Taming the Scotsman by Kinley MacGregor Page A

the mere fact they cut it out would tell him that they did indeed hold you and not some other.”
    She glared at him, but at least it bought him a small reprieve.
    Unfortunately, it didn’t last long before she started in again asking him all manner of questions about where they were headed and what awaited them.
    As the minutes ticked by slowly, Ewan began to hope it was his ears they took after all.
    He wanted to listen to the people outside the wagon for clues, but all he heard was Nora’s endless conjectures.
    She’d been right. She did make enough chatter for a whole family of people.
    And even though it should anger him, he found himself conversing with her a bit. She was a creative and intelligent lass whose imagination knew no bounds as she ran through various scenarios of what could happen to them.
    “You know,” she said as she picked at her brat. “They say there are dragons in the hills. Mayhap they’ll take us there to feed one. I never really believed in dragons, but this peddler came once to our home and he had a bite wound. It was this big.” She held her arms out to a good size. “And he had it on his arm. He said a dragon had bitten him as a young man.”
    “How old were you when he told this story?”
    “Ten and two.”
    “Perhaps he made it up to entertain you.”
    “Perhaps, but he looked terribly sincere about it. Do you think there are dragons? I should like to meet one if there are…”
    Ewan shook his head at her while she continued on with her stories. The lady loved to talk as much as he loathed it.
    At last the wagon stopped and so did Nora’s prattle. She cocked her head to listen.
    Ewan heard the muffled voices from outside.
    “Think he be awake by now?” Ewan wasn’t sure which of the men spoke.
    “He should be,” Catarina answered. “I only gave him a bit of the root, and considering his size, it should have worn off a while back.”
    “Poor man,” another one said. “Imagine being locked in the back with the woman’s tongue. No doubt he’ll be wanting all our heads for it.”
    Nora gaped indignantly.
    “I think we should keep him unconscious.” That was definitely Lysander’s voice. “He’ll be more than angry at us and I’ve no wish to taste his wrath.”
    “That would defeat the purpose, now wouldn’t it?” Catarina asked. “Nay, we have to be getting the man up at some point.”
    Ewan scowled at that. What did they mean?
    “Let’s open it then, and see if he’s up.” It was the first man again.
    Then a small slit was opened in the back of the wagon and a pair of black eyes peeped in.
    It was Bavel.
    “He’s loose,” Bavel said. “The lady must have untied him.”
    “I thought you said you tied him well,” Catarina inserted testily.
    “I did.”
    Bavel was moved out of the way and Catarina’s blue eyes stared inside. “Hand me your ropes,” she demanded.
    “Why?” Ewan asked.
    “Well, if you be wanting out of there to attend to your business, you’d be best doing as you’re told.”
    “Just let them out, Cat,” Viktor said.
    She refused. “Not until I see those ropes. I want to know how they got them off him.”
    Ewan pulled Nora back as she started to comply. “You’ve no need to see the ropes, lass. Let us out.”
    “Ha!”
    Ewan ground his teeth. What was it with this day that he was cursed with women who didn’t know their places?
    Nora shrugged off his hold and handed one of the ropes to Catarina through the slot.
    “What are you doing?” Ewan asked her through his clenched teeth.
    “Getting us out,” she hissed back.
    “See,” Catarina said triumphantly. “The rope’s been cut. They have a dagger in there. Had you opened the door, one of us would most likely be dead now.”
    “Hand over the dagger!” Lysander snarled.
    Ewan scoffed at the thought.
    Hand over his only weapon? Never.
    “Nay.”
    “Then the two of you can just stay in there,” Catarina said.
    “There’s one wee problem,” Nora said. “I really