Page 37 of A Flawed Scotsman

It would be useless to try to convince her to leave with him. It was obvious she would die alongside her father. Ruari cupped her jaw. “Ye are extraordinary.”

Esme shrugged. “What I am is determined to take down as many of those bastards as I can. Please move aside. I do not have time to watch ye leave.” Although her words were said with impatience, her eyes became shiny with tears.

Of course, he would not leave. Esme was the woman meant for him and if fate decided they’d die together, then so be it.

Ruari grabbed a bow and arrows from one of the downed men and stood next to her. Although a good marksman, he preferred hand-to-hand fighting. However, it was best to do what he could from up there and not waste more time.

Without knowing who the local people were and who was the enemy, Ruari had to pay extra attention before shooting, which meant he was a lot slower than the other archers.

It was a short while later that battle cries sounded. “Buaidh no Bàs!” At first, he wasn’t sure of what he heard. Then again, the arrivals cried out, “Victory or death!”

“Do not attack those who arrive,” Ruari called out and hurried back to the opposite side just in time to see the red banner with three lions upon it. His heart squeezed at the sight of his cousins, Tristan and Kieran, leading hundreds of Ross warriors at full speed.

“Retreat!” the Mackenzie lead guards called out. The ones that were left began rushing to their horses, many riding off without waiting for their comrades.

Esme rushed to his side. “Who are they?”

“My clan,” Ruari replied, his voice hoarse with pride. “My family.”

Together with Laird Fraser, they hurried inside and down to the great room. There was chaos as men who’d been dragged in were being cared for by the healer and his helpers.

Outside, the clanging of weapons still sounded as some of the Mackenzie warriors had not been able to get away.

The laird went to the doorway, Ruari and several other guards with him. “Cease at once!” the man called out. “Take those that remain prisoners.”

Several Mackenzies immediately put down their weapons, but two of the Mackenzie men refused to stop fighting. Blood-soaked, they fought on and Ruari understood. They would rather die than accept defeat.

Finally, one fell, too injured to continue. The other was cut through with a sword and fell next.

“Bring the one who is alive inside,” Laird Fraser instructed. “Ensure the healer sees to his wounds.”

A brave warrior was respected and, as such, the man would be allowed to live. A code of battle that baffled Ruari at times.

Moments later, Mackenzie warriors that had been captured were bound and lined up on their knees and his cousins, along with a small group of Ross warriors, entered through the gates.

Kieran dismounted and headed to him. “Where’s Ewan?”

“Ye missed all the fun!” Ewan approached, his tunic bloodied. He took two more steps and fell forward like a plank.

Both Kieran and Ruari stared at their cousin for a moment before reacting and picking him up and carrying him into the keep.

“Are ye injured?” Tristan, his other cousin, asked Ruari, the hazel gaze roaming over his body. “The men here put up a good fight.”

Ruari shook his head. “Nothing of note.” Together, they walked after his cousins to see about Ewan.

“I do not need to be sewn up,” Ewan protested as a healer held up a needle and thread.

Ruari stepped closer to where the injured cousin lay atop a table, his tunic torn open to show a gash across his left rib cage. “I will hold him down,” he told the woman who looked to Ewan with a worried expression.

Ruari chuckled when Ewan glowered, but lowered his head back to the table. “I will kick ye if ye stick me too deep.”

“I will stick it deeper if ye do,” the feisty woman replied.

Chapter Twelve

Esme washed out her father’s wound, inspecting it to ensure there was no part of the arrow left.

“Go see about the others, I am able to take care of this myself,” he protested once again and looked around her to a guard. “Has my wife and the other women been found yet?”