Page 107 of In Search of a Husband
Then just beyond a small clearing, down the hill and near the rushing river, the last reach of daylight filtered through the treetops and fell upon Kate surrounded by a group of Duncan’s men. Her dress was torn, and her hair was down, but she held herself with that same quiet strength he loved about her.
Duncan stood behind, appraising her, sneering as if he were a dog with a cornered rabbit. Finn rushed forward, about to charge, when Gabriel held his hand out, staying his friend.
“Touch her, Duncan McQuarrie, and ye willna live to regret it.” Gabriel’s voice echoed through the clearing before he stepped into view.
“She told me ye wouldna come.” Duncan flashed a quick smile, his fingers tightening in Kate’s hair. She winced, but her defiant glare didn’t waver.
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. If he charged Duncan now, he didn’t trust that Kate would remain safe.
“Ye’ve got something that belongs to me, Duncan,” Gabriel answered, his voice a low, menacing growl.
Duncan chuckled, the sound grating against the tension in the air. “Do I now? Think it’s only fair as I gave ye plenty of time to sort yer business out. But ye ignored me. I made a good business for myself while ye were gone. And yer brother was too distracted to mind losing business to me. By the end, he was paying me for his whisky stores.”
Finn tried to pull away, ready to charge. “No’ yet,” Gabriel muttered.
The account Kate had discovered had been Tavish’s payments to Duncan? No wonder Duncan didn’t want anyone looking around the business. He had everything to lose.
Duncan stepped away from Kate, then circled around until he reached the girls and Elsie huddled together by a fallen log not far from the fire. He dove for Elsie, laughing as she shuddered and drew back, before marching toward Kate.
“Please, my girls have suffered enough.” Gabriel edged closer, raising his hands in the air. “Let them go. Ye can have me instead to do as ye wish, but let them all go.”
“I dinna want ye. Killing ye willna bring me pleasure. I want yer stills and yer word ye’ll leave Scotland for good and give the business to me. It’s an even exchange—the girls for my business.”
Gabriel tossed down his blade, now only a few feet away from Duncan, never taking his eyes off Kate.
The older man considered it for a moment, his eyes narrowing on Gabriel, before grabbing the discarded sword and shoving it against Gabriel’s chest.
Kate softly gasped, but Gabriel shook his head.
“I should slit ye from neck to gullet.”
How could Gabriel reason with the man when he had clearly gone mad? The girls for the business?
“This needs to end tonight. Do what ye must, but let’s get it over with.”
“No!” Elsie grabbed the girls closer, pulling their heads to her chest.
At the sound of her cry, Finn leaped into the clearing, brandishing his own sword. Kate elbowed Duncan and spun to the ground, tripping the older man who fell and struck his head on a rock. She quickly crawled for the girls as Gabriel rushed forward and reclaimed his sword, fighting off the rest of Duncan’s men as the constable and marquess arrived.
Lorna and Maisie shook, tears streaming down their cheeks before the marquess leaped forward to untie Kate and Elsie.
The clang of the men’s swords echoed off the trees.
Kate bent her head and softly spoke to the girls, then addressed the marquess. Gabriel couldn’t hear as the constable roared, “Duncan McQuarrie!”
Duncan wavered as he stood to face the constable, staggered a step, then quickly turned and waved his dirk at Gabriel.
“Ye’re like yer father, ye ken. Tavish had some sense… until he didna. Family curse to die young, is it no’?”
Kate reappeared at the edge of the clearing and dove for Elsie, but one of Duncan’s men saw and charged. Finn threw himself between Elsie and the blade.
His friend collapsed onto the ground, shielding Kate.
It might have been a matter of moments or a matter of hours, Gabriel didn’t know. But he watched as Finn lay slumped over Kate, and the constable and his men finally gained the advantage on Duncan.
“Help,” cried Elsie. “Gabe, help me with Finn. He’s bleedin’.”
CHAPTER 29
