True to the Highlander(17)

Malcolm walked back toward the keep from the lists. He’d worked up an appetite and a good sweat and looked forward to breaking his fast before bathing and seeing to the rest of his daily tasks, including seeing to Lady Alethia’s whereabouts.

Their odd guest once again occupied his thoughts. The more she avoided him, the more obsessed with her he became. Whom had she gone down to the great hall to meet? It had rankled and nagged at him, until he could no longer think straight. Directly after breaking his fast, he’d search her out and demand the truth. Everything would return to normal, and he’d be able to get her out of his system once and for all. Not bloody likely.

The image of her as she’d first walked out of the forest with her silken sable hair falling freely about her shoulders flashed before him. Her exotic beauty haunted his dreams and left him restless and wanting. The sooner he discovered exactly who she was and from whence she came, the sooner he could see her safely returned. And then his life would return to normal.

Shouts broke through his thoughts. He recognized Alethia’s voice, and she was in trouble. He ran toward the sound with his heart in his throat. Crashing through the brush with his dirk drawn, he came upon a sight that turned his blood to ice. Hugh held her clothing in his arms, while she hid her nakedness in the loch. Her eyes were wide with fright.

“What do you mean to do here, Hugh?”

“I mean to have a bit of sport with the lass. Leave me to it.” Hugh’s eyes slid to Malcolm for a second before returning to Alethia shivering in the ice-cold water. “You’re welcome to her when I’m through.”

The thought of Hugh’s filthy hands touching her turned Malcolm’s vision red. He shoved him around by the shoulder, his fist connecting with the blackguard’s face before he even knew he meant to strike.

Hugh cried out and staggered back, dropping Alethia’s garments to the ground. “Damnation!” Touching his split lip with the back of his hand, he glared at Malcolm.

Malcolm took a step toward him. “This is your idea of sport, is it? Terrorizing a defenseless woman? You have until Terce to gather your things and be gone. Your life is forfeit if I find you here after that.”

“You’ll pay for this. You’ll both pay.” Hugh’s face twisted with hatred.

“Harken well.” Malcolm shoved him back. “If you ever lay a hand on her,” he said, shoving again, “’twill be the last thing you do.” The last push sent the blackguard sprawling in the dirt.

Hugh scrambled up and fled. Malcolm watched until he was well away before facing Alethia. Only her head showed above the surface, and she shivered uncontrollably. He grabbed her garments from the ground and placed them near the shore, taking several steps away before turning his back to her. “’Tis safe to come out. I’ll keep watch.”

He heard her splash out of the water and pull on her garments. Sobs broke from her in great gasps.

“I…I…w-want to g-go h-home,” she cried. “I. Want. To. Go. Home. I w-want m-my g-gran, hot showers, a washer and dryer…m-my hair dryer…and f-freakin’ electrical outlets, dammit. Central heat, b-blue jeans and…and…s-sweatshirts.” Her voice trailed off as she sniffed and hiccupped.

Her words made no sense. Had she lost her wits from all the strain? Certain she’d clothed herself, Malcolm sheathed his dirk and approached. Water dripped from her hair down the front of her gown. Her teeth chattered, and her lips were tinged blue.

Her distress twisted him up inside. “Where is your home, lass?”

“S-so far away I d-don’t know h-how I’ll ever g-get b-back,” she sobbed.

“Nonetheless, where might that be?” Taking his plaid from over his shoulder, he wrapped her in it and rubbed her back and arms vigorously.

“A-across the ocean.”

Could she be any more evasive? Now was not the time to press for answers, not while she was still so upset. “Hugh will no’ trouble you any longer. I swear, you have my—”

“D-don’t say it. Don’t say I have your p-protection, because I’ve f-felt everything but protected ever since I l-landed here.” She swiped at her tears with a corner of his plaid. “You took Hugh’s side the night he t-tried to rape me.”

“Nay. I took no one’s side.” Malcolm’s jaw clenched, and he fought to gain control over his emotions. “If not Hugh, whose company did you seek that night, lass?”

She shrugged his wool off her shoulders and stepped out of his reach. “I was looking for the deaf child who begged for food during the feast.” Her head came up a defiant notch, and her anger lashed at him. “I have experience with the deaf and hard of hearing. I thought maybe I could look after him. H-he’s all alone.”