Page 76 of My Notorious Highlander

"You bastard! I'll kill you!" Jessie rushed down the steps, tears blurring her vision.

"Jessie! You can't go out there!" Isobel yelled after her. But she had no time to answer. She was determined to pull Torrin to safety. Please don't let him be dead.

She checked that her Highland dirk was in the sheath on her belt.

If Torrin is dead, so help me… MacBain would die by her hand this day.

She ran outside into the bailey, to the closed portcullis. "Let me out!" she ordered the young guard left in charge of the gates. Apparently, all the seasoned guards had joined in the battle.

"Nay, I cannot m'lady. The other guards would string me up."

Jessie pretended to head back inside the castle, but when the guard turned his attention elsewhere, she dashed along the side of the castle toward the small back postern gate. With shaking hands, she opened it with her key and locked it back. Taking out her foot-long dirk, she hurried along the outside of the curtain wall, trying to stay low and hidden behind the grasses and bushes, her stomach aching more with each step. What would she find when she reached Torrin? Would he be dead from some horrid sword wound? Wiping the tears from her eyes, she approached the place she'd seen him fall. The rest of the fighting had moved to the beach.

Torrin was pushing himself up on his elbow. Saints, his shirt and doublet were drenched in blood.

"Torrin, thanks be to God you're alive! I have to get you inside the walls."

"What the hell are you doing out here?" he growled. His face contorted in pain, he glanced about.

"Helping you, you daft sheep. The faster you come with me, the faster we'll get behind the gate."

Grimacing, he pushed himself to his feet, his sword still in his right hand. She gently placed an arm around his waist, careful to avoid his injuries, and helped him. Glancing around, she didn’t see anyone nearby. She helped him closer to the portcullis. Almost there.

Someone shoved them both from behind, and they crashed to their knees.

Mo chreach!

She tried to get her dirk turned to stab their attackers.

"Grab her! Come on!" That was Haldane's voice.

"Bastard!" Jessie yelled. She would gut him if she could get her blade in the right position.

She was still on her stomach when someone dragged her by the feet, away from Torrin.

"Release her!" Torrin shouted.

"Kill him," Haldane growled.

"Nay! Leave him be and I'll go with you." Shoving the hair out of her eyes, Jessie saw 'twas McMurdo that Haldane was ordering about.

Loud clashes and curses echoed as Torrin fended off McMurdo's blade.

She sat up, intending to stab Haldane's leg. But he kicked the knife from her hand and yanked her to her feet. She thrust her fist toward his face. He ducked and slapped her hard across the cheek. Pain lanced through her face and neck, and she swayed.

The earth spun as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

"Put me down!" she ordered, beating her fists against his back.

"Shut your gob," he said, breaking into a run.

Dizzy, she watched the ground speed by underneath her. Haldane's solid shoulder slammed painfully into her stomach with each step he took across the hard-packed sand, near knocking the breath from her. Coming to her senses, she kneed and elbowed him. If only she could get to one of the knives strapped to her calf or thigh, but 'twas impossible to reach them now.

"Are you mad, Haldane? Release me!"

Haldane merely laughed as they headed away from the battle on the beach and through the massive sand dunes.

She noticed someone chasing along behind them. McMurdo. Nay! Had he killed Torrin?