“It’s hard to say.”
The trail led them straight to the small cave where Finola sheltered. The noise of the horses must have alerted her to their approach because she emerged from the cave cautiously at first, then rushed toward Darcy when he dismounted.
“Ye came. Rafer said ye would. Oh, Darcy, I am so happy.”
Darcy spun and drew his sword just as Rafer lunged at him from behind. Rafer’s dagger caught a glancing blow on Darcy’s left shoulder. He fought through the sharp burning pain, shoving Rafer back and thrusting toward him with his sword. Having lost the element of surprise, Rafer lurched backwards, drawing his own sword. Finola screamed, pressing herself against the rock wall.
“Ye knew she was here. What have ye done?” Darcy demanded of Rafer.
“Nothing, Darcy. I just arranged things so ye could be the hero, just as I said.”
“If that was the case, why did ye try to sink yer dirk into my back?”
Rafer cautiously began to circle toward Darcy’s injured side. “Darcy, ye’re making a mistake.”
“What did he tell ye, lass?” Darcy demanded, never taking his eyes from Rafer.
“He said ye were worried about me, ye wanted to help me, and I was to hide here until ye came.”
“Now why would ye tell her something like that, Rafer? I said no such thing.” He wasn’t surprised by Finola’s shocked gasp.
“Well, this is a bit awkward,” said Rafer as he slowly continued to circle to Darcy’s left.
Darcy lunged at Rafer as he tried to reach Finola. Rafer parried the blow. “Get behind me, lass, and stay there!” Darcy commanded. As he fought, warm blood trickled steadily down his left arm from the wound in his shoulder. “What could ye have hoped to gain from this, Rafer?”
“Lady Matheson had the right of it, ye really are an eejit, Darcy. I love your sister and I wanted nothing more than to marry her, but your da would have none of it. I couldn’t very well let the MacKenzie pup have her, could I?”
“Ye were the one, after all.”
“Aye, frankly, I intended to kill him, but I heard someone coming before I had the chance to bury my dagger in him. Still, he could not possibly know it was me and no one witnessed me reenter the tower after Eara went to bed. If this little bitch’s sister had just kept her mouth shut, no one would ever have suspected me.”
“But she did overhear ye, and ye admitted your involvement with Eara.”
“Aye, I looked completely blameless pleading innocent of injuring Rowan while admitting my undying love for your sister. Then ye obliged by attacking the wee mouse and drawing suspicion further away from me.”
“So why do this? I had a witness and everyone believed ye innocent as well.”
“Aye, ye had a witness, so how long do think it would be before they looked more closely at me again? But ye see, Darcy, unlike some of the others, this little wench is actually fond of ye and thought ye might be willing to help her. When she showed up at our camp last night, I figured out the solution to my little problem. I led her away, promising to bring her savior to her. I returned to the encampment, created a false trail leading westward, and waited until I could lead ye here.”
“But why? How will this clear ye of the attack on Rowan?”
“Because ye attacked Rowan, ye convinced me to help spirit the wench away to kill her before she could change her mind about the lie she told for ye, then ye tried unsuccessfully to kill me. Sadly, I had to kill ye protecting myself.”
“Ye bastard!” roared Darcy, lunging toward Rafer. As he did, he remembered the lass behind him. He was an extremely skilled swordsman and normally would have no trouble besting Rafer, but he was losing blood rapidly. As he weakened, his thrusts and parries became less effective. He dizzied and stumbled. He wouldn’t last long. “Run, lass!” he yelled.
As she ran away, Rafer laughed. When I’m done with ye, I’ll find her. Perhaps I’ll rape her before I kill her, so everyone will know it was ye.”
Darcy drew on every reserve he had. Rafer continued to press him, but Darcy was able to hold his own until he stumbled backward over a rock and everything went dark.
Twenty Six
By the middle of the next morning, the search was called off. The mood at Duncurra was somber as the men returned. The good news of Rowan’s recovery was tempered by the failure to find Finola. They had found no sign of her beyond the initial trail leading westward. The clan leaders present met in the great hall.
“MacIan, I am sorry for the trouble Darcy caused, and I promised ye, I will deal with him. However, it is clear he had nothing to do with the attack on Rowan, and ye have no way of knowing who did. Since it looks as if Rowan will recover, it is clear no murder has been done and ye have no reason to keep us here longer. We’ll leave with no hard feelings.”