Page 82 of Highland Sky

“There are too many of them,” shouted North from his horse. “There is nothin’ we can do to stop them.”

“I hope to hell Kellina got her siblin’s to safety,” said Nash, right before he saw her. Kellina wasn’t in the hut hiding like he’d instructed her to do. Nay, instead, she was on foot, fighting the Sutherlands with her sword.

“God’s eyes, what is she doin’?” Nash knew he had to get to her before one of these bastards took off her head.

*

“Ye’ll die forwhat ye did,” shouted Kellina, her sword clashing with that of the Sutherland chieftain with the scar. He was Iver, the same man who had threatened to kill her at the market.

“Ye never should have angered me at the market, Wench,” spat Iver. “Now, no’ only ye, but yer clansmembers and the MacKeefes helpin’ ye will die. Then, everythin’ here will be ours.”

“Never!” she shouted, taking another stab at him, but the man was too fast for her. He flipped her sword out of her hand and up into the air. Then he pushed her down and held the tip of his blade right toward her heart.

“Before I kill ye, I’d like to see what’s under those clothes.” He used his blade to rip her bodice down the front.

“Leave me alone, ye bastard!” she spat, holding her arm in front of her so she wouldn’t be exposed to this cur.

“I’ve never had such a pretty young one before, but ye, I’m goin’ to enjoy.” He reached for his plaid, pulling it up to show her his erection.

“Nay!” she screamed as he threw himself atop her, meaning to have his way with her.

“Ye bastard! Get off my wife!” Nash rode up, jumping from the horse, pulling the man off of Kellina. He punched him first, knocking the Sutherland to the ground. Then he thrust his blade right through the man’s heart.

“Nash!” cried Kellina, running to him, throwing herself into his arms. Tears flowed from her eyes. She was scared, as well as angry.

“Why didna ye hide in the hut and protect yer siblin’s like I told ye to do?”

“I wanted to help. Nash, watch out!”

He let go of her and turned on his heel, taking down another Sutherland.

“There are too many of them. We are outnumbered and will never be able to fight them all,” she cried.

“Then I’ll go to my death tryin’ to protect ye, lass.” Nash pulled her to him and kissed her hard, then released her just as quickly. “Go to yer siblin’s now. They’ll be frightened and will need ye.”

“Nash, nay. I dinna want ye to die.”

“Go!” he shouted. “I canna watch ye and fight off these bastards at the same time.”

“I love ye, Nash MacKeefe,” she said, turning and running to the hut. If she lost her husband today, she wasn’t sure she would have the will to go on.

*

Nash and hisfriends did their best to fight off the Sutherlands, but they were highly outnumbered and it wasn’t looking good. Dead bodies from both sides littered the ground, making Nash sick to his stomach.

This never should have happened. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be.

“Nash, it’s no’ lookin’ promisin’,” called out North from the top of his horse as he rode to meet Nash. Nash had mounted his steed again as well.

“It was nice knowin’ ye, Brathair,” said Nash, spying a large group of Sutherlands pushing through the crowd. Just when Nash was sure they’d all lose their lives today, he heard the sound of a horn in the distance.

His horse got spooked and threw him, and he landed on his back on the ground. He dropped his sword in the fall. It was too far to pick up without getting to his feet.

“Die, MacKeefe!” yelled a Sutherland, lifting his sword above his head to kill Nash. Nash rolled to the side, and the Sutherland fell face first to the ground next to him with an arrow sticking out of his back.

Nash looked up to the hill with the gravesites to see Lady Spring with her bow in hand. With her was the Gordon Clan, all with their weapons at the ready.

“Sutherlands, drop yer weapons!” called out Shaw Gordon, chieftain of the clan.