Page 234 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“Aptly named,” he said under his breath.

“Mayhap ye should come down, Lady Rhoslyn,” Dona said. The cat belonged to the old woman and was as ancient as she.

Talbot took a hold of his wife’s ankle. “I do not want you climbing that high.”

Her brows dove downward. “Take your hands off me, St. Claire, or I will—”

He seized her arm and yanked. She shrieked and tumbled into his arms.

Talbot stared down at her. “As I was about to say, you can fall.”

“Put me down.”

He obeyed.

“Ye had better start climbing,” she told him.

“The cat will come down when he is ready,” Talbot said.

“Have ye ever had a cat, laird?” Dona asked. “They are good climbers, but they often bite off more than they can chew. He will stay up there until he is too weak to climb down, then he will fall. We must bring him down.”

Talbot shifted his attention back to Rhoslyn. “I suppose if I do not get him down, you will be up that tree the moment I turn my back.”

“Aye,” she replied.

Yes, he would never have to wonder what this woman thought.

Talbot hoisted himself up onto the first branch, then climbed until he reached the branch below the cat, who perched halfway out on the limb.

“Lucifer, come,” he commanded.

Giggles wafted up to him.

“He is no’ a dog, St. Claire,” Rhoslyn called. “He will not come on command.”

The very reason he disliked cats. With a firm grip on an overhead branch, he eased out onto the limb. Lucifer meowed.

“Easy, laird,” one woman called up. “Ye dinna’ want to scare him.”

He did want to scare the cat. Talbot came within arm’s reach of the animal and the branch he stood on creaked. He halted and extended one arm.

“Come, Lucifer.”

The cat meowed.

“Come.”

Another meow, but the villain didn’t move.

Talbot inched out far enough to be able to grab the cat. Lucifer backed out of reach. Talbot looked down at the branch he stood on. Sturdy enough to hold Rhoslyn, no doubt. He considered leaving the task to one of the younger, smaller men, but threw an arm over the overhead branch and crept out farther.

“Careful, laird,” Dona called up. “That branch looks thin out there.”

The branch was thin. He reached the cat and grabbed its scruff before he could scamper away again. The limb beneath Talbot gave a loud crack and the cat hissed with a guttural meow, digging its claws into the exposed flesh of Talbot’s neck. Lucifer twisted and Talbot jerked in an effort to maintain his hold. The limb gave way beneath them as the cat hissed and sank its claws deeper into his flesh. They somersaulted in a tangle of fur and surcoat.

Talbot hit the ground on his side with a thud. The cat leapt from his arms and scampered off with Dona hurrying after him. Talbot drew a stuttered breath and blinked into focus the female faces that encircled him.

“Are ye in one piece, St. Claire?” Rhoslyn asked.