Page 97 of Love with a Scottish Outlaw
And then one by one, as if in a dream, men began to step out of the trees to line the beach, five, ten, a dozen, then more than she could count. Finn gave her arm an exultant squeeze, and they shared a hopeful glance. Out on the loch, the ship’s anchor began to rise out of the water, even as the first sails unfurled, as the captain prepared to abandon Welcker.
At the sight of her brother, Cat drew in a sharp breath, and tears flooded her eyes. She felt like it had been forever since she’d last seen him. The mercenaries dropped their weapons and stepped away from the children and her.
But the sword fight went on. Why did the sheriff not surrender? It was apparent he’d seen the number of his enemy, and knew he could never go free. He was slow in lifting his weapon, his arms shaking from exhaustion. But still he fought, his desperation rising as he took wild swings. Duncan was impassive and calm, though sweat dotted his face with the exertion.
At last, Duncan slipped past the sheriff’s defenses, thrusting his claymore deep into the man’s chest. For a moment, the two men stared at each other over the killing blow, and the entire beach was silent. Welcker looked as shocked as if he’d never experienced defeat before. With a scream, he crashed to the ground.
Little Adam began to cry again, the mute boy just stared, but Finn raised a fist triumphantly. Cat desperately wanted to press their little faces against her so they could not see such ugliness. She could only hope that the vanquishing of their captor would at least help them sleep easier at night.
“’Tis all right now,” she said to the children. “We’re safe and unharmed. Ye’ll go home soon.”
The rest happened quickly. Duff and Carlyle clansmen poured onto the beach and the mercenaries surrendered, protesting loudly that they’d only recently been hired and hadn’t hurt anyone. Shuddering at her memories of what they’d wanted to do with her, Cat struggled to her feet, Adam still clinging to her. Owen strode toward her, and she would have flung her arms around his neck if her hands weren’t still tied. But Owen dragged her into his embrace.
“I was so worried,” her brother whispered against her hair. “No letters came from ye, I thought ye were just enjoying yourself, and then this news—” He shuddered as if unable to say more.
“’Tis all right,” she murmured, “but I’m starting to lose my breath.”
She smiled as he quickly loosened his embrace, but Owen wasn’t smiling. He pulled out his dirk and began to work at the bonds restraining her and the children.
“Where have ye been? How did this”—he spread his arms as if encompassing the whole beach—“even happen?”
She realized he didn’t know anything except that she’d been kidnapped by the sheriff. She looked past him at Duncan, who wiped the blood from his sword across the sheriff’s plaid before drawing the loose ends over the man’s contorted, frozen face.
Then Duncan met her gaze, sheathed his sword, and walked toward them. Cat felt a terrible anxiety seize her. She’d wanted Duncan to pay for what he’d done to her, how he’d betrayed her by taking advantage of her weakness for his own ends. But suddenly she didn’t want any of it to come out at all. He’d just challenged and slain the sheriff, risking his very life for her and the children. There were many sides to Duncan, and she feared she might love them all. She was so confused.
Duncan formally bowed to Owen. “Lord Aberfoyle, I am Duncan Carlyle, chief of Clan Carlyle.”
“Ye were the one who sent for me,” Owen said slowly. “Ye’ve saved my sister’s life.”
“’Tis not that simple. Ye need to hear everything.”
Flustered and worried, Cat put Adam into Finn’s arms and said to the girl, “Take the children to my brother’s men. They’ll feed ye.”
Finn hesitated, but the mute boy seemed to swallow excessively, as if beginning to come out of his terror. The three-year-old squirmed.
Finn looked from Cat to Duncan, who nodded to the girl, and said kindly, “Go. I’ll speak to ye after the earl and I talk.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Ye were very brave, Finn.”
Finn reddened, but nodded, and with a last anxious glance at Cat, walked down the beach with the other two children. That left just Cat, her brother, and her lover alone on the beach, tension rising to crackle between them.
Owen folded his arms over his chest and regarded Duncan impassively. “Explain to me what I need to know.”
“This is my tale to tell,” Cat found herself saying, even though she’d had no idea what she intended to say at all. But she felt a desperate need to forestall whatever was about to happen.
“Nay, this is my tale, all my responsibility.” Duncan removed his sword belt and laid his sheathed sword at Owen’s feet, along with his pistol. “Your sister has been living with my clan for the last three weeks.”
Owen rounded on Cat. “But you were heading for Glasgow. My men were escorting ye there.”
Tears returned so quickly. “A terrible storm rose up and we fell down a ravine. When I awoke, they were both dead, bless their souls, and I . . . I couldn’t remember who I was.”
Owen’s mouth tightened. “What are ye saying?”
“I had no memories at all. I didn’t know my name or where I was from or if I had any family. My head was badly injured, and I probably would have died in the wilderness except . . . Duncan found me.”
“I knew who she was,” Duncan said coldly. “And I didn’t tell her.”
Owen stiffened.
“I make no excuses for myself,” Duncan continued, “but ye should know the truth. Your father was my bitter enemy, a man who countenanced children being stolen from their families and sold to the colonies. My clan’s children—those children.” He pointed to Finn and the others, who were now sitting in a little circle eating.
