A Fire Within (These Highland Hills, Book 3) by Kathleen Morgan Page B

were told, Dar had already begun to suspect
he would never be able to tease much useful out of her at any
rate.

    No, it was indeed impossible. With a frustrated groan, Dar
leaned down and rested his head in his hands. There had to be
some other way, but what? What?
    His old mentor, Feandan MacNaghten, captain of Dundarave's
guards and his uncle, had once told him when one problem
seemed to present insurmountable difficulties, step back and
look around for a clever, fresher approach. And if Dar had ever
needed to do that, he needed to do so now. But what other clever,
fresher approach was there to this problem?
    He inhaled slowly, deeply, willing himself to calm the tortured
thoughts roiling in his head. A direct assault in battle against
Campbell might had always been unfeasible. Taking Kilchurn
by stealth and deception had seemed the only alternative. Now
that, too, had come to a quick and ignominious end. Dar needed
another plan, one that would strike at the heart of all Niall Campbell held dear.
    The memory of Anne Campbell embracing her son-Niall
Campbell's son-flashed through his mind. Did the Campbell
chief hold his family as close as Dar had once tried to hold his
own? If so, the woman and bairn might well be invaluable in a
trade for Athe.
    He certainly couldn't just kidnap the child alone. The bairn
still needed his mother. Dar couldn't fathom how he would care
for a squalling babe as he made his way through the hills and
glens to put a safe, negotiable distance between an enraged father
and himself.
    Yet taking Anne Campbell alone would leave the child motherless. Even for the sake of his clan, Dar realized he lacked the
stomach to stoop to that particular form of cruelty. And he most
definitely didn't care to deal with mother and child!
    But what if, he thought, his head jerking up with a surge of
excitement, he instead abducted Caitlin, holding her as hostage
in exchange for Athe? According to his wife, Niall Campbell was ferociously protective of his sister. Surely she meant more to him
than some point of honor that might compel him to hold a man
prisoner until he could be brought to trial. And Caitlin seemed
of a strong enough bent to withstand the rigors of several days'
hard ride, not to mention the minor indignities of spending a
time in his company without the services of a lady's maid or the
comforts of a soft bed and finely cooked meal.

    It went without saying he would treat her with all respect
and consideration and return her as pure as he had taken her.
Even if his earlier intentions toward Caitlin hadn't been all that
honorable, once he took her hostage, the situation-and the
rules-would change. Sister though she was to one of Clan
MacNaghten's direst enemies, Dar had no intent purposely to
make her suffer.
    Though he imagined, he thought with a sardonic smile, his
loathsome presence would be indignity and suffering enough. She
wouldn't take kindly to being abducted, of that he was certain.
Caitlin Campbell was, after all, a headstrong, fiery-tempered
vixen.
    On second thought, perhaps the custody of a squalling bairn
might indeed be a far more agreeable undertaking.

    "Are ye daft, man? Has reason finally and completely fled yet
brain?" Kenneth raged at Dar the next morning. "It wasn't enough
to learn yestereve that Caitlin is the Campbell's sister, and now ye
propose to abduct the lass and hold her hostage for Athe?"
    Dar shrugged. "Is it any worse than our original plan to steal
my brother right out from beneath Campbell's nose?"
    "Aye, it is indeed. Breaking Athe out is a lot like reiving cattle.
No one likes it, but no one's overly surprised by it. Besides, it's the
Highland way. Taking a man's sister, however, touches on family
and clan honor. And ye know how prickly a subject that can be."

    Kenneth rose from his bed and gingerly placed his weight on
his sore foot.
    Dar frowned. "Ye're not supposed to be walking on that, ye
know."
    "Have I any