Tempted by the Highland Warrior (6 page)

Then the sun gleamed over the hills, revealing the glint of
chainmail armour. They were outnumbered, perhaps three to one. Callum didn’t
doubt that both Cairnross and Harkirk were allied in this attack.

The only question was how many of his clan would survive
it.

* * *

Marguerite followed Laren to warn the rest of the clan.
The chief’s wife looked terrified, but she explained what was happening. One by
one, they gathered the women and children, leading them back to the tower.

‘We’ll bring them underground,’ Laren explained. ‘We’ve taken
shelter there before.’

Marguerite picked up Laren’s youngest daughter Adaira and
started towards the keep. When she glanced behind to be sure that no women or
children were left, she saw Callum approaching.

He walked slowly. In his eyes, she saw the grim look of a man
who was about to fight. Seeing his ruthless determination made her heartbeat
quicken, for he wouldn’t hesitate to shed enemy blood to protect them.
Marguerite set the child down, then hung back from the others, waiting for
him.

Callum stopped walking a moment, his eyes passing over her.
From the top of her veil, over her face and down her body, it was as if he
needed to assure himself that she was all right.

‘Did you sleep at all?’ she asked, feeling self-conscious from
the look in his eyes. He gave a slight nod, then sent her a questioning look as
if to ask the same.

She shrugged. ‘A little. I was worried about you.’

Callum took her hand and led her behind one of the small homes.
She didn’t understand what he wanted, but Laren and Nairna were guiding the rest
of the women and children inside the keep.

Her pulse beat against her throat as he slowly pressed her back
against the wall. With his hands, he touched her veil, moving down the sides of
her face as if he were trying to memorise her features. Marguerite saw the
promise in his eyes, of a man who would lay down his life for hers. An aching
fear clenched within her, for she didn’t know what lay ahead.

Though he was strong, he’d been badly wounded and shouldn’t be
fighting so soon after his rescue. Yet, in his eyes she saw the steady resolve.
Callum wasn’t a man who would stand aside while his family was in danger.

‘Will you be all right?’ she whispered, touching his
shoulders.

His answer was to lean in, stealing a kiss. It was as if he
drew strength from her, needing this one last touch. His mouth was gentle upon
hers, unravelling the edges of her heart. There was no reason to kiss this man,
nor give him any reason to think that they could stay together. Once her father
came for her, she would have to go with the Duc and marry a man of his
choosing.

But as she surrendered to Callum’s kiss, answering his need
with her own, she refused to feel any guilt for it. He had endured so much,
remaining strong in the face of suffering. Knowing that he wanted her, and that
she felt the same answering desire, was enough for now. Either of them could die
today.

When he pulled her into an embrace, she felt the quiet
assurance of his protection. He wouldn’t leave her, no matter how dire the
circumstances. Marguerite took a deep breath. ‘We should join the other women
and children. They’ll need you to help guard them.’

He took her hand and led her forward, his gaze searching the
perimeter for any threat. When they caught up to the others, Marguerite went
with him into the underground passageway beneath the fortress. For now, they
would hide from the invaders. And if the worst happened, she knew he would use
every last breath to defend them.

* * *

Callum worked with Nairna to find the secret tunnel that
led outside the fortress. The damp smell of earth permeated the space and he
could sense the fear of the women and children behind him. Though most men would
be afraid of the impending battle, inwardly he felt a sense of calm. Once he
found a bow, he could strike down any man who dared to attack the women. In
this, he would not fail. And if he died this day, at least he would keep
Marguerite safe.

The taste of her lips lingered upon his mouth. He still
couldn’t believe that she’d allowed him to touch her again. She’d welcomed him
into her arms, until his thoughts went well beyond a kiss. He could imagine her
creamy naked skin, the flush of arousal rising on her face. God above, what he
wouldn’t give to spend a night pleasuring her. This woman, who had given him a
path out of darkness, made him want to live.

The acrid scent of smoke caught his attention only seconds
before his brother’s wife Nairna sensed it. The invaders had set fire to the
keep and it was only a matter of time before it spread below. ‘We can’t stay
here,’ she insisted, staring at him with horror. ‘We have to evacuate the
others.’

Callum moved to examine the underground chamber, knowing that
his older brother would have more weapons hidden somewhere. Behind him, he heard
Alex’s wife speaking with Nairna, both arguing about whether to stay or go. He
kept searching until, at last, he found the weapons. There were two longbows
with arrows and a crossbow, as well as a few dull knives and one sword.

He claimed one of the bows for himself, along with a quiver of
arrows. Though he still had the sword Alex had given him, he preferred to fight
from a distance, since he lacked stamina.

His younger brother Dougal, who was only four and ten, looked
uneasy at the prospect of fighting, but he’d agreed to help defend the women and
children. Callum emerged from the darkness, holding out a bow for Dougal and
more arrows. When Nairna tried to take his weapon, Callum shook his head,
keeping his grip tight upon the bow.

In her eyes, he saw the lack of trust. ‘Can you defend us?’

He stared back at her and gave a single nod, hoping she would
understand that this battle was his to face, not hers. Nairna stepped back, as
if she were still wary of him. He gave no reaction, for she would see his skills
soon enough.

Marguerite gathered the women together while Dougal cleared the
exit to the outside. Callum reached for her hand and felt the cold soft skin of
her palm.

He held it for a time, watching her, trying to let her know the
words trapped inside of him.
I’ll do everything in my power
to keep you safe.

A blush transformed her face as she nodded. ‘I know.’ She
remained at his side as they moved towards the exit. The sunlight reflected the
rainwater within the ditch. They would have to cross through the water and up
the opposite hillside to reach the sanctuary of the trees and the dwellings
hidden in the forest.

When Nairna started to move forward, Marguerite stopped her. ‘I
know the way to your house, Nairna. I’ll go first and lead them, if you’ll help
Laren gather the others. I don’t know them as well as you do.’

Callum slung his quiver of arrows over one shoulder. Though he
understood Marguerite’s desire to help, he wouldn’t let her go anywhere without
him. He chose a single arrow from the quiver, while Nairna returned to the store
of weapons, choosing a crossbow. The young woman’s face was pale with fear, but
Callum admired her willingness to fight.

The smoke grew worse, and when the children began coughing,
Laren picked up her own daughters, one over each hip, as the women gathered
together. Marguerite moved to the front of the passageway, but Callum kept at
her side, nocking the arrow to his bow.

Her blue eyes held terror and she cast a last look at him.

It will be all right
, he wanted to
tell her.
No one will harm you.

But without the words to reassure her, he reached out and
stroked the side of her face with one hand. She held his fingers to her cheek
and sent him a nod of trust.

And it was what he needed to face the danger ahead.

Callum left the shelter of the tunnel, studying their
surroundings. There were no soldiers on this side of the fortress, nor any sign
of them in the forest ahead. Satisfied, he signalled Dougal to cross the bank
and take a position on the opposite side of the ditch. With both of them armed,
they could protect the others from all sides.

His younger brother obeyed, but Callum didn’t miss the
apprehension in his eyes. The lad was afraid, and whether or not he could shoot
with accuracy was anyone’s guess.

While Nairna climbed down into the water with Marguerite,
Callum kept his bow taut, searching for any threat. From his peripheral vision,
he watched the women making their way through the water. Nairna’s dog dove in
behind them, paddling across the water. The animal appeared unconcerned by the
exodus and Callum took it as a good sign that the enemy had not yet reached this
side of the fortress. Bram and Alex must have kept them occupied with fighting
in the main fortress.

‘Go and take cover in the trees,’ Nairna told Marguerite,
setting her crossbow on the ground. ‘I’ll stay with Dougal and help the women
out of the ditch.’

Callum watched over her and Marguerite sent him one last look.
He locked the image into his mind, afraid it was the last time he would see her.
Her long golden hair gleamed against the sun and her blue eyes filled with
worry. Despite the danger, he didn’t regret the moments he’d spent with her. If
he died today, at least he’d glimpsed Heaven.

You’re unworthy of her
, his
conscience reminded him.
All you can offer is your
protection.

While more women evacuated with their children, Callum could
only hold his position until Marguerite disappeared into the forest. He resumed
his place on the bank beside the fortress, the arrow poised to shoot. And yet,
he couldn’t stop his hands from shaking. It wasn’t fear—only the raw
anticipation coursing through him.

Nairna’s dog began barking and Callum spun, taking aim at the
emerging soldiers. He stretched the bowstring taut, adjusting his aim. Slowly,
he waited for the soldier to draw near and when he loosed the arrow, it struck
the man’s face.

Too high.

He followed up with a second shot to the heart, dropping the
man where he’d stood.

A slight motion caught his attention and, while Callum readied
another arrow, he saw Marguerite watching from the trees. Whether it was her
thanks or a quiet farewell, he met her gaze with the promise to defend her.

His brother Dougal cried out a warning and Callum seized
another arrow. When more men crossed to the opposite side, the boy panicked and
fired too soon. The arrow struck the ground, but before his brother could run,
Callum sent a steady stream of his own missiles into the charging soldiers, one
after the other, each arrow striking its intended target.

He dulled his mind to the fighting and death around him,
focusing only on bringing down the threat. For the first time in years, he could
defend his clan. With his bow, he was no longer less than a man, but equal to
his brothers. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t speak, only that he could wield
a weapon.

In this, he had a purpose. And soon enough, the women and
children would be within the forest, away from the worst of the fighting.

Behind him, Callum heard the groaning of the keep’s tower,
while Nairna brought the last of the women out of the water. He kept his gaze
focused on his surroundings and saw his brothers Bram and Alex approaching at a
full run.

Bram crossed through the water, helping his wife up the
hillside before he pulled her into his embrace.

At the sight of them, a tightness expanded through Callum’s
chest. Nairna gripped her husband as if she never wanted to let go. He envied
them, for he wanted to be with Marguerite, to reassure himself that she was all
right. Letting her go while he stayed behind was the only choice, but he didn’t
like it.

A shower of fire sparks drifted in front of him and a prickle
of awareness caught him. Behind him, a cracking noise resounded, just as his
brother roared, ‘Callum, dive!’

He threw himself into the ditch, just as the tower collapsed.
The icy water numbed him, but Callum swam to the opposite side, dragging himself
out. His bow and arrows were soaked, and he rested on his knees, catching his
breath.

Nairna was pushing Marguerite back inside the forest. ‘He’ll be
all right. Take the women up to the ridge and I’ll send him soon.’

Callum’s gaze snapped to hers. She was holding on to Nairna, as
if she didn’t want to leave. It seemed that she’d started to lead the women
away, only to return when the tower had fallen.

As if she cared about him, despite the danger to herself.

If he could have, he’d have abandoned all else, taking her away
from the chaos of battle. But that wasn’t a choice. He was bound to defend his
family and the only home he’d ever had.

As if to remind him of that, Bram extended a hand and helped
him up. And for a moment, he saw the gratefulness on his brother’s face. ‘Thank
you for defending them,’ he said below his breath, so that only Callum would
hear. ‘And I’m sorry for every day you spent in captivity. I blame myself for
it.’

Though he could make no reply, he squeezed Bram’s hand in
forgiveness. After what they’d been through, he knew his brother had done
everything possible to free him. Nairna sent him a smile of gratefulness, still
standing by her husband.

Before his brother Dougal could join the women and children,
Callum offered his sword. The lad needed a weapon of his own, now that he’d
spent all of his arrows. After taking it, Dougal disappeared into the forest,
just as more enemy soldiers emerged, surrounding them on all sides.

Though Callum wanted to reassure himself that Marguerite had
escaped with his youngest brother, he forced himself not to look, for fear of
drawing the soldiers’ attention there.

Too late.

One of the archers fired several arrows towards the forest
before he could bring the man down. Not all of the women had made it to the top
of the ridge, and Callum worried that one of them could have been struck. The
thought of Marguerite lying prone, her life ended by an arrow, sent a dark rage
pulsing through him.