Sweet Revenge by Lynsay Sands
Kyla assumed that the two extra boats were the MacGregors'. Their presence left very little room for anything, and she had to wonder how the six men had managed to be cramped in here while she and Aelfread had been on the beach. It would have been close quarters. Come to that, with two extra people and another boat, the situation would be impossible. She couldn't hold back an amused smile as she noted the MacGregor's frustration at the situation. It seemed things were not all going to go his way
Turning toward the entrance of the cave, he caught her expression and his own tightened briefly, then he glanced past her toward his men. "You two, take that boat and hide it."
When his men merely peered at him blankly, his expression became annoyed. "Either take it back to the water and sink it, or dig a hole and bury it," he snapped. "There is no room in here."
Nodding, the two men turned back the way they had come.
"Be quick about it," he shouted after them as an afterthought, then turned his frown to the man who stood propping the unconscious Jimmy up. "Set him down and get over here, Willie," he snapped impatiently. He turned back to survey the cave again, his gaze moving over the roof as he waited for the man to do as he was told.
"We shall have to stack these boats upright," he announced when the man had set down his burden and joined him. "'Twill make more room." He turned to glance at the man guarding Kyla and Aelfread. "You come help him, Roy. I shall watch the women."
Nodding, the fellow who had escorted them up from the beach released his hold on Kyla and Aelfread and shuffled into the cave as the MacGregor moved out of it. The clan chief positioned himself between them as he watched the men shift the boats so that they all leaned against the wall, standing upright with their bows in the air. It allowed them to set the boats side-by-side, two along each wall, leaving a small space in the center of the cave. It would be cramped with the eight of them, but much less cramped than it would have been before.
"In you go."
Kyla and Aelfread shared a glance, then moved resignedly into the new area as the men stepped aside to give them room. MacGregor followed as his men moved out to drag the unconscious Jimmy in and sit him up in the back right corner of the cave.
"Good, now go hurry the other two along ere they are spotted. And bring back Lady Kyla's gown as well," he added as the men left, bringing Kyla's attention to the fact that she was dressed in only a damp tunic. She had quite forgotten that fact during the excitement. Now that she was reminded, she was suddenly uncomfortably conscious of the way the thin material clung to her damp flesh.
Catching a sympathetic glance from Aelfread, Kyla forced a small smile, then turned back to the MacGregor as he surveyed them. Her chin rose as his gaze slid slowly over her form under the thin tunic.
Raising an eyebrow at her defiant expression, the MacGregor gestured to the ground at their feet. "A seat, ladies?" he suggested with feigned gallantry. "Would that I could offer you a chair, but I fear the sand shall have to do."
Kyla hesitated, then sank to a sitting position on the sandy floor of the cave, careful to be sure her tunic did not rise up as she did.
"What now?" she asked as Aelfread joined her on the sand.
"We wait," MacGregor responded with a grimace as he leaned back against the boat behind him. "I must admit that while I appreciate your making things so easy for us by coming here, 'twould really have been more convenient had you waited 'til later in the day to do so. I fear we cannot leave until darkness falls to give us cover, and I would not welcome the arrival of searchers looking for you."
"My apologies," Kyla drawled with some acerbity, then suggested sweetly, "Why do you not release us? If you do so, I promise we would return later."
His lips quirked sightly at that. "Bringing the MacDonald with you, no doubt." When Kyla merely shrugged, his smile widened. "Well, I must admit, surprised or not by your appearance, I am glad of it." When Kyla raised one disdainful eyebrow, he added, "I fear I was led to believe that you were a repulsive little wren. Yet here you are quite vibrant and attractive. Not beautiful in the traditional way, but quite appealing."
Kyla felt Aelfread stiffen and distinctly recalled her saying that should the McGregor take a shine to her, shaming her might be his retribution. Pushing that thought away now lest she not be able to think past her fear, Kyla cleared her throat. She murmured, "If you had been told I was so unattractive, why did you bother to come after me?"
"Ah, well, marriages are rarely based on the attractiveness of the bride, are they?" he answered easily. "And we shall be married. Though I must warn you, you will not find me as stupid as your present husband."
Kyla stiffened at that, but he merely shrugged at her indignance.
"Only a stupid man knows not where his wife is and I very much doubt that the MacDonald gave you permission to go puttering about in a boat with only a servant for company." He glanced at Aelfread now and smiled. "I must thank you for calling out your mistress' name. I confess I was not sure what I had on my hands when we spied your boat coming around the cliffs. I was a bit worried when you came ashore, but when I heard you call her name I knew the gods were smiling on me today." He glanced back to Kyla now to confess. "I fear I would not have known who you were without that."
She could almost hear Aelfread silently cursing herself, the guilt emanating off of her was so thick. Kyla opened her mouth to reassure the other woman, but MacGregor's words forestalled her.
"You will understand why I am so grateful when you realize that I might have killed you both rather than chance your reporting the bag I saw you pick up. Of course, once I knew who you were, killing you was out of the question."
"How fortunate," Kyla muttered, then tried to sound reasonable. "While I appreciate that you were originally intended to be my husband, my lord, I fear 'tis simply not possible now. Galen and I are married. Legally. Binding."
"'Twill be annulled," he announced with a wave of the hand that seemed to say the marriage was of no consequence.
Kyla took a moment to control her irritation at his lack of concern, then said, "It cannot be annulled, my lord. It has been well and truly consummated."
He shrugged at that. "It will still be annulled."
"Are you not listening? I said--" She paused, then tried a different tactic. "My lord, I realize that my sister-in-law made some agreements and contracts with you, but she had no right. She was not my guardian. Still is not," she corrected firmly, hoping against hope that what she said was true and Johnny was still alive. "My brother is my guardian and as such he is the only one with any legal right to agree to my marriage and to sign contracts to that effect. The contract was not legal. You have no right to marry me."
"Neither did the MacDonald and yet it was done."
"Aye, but--" Kyla stopped in frustration, then said, "My lord, I shall be frank. I am quite happy in my marriage. I do not wish to change it."
"That is a shame, but your wishes notwithstanding, we will be married."
"'Tis like talking to a rock," she snapped curtly.
"Aye, I have been told I can be stubborn," he agreed with mock sympathy, then shrugged. "Still, as my wife, you shall have to learn to live with that."
He actually laughed at her obvious rancor when she ground her teeth together. Then he stood and had the temerity to pat her head like a dog. "Relax. You will wear yourself out with your anger and I fear you shall need all of your energy later." Then he slipped from the cave.
"I'm sorry."
Kyla turned irritably on her friend at those words. "Do not say it. 'Tis not your fault. You wanted to turn back, if you will recall."
"Aye, but--"
"Do not 'but' me!" Sighing, Kyla shook her head. "Rest," she murmured, glancing at the man they had propped up in the corner. He seemed still to be unconscious, but she lowered her voice anyway as she whispered. "'Tis hours until darkness comes and we will need our strength then."
Aelfread hesitated, then whispered, "The cave?"
"Aye."
"When they take us out to the boats."
There was silence for a moment, then, "Do ye swim well?"
"Well enough," Kyla said grimly. "Can you find the entrance in the dark?"
Her silence drew Kyla's head around to see the uncertainty on her face.
"Oh, hell," she muttered darkly.
"I may be able to find it," Aelfread said quickly now.
Kyla sighed resignedly. "We shall have to try during daylight."
"Make a run for it? Oh, aye. That should be easy enough."
"I did not say it would be easy," Kyla muttered irritably. "Just that it had to be done."
"How?"
"I do not know. I shall have to think on it."
Aelfread opened her mouth to comment, then thought better of it and sat back, leaving Kyla to think in peace.
She only had a few moments to think before MacGregor returned to the cave, his men in tow. He held her gown in one hand, but it was the rope in his other hand that immediately caused a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Pausing before Kyla and Aelfread, he peered at them silently for a moment, then slung her gown over his shoulder. Pulling a knife from his belt, he cut the rope into four pieces, then handed two lengths of rope to each of the two nearest men. When he ordered them to tie her and Aelfread up, Kyla knew they were doomed.
"My apologies," the MacGregor murmured, sinking onto the sand across from them as the men moved to follow his instructions. "'Twill be uncomfortable I know, but 'tis several hours 'til dark and we were up all the night traveling here. We could only benefit from a rest and I shall rest better knowing you cannot escape. Not that I think you would try to," he added, with a smile that was all teeth. "I am sure you would not be so foolish. There is nowhere for you to go after all. Still, I will sleep better knowing you are tended to."
Kyla said nothing, simply glared at him as her hands were tied behind her back. He met her glare with a smile, then used his knife to start a tear in her gown as she and Aelfread were bound hand and foot.
"Once again, my apologies," he murmured, ripping a long strip of material from her gown. "'Tis a lovely gown, but 'twould be better I think if"--he paused to hand the strip to the man who had tied her up--"the two of you were gagged," he finished as the cloth was fitted into Kyla's mouth and tied around the back of her head. "Just in case someone should decide to approach and search this cave, 'tis best you not be tempted to warn them of our presence."
Unable to answer, Kyla simply glared at him angrily as he ripped off another strip of her gown for Aelfread to be gagged.
He watched the process until both she and Aelfread were trussed to his satisfaction, then turned to the men. "We shall take turns watching the beach. One up while the rest of us sleep. Willie, you have first watch. Should anyone land a boat, give the alarm. The rest of you find a spot to lie down and get some rest. We will be traveling through the night again once darkness falls."
Galen felt a frisson of apprehension slide along his back at Duncan's words. Swallowing back the fear suddenly clogging his throat, he turned to Shropshire. "Tell me."
"It may be nothing," the Englishman cautioned. "Or at least not connected to your difficulty in finding Lady Forsythe--"
"MacDonald," Galen corrected with a snap. "She is Lady MacDonald now, and what may no' be connected to her being missing?"
"Lady MacDonald," the man conceded, then said, "When we reached the shore on mainland, we came across a cottage. There was an old man inside. With a beard to here." He gestured to his waist.
"That would be Scatchy," Tommy murmured.
"He was dead," Shropshire announced almost apologetically. "Throat slit, I fear."
"MacGregor." It was a hiss from Angus.
Galen turned away, his face ashen as his blank gaze slid over the black water filling the cavern.
Tommy peered worriedly at Galen's pallid face and tried to reassure him. "It may not be the MacGregor."
"Tommy is right," Angus said quickly, moving to his side. "What would the MacGregor have to gain in killing Scatchy?"
Galen was silent for a moment, then turned back to Lord Shropshire. "Did ye see a boat at the cottage?"
The man shook his head firmly.
"Scatchy had two boats," Robbie muttered worriedly.
"There were several horses tethered there, too," the man offered.
"How many?" Galen asked grimly. Scatchy was a poor fisherman. He had no horses.
"Six or seven."
They were all silent as the ramifications of that news sank in, then Tommy frowned and peered at Galen questioningly. "Are ye thinking he found out about this cavern, killed Scatchy, stole the boat, and came here, then snuck above stairs to steal Lady Kyla away?"
Galen shook his head. "Nay. That wouldn't explain Aelfread's absence or the missing boat."
"Aye," Robbie rumbled with relief. "The women must have snuck off on their own."
"Aye," Galen agreed, but did not look relieved himself.
"Well, 'tis all right then, isn't it?" Duncan asked now uncertainly. "I mean, if 'tis the MacGregor who killed Scatchy and took his boats, he can't have approached the island. The men on watch would have spotted them. He is most like hiding out for the day, awaiting nightfall to give him cover. So long as we bring Aelfread and Lady Kyla back ere nightfall, all should be well. Better than well since we ken his plans now."
Galen turned to Shropshire again. "Was he newly dead?"
Understanding and worry mingling on his face, the man slowly shook his head. "Nay. I would say it happened sometime early this morn. I think he had been breaking his fast."
"There!" Duncan cried with relief. "Ye see. He is most like hiding out on the mainland, waiting for dark to offer him cover."
"There was a heavy mist this morn," Galen pointed out bleakly. "That would have offered them cover."
"Aye," Tommy agreed. "And it may have aided to keep them hidden for quite a distance, but 'Twas not so heavy the men would have missed the arrival of a boat once it neared shore. The watch would have seen them had they tried to land."
"Not if they approached the cliff beach," Galen pointed out grimly. "We never post a guard there."
Tommy blinked at that. "Aye, but that is because there is no way to gain access to the island from there, 'tis a dead end. He would be foolish to try to scale that cliff."
"He may have landed there, though, to wait for dark to move to another beach. 'Twould be safer than trying to make the crossing at night when a full moon and clear sky could make him visible to anyone watching."
"Aye," Tommy agreed grimly. "That would be the smartest move."
"But, if he did that," Duncan began with dismay. "Then Aelfread and Lady Kyla have--"
"Rushed right into his arms," Robbie growled.
Chapter Sixteen
Camped on enemy ground or not, the MacGregors seemed to have little difficulty relaxing. Within moments every man inside the cave had dozed off. The man left to guard the cave was still awake, but showed little interest in what happened inside. Seated with his back to the mouth of the cave, he had turned only once to peer in at them.
Deciding there would be no better time to try an escape, Kyla glanced toward Aelfread and jerked her head back toward their tied hands, then shifted until her back was to the other woman. Glancing over her shoulder then, she saw with relief that the other woman understood what she wanted. After peering down at her tied hands and taking in the knot used, she, too, turned until they were back to back. Her cold hands felt for and found Kyla's, then shifted to the rope.
Moments later, Kyla felt the rope loosen, then slip from her wrists. Releasing a sigh, she quickly shifted around, cast a nervous glance toward the guard, then set to work on her friend's bindings.
Sharing a half-triumphant, half-fearful glance as Aelfread's bindings dropped away, the two women then quickly set to work on the ropes at their ankles. Untying them, they left them in place so that it appeared that they were still
Frowning, she peered about the interior of the cave, searching for something for inspiration, or, failing that, something to pound him over the head with. The oars were her first choice, but they had been stacked on the floor against the one wall, with the boats then leaned over them. Inaccessible.
Her gaze narrowed on a good-sized rock half-buried beside her right foot. Leaning forward, she tugged at it experimentally, grateful when it moved. Reaching her other hand forward, she tugged it free, and hefted it to judge its weight. Satisfied, she drew it into her lap and eyed their guard consideringly.
Aye, it would do, she decided. If it landed right, it should knock the guard senseless. Now all she had to worry about was the noise such an action would make. 'Twould do them little good to knock out one man only to wake the others in the process.
Grimacing, she shook her head silently. This escape business was a tiresome chore, especially when she considered what she was escaping to. Galen would hardly be pleased to learn of their exploits. And they would have to tell him. A nudge from Aelfread drew her attention to the mouth of the cave to see that their guard was gone.
Hands tightening on the boulder, she removed her gag and got quietly to her feet, then slipped as silently as she could along the wall to the entrance. A smile curved her lips when she saw what he was about. He was standing a good twelve feet away, staring out at the ocean and whistling as he relieved himself.
She glanced at Aelfread to see amusement cover her face as she, too, peered around the entrance. Gesturing for her to wait there, Kyla took a deep breath then moved, creeping up on him as quickly and quietly as she could.