Page 84 of Intrigued By A Highlander

The smell of woodsmoke alerted him that he was near and hearing no signs of battle left him feeling hopeful that he had reached Phelan in time to warn him, see the woman kept safe, and more importantly in time to capture one of the attackers.

When he got close, he dismounted and whispered to Star, “Hide until I call out for you.”

Star snorted, bobbed her head, and took off.

Knox approached the camp with confidence, knowing one of the sentinels Phelan posted would see him and alert the camp, but no one did. He slowed his pace worried at what he might find.

Phelan sat around the campfire with a few of his men, fewer than Knox expected. The woman was tied to a tree and looked to be exhausted as well as covered in dust and grime.

Phelan flew to his feet when he spotted Knox. “How did you get past my sentinels?”

“Get your men armed. You’re about to be attacked?—”

“Why should I?—”

“Bloody hell, Phelan, do as I say. Rankin is dead and his killers are after the woman,” Knox called out and drew his weapon.

Phelan wisely listened and he and his men had their weapons in hand as a roar was heard and warriors poured into the camp.

Steel clashed with steel in a deafening symphony. Knox didn’t hesitate. He was already in motion, meeting the first attacker with a downward slice of his blade that sent the man sprawling. Phelan’s men rallied, fighting like the fierce mercenaries they were, their shouts mixing with the shrieks of the assaulting warriors.

The attackers came fast and furious, with no intention of taking prisoners. Their fury seemed unmatched, more like banshees raining down death. Knox and Phelan made sure the enemy didn’t get anywhere near the woman tied to the tree, but it wasn’t easy. They were intent on seeing her dead.

The fighting continued, men falling to their deaths or heavily wounded on both sides.

“We’re outnumbered,” Phelan barked, striking a man down with one swing and turned to Knox fighting close by. “My men are being slaughtered. Who are these ruthless warriors?”

“They’ve come for the woman,” Knox said grimly, slicing clean through an attacker’s leg and spinning to meet the next.

“They can take her. I’ll lose no more men,” Phelan said and heard her scream.

A warrior lunged toward her and Knox dove forward, knocking the man aside and driving his blade into the enemy’s chest. She was trembling, barely able to hold her head up, but she met Knox’s eyes with a fierce, silent plea—don’t let them take me.

Knox turned, chest heaving. The campsite was chaos. Bodies lay strewn about, the wounded groaned while some screamed in agony. Knox barely avoided losing his arm from a swinging blade, turning just in time to run his sword through the warrior. More of Phelan’s men lay dead and wounded than the attackers. He had hoped to capture at least one of them alive to find out who sent them but from the looks of it they might be the victors here today.

The thought of never seeing his wife again drove him to fight more fiercely.

Then came the sound—faint at first but rising above the din like a promise.

A vicious roar as if an army was about to descend on them. It cut through the sounds of battle like a blade through silk.

And then Star came thundering through the trees, Dru in her saddle her red hair whipping like flames around her head and slinging rocks at the warriors, hitting her mark every time.

Behind her rode four raging Highland warriors, broad-shouldered and grim-faced… the MacTavish brothers in full battle fury.

Dru went straight for the woman tied to the tree.

The MacTavish brothers fell upon the attackers like wolves let loose. One brought down two men with the same stroke. Another barreled through the enemy ranks like a battering ram, scattering them like leaves. The tide turned.

Phelan caught Knox’s eye. “Your wife is bloody crazy.”

Knox grinned through the blood. “That’s why I love her.”

By the time the sun dipped behind the hills, the attackers lay broken. The camp was quiet but for the harsh breathing of the living and the soft whinny of Star, nudging Knox’s shoulder.

He looked for Dru.

She stood a few paces away, breathing hard, and blood on her chin that wasn’t her own. She caught his gaze and started toward him.

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