Instantly, Dugald launched into action,engaging two of them in swordplay at once, while the third mangrabbed the horse's bridle and yanked at it. The stallion reared,neighing and flinging his hooves at the man.
Mèrede Dieu,what should shedo? "Owen!" Camille yelled. "Help!" Dugald should've never sent allhis men away into the woods.
The fourth man headed toward Camille, sendingher heartrate galloping. Remembering the small knife on her calf,she sat down on the log again, slipped her hand beneath the blanketand drew the blade out, keeping it hidden from the man. He wouldthink her a docile little lass… until she stabbed him.
"Do not hurt me," she mock-pleaded in a meekvoice.
"I won't, lassie. But you're coming with me."He leered at her, then grabbed one of her arms to yank her up fromthe log. Using the momentum, she stabbed upward into the side ofhis lower belly.
Releasing her, he screeched. She scrambledaway from him before he had time to recover from his shock andretaliate with his sword.
Where were the other clansmen? She screamed."Owen!"
The monster she'd stabbed growled behind her.She turned to see him advancing, his blackened teeth bared.Although two men lay on the ground near Dugald, he fought another.He had no time to help her.
She tripped and fell, her knee striking arock.Sacrebleu!
Chapter Five
Camille attempted to crawl away from theoutlaw stalking her, but he grabbed her ankle and yanked her back.When her hand slid over the rock her knee had hit, she took it inhand and smashed it against his temple. His eyes crossed and heflopped sideways.
"Ha!" she yelled and shoved to her feet,leaping out of his way should he decide to wake up. He lay still,thank the saints. Though her hands shook from the fear andexcitement, she felt elated. She had stopped a man from murderingher.
"M'lady." Dugald hurried toward her. "Are youhurt?"
"Non. Are you?" She looked him overand was thankful she didn't see any cuts.
"Nay." He eyed the man on the ground. "Youbashed his head in good."
Anxiety crashed in on her. Her heart stillpounding hard, she was unsure how she felt about killing a man…again. Even if he did deserve it. "Is he dead?"
"Nay, not yet anyway. His chest is moving. Ifhe awakes, he will have a most god-awful headache."
"I'm glad. The knave!" Both she and Dugaldcould've been killed, for heaven's sake. "What were theyabout?"
"Most likely stealing horses, weapons andwhatever valuables they might find on us."
"They must have been spying on us and noticedyour shiny weapons."
"Aye."
The MacKerrick clansmen rushed back intocamp, their swords drawn.
"What the devil happened, m'laird?" Owenasked, his gaze running over the downed and bloody highwaymen.
"They attacked."
"I told you I should've stayed!"
"Aye, you were right, Owen."
The man stared wide-eyed at his chief as ifhe'd grown two heads. "I was?"
"Aye, have a dozen men search the area formore thieves. I think this is the only one who still lives. Tie hishands afore he awakes and relieve him of his weapons." He nudgedhis toe against the one Camille had bashed upon the head.
"Aye, m'laird."
While the clansmen dealt with the outlaws,Dugald turned to her. "Are you certain you were not injured?" Theconcern in his gaze and in his husky voice warmed her heart.
