Rescued by a Highlander(44)

Maddie peeked again to see what was happening. Her legs wobbled as she fought to regain control.

Alex! Why do you move again? Don’t you recognize how much I need you now?

She took another tentative step toward Alex. Why was he leaving her? The men were closing in around her. She coughed to try to draw in more air, tugging at her bodice to loosen it.

I can’t breathe!

Mayhap someone else would think they could have their way with her. Angry eyes stared at her from the crowd. Tightness clawed at her chest. Would anyone dare reach for her in front of Alex? She shivered and rubbed her hands up and down her arms.

Just one more step closer. Alex, please don’t leave me.

Alex’s voice echoed deep but powerful. “How dare you tell such lies of the lady! You are fortunate that I am a laird of the king or I would gut you right here. Or mayhap I will just make certain you will never rape again. Or perhaps some time in the dungeon will help to clear your thoughts for now, Comming.”

Alex caught movement again out of the corner of his eye. He turned and gaped when he realized how close Madeline was to him. She then took another step toward him, her eyes locked directly onto his, fear radiating from every ounce of her being. Toward him? She was finally moving toward him and not away from him? He immediately felt a little tug in his chest, but dismissed it. He was fighting the urge to let a smile take over his face, and managed to keep it contained. By the saints, he would banish that fear from her eyes forever, he knew what he had to do. He pointed to Madeline and she was immediately surrounded by his brothers and three of his soldiers.

He then turned to Niles Comming, raised his sword and shouted, “The lass marries me!”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Madeline jump, first because she was surrounded so quickly by Alex’s men, but then again when she heard his pronouncement of marriage.

Kenneth hopped up and down as if possessed and shouted, “She’ll never agree, Grant. She is a dead woman if she agrees to marry you.” He lurched toward Madeline but was restrained by the soldiers around him. “I will kill her with my bare hands if she agrees. Madeline, do you hear me, I will kill you, but not until I beat you near to death first! If you think the last time was bad, wait till I get you this time. You will never be able to walk again.”

The crowd erupted over the conversation.

“I have not heard it from her, Grant!” Niles bellowed. “She would not dare to marry you when she knows she is mine.”

“She will agree to marry me, say you so, my lady?” He turned to Madeline surrounded by his men.

Madeline blanched and said to Alex, “May I have a word with you, Laird?”

Stunned that she could ask such a thing, he glared at her, lowering his voice, “Just say ‘aye’ Maddie and your troubles are over.”

“But could I please have a word first?” she stared beseechingly at Alex.

“Are you jesting with me, Maddie?”

The Comming chuckled. “She’s daft, too, Grant. Didn’t you learn that yet?”

Alex waited patiently for a moment. What was the lass thinking? He knew she was upset with the two men here. Should she not be running to him?

“She does not sound so agreeable to me, Grant!” Niles yelled.

“Please!” she pleaded.

Alex gazed into her big blue eyes and recognized the fear in them. He sighed, sheathed his sword and stepped inside the protective circle his warriors made around Madeline. They had to step apart to make room for his broad shoulders.

“What, Maddie?”

“I think it should be in private, Alex.”

Alex, close to losing his patience, ground out, “Niles and Kenneth cannot hear you. We don’t have time to be in private, you can ask me in front of my men, Maddie!”

Madeline leaned toward him and whispered, “All right then, if you give me your word that you will not tie me to the marriage bed, I will agree to marry you.”

The guardsmen shuffled their feet and stared off into the distance.

Alex’s brow furrowed, “What did you say?”

“If you promise not to tie me to the marriage bed, I will agree to marry you,” she said as she gazed into his eyes. “Please, Alex, I need your word on this.” He noticed her wringing her hands as she spoke. He raised his eyes to hers, but couldn’t say a word.

Alex thought his head would explode. The bastard tied her to the bed? Raping was not enough, he had to totally dominate her? No wonder the lass was afraid of him. He stared at her in amazement. By telling him this, she confirmed two things. One, this woman would give him the strongest lads in the land. Two, Niles would never make it to the dungeon.

Alex stepped out of the group of warriors around Madeline. He heard Brodie speak to Robbie. “This will not be good.”