Haldane held her three knives in his hands. She should've kept one of them strapped to her thigh, but she'd known the salt water would rust it. Truth was it would've done her no good. One knife against twelve was naught. Saints! What could they do?

Wait! She remembered she'd sewn a small knife into the hem of this arisaid. She'd never had to use it and had almost forgotten it. But it would be difficult to retrieve. She couldn't simply grab it. She would have to unravel the hem first.

"Good to see you again, Chief." Haldane smirked. "So, you've seduced my whorish sister, have you?"

Torrin launched himself at Haldane, but the two men flanking him stepped forward, their blades poised to slit Torrin's throat.

He halted and Jessie grabbed the back of his shirt. "Pay him no heed. He's but trying to provoke you."

"I don't need you, MacLeod," Haldane boasted. "We can put you out of your misery right here. I only need my sister to convince the guards to open the portcullis at Dunnakeil. The only reason you're still alive is that, being a chief, you might be worth a lot of ransom money."

The look in Torrin's narrowed eyes turned lethal and Jessie knew he would have his revenge. He'd already decided. Of a certainty, he had always been kind to her, but she'd seen how deadly he was to his enemies. If he'd had a sword in his hands, he would've likely cut them all down.

"Leave him be. We'll both go peacefully," she said to appease her brother.

"Aye, you will. Or I'll kill you both," Haldane said.

She frowned, wondering if Haldane could indeed kill his own sister. If not, he would order McMurdo to do it. And she had no doubt he'd kill Torrin if he caused any trouble. Haldane was just like his mother—soulless and coldblooded.

"Both of you, up the bank," Haldane ordered, motioning with his sword.

Torrin took her hand, leading her up the sandy pathway. Though she truly didn't need his help, she accepted it because she loved touching him. He was her only comfort in this treacherous situation. She prayed that Torrin, being a warrior and chief, would come up with a brilliant plan of escape. Or maybe she could, if she put her mind to it. But two against twelve? The odds were overwhelming.

At the top of the bank, Haldane turned to Torrin with a smirk. "By the way, Dirk killed your brother."

Torrin halted, his gaze dark and deadly. "What?" he growled.

Jessie's stomach sank. Was it true?

"Aye, Dirk MacKay, the chief of the MacKay clan, killed Nolan MacLeod. He is your brother, is he not?" Haldane said in a lighthearted tone. How could he enjoy delivering such horrible news to anyone?

Torrin frowned. "Aye."

Jessie tightened her hold on his hand. "He might be lying just to rile you."

Haldane laughed. "I'm not lying, sister."

"Did you witness it?" Torrin asked.

"Nay. But Nolan was with us and then, after a skirmish we had with the rest of the MacKays, he vanished. And good riddance. He was never any help to us."

"He made off with Dirk's woman." McMurdo shook his head, his long gray beard blowing in the wind. "I knew that was a death sentence."

"Lady Isobel?" Jessie asked, her heart leaping into her throat at this news of her best friend. "Nolan attacked Lady Isobel again? Was she hurt?"

"He snatched her from the tent, put her on a horse and rode away with her. Dirk chased after him, and that was the last we saw of Nolan," McMurdo said.

"Was Isobel hurt?" Jessie asked again.

McMurdo shrugged. "We saw her again later with Dirk. She didn't appear hurt, but then Gil shot Dirk in the calf with an arrow." He gave an evil grin.

"I'm hoping he's dead with fever," Haldane said in a hard voice.

"Nay," Jessie said, worry for her older brother clutching at her stomach. He was strong. Surely, he could overcome such an injury. Couldn't he?

"Damn," Torrin muttered. Thinking his younger brother might be dead ripped his heart out. But with the way Nolan had turned corrupt, Torrin had expected him to meet a bad end. For Jessie's brother to have killed his brother… seemed ironic and strange. And he had no doubt Nolan was dead if he'd done what McMurdo said. Dirk would've had no mercy on him for 'twas clear Dirk loved Isobel beyond all reason.

Jessie watched him warily. "You're not going to seek revenge, are you?"

"Nay. If Nolan kidnapped Lady Isobel or hurt her, he deserved what he got. Dirk wouldn't murder someone outright."

"Nay, he wouldn't."

"Did they bury him?" Torrin asked the outlaws.

Haldane shrugged. "Time to go." He strode forward, joining several of his men.

"I'm sure Dirk would've had him buried if he is indeed dead," Jessie said. "We have no proof of it yet."

Torrin nodded. Aye, without doubt. Still, it didn't stop him from remembering Nolan as a wee lad, being slapped and abused by their father. But he couldn't think about that now. He had to focus on how to get himself and Jessie free of Haldane and his men. They were all well-armed and obviously ruthless. Haldane had hired a bunch of outlaws with no loyalties and no qualms about killing anyone for two pence.

"Move along, you two," McMurdo said behind them, his sword raised.

If Jessie wasn't with him, he'd break McMurdo's neck and grab his sword, then he'd run the rest of them through or cut their throats, one by one. At least, as many of them as he could. He was outnumbered, aye, but they were all scrawnier and weaker-looking than him. But he would do naught to put Jessie in danger.

Torrin took her hand and strode forward to catch up to the others. Why the devil hadn't he realized the potential danger of being trapped in that secluded bay? The lure of seducing Jessie had blinded him to everything else. He'd been daft.

When they didn't head toward the castle, Torrin bristled. "Where are you taking us?"

"To a safe place until we get the lay of the land." Haldane gave him a sinister grin.

What did the sneaky bastard have up his sleeve? Mayhap he knew the MacKay guards were likely to shoot him and his cohorts full of arrows before he could make any demands.

Following a roundabout path, over rocky hills and through stands of prickly gorse bushes, Haldane and his men were clearly avoiding the village and the few crofts scattered about the area.

Torrin studied Jessie as he helped her over a huge rock. She appeared concerned and somewhat afraid. Her own little brother was a ruthless outlaw just as his had been. He'd never feared Nolan, but he didn't know everything he'd done either. Haldane was no doubt a murderer, and his partner, McMurdo, certainly was.

An hour later, gloaming was descending upon the land and thick clouds were moving in from the west, further darkening the evening sky. They stopped at a dilapidated byre just off the narrow trail.

"Inside, both of you." Haldane waved Jessie and Torrin toward the doorway.

"'Tis dark in there," Jessie said. "There may be vermin."

"Do you think I care? Get inside," he ordered.

"Can you at least give us a lantern? 'Twill be dark soon," Jessie said.

"Nay. Don't be such a coward."

"Bastard," she muttered.

Haldane pushed her, and she slammed into Torrin.

"Keep your hands off her!" Torrin said.

"Shut your gob, MacLeod. Or you'll end up like your brother. Now get inside." Haldane shoved him toward the doorway into the dark stone structure. His first instinct was to shove back, 'haps even grab Haldane's sword, but he knew not what the outcome would be.