Page 44 of My Notorious Highlander

Jessie turned abruptly. "Who is—? Haldane?"

Chapter Eight

"That little bastard." Rage twisted through Jessie, and she started from the chest-deep water toward her youngest brother, Haldane, an outlaw who knew better than to show his face here.

"You're naked." Torrin grabbed her arm just as a wave crashed over their shoulders.

She muttered a curse and slid behind him while looking over his shoulder. "Haldane!" she yelled over the crashing waves. "Take your men and go!" She pointed firmly. Though Haldane was an adult and was by no means small, he was four years her junior. She'd always ordered him about, but he'd rarely obeyed her, or anyone.

Even at this distance, she saw his satisfied smile. He shook his head, his bright copper hair and short beard gleaming in the sunlight.

"That gray-haired man beside him is McMurdo," Torrin said.

"Aye." Jessie had seen the infamous highwayman only a few times in her life and knew he had killed at least eighteen people, maybe more, including her cousin. Plus, he had come close to killing Dirk.

"We can wait all day," Haldane called, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What do you want?" Torrin demanded.

"My sister is going to gain us entrance at Dunnakeil."

"You're wrong, Haldane!" she yelled.

"What are you going to do about it? I have your clothes and your weapons. There is no escape from Sango Bay except up this bank, unless you have a galley somewhere. Or maybe you can swim for a couple miles in the sea."

"Oh, that bastard," Jessie growled between clenched teeth. "I could choke him." He was right; there was no exit from this bay except behind Haldane and his men. Sheer cliffs enclosed the two sides. "Leave now, Haldane! Or I'll throttle you."

He laughed. "I doubt that, sister. You and your lover are outnumbered. We're armed and you are not."

Her blood ran cold and the chill sea water wasn't helping any. The sun was descending in the western sky, and the wind was growing cooler. How long had she and Torrin been here? Clearly, they should've left an hour ago.

"Leave our clothes at the edge of the water and turn your backs!" she commanded.

Haldane did as she said, leaving their clothes in a pile just beyond the surf, turned his back, then he said something low to McMurdo. Several more of the men faced the bank, but not McMurdo.

"Turn around, McMurdo!" she demanded.

He shook his head. "Are you thinking I've never seen a naked woman afore? Trust me, I've seen a few." His nasty grin revealed several missing teeth.

"Ugh."

"'Slud!" Torrin said. "We need to turn the tables on them."

"Aye. But how? There are a dozen of them and only two of us."

"I'll think of something. Come, let's get dressed. Stay behind me."

How mortifying to have to depend on Torrin to shield her from the view of the outlaws. Gil, a young archer who was formerly a member of the MacKay clan, stood on the hill with his arrow aimed at her and Torrin. With her wet hair hanging over her breasts, at least she was partially covered. Torrin bent and retrieved her smock, then helped her put it on, along with the rest of her clothing, uncaring of his own nudity.

She eyed the outlaws while Torrin dressed. Most of them faced Jessie and Torrin again, vile grins on their unshaven faces. Their unkempt hair and dirty clothing told her what sort of men they were—desperate outlaws just like Haldane. Where had he rounded up such a ragtag group? 'Twas hard to believe her wee brother had turned out so horribly. Their father would be mightily ashamed of his youngest son.

Haldane held her three knives in his hands. She should've kept one of them strapped to her thigh, but she'd known the salt water would rust it. Truth was it would've done her no good. One knife against twelve was naught. Saints! What could they do?

Wait! She remembered she'd sewn a small knife into the hem of this arisaid. She'd never had to use it and had almost forgotten it. But it would be difficult to retrieve. She couldn't simply grab it. She would have to unravel the hem first.

"Good to see you again, Chief." Haldane smirked. "So, you've seduced my whorish sister, have you?"

Torrin launched himself at Haldane, but the two men flanking him stepped forward, their blades poised to slit Torrin's throat.