Highland Sanctuary by Jennifer Hudson Taylor Read Free Book Online

word."
     
"And I know how important a Highlander's word is." She stopped worrying her bottom lip with her teeth and broke into a relieved smile. "Ye'll discover that we're not like other villages. Here, we're all family."
     
"True, but more than that, I believe in keeping the Lord's commandments. Breaking my word once I've given it would be the same as lying."
     
"Then God brought an honorable man to rescue us." Her hand trembled in his. "I pray the Lord's favor will continue with ye."
     
Pleased by her reaction, Gavin didn't want to let go, but he knew it was the right thing to do. He stepped back.
     
"Come on." Leith tapped his other arm. "Yer word will mean naught if the giant provokes our men while we're away."
     
"Indeed. We'd better hurry," Gavin said, striding to where Sholto was tethered to a tree. Gavin took the reins in his right hand and lifted his other. "I bid ye farewell."
     
She waved and his chest pounded in response. Leith took the lead as he knew the exact location of their camp. They arrived at a beautiful loch, its surface shimmering in the sun's rays as the water gently moved with the slight wind. Heather and an assortment of flowers he couldn't name dotted the wild grass in a mixture of peat moss.
     
In the midst of this pleasant beauty, men shouted. A group surrounded Quinn in a circle, closing in on him. Swords and bows aimed at the vexed giant as he raised a fist in the air. Two ripped canvas tents lay on the ground nearby. Gavin raced his horse toward them, hoping he could prevent anything they would all regret. Leith kept pace.
     
"Stop!" Gavin broke through the circle and faced Quinn upon his horse. "Quinn, who's in danger? Who are ye trying to protect?"
     
"They have Phelan. And I want 'im back." Quinn pointed in the distance at the white wolf he had seen earlier. The animal was bound in an iron chain to the trunk of an oak tree. He lay on his side.
     
"What do ye mean asking him who's in danger? It's us!" Roan said, his skin color nearly matching his shoulder-length red hair. His lips thinned to white and his green eyes glistened like emeralds. "That wolf started growling at me as if he was
     
about to attack, and this big brute went crazy when I protected myself and hit him with a limb. He's lucky I didn't run him through with my sword."
     
"He was already down. Ye didn't have to chain 'im," Quinn said. "Let him loose!"
     
Roan pulled his sword and stomped toward Quinn.
     
"Stop, Roan!" Leith warned. "Hold yer temper."
     
The man paused in mid-stride, but his expression clearly showed his struggle to obey. He clamped his jaw and turned away to pace.
     
"Did the wolf physically attack anyone?" Gavin shielded his eyes from the sun to better see the men. Some looked at each other, shaking their heads, while others murmured among themselves.
     
"Nay," Craig stepped forward. "But the wolf was growling and snarling at Roan as if he might."
     
"Ye left out the rest o' it." Quinn said. "Roan called to Phelan and when the wolf ducked from his grasp, Roan cursed at 'im in anger. Phelan sensed he wasn't to be trusted."
     
"Roan, why would ye provoke a wolf?" Leith asked.
     
"I heard him say that the white fur would make a nice coat," Craig said, tilting his blond head toward Roan, who kicked his booted foot into the ground.
     
"What's wrong with Phelan? Why is he lying down?" Gavin looked at Quinn.
     
"Roan hurt 'im when he threw the stick at his head." Quinn clenched and unclenched his hands at his side. "I need to set him loose and take him home where I can tend to 'im."
     
"Verra well." Gavin nodded. "Craig, help Quinn set the animal free." He looked into the giant's eyes. "I'm sorry."
     
"Wasn't yer fault." Quinn cast a dark menacing gaze at Roan. "If Phelan doesn't recover, ye'll be the one who's sorry."
     
"Is that a threat?" Roan straightened and glared back.
     
"One that is well deserved. Ye had no right to do what ye did," Gavin said.
     
"How was I supposed to know he