Craving the Highlander's Touch by Willingham Michelle Read Free Book Online Page B

of them. As they drew closer, Finian started shifting their path into the hills, in an effort to avoid a confrontation with the soldiers. They rode for several minutes, and Finian leaned closer to Alys, whispering. “Are you all right after last night?”
    She turned her face slightly toward him. “I never knew there could be such pleasure between a man and a woman.” Her cheeks flushed as she whispered, “Is it always like that?”
    “It was never like that for me. Only with you.”
    She looked startled by his answer, as if she didn’t know what to say. Finian covered her hands with his, slowing the pace of their horse as the camp of the English soldiers came into view. Behind him, Brochain kept a close watch over Iliana and Jeanne, while the others remained within a close distance.
    Though it was not quite dawn, Finian could see the faint light of coals from the camp fires. He motioned for them to leave the pathway, traveling higher up the hillside, in an effort to stay clear of the soldiers.
    But just as they reached the trees, Finian spied a single torch ahead. He tried to pull them back, but the silvery glint of chainmail armor emerged within the forest. The soldiers had been waiting for them, it seemed.
    Finian dismounted, unsheathing the sword he’d stolen from the armory a day ago. He handed the reins of his horse to Alys, giving her the means to flee if she needed to.
    He glanced backward at his brother, who was already shielding Iliana and moving towards Alys. Brochain would keep his word; he could trust in that.
    “Did you bring my silver?” came the voice of Sir Geoffrey.
    “No.” Alys tightened her grip on the reins. “And even if there was any silver, it was never yours.”
    “Bitch,” the knight growled, charging towards her. “You’ll give it to me or suffer the consequences.”
    “Or you will.” Finian lunged forward with his sword, striking out against the knight to keep him from reaching Alys. His weapon bit into the wood of Sir Geoffrey’s shield.
    The knight motioned for his men to close in. It wouldn’t be a fair fight, and Finian had only one chance to free Alys. He slapped the horse’s flank and ordered, “Go with Brochain. Now!”
    She faltered a moment, and Finian swung hard as four more attackers circled him. He knew there was no hope of escaping them—there were too many men outnumbering him. But he could save his family.
    “Alys, you’ve no choice!” he commanded. She looked stricken, but at last obeyed, riding hard with Brochain, back the way they had come.
    Finian didn’t care if he died protecting them. As long as she and his daughter were safe, that was all that mattered. More soldiers closed in, and he kept swinging his blade, praying to God that Brochain would keep his daughter and Alys alive.
    “We have to go back for him,” Alys pleaded when Brochain wouldn’t stop riding.
    “I will. But not until you and Iliana are safe. He made me swear it.” The man kept up a punishing pace, leading them farther away from the garrison. Alys felt the choking fear rising up. Finian didn’t deserve to be abandoned. Not after everything he’d done.
    She pulled her horse to a stop. “No. The longer we wait, the greater the chance that they’ve killed him already. I won’t let that happen.”
    “And why would you care, Lady Harkirk? My brother means nothing to you.”
    “You’re wrong.” She struggled to keep from crying, for tears would do no good. “He’s a good man and doesn’t deserve to die.”
    “I’ll agree with you. But if anything happens to Iliana, he’ll have my head for it.”
    She saw the child listening to them, and she led her horse back to Finian’s daughter. The young girl was trying hard to be brave, but everyone knew that Finian was in terrible danger.
    “Don’t be afraid,” Alys murmured. “We’re going to get your father back,” she said to Iliana, reaching out to squeeze the girl’s hands.
    “What if they’ve killed him?”
    “I