Page 59 of An Allusive Love
Ross struggled to his feet. “Help me onto my horse,” he ordered. “Then I only have one last chore before I bid ye goodbye.”
“She’s done enough, ye stinking blaggard.”
Brodie stood in the shadows of the yard. Her heart hammered at the sight of him, just as an arm pressed against her neck.
“Stand down, MacNaughton, or I’ll blow her bonny little head to bits,” Craigg rasped, holding the end of the long barrel under Kirstine’s chin.
Charlie growled and slunk toward the horse.
“Down,” Kirsty ordered in a quivering voice. She’d been so close. If Brodie had been a few minutes later…
“I’ll no’ let ye hurt her, Craigg. We both ken ye’d have shot her before ye left. That was yer plan, eh?” Brodie spoke in a calm, almost conversational tone. “The satisfaction of taking something from the MacNaughton. He’s taken enough from yer family.”
“Ye dinna ken the half of it.” His arm tightened around her neck. “It was a good plan. Killing his grandson and the poor young widow under his nose. He’d never hold his head so high again. Instead, I had to settle for yerbetrothed.”
“Ye needed her first, though,” Brodie continued, moving slowly forward.
Kirstine swallowed. She would have helped him onto the horse, and he would have shot her as he rode away. A wave of nausea rolled over her.
Concentrate! Help Brodie save ye!
Brodie’s gaze locked with hers. His eyes made the slightest movement toward Charlie, then the fingers of his right hand wiggled. She glanced down at his right calf and saw the dirk he kept always kept there. He had a plan. If Charlie was on her right, she had to pitch to the left. She nodded and hoped, if things went awry, that he saw the love in her eyes.
“If ye let her go, I’ll make sure no one follows until dawn.”
“Dinna move another step.” The hammer on the flintlock clicked.
“Dìon!” bellowed Brodie, ordering the dog to defend as he pulled the blade and flung it forward.
The deerhound vaulted forward, and Kirstine leapt to the side. Craigg’s arm jerked up to ward off the snarling dog, and the gun went off, just as the dirk landed in the saddle, just missing Craigg. Then Brodie sank to his knees with a curse.
“No!” she screamed and scrambled to him. A tremor ripped through her body. Fear squeezed her heart; she couldn’t draw in a breath. Behind her, Craigg kicked at the hound as he struggled onto his horse. “Charlie, come!”
Kirstine fell to her knees beside Brodie. “Please don’t die, please don’t die,” she panted over and over, her fingers searching for the wound.
“It grazed my arm and knocked me off balance. Ye’ll no’ get rid of me that easily.” He sat up, scowling at the retreating figure. “The mon must have the devil riding on his shoulder.”
Tears streamed down her cheek. She threw her arms around him, sobbing against his chest.
Brodie pulled her onto his lap and stroked her back. “Shhh, now, love,” he murmured. “Ye’re safe now.” He chuckled at the suddenthumping. “I think yer other hero wants some thanks.”
Kirstine wiped away her tears and hugged the deerhound, burying her wet cheeks in his wiry coat. “I love ye so.”
“Me or the hound?”
“Both,” she giggled, relief making her giddy.
“Then marry me.” His hand cupped her cheek, his eyes dark as a stormy ocean. “Make yer promise to me, Kirsty.” He kissed her, a soft whisper of a kiss. A gentle declaration of love.
“Yes,” she said with a watery smile, letting the tears fall again.
“Up with ye then. Ye’ll need to doctor one more mon tonight.”
But when she turned to go into the cottage, he stopped her. “Wait,” he said, turning her around so her back was to him. His fingers laced through her hair, and the curls fell against her neck.
“Turn around, love.”
Kirsty watched as he looped the hair ribbon into a knot, took her finger, and placed the knot over their joined hands.
