Murray merely glowered up at him.
“In case you’ve forgotten, he’s the Marquess of Kilverntay. And, trust me, he has the king’s ear. I would hate for you to lose this glorious estate.”
“Dare you threaten me, you—?”
Fraser forced a gag into Murray’s mouth, then tied it behind his head.
“I’m glad you shut him up,” Rebbie muttered.
Keegan turned to see Seona and a dark-haired lass who resembled her a great deal standing with their arms around each other. “Are you both ready to leave this place?”
“Aye.” They nodded, eyes wide with eagerness.
Happiness replacing his battle rage, Keegan smiled.
After the four of them dragged Murray and his men into the storeroom, then pilfered some supplies, they headed out the back door and mounted. Seona rode behind Keegan and Talia behind Fraser.
The MacKay and MacKenzie guards awaiting them outside joined them. Keegan could only assume the rest of Murray’s men were either still passed out from the whisky or suffering headaches and sickness from overindulging. Of course, the ones who’d sustained injuries during their earlier sword fights had likely gone back to the castle for the healer’s assistance.
“Murray and his men will give chase once the tavern keeper discovers them tied up,” Dermott said, riding beside him.
“Aye,” Keegan said. “We’ll ride north for a while to throw them off our trail.”
“’Tis a good plan,” Rebbie said.
“But we do need to turn west again soon and head back to Teasairg,” Dermott said. “Cyrus has a large force of men and the MacKenzies will be glad to help.”
“I appreciate it, Dermott,” Keegan said.
If they could’ve slipped away during the night, they would’ve split up and gone three different directions as planned, but now Keegan thought it best they all stick together because they didn’t have much lead time.
During the morning, they stopped once to rest the horses and to eat the tough brown bread and hard yellow cheese they’d lifted from the storeroom. But they didn’t tarry too long. They wanted to make good time. Since they were circling around, it would take longer to reach Dornie.
Mid-afternoon, as they rode along a ridge with wide views all around, one of the guards spied a group of riders following in the distance about a half mile back.
“Damnation! They’ve caught up,” Rebbie said.
“Aye, but they’ll not get the ladies back.” Keegan glanced around, spying a crofter’s whitewashed cottage down a short incline and hidden from the view of those approaching. Hedismounted and helped Seona to the ground. “Come. Bring Lady Talia.” Keegan motioned to Fraser. “MacMillan and Boyce, come with us.” The two most trusted MacKay guards and Fraser would protect the women should any of the Murrays get past them. He hastened toward the cottage with Seona and knocked on the rough wood door.
A crofter’s wife opened the door, her eyes wide.
“These two ladies, my wife and her sister, need to hide within your cottage, with these three men acting as guards. You will be rewarded for your help. Do you agree?”
“Aye.” She stepped back and Keegan entered first. The only other person in the cottage was a young lass.
“Fraser, Boyce, MacMillan, protect them with your lives.”
“Aye. You ken we will,” Fraser assured him.
“Keegan?” Seona tugged at his plaid sash, and stared up at him with concern.
“You’ll be safe in here. Don’t fash yourself,” he told her.
“I’m not worried about me. ’Tisyouthat concerns me.”
“I’ll be fine, of course. Do you not ken I’m a warrior?” Forcing a grin for her sake, he kissed her lips quickly and headed toward the door. “Bar the door when I leave.”
“Aye,” Fraser agreed. “Come back in one piece.”
