Mist Warrior (20 page)

“
Richard, what would you have me do? Sit here and wallow in my own misery?
”

“
If it keeps you alive
,
then aye
.
”

Rage coiled through her, pushing tears into her eyes
,
but she refused to give way to them.
“
I've had my bloody fill of you, you stubborn, lack-witted barbarian! God's teeth, why can't you leave me be?
”
She spun on her heel and stormed back to her shelter.

****

Branan watched Catriona vanish into her shelter fury clawing at his reas
on. His gaze returned to Courcy
and his fury increased. Slowly, he lowered the carcass to the ground and motioned for some men to remove it. They did but his eyes never left Courcy's.

The young man, his face red from Catriona's diatribe
,
stepped forward. His body bowed
,
but for a moment he didn't move, obviously trying to master himself.

“
I see ye have learned one lesson,
”
Branan said betw48"an saideen clenched teeth.
“
Ye willna threaten her with injury in my presence even when she lets loose with her sharp tongue.
”

“
I'm more angry at you than her,
”
Courcy snapped
“
Endanger her like that again and I will have your ballocks.
”

“
She was ne'er in danger.
”

“
How do you know? Strickland's men could have stalked you just like you stalked the deer.

“
I would have ken they were there...and so would she.
”

“
Mind my orders, MacTavish, I have equal say in our partnership..
”

Branan snarled a curse.
“
And mind that ye doona continue to slight her
,
or underestimate her talents.
”

“
You overstep your bounds,
”
Courcy snapped and stormed away.

Branan sighed, shaking his head.
“
Fool,
”
he muttered.

Duguald looked at him, arching an eyebrow.
“
Take care, young Branan. Courcy knows ye have an eye for his lady.
”

“
She is my foster-sister and I dinna have an eye for her.
”

“
Ye spend most of yer waking hours with her and ye dinna have an eye for the lass?
”

Branan's shoulders sagged.
“
All right, Duguald, mayhap I find her a bonnie creature and fair of grace. But her future is with Courcy...and...
”
He almost choked on the words.
“
She willna break the betrothal because of me.
”

“
But ye need the fire of our beloved Catriona
,
do ye not?
”

“
Aye
,
but that be not the reason why I do this.
”

“
Then why, lad? Why court the rage of the lord who finances yer cause?
”

“
Courcy is a fool and a coward. Catriona hasna friends here,
”
Branan said firmly.
“
She lost all that was dear to her except myself and Gavin. But Courcy persecutes her for nary a reason.
”

Duguald nodded.
“
Just see to it ye doona push Courcy too far
,
or ye may just find yer ballocks on his plate.
”

“
I'll goad him into raging fits if it causes him to give the lass her due,
”
Branan snapped.

Surprisingly, Duguald chuckled.
“
Verra well, lad, ye may be willing to endanger
yer
family jewels
,
but see to it ye dinna lose yer heart as well.
”

Muttering, Branan strode away.

****

“
Catriona!
”
Richard barked from outside her shelter.
“
A word with you.
”

She flinched and her heart pou" fer hearnded. She had stayed in her shelter
until dark,
hoping Richard would give up and leave. Unfortunately, he seemed to be determined to harass her.

Catriona
squared his shoulders and purposefully stepped out.
“
What is it?
”

“
I insist that you return to Brackenburgh.
”

She noticed movement behind him. Branan approached
,
but in the torch light
,
it
appeared
as if he materialized out of the darkness.

“
Courcy,
”
he said, his voice laced with warning.

Richard saw him and curled his lip.
“
She is not safe here.
”

Catriona lifted her chin, anger sparking through her. She would not be safe at Brackenburgh either.
“
I appreciate your concern
,
but I am perfectly secure here. I assure you I am quite capable of taking care of myself.
”

Richard's anger faded and he looked genuinely amused.
“
Taking care of yourself? Please, lady, your words only prove your foolishness. If you had been able to take care of yourself, Strickland's men wouldn't have harried you like hounds on a rabbit. They wouldn't have ran you into the ground. Do you have any idea what would have happened if they caught you? If it hadn't been for MacTavish and your brother, you would have been assaulted and probably left for dead.
”

Abruptly the memories intruded, stealing her anger and replacing it with terror. She tried to force the horrors from her thoughts
,
but they remained, their claws buried in her soul. Her terror had been fogged by cold and exhaustion, she only remembered running. Lately, each night, the memories of all she had witnessed slowly returned with terrifying clarity. The nightmares only grew worse.

She turned her back on Richard, praying he did not see her tears and wrapped her arms around herself, shivering with an awful chill radiating from the coran>from the of her being.

“
I think you should leave, Richard.
”

“
Catriona
—
”

“
Now! Leave me in peace!
”

“
Blast, woman
—
”

Branan stepped forward.
“
Ye heard the lass. Leave now.
”
His voice was soft but deadly in its power.

Richard cursed and stomped away.

Catriona held her breath, her body trembling. She keep the terrifying memories at bay by sheer will alone.

A moment later, she heard a horse gallop away.

“
He's gone,
”
Branan said softly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

With his touch, her control dissolved. The tears exploded and she sagged against him. The visions flashed through her thoughts
,
terrifyingly real.

“
Catriona?
”
Branan asked worriedly as he held her to him.

The memory broke free and Catriona no longer stood before her shelter with Branan
,
but in her own room as the servants rousted her from bed....

....
”
M'lady! Dress quickly!
”
Abigail whispered.
“
Yer father wants ye in the hall.
”

Confused as to what could be happening at such a late hour, Catriona dressed and hurried downstairs. The manor house was in an uproar, the staff hiding valuables and barring doors. Her mother and father stood in the middle of it.

“
Papa,
”
she called.
“
What's wrong?
”

“
Catriona,
”
he limped forward, leaning heavily on his cane
,
and swept her into a tight embrace which only frightened her more. Slowly he released her.
“
Catriona, we just heard that Strickland knows Branan sheltered with us for a time. His men are sacking the village and they are coming this way. I want you and your mother to hide in the forest. Once they know Branan is not here, I will fetch you.
”

Catriona's heart battered her ribs.
“
Papa no, let me stay here.
”

He shook his head.
“
My dear daughter, I cannot risk your well-being. You are a beautiful girl and once the men see you, they may decide to accost you in order to force me to tell them where Branan is now.
”

She swallowed hard, tears welling in her eyes.

“
I want you and your mother to go to the woods and stay there.
”

“
But we are defended, Papa, we can close the gates.
”

He managed a grim smile.
“
Close the gates to my overlord? Catriona
,
you know better than that. It would only fuel his rage and none of us would live to see the sun rise.
”

“
Then come with us.
”