Gunther continued to yell and holler, making threats to cut her throat once he found her. She did not doubt that he would make good on his threats. His voice echoed off the trees and made it difficult for her to tell exactly where he was. One moment he sounded as if her were just steps away and in the next, he sounded as if he were on the other side of the forest. It rattled her nerves not knowing where he was.
Soon she was covered in sweat and the pain in her ribs intensified. Still, she ran and stumbled and fought her way through the thick brambles and bushes. Arline came upon some very thick, dense bushes. Mayhap she could crawl inside and hide until dawn. Fully believing Archie would wait for her at the fork in the road, she decided hiding made the most sense. Mayhap Gunther would give up his pursuit of her in the interim.
On her hands and knees, she began to make her way through the bushes. Branches pulled at her skirts and cloak as if they too were trying to capture her. A thick branch scratched along her forehead as she fought her way through.
Sweat dripped into her eyes and stung at the cut along her forehead. She wiped her face on her shoulder, fighting back tears of frustration and fear. She wanted only to get far enough into the thicket that she could hide and wait out Gunther’s search. Just a little further, she tried to encourage her fearful heart. Just a little further and ye can rest.
Just a little further ended up being a dreadful mistake.
Rowan had seen what Arline had done to Gunther’s nose. He couldn’t help but feeling a bit of pride toward the woman. She was certainly proving to be a woman of strength and heart. He could admire that.
He and his men had been just a few feet away when Arline rammed the fool’s head with her own. Rowan sent his men off to take care of Gunther and his friends while he went in search of Arline.
Several times he stopped in order to listen. The rustle of leaves and skirts were barely discernable, but discernable nonetheless. He had jumped the row of bushes that Arline was crawling through. The bushes stood along a gulley. At its bottom lay the stream that wound its way through the forest.
He stopped once to listen and could hear her panting and cursing under her breath as she made her way through the bramble. If she were not careful, Gunther would hear her. Worse yet, she’d tumble into the gulley and likely break her neck before she rolled down into the stream.
He crouched low and waited for her to finish making her way through the bushes and prayed for her to move more quietly.
Arline felt the rush of cool night air hit her skin, realizing a moment too late that she had climbed out of the bushes. Her intent had been to make her way to the middle and hide. She cursed under her breath and was about to turn around and go back when a hand clamped over her mouth and a large arm wound its way around her waist. Her back landed against the hard wall of a man’s torso.
In the next moment, she felt her body being pulled to the ground. Mother Mary, no! Her mind shouted. She struggled against his hold and began to kick her legs.
“Wheesht, lass!” A voice whispered in her ear. “’Tis me, Rowan, Lily’s da! I beg ye to be still!”
Relief washed over her. She ceased to struggle but her heart continued to pound. It was quite difficult to breathe with his hand over her mouth and the pain shooting in her ribs.
As soon as Rowan felt her relax a bit, he slowly removed his hand from her mouth. In a very low whisper he warned her that Gunther was not far. “Gunther,” he whispered against her ear, “be close.”
Arline took slow deep breaths and prayed no one could hear them. Moments later, she heard a great rustling of leaves. Gunther. He was making no attempts to be quiet. “I ken ye be here ye whore!” he shouted. “Ye can run, but ye can no’ hide! When I find ye, I’m going to strip ye naked and have my way with ye!”
Had Rowan not been holding her she would have run. But he was there and she knew, instinctively or hopefully, that he would not let anyone, least of all Gunther, bring her harm.
Gunther was not far. Arline could hear him just on the other side of the bush row. She thought she heard him give pause, and she could imagine him looking about, listening.
“Ye ken ye want it as bad as me, ye wench! Och! I ken ye canna wait to feel me crawl betwixt yer thighs and--”
His words were suddenly cut short. A moment later, Arline heard a distinct thud reminiscent of something or someone falling to the ground. Confusion settled over her before being replaced with fear. Had he somehow seen her and Rowan lying on the ground? Was he preparing to climb through or over the row of bushes?
A moment or two passed as she strained her ears to listen. All she could hear over her racing heart was the sound of tree frogs and crickets. Rowan kept a gentle yet protective grasp around Arline as he imitated the tree frogs.
Arline was afraid to move, to breathe, to make a sound. They lay there on the cold, damp forest floor, waiting, but for what, she was not certain. As the moments passed, Arline began to wonder if Rowan hadn’t taken a hit to his noggin. She prayed her assumption was incorrect as he continued his conversation with the tree frogs.
She was about to inquire if he was well when two large men approached. It was all she could do to remain calm for she could not make out their faces.
“We got them, Rowan,” Daniel said in a hushed tone.
“The whoresons be dead,” Frederick added.
Arline could feel the tension leave Rowan’s body at the same time it left her own. Rowan sighed, relieved, before he loosened his hold on her waist. “Thank God,” Rowan said as he pushed himself to his feet. He extended a hand to Arline and helped her to her own. “How fare ye lass?” he asked, sounding quite concerned for her.
Arline wasn’t sure how to answer that question. How am I? I’ve been beaten, kicked, thrown out of me home, chased down the road and then through the forest by three despicable men. My ribs ache, my legs hurt, I’ve got bruises on top of bruises and scratches. I’m covered with mud, sweat, tears and blood. How the bloody hell do ye think I am?
Instead of voicing her honest answer, she lied. “I’m well, thank ye.” ’Twould do no good to tell the truth, for there was nothing to be done about it.
She felt Rowan’s hand reach out and take a gentle hold of her arm. “We must hurry, lass. There may be more men about.”
Arline stood still, refusing to follow. “Hurry? To where?” She had to get to the fork in the road. She had to get to Archie.
“With us, of course,” Rowan said. “We canna leave ye here alone.”
While she could certainly appreciate the fact that he had no desire to leave her alone, in the middle of heaven only knew where, she was torn. Seven years ago, she had been sworn to secrecy. On her life and her honor, she had sworn never to mention the men in the shadows. It was vitally important that those men’s existence remain undisclosed.
How on earth could she explain it to Rowan without divulging the truth of the matter?
“Lass, we must go, now,” Rowan urged her to follow.
Blindly, numbly she allowed him to lead her away. Perhaps a partial truth would work. “Me laird,” she whispered to him as he lead the way through the darkness. “If ye could take me east, to where the fork begins, I would be most appreciative.”
Rowan paused, but only for the briefest moment. “Nay, we’ll no’ abandon ye, lass. Ye can go with us, to Castle Áit na Síochána,” Rowan explained. His pride was wounded. How could she think he’d just leave her on the road, especially after what had just happened? Did she think him no better than the Blackthorn men?
“Castle Áit na Síochána?” Arline murmured. “Ye mean to take me to yer home?” This was not going as planned. Of course, nothing this night had gone as she had planned, why should getting to the fork in the road be any different?
“Aye, we do.”
“But I only need to get to the end of the road, me laird. Ye needn’t take me to yer home.”
Rowan stopped and turned to look at her. “I’ll no leave ye alone, lass. I offer ye our protecti
on. Ye kept me daughter safe and well cared for.” For that alone, he owed her more than he could ever repay. “Now, do no’ worry it. We’ll be safe on Graham lands in a few days. We can make plans fer ye then.”
She had to think of something and fast. “But there is no need fer that, me laird,” Arline told him as he began leading her away again.
“No need?” Rowan said, sounding perplexed. “Have ye somewhere else to go this night? Do ye have someone else to take ye home?”
Arline swallowed hard. “Well, actually, I do me laird,” she told him.
“Ye do?” Rowan asked, sounding as though he did not believe her. “And who, pray tell, is that?”
Arline cleared her throat and pushed her shoulders back. “One of Blackthorn’s men has offered to help me.” Until she said it aloud, she hadn’t realized just how absurd it sounded.
Rowan was silent for a short time. “Is he yer lover?”
Arline was suddenly quite thankful for the darkness for in it, he could not see her burn red from head to toe. She was stunned by his frankness. “Nay!” she said, astonished. “I have no lover.” How dare he accuse her of such a thing.
“Then why do ye trust him?”
There was no way to answer that honestly. She stammered, searching for the right words. “He seems to be an honest man. He stopped Garrick from killin’ me this night.”
“So, this man, he’s been yer protector this past year?” Rowan asked. “He’s defended ye against yer husband?”
Well, not exactly, but she couldn’t admit that to Rowan. Until tonight, she had believed she was completely alone, without a soul to call friend. But tonight, for whatever reason, Archie had finally stepped forward. Though he hadn’t actually admitted to being one of the shadow men, she had to assume he was, at the very least, one of their allies.
Rowan waited for her to answer. Even in the darkness he could tell that she was mulling over an appropriate answer. He had no time to spend arguing. She may not have been lying outright, but something told him that she was holding back. Mayhap she lied simply because she did not trust him any more than she trusted any other man.
“Lass, I give ye me word that I and me men will protect ye. I’ll no’ let anyone harm ye. I swear it.”
Arline soon realized he was not going to give in. His honor would prevent him from leaving her here alone. She decided it would make more sense to trust Rowan and his men. Though she had not seen Daniel and Frederick in many years, she did know them to be men of high moral character and honor. She could not say the same for Archie.
“We must hurry lass. Someone might soon realize that three of their men are missin’, and if that be the case, then these woods will be filled with Blackthorn men.”
Fear jumped into her belly and danced around. She hadn’t thought of that. It had been difficult enough to hide from Gunther. Had Rowan not been there to help…she found the thought as terrifying as she did repulsive.
Aye, Rowan could very well take her to the spot that she and Archie had agreed upon earlier. But what if he could not get to her in time? What if the woods were suddenly filled with men that did wish her harm?
“Verra well, me laird,” she whispered. “I thank ye kindly fer yer offer.”
Rowan felt some measure of satisfaction in her answer. He believed he’d been correct that she was simply afraid of him and his men. And who could blame her?
“Good, now, mind yer step,” he said as he took her hand and began to lead her away. “Our horses be no’ far from here.”
Arline remained silent and followed close behind Rowan. If Archie were in fact one of the shadow men, it would not take long for him to find her. A new sense of dread settled in her stomach. Much had happened these many years. There was nothing to say that the shadow men still worked to protect her or Scotland, as had been their sworn duty those many years ago. She didn’t even have proof that the shadow men still existed.
The further she walked away from the Blackthorn keep and Archie, the better she felt about her decision. There was just something about Archie that did not sit well in her stomach, something she could not explain. Her instincts did not warn her against following Rowan, Daniel or Frederick. Nay, instead, she felt an overwhelming sense of peace. She would follow that peace and see where it lead her.
Archie cursed under his breath, doing his best not to panic. Garrick had refused to let Archie out of his sight for a good hour after he and Ona had exchanged their vows. He could only surmise Garrick had done it because he was still angry that Archie had come to Lady Arline’s aid earlier, had kept him from killing her.
As soon as Garrick left to enjoy what remained of his wedding night, Archie slipped away. His plan was simple: he would hide the child in one of Arline’s trunks. He would lie to anyone who asked, telling them the trunk was filled with gifts for a nonexistent lass who lived nearby.
Archie had endeared himself to most of Blackthorn’s men. None would question him. He would be able to leave, with the child, and as promised, he would meet Lady Arline before dawn.
He hadn’t arrived in time.
The child was gone. The pillow was the only clue left that someone had taken her. But whom? He knew it hadn’t been Lady Arline, for the only thing she had on her person when he escorted her out of the keep was her satchel. The child was far too big to fit inside that.
Had Garrick ordered someone to take her? Nay, he doubted that. None of Garrick’s men would have tucked a pillow under the blankets. If not them, then who?
He couldn’t very well ask about the castle. To raise the alarm now would be the same as issuing a death warrant for Lady Arline. Garrick would call all his men to arms to search for her. There would be no way to protect her from all of Garrick’s men.
So he left the keep on horseback not long after discovering the child was missing. He had to get to Lady Arline. Her safety was his main priority.
Soon afterward he had come upon three rider-less horses that had been left along the side of the road. Bloody hell! Those were Blackthorn horses, no doubt left by Gunther and whoever else the man had enticed to help him carry out Garrick’s orders.
Anger rose as he left his own horse beside the road and entered the forest. Mayhap they hadn’t killed the lady yet. Either way, he’d kill any and all who had touched her.
It was the sound of tree frogs speaking to each other that first drew his attention. Anyone else may have thought nothing of the sounds the forest made at night, but Archie could recognize that those weren’t real tree frogs talking to one another.
Carefully, he made his way through the dense woods, listening, praying, hoping he was not too late. Not far from the road, he found one man dead. A quick inspection told him it was one of Blackthorn’s men. Had Lady Arline managed to kill him? The man’s throat was sliced so deeply it nearly decapitated him. Nay, Archie doubted Lady Arline had the strength to do such a thing. But who?
He trekked further into the woods, listening to the tree frogs. They seemed to be coming from the east. Silently, he headed in that direction, doing his best not to give away his own position. Who knew who else might be in the woods?
Very soon, he came upon another dead body, slumped against a tree. Another of Garrick’s men, stabbed through the gut and his throat cut. It made the hairs on the back of Archie’s head stand at full attention. Whoever else was in these woods knew how to kill a man.
He kept walking, searching, looking for any sign of Lady Arline. Damn, what he wouldn’t give for a bit of moonlight! Sweat trickled down his back as he made his way along, ducking under low lying branches and going around large old trees.
Soon, he came upon Gunther. A very dead Gunther, laying on the ground near a row of thick bramble bushes. Like the others, his throat had been cut. Blood from the gaping wound was still wet. He’d not been dead long. ’Twas then that he heard the voices.
Creeping closer, he heard Lady Arline whispering. She did not sound as though she were distressed. He strained his ears to listen an
d thought he recognized the man’s voice. When he heard the man speak of Castle Áit na Síochána, Archie breathed a sigh of relief. Castle Áit na Síochána belonged to Rowan Graham. It had to have been Rowan who took the child.
Archie smiled into the darkness, admiring Rowan’s ability to not only get into the Blackthorn keep undetected, but he had also managed to get his daughter out. Rowan would have made a fine shadow man, Archie thought. He would have done the brethren quite proud.
He left them then, as quietly as he had arrived. Lady Arline would be in very good hands amongst the Grahams. Out of harms way, safe, protected. It would allow Archie time to continue his mission.
Seven
They had ridden like the devil was chasing them. And there was a good possibility that he was. Once Garrick learned that Lily was missing or the dead bodies of his men were discovered, all hell would undoubtedly break loose. Arline had no desire to be anywhere near Garrick or his men when that happened.
The pain in her ribs was beginning to subside. She no longer wished to die in order to be free from it. Nay, it had lessened to a more tolerable aching blended with a touch of nausea. The nausea intensified each time Rowan urged their steed to leap over a small ditch or large felled tree.
Riding across the countryside brought back a flood of memories of her time with the Clan MacDougall. Daniel had been among the men to help take Arline to Stirling Castle. This ride was much like the one she had experienced seven years ago. Jumping over felled trees, racing through icy cold streams, through valleys, and narrow tracks that wound their way through mountains.
The only difference this time was that she was in a good deal of pain and did not have her own horse. Nay, she rode perched in front of Rowan.
Rowan. The man whose image had been burned into her mind all these years. The man who had invaded her dreams far too many times to count, more than she cared to admit.
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