Page 39 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)
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A t least the border was not far away. But it was far enough for any army to prepare for battle. For the first time Lucas was truly terrified. His father had attempted to beat the fear out of him, making his life unbearable. But nothing could touch him. But nothing terrified him. Until now. Was she hurt, the person most precious to him?
It reminded him of why he’d never grown attached before. Why he tended to keep people at an arm’s length. Even though he tried desperately in that moment to muster up regret falling in love with Caitlin, he could not. It still seemed to him to be the rightest thing in the world.
And then he came upon the castle. The mystery was explained, making him lose his breath. He pulled on the reins, stopping the horse within seconds. They knew each other so well that the horse made no sound and they turned to hide behind a section of trees.
So many soldiers. There were so many men on their feet and on horseback surrounding his castle. His own men stood on the ramparts, showering arrows down upon those in front. The gates had been shut and barred. You could tell that Archie had kept the rest of the soldiers inside. There had not been time to prepare for battle.
So now Lucas had to decide what to do. If he ran forward, he would most certainly be attacked and killed and then where would the castle be?
His mind worked as he tried to think of a solution. He turned his face to the west and saw the outline of the closest village. He would go there. Wait and plan. Perhaps even gather a few men. Taking a long way around, he left for the village. A plan in mind.
As soon as he arrived, he went straight to the village chief, an older man. He was getting on in years, but still quite wise. He did not wait to be allowed in, but burst in through the door to see them, a lady sitting at his knee.
“Me Laird!” the man said, sittin up, surprised. His wife too stood at his arrival, and Lucas shook his head.
“Forgive the intrusion, Liam, but there is a battle afoot. Ye should protect the village as best ye can, but the neighboring clan MacGregor has come to lay siege to me castle. To all of us, if we arenae careful.”
“The bastard!” Liam said, pounding a fist into the wood. “He was always makin’ plans to expand, ever since I’ve kenned him.”
Lucas was kicking himself in that moment. He’d known too, had remembered his father speaking of it often, but when he’d searched for someone who would send killers after him he did not think of Jack Webster. He had been too prideful, thinking Webster was far too old to consider fighting against him now. In Lucas’ mind, having strong clans near by only bolstered their strength against the English together. He had forgotten that some desired only power and would do anything to get it.
“I need to send a message to me men. To help them make a plan of action. If I approach now, all will be lost.”
“Aye, true enough.” The old man walked toward him. “We will wait until the cover of night, and I have just the person who should take yer message, Me Laird.”
“Night?” Lucas asked. “What if they get through the walls by then?” He could hear the fear thread through his voice, and it made him sick.
He had to be strong, or all was lost.
“McDougall walls hold fast and strong, Lad,” the older man said with a wink. “Wait until the right time.”
“Aye,” he said, nodding in agreement.
He sat down, his mind whirling with ideas.
A few hours later, once the Sun had set, and the sounds of battle had dimmed, Lucas set his plan into motion. They asked a young boy off the street. Young enough to remain hidden if he would carry the message to the castle and find the hidden back door. Lucas was concerned for the young lad, but he had to trust to someone. He scrawled a quick note to Archie. To let the soldiers free to fight the battle while he arrived and asked for a duel.
“Ye will need men as well,” Liam said, frowning next to Lucas as they sat at the long table in the man’s house, a bottle of wine between them. “Ye ken this village. There are thirty here at least who we may call into battle.”
“Aye, we will need all of them, but I hope they willnae need to battle long. I think a duel is the best way out of this.”
“Aye, true enough. Rest well this evenin’, Me Laird, for the soldiers will rest too, and willnae continue the battle until the morn’. If I ken Jack Webster, then they will want to wait until ye arrive.”
After that, Lucas went to the bed the village chief provided him, but he hardly slept a wink, thinking about the boy delivering the message, thinking about Caitlin, and thinking about the rest of them holed up in the castle, not far away.
Stay wise, Archie. Keep her safe for me.
It had not been a comfortable night. They had all stayed in the main hall together and Caitlin woke up with pain in her neck. As soon as she rose, she went to the window to see the soldiers just outside, very comfortable in their camp, not ready to leave anytime soon, making her chest as heavy as it had been all night.
Where is Lucas?
Archie entered the hall then, shutting the door behind him. His face was grave and tired, and he gripped Sarah and Colin in a tight embrace before he waved a small paper in the air.
“Lucas is on his way. He sent this message last eve, and I am to prepare this morn. There will be a battle. We will send the men out, but he will ask for a duel. The battle willnae be long, I hope.”
“Dear God, stay safe, Archie,” Sarah said in tears, and he looked at his wife kindly.
“Daenae stress yerself, me love, for we need to protect the babe.”
“Aye,” she said with a nod, stepping back.
Caitlin stayed where she was, rooted in her fear. Lottie held one hand, and Paige held the other as Archie looked at them. He nodded.
“All will be well, Lass. I have never kenned a man as good a fighter as our laird.”
“Thank ye, Archie. Ye be safe as well.”
“Ye must call for me if ye need me services,” Paige said, her tone confident.
“Aye, I will, Lass.”
Just then, the outcry of soldiers turned their attention to the windows.
“Stay here,” Archie said, leaving them once again, hurrying to his place.
They collected at the narrow windows, and Caitlin could only see figures in the distance.
“Ye must tell me all that happens, Lottie. Promise me.”
“Aye, Lass,” she said, kindly. “Daenae fear. I will dae as ye say.”
They held hands, and Caitlin closed her eyes as she thought of Lucas’ approach. He would fight, and win, and then they could begin their lives together. Surely God would not take someone else away from her? Surely he could not be so cruel as that.
“Lucas has come with men at his back,” Paige said. “The battle has begun, but he is riding hard, in search of Webster, nay doubt!”
Caitlin gripped Lottie’s hand tighter.
“Aye, he is fightin’ well, Lass,” Lottie said with happiness. “Just as I told ye. But he must announce the duel, and soon. We daenae have enough men, and we arenae prepared enough.”
Caitlin nodded, closing her eyes even tighter as the sound of death and pain filled the room from the outside. Lucas, her Lucas, could leave this world in seconds, and then she would be lost, floating along in a sea of emptiness. She prayed hard, and hope welled in her chest still. Love was strong, stronger than anything else, and she hoped it would keep him alive for her.
“He has found the Laird, and they clash in battle!” Sarah cried.
“Will he nae call for a duel?” Caitlin asked, desperate.
The thought of an errant sword or arrow hitting Lucas from behind made her sweat with worry. A duel would be the best hope. She’d seen him fight and kill before, even if it had been blurry. She knew of his skill.
“Aye, he is. They are making the motions.”
Caitlin could hear the booming voice of the laird, but she did not understand the words. The sounds and cries of the battle dimmed, and she looked out the narrow slice of window to see Lucas and the laird on horseback, facing one another.
They jumped down and lifted their swords high. A voice yelled something else, and then she saw Lucas take the first swing, and the sound echoed back to the castle and threw her shaking heart.