Highland Knight by Hannah Howell Read Free Book Online

side as they ran.
     
    Cameron cursed as a cry went up around the camp. He stuffed the map he and his cousin Leargan were studying back into his shirt even as he surged to his feet. The only thing that surprised him when he saw the Murray lasses trying to escape was how fast they could run.
    “Curse Wee Rob and Colin,” he muttered as he started to run. “I told them to watch those lasses closely.”
    “Ye cannae blame them completely,” said Leargan, keeping pace at Cameron’s side. “They are just wee lasses and they have been verra weel behaved.”
    “Which should have alerted us.”
    Leargan laughed. “Ye speak of them as if they are dangerous, cunning foes.”
    “Avery’s mother managed to elude vengeful DeVeaux for a year, almost all on her own. Her father then managed to get them both out of France despite the huge rewards offered for their capture. Her cousin has just married one Sir Cormac Armstrong, a mon who managed to elude vengeful Douglases for two years or more.”
    “Jesu.” Leargan was deeply impressed. “So, they may have learned a trick or two.”
    “Aye, and they are cursed fast on their feet, too. Ye follow the wee one.”
    “They are both wee.”
    “Go after Gillyanne. I will go after that other bundle of aggravation.” Cameron ignored Leargan’s laughter.
    It enraged Cameron far more than he thought it ought, to see Avery running away from him. He suspected it was because he hated to think she was not as infected with blind lust as he was. Then he told himself not to let his own doubts blind him. She felt the need as sharply as he did, he was certain of it. And, perhaps, he thought, that was why she ran.
    A grim smile curved his mouth as he chased her through the wood. He had no intention of letting her escape, not when he was so close to gaining what he craved. By the time they had stopped to camp for the night he had known that she was as twisted up with need as he was. Several times during the torturous ride, he had pulled a soft moan of want from her full lips, had made her shudder in his arms, and all with only the most subtle of touches. It was not thoughts of revenge that had him racing through the woods now, but a determination not to let the delight he was so close to gaining slip through his fingers.
    Avery signaled to Gillyanne to veer to the right while she ran slightly to the left. They kept in sight of each other as they ran, but forced their pursuers to split up. Chancing a quick glance over her shoulder, she saw only two men: Cameron and his handsome cousin Leargan. If there were any others, they were lagging far behind.
    Just as she began to think the game had been played long enough, for she was getting tired and Cameron was drawing nearer, she heard Gillyanne cry out. Avery immediately turned and ran straight for Leargan, who had caught hold of Gillyanne. She was briefly pleased when she saw how her sudden change of direction caused Cameron to stumble slightly before he could turn to follow.
    Without hesitating, Avery hurled herself at Leargan. He cursed, let go of Gillyanne, and fell on his face. Straddling his back, Avery grabbed hold of his dark hair and started to bang his head against the ground. When Gillyanne’s cries of encouragement ended in a squeak, Avery stopped and looked around, not really surprised to see her cousin caught firmly by Cameron. Avery yanked Leargan’s knife from itssheath. Tightly grabbing a hank of Leargan’s hair, she yanked his head back and held his own knife against his throat.
    “A trade?” she asked.
    “Nay,” Cameron replied. “Ye willnae hurt him.”
    “Are ye verra sure of that?”
    “I hope ye are, cousin,” Leargan muttered.
    “Verra sure,” Cameron replied. “Ye willnae hurt him, Avery, and ye willnae leave without this brat, either.”
    “Brat?” Gillyanne cried in outrage.
    “Nay, I willnae.” Avery sighed, released Leargan, and stood up.
    Leargan stood up, brushed himself off, and held out his hand. “My