Part 6 (2/2)
He nodded.
”We don't have anything to tie him with,” Cat whispered.
”You should know you can't escape us. There's--”
Lochlan silenced him with a hard punch to his jaw. Myles's eyes rolled back in his head before he hit the floor with a loud thump.
Cat arched a brow at Lochlan, who was frowning down at Myles.
”Not quite death, but at least it got him to shut up, eh?”
He quickly gathered their things.
”What if he wakes up?”
”Then we're going to be chased, so let's not dally, shall we?”
She followed him from the room and down to the stable, where he hastily retrieved their horses.
Just as they were mounted, a cry rent the air.
”The princess is with the Scotsman. Stop her!”
Lochlan cursed. ”Can you keep up with me, la.s.s?”
”Are you jesting? To avoid them I could beat the devil himself and all his disciples.” She set her heels to the horse. Neighing, it tore from the stable.
Lochlan smiled at her spirit and skill as he set his horse after hers. He was unfamiliar with this land, which put them at a great disadvantage. The horses had rested a bit, but he wasn't sure how long they could last at a full run. With any luck, the guards' horses would be tired as well.
If not, this was going to be a short, and fatal, escape.
As they left the stable area, several of the guards lunged at them while others tried to block their path. Lochlan and Catarina dodged them and flew toward the edge of town. He could hear the commotion of the men scrambling for horses.
”Keep your head down,” he told Catarina. ”Continue north and don't stop whatever you do.” He only hoped that the darkness would be kind enough to s.h.i.+eld them from the guards and not so cruel as to hide a deep rut or dip in the ground that would send one of them flying from their mount.
The last time he'd been chased like this, it'd been his father on his tail, drunk, trying to kill him.
Only then Lochlan had known the countryside like the back of his hand. He'd avoided his father easily enough and spent the night in a cave, high above their lands. In the morning, he'd awakened with a nasty cold, which hadn't kept his father from beating him.
You're a worthless b.a.s.t.a.r.d. If not for the fact your mother lacked all backbone, I'd swear you were whelped from another man's loins.
It was an insult so common that Lochlan had practically cut his teeth on it. He didn't even know what made him think of it now. But one thing was certain...if they caught him, they wouldn't come away from the battle without scars of their own.
Grinding his teeth, he urged his horse faster.
Cat's heart was pounding as they tore through the darkness. She hated not being able to see. It was a moonless night, which would help conceal them from the guards, but it didn't help them find the road they should be traveling on. A twinge of fear crept through her and she hated that.
She didn't like being afraid. But the darkness was oppressive.
Suddenly, Lochlan was beside her, slowing her down.
”Is something wrong?”
He motioned her to silence.
She didn't speak, but the thrumming of her heart in her ears was deafening.
Lochlan slid to the ground and held his hands up for her to join him. Not sure if she should obey, she forced herself to trust him. His grip was sure as he guided her to land by his side. He slapped the rump of her horse and sent it off and running.
”What are--”
”s.h.!.+” he snapped.
Angry, she watched as he led his horse to the side of the road and had it lie down. He covered it with leaves and debris, then had her lie by its side. As soon as she was covered, he joined her.
He'd barely covered himself before she heard the thundering sound of approaching hooves.
”Do you see them?” one of the guards shouted.
”Aye. They're still running ahead.”
As soon as they pa.s.sed, she started to rise only to have Lochlan hold her down. She could feel the muscles of his arm flexing intimately against her stomach and b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Just as she opened her mouth to protest, she heard another rider approaching. She actually gaped at the sound and waited for it to pa.s.s.
Once it'd long faded, Lochlan pushed himself up, then extended his hand toward her.
”How did you know there would be another rider?”
”Any commander with half a brain will have one riding in the back, just in case of this ruse.” He swung her onto the back of his horse before he joined her.
”Can your horse carry both of us?”
He urged his horse to the east. ”For a bit. We'll have to travel slower than before, but since they're not at our heels, we should be fine.”
”Unless they realize my horse carries no rider.”
”Hopefully by that time, they'll be far enough gone that they won't be able to backtrack to find us easily.”
Cat hoped he was right. The last thing she wanted was to return to her father in chains. Not to mention, Lochlan was putting his own life in danger by helping her. He owed her nothing and yet he was being kinder to her than her own family. It made her heart soften toward him.
”Have I told you just how much I appreciate what you're doing for me?”
”Nay, la.s.s, you've only insulted me.”
”Then I shall never insult you again...even should you deserve it.”
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