Tempted by the Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham Page B

pulled her into his embrace.
    At the sight of them, a tightness expanded through Callum’s
chest. Nairna gripped her husband as if she never wanted to let go. He envied
them, for he wanted to be with Marguerite, to reassure himself that she was all
right. Letting her go while he stayed behind was the only choice, but he didn’t
like it.
    A shower of fire sparks drifted in front of him and a prickle
of awareness caught him. Behind him, a cracking noise resounded, just as his
brother roared, ‘Callum, dive!’
    He threw himself into the ditch, just as the tower collapsed.
The icy water numbed him, but Callum swam to the opposite side, dragging himself
out. His bow and arrows were soaked, and he rested on his knees, catching his
breath.
    Nairna was pushing Marguerite back inside the forest. ‘He’ll be
all right. Take the women up to the ridge and I’ll send him soon.’
    Callum’s gaze snapped to hers. She was holding on to Nairna, as
if she didn’t want to leave. It seemed that she’d started to lead the women
away, only to return when the tower had fallen.
    As if she cared about him, despite the danger to herself.
    If he could have, he’d have abandoned all else, taking her away
from the chaos of battle. But that wasn’t a choice. He was bound to defend his
family and the only home he’d ever had.
    As if to remind him of that, Bram extended a hand and helped
him up. And for a moment, he saw the gratefulness on his brother’s face. ‘Thank
you for defending them,’ he said below his breath, so that only Callum would
hear. ‘And I’m sorry for every day you spent in captivity. I blame myself for
it.’
    Though he could make no reply, he squeezed Bram’s hand in
forgiveness. After what they’d been through, he knew his brother had done
everything possible to free him. Nairna sent him a smile of gratefulness, still
standing by her husband.
    Before his brother Dougal could join the women and children,
Callum offered his sword. The lad needed a weapon of his own, now that he’d
spent all of his arrows. After taking it, Dougal disappeared into the forest,
just as more enemy soldiers emerged, surrounding them on all sides.
    Though Callum wanted to reassure himself that Marguerite had
escaped with his youngest brother, he forced himself not to look, for fear of
drawing the soldiers’ attention there.
    Too late.
    One of the archers fired several arrows towards the forest
before he could bring the man down. Not all of the women had made it to the top
of the ridge, and Callum worried that one of them could have been struck. The
thought of Marguerite lying prone, her life ended by an arrow, sent a dark rage
pulsing through him.
    Bram and Alex split off on either side to meet the men, their
shields and weapons ready. Callum kept firing at the enemy archers, dropping as
many as he could, until he had only a single arrow left. Alex handed him a
shield, but he refused it, needing both hands to wield the bow. They were
completely outnumbered by the enemy and he saw no way out.
    Nairna held fast to Bram while their enemy awaited the order to
kill. Callum held his bow steady, hoping he could take out Cairnross or Harkirk
with his last arrow.
    Even if he did, there was one unavoidable truth. Today he was
going to die.
    * * *
    Marguerite clenched her hands together, her heart
racing. Though she’d made it into the forest, away from the battle, she couldn’t
stop herself from returning to watch. She chose an isolated place near the edge
of the trees, her heart numb with fear as Lord Cairnross and Lord Harkirk closed
in.
    Through a haze of tears, she sat, wondering if she could plead
with Cairnross for their lives. Was it possible that he might spare them, on her
behalf?
    No. She’d fled with the MacKinlochs, betraying their betrothal.
Though the earl might still want her for his wife, she didn’t trust him to free
the others. Especially Callum.
    She stood, resting her hand against a tree, her heart sick with
terror. Because