Highlander's Guardian (Highlander Heat #4)

“Thank you for coming for me,” she whispered against his lips.

“I will always come for you, although you’re never to go riding with MacDonald again and we shall have stern words about this upon our return.” He pulled back an inch, one difficult inch, but thankfully ’twas all he needed to gather some control. “I discovered who the other two men scheming against you are. They’re MacDonalds as well. Scourges, the lot of them.”

“The MacDonalds are always scheming against our clan, but no’ James.” She sat and pushed the covers off. “He wishes for peace. He truly does, Colin.”

“You’re defending him? Even now after he took you away from me?” How could she trust the man so implicitly?

“He never took me away. If aught, ’tis my fault we lost the rest of our party. I challenged James to a race and we rode through the river before the storm waters rose.”

“Such a thing will never happen again.” He took her hand and helped her up. “Come, we must be away.”

She tiptoed across the wooden floorboards to the clothes-rack where her clothes dried before the fire. She slid her red velvet gown over her head and wriggled it down.

He stepped in behind her and laced the stays then helped her don her riding jacket and boots. “Ready?”

“Aye.”

Holding her hand and following the exact route he’d taken in, he led the way out the door and downstairs through the dark. Outside, he stopped and Annie bumped into him from behind.

“What are we waiting for?” She squeezed his fingers.

Across the night-shrouded courtyard, all remained eerily still.

“Stay close.” He withdrew his sword. “All is too quiet.”





Chapter 4


Annie and Colin had to leave without causing a stir or waking a soul. Pulse pounding, she tiptoed in Colin’s footsteps as he skirted the edge of the inner courtyard alongside the wooden outbuildings. He kept to the shadows, stopping every few steps to ensure she remained close behind.

Near the entrance to the stables, he pressed her against the wall. “Stay,” he hushed. “Since I found a way across the river, the others might have as well. I dinnae care right now to deal with any MacDonalds.”

“Be careful.” ’Twas her fault he was here.

“Always.” With his claymore raised, he snuck inside.

Eyes squeezed shut, she clung to the wall. A shuffle and a slap ricocheted toward her then nothing.

“Arthur is here.” Colin appeared out the dark.

She gasped and grabbed his shirtfront. “What about the others?”

“Arthur crossed upstream, although he barely made it through. The others willnae be far behind him.” Arms wrapped around her, he kissed her forehead and murmured in her ear, “We must leave, as quick as we can.”

“Then why are we still standing here?”

“Because Arthur is bringing the horses out and I was rather enjoying this stolen moment.” The moonlight tracking through a break in the dark clouds above lit his golden gaze.

“You’re a terrible tease, and you should be more concerned about your own safety.” She pushed past him and marched into the stables.

Frowning, Arthur led her palfrey toward her. Water dripped from his wet hair onto his deerskin cloaked shoulders. “You are a troublesome lass, Annie MacLeod.”

“Aye, I’m sorry you’ve been riding all night to reach me.”

“The others will find a stretch of the burn to cross soon, just as I did.” He eyed Colin who stepped in behind her. “Although I would like to know how you managed to arrive afore me.”

“My horse apparently has wings.” Colin caught her around the waist and lifted her into her saddle. He fixed her skirts, collected his destrier from Arthur and mounted. “We’ll ride right through. No stopping.”

Arthur nudged his horse into the clear night air and rode out.

Colin glanced at her. “Do I need to issue a challenge?”

“Nay, but I will. Race you.” Energized again, she flew through the night.

Colin pounded in beside her, his dark hair whipping about his shoulders and his watchful gaze alert on their surroundings.

As they reached the river’s edge where she’d first managed to cross, Arthur slowed and jumped down. Assessing the water’s depth, he wandered along the bank then returned and leapt into his saddle. “This is now passable. I’ll go first.”

He urged his horse through the muddy waters flowing with debris and up the other side before waving out for her to follow.

She bundled her skirts higher, showing a few inches of leg but better that than get sopping wet again. Colin groaned and she raised a brow. “Is there a problem?”

“Aye, you, and you’re a mighty one at that.” He slapped her palfrey’s flanks and her horse jerked forward and splashed into the river. Halfway across, a tumbling log riding the waves caught on a protruding rock and bounced off. It skimmed past her mount’s front legs with barely an inch to spare before crashing into the bank.

“Move on, quick,” Colin ordered as he came closer.