Page 12 of In the Highlander's Bed

“Mount up,” he said, his eyes not leaving Constance’s. It was her saving grace that she didn’t smile or react in any way that would make him want to throttle her.

Thomas led the way, and within seconds they reached Brian. “We’ve got to go,” Thomas told him. “An alarm’s gone up.”

“Robbie,” Gordon said, “take our prisoner up on your horse. She’ll ride with you.” He would have preferred Thomas to take care of her but feared the extra weight on top of his friend’s bulk would be too much for his horse.

Robbie hopped up into the saddle, but Miss Constance balked. “I must have my own horse.”

“Not for the kind of riding we’ll be doing,” Gordon said. There was more shouting coming from the house. They were probably preparing to search the woods. “I’ll not risk your neck.” He put his hands on her waist to lift her up, but she’d have none of it and dug in her heels.

“What ifhebreaks his neck?” she asked, referring to Robbie. “You know it will be safer for each of us to have a horse.”

“I don’thaveanother horse,” Gordon replied. And he wasn’t about to give her another chance to escape. Constance was far more brazen than any other female of his acquaintance. “Now, climb up.”

Calls were going up from the school for horses. The woods would be searched shortly and the roads cut off. There wasn’t time to waste.

Miss Constance heard, too, and at last exercised good sense. With a soft sound of protest, she allowed him to lift her up to sit sidesaddle in front of Robbie, something she did with enough confidence to tell Gordon she was comfortable on a horse.

He took his own reins and climbed into the saddle. With a nudge of his leg, he set Tempest off through the woods. The others followed.

They reached the road and set off at a gallop. Gordon glanced over at Robbie. He had one arm around their captive. She leaned over the horse’s mane, riding with him.

At last, Gordon felt he could breathe easier.

They’d done it.

The moment he reached the clan’s camp in the mountains, he would send a messenger to Colster. Within two weeks, at the most three, he would have the sword.

And perhaps it wasn’t such a disaster that the soldiers were here this night or that Constance had been discovered missing. All this would confirm the ransom demand.

After several minutes of hard riding, Gordon turned Tempest off the road, cutting across the open moor, heading west. He rode at the head of his men, proud on this moonlit night to be their leader.

They’d all waited a long time for action. Laird MacKenna had once amassed an army, he’d had the sword and a mandate from the Highlanders, but now, looking back, Gordon could see that the chieftain had lacked the conviction of their Cause. He’d been more interested in the trappings of power than freedom.

In the end, the laird and his other officers had betrayed the clan. They’d taken the money thatwas raised to support a rebellion and run off to Italy. Gordon hoped their stomachs shriveled on sour wine.

The night air was crisp against Gordon’s skin. He’d keep them riding at this speed for a few more miles and then it would be safe to walk. Traveling across the countryside, avoiding the main roads, they would reach their camp by late afternoon.

Gordon counted himself lucky that Miss Constance was headstrong enough towantto run away. He had rope in his saddlebags. He would have tied her up. Her cooperation had saved them a great deal of time—

A shout behind him interrupted Gordon’s thoughts.

Alarmed, he reined Tempest sharply and turned in time to see Robbie’s horse go charging off in the night, traveling in the opposite direction.

“It’s Robbie,” Brian shouted.

“His horse has run away?” Gordon asked.

“No, he’s back here and hurt bad,” Brian answered.

And what of Constance Cameron? Gordon was afraid to ask the question, riding back to where Thomas stood beside Robbie stretched out on the ground. Gordon didn’t see a second figure.

“The lass pushed him off the horse,” Brian said, answering his unspoken question. “Shoved him hard when he wasn’t expecting it. Then she threw her leg over the saddle and rode away as if she was a man.”

Robbie moaned. It was a welcome sound and allowed Gordon to breathe again.

“See to him,” he ordered the others as he pulled a rope out of his saddlebag. “I’m going after her.”

“When you catch her, put her over your knee,” Thomas said.