“But I will,” the ragged voice said.
A young lassie’s pale, stricken face popped up behind Kelso and shoved him with all of her might. Kelso's body rammed into Sawny’s blade full tilt, embedding the blade deep and impaling Kelso completely. The man squealed then groaned as he sagged against a shocked Sawny. Kelso’s lifeblood ran down Sawny’s sword and hand, along with most of his innards and knowledge that Kelso had about King William.
The opportunity to extract that information from Kelso was gone.
Sawny yanked his blade back and let Kelso collapse to the floor. The man moaned lightly, but Sawny knew from the depth of that gash and the amount of his insides pouring out that he was not long for this world.
Sawny lifted his gaze to the mysterious figure. It was a young woman, dark-haired with fury burning in her eyes. She wore naught but a soiled shift, and she had been in the far corner of the study when he entered. Kelso’s body and position had blocked his view of her.
Had she been hiding in the study? Sawny noted the scrape on her chin and her bruised cheek and had a realization that the lass’s presence in the study was not one she probably consented to.
He did not fault her for wanting to kill Kelso. Did he not want to do the same?
“Who are ye?”
The lassie’s face tightened and Sawny realized he still held his sword. Did she think he was going to slay her next?
“Imogene!” another voice called from behind him.
Sawny spun around to find Addison hovering at the doorway.
The Imogen lass scrambled over the desk to avoid the dead man on the floor and thrust herself into Addison's arms.
It was then Sawny saw the resemblance. The same dark, earthy brown tresses, the same slightly upturned nose, the same haunted eyes.
Addison's sister? Or cousin?
Whoever she was, Sawny realized that this lass was the reason Addison had not left with him two days prior. He was not going to leave this young woman behind in the hands of a vile, abusive man.
A pistol shot sounded from somewhere below them. Reade must be paving their way out.
Sawny wiped as much of the blood off his blade onto Kelso’s tunic before whipping around and marching to the door. He grabbed Addison's upper arm as he passed, tugging the lad and his sister or cousin with him.
Without looking behind him, Sawny asked, “Who is she?”
“My sister,” Addison called out breathlessly. They panted as they ran to keep up with Sawny’s long strides.
They reached the top of the stairs and Reade met them, his own sword uplifted and at the ready, his spent pistol tucked back in his belt. He looked over Sawny's bloody disheveled state and paused.
“No’ my blood,” Sawny explained quickly. “The letter is gone, burned. And Kelso is dead.”
Reade leveled his stern gaze at Sawny's face. “I dinna fault ye for killing the man, but could ye have done it after we got the information?”
“He’s no’ the only one who knows. A messenger for Slippery John has been dispatched. He's on his way to share the information contained in the letter as we speak.”
Reade ran his hand through his wild, unruly hair. “I will inform Father. He will dispatch patrols tonight to seek out this man and bring him to heel. We will get this information from him in anyway we can.” He glanced from Sawny to the pair next to him and back. “Take them to Conall and ride for Glenachulish. We will finish here and follow.”
Sawny nodded, but before he could step onto the stairwell, Reade rested his bearlike hand on Sawny’s shoulder. “I dinna fault ye for killing the man,” Reade repeated. “Of anyone, ye had the most right to do so, and ‘twould be foolish for any of us to tell ye different.”
Sawny kept his face fixed on Reade’s but his gaze slid to Addison and his stricken sister. Reade spoke the truth – everyone would readily presume that Sawny had ended Kelso’s life and not raise an eyebrow. Better to let the world believe Sawny took retribution for his own abuses than to bring a small lass into this complicated matter. If Kelso had abused her, she deserved to let that shame and the memory of that horrible rat-faced bastard to pass from her memory.
It was the least he could do to thank Addison for helping him escape. He would help Imogen escape her own horrors and restart her life with her brother.
“Kelso was too much of a coward,” Sawny told Reade. “He would no’ let me kill him. With my blade pointed at him, he thrust himself upon it. The man was no warrior.”
Reade bobbed his head in agreement. “Aye, to be sure. And Sawny, ‘tis important for you to know that ye’ve earned your place with me. I doubted ye much, questioned your intentions with Adaira, but returning to my sister and marrying her on the day of your escape speaks louder than any rumors or insults that may have been lavished upon ye. Welcome to the Glenachulish McDonalds.”
Then Reade slapped his back hard enough that Sawny pitched forward, urging him down the stairs. Without another look back, Sawny rushed down to the secret side door and out of the MacIntosh tower.
