~ * ~
Katherine tried to work her hands free, but only succeeded in causing the rope to chafe her wrists until they were raw, bloody, and burning. The gag Duncan had stuffed in her mouth tickled the back of her throat, requiring her to constantly fight the need to retch. On top of everything else, she was freezing.
While riding with Duncan, he had at least provided her with some warmth. Now she had very little to protect her from the cold. Having removed the brooch holding it around her shoulders, Katherine’s plaid slid down her back underneath the mantle and bunched around her waist. Furthermore, knowing why Malcolm forced her to trade places with Eithne, she had shaken the mantle’s hood off, exposing her kertch. Even from a distance, in the gathering darkness, Niall would know she was not Eithne. While she thought the plan was clever and no one seemed to notice or care that her hood had slipped off, her linen kertch provided no protection from the cold and snow.
~ * ~
Malcolm held up his hand, halting his men for a moment. In spite of the wind that whipped and moaned around him, he heard the unmistakable sound of horses approaching. If he could buy himself just a little time, he could disappear into the caves with Katherine.
“Duncan, stay here with Eithne and the rest of the guard. They will think it is Katherine with ye, and that will give me time to escape to the caves. When they approach, surrender.”
“Aye, Laird,” answered Duncan.
“Surrender? They’ll kill us all when they realize ye still have the little bitch,” screeched Eithne.
“Nay, they won’t. Niall is nothing if not noble. He will accept your surrender and not harm ye. I will pay the ransom to get ye and my men released.
~ * ~
Niall and the men with him saw the small party stopped ahead of them and charged. As they drew closer, Niall noticed the pair riding away. Even in the heat of battle, Niall’s brain registered the white covering on the woman’s head and knew that Malcolm still had Katherine. He pulled back and skirted around the battle, riding hard to reach Katherine. As he did, he heard Eithne’s blood curdling scream and Tadhg’s anguished battle cry. Ignoring it, he continued to chase Malcolm and Katherine.
Niall saw Malcolm look over his shoulder, panicked. In horror, Niall watched as Malcolm drew his sword and raised it toward Katherine, but it wasn’t Katherine for whom Malcolm aimed. He slashed at the flank of Katherine’s mount. The mare screamed and reared. Unbridled fear gripped Niall’s heart as he helplessly watched Katherine struggle to stay on her mount with bound wrists.
He tried to reach her as she clutched desperately at the edge of the saddle. The ground had become slippery with snow and the horse was sliding and stumbling. All thoughts of vengeance for Malcolm fled as Niall saw Katherine lose her struggle to stay in the saddle. She was thrown to the ground, but with her bound hands, she couldn’t break her fall.
When he finally reached her side, he removed her gag. Relief flooded him when he found her unconscious but still alive. He cut her bonds and felt her limbs for signs of breaks. It looked as if her only injuries were the lump on her head, a bruise on her face, and abrasions on her wrists caused by her bonds. Vengeance would have to wait, he couldn’t leave Katherine.
Tadhg arrived at Niall’s side just as Niall gathered Katherine’s small limp body into his arms.
Enraged, Niall said, “The bastard caused the horse to throw Katherine to save his own worthless skin.”
“I’ll take a few men and go after him. Get her to safety.”
By this time, Laird Chisholm had joined them and said to Tadhg, “I’ll go with ye.”
“Nay, Feargas,” Tadhg said. “Malcolm has laid so many traps in the bid to win Duncurra, there is no telling what might await on the way back to Duncurra. Niall needs as many men as possible riding escort.”
“Aye, Feargas. I have to get her home,” Niall said as he wrapped his plaid around his unconscious wife and rose with her from the ground. “I cannot lose her,” he said, his voice raw with emotion.
Thirty One
Vaguely aware she finally felt warm, Katherine had trouble remembering why she had been so cold in the first place. As she struggled to emerge from oblivion, she also realized she had a terrible headache. She fought to open her eyes, but the light only intensified her pain, causing her to moan and retch. Gentle hands rolled her to her side, yet her retching brought nothing up.
She heard her husband’s anxious voice say, “Effie, she is waking.”
She tried again to open her eyes. For a moment, the light sent another wave of searing pain through her head, but she kept them open this time, and saw her husband’s worried face. He was kneeling by her bed. Effie moved into view behind him, saying “Ye’ve come back to us, have ye? Do ye know where ye are?”