The Clan MacDougall Series Read Online Free PDF Page B

the earl and her brothers. She could not remember ever being so cold or frightened. The earl cursed while he made promises that once he found her he would have what he had wanted. Then he would kill her. Her brothers urged him on, cursing, mocking, and making threats of their own.
    The cold snow and fear of the earl brought violent shivers to her body. She wished her mum and Moirra would come and take her away to somewhere safe and warm. Her heart broke when they did not answer her pleas for help.
    Suddenly there were hundreds of soldiers surrounding her. They pulled her from her hiding place. She tried to explain to them that she had only been defending herself; she had not meant to kill the earl, only to frighten him. Her pleas went unanswered as they lifted her from the snow and began stabbing her with their swords. The earl and her brothers were laughing. The more the soldiers stabbed her, the more they laughed. Bile rose in her stomach but she could not retch; she could only beg and plead for mercy.
    Duncan gently rubbed her arms and legs in an attempt to warm the battered young girl while he looked for signs of broken bones. After several long and tense moments, her small body began to shiver fiercely. He could not make out the mumbled words that were coming through her chattering teeth and was relieved that she wasn’t dead. He heard Tall Thomas say he would start a fire.
    With her head resting upon Duncan’s shoulder, she slowly began to move her arms as if fending off something only she could see. Duncan began to whisper soothingly to her that all was well, that she was safe, and no more harm would come to her.
    Tears flowed from her swollen eyes and she looked such a sad sight that it nearly made the Highlander want to cry. “Ye be fine now, lass,” he whispered to her.
    Her eyes began to flutter open. Through small slits she stared at him blankly, still foggy, not yet seeing. “I’m sorry,” she said weakly.
    “She be English, Duncan,” Findley said in his native Gaelic. “Try the English.”
    Duncan nodded and began speaking to her in English. “Sorry for what, lass?”
    Mumbling through chattering teeth, she answered him. “I did n-not mean to kill him.”
    Duncan smiled at her, certain it was the fall and bump on her head talking. “’Tis all right lass, ye be safe now.” He knew not what else to say.

Five

    S omething was pulling her from her dream. Low, muffled voices that she could not understand. As the heavy fog began to lift, she slowly became aware that she was not alone. She tried to focus her eyes as well as her mind, both requiring a good deal more energy than she had. Where was she and who was speaking to her? Why was she so cold and wet? It was then that the memories came flooding through and fear took its ugly hold again.
    The soldiers had found her! Terrified, she tried to move, to stand and run, but every muscle in her body ached and her ribs screamed at her to remain still. Her arms and legs felt as though they were made of lead and no matter how hard she wished it, she simply could not move.
    Someone was holding her, speaking to her. Her eyes began to focus and a man’s face began to come into focus. He had long brown hair and blue eyes and he was smiling at her. Her heart sank and her stomach reeled with the realization that she would not be getting away. She had been captured and knew that very soon she would be back in Penrith. Her life was over.
    The cuts stung from the tears that streamed down her face. She pleaded aloud for mercy, not certain she recognized the sound of her own voice; it sounded so weak and dry. She heard another man’s voice but she could not understand what he was saying.
    “Please,” she begged him, “I meant not to kill him.”
    Duncan looked up at his men. They appeared as befuddled as he was. “Now what be this about killin’ someone?” he asked as he tried to keep his voice soft and reassuring.
    Still struggling to move, she said, “The