Free Highlander's Captive by Donna Fletcher Page B

though she grasped at his hand as he did, but he yanked it away just as the warriors descended on him.
    “You’re making a mistake,” Torr said, after not resisting the men, though receiving several blows anyway. “Cree sent me to bring his sister home.”
    Owen stepped forward then. “I am supposed to believe that when it appears as if you have taken advantage of this poor, innocent young woman?”
    Wintra stepped forward. “Torr has done no such thing.”
    “You are young and virginal and know not what you say. I will take care of everything. You have nothing to fear,” Owen said and turned as if dismissing Wintra. “Take him and secure him in the lean-to with his horse. It is where animals belong.”
    “I have warned you,” Torr said as they shoved him toward the door. “When Cree finds out, you will pay.”
    Owen waved him off, and the warriors shoved him so hard out the door that he fell into the snow.
    Wintra hurried to go to him, but Owen shut the door, stopping her in her tracks. She turned furious eyes on him. “You have no right to treat him like that.”
    Owen ignored her remark and demanded. “What went on here?”
    Wintra stared at Owen, seeing a far different man than the one she had come to know. She had thought him a man with fine features, but not so now. His blue eyes, much paler than Torr’s vibrant ones, held a murderous look, as if he fought to control himself. His jaw was so taut that his chin appeared to jut out or had it always been that way? He was also slimmer than she had first thought or was she comparing him to Torr and finding him lacking. And his dark hair, always so perfectly groomed, was in complete disarray making him appear a wild man out of control.
    “Answer me, Wintra,” he yelled.
    She took a step back, keeping a firm hold on her torn dress, his eyes having darted to her breasts. Why was it that she felt much more naked and vulnerable in front of this man, she supposedly loved, than she had in front of Torr?
    Her answer came easily. Owen stood in front of her with anger oozing out of every inch of him, whereas, she had seen and felt only concern from Torr.
    He took a step toward her.
    She raised her chin along with her hand to ward him off. “Not another step.”
    He heeded her warning and remained where he was and softened his tone as he said, “I do not mean to upset you. I just want to know what this animal did to you.”
    “Torr is not an animal. My brother sent him to bring me home and that is where I want to go.”
    “But our plans—”
    “Have changed,” she finished. “Now let Torr free, and we will all proceed to my brother’s home.” Her brow scrunched a moment, and then she asked, “Who are those warriors with you?”
    “My friend sent them to escort us to his home.” His eyes narrowed and his voice turned firm. “And that is where we will be going. Torr can return home and let your brother know that you are safe with me and that I wish to arrange a marriage between us.”
    Where had his dictatorial attitude come from? Where had the kind and thoughtful man that she had known gone?
    “We will stay the night and leave at dawn,” Owen said. “The snow has turned to a trickle and should stop soon. By morning, we should be safe to leave.” He walked over to her and took her hand.
    She had all she could do but to pull it away.
    “I will overlook this discretion and see that you do not suffer for it. I doubt that Torr will admit to Cree that he had his way with you, too fearful of what he would suffer. We will wed and put this unfortunate incident behind us.” His tone turned harsh and anger punctuated his words. “And you will be grateful and be an obedient wife.”
    Fool. Fool. Fool. Dear Lord, how could she have been so blind to this man? And worse what did he truly want from her? She had to get home to her brother. Cree would keep her safe from Owen.
    So would Torr.
    The thought had her thinking. If she could get to Torr without being noticed