Page 45 of A Fearless Rebel

“If ye win, we will let ye go.” The man who spoke was not in the least bit convincing. “Go on, hit me.” He held his fists up.

Keithen knew he had no chance of beating them. However, the opportunity to get a few hits in had promise.

The first strike seemed to surprise the man as Keithen had regained some strength while riding. His fist slammed into the man’s nose, sending blood spurting down his face. The man yowled and the other two laughed loudly.

“He got ye,” one said as he swung and hit Keithen in the stomach.

When he bent over, another punch came to his side, followed by another. Although he’d managed a few strikes, he was no match for them.

By the time they’d grown bored with beating him, Keithen was left sprawled on the forest floor, one eye swollen shut and unable to get up.

Once again, he was tossed onto a horse just as he passed out.

As soon as Keithen came to, he was aware of several broken ribs and fingers. His bound hands throbbed, and he couldn’t breathe past the blockage in his nose. Blood probably.

He didn’t lift his head to alert whoever was around. He was in a room, bound to a chair.

Not too far away, he heard voices of men speaking, but it was hard to hear what they said.

Someone walked up and grabbed his hair, pulling his face up. Alastair Mackenzie’s face came into focus.

“I see ye decided to come to finally.” The man sneered. “I apologize for the treatment upon yer capture. If it were up to me, ye would be already be dead.”

Keithen coughed and winced at the pain radiating from his ribs. “Where is my wife?”

The new laird chuckled without mirth. “Do ye really expect me to believe that is the reason ye were skulking on my lands?”

“Is she here?” he managed before having to cough and spit out blood.

The man huffed. “I ask the questions here. Did ye kill my father?”

“Nay.”

Alastair punched him in the stomach, and Keithen howled in pain. “Who did it then?”

He knew it didn’t matter what he answered; the punishment would be the same. “I wish I knew so I could thank him.”

“Ye will hang tomorrow.”

Thankfully, the next hit sent him back to darkness.

Chapter Fourteen

“Mother!” Ava’s voice was hoarse from calling for her mother.

It had been sheer madness to come there.

Ava managed to make it to the keep before being caught by guards when she tried to enter through a side entrance.

Both her brother and mother were unharmed. Neither seemed particularly happy to see her.

“Why are ye truly here?” Alastair had asked repeatedly. “Did they send ye?”

“I came of my own volition. Upon hearing of the attack, I had to know ye were both unharmed.”

Alastair had been drinking, his red-rimmed eyes boring into hers. “Ye lie.”

Footsteps sounded, followed by her mother finally appearing, looking to her as if she was bothered. “What is it, Ava? Why are ye here?”