The Highlander's Outlaw Bride Read Free Page B

right things at Morven.
    * * *
    Brianna jolted awake, her body awash with the cold sweat of fear. The nightmare from a week ago had invaded her dreams again. This time the rasp of the hangman’s noose about her neck felt all too real.
    The days in the wild had grown long and tiresome as they moved from place to place, careful not to linger at a campsite longer than a day or two, aware the sheriff’s men still hunted them. Ewan and Duncan had been dispatched to Troon to await the king’s arrival. Brianna longed to present her plea for mercy to the king, to have her good name restored and the stain of outlaw removed. And she longed for home, her friends and family—even little Jamie’s never-ending chatter.
    Too restless to go back to sleep, Brianna rubbed the back of her neck, feeling the grime of travel roll beneath her fingers. The gown Rabbie had filched for her from a wash line at a cottage a few days ago had been too long without a good scrubbing for her personal sensibilities, and her head itched from a lack of proper grooming.
    The men’s sleeping forms lay scattered around her, lit by the glowing embers of the fire and the silvery light of the full moon. Gavin and Rabbie stood watch while William and Geordie snored gently nearby. Gavin glanced up as she rose to her feet, but she shook her head, conveying a need for privacy. Dinnae stop me, Gavin. I cannae bear yer close scrutiny again this night . Stubbornly refusing a guard, she hurried down the moonlit path to the nearby burn. The cold water wasn’t quite what she had in mind for bathing, but the thought of washing the dirt from her skin and hair sent her feet flying down the trail.
    She reached the end of the path, where the water laughed invitingly as it skipped over the rocks of the waterfall. She splashed the water with one hand, shuddering at the chill. Checking the clearing with a quick glance to be sure she was alone, Brianna stripped away her gown and rinsed it in the clear water before hanging it on a nearby tree limb to dry. With two quick steps, she dove cleanly into the burn, surfacing with a gasp at the water’s icy bite.
    After a moment, the shock wore off. With strong sure strokes, she swam to the waterfall and pulled herself onto the rocks. Spreading her arms wide for balance, she crossed the stones worn smooth by the polishing spray, and ducked beneath the rushing water. She twisted back and forth, letting it pour over her in a cleansing rush.
    Her fingers and toes began to ache, and her teeth chattered. Unable to ignore the cold, she poised on the rock ledge for the swim back.
    A movement in the tall grass on the far side of the pool caught her eye, and she stared intently into the shadowed depths. Tense moments passed, and suddenly a large form lurched upward. Panicked, Brianna lost her footing on the slippery rocks. Clawing uselessly at the air for support, she landed hard on the water. Her breath left her in a rush as she slid into bitter darkness and the foaming water closed over her head.

Chapter 3

    Conn bolted to his feet in a single movement, reaching the edge of the burn in two long strides. Slicing the water in a shallow dive, a few strong strokes carried him to the spot where the young woman had disappeared. He broke the surface with a shake of his head, scanning the area around him, but saw nothing.
    With a strangled gasp, the young woman’s head burst above the water a few feet away. Sputtering, she flailed at the water. Con raced to her side and grabbed her arm. She fought him, breaking his hold, and disappeared again into the inky depths.
    “ Shite! ” He searched frantically for her, his fingers encountering soft flesh. Pulling her warily to him, he pinned her elbows firmly against her sides.
    “Easy, lass,” he murmured. “Ye are safe now.”
    Her breaths wheezed and her head fell against his chest. Pale hair fanned out in the water around them. Moonlight struck the strands, turning them to pure silver, and unbidden,