“What on earth?” Aunt Patience squawked.

The women ended up in a heap on the ground. Seona’s knee pained her, but she hoped she hadn’t injured the others.

Seona looked behind her. “An arrow,” she said, pointing to the broken shaft and feathers on the ground where it had bounced off the rocks exactly where Isobel had been standing.

“Men advancing from the rear!” a guard shouted. A clunk against wood sounded as an arrow drove into his targe.

The other guards cursed and moved into position to better shield the women.

“Saints, Seona, you saved my life,” Isobel said in a stunned voice.

Seona knew not what to say; she’d simply acted on instinct. Isobel had become like a sister to her over the past few months, and obviously she’d help her in any way she could. Just as she wished to return home and help her own sister.

Seona’s attention was riveted to the four enemies on foot, wielding swords, storming from the bright mist in front of them, the opposite direction from where Keegan and Dirk had charged earlier.

Chapter Two

Who were the men materializing out of the blinding mist? As of yet, Seona could not see them well enough to distinguish their features.

Four MacKay guards leapt from their horses, drew swords and lashed out at the attackers. Blades clashed and clanged. From her crouched position, Seona caught a glimpse of one of the outlaws—Haldane, with long red hair and a scruffy beard. His face possessed a gaunt, hungry look, and his green eyes glinted wildly.

Seona envied Isobel’s dagger for she had naught to defend herself with besides the tiny knife she used while eating. She prayed the older, more experienced guards could easily defeat the young outlaws.

Shouts echoed from the opposite direction, startling her. More enemies? Or the MacKays returning? Behind the tall rocks and horses, Seona was unable to see who was approaching. She and Isobel stood. Abruptly, Haldane and his three cronies fled into the mist. Keegan, Dirk, Rebbie and several more men chased after them on foot, swords drawn, battle-cries echoing.

“Dirk!” Isobel shouted. “They could be hiding in the mist!”

None of the men listened; not that Seona expected them to. She knew how men were—although they might show caution at times, warriors such as these would display no fear or hesitance. They’d charge right in to the midst of trouble with their blades.

Near silence reigned for several minutes.

Seona held her breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Praying Keegan and the men helping him would not be ambushed in such poor visibility.

Moments later, broad-shouldered, indistinct silhouettes appeared in the bright mist and strode toward them. Was one of them Keegan?

Aye.

When Keegan emerged, walking with Dirk, Rebbie and some of the other guards, she released a calming breath.

“Thank the saints,” Isobel whispered.

Seona felt the same gratitude, but could not voice it for her aunt waited beside her, scared stiff.

Sheathing their swords, Dirk and Keegan strode closer and the guards moved aside. Keegan’s intense blue gaze was on her but she tried not to stare at him. Saints! Anytime he was near, she almost overheated.

Isobel launched herself at Dirk, who caught her and pulled her close for an affectionate embrace and a kiss on the cheek.

Seona admired their closeness, but Aunt Patience let out a gasp, her lightly-wrinkled ivory skin reddening and her dark blue eyes narrowing in disapproval at the public display. Seona wanted to ask her what was wrong with a husband and wife showing love and concern for each other? Certainly Seona’s father had never shown any care for her mother. In fact, she remembered him showing utter disdain for her many times.

Isobel drew back. “Seona saved my life.”

“What?” Dirk frowned. “What happened?”

“A stray arrow was flying straight toward me, and Seona pushed me to the ground.”

Dirk’s fierce gaze lit on her. “I thank you, Lady Seona.”

She tried to curtsy but her legs were too shaky to perform the motion adequately. “’Tis naught more than I’d do for mine own sister.”

Dirk hugged Isobel close again and whispered something in her ear. But Seona’s gaze darted to Keegan, standing next to his cousin, and the compelling expression on his face—a proud grin. His blue eyes seemed even brighter than usual as he observed her.

He took her hand in his large one, lifted it, and kissed the back. “You are very heroic, Lady Seona. I thank you for your good deed.”

A thrilling heat suffused her and she dropped her gaze. Heavens! He’d never kissed her hand before, nor should he whilst her aunt was present. She would disapprove. ’Twas not her aunt she feared, but what her aunt might tell her father.

Still, Seona savored the warmth of Keegan’s skin against her own and the tingles showering her body.

“No thanks necessary,” Seona mumbled, refusing to look at Keegan or her aunt. They could be glaring daggers at each other for all she knew. But at least Patience was silent this time.

After a long moment, Keegan released her hand, but her skin still burned where his firm warm lips and the scratchy stubble on his chin and upper lip had brushed over it. Seona realized Dirk was talking and forced herself to focus on his words.

“When we went that way…” Dirk nodded to the right. “We saw neither hide nor hair of them. They were decoys to lure us away so that Haldane and the others could attack from this side. We couldn’t find them when we went that way either and didn’t want to risk pursuing them up the mountain in the thick mist.”

“There must not be very many of them.” Keegan turned aside and crossed his arms over his chest. “Else Haldane would’ve had more men with him on this side.”

“Aye,” Dirk said. “Last winter he had around a dozen. No way of knowing whether he’s added to his band of outlaws or whether some have died or found more profitable thieving grounds.”

“I’m thinking McMurdo has trained them to be as elusive as he’s always been,” Keegan said.

“Just what we need. A dozen more McMurdos.” Dirk shook his head, then glanced at the sky. “After the mist lifts, we’ll travel south until we reach a village or until dark, whichever comes first. ’Tis unfortunate there are no castles between here and Ullapool.”

They waited for over an hour and, finally, the mist rose further up the mountains.

As they rode south, Seona and the ladies were heavily protected, with a guard on either side, when the trail was wide enough. She wished Keegan would guard her personally, but she knew that wasn’t possible. He rode further forward, his head turning right and then left as he scanned the hills and mountains for an impending attack.

***

Although summer days were long, their party was still several miles away from the nearest village when gloaming descended over the Highlands. Seona glanced west. The sun was but a glowing smudge of pink and violet when they stopped beside a stream in a wee glen. ’Twas a beautiful spot with bare mountains all around, some green and some gray granite.

A few of the clansmen built a fire while several others guarded on the outskirts. Soon the scents of roasted rabbit and quail teased her nose and made her stomach growl. Despite her hunger, her full attention had been captured by Keegan on the opposite side of camp where he removed the saddle from his horse.

When Seona noticed Isobel and Dirk approaching her, she curtsied.

“I cannot thank you enough, Lady Seona, for saving the life of my dear wife. Is there anything I can offer you in repayment?” Dirk asked.

Seona swallowed hard for she was momentarily speechless. “’Tis not necessary. Isobel is like a sister to me. I value our friendship greatly.”