Page 75 of My Notorious Highlander

She watched as the ladies and their maids disembarked and guards escorted them toward the castle. Jessie rushed down several flights of steps and across the great hall so she might greet them in the courtyard.

Torrin waited by the portcullis with Iain, as did several clansmen and guards. When the women were escorted inside, Jessie hurried toward them.

"Oh, Isobel, I'm so glad you've all returned." Jessie embraced her, then turned to Seona. "And I'm happy to see you and your aunt again." 'Twas half true anyway, she was indeed thrilled to see Seona. Her aunt, not so much, for she was a harpy, but the older woman's face didn't appear near as pinched and annoyed as it used to.

"I'm now your cousin-by-marriage. Keegan and I are wed." Seona smiled so brightly, 'twas nearly blinding, and her blue eyes gleamed with happiness.

"In truth? Congratulations! I'm so pleased." Jessie embraced her. "You will have to tell me how this came about when we have more time."

"I will. And this is my younger sister, Talia." Seona motioned to a petite, dark-haired lass of about eighteen summers who stood behind her, a shy smile on her face.

"Welcome, Lady Talia. I'm glad you've come," Jessie said. "Let's go inside where you can rest. I'm sure you're all exhausted from the journey."

The women proceeded across the courtyard, but when shouting and a loud commotion erupted outside the gates, they halted.

Jessie turned to see Torrin and the others bolting through the portcullis. She ran toward them, but one of the burly guards blocked her path.

"Stay back, m'lady! Get them inside," he commanded another guard.

The only thing she could see through the closing portcullis was Torrin withdrawing his sword and dashing toward the beach.

"Torrin!" she yelled, but he didn't even look back. "What's happening?" she demanded of the guard.

"Haldane and his men charged down from the hill."

"Nay!" Isobel tried to get past the guard. "Let me pass!"

"Nay, m'lady. With all due respect, you must go inside. Chief Dirk will have all our heads if you're injured."

"Haldane, that bastard," Jessie said. "Come, ladies, we can see what's happening from the ramparts."

The other ladies followed her into the great hall and up the turnpike stairs to the area she'd been watching from earlier.

A large force of men, all wearing similar plaids rushed the beach.

"Oh, saints," Jessie hissed, dread kicking her in the stomach. "Haldane didn't have that many men." Although she saw Haldane among them. "Who are they?" And then she saw Gregor. "MacBain, you bastard!" she yelled.

"Who is he and why are they attacking?" Seona asked, anguish in her voice.

"He is the man I was in the trial marriage with. He returned a few weeks ago, trying to force me to marry him. He even tried to kidnap me. Torrin MacLeod rescued me and had him escorted off MacKay land. He's returned with his army." She watched as MacBain engaged Torrin in a sword battle not too far from the castle. "This is my fault."

"Nay, 'tis not. Please, God, protect them," Isobel prayed.

Closer to the water, Dirk was enmeshed in a sword dual with McMurdo. All the men were involved in hand-to-hand combat. Wind blew the kicked up sand from the beach, creating dust clouds.

"Is Dirk well enough to fight?" Jessie asked. "We'd heard he was shot with an arrow."

"He is better but still limping," Isobel said, her face white. "Kill him, Dirk," she growled low.

Three of the MacBains had already fallen and another of Haldane's men, thank the saints.

When Jessie's frantic gaze shifted back to Torrin, she saw that blood had saturated his white shirt. But he still battled MacBain.

One of MacBain's men slipped up behind Torrin.

"Torrin! Behind you!" Jessie shouted, unsure if he could hear her with all the wind and noise of battle.

The bastard knocked him on the head with his sword hilt and Torrin fell. MacBain stabbed his sword toward Torrin's stomach.