The Highlander's Outlaw Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

prayed her instincts were right.
    * * *
    Gavin knelt beside the coals, stirring the embers back to life. Mist swirled about the camp as moisture from the nearby burn wafted upward in the pre-dawn air. Ewan and Duncan rode into camp, the clop of their horses’ hooves deadened on the thick carpet of leaves. Tossing his stick into the rising flames, Gavin met the men, encouraged by the exultant looks on their faces. It was time for some good news.
    Ewan slid from his horse and tossed the reins to Duncan, greeting Gavin with a hard clout to his shoulder. It was only a moment before the other Douglases rose from their plaides and surrounded them, eager for news.
    “The steward said King Robert should be at Troon within the week.” Ewan was unable to contain his broad grin. “And they will allow Lady Brianna leave to stay at the castle unmolested until her plea is heard.”
    He cast his gaze around the small camp, his look of satisfaction replaced by a puzzled frown. “Where is the lass?”
    Gavin, distracted from making plans to break camp, took a moment to look around. His mouth went dry. “Mayhap she slipped off for a moment.”
    But he had been on watch. He should have known if she was not in the camp. It was true she’d left earlier in the evening, and though he’d not seen her return, he’d spied her form curled beneath her plaide before he turned over his watch. Had she left again?
    He strode quickly to her plaide. It was still there, rumpled and bunched on the ground. At casual glance it appeared she still slept beneath it. But standing directly over the fabric, it was obvious she was gone. Gavin’s heart leapt with alarm. Could she have stepped unnoticed into the surrounding trees to tend her personal needs? Clinging desperately to that hope, he hesitated, not wanting to intrude unnecessarily on her privacy.
    The moments passed and he abandoned his concern for Brianna’s modesty.
    “Spread out. Find her.”
    Instantly the others disappeared noiselessly into the forest, aware the sheriff’s men could be nearby. But as the moments passed, their desperation to find Brianna exceeded their need for caution.
    “Gavin!”
    He turned at Rabbie’s shout, following the sound to the burn, where they had filled their water skins the night before. Rabbie met him partway up the trail, his face leached of color, a damp gown dangling from his none-too-steady hands.
    “’Tis the gown I stole for the lass.” His voice cracked with emotion.
    “Where did ye find it?”
    Rabbie pointed down the trail. “Near the burn, hanging in a tree. Do ye suppose she washed it and willnae show herself because…”
    The burly man’s face reddened. Gavin took the gown. “I will deal with it. Find the others. I will have her back anon.” With more reassurance than he felt, he watched Rabbie hurry up the trail to join the others. He turned his attention to searching for signs of Brianna, scanning the wooded area. The early morning sun cast its light through the trees, the resulting shadows almost darker than the night itself. He reached the water’s edge and held the empty gown at arm’s length.
    “I am the only one here, lass. The others have gone back to camp. ’Tis safe for ye to come out now.”
    He waited, straining to hear the least sound to indicate where she was, but the forest remained eerily silent except for the merry sounds of the tumbling water. Cold sweat broke on his forehead, sprang beneath his arms.
    “Come, now, lass,” he wheedled. “Ye must get dressed. We are ready to break camp and head to Troon.”
    Dread settled hollowly in the pit of his stomach. Even a completely modest young woman would have called to him, told him where to place the gown so she could retrieve it. Brianna was stubborn and impetuous, and not unnecessarily modest. Even so, she would not keep him waiting like this. He must face the truth. Brianna was gone.
    He scanned the ground for footsteps around the burn. Rabbie joined him and they