Page 43 of Glasgow Rogue

She sat on hard-packed ground in a small enclosure that smelled damp, a cave of sorts, made of outcroppings of rocky ledges and boulders. She could hear the men’s voices, so the entrance must not be far away, although she couldn’t see it. She guessed it was still night.

She heard the scuffling of boots and then a lantern flared, the sudden brightness nearly blinding her in the cramped space. Annie shielded her eyes. A moment later, the wick dimmed and she dropped her hands.

Calum crouched down beside her, setting the lamp on the floor, and handed her a small sack which she recognized as the one the cook on the ship had given Niall.

“Your food,” Calum said. “Ye should eat.”

“I am nae hungry.” Her stomach growled just then to give lie to the fact, but Annie didn’t think she could swallow past the lump in her throat. This was food she should have been sharing with Niall. But Niall was… No. no. no. She couldn’t bear the thought that he was truly gone.

“Suit yourself.” Calum cupped a hand under her chin, forcing her to look up, and studied her. “Your hair is much redder than I expected.”

He expected? Annie held herself still, although her mind was moving as fast as a hare being chased by a hound. Had he never seen her, then? That was a blessing.

“Ye are taller than I was told, as well.”

Her stomach knotted, threatening to push itself up to join the lump in her throat. She had no idea who Briana was or what she looked like. Would Calum believe Annie was the Campbell girl? She desperately needed to convince him she was.

“Your source was nae verra accurate, then.”

His eyes narrowed and he released her chin. “Ye need to curb that saucy mouth before ye truly vex me.”

She looked away so he wouldn’t see the apprehension that was probably showing in her face.

How many times had her mother tried to instill the need to think before she blurted out words?

Annie recalled all too well the threat Calum had made at her earlier remark.

He didn’t need to repeat it. She’d seen the lecherous looks on the other men’s faces before the hood had been pulled over her head.

Annie felt a hysterical bubble of laughter rising. After Broderick had taken her virginity and she’d asked when they were getting married, he’d scoffed and said not to think she was that special. Put a bag over a woman’s head and they were all the same…

The hysteric bubble turned into a choked sob which she quickly stifled. She dared not show fear in front of Calum MacDougall.

“I dinnae mean to offend ye. I just doona understand why I am here.”

He stared at her. “How can ye nae ken?”

Oh, Lord. She suspected she knew what Briana’s brother had done to Calum’s sister, but what if she was wrong? Or it was even worse? She couldn’t afford to blunder. “Since I am here, I would prefer to hear your version.”

“My version?” Calum practically sneered at her. “’Tis nae version. ’Tis fact.”

Annie nodded. “Fact, then.” He looked at her suspiciously and Annie held her breath, afraid he was going to realize he had abducted the wrong person, but he finally answered.

“Your fine, upstanding brother—a man with a wife and two bairns—got my sister with child. That fact is plain enough and getting plainer every day.”

“But—”

“Doona try to defend your brother! My sister kens who took her virtue. I’ve heard enough lies from your father.”

She wouldn’t defend the man even if he was her brother. He was a worse cad than even Broderick had been. She had only started to say it wasn’t her fault, although she doubted Calum cared. “I am sorry about your sister, but how can abducting me undo what’s been done?”

“It cannae.” Calum stood to leave. “But your ransom will pay for my sister to move to Edinburgh, once the babe is born, so she can begin a new life.”

Dear God. The amount he was asking for must be huge.

Not that the amount mattered, since Briana Campbell was safe and sound somewhere and her father would simply ignore a ransom note.

That meant… Annie put the thought from her mind.

As if he read her thoughts—hopefully, she hadn’t spoken aloud—Calum smiled grimly.

“In case ye are wondering, if your father doesnae deliver the full amount, we will take the rest of the payment from ye.”

Annie raised her chin, determined not to let him see her fear. “He will pay.”

Calum stopped smiling. “For your sake, lass, I hope he does.”

He had hardly cleared the door before Annie’s body began to shake uncontrollably. She had no power to stop it. She fought the nausea that threatened, as well, and tried to think, but she felt as though she was floating in fog.

Eventually the shaking subsided and her head began to clear.

She had to get out of here. Somehow. Annie looked toward the entrance, now visible in the dawn light.

A pair of booted legs blocked the way. They’d posted a guard.

She quickly surveyed her surroundings, which didn’t take long.

There was no other way out. She picked up two loose rocks from the floor and laid them beside her.

Had the MacDougall leader already sent one of his men to deliver the ransom note or would he have waited for dawn?

How long did she have before the man returned and Calum would find out she wasn’t Briana Campbell?

Would he listen if Annie pleaded for mercy and spare her from rape?

Annie doubted it, given his remarks that his men could rut her raw.

In any case, it wasn’t a risk she wanted to take.

There were five men in the party, plus one who had been waiting here for them when they arrived, so that made six.

. Perhaps two would ride to deliver the ransom note.

She hoped—prayed—the others wouldn’t just sit in camp all day, but be patrolling or hunting or something.

If they left just the one guard… Annie fingered the knife hilt in her boot.

Niall had taught her to use it. She choked back a sob, realizing too late that she had grown to love him dearly.

A tear trickled down her cheek, followed by another.

She wiped them away with the back of her hand and took a deep breath.

Niall wasn’t here, but she wouldn’t disappoint him.

She picked up her rocks and moved closer to the entrance to wait for the right moment, as he had taught her.