The Highlander's Bride(49)

The ground shook before thunder rumbled, and just as Cullen hurried to Sara, she turned wide eyes on him.

“Riders approach,” she said.

Her eyes followed his, darting around the area, searching for cover.

Their only chance was to blend into the woods that bordered the trail on both sides and hope to get far enough within the forest so as not to be seen. Unfortunately, the trees were sparse upon entering, and he wasn’t sure they had enough time to reach the dense brush that would provide sufficient cover.

“We need to hurry,” he said, urging her to go before him.

He was grateful she didn’t argue, but that gratitude faded fast when he caught sight of the ragged looking group of men who rounded the bend in the road and, as soon as they spied them about to enter the woods, gave chase.

“They’ve seen us,” he said, and gave her horse’s rump a sharp slap. “Get yourself to safety and hide.”

Cullen drew his bow and an arrow from the sheath attached to the saddle. He needed to even the odds some. They were either robbers or mercenaries, and the latter were a dangerous bunch. They hired out to whoever would pay the highest fee and do whatever bidding they wished. No one was safe around them, man, woman, or child.

He readied the bow and took careful aim as they descended on him. If he took two out then drew his sword on the other two, he’d have a fighting chance. He let loose the arrow, and it hit its mark dead on in the chest, sending the rider toppling to the ground.

Cullen was quick with the next arrow and took another rider down. But as he grabbed his sword to face the other two, one of them rode into the woods after Sara.

“I’ll have my fun with her,” he said aloud, wearing a huge grin.

Cullen nearly went after him, but knew he needed to take the other man down first. He had to trust that Sara could hold her own until he could get to her. They battled from their saddles, swords clashing, and Cullen meanwhile had only one thing in mind: Sara.

His thought for her safety nearly drove him mad. What if he got to her too late? What if she suffered at the man’s hands? What if she died? He’d never forgive himself.

His worry fueled his strength, and he fought like a madman, finally driving his sword through the man’s stomach. When the man slumped over, Cullen gave his chest a shove with his sandal to dislodge his sword.

The man toppled off his horse, dead, as Cullen quickly turned and went after Sara.

Prayers that he’d be on time fell from his lips as he flew through the woods at breakneck speed in the direction he’d seen her disappear.

It wasn’t long before he had to slow to almost a crawl, the woods having grown dense. That was when he heard a cry like that of a wounded animal and his heart clinched in his chest.

Another high-pitched scream had him slipping off his horse and running the rest of the way, scrambling over a boulder and pushing past heavy pine branches to emerge in a small clearing where he came to an abrupt halt.

“I’m dying,” the man said with an angry glare at Sara, who stood not far from where he sat on the ground, her sword dripping blood.

“That you are,” she confirmed bluntly. “But didn’t you mean to do the same to me once you had your way with me?”

“That be different,” he snapped, and held his stomach, blood pouring down over his hands.

“I don’t think so,” she said. “You got what you deserved, and from a woman nonetheless.”

“I agree,” Cullen said, stepping beside her.

“The others have been seen to?” she asked.

“All taken care of,” he assured her.

“You got us all?” It was the man’s last words. His eyes rolled back in his head and he fell over dead.

“I’m glad to see you’re safe,” Cullen said.

Sara pointed to the dead man with her sword. “His ignorance did him in.”

Cullen smiled. “You mean he underestimated you.”

She nodded, then shook her head. “The fool actually laughed when I drew my sword to fight him, and then—” She shook her head, recalling the scene. “Then he proceeds to tremble in fear as he approaches me, telling me he’s so very frightened of me, and when I actually demonstrate my skill with a sword, he gets angry and stupidly charges at me.”

“Landing right on your sword?” Cullen asked with a grin.

“Right on it. I didn’t even work up a sweat. The fool did himself in.”

Cullen laughed and threw his arms around her, hugging her tight. “You’re precious, Sara, precious. And Lord, how relieved I am that you’re safe.”

Sara stepped away from him to wipe her sword clean on the man’s trousers. “You must have worried that if I died you wouldn’t know where to find your son.”