My Hunted Highlander by Badger Nancy Lee

Author:Badger, Nancy Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love, historical, pirates, time travel, highlands, historical 1600s, highlands of scotland, scottish highlander romance
Publisher: Nancy Lee Badger

CHAPTER 17

Shadows hid Niall and Blair, but could not hide the fear on her face. When her expression hardened, replaced with a strong set to her pretty chin, her strength made him want to kiss her senseless.

‘Tis no’ the time.

“Yes, let’s escape with our necks intact.” She stroked his forearm and, if she followed his directions, was off to gather her necessities, and gold. As she disappeared into the deeper shadows of the village, Niall listened for sounds of other footsteps, then headed for the small hut, praying he would find Keegan. The lad was small, but a noisy handful. If he were not trapped on an unknown island, he could have escaped, alone.

Did he want to leave Blair MacIan? She was a leader, but Raven would bring her down easily, then either rape her, or kill her. She would never command her ship again, but she had the knowledge, and the means, to hasten their escape.

Slipping inside the hut, light from a lantern lit an area near several miniature stalls. Murmurs rose, and he recognized the lad’s voice. Gazing into a stall, he listened as Keegan spoke to a tiny white lamb. Niall must have made a noise, because Keegan jumped up, and rushed through the stall door.

“Balfour! What--”

Niall clamped a hand over Keegan’s mouth, and shuffled him toward the hut’s main door. The boy struggled, while Niall listened, then whispered, “Doono’ say a word. I have come to take ye to yer mother. Raven means her harm, and we must leave this place. Do ye understand?”

The lad nodded, and Niall removed his hand. The child trembled, then wrapped his tiny arm around Niall’s waist.

“We shall wait behind this building for yer mother.”

“This way. ‘Tis my secret door.” Keegan untangled his body from him, and headed toward the rear of the hut.

Niall slipped the small knife into his boot, and tightened his grip on the dagger he had taken from Thomas. Keegan shoved a few bales of hay to the side, and scrambled through a dark hole at the base of the wall. Niall bent low, shoved his weapon through the opening, then crawled through, placing his trust in the lad. Keegan slipped past him, and pulled the hay bale back into place.

Crouched outside the dark rear of the hut, they waited. Footsteps brought his dagger up, as a dark-hooded shape appeared. When he recognized the shadowy profile as Blair’s, he relaxed. She carried two dark sacks in each hand, and strode purposely toward their hiding spot.

“We are here,” Niall whispered.

“Keegan?”

“I am here, Captain.”

“Don’t call me that. I am no longer the captain of The Black Thistle.”

Her voice cracked with sorrow, and Niall understood she regretted leaving this life behind. Why would fate force her into his control like this? What should he do with her once they reached the mainland? How would she react when his true identity was revealed?

“Follow me,” she ordered, dropping a heavy sack at his feet.

He grabbed it. While the lad followed his mother, he brought up the rear.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.