Page 23 of Jack (Highland Outlaws #1)

Jack stepped forward, positioning himself next to Bella’s father, together shielding her.

The nobleman scowled at Jack before fixing his gaze on Lord Redesdale with naked contempt.

“You were remiss in not sending word of your daughter’s return,” he sneered.

“I had to hear from a servant.” The word servant flicked off his tongue with disdain, as if expelling a disease from his body.

Bella’s father stepped forward. “No more remiss than the king not sending me word straight away that she had been attacked on the road.”

Jack could feel the tension between Bella’s father and Lord Percy. He still could not believe the sudden change in Lord Redesdale and wondered why he clearly regarded Lord Percy with such loathing.

Lord Percy’s eyes narrowed on Lord Redesdale. “How dare you reprimand the king?”

“I will when his folly pertains to my daughter,” Lord Redesdale shot back.

Lord Percy gave pause. Then a cocky smile slowly spread his lips wide.

“I will not lie, David. Even though you chased away the messenger I sent the last time I called for your support, I came here expecting a vastly different reception. Scottish peasants attacked your daughter. You should be at Berwick Castle as we speak, begging King Edward to retaliate.”

Lord Redesdale gestured to Jack. “Brother Peter witnessed the attack. He is convinced those responsible were not peasants, Scottish or otherwise.”

Lord Percy scoffed. “And you believe a Scotsman over the judgement of our king?”

“Brother Peter is a man of the cloth,” Lord Redesdale said, his tone firm. “He has no reason to lie.”

Jack stepped forward to show his support for Isabella’s father. Still, Lord Percy did not bother to glance his way. He stared hard at Lord Redesdale. “Coward,” he spat. “If my daughter was attacked, and her virtue assaulted, I would see those guilty brought to justice!”

Jack’s eyes widened at his words. Narrowing his gaze, his blood boiling inside him, he drew closer to Lord Percy. “I told no one of her near rape. I intentionally left that detail out, thinking it would distress Lord Redesdale unnecessarily.”

“How dare you address me as your equal,” Lord Percy sneered at Jack, his lip curling with disdain. “I will not stand here and listen to your lies and accusations!”

Images of fine swords and tattered clothing flashed through Jack’s mind. “I hadn’t accused ye, but I am now,” Jack snarled. “Those were yer men, dressed to look like peasants!”

“Prove it,” Lord Percy hissed.

Jack canted his head to the side, eying the lord with deadly intent.

“We have several of the attackers’ blades in our possession.

I’ve no doubt ye’ve others just like them in yer armory.

” Jack lashed out, seizing Lord Percy’s tunic in his grasp, and slammed his body into the wall.

He shot a sidelong glance at Percy’s men, but Quinn and the Redesdale guard had them surrounded.

“Are you threatening me with violence? What of your vows, Brother Peter?” Lord Percy sneered.

A slow smile curved Jack’s lips. He pressed his forearm hard against Lord Percy’s throat, then leaned close and whispered in his ear.

“I’m not a monk.” From beneath his robe, Jack produced a dagger, the tip of which he jabbed against Percy’s throat.

“I’m a thief. My sins are many, and I don’t mind adding yer murder to the list.”

Lord Percy’s eyes narrowed. “You are one of the masked bandits who stole the girl from my men.”

Jack shrugged. “Ye aren’t in a good position to make accusations.”

“Brother Peter, release him!”

Jack glanced over his shoulder at Lord Redesdale, who stood behind him. “Forgive me, my lord, but I would rather not.”

“Obey my command,” Lord Redesdale ordered Jack.

Jack hesitated, his eyes flickering between Lord Percy and Lord Redesdale. There was a deadly gleam in Bella’s father’s gaze that convinced him to step aside and let him deal with Lord Percy himself, although to be safe Jack kept his dirk at the ready.

Lord Redesdale’s scowl deepened. “You ordered your men to attack and rape my daughter. Didn’t you?” he said, his voice soft and deadly.

Lord Percy spat on the ground. “She is the daughter of a commoner, a whore whom you have mourned for the last five years when you should have been at court paying homage to your king!”

Jack watched as Lord Redesdale’s eyes sparked with fury.

“My king?” Lord Redesdale said, as if he could not believe Lord Percy had dared to speak those words.

Jack watched Lord Redesdale’s hands curl into tight fists.

His chest heaved. “My king!” Bella’s father’s voice thundered off the high ceilings.

He raised his clenched fists in the air, threw his head back and bellowed, “He killed my wife! My heart,” he cried, beating his chest with his own fist. “He is no king!” Lord Redesdale seized Lord Percy, throwing him to the floor and straddling him.

He pulled his fist back and slammed it down, hammering Lord Percy’s face again and again.

Blood gushed from the nobleman’s nose and mouth, splattering the wall.

Lord Redesdale snarled and grabbed Lord Percy’s tunic with both hands, lifting his bloodied head off the ground.

“I denounce him,” Lord Redesdale snarled in his face.

“Do you hear me? I denounce King Edward!” Lord Redesdale’s chest heaved as he stood, dragging Percy toward the door. “Get out of my house!”

One of the Redesdale guards grabbed Lord Percy from his lord’s hands and tossed him at the feet of his men, who lifted him up and carried him from the hall. But before the door closed behind them, Lord Percy shouted, “I will see you drawn and quartered!”

The door slammed shut with a resounding boom.

Jack’s heart pounded as he watched as Lord Redesdale walked over to the hearth.

He now understood the shame that had been torturing Lord Redesdale for so many years.

His wife’s blood was on King Edward’s hands, and he had, at last, voiced his fury, calling out the king for his treachery.

Jack hoped Bella’s father could now find some relief from his pain, although he feared that Lord Redesdale’s peace may have come at too high a cost.

BELLA FOUGHT TO HOLD in the sobs that threatened to escape as she raced to her father’s side. Her heart still pounded in her ears at having seen him unleash such rage. To witness him pummel a man to a bloody mess, even a man as vile as Lord Percy, had rocked her to her core.

His face softened when he saw her. “Bella,” he gasped, pulling her close.

“Papa, are you all right?” she asked, searching his face with concern.

Before her father could answer, Jack spoke with an urgency that stole Bella’s breath. “Listen to me, both of ye. ‘Tis imperative that we leave now!”

Doom closed in around her. “Do you mean that you and I must leave or my father, too?”

Jack raked his free hand through his hair. “Yer da just denounced King Edward. He’s guilty of treason.”

Bella’s eyes flashed wide. “Nay, he was angry. Surely, his outburst will not bring the consequences of treason.”

A breath later, Hugh was at her side. “He’s right! There is no time to waste. You must go! Now!”

Fear gripped her heart. Her father took her hand. “I do not regret what I said.” His voice broke. “I spoke the truth. A truth I have swallowed every day since the last time I brought your mother home.”

For the first time in years, her father’s eyes shone bright and clear. A sob tore from her throat, and she threw her arms around his neck.

“You have to go,” Hugh said louder. Terror had widened his eyes. “It will not take Lord Percy long to gather his men. He will come back.” He gripped Bella’s shoulders. “You and your father will be arrested. You will be sent to the Tower, and your father will be put to death.”

The room started to spin around her. “Oh, God.” Her knees gave way, but Hugh caught her.

The abbot came forward then. “I fear Lord Hugh and Jack are correct, my lady.”

“Listen to me,” Hugh said. “You and your father must run. You cannot delay.” Hugh turned to Jack.

“Ride north and do not stop until you run out of land. Edward will hunt for them.” Hugh shifted his gaze back to her.

Tears stung her eyes. He pulled her close.

“I have never imagined life without you. If only I had—” He shook his head.

“No, it is too late.” He cupped her cheeks.

“Be Jack’s or someone else’s. I don’t care.

I only care that you live. Promise me you will live! ”

She nodded through her tears. “I promise,” she said, her heart pounding.

Hugh drew a shaky breath, stepped back, and faced Jack. “Do not delay.” Then he turned on his heel and started toward the doors. Isabella gripped her stomach while she watched Hugh leave her house and her life forever. The room was spinning.

“Do not panic, Bella,” Jack said, grabbing her shoulders.

Swallowing down her tears, she nodded, gaining strength from his midnight eyes. She turned to her father and took hold of his hands. “Papa, it is time.”

Lord Redesdale’s eyes darted about the hall. “But what of our home, our things?”

Jack’s fist came down hard on the table behind her, causing her to jump. “They’re no longer yers,” he said impatiently. “The only possession ye have now is yer life and the lives of yer daughters!”

Bella’s heart sank at the mention of her sister. She did not doubt that her sister’s life would come under threat. “Catarina!” She grabbed Jack’s arm. “My sister’s husband, he is not a kind man. There’s no telling what he might do!”

Jack squeezed her hand, then turned to Quinn. “Ride to Ravensworth Castle and retrieve the Lady Catarina. Ride as if yer very life depends on it. For as sure as the sun will rise, Lady Catarina’s life is at stake!”

Quinn nodded and bowed low to Isabella. Lifting his head, his dark eyes smiled up at her.

“Fear not, Bella. I will steal your sister away and protect her with my life if need be.” Without another word, Quinn turned on his heel and raced from the hall.

Bella watched until he was gone, praying all the while that he reached Catarina before news of their father’s crime.

“Jack,” Abbot Matthew said. “We must hurry. We’ll leave the wagon and help ourselves to Lord Redesdale’s horses.”

Jack nodded and grabbed Bella’s arm, pulling her toward the door. “It has to be now!”

“Wait,” she said.

Jack shook his head. “No more delays, Bella.”

“But would not coin be helpful to us?” she asked.

He paused for a moment, his pulse ticking at his neck. Then he threw his hands up. “Aye, coin is always helpful.”

She pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’ll be right back,” she said before racing from the hall and up the stairs to her father’s solar.

Unlocking the large chest beside his bed, she grabbed several bags of coin and her mother’s jewels.

Piling everything into a leather satchel, she swung the bag over her shoulder and raced back to the hall.

“We are ready, Jack,” she said, barreling into the room.

“Why does everyone keep calling him Jack?” her father asked. “I thought his name was Brother Peter.”

Isabella grabbed his arm. “I’ll explain after we’ve escaped with our lives!”