Page 78 of Deception and Desire
Lachlan stopped, his hand resting on the sword he’d worn for the ceremony. “Lissie!”
Running toward the voice, he saw the shadowed figure of his cousin and called out. “Gideon!”
His cousin darted into a copse of woods, still yelling for Lissie. Lachlan picked up his speed and ran after Gideon. Entering the dark woods, he stopped and listened. Mumbles and curses floated on the breeze, and he moved quietly toward the disturbance, staying hidden in the shadows.
A man Lachlan didn’t recognize held Lissie from behind. Gideon stood before the pair, hands out, talking to the man. To the side, another shadow hovered. His familiar snarl sent the hair bristling on the back of Lachlan’s neck.Ross Craigg!
Lachlan moved quietly, trying to position himself behind Craigg as his cousin advanced on the scoundrel. Gideon’s fist connected with the Craigg’s nose, sending him to the ground. Lachlan’s jaw clenched in satisfaction but stayed hidden in the shadows.
“I’m not paying ye to keep my company. If he knocks me down again, slice the lass’s throat,” Craigg said to the ruffian holding Lissie. He got to his feet and pulled a pistol from his belt, pointing it at Gideon.
“I understand you hold no love for the MacNaughtons. But think of the consequences to your family.” Gideon placated, stalling for time. When his gaze met Lachlan’s, he held up his hands as if in surrender and took a step sideways, out of the direct path of the gun.
Lachlan stepped out, unsheathing his sword with ahiss. “Stand down, mon. This canna end well for ye.”
“Och, luck is on my shoulder, here’s the grandiose Lachlan. We’ll take both of ye down, and ye can join yer brother this night.”
Gideon again spoke softly, taking another sidestep toward Lissie. “It’s your daughter’s wedding. What do you have to gain by killing anyone tonight?”
“Her da”—he jerked his head at Lissie—“can taint his offspring with the MacNaughtons, but I’ll not be Calum’s toady. I never asked for peace between our clans. I should be head of the Craiggs.”
“No one would ever follow such a cur,” Lissie hissed.
“It doesna matter. Nessie’smyproperty, not the chieftain’s. I decide who my blood mixes with and who marries my daughter.”
“So ye’ll take the noose rather than see yer daughter married to a MacDunn? Ye’ve lost yer mind, mon.” Lachlan moved his sword slowly back and forth as he crouched in preparation for the fight to come. The man had lost all reason.
“I’ll no’ take orders from anyone.” Craigg sneered at Lachlan and spit on the ground.
As he bent his head in disgust, Lachlan lunged forward. The sword sliced Craigg’s hand, and the pistol tumbled to the ground. Craigg drew his own sword and faced Lachlan. From the corner of his eye, he saw Lissie kick backward and knock her captor off balance. Gideon seized the opening and landed a punch to the man’s head, and she broke free.
“Run, Lissie,” Gideon yelled.
Craigg lunged at Lachlan, and he ducked and parried. The tip of Lachlan’s blade pierced him in the side. Craigg doubled over and Lachlan advanced, only to have the man grab his dirk and throw it. The knife landed in Lachlan’s leg. With a curse, he grabbed the handle and pulled it out, ignoring the warm spread of blood across his thigh. Craigg staggered up and Lachlan lunged again. The clash of steel against steel reverberated against the pines, then Lachlan found his opening. The blade sliced through flesh, and Craigg howled with pain as his sword fell to the ground.
A pistol went off, then Calum burst into the opening.
“Saints and sinners! What the devil is this?”
Lachlan turned to see his grandfather pick up a lifeless body by the collar and inspect the contorted face.
With a crack of branches and mumbled oaths, Ross Craigg disappeared into the darkness.
Lachlan yelled, attempting to limp after the coward. “Run ye feckin’ traitor!” He grimaced and squeezed his thigh, trying to staunch the flow of blood. “Ye canna hide.”
*
It was aweek before he was able to manage the stairs to the dining room. A week of cursing, of thinking, of missing a woman he wanted to forget. Lissie had come to see him, explaining that his aunt had invited her to England for a visit and companionship. Lissie had accepted, no longer feeling she belonged with the MacNaughtons, yet not wanting to return to her parents. Gideon was stopping at the mill and would inform Colin of Lachlan’s injury and his delayed return.
Entering the dining room, a pregnant Brownie at his heels, roasted fowl tickled his nostrils. His stomach growled, and he made his way to the table and sat next to his mother.
“Good to see ye up and moving,” commented Calum. “Wondered if I’d have to carry ye down myself.”
He grunted in reply, not up for his grandfather’s humor today. He looked across the platter of meat to see Brodie grinning at him and his grandmother scowling at her husband.
“I told him ye were avoiding work and just wrapped yer leg as an excuse,” his brother said in a loud whisper.
Lachlan reached for a hunk of bread and concentrated on his meal, tossing his hound a scrap or piece of fat. When dinner was over, his mother pointed to a small hand wagon near the hearth.
