The Border Hostage Read Online Free PDF

won't be able to travel all those miles to Douglas.”
    “Ah, Vixen, ye always manage tae get around me.”
    “I'm not staying in bed though.” She slanted him an alluring glance. “Unless, of course, you come too.”
    Ram could deny her nothing. “After I've seen the wounded men, I'll bathe, then we can have dinner abed.” He turned to Ada. “Go and tell Mr. Burque tae prepare something special, and be sure tae warn him her ladyship is eatin' fer three.”
    Two hours later Tina and Ram dined in the expanse of the big curtained bed, taking turns feeding each other and laughing so much, anyone within hearing distance would have thought them naughty children. Afterward they lay entwined in each other's arms, cuddling, caressing, kissing, and whispering for hours. “I still cannot believe it!” Tina said with awe.
    “I can,” Ram said, stroking the backs of his fingers across her cheek. “Ye do everything with such unique style and fervor, my little firebrand. Ye are feracious.”
    “What the devil does that mean?” she whispered.
    “It means ye are fertile, fecund, fruitful, and well-fu—”
    Tina put her hand over his mouth playfully and admonished, “None of your wicked words in front of the babies.”

C HAPTER 3
    T he next day, Ramsay asked Heath if he would like to go up to Douglas and bring back some of the horses from Castle Dangerous, as it was known. “We need spare mounts fer the moss-troopers.”
    “I would rather you sent Jock. Tonight I intend to start tracking our stolen horses.”
    “I shall make a formal complaint next month at the Border Wardens' Court fer the raid on Annan, and under the international law of the Marches, we have recourse fer our stolen horses.”
    Heath shook his head. “Tell me the rules for a lawful trod.”
    “The trod is a legal, hallowed process of pursuit. A hot trod is immediate pursuit of the thieves. A cold trod is legal within six days of the raid. But remember that under Border Law there is a clear distinction drawn between a trod and a reprisal raid.”
    “It is not my ‘fatal privilege’ to recover my property byforce and deal with the thieves out of hand?” Heath asked evenly.
    “It is, if ye catch them red-handed with yer property.” Ram nodded grimly. “A hot trod is a simple breakneck chase. A cold trod seldom succeeds. The reivers could know every fold in the ground. They could lose themselves with ease while ye are faced with a guessing game, lookin' in gullies.”
    “That is true if they are Scots,” Heath said reflectively.
    “ 'Tis more certain they are English, and if ye cross the Border there are rules laid down fer a lawful trod with horn and hound, hue and cry. Ye must announce it immediately and seek assistance.”
    “Is it not unlawful to impede a trod?”
    Ram laughed. “It seems ye know the rules as well as I do! I won't join ye—I am sticking close tae Tina for the next fortnight—but feel free tae take Douglas men.”
    “Thanks, there's sure to be a few attending Carlisle Fair, so if I need help I'll seek them out there.” Heath grinned. “I will try to be back in time for the big event.”
    “Carlisle Fair is a hell of a good place tae find stolen horses.”
    “My thinking exactly,” Heath agreed. “I've sold a few stolen horses there myself.”
    At midnight, Heath set out from Eskdale with the border pony fastened on a lead behind his roan gelding. He hoped to encounter the beauteous Mistress Carleton alone, and the best odds of that would be to await her at dawn on Rockcliffe Marsh, where the River Eden emptied into Solway Firth. This time he was adequately clothed and well armed with a knife, and a blade in his boot.
    Heath's ride proved uneventful, and when he arrived at Rockcliffe, he tethered the two animals to a willow tree, wrapped himself in a Douglas plaid, and fell asleep, knowing the horses would soon awaken him to any danger that threatened. When he opened his eyes at dawn, the firstthing he saw was a hawk