51 Garwood, Julie by Saving Grace

Author:Saving Grace [Grace, Saving]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-01-21T19:12:59+00:00

She couldn't let go. "I can't let them hurt her anymore. I can't. Don't you see? I have to help her. I prayed for someone to help me. No one would. But I can help her. I have to…"

"I won't let them hurt her," he promised.

She shook her head again. Gabriel decided to take a different approach. It seemed as though an hour had passed since he'd joined her on the steps, yet he knew less than a few minutes had actually gone by.

The length of time didn't matter to him. He didn't care how long it took for her to regain her control. The bastard MacInnes soldiers would have to wait. Gabriel could have taken the weapon away from her, of course. He didn't want to. He wanted her to give it to him.

"Very well then," he said. "I'll order my men to kill every one of them. Will that suit you?"

"Yes."

He couldn't mask his surprise. He let out a sigh, then turned to give the order. He wasn't one to bluff. If she wanted him to kill the infidels, then he would accommodate her. Hell, he'd been looking for an excuse anyway. Pleasing his wife would do well enough.

"Calum," he shouted.

"Aye, MacBain?"

"No," Johanna blurted out.

Gabriel turned to her. "No?"

Tears gathered in her eyes. "We can't kill them."

"Yes, we can."

She shook her head. "It would make us no better than they if we let our anger control our actions. Make them go away. They turn my stomach."

The strength was back in her voice. Gabriel nodded, satisfied. "Give me your bow and arrow first."

She slowly lowered her arms. What happened next so surprised her, she didn't even have time to react.

Gabriel snatched her weapon out of her hands, half-turned, took aim, and dispatched the arrow with incredible speed and accuracy.

A howl of pain followed. The arrow found its target in the shoulder of the same MacInnes soldier she'd injured. Robert, the laird's son, had slipped his dagger from his belt and was just about to hurl the weapon when Gabriel spotted the movement. Neither Calum nor Keith had even had time to shout a warning.

Laird MacInnes went into a rage on his son's behalf. Gabriel's fury was far worse. He shoved Johanna behind his back, tossed the bow to the ground, and reached for his sword.

"Get the hell off my land, MacInnes, or I'll kill you now."

The MacInnes soldiers didn't waste time leaving. Gabriel wouldn't let Johanna move until the courtyard was clear.

"Keith, send ten Maclaurin soldiers to follow them to our border," he ordered.

"As you wish, MacBain," Keith shouted back.

The minute her husband moved, Johanna skirted her way around him and ran down the steps. She crossed the clearing, untying her belt as she ran. She had her plaid off before she knelt down next to the battered woman and used the material to cover her. She placed her hand on the side of the woman's neck, felt the pulse beating there, and almost wept with relief.

Father MacKechnie put his hand on Johanna's shoulder.

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