Before they entered into the open land surrounding the castle, Muir said, “We think we have avoided them, but if we are attacked as we move into the open, ye ride with Hamish as hard as ye can toward the keep. He will see it opened to ye, and the rest of us will protect your back.
They had barely entered the open area when a group of at least two score and ten men swarmed out of the forest to the east of Cnocreidh. As Muir instructed, Katherine rode hard toward the keep with Hamish at her side. They had barely covered a quarter of the distance when Hamish’s horse took an arrow to his chest and crumpled under him. Katherine stopped to reach a hand to Hamish, but he slapped Eachann’s rump, forcing the horse back into a run toward the castle. However, that momentary pause was enough time for Duncan, who had separated himself from the battle, to reach her. He pulled her onto his horse and rode full speed toward the forest. Before he reached the forest with her, Katherine was able to twist in his arms enough to see her escorts were holding their own, joined by warriors pouring out of Cnocreidh. Duncan crushed her against his chest and pushed her forward, leaning low over the horse’s neck to avoid the branches. He held her so tightly she could barely breathe. She wanted to fight, but she knew if she fell from the horse at the breakneck speed they were riding, she could be seriously injured and possibly lose the baby, so she held on, praying someone would catch them.
As they rode, Duncan yelled orders to the others, telling them to cover his back and follow as soon as they were able.
“Duncan, there is no way ye can win this today. We know Malcolm was behind everything. Niall and Laird Matheson have joined forces and returned to Duncurra. Stop now, take me back, and Niall will reward ye.”
“Ye are daft if ye think I believe that, my lady. Malcolm is my cousin and has been planning this for years. He is not only cunning and cautious, but he was also prepared to do whatever was necessary to achieve his goal.”
“Ye are the daft one if ye believe he will prevail against their combined armies.”
“I will admit that together Matheson and MacIan will present a challenge, but it is likely Malcolm controlled Duncurra well before they arrived. The fact is, my lady, if Malcolm holds Duncurra under siege, having Laird MacIan’s wife as hostage could only be advantageous. Nevertheless, if ye are right and Malcolm fails, I still stand to gain control of Clan MacLennan. Having ye as a hostage won’t hurt me, either. This is far from being over for me, and ye are too valuable a tool to just let ye go.”
The ride was bone jarring and Katherine suspected Duncan pushed his mount as hard as he dared. She heard horsemen following them, but she didn’t know if they were the other MacLennan warriors, her own guard, or more Mathesons from the castle. Late in the afternoon, Katherine finally recognized her surroundings. They were just north of the mountain pass where Tadhg had kidnapped her only two days earlier, and she knew this was MacLennan land. However, rather than turning south, in the direction of Brathanead, Duncan turned north.
“Why are ye not riding toward Brathanead?”
“So ye know where ye are, do ye?”
“Aye, but why are ye riding north?”
“Because, my lady, it is unexpected. If the men following us are MacIans or Mathesons they will ride toward Brathanead. By heading north we will elude them. Besides, Laird MacLennan is likely to be at or near Duncurra, and we may have a better chance of reaching him there.”
Duncan’s ruse appeared to have worked, for as they travelled northward, there did not seem to be anyone in close pursuit. However, they had not been on their new course long before they heard horses approaching ahead of them. Duncan swore and turned his horse into the woods. Before Katherine realized what was happening, he clamped a hand viciously across her mouth. “Ye are more valuable to me alive than dead, Lady Katherine, still, I will slit your throat if ye make a sound.”
~ * ~
Malcolm was surprised to see Duncan exit the forest with Katherine.
“Well, what have we here, Duncan?”
“We waited, as ye said, for Niall’s army to arrive, but they never did. Finally we saw Lady Katherine arrive under heavy guard. I knew something must have gone wrong, and I suspected ye might need her as a hostage.”
Malcolm listened but his eyes didn’t leave Katherine. She appeared calm and composed and she didn’t look at him. The mask she assumed didn’t fool him. She was afraid, and fear was an excellent motivator for cooperation. Pain was as well, and he would use it if he needed to.
“Indeed I do,” Malcolm sneered. He moved his mount until he was within reach, grabbed her chin, and turned her head to face him. He laughed malevolently. “With Niall’s bonny little wife in residence at Brathanead, we will have a delightful morsel with which to bargain. Well done, cousin.”