Page 86 of Kilted Abduction

“Why dinnae ye go tae bed?” he asked softly. “Ye look exhausted.”

“I am exhausted.”

She got to her feet and gave him a chaste kiss then turned away quickly, her face growing scarlet as Domhnall cleared his throat.

“Goodnight, Laird MacLeod?—”

“’Tis Domhnall,” he replied with a warm smile. “And goodnight, Ciara.”

Magnus watched her go as she left the salon, quietly closing the door behind her then turned back to his brother.

“Ye two look like ye’ve grown close,” he said.

“We have.”

“’Tis good, braither. She seems tae be a good woman,” Domhnall said warmly. “Ye need a good woman in yer life.”

Magnus said nothing as he stared down into his cup of wine, unable to keep the smile from curling the corners of his mouth. He never realized just how much he needed a good woman in hislife until Ciara stormed into his. And as hard as it was for him to admit, now that she was rooted firmly in his heart and mind, he couldn’t imagine his life without her.

“So? What news?” Domhnall finally asked.

“The news is that we’re well and thoroughly buggered,” Magnus said. “Fairfax has an army in the valley big enough to wipe us all out and then some.”

Domhnall sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Bleedin’ hell.”

“It gets worse?—”

“Worse? I dinnae ken how it can be worse.”

“I heard MacDougal sayin’ somethin’ about having a plan to get Ciara,” Magnus replied.

“Why? If they’ve got an army big enough tae overrun us already, why daes he need a plan? What’s the point?”

Magnus shook his head. “I dinnae ken. All I heard was them sayin’ Ciara’s the key tae all their plans, so they’ll be comin’ fer her,” he said. “If I had tae guess, I’d say they’re goin’ tae use the chaos of a full assault on the castle tae slip in and snatch her up. ‘Tis probably what I’d dae if she was me key objective.”

Domhnall sat back in his chair and stroked his chin as he considered Magnus’ words. While his brother thought, Magnus drained the cup of wine, then held it out for the serving girl to refill. As she did, he offered her a nod of thanks.

“There’s somethin’ else we need tae consider,” Magnus said.

“What’s that?”

“We cannae hold all the villagers in the castle,” he replied. “Once the attack starts, they’ll be slaughtered.”

Domhnall frowned. “What’s yer thought on that?”

“We send them up intae the Highlands. They can hide there until the fightin’ is done.”

“Aye. Seems reasonable,” Domhnall replied. “And if they’re after Ciara like ye think they are, it’d probably be wise tae send her with them.”

“Might as well try tae stop the sun from risin’ in the east,” Magnus replied dryly. “She’ll never go tae the Highlands.”

“Well, ye’re goin’ tae have tae convince her. Once the fightin’ starts here, I cannae afford fer ye tae have yer mind elsewhere.”

Magnus knew there was wisdom in his brother’s words. He’d considered that himself. But he had no idea how he wouldconvince Ciara to go. She would rather fight and die than slink away to hide out where she would have to continue looking over her shoulder, waiting for the day they came for her again.

“I’ll figure somethin’ out,” Magnus said.

“Good. Dae that,” Domhnall replied. “We’ll all gather in the mornin’ tae figure out how to start gettin’ all the villagers intae the Highlands and plannin’ the defense of Dunvegan.”