His heart caught at her words. “What?”
“I love you,” she repeated. Then, she leaned forward and laid her head on his chest and snuggled up to him. “I’m so sorry I got you into this.”
Happiness, disbelief and anger tore through him.
How could a woman like her have a single care for him?
And yet he knew she spoke the truth. She wasn’t Isobail to spread her lies and walk away. Nora would never be so cruel.
“I will not let them hurt you, Nora. Do you understand?”
Nora offered him a small smile.
How she loved her big bear. She could almost believe him when he said that. “Aye.”
Ewan nuzzled his face against hers. She could hear his intake of breath as if he were inhaling her. He pulled back ever so slightly and kissed her cheek.
She watched in awe as he moved away from her. He stood up slowly, turned to face the wall and braced one leg against the old bricks next to where the ring was embedded.
He took the ropes into his hands, and used his leg to pull against the iron ring.
Every muscle in his body tightened as he tried to pull it free.
Nora was aghast at his actions as much for the fact that he might succeed as she was for the fact that he was doing what had to be excruciating for him.
“Hey!” Rufus shouted as he looked up to see Ewan on his feet.
Ewan didn’t stop.
The wall shook as Ewan panted and strained even more. Nora pushed herself to her feet and moved away from the wall before her strong bear pulled it down on top of her.
She’d never seen anything like it.
An instant before the brothers reached him, Ewan pulled the ring free.
He turned on them with a snarl.
Nora wanted to help him fight them as the brothers attacked Ewan, but so long as she was there tied up, she was a liability to him and she knew it. If one of the brothers caught her, they would again threaten her life to control Ewan.
So she did the only thing she could.
She ran for the horses as the MacKaids ran for Ewan.
Her gamble worked. They were so intent on subduing Ewan that she was on Ewan’s horse before Graham realized she’d left the area.
Nora wasn’t used to riding bareback, but it didn’t matter. She clamped her legs tight around the horse’s ribs and ran her horse straight at the men.
The brothers scrambled away.
With a grunt, Ewan swung himself up behind her.
He brought his bound arms down over her head, placed them around her and took the reins, then turned the horse about.
He ran it toward the other horses, scattering their mounts before he headed them into the dense forest.
She could hear the brothers cursing angrily as she and Ewan rode away from them.
Nora wanted to turn around and see if they were behind them, but couldn’t. Ewan’s hold on her was far too tight.
