow path and disappeared into the forest on the opposite side.

The hollow wooden clattering grew louder, closer. Close enough for Kaid to make out the sucking steps of the horses.

Images flashed in his head in rapid succession, mingling with the white spots in his vision.

His people lying dead in the mud, staring at nothing, blood covering their bodies, the ground, their faces.

His hands.

Kaid’s mouth filled with saliva, and the world spun around him.

Blood everywhere.

Not now.

He clenched his teeth and blinked as hard as his lids would allow.

He was stronger than this, damn it.

This woman was MacKenzie’s only weakness, the one chink in his armor—the only way to defeat him without sacrificing more MacLeod lives.

Kaid let the air hiss through his teeth, shoved out with the force of his raw determination.

Bold yellow livery showed like a challenge through the layer of leaves. He focused on them until his vision cleared enough to count.

Six. There were six of them. He needed them out of the way so he could get to her.

This woman wasn’t just MacKenzie’s betrothed. She was the bartering tool to negotiate peace with MacKenzie and quite possibly the one thing he needed to get back into his clan’s good graces, to be accepted into the fold again. To have a sense of belonging once more.