The Duke: Clan Ross Holiday Novella (Clan Ross of the Hebrides) by Hildie McQueen

Author:Hildie McQueen [McQueen, Hildie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Pink Door Publishing
Published: 2022-01-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Six

When the first arrow struck, Ealasaid was confused. A scream spurred her to action and she turned her horse around and galloped in the direction in which they had come.

Maddock. He would protect her.

Or would he? There had been a quarrel between her father and Laird Ross and she was sure it had to do with Maddock turning down his offer. Yes, it also meant he’d rejected her for wife, but that was inevitable. No one would marry her, not after learning her lineage and her dowry of war and enemies.

Branches struck her face and tugged at her hair. But upon hearing the screams and clashing of swords, she couldn’t slow her retreat. She didn’t even look back.

Soon, the forest was dense and she was forced to slow her escape. The openings were not large enough for her horse to get through. She had no other choice but to stop.

She’d not gone far at all. The sounds of fighting echoed through the air and she could hear her father shouting out his name and clan affiliation. As if that would help. It was the McDonald Clan that attacked. She’d caught a glimpse of their tartan before turning away.

Her mother was in a wagon, hopefully covered by blankets. The men would not see her. Tears streamed down her face as she released the horse’s reins at hearing the sounds of others approaching.

It was here in Uist that she’d die. It was now the last day of her life and she was glad to have kissed Maddock because with that memory, she’d leave the world.

Two huge warriors atop muscled horses approached. Their flat stares roved over her before looking to each other. “Are ye Lamont’s daughter?”

It was as if the deep voice cut her skin and she shuddered. “Aye.” She’d not lie. That they’d ask was only to ensure whom to claim they killed.

The man on the right held up his sword. “In the name of Laird McDonald, I claim yer life.”

Ealasaid crumpled, her legs unable to sustain her and she covered her head with both hands. Yes, nothing could stop the fell swoop of his sharp sword, but it was instinct that drove her to react. A sudden surge of energy propelled her to roll away and scramble into the thicket. A scream stuck in her throat, she pushed into a thorny bush, not feeling any of the cuts or nicks.

“Get her,” the deep voice called. The crunching of branches ensued.

Her head jerked backward as one of the men dragged her out of the bush. Ealasaid scratched and kicked, finding some relief upon biting his hand and being released just enough to dart into another bush.

A sword cut through the branches and she screamed. She’d not last much longer, but satisfaction came at knowing she’d fought until the bitter end.

Sharp pain made her cry out when the sword cut at her arm and she buried herself deeper into the thicket. Once again, she heard the sound of its branches breaking as the metal slashed through it.

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