Much Ado About Highlanders (The Scottish Relic Trilogy) by May McGoldrick Page A

MacDougall men outnumbered them two to one. In any event, making love to her now might not be the most political of strategies.
    He addressed Kester. “I’d like to have a private word with you.”
    The aging warrior glanced at his mistress first and agreed only after Emily nodded her consent.
    James rode back around a small grove of scrub pines. Kester followed.
    “I’ll not play games here. My brother and his wife may be in danger. I need to get to them as fast as I can,” the Highlander explained. “Graeme MacDougall and I agreed to the arrangements. You must take the laird’s daughter back.”
    “Aye, m’lord. I agree with everything you say. But Lady Emily makes sense. She wants to travel the same road you’re taking. It leads to Craignock and to the abbey. And this way, our swords will be at your service until you reach your brother.”
    “I don’t need your swords. And I don’t need the worry of a woman traveling with us.”
    “We can keep her from harm,” Kester said. “And she’s going to do it anyway, with or without your leave.”
    James fought back his anger. “Who do you answer to? Isn’t it your responsibility to get her back to prepare for her wedding?”
    “I need no reminders from you who it is I serve. I’ve known this lass here since she was a wee bairnie. In some ways I know her better than the laird himself does. And I know it’ll serve no purpose in crossing her when she has her mind set on a thing.”
    “Even when she’s wrong?”
    “She never is. It’s her nature to think things through. She’s not one for foolhardy decisions. Unlike her cousin, Lady Kenna, she leans toward caution. If she says, ‘We travel this path, Kester,’ then I follow.”
    The man was a fool. He didn’t see that this stubborn, troublemaking sprite was different from the docile lass he knew. James had no time to worry about any of this now. If Kester wanted to put Emily’s life in danger by traveling into a region rumored to be crawling with English soldiers, it was his choice. As for himself, he and the Macpherson warriors would not wait.
    “Have it your way. You must answer to the MacDougall. I did my best to warn you.”
    The two rode back around the bend. The Macpherson men were the only ones waiting.
    “Where is Lady Emily?” Kester asked.
    “She took the men and rode ahead. She said we can catch up to them when you’re done talking.”

    Sir Ralph Evers looked across the Tweed River at the massive stone structure with the clusters of cottages and shops huddled close to its walls.
    This abbey had history. A Scottish king had died within sight of this place
. . .
and the coronation of an infant king had quickly followed within its walls. More important, this abbey was known far and wide to be the richest of any in Scotland.
    Evers assessed his prize. The place was braced and ready for an assault, but it would do no good. They would take the abbey if he had to burn the place to the ground.
    “I want every jewel and every pound of gold in their vaults,” he said.
    “We’ll take possession of the abbey, m’lord, but these monks are a hard lot,” his captain warned.
    Maxwell agreed. “They’ll never tell you where the vaults l
ie, w
here the gold is hidden.”
    “Take the abbey. Kill the abbot.” Evers turned an icy gaze on his men. “Then bring me his body. He will tell me everything I want to know.”

Chapter 9
What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?
    The north shore of the narrow loch rose quickly to rugged foothills covered with gorse and dotted with rock outcroppings and twisted trees. In protected places, dense groves of tall pine spread out, green and dangerous. Good places for lookouts to hide.
    Kenna’s gaze swept from the stony beach to the wooded hillside. Thick mists clung to the high grassy elevation beyond. A soft rain was falling—chilling her and adding weight to the dress still soaked from her time in the river.
    “You can’t be taking the road to Oban,”