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“Well enough, thank ye,” she replied. “A wee bit sore from lyin’ on the hard ground.” She was trying her hardest to be pleasant, yet her face felt strange when she smiled, as though she was stretching muscles she had not used for a long time. She could smile genuinely at Finn, but this man made her want to shiver.
“Ye will get used to it,” he said, with a rather forced grin before turning away. “I have been doin’ it for years, an’ it has become easier.”
Finn watched his brother as Liam looked at Greta, often frowning as if he was studying her. He wondered if she was aware of it. Women were intuitive, though, unlike men. Sometimes he wondered if they were the same breed of beings at all. The thought made him laugh, and Liam turned to him.
“What is so funny?” he asked, frowning. “Are ye laughin’ at me?”
This made Finn laugh harder. “No, Liam,” he answered, putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I was just thinkin’ that ladies are so different from us that we might no’ be the same kind of creatures!”
Liam looked at him for a moment and burst out laughing. “Aye, ye might be right at that, Finn,” he agreed. “I have often thought the same thing myself. I would no’ like tae have babies, mind. I am no’ sure I am strong enough for that.”
It was at moments like that, Finn thought, that he felt genuinely affectionate toward Liam, although he realized sadly that he had completely lost trust in him.
Finn watched Greta standing beside the horse waiting to mount and felt infinitely sorry for her. She had been snatched away from the only home she had ever known by a bunch of criminals, not knowing what kind of intentions they had toward her. As well as that, she was so beautiful, with her tumbling blonde curls and stunning golden-brown eyes. But more than that, she was kind and caring, and she made him want to be a better man.
Then he caught himself short. What was he thinking? He was not a person who wasted time putting himself in other people’s shoes. He rarely felt pity. What was Greta doing to him? He was unaware that he was staring at her, open-mouthed, until she turned and caught his eye, then frowned deeply at him.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, then went over to her and helped her into the saddle by making a stirrup with his hands.
“Thank ye,” she murmured, then, after a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Finn?”
He had been adjusting the girth, and now he looked up at her, raising his eyebrows in a question. “Aye?” he asked, straightening up.
“Can ye not just let me go?” she pleaded. “Please? I will do anythin’—anythin’—for ye. Just let me go.” She reached out, took one of his hands in hers, and looked deeply into his eyes.
It took a moment for him to realize what she was offering, and he stared at her in disbelief as the meaning of what she had said hit him. She was offering him her body, likely her maidenhead too. There was nothing he wanted more; he was aroused just by the thought of it.
They would find some secluded spot in the woods, then he would take her quickly and make her his. Then all he had to do was let her run away, and most likely the rest of the gang would thank him for it. However, he knew that he would refuse, no matter how much he wanted to take her up on her offer. Behaving in that way would make them no better than animals, just like a pair of rabbits, or deer or rats. If he ever made love to Greta Baines, it would be in a soft, comfortable bed, the way their fellow human beings did. Besides, it was extremely dangerous.
“No,” he said firmly. “If I let ye go, ye will be killed by wild boars in this forest or freeze to death. It is too dangerous.”
“An’ it is not dangerous here?” she asked scathingly as he settled behind her in the saddle. “One woman in a crowd of bandits?”
“I swear tae ye, I will keep ye safe.” His voice was firm.
He really believes that,Greta thought incredulously.
“Oh, aye?” She gave a cynical laugh. “I was startin’ tae believe that ’til ye—”
“Kissed ye?” he finished for her, sighing. “I never meant for that tae happen, Greta. I am so sorry.”
Greta had completely humiliated herself by offering herself to him—for nothing. “Don’t talk tae me,” she growled. “I have nothin’ to say to ye.”
Finn began to be angry. He was wasting his pity on this haughty, ungrateful woman. Perhaps he should just let her go after all, but they were in the middle of nowhere, and there were other dangers apart from animals, such as bandits like themselves. Even farmers could do damage to a woman on her own.
A little while later, they stopped to eat their midday meal, and again Greta accepted everything that was offered to her, including a second helping. She would need all her strength to carry out the plan she had formed.
Presently, Finn began to speak. “There is a wee village called Carronish comin’ up. The church there is said to have a holy relic in it that many people will want tae see, so it is worth quite a bit o’ coin tae us.”
Disgust and fear assailed Greta in equal measures. How could she possibly have offered herself to him? Desperation had made her sink a long way, but she resolved not to sink any further.
* * *
The land began to flatten out and become featureless so that they could see a fair way into the distance, where there were more trees and a little loch. Twilight was beginning to descend, and by the time they reached their destination, it was almost dark, although there was just enough light to set up their camp.
Greta did not know where she was since they had passed over the boundaries of Mackay land, and she had never been further than that in her life. She had often dreamed of going to far-flung, exotic places, but now she would just be grateful to be away from these horrible men.
“Is it much further?” she asked Finn.
