My Daring Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

staring
solemnly at the dead man’s body. “I wanted to kill him myself but…
he was too strong for me.”
    “Nay, ’twas my duty and
responsibility,” Dirk said. “Any other whoreson who hurts you—or
even tries to—will meet the same fate.”
    Dirk could have lost his beloved wife
so easily tonight. He had to be relieved to finally be rid of the
MacLeod knave. Keegan could only imagine how he must have felt when
Isobel was seized. ’Twas the same gut-wrenching feeling he would
have if someone kidnapped Seona. Keegan strode back into the wood
and found her where he’d left her, wrapped in his plaid and
standing behind the tree.
    “All is well now. Nolan MacLeod
grabbed Isobel and made off with her, but Dirk killed the
blackguard. Neither Dirk nor Isobel is hurt.”
    “’ Tis good news. I would
like to see Isobel,” Seona said, excitement evident in her tone.
“What of Haldane?”
    “I know not yet. Come.” After
sheathing his sword, Keegan lifted Seona into his arms and carried
her through the trees. Though he would never tell her, he was
enjoying the sensation of carrying her slim, lithe form in his
arms. Once he emerged onto the trail, he set Seona onto her feet
but stood between her and Nolan’s dead body. She didn’t need the
additional scare.
    “Och. I see what happened to your
plaid, then,” Dirk said in a light tone.
    “Aye. I am ever the gentleman.” Keegan
gave a mock courtly bow.
    “I’m not certain of that, but you are
generous.” Dirk grinned. “Where’s your horse?”
    “Hidden in the trees. I’ll go retrieve
him.”
    While Dirk guarded the women, Keegan
returned to the forest for Curry.
    A few minutes later, they were all
mounted and traveling slowly through the dimness, Keegan’s horse
behind Dirk’s. The faint light of dawn gleamed over the dark
mountains and white morning mist floated from the burn.
    Thankfully, the echo of blades had
gone silent and Keegan hoped each member of the MacKay party was
unhurt. He wanted to ask Dirk if they’d lost any men, but he and
Isobel were sharing a kiss up ahead. Far be it from him to
interrupt, but their actions made him crave another taste of
Seona.
    Her innocent kiss had
completely seduced him. From the first time he’d seen her last
autumn, her full, bow-shaped lips had driven him mad. He’d been
fantasizing about kissing her for months, and now that he knew how
delicious her kisses were, he yearned for more. So much more.
    Those two minutes had been the most
stunning of Keegan’s life. He had to find a way to keep
her.
    Now, he held her slender form with one
arm around her midsection. Her curvy arse pressing against his
groin was even more tempting than the floral scent emanating from
her long, glossy hair. Every aspect of her lured him, but he
managed to restrain himself from brushing his lips across her ear.
For the moment, simply holding her close and knowing she was safe
was enough.
    He focused on guiding the horse along
the side of the burn toward camp.
    Dirk stopped and waited for Keegan to
catch up. “I hope the guards have run the rest of the outlaws
through,” Dirk said.
    “Aye. Do you ken if any in our party
was killed?”
    “Nay, I don’t.”
    A horse nickered nearby. Halting,
Keegan snatched his sword from the scabbard and Dirk did the same.
Keegan’s gaze searched the vicinity for the rider. He detected no
other movements. The animal dropped his head and continued picking
grass.
    “Nolan’s horse,” Dirk said.
    Keegan eyed the animal in the faint
light of dawn. The pale gray horse looked familiar, although
scrawnier than the last time he’d seen it. “He may have been riding
it, cousin, but ’tis one the outlaws stole from Dunnakeil last
winter.”
    “Indeed?” Dirk asked.
    Since his cousin had only just arrived
in Durness last November, he was not yet familiar with their
horses. “He’s near starved it to death.”
    “Aye. Any man who mistreats women and
horses deserves what Nolan got,” Dirk