by Alisa Adams
“I dinnae care who ye are, ye willnae take me sister ye vile scunner!” screamed Godet.
One of the men holding the muskets to them took a step closer, putting the musket to her head. “This one dies first. Such a mauchit mouth on a braw, lassie,” he said with a smirk on his face as he stared at her.
Godet started to say something back, but Gordon grabbed her harder up against his back and hissed her name again.
“I’ll go with them…” Flori whispered hoarsely, her voice urgent as she stared at the man with the musket to her sister’s head.
“Where ye go, I go,” Loughlin grunted.
Flori looked back at him in surprise. He looked down on her with those crinkling blue eyes and the small smile on his mouth. He winked at her. Flori stared up at him, her lips slightly open in amazement. Loughlin looked over at Gordon and nodded once again.
“Ye may take her,” called out Gordon in a growl, “but only under one condition.” His voice was heavy with command and a distinct warning.
“No!” screamed Godet.
Gordon caught Godet around the waist as she turned around and started to run to Flori. He held her as she struggled against his hold to get to her sister, shaking her head in anger and crying out for Flori.
“My man goes with her,” Gordon demanded, his voice loud and rough with rage. He held Godet easily as she continued to struggle to get out of his arms. “If anything happens to them,” he warned, his voice ringing with power and authority that instilled fear in men. “Ye will have the entire MacDonell clan and all its’ allies descending on ye like a rain of fire from the depths of hell. And we will wipe all of Mungan’s warrior scum off the face of this earth. Ye willnae have anywhere to run, dae ye ken?” he roared as he glared at Red Munroe.
“No!” screamed Godet. “What are ye doing? No!” she pleaded, crying now, struggling furiously against his hold.
Red Munroe nodded once, looked at his men and then over at Loughlin. “Drop yer weapons, giant, and hold the girl. If she gets away, I hold ye responsible.”
Loughlin grunted and dropped his knife.
“Flori! Flori!” screamed Godet, out of control with fear for her sister as she twisted and turned and pulled against Gordon’s hold about her waist.
“Godet!” Gordon said harshly into her ear. “Calm yerself! I command it,” he gritted out in a hiss against her hair, holding her in a viselike grip with his arms locked around her waist and crushing her against his chest.
Red Munroe gave a nod and the men rode off. One of them attached a rope to Flori’s horse and began to lead them away. Loughlin looked back at Gordon and kicked the horse into the line of warriors heading away. He smiled grimly at Gordon and nodded.
Godet went into a full fit of terror then. She began screaming Flori’s name and kicking at Gordon. She twisted in his arms and beat her fists against his chest. Tears were coursing down her cheeks as she railed at him.
“What are ye doing?” Ye cannae let them have her!” she cried, pounding her fist on his chest once again. “We must go after them, quickly Gordon!” Her voice was raw from crying and screaming.
He grabbed her wrists firmly. Holding her as she struggled. “Godet! Godet!” he yelled into her face. “Loughlin is with her! He willnae let anything happen to her!”
Godet’s chest was heaving with her sobs and the exertion of trying to fight against Gordon’s hold. She stilled as she sobbed, looking into his eyes. Gordon let go of her wrists. She stood there heaving, rubbing her wrists where he had held her in his viselike grip.
In a split second, she had turned and was away from him, running toward the forest where Mungan’s warriors had disappeared. He ran after her, tackling her to the ground. He rolled as they fell together, taking the impact with his own body then quickly rolling over and pinning her to the ground. She started to fight him again, kicking and heaving her hips up against him to dislodge him as she pummeled her fists against his chest again and again as she cried and screamed. Gordon let his weight sink down fully on top of her to still her, his muscular legs splaying over hers, then he grabbed her wrists and pinned them to the ground over her head.
Godet looked up at him in fury, her breasts heaving as she glared at him.
“Godet,” Gordon said quietly, his voice rough and deep as he stared down at her, “Loughlin will die before he lets anything happen to Flori. He has claimed her. She is his. He will protect her with his life…” he explained in a harsh whisper.
“She doesnae want him! She cannae stand the touch of any man! Ye dinnae know her or what she went through under Mungan’s hands! We should have fought harder. Ye should have let them take me!”
“Never,” he growled harshly, his face contorting in anger and what looked like pain. “I would die before I let anything happen to ye…” he hissed, his nose almost touching hers, his long dark hair fell to either side of her face as he stared down at her. His green eyes held hers.
“I would have died for her!” she cried, struggling against his hold on her wrists once again.
Gordon slid his hands up her wrists and clasped her hands with his own. Their fingers were interlocking. He gripped her hands firmly. “What good would that have done?” he said roughly. “Think, me braw warrior, who was it who said niver go to a musket fight with naught but wee dirks? A warrior chooses the time, the place, and makes sure to have the right weapons! We have bought some time; we will gather men to go after them.”
“Ye will start a war for my sister?”
“If that is what it takes to get her back, yes,” he said simply.
She stared up at him with tears glistening in her eyes. A single tear slipped out and began to travel over her cheekbone toward her hair. He leaned down and slowly and gently brushed it with his lips. Then he stared into her eyes. He knew his were full of hunger for her. She frowned as she parted her lips to take a breath and then pushed up at him, trying to dislodge him. He quickly let go of her hands and untangled his legs from hers. Leaving the delicious feel of her body under his, he quickly shoved up off of her.
He held out his hand to her. “Come, me fierce warrior. We need to get back to Castle Conall and gather men,” he told her firmly.
“I willnae ever forgive ye if anything happens to me sister,” Godet said hoarsely as she let him help her off the ground.
“I know,” he said with a frown.
He did not let go of her hand as they hastily made their way back to Conall.
12
Gordon was in a rage and Godet was valiantly trying to hold back her tears. She bustled about gathering the things that Ceena and Ina had brought down into the great hall from their rooms. The huge, great hall was lit by the massive fireplace that had been the center of the castle for generations of MacDonells. It lit up the beautiful wood paneling that had been added to cover the cold stone walls in recent years. The old tapestries that had also hung there for hundreds of years hung proudly still. Their vibrant silk threads and war scenes picking up the firelight. Wall sconces were placed strategically along the walls to light up every dark corner around the huge room. A giant iron wheel holding candles hung from ropes on a pulley over the center of the hall as well.
“What dae ye think ye’re doing?” he said angrily to Godet as he watched her.
“I’m packing some things to go after her, I’ll not be dithering aboot,” Godet told him. “What dae ye think I should be doing?” she railed back at him.
“Ye stay here. We will go after them!” Gordon said sharply to her.
“They couldn’t have me so they took Flori. Of course, I’m going and dinnae ye dare order me not to!”
“We know how to get into Fionnaghall undetected,” added Ceena who was surprisingly calm. “And how to get out…” She put some things into her own bag—mostly weapons, Tristan noticed.
Tristan looked over at Gordon. His jaw was clenched in anger.
“Ye canna expect the Ross sisters to stay placidly behind,” Ina said, interrupting what Gordo
n was about to say. “Ye expect us to be twiddling our fingers and crying and moaning with worry as we sit idly waiting for ye mighty warriors to dae our work dae ye? We are warriors, though female. Godet will niver give up when there has been a wrong done to someone and Ceena can fight as well as any man. Plus, there are the Clydesdales. We will smash those evil Ross’ into the dirt beneath Fionnaghall’s crumbling stones. Then toss what is left of their bloodied bodies into the roiling waters below the cliffs, letting them sink into the deep, dark sea while the creatures nibble at their very flesh and bones ‘til naught is left and they are never to be seen again, only to be remembered as just a terrible, evil memory…” Ina described.
Godet stared at Ina, shaking her head once with a grim smile, then she said matter-of-factly with a quick glance at Gordon, “Ye need us.” Then she returned to her packing.
Gordon glanced at two of his warriors behind him in the hall. They had stood quietly waiting for their Laird’s order. “Gather the company of men from the Black Watch of the third battalion from An Gearastan. I want them ready to ride within the hour. And Tristan, tell yer second in command, Liam, to bring two of his best warriors. I want them here, now,” growled Gordon.
Castle Conall was part of a garrison for the Highland Scottish army. Gordon’s men were always ready and well-trained if needed. Those warriors he trained were the best and most feared in the Highlands. He had a company of men from the Black Watch training at Conall.
“Gordon... Laird,” said Tristan urgently, “ye are using the Royal Regiment?”
“Aye, I am. ‘Tis kidnapping taking Lady Flori and Loughlin. Mungan has already committed murder many times as has this Red Munroe. They’ve also taken over Castle Fionnaghall by nefarious means. ‘Tis warranted.” He stared at Tristan, his jaw working in anger. “I’ll send a full report brother. Dinnae ye fash.”
“The elders?” Tristan asked.
Gordon stopped. He motioned to another of his men. “Tell, or rather, ask the elders to come. We have an important matter that needs to be discussed immediately.”
It rankled on Gordon to have to get permission from the elders during certain situations. But as they were former leaders of Conall’s warriors in the past, they were respected and held the position of advisor after Gordon’s parents had died. He was still considered a young, inexperienced Laird. Somehow, after all these years, they still thought he needed their advice. There were times he enjoyed discussing things with them and other times it was purely out of respect. This was one of those times and he was getting frustrated at the time he knew it would take.
When the three older men heard what Gordon was about to do they argued fiercely amongst themselves. “We cannae be thinking to agree to involve the Black Watch in this, Laird,” Ronan the eldest of the three said. He was a white-haired bull of a man whose skin was as worn as an old tree. His nose was as crooked as a lightning bolt and nearly as red as one.
“Nor to engage in what would be a war with the Ross’,” Ronald added. He had very little hair left and what was left stood straight up on the very top of his head in white wisps. He was tall and thin and walked with a terrible limp from years of battle injuries.
“I don’t like it, not one wee bit. The scunners took the sweet lass. We gaunnie dae something!” Roy slammed his fist on the table as he spoke. Roy was the newest elder, having lost an arm in his very last battle. He had a temper that was as fierce as his remaining fist. “Gordon has me approval to use the Black Watch and rightly so I would say!”
Gordon stood calmly in front of them. “’Tis a Ross they took. And they are not Ross’, but Munroe’s who have taken Fionnaghall by evil means including murder!”
“Munroes!” spat Ronan. “Weel noo, that changes things it does,” he said and looked at Ronald.
“Aye, they’re a bunch of skivers. How many times has a Munroe weaseled their way into another clan and managed to take control? From Munroe to Ross. No one even remembers who they were before Munroe,” Ronald said shaking his head.
Gordon crossed his arms across his broad chest. He stood with his feet planted wide as he stared at them. “This group is led by Mungan Munroe who is now calling himself Mungan Ross. Loughlin is with Lady Flori, so she has some protection, but I’d like this decision quickly so we can go after them immediately.”
Godet started to step forward to say something but Gordon turned his head and looked at her, seeing that she was about to approach the elders. He glared fiercely at her and shook his head once. She stepped back with a mutinous look at him.
“As ye can imagine, Lady Flori’s sisters are afraid for her life. Mungan is a dangerous man,” Gordon said with a look at Godet again. She was shaking her head adamantly at the elders.
Ceena and Ina stood beside her. Ina was wringing her hands and Tristan was holding Ceena back. His hand was on her arm to keep her from stepping forward to address the elders—or rather, to rail at them as he knew she wanted to.
“Mungan!” spat Ronan again. “Aye, the worst kind of scunner! Ye hae me agreement to take the Black Watch.”
“Aye, mine as well,” added Ronald.
Roy was shaking his head in agreement. “Ye had mine from the beginning. Go Laird and Godspeed!”
Three of Gordon’s best warriors were standing inside the door of the hall waiting for their Laird’s command on the decision. They had heard the elder’s discussion with Gordon. When the Laird saw them there, standing quietly, their arms crossed, and their legs spread while they watched, he motioned for them to come forward. The three warriors walked forward to stand in front of him.
They could not take their eyes off the three beautiful sisters who stood with their Laird.
“Ye asked for us, Laird?” Liam, the largest and oldest of the three said to Gordon with a frown, but his eyes were on Ina, who stared openly as she looked up at the huge, blond warrior. He stared angrily back at her, but when he caught her eye, he raised his eyebrow at her. He wore his hair short, cropped close to his head, and he had a short-trimmed beard on his square jaw. His arms bulged with muscles where he had them crossed in front of his chest. He was a towering giant with a fierce-looking face with many faint scars on his arms and one scar intersecting his eyebrow, just barely touching the side of one eye.
The three warriors had seen the girls ride their giant horses in the practice battle exercises and had heard of their prowess against the Ross’ on their journey to Castle Conall. News travels fast in a castle that doubles as a battle training facility—especially when female warriors arrive. They stood there, staring. Liam still had a fierce frown on his face as he stared at petite Ina with her long, white-blonde hair that fell in ripples past her waist. The other two were standing there, looking uncomfortable and smiling sheepishly.
“We shouldnae have women here, isn’t that the rule?” one of the warriors said under his breath to the other. “Even Liam agrees they dinnae belong here, he looks very angry about it.”
“Liam always has that mean look on his face, ye glaikit mon,” the smaller of the two said under his breath as he looked sideways at the huge, frowning man beside them.
“When ye are done gaping at the women, I need yer attention,” Gordon said tersely. His voice was steely with disgust at his men. He did not want to admit that he did not like them staring at Godet. Evidently, Tristan was having the same reaction to the warrior’s avid admiration as he all but shoved Ceena behind his back as he too glared at the warriors. She elbowed him hard in his ribs and moved to stand beside him. She did not want to miss anything.
Just as Gordon was about to give out his commands to the three big warriors, Brigda’s voice was heard in the hall.
“What is this about ye going to war against the Munroe’s?” she demanded loudly as she walked up to the group. “My father will not like it one bit!”
“Laird Mackenzie would understand,” Gordon said firmly to her as he started to turn back to his men.
“But I need these warriors to protect me. Ye can�
��t take them,” she argued stubbornly.
Gordon got deathly quiet as he looked at Brigda. Godet saw the change in his expression and thought that if Brigda truly knew Gordon well, she would realize that look was one of dire warning. Gordon was furious.
“Protection from what?” Gordon said very, very quietly. His voice strained as he tried to keep his temper.
“Well,” Brigda began, “from all these other warriors and well… Well, ye never know, dae ye? A woman, such as myself, amongst all these men here...” She continued in a wheedling voice that was meant to sound beguiling but fell far short, “It’s natural that men would want to act on their, well, their primal urges around me.” She began batting her eyelashes up at the men who stood there.
“Oh, my,” Ina whispered under her breath as she stared transfixed at Brigda.
“Oh, for sard’s sakes…” Ceena cursed quietly. Tristan looked down at Ceena. She looked back up at him and batted her eyelashes. Ceena heard Tristan growl as he stared at her lips. She frowned at him then shoved him away quickly with a grunt.
“Girls,” Godet said firmly but quietly.
“Brigda, I am sure my men can contain their urges around ye,” Gordon said each word as if he was slashing a knife through the air. He paused, his jaw clenching in anger. “I have need of these three. They ride with me and the Ross sisters who dae have need of protection against a very real threat.”
Brigda stared at him aghast, red coloring her face as she grew angrier and angrier. “I forbid it! My father will forbid it,” she hissed angrily.
“Forbid what?” Gordon challenged her, his voice was a low growl and full of warning.
“I forbid ye to ride out nor will I allow these women to go with ye. And I forbid ye to take the Black Watch. My father would not agree with it either. Let the Ross girl meet her own fate. I heard ye say Loughlin was there to protect her. Our wedding takes priority!”
“Oh my,” Ina whispered again as she watched Brigda and Gordon in rapt fascination. She noted the tick in Gordon’s jaw as he stared down at Brigda with a furious expression on his face.
