Beauty and the Barbarian (Highland Force Book 3) by Amy Jarecki

Author:Amy Jarecki [Jarecki, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Rapture Books
Published: 2014-05-24T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

There was only one thing he could do before Rewan’s men had a chance to reload their muskets.

Ian turned the skiff, and with two strong pulls of the oars, he set it on a course for the peninsula—deep water, no beach, no place for a boat to moor. Ian drew the claymore from his back.

Niall held up a hand. “No!”

Ian held the sword above his head, its point aimed toward the hull. “Tie the bow and arrows to your back. Merrin, take off your cloak and wrap your arms around an oar. Quickly!”

Another volley of musket fire erupted from the galley. Changing course put them with the wind, and the boat skimmed toward the rocks. The galley was slower to turn. Its sail fluttered. Musket balls slapped the water just beyond the tiny skiff. The galley’s sail would soon pick up. Guaranteed, the next volley wouldn’t miss.

Ian slammed his sword down. The rotten wood splintered. Gar yelped. Merrin shrieked. Ian hit the hull again and again. Icy water sloshed over his hips. Sinking, he secured the sword on his back. Losing it now would mean certain death.

Deathly cold water hit his chest. He forced in a gulp of air. Niall could fend for himself, but where was Merrin?

Ian’s gaze darted, blocked by angry swells and dim light.

There. Her head bobbed alongside Niall’s. Ian sprang from the sinking skiff and latched on to her arm. Good. She clutched the oar for buoyancy. Ian rolled to his back and supported her atop his body, kicking with his legs. The weight of Merrin’s skirts and his claymore sapped his strength fast.

“Where’s Gar?” She tried to stop, but Ian strengthened his grip and forced her onward.

“He’s fine.” He couldn’t look for the dog. Not now. If they didn’t hit the shore soon, all would be lost.

Merrin’s movement slowed. “I cannot go much further.” Her teeth chattered.

Ian glanced ahead. The shore’s craggy outline might as well have been a mile off. A riptide snared his legs and dragged him under. Holding Merrin above him, Ian kicked harder than ever before. Merrin thrashed—he held her up. Ian’s lungs burned.

His head shuddered. He needed air. His grasp on Merrin slipped.

No!

Ian pressed his ankles together and kicked both legs together. His free hand fought the current while his other groped for Merrin. Stars crossed his vision. He clasped her hand. His arm pulled. When blackness blinded him, his head broke through the surface.

Sucking in life-giving air, he heaved Merrin up. She sputtered and gasped. “I cannot.”

“Ye can!” Ian looked to the shore—still so far to go. He pulled her onward. “Kick your legs. Do no’ give up.”

Merrin strained, her body sinking. Ian took a quick glance around. Niall was nowhere in sight.

A wave crashed over them from behind. All momentum lost, the air whooshed from Ian’s lungs. The force of the water spun him out of control. He clamped down on Merrin’s hand. Her small fingers yielded under his torturous grasp.

His head hit something hard. He tugged Merrin’s hand.

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