Wishing For a Highlander Read Online Free PDF Page B

lust.”
    Lust. The antiquated word spoken in his deep voice did strange things to her tummy. It took a solid effort not to lick her lips in invitation as the word called to mind activities that most definitely related to wanting.
    Home, she reminded herself. She had to get home. “I don’t trust you to look as hard as I would. I’m coming with you.”
    “Where are your ropes, Archie?” he asked. “The woman refuses to stay put, so I’m going to tie her to the wagon.”
    Several of the wounded men snickered.
    Archie said, “In the foot case there. And bring me some of yon dried moss before ye tie down your woman.”
    Your woman. The casual declaration made her stomach leap, and the sensation wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
    “She’s not mine,” Darcy growled as he opened the lid of a wooden chest in the wagon. To her horror, he removed a coil of rope. After tossing a yellowish clump in Archie’s direction, he came at her.
    Her libido disappeared with a poof. She hopped off the wagon, dodging hands that had no business being so quick, considering how large they were.
    “Don’t you dare tie me down! I’ve got to get that box. It’s my only hope to return home.”
    He lunged for her, catching her easily around the waist with his long arm, and plunking her back in the wagon. Libido was back. Her body thrilled at Darcy’s manhandling, though her muscles struggled against it.
    The thought of him tying her up in private might have some merit, but not in the middle of the forest with several strange men as witnesses. “Okay, okay,” she blurted as he looped the rope around one wrist. “I won’t follow you. Please don’t tie me. I’ll stay. I’ll help.”
    He paused to eye her suspiciously.
    “I promise,” she said. “I’ll stay here and make myself useful. As long as you promise to look for a rosewood box inlaid with white gold and about yea big.” She gestured with her hands, rope trailing from one wrist. “As long as you swear to look as though your life depends on it.” She held his gaze, hoping he was getting how important this was to her, hoping she could trust him.
    The circle of wounded men went quiet, waiting for his answer.
    He bounced on the balls of his feet, clearly impatient to return to the skirmish, but he gave her his full attention and said, “I vow that if your cherished box is on that field, I will find it.”
    She relaxed at the sincerity in the promise. “It would be near where you found me,” she said. “If it’s not there, then–” She forced herself to say the rest past her tight throat. “Then I don’t think you’ll find it anywhere.” And I might be stuck here forever.
    He nodded his understanding, then wheeled around and strode from the clearing.
    “Damn,” one of the wounded men said. “I’d hoped to watch Big Darcy bind the feisty lass.”
    The other men chuckled. Some of the chuckles ended in pained groans.
    She scowled at one and all as she shook the rope from her wrist, but her scowl quickly slipped away. Some of the men were horribly injured. One had a bandage wrapped around his thigh and soaked through with blood. The bandage was obviously not tight enough to slow the blood flow from what must be a serious gash. Another had a chest wound. He didn’t grin at her like the others, but lay still except for his jumping chest. Pink blood frothed from a wound under his armpit. Another man held a bloody rag to his neck, and an ugly bump under his skin looked like a broken collarbone. Another had a head wound that needed stitches.
    She slid down off the cart and found Archie. “How can I help?”
    * * * *
     
    “I’m afraid you might be stuck with me, Darcy Keith.”
    Making his way back to Berringer’s field, he tried to forget those sweetly drawled words, but found himself thinking instead that being stuck with a bonny woman with lush curves and a streak of bravery belying her slight stature wouldn’t be such a terrible fate. But thoughts like that were