Shadow Music by Julie Garwood Read Free Book Online Page A

made the final decision.
    All were in agreement on one issue: they wanted their captive to wake up so that he would know what they were about to do to him.
    Gabrielle was sickened and appalled by the snippets of conversation the wind brought her. What sin was their captive guilty of? What was his transgression? She decided that it didn’t matter what he had done, for no crime, no matter how heinous, deserved such a sadistic punishment. It was inhuman.
    As she listened to their escalating argument, she discovered the truth. The only sin their captive was guilty of was one of association. He was Laird Colm MacHugh’s brother.
    The leader finally spoke. “Hamish, keep your eyes on that ledge. We can’t put Liam MacHugh in the ground until we see his brother.”
    “Gordon, I ain’t deaf. You already told me what to do, and I’m doing it. I got my eyes peeled on that ledge. I’m still wanting to know what we’re supposed to do if Laird MacHugh don’t come to save his brother.”
    “He’ll be coming all right,” one of the others answered. “And when he makes the turn at the lookout, he’ll see what’s happening, but no matter how fast he rides, he won’t get here in time. His brother will be long dead, and we’ll be long gone back to the border.”
    “And how will he be able to tell it’s his brother going in the ground?” yet another asked.
    Gordon answered. “Word’s reached him by now that his brother’s in trouble. He won’t be able to see his face from such a distance, but he’ll recognize the plaid.”
    “What if he don’t recognize the plaid from so far away?” Hamish asked.
    “He’ll still see us dumping Liam into the hole and burying him. He’ll know.”
    “If he can’t see his face, then he can’t be seeing our faces, either. So how come we have to wear these robes? They’re scratching my skin. I feel like I got bugs crawling on me. It smells, too, like pig swill.”

    “Quit your complaining, Kenneth,” Gordon ordered. “We’re wearing the robes we stole because we aren’t going to take any chances MacHugh might see our faces.”
    “If he ever finds out we did this…” Hamish visibly shivered. “He’ll do worse than bury us alive.” There was a grumble of agreement. “Maybe we ought to just leave him and take off now,” Kenneth said. He was nervously backing away from the hole.
    “Don’t talk stupid,” Gordon said. “Laird MacHugh is never going to find out who we are. Why do you think we were brought up from the lowlands?” He added in a rush before there could be another complaint, “And paid handsomely. Are you willing to give that up?”
    “No, but—” Hamish began.
    “Enough talk of running away,” he snapped. He turned to the soldier standing over the unconscious warrior and said, “Kick him, Roger. See if he stirs. I want him awake when he goes in the hole.” Roger did as ordered, swiftly kicking him in his side. Liam didn’t move.
    “I don’t think he’s going to wake up this time,” Kenneth said. “I’m guessing he’s dying now.”
    “You shouldn’t have beat him so hard, Gordon,” Hamish muttered.
    “We all took a turn,” Roger reminded him.
    “We only did what we were told to do,” another interjected.
    Gordon nodded. “That’s right. We were only following orders, like the good soldiers we are.” Kenneth pushed the hood on his robe back, scratching his ear. “Tell me again. What did Liam MacHugh do?”
    “I’ve told you ten times already,” Gordon shouted as he gave Kenneth a mighty shove, nearly knocking him into the hole.
    The soldier scrambled to regain his balance. “Tell me again,” he said.
    “We caught Liam, and we’re killing him to bring his brother down off the mountain so the soldiers hiding in the east woods can catch him unawares.”
    Kenneth scratched his ear again as though to remove a pesky bug. “What are they gonna do with him when they catch him?”
    Gordon shook his head. “Kill him, you simpleton,