Page 148 of Highland Spy

Or rather burst through, as was the case.

“We need to go. Now.” His usually calm demeanor held a frantic note of urgency. He glanced around the room in a wild sweep. “Do ye have everything?”

Fear scraped up Ariana’s spine. In all the time she’d known Connor, she’d never seen him in such a state. As if…as if he were afraid.

“Connor, what is it?” she asked.

He hefted their heavy bag in both his hands. “Cora. I think Kenneth is going to take her.”

She rushed to grab the bag containing the remainder of their food and followed him out the door. “Why?”

He didn’t answer until they were in the inn’s crude stable. The stalls were empty save the two with their horses.

“I told him,” Connor said. “I told him what I’ve been doing for the king. No’ about ye and the other girls, but about—” He glanced at the empty stalls and said in a quiet voice. “About what I’ve done for the king.”

He swung the bags on the horses and secured them. “I told him about his da too.”

Ariana’s heart flinched for the pain his admission must have afforded both men. She wanted to ask more, but the hard set of Connor’s face told her to let him be. For now.

Once the horses were saddled and readied with their gear, they led them into the grayness of the outside. Rain pelted down upon them in fat, splatting drops.

“Isabel was right. Kenneth was convinced to join MacAlister by an offer of marriage.” Connor swung onto his horse and Ariana did likewise. “A marriage to Cora.”

A chill spread through Ariana’s veins. “You think he’s going to try to take her now?”

Connor gave a sharp nod. “And he may keep her from ever seeing me again.” He dragged a hand through his hair in an uncommonly nervous gesture. “I canna lose her.”

They waited until their horses were outside the town before encouraging them to run. And run they did. Their steeds raced with such fervor, the rain slapped at Ariana’s face in stinging lashes.

She held on to her reins despite how slippery they’d become in the rain, despite how she could not feel the thick leather straps due to the numbing cold in her fingers.

They rode like their lives depended on it, for surely someone’s life might. How far did Kenneth’s love for Cora go?

Would he use her to get even with Connor?

Time seemed to pass in a long, cruel stretch, and their pace was torturous.

By the time the crude structure of the abbey came into view, Ariana’s body ached from staying atop the horse. Even her jaw hurt from having clenched it to keep her teeth from clacking.

Connor’s command to his horse rose high over the wind and his horse shot ahead. But Ariana could not match his speed. No matter how much she wanted to, her horse and even her body would not comply.

She saw him stop at the gate and swing down from his horse. He’d already disappeared inside by the time she arrived. His horse was unbound in front of the large wooden door.

Ariana knocked so hard on its wet surface, pain lanced up her arm.

The gate did not open.

She tried again and this time it groaned slowly inward. But it was not a nun who stood on the other side.

It was Connor, his face dark.

Ariana’s heart caught in her throat. “Cora…”

“She’s gone. They tried, but couldn’t stop her from being taken.” He swept up onto his horse. “All they’ll tell me was that a finely dressed man took her.”

His jaw clenched in frustration. “I knew I should have moved her. Damn Kenneth. When we meet again—”

“No.” Ariana swung up on her own horse and met Connor’s hard look. “Let’s not go to Kenneth just yet. He’ll be expecting it. Let’s go to Kindrochit.” She surveyed the surrounding land. It was the same scenery they’d seen for the last fortnight they’d been traveling—golden green grass spattering the swells of hills. Similar, but the area itself was foreign.