The MacKinnon's Bride Read Free

opposite shore. But she
didn’t dare feel triumphant. If they were even vaguely familiar
with the lay of the land, they would know that, but a few furlongs
ahead, the stream ended and they would once again meet en route to
the castle. Page didn’t intend to take that risk. Lifting herself
from the water, sopping to her bones, she made instead for the
sanctuary of the forest. They might expect her to run for the
castle—as instinct was crying out she do. Logic told her she would
fare much better doing the unexpected.
    If she made it into the safety of the woods—and
perchance climbed a tree—she could wait for them to tire of
searching and then go home. They were likely no more than
brigands—she their luckless prey. She was certain that given the
choice of searching all night for some faceless woman to rut with,
or seeking out more profitable victims, they would tire sooner
rather than later and leave her be.
    Encouraged, she ran, panting, her heart pounding.
Her wet undergown clung to her legs. Running, she tried not to trip
as she peered behind to make certain they were not following, and
once again relief surged through her, for there was no sign of her
attackers.
    Euphoria washed over her.
    Sweet Jesu, she was going to make it, after all!
    That, regrettably, was her last coherent thought,
before she turned and collided with a tree.
    At least Page thought it was a tree.
    The impact knocked her flat upon her back and left
her reeling. She lay there, stupefied, staring up at a Goliath of a
man.
    Jesu, but he was tall!
    Within the instant, she was surrounded by the rest
of them. Their faces a blur in her benumbed state, they seemed to
be leering down at her, disembodied teeth shining in the
moonlight.
    “ Och, mon, ye’ve gone and made her
daft!” she understood one to say.
    “ Eh, she’ll come aboot,” assured
another.
    Scots.
    Bloody damned Scots.
    She could tell by their brogue, but that was her
last thought before darkness swallowed her.

 
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 2

     
    The scent of grain surrounded her... golden fields
abloom... Page was running through them... running...
running...
    For a befuddled instant, she thought she’d died and
entered the hallowed gates of Heaven.
    Had they killed her already?
    Nay... she didn’t think so.
    A groan sounded in her ears and she thought it might
be her own. Her body felt... squashed... broken, detached
somehow.
    At least she was able to feel!
    Run, she commanded herself—run!
    Her body jerked into full cognizance only to find
that she was being jostled between them inside a meal sack—a meal
sack, for the love of Christ! Tiny leftover grains stuck to her
face.
    She wondered hysterically if they were going to kill
her now, stuffed as she was, like some pesky cat to be drowned in
the river!
    At least the sack wasn’t filled with stones, she
reasoned.
    But it seemed they were moving away from the bank...
into the woods… She sensed the darkness close about them and
struggled in vain, screaming until her throat turned raw. God curse
them! Her abductors seemed impervious to her struggles.
    Hysterical laughter bubbled from the depths of
her.
    Her father’s prophecy was about to come true. Jesu!
He’d always said she’d be her own ruin someday. That someday was
now.
    She should never have come out at night to wade
alone. She should have brought Cora with her—now she was going to
die for her recklessness.
    What an empty-headed fool she was!
    “ Release me!” she shrieked,
tearing at the sack with renewed determination. “Release me at
once!”
    Heart pounding, Page twisted and fought like a
savage, kicking and bucking against their hold upon the sack.
“Release me this instant, bloody rotten heathens—let me go!”
    They broke into fits of laughter—but didn’t bother
to comply!
    Well! She wasn’t about to make this painless for
them! Twisting and turning, she vowed that when they finally
released her, she was going to pluck out their eyes!
    If only