Tempted by the Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham Page A

Callum kept at
her side, nocking the arrow to his bow.
    Her blue eyes held terror and she cast a last look at him.
    It will be all right , he wanted to
tell her. No one will harm you.
    But without the words to reassure her, he reached out and
stroked the side of her face with one hand. She held his fingers to her cheek
and sent him a nod of trust.
    And it was what he needed to face the danger ahead.
    Callum left the shelter of the tunnel, studying their
surroundings. There were no soldiers on this side of the fortress, nor any sign
of them in the forest ahead. Satisfied, he signalled Dougal to cross the bank
and take a position on the opposite side of the ditch. With both of them armed,
they could protect the others from all sides.
    His younger brother obeyed, but Callum didn’t miss the
apprehension in his eyes. The lad was afraid, and whether or not he could shoot
with accuracy was anyone’s guess.
    While Nairna climbed down into the water with Marguerite,
Callum kept his bow taut, searching for any threat. From his peripheral vision,
he watched the women making their way through the water. Nairna’s dog dove in
behind them, paddling across the water. The animal appeared unconcerned by the
exodus and Callum took it as a good sign that the enemy had not yet reached this
side of the fortress. Bram and Alex must have kept them occupied with fighting
in the main fortress.
    ‘Go and take cover in the trees,’ Nairna told Marguerite,
setting her crossbow on the ground. ‘I’ll stay with Dougal and help the women
out of the ditch.’
    Callum watched over her and Marguerite sent him one last look.
He locked the image into his mind, afraid it was the last time he would see her.
Her long golden hair gleamed against the sun and her blue eyes filled with
worry. Despite the danger, he didn’t regret the moments he’d spent with her. If
he died today, at least he’d glimpsed Heaven.
    You’re unworthy of her , his
conscience reminded him. All you can offer is your
protection.
    While more women evacuated with their children, Callum could
only hold his position until Marguerite disappeared into the forest. He resumed
his place on the bank beside the fortress, the arrow poised to shoot. And yet,
he couldn’t stop his hands from shaking. It wasn’t fear—only the raw
anticipation coursing through him.
    Nairna’s dog began barking and Callum spun, taking aim at the
emerging soldiers. He stretched the bowstring taut, adjusting his aim. Slowly,
he waited for the soldier to draw near and when he loosed the arrow, it struck
the man’s face.
    Too high.
    He followed up with a second shot to the heart, dropping the
man where he’d stood.
    A slight motion caught his attention and, while Callum readied
another arrow, he saw Marguerite watching from the trees. Whether it was her
thanks or a quiet farewell, he met her gaze with the promise to defend her.
    His brother Dougal cried out a warning and Callum seized
another arrow. When more men crossed to the opposite side, the boy panicked and
fired too soon. The arrow struck the ground, but before his brother could run,
Callum sent a steady stream of his own missiles into the charging soldiers, one
after the other, each arrow striking its intended target.
    He dulled his mind to the fighting and death around him,
focusing only on bringing down the threat. For the first time in years, he could
defend his clan. With his bow, he was no longer less than a man, but equal to
his brothers. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t speak, only that he could wield
a weapon.
    In this, he had a purpose. And soon enough, the women and
children would be within the forest, away from the worst of the fighting.
    Behind him, Callum heard the groaning of the keep’s tower,
while Nairna brought the last of the women out of the water. He kept his gaze
focused on his surroundings and saw his brothers Bram and Alex approaching at a
full run.
    Bram crossed through the water, helping his wife up the
hillside before he