Much Ado About Highlanders (The Scottish Relic Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

out the window. It didn’t quite reach the ledge, but the distance remaining looked to be a manageable drop. She cast one final look back at the nun.
    “Wish me well.”
    Kenna climbed out and the bed shifted. On the outside, she almost lost her grip as she dropped a foot and jerked to a stop, banging hard against the side of the stone tower.
    “I can do this,” she whispered, holding on tight. The shoes were too big and one slid off. She kicked off the other one, too, and started down. Her descent was slow. The wind buffeted her against the rough stone. Her hands were burning from the knotted rags and rope. As she descended, the ledge between the tower and the cliff seemed to shrink by half. Her legs wrapped around the makeshift line. Kenna snaked her way down, focusing on her next handhold and forcing back any hint of fear.
    Her plan had been made hastily. She would meet Emily outside of the walls and once they were clear of abbey land, they’d find shelter for the night and get word to the castle tomorrow. This was all MacDougall territory. Any of the crofters would surely help them. And away from Alexander, Kenna would be able to think straight.
    The thought of her husband finding them gone was a satisfying one.
    The Macphersons would not rest until they had their ship back, but they would need to find another way of going about it. Kenna would speak to her father when he arrived at Craignock Castle. That would be their first communication since the wedding—with the exception of exchanging two letters: him ordering her to return to her husband, and her refusing his directive. She did it politely, but it was still a refusal. Even so, he’d want to get involved in this. She was certain he’d known nothing of Emily’s dowry, but perhaps the MacKays could do something to renegotiate the marriage terms with the Lowlander.
    Almost at the bottom, Kenna gasped as the rope suddenly lifted and she slammed hard against the building. Cursing, she looked up and found Alexander leaning out of the window above her.
    “Are you mad, woman?” he called down.
    Kenna had heard no shouting, no call to his men for help. Perhaps his pride wouldn’t allow it.
    Then he began to pull her up, and panic seized her.
    She loosened her grip and slid down, quickly reaching the last knot. She had to jump, but the drop to the ledge seemed so far now. And with every second, the distance was increasing. But she wouldn’t be hauled in like some salmon on a line.
    Below her, the narrow ledge waited. She could do this. Once down, she was fast enough to get away before he came down the abbey steps and out through the courtyard. So long as Emily was already clear of the gates, their plan would work.
    The rope shifted, and she hit the building again, jarring her shoulder.
    “By the Virgin,” she prayed. “Don’t let me break a leg.”
    Her landing was far from graceful. She landed on a rock, rolling her ankle and sending her sprawling.
    “Shite, shite, shite,” she cursed, feeling pain shoot right to her hip.
    Breathless from the impact of the fall, she tried to gather her strength. A dark image appeared above her.
    She blinked. “Oh, Satan’s hairy arse.”
    Using her makeshift rope, the beast was speeding down the side of the building. He appeared to have wings, and she guessed he’d be on top of her in seconds.
    Kenna scrambled to her feet, but the pain in her ankle told her she wouldn’t be outrunning him. Her second choice was the cliff. She peered past the edge at a small opening of water among the rocks. She could certainly break her neck going that way.
    He landed beside her with the ease of a cat.
    “Where do you think you’re going?”
    Her heart pounded violently in her chest, but she refused to look at him. Stretching a hand instead toward the colorful western sky, she replied casually, “This is far too beautiful an evening to stay locked up in a tower room. I decided to come out for some air.”
    “Air? Is that what you