Page 78 of Intrigued By A Highlander

“As long as women don’t start dying because of me. If one woman dies—” She shook her head. “I will not be able to live with the guilt, knowing if I had spoken up her life would have been spared.”

“Phelan will not rush to turn the woman over to either parties. He will wait and see who offers him the most for her, then pit them against each other to get even more from them. We have time before any danger befalls her. Time to free her.”

It didn’t surprise him that his wife made no further comments but instead got lost in her thoughts. And he knew what they were and let her linger there, but not long.

Knox grabbed her chin, tilting her head back. She wore no challenging or determined grin he had come to expect and surprisingly loved. And he hated to see sorrow in her green eyes that usually sparked with boldness. That she was troubled, troubled him.

“I have only found you. I don’t intend to lose you. Autumn might sacrifice herself for another, but Dru would not surrender. She would fight to the end to save the woman and herself.” He lowered his face close to hers. “And she needs to remember that she is not alone in this. Her husband is beside her, more in front of her, shielding her—too often from her own follies—and he always will.”

He got the desired smile out of her that he hoped for.

She kissed him. “I have an idea.”

“Of course you do,” he said, glad to hear her sound like the indomitable Dru. “Tell me.”

CHAPTER 21

“Ishould have known it was a foolish idea,” Knox said, his eyes focused on four men well into their cups sitting around a campfire arguing. “How do you know the MacTavish brothers?”

“How do you know them?” Dru countered.

“I never met them, but the sorry lot is known to most. They lie. They’re thieves. And they’re drunks. Now, how do you know them?”

“I helped them out of a difficult situation and earned their friendship.”

“For whatever such friendship is worth,” Knox scoffed.

Dru ignored his dismissive remark and explained. “The MacTavish brothers might drink themselves senseless, but they never forget what they hear or see.”

“Now there’s a skill to be admired,” he said, thinking this was a waste of time.

“You wait here while I go talk with them,” Dru said, taking an eager step around a tree to head to the clearing where the men sat when she was suddenly yanked back.

“Not on your life are you going to talk to them alone,” Knox said irritated.

“They won’t hurt me,” Dru insisted, “and they will talk with me more freely without you around.”

“And you expect four drunks to reveal something that will help us?” He chortled at the ridiculous notion.

“Drunk or not, they know things and will share it with only a chosen few.”

“And, of course, you’re one of the chosen few,” he said, thinking now that Dru didn’t survive the Highlands, the Highlands survived her.

Dru stuck her chest out proudly. “That I am.”

Knox shook his head. “You’re not talking to them alone and they are going to learn right off that you are my wife. And just so you know, this is a colossal waste of time.”

“You want to wager on that?” she challenged.

“What have you got to wager, wife?” he asked, seeing a benefit in this that he hadn’t expected.

“I’d say the same thing you’re thinking, husband. You intend to make sure I don’t go with you when you talk with Lord Torrance. If we learn nothing from them that will help us, then you get your way. But if we learn something helpful then you take me along with you without protest.”

Confident the drunken lot would be of no help to them, he agreed, “You’ve got yourself a wager, wife.”

Dru licked her lips. “Victory tastes so sweet.”

Knox hesitated briefly when she stepped forward. The way her tongue glided seductively over her lips gave him thoughts he shouldn’t be having right now. And she sounded far too confident. He got annoyed with himself for agreeing so easily, thinking he may have just stepped into a trap.

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