April Holthaus - The MacKinnon Clan 01 by The Honor of a Highlander Page B
Authors: The Honor of a Highlander
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Rory.
Looking at him with cold eyes, Rory replied, “Ye just wait until ye find a lass who tangles up yer thoughts and chains ye down to a marriage contract.”
“Ha. There is no’ a lass in all of Scotland who can tame me,” Ewan said and raced his horse to pass Rory’s.
Traveling deeper into the northern Highlands vast mountain ranges, the cool September wind blew through the valley. Cooler than normal this time of year, Rory became concerned with the fog that seem to fall upon them. Riding in the fog would make their travel much more difficult.
As they entered into the forest, the fog had become dense and blocked out the sun causing poor visibility. Slowing their pace, they cautiously moved their horses into a tighter formation and trotted through the mass of trees.
“I’m no’ liking the looks of this,” Colin called out.
“Aye. It feels as if there are eyes in these woods,” Ewan agreed.
Rory adjusted himself on his saddle and placed his hand on the hilt of this sword. He too, did not like the look or feel of his surroundings. The Highlands were known to harbor thieves and highwaymen and with such little food and coin that he carried, he couldn’t risk their goods to be stolen by low life swine.
“Stay close and guard the women,” he said to his men. “Ewan, ye and I will ride ahead.”
“Aye,” his men answered back.
Rory pulled out his sword and carefully observed the sounds around him. It was quiet, too quiet. The wind had died and the leaves had stilled to an eerie silence. Looking around, he scanned the perimeter. Rory was about to give the all clear, just before he heard the sound of a twig breaking under a man’s foot. Someone’s here . He held up his fist to halt the riders.
“Men, spread out. Angus, stay here wit the women,” he whispered so the uninvited guests would not be able to pinpoint their location.
“Please dinna go,” Annella uttered to him with uneasiness.
“It will be fine, lass.” Rory winked at her and looked at Angus, “Watch o’er them.”
“Aye, my laird.”
As the men scattered, Annella watched Rory turn his horse around and trot into the thick fog. She swung her bow around and grabbed an arrow from the quiver strapped to her back and notched it in place. Moving her head from side to side, she readied herself for danger.
She took one glance over to Lady Kenna who was holding onto her reins so tight that she could see her knuckles turning white. She gave her a brief smile and drew her attention back towards the trees.
Please be safe, Rory . She sent up a few more prayers as she, Angus and Lady Kenna huddled their horses together. Angus moved his in front of them and held out his sword. For such a young lad, he was very brave, Annella thought. Angus had become a very good friend to her. He was always kind and helpful. It was apparent that one day he would become a great warrior and would help lead Rory’s army. She was glad that he was here protecting her, but she wished Rory had stayed. She couldn’t fathom the possibility of him getting hurt.
She wondered who these men hiding in the woods were. Could Stewart and his men have already caught up to them, or per chance just common highwaymen looking to steal loot from travelers? All she could hope for was the lesser of two evils.
Chapter 11
Without warning, an arrow brushed through Annella hair. What the devil? Turning around, she saw a long feather tipped arrow lodged deep in the tree directly behind her. She looked over to Lady Kenna as both women’s eyes were wide and jaws were dropped open by the surprise.
“They are o’er here.” Annella heard someone call out from a distance in the fog. She heard the sound of swords clanging together but could not see where they were coming from. It was as if the sound echoed off the surrounding trees. Squinting her eyes, she could see a figure approaching towards their small group. As the mass grew larger, she grasped that the man
Looking at him with cold eyes, Rory replied, “Ye just wait until ye find a lass who tangles up yer thoughts and chains ye down to a marriage contract.”
“Ha. There is no’ a lass in all of Scotland who can tame me,” Ewan said and raced his horse to pass Rory’s.
Traveling deeper into the northern Highlands vast mountain ranges, the cool September wind blew through the valley. Cooler than normal this time of year, Rory became concerned with the fog that seem to fall upon them. Riding in the fog would make their travel much more difficult.
As they entered into the forest, the fog had become dense and blocked out the sun causing poor visibility. Slowing their pace, they cautiously moved their horses into a tighter formation and trotted through the mass of trees.
“I’m no’ liking the looks of this,” Colin called out.
“Aye. It feels as if there are eyes in these woods,” Ewan agreed.
Rory adjusted himself on his saddle and placed his hand on the hilt of this sword. He too, did not like the look or feel of his surroundings. The Highlands were known to harbor thieves and highwaymen and with such little food and coin that he carried, he couldn’t risk their goods to be stolen by low life swine.
“Stay close and guard the women,” he said to his men. “Ewan, ye and I will ride ahead.”
“Aye,” his men answered back.
Rory pulled out his sword and carefully observed the sounds around him. It was quiet, too quiet. The wind had died and the leaves had stilled to an eerie silence. Looking around, he scanned the perimeter. Rory was about to give the all clear, just before he heard the sound of a twig breaking under a man’s foot. Someone’s here . He held up his fist to halt the riders.
“Men, spread out. Angus, stay here wit the women,” he whispered so the uninvited guests would not be able to pinpoint their location.
“Please dinna go,” Annella uttered to him with uneasiness.
“It will be fine, lass.” Rory winked at her and looked at Angus, “Watch o’er them.”
“Aye, my laird.”
As the men scattered, Annella watched Rory turn his horse around and trot into the thick fog. She swung her bow around and grabbed an arrow from the quiver strapped to her back and notched it in place. Moving her head from side to side, she readied herself for danger.
She took one glance over to Lady Kenna who was holding onto her reins so tight that she could see her knuckles turning white. She gave her a brief smile and drew her attention back towards the trees.
Please be safe, Rory . She sent up a few more prayers as she, Angus and Lady Kenna huddled their horses together. Angus moved his in front of them and held out his sword. For such a young lad, he was very brave, Annella thought. Angus had become a very good friend to her. He was always kind and helpful. It was apparent that one day he would become a great warrior and would help lead Rory’s army. She was glad that he was here protecting her, but she wished Rory had stayed. She couldn’t fathom the possibility of him getting hurt.
She wondered who these men hiding in the woods were. Could Stewart and his men have already caught up to them, or per chance just common highwaymen looking to steal loot from travelers? All she could hope for was the lesser of two evils.
Chapter 11
Without warning, an arrow brushed through Annella hair. What the devil? Turning around, she saw a long feather tipped arrow lodged deep in the tree directly behind her. She looked over to Lady Kenna as both women’s eyes were wide and jaws were dropped open by the surprise.
“They are o’er here.” Annella heard someone call out from a distance in the fog. She heard the sound of swords clanging together but could not see where they were coming from. It was as if the sound echoed off the surrounding trees. Squinting her eyes, she could see a figure approaching towards their small group. As the mass grew larger, she grasped that the man
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