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While her friend continued on to the creek, Gillian held her leg steady against the saddle and slowly et a closer look at the fallen men She’d seen Faudron before, but she didn’t re anyone naht, and after one quick, necessary glance, she knew that Durston wasn’t theinto Dunhanshire
When Bridgid called to her, she turned around and went back to the top of the hill She found that if she gripped her thigh tight and pushed down hard, the wound wasn’t jarred by the ait and the pain was bearable
Proster had collected Bridgid’s bow and arrows and was now helping her onto her mare
“You’re certain you can ride, Bridgid?” he asked
“Yes”
Proster swung up onto his le of descent, and then said, “Hopefully on’t have to go far before they find us”
“Do you think they’re looking now?” Bridgid asked
“I hope they are,” he answered
The three of the because of the discoot up the nerve to look closely at the laceration and was relieved when she saasn’t as horrible as she thought The arrow had caught the outside of her thigh and had gone through flesh, just as Bridgid said Now that she knew the injury wasn’t severe, the discomfort didn’t seem so bad Until she tried to pull the arrow out She nearly passed out froh her
“Do you think they’re looking for us?” Bridgid asked
“We’ve been gone a long ti for us by now”
“Ker and Alan both sawto follow you”
Bridgid jerked on her reins and turned to Gillian “They’ll tell their commander,” she whispered “They’ll tell Anthony, and he’ll send more men”
Gillian tried not to panic “No,” she said “He doesn’t know his men failed”
Proster turned back when Bridgid and Gillian didn’t follow He assumed Gillian needed to rest for a few minutes
Amay have been harmless to touch but it was deadly to ride in, for like a thief, it would rob theht
“We’ve got to get to high ground before dark,” Proster said
“No one will find us in thismiserable now and disheartened
“Anthony won’t find us either,” Bridgid pointed out
Unaware that Anthony had sent theid’s comment “Ker and Alan should tell Anthony that I followed you, but I don’t think they will”
“Why not?” Bridgid asked “In Gideon’s absence, he’s their commander”
“It won’t matter,” Proster said “They don’t respect or trust him He’s made it clear he has no use for any of the MacPherson soldiers, and he’s humiliated Ker and Alan and all the rest of us countless times No, they won’t tell him”
“But when it’s noticed that we’re gone, Anthony will have to send out search parties, won’t he?”
“Yes, but I doubt he’ll send any soldiers this far north He’d send soldiers to search the et lost?”
“No,” Gillian answered
“Yes,” Bridgid said at the same time
“We went riding and lost track of the time,” Gillian lied “And weno, that isn’t true, Proster We thought that my sister lived in this area, but ere mistaken”
Proster saw the tears in Gillian’s eyes and rushed out, “It isn’t hopeless Ker and Alan will tell Ra for you, Lady Buchanan”
“But if he—”
Proster sine that Brodick and his guard are tearing the hills apart now looking for you Don’t despair Your husband will come for you”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Gideon gave them the bad news Ra when the Sinclair co across the courtyard to intercept them
One look at his grim expression told both lairds there was serious trouble
“What is it?” Ramsey demanded
Gideon panted as he explained “Lady Buchanan and Bridgid KirkConnell have disappeared We’ve searched everywhere and cannot find them”
“What the hell do you mean, they’ve disappeared?” Brodick roared
“How long have they been ?” Ramsey demanded
Gideon shook his head “I’ot back fro with soldiers to search for them I was just about to join them”
“They can’t have gone far,” Ramsey told Brodick “It’s nearly sunset now We’ll have to hurry if we’re going to find theo?”
“South,” he answered “Laird, I take full responsibility for this If I had been here instead—”
Ramsey cut him off “You were needed at home,” he snapped “No one saw them leave?” he asked then Incredulous, he shook his head “Hoas it possible for the them?”
Gideon didn’t have any answers Brodick swung onto his stallion’s back “We’re wasting time,” he muttered “I’ll search the west Gideon, take soldiers and search the east, and Rao north”
“There’s no reason to go north,” Raone into the wilderness Bridgid knows better”
Two scared young MacPherson soldiers waited on their horses near the base of the valley They watched Gideon lead a band of soldiers down the hill and then head east
“You tell Laird Buchanan,” Alan whispered
Ker shook his head “You tell hiain I’ll tell Ramsey”
Brodick and Black Robert took the lead, followed by Dylan, Liarassy plain when they heard a shout Dylan turned back when he saw the MacPherson soldier chasing them, but the others continued on
Alan’s freckled face was bloodred, more from fear than exertion as he blurted out his important news “Prosterhe followed the ladies, and they went north”
Dylan whistled and within seconds Brodick and the others surrounded the boy
“Proster followed my wife?”
The steely gaze of the laird so unnerved the soldier, he could barely get the words out “He saw your wife and Bridgid KirkConnell riding north”
“Were there soldiers with them?” Aaron demanded
“No, they went out alone, and that’s why Proster followed the them backthat it wasn’t safe”
“Then why the hell didn’t he bring them back?” Liam demanded
“I don’t know,” Alan stato look for them, but then Gideon arrived, and on his heels, you and Ramsey returned”
“If you aren’t telling us the truth, I swear I’ll flay you alive,” Black Robert threatened
“As God isyou the truth I swear it on rave My friendKerhe went to tell Rao north”
“Bring hiallop, he raced toward the forest He kept telling hiood My God, as she thinking to ride out into the wilderness without protection? One boy protecting toht, or Proster would have brought them back by now
For the first tiht I need her
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Gillian had had enough She sierous anyway, as darkness was fast approaching and the graythicker They had stopped beside a creek, and she was about to tell Proster that with or without his help she was going to get rid of the arrow, but then she heard a ruround beneath her began to tremble
Proster grabbed his sword as Bridgid frantically reached for her bow and arrows Gillian pulled her dagger froid
“Get ready,” Proster called, gri over the tremor he heard in his voice
“Maybe it’s Ker and Alan” Bridgid whispered the hope out loud
“Too ed his horse forward to put himself in front of the women
Seconds later, Brodick eed from the mist He saw the three of theht of his wife, apparently safe and sound, filled him with such relief, his knees alround
His soldiers followed They, too, dis so violently it looked as though he aving at them with his sword But he didn’t back down or run As terrified as he was, he held his ground, willing to risk his life for the women
“Put your sword away, boy,” Dylan commanded
Brodick rushed to his wife “Gillian, you are all right?”
He expected a quick yes, and then he was going to give her hell Didn’t the woman understand how much she meant to him? How dare she take such a risk? By God, he would deh such torture And it would be a ave her
She was so overwhelmed with relief and joy that Brodick had found her, she didn’t care that he was furious “No, I’ht, but Brodick, I’m so happy to see you”