Now wasn’t a good time to tell him when one of his men could overhear. No, she’d explain it all once they were alone. Only what excuse could she use? “I paid one of the villagers.” That seemed plausible, hopefully.
He grunted. “Then that villager will be punished as nary a soul came forth to admit such.” He drew his horse up along the shoreline. The waters of the loch glistened, and a birlinn rocked where it’d been partially beached. Two warriors waited near the vessel. “Stretch your legs but dinnae wander far. Dunscaith’s village is over the rise, and I need only return these horses then we can set sail.” He jumped to the ground then swung her down.
“Thank you.” She scrambled along the rocky shoreline toward a small stream that ran into the loch. On her knees, she scooped water and splashed her face. What was Alex thinking? Surely he would know by now what had happened.
No, she couldn’t think of Alex, not when she had a mission to complete.
She gripped the letter within her pocket. It had been easy enough to write, but now she had to convince Rory of where she’d come from, and that he held her parents’ lives in his hands.
Would he listen when the time came?
Damn. Alex had returned to find his mother in tears and his wife gone. He raised his sword and swung it at Alan. His man whipped his weapon up to counter his move. Their blades crashed, the violent clang booming across the meadow. “You let her go. I’ll take your head off for it.”
“I had no choice. Anne no longer resided within Dunscaith’s walls, and we didnae need to aggravate MacLeod when we were so outnumbered. You should have wed her proper if you’d wanted more than what you’d spoken of in your vows.”
“I never intended for MacLeod to get his hands on her.” He should never have brought them on this hunt.
“They left an hour ago and rode toward the shore.” Alan sheathed his blade and mounted his horse. “We’ll follow their tracks.”
A guardsman hoisted Mother onto her horse. He wouldn’t place her in any further danger. Alan had been right not to antagonize MacLeod with the women so near, yet he was in no mood to say so. “Mother, you’ll have three escorts to take you home. No diverting from the path.”
“MacLeod willnae hand her back, and they can reach the shore in half that time.” She wiped her wet, blotchy cheeks. “I secured an invitation to Dunvegan.”
“You did?” He rubbed his jaw.
An invitation. Hmm, he could retrieve his wife from right under MacLeod’s nose if he played his cards well. Certainly he hadn’t wished for anyone to see how much he cared for Anne, but his vow still stood, and he wouldn’t allow it to fall.
He called out to his men, “We return to Dunscaith then sail for Dunvegan. I want my wife. Arm yourselves well.”
Chapter 6
After almost two days of icy wind in her face and a night on the cold ground, the long sea journey to Dunvegan Castle was almost done. Anne huddled within a thick MacLeod plaid as Dunvegan rose like a fortress ahead, its massive gray towers and fortified walls topped with battlements and guardsmen roaming the ramparts. From the multitude of square windows, candlelight flickered in welcome.
Her clansmen plunged their oars into the depths, speeding their birlinn toward the sea-gate. So close.
“Not long, Annie,” Rory called from his seat where he directed his men.
At the edge of the sea-gate, two large men waded into the water. Each seized a side of the birlinn as they came abreast of them. Hearty welcomes from the two warriors rang out as they guided the birlinn the last few feet and nestled it next to the stone stairs.
One of the men offered her his hand, and she grasped hold. “Watch your step, my lady. The rocks are slippery.”
Her legs shook from being confined to one position for so long, but with his aid she climbed out. “Thank you.”
Another warrior gripped her arm and kept her steady. His eyes glinted with specks of yellow from the flickering torch he held. “Follow me.”
He moved forward, the soft glow from his torch providing enough light to guide her along the rocky path winding upward. She slogged along, her feet frozen within her shoes.
Rory took her elbow as he caught her up. “You’ll rest well tonight.”
“Will I ever.” She tramped through a darkened passageway and into an inner courtyard, Ahead, the stone entry of the keep beckoned.
She was here. Over four-hundred years in the past, but still, here.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly turned around. Her clansmen surrounded her. They stood tall and strong. “Thank you all for coming for me.”
These men didn’t know her, even though they presumed they did. Regardless, they were her kin. She blinked, pushing back tears. Home. She hadn’t had one in so long.
“Annie!” A young woman tore from the keep, her pale hair billowing behind her. She darted through the men and wrapped arms fiercely around her. “I’ve missed you terribly. Where did you go? How did Rory find you? Are you—”