The Warrior

by Kinley MacGregor

  “Och now, sir,” Cat said, mimicking Lochlan’s Scottish brogue. “Surely you don’t be thinking me a French princess now, do you?” She took a step forward and wrapped her arm around Lochlan’s. “I’m flattered to be sure, but unfortunately there’s only me and my husband here.”

  The guard frowned. “But your name is Catarina?”

  “Catriona. Similar I suppose to French ears, but not the same.”

  He nodded as relief cut across his brow. “I understand completely. Please forgive my interruption.”

  Cat didn’t breathe until the man had shut the door and she heard his footsteps recede down the hallway.

  Lochlan was still scowling at her. “Wherever did you get that accent?”

  She wrinkled her nose at him. “Listening to you and your brothers. I tend to pick them up quite easily.”

  “You can say that. It sounded there for a moment as if you were born to it and Catriona…brilliant.”

  She curtsied to him. “I try.”

  She saw the fire return to his eyes before he excused himself and left her alone in the room to rest. He exited so quickly that she didn’t even have time to speak.

  His actions would have amused her a lot more had she not felt the same heat around him. There was something about him so unsettling and desirable that it was all she could do not to force him to kiss her.

  Don’t forget you hate him. He is everything you loathe in a man.

  He was also kind to an unknown peasant boy and protective of her. Everyone had faults. He just had more than his share. But that being said, his positive factors went a long way in smoothing over those faults.

  Pushing that thought away, she went to his saddlebags to see if he had anything she might nibble on until their food was ready. She’d escaped her guards earlier and hadn’t had a chance to eat a single bite all day. Truthfully, she was famished.

  As she reached the windows, her attention was drawn again to the soldiers outside. And as she spied a man she knew, her heart stopped beating.

  Myles D’Anjou…

  She ran back to the bed, away from the window. Closing her eyes, she whispered a small prayer that he would leave before he caught sight of her. Why was he even here? Why would a nobleman travel with common guards trying to find her?

  To win points with her father, of course. Myles’s family had angered her father by siding with King Henry over some matter and since then her father had been suspicious of them.

  She wanted to curse her luck. Myles had been the first of her father’s courtiers to make his intention to court her known. Luckily, her father had rejected his offers. He didn’t trust the man and neither did she. Myles would gladly hand her over without a moment’s hesitation.

  Or worse, he would do something to try and force her father to make her marry him.

  How she wished she could tell Lochlan of his presence. But if she knew her Highland lord, he wouldn’t speak to the man anyway.

  You’re worrying for naught.

  She hoped that was true. God help her if Myles met Lochlan and learned of her presence here.

  “Excuse me?”

  Lochlan paused as he left the shop and saw a man about a head shorter approaching him. “Can I help you?”

  He was a nobleman unless Lochlan missed his guess, but not a wealthy one. Though his boots were a finer grade of leather, they were old and worn. His dark blue tunic and hose also denoted nobility, however, they had a simple trim, not the ornate ones preferred by those with coin. Even his sword was old and in need of repair. “I’m looking for a woman.”

  Lochlan snorted. “Well then you’re out of luck with me, lad. Last I checked, I’m definitely not female.”

  The man gave him a less-than-amused stare. “I heard you came to town with a woman who sounds a lot like the one I’ve been looking for.”

  “I’ve already had word with another of your men. She’s not the one you seek.”

  “Really? And I’m just to take your word on that matter?”

  “Most people do.”

  His gaze dropped to Lochlan’s sword, which was encrusted with rubies and emeralds around the hilt. “Are you noble?”

  “Aye, with blood ties to three thrones.”

  That gave the man pause. “Where are you from, my lord?”

  “I think I’ve answered enough of your questions. My wife waits for me and I’ve no wish to keep her waiting. I’m sure as a man in search of a woman, you can understand my urgency to get back to her.”

  Lochlan stepped past him. From the corner of his eye, he saw the man call another guard to him. Damn. This didn’t bode well. Grinding his teeth, he swept his gaze to the others who were questioning people and searching places where Catarina might be hiding. He’d fought such odds before, but he’d at least had another sword in hand when he’d done so and he hadn’t been dragging a woman along with him. A fight with the king’s guard could be bloody indeed.

  Trying to put that thought out of his mind, he entered the hostel, where a maid was slicing roasted venison. He paused beside her and handed her coin. “Could you bring two platters and wine to our room?”

  Her eyes widened as she saw the amount he’d given her. “Aye, my lord. I’ll be there posthaste.”

  He inclined his head to her before he headed up the stairs and into the room where Catarina was waiting in a corner with the window drawn tightly closed.

  He’d never seen her so quelled. “Is something amiss?”

  “Aye,” she said in a low tone. “I do know one of the men below.”

  “Let me guess. A short, beady-eyed fellow who wreaks of garlic and sweat?”

  “Myles D’Anjou. I take it you met the swine.”

  He nodded. “He cornered me on the street.”

  “What did you tell him?” she asked in a fearful tone.

  “Absolutely nothing. Think you he’ll listen?”

  “Doubtful. He’s possessed of a terrible nosiness. So much so that Viktor threatened to cut the joint off and hand it to him if it would give us peace from him putting it where it doesn’t belong.”

  Cat pushed herself up from the floor as Lochlan approached her with a wrapped bundle.

  He held it out to her.

  “What is this?”

  “Something I thought you might like.”

  Frowning, she untied the ribbon and pulled back the serge to find a soft linen chemise, a dark blue kirtle, and another of bright green. The gowns were absolutely lovely.

  Lochlan put a few feet of distance between them before he spoke. “The tailor said that the gowns lace tight enough to fit most maids.”

  Cat was speechless as she ran her hand over the finely woven cloth. The last thing she’d expected had been so costly a gift. Indeed, they must have been intended for a lady and Lochlan would have been forced to bribe the tailor quite a bit to let loose such finery. “Why did you purchase this?”

  Still he refused to look at her. “You have no clothing, my lady, and I know how women value such things. I didn’t want you to feel awkward when we reached the tourney.”

  She swallowed at his unexpected kindness. It was truly thoughtful. Her heart pounding, she moved to stand before him. “Thank you, Lochlan,” she said before she placed a chaste kiss to his cheek.

  Lochlan couldn’t breathe as he felt the softness of her lips on his skin. Unable to stand it, he turned his head and took possession of her mouth. He growled at the sweet taste of her.

  Cat dropped her bundle to the floor so that she could cup Lochlan’s face in her hands. Oh the taste of this man. He was tender and feral. Everything about him made her burn. She’d never been kissed like this. She felt both devoured and cherished. It didn’t make sense that she could be so attracted to him.

  Suddenly a knock sounded.

  Lochlan pulled back with a fierce growl. Cat could do nothing more than stand there as he went to the door and threw it open. The maid in the hallway actually squeaked in terror of his stern countenance.

  “Your
food, my lord.”

  Raking a hand through his hair, Lochlan stood back to let her enter. He cast Cat a look that singed her to the spot.

  As quickly as she could, the maid left their food on the small table by the window and beat a hasty retreat.

  Lochlan would have been amused by the woman’s actions had his groin not been on fire. As it was, all he could think of was either pouring water in his lap or making use of the bed behind him. Unfortunately, neither was a feasible option.

  Catarina leaned over the food and sighed. He’d seldom seen a more blissful look as she tore a bit of bread and placed it in her mouth.

  “Hungry?”

  “Famished,” she breathed. Then she gave him a most impish stare. “Should you ever find yourself on the run, I recommend eating before you bash your guard over the head and slip away. ’Tis rather hard to stop and eat while fleeing. They tend to catch up to you then.”

  He smiled at that. “I shall keep that in mind should I ever awaken in chains.”

  Lochlan joined her at the table as she poured wine for both of them.

  She swallowed a bit of wine before she spoke again. “Of course, we did stop for the night…”

  “And they appear to have caught up to us.”

  She nodded. “Think you we should flee as soon as they quiet down?”

  Lochlan glanced out the window, where it was already growing dark. “Let’s see what they do first. With any luck, they’ll clear out. Besides, we will need to rest. Better here than on horseback while trying to flee. Not to mention the horses are exhausted and need to rest even more than we do.”

  “Aye, but I truly hate to wait.”

  “And I believe that impatience was what had you caught in your earlier predicament, was it not?”

  She wrinkled her nose at him. There was something so charming about that look that he couldn’t even fathom it. They finished their meal in silence while Lochlan considered the best course of action.

  Moving to the window, he kept waiting for the orders for the soldiers to leave, but they seemed entrenched. His only hope was that they didn’t intend to stay the night. The stress of this continued waiting was also starting to wear on Catarina.

  “Would you mind giving me a moment? I’d like to wash and change clothes.”

  Lochlan nodded. “There’s a brush in my bags if you have wish of it.”

  “Thank you.”

  Cat watched as he shut the door behind him. She crept to the window to see the men still looking for people to interrogate. Oh, a pox on them for it. At this rate, they’d be stuck here forever.

  But better here than in a German palace. Keeping that thought close, she quickly poured water in a basin and used the small cloth there to freshen up. She was still touched by Lochlan’s kindness at purchasing her the gowns. Then again, it only made sense, really. He was used to looking after other people. As the laird it was his job to anticipate the needs and wants of his people and to meet them as best he could.

  At least that was the theory, but most of the men she’d met in such jobs had developed the attitude that whatever was best for them must be the best for all.

  Kneeling, she opened his saddlebags to look for his brush. It was extremely neat. Every item was carefully wrapped and placed. Poor man to need even something as innocuous as this to be so proper.

  “I must be making him insane.”

  The only order she subscribed to was that of whimsy and imp. In fact, it was taking all of her willpower not to scramble the contents a bit just to see his reaction. But she owed him too much for that.

  She forced herself to brush out her hair, then return the brush to the exact spot where he’d placed it…oh very well, she moved it. It was hard for her to not have a bit of fun with him.

  As soon as she was finished, she opened the door to tell him to reenter. No sooner had she done so than she realized what a mistake she’d made.

  For there in the hallway stood Myles.

  Chapter 4

  Myles’s beady eyes lit up the moment they focused on her. “Good evening, Catarina. It’s so nice to see you again.”

  Cat looked at Lochlan, unsure of how to respond.

  Before she could even blink, Lochlan had Myles by the scruff of his neck and was shoving him through the door. She stumbled back into the room and shut the door while Lochlan held a knife to Myles’s throat.

  “Don’t speak,” Lochlan warned him. “Any word will get you killed, do you understand?”

  He nodded.

  “We don’t have anything to tie him with,” Cat whispered.

  “You should know you can’t escape us. There’s—”

  Lochlan silenced him with a hard punch to his jaw. Myles’s eyes rolled back in his head before he hit the floor with a loud thump.

  Cat arched a brow at Lochlan, who was frowning down at Myles.

  “Not quite death, but at least it got him to shut up, eh?”

  He quickly gathered their things.

  “What if he wakes up?”

  “Then we’re going to be chased, so let’s not dally, shall we?”

  She followed him from the room and down to the stable, where he hastily retrieved their horses. Just as they were mounted, a cry rent the air.

  “The princess is with the Scotsman. Stop her!”

  Lochlan cursed. “Can you keep up with me, lass?”

  “Are you jesting? To avoid them I could beat the devil himself and all his disciples.” She set her heels to the horse. Neighing, it tore from the stable.

  Lochlan smiled at her spirit and skill as he set his horse after hers. He was unfamiliar with this land, which put them at a great disadvantage. The horses had rested a bit, but he wasn’t sure how long they could last at a full run. With any luck, the guards’ horses would be tired as well.

  If not, this was going to be a short, and fatal, escape.

  As they left the stable area, several of the guards lunged at them while others tried to block their path. Lochlan and Catarina dodged them and flew toward the edge of town. He could hear the commotion of the men scrambling for horses.

  “Keep your head down,” he told Catarina. “Continue north and don’t stop whatever you do.” He only hoped that the darkness would be kind enough to shield them from the guards and not so cruel as to hide a deep rut or dip in the ground that would send one of them flying from their mount.

  The last time he’d been chased like this, it’d been his father on his tail, drunk, trying to kill him. Only then Lochlan had known the countryside like the back of his hand. He’d avoided his father easily enough and spent the night in a cave, high above their lands. In the morning, he’d awakened with a nasty cold, which hadn’t kept his father from beating him.

  You’re a worthless bastard. If not for the fact your mother lacked all backbone, I’d swear you were whelped from another man’s loins.

  It was an insult so common that Lochlan had practically cut his teeth on it. He didn’t even know what made him think of it now. But one thing was certain…if they caught him, they wouldn’t come away from the battle without scars of their own.

  Grinding his teeth, he urged his horse faster.

  Cat’s heart was pounding as they tore through the darkness. She hated not being able to see. It was a moonless night, which would help conceal them from the guards, but it didn’t help them find the road they should be traveling on. A twinge of fear crept through her and she hated that. She didn’t like being afraid. But the darkness was oppressive.

  Suddenly, Lochlan was beside her, slowing her down.

  “Is something wrong?”

  He motioned her to silence.

  She didn’t speak, but the thrumming of her heart in her ears was deafening.

  Lochlan slid to the ground and held his hands up for her to join him. Not sure if she should obey, she forced herself to trust him. His grip was sure as he guided her to land by his side. He slapped the rump of her horse and sent it off and running.

  “What are—”<
br />
  “Sh!” he snapped.

  Angry, she watched as he led his horse to the side of the road and had it lie down. He covered it with leaves and debris, then had her lie by its side. As soon as she was covered, he joined her. He’d barely covered himself before she heard the thundering sound of approaching hooves.

  “Do you see them?” one of the guards shouted.

  “Aye. They’re still running ahead.”

  As soon as they passed, she started to rise only to have Lochlan hold her down. She could feel the muscles of his arm flexing intimately against her stomach and breasts. Just as she opened her mouth to protest, she heard another rider approaching. She actually gaped at the sound and waited for it to pass.

  Once it’d long faded, Lochlan pushed himself up, then extended his hand toward her.

  “How did you know there would be another rider?”

  “Any commander with half a brain will have one riding in the back, just in case of this ruse.” He swung her onto the back of his horse before he joined her.

  “Can your horse carry both of us?”

  He urged his horse to the east. “For a bit. We’ll have to travel slower than before, but since they’re not at our heels, we should be fine.”

  “Unless they realize my horse carries no rider.”

  “Hopefully by that time, they’ll be far enough gone that they won’t be able to backtrack to find us easily.”

  Cat hoped he was right. The last thing she wanted was to return to her father in chains. Not to mention, Lochlan was putting his own life in danger by helping her. He owed her nothing and yet he was being kinder to her than her own family. It made her heart soften toward him.

  “Have I told you just how much I appreciate what you’re doing for me?”

  “Nay, lass, you’ve only insulted me.”

  “Then I shall never insult you again…even should you deserve it.”

  Lochlan was taken aback by the tenderness in her voice. More used to venom than honey from people, he wasn’t sure how to respond. “Thank you.”

  “You’re quite welcome.”

  They continued on in silence as Lochlan kept an ear attuned for any sound or sign of the guards’ return. But as they made their way through the forest, it appeared they’d managed to evade the guards.