Heart of the Highlands: The Beast (Protectors of the Crown Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and tell yer Laird he can no’ hide from us much longer!” Rylan instructed.
    The two men looked at each other, quickly stood, and scurried off toward the trees.
    “Please, dinna leave me!” the lass pleaded, before the two men were swallowed up by the darkness of the forest.
    Ian held no fear of the two men telling Chisholm what had taken place. In fact, he was counting on it. Knowing he now held a Chisholm lass captive, there was no doubt Chisholm would retaliate. It was as if fate had brought the lass to him.
    ~*~
    Anger and betrayal replaced Keira’s fear the moment she saw her two escorts vanish behind the cluster of trees. Foolish cowards! How could they leave me here alone with these men? Keira looked back at the group of Highlanders salvaging what goods and supplies they could find in the carriage. Thieves! She couldn’t help but wonder why they had chosen not to kill the two young men. The outlaws were well-armed and the two young lads were no match, against even one of them. A tinge of hope that perhaps these men took pity on the weak and vulnerable calmed her rampant thoughts.
    There were five of them in all. The first man she referred to as the Beast and assumed was their leader, a man with long, dark brown-colored hair who stood across the road, a blonde haired man who looked very much like the Beast but not as tall and muscular, a redhead, and the younger brown-haired one, who, reeking of whiskey and sweat, held her tightly, preventing her from running away.
    Three of the men wore similar clan colors, and the others wore different plaids. None of them looked familiar, but then again, Keira had never traveled away from home as her father had forbidden it. Home . How she wished she was there now. She had not even had the chance to give a proper goodbye to her clansmen, or her sisters, as her father rushed her off to Inverness to meet her betrothed. Thanks be to God that Alys was not here with her now.    
    “Take only what is valuable and leave the rest. We must return to the camp,” the beastly man who’d pulled her out of the carriage, ordered.
    Keira’s eyes followed him as he went to speak to the dark-haired man across the road. Straining to listen, she heard nothing as they spoke in hushed tones, but she knew with certainty she was their topic of discussion as they kept glancing her way.
    “What shall we do wit’ the lass?” the man holding her called over to the other two.
    “We’ll take her wit’ us,” the Beast replied.
    “Nay! Please! Please have mercy!” Keira cried out, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
    Keira’s body shook as violent as if the earth quaked. Where did they wish to take her, and what did they plan to do with her once they got there?
    Keira tried to fight the man’s hold but he held a firm grip on her arms. She pulled and pulled until the muscles in her arms hurt, but no matter how hard she tried to get away from him, he didn’t budge. It was like being tethered to one of the giant standing stones that littered the landscape. It was impossible. Her hands turned clammy and her muscles stiffened. She felt her stomach burning as fear flared inside her, its flames licking their way to her heart.
    “Easy lass! Ye keep on struggling like tha’, an’ my grip on ye will only get tighter. I do no’ wish to hurt ye,” the man holding her said.
    “Then let me go ye bastard!” Keira shouted as she stepped hard on the man’s foot, digging her heel into his toes.
    For a moment, the man released her as he winced in pain. Keira should have done that in the first place! Taking advantage of her freedom, she sprinted off toward the woods.
    ~*~
    “Oh, bloody hell!” Ian said, shaking his head at the foolish lass. “Where do ye think ye are going?” he called out to her as Leland ran after her.
    “Perhaps we should just let her go. We dinna need the trouble nor the distraction. Women cause nothing but problems,” Rylan suggested.
    “We verra well cannae leave her