Free Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn Page B

fixed on Davina while Rob helped her dismount. Encased in stiff white wool, the
     Abbess’s thin face remained impassive while her gaze skimmed Davina’s robes, her unveiled head, and her hand clutching the
     arm of the giant Highlander beside her. Her eyes lingered on their touch long enough for Davina to let him go.
    “Lady Montgomery,” the Abbess said without even the subtlest shift in her tone to suggest she knew Davina in any way other
     than that she was already expecting her.
    At the mention of her surname, Rob felt Davina go rigid at his side before she nodded her head. He looked down at her in time
     to catch the cautious glance she cast the Abbess.
    “Where is Captain Asher?” the Abbess asked, turning her attention to Rob for the first time and validating his first assumption.
     “I was under the belief that he would be escorting my guest to Courlochcraig.”
    “St. Christopher’s was attacked, Reverend Mother. Captain Asher has perished.”
    Only a hint of the pain he had just caused her flashed across her eyes before she lowered them to the ground. “And the sisters?”
    “I regret to inform ye that they have also perished.” Rob gentled his voice for Davina’s sake, as well as the Abbess’s.
    The Abbess crossed herself, paused, most likely in prayer, and then raised her dried gaze to Rob’s. “Who are you?”
    “I am Robert MacGregor of the clan MacGregor. These men are—”
    He did not get the chance to finish his introduction. The Abbess, holding up her palm, stopped him. “MacGregors. God be with
     us.” If she meant to insult them further, she must have decided to do so later, for her face finally softened when she reached
     for Davina. “Come inside, child. You will find refuge here.” She gathered Davina in her arms then turned to Rob. “There is
     food and drink inside. You and your men may take your rest before you tell me how she came into your possession.”
    The Abbess had been expecting Davina, Rob thought as he took up his steps behind the women. Asher or the Abbess at St. Christopher’s
     must have penned her a missive. That would mean they knew her enemies were on the way. But how could they have known, and
     why hadn’t they all fled before it was too late? Who the hell was Davina Montgomery that she should be protected by not only
     the Royal army, but by the Church as well? Whatever the answers were, she was in great danger. How could he leave her here,
     defenseless? When she turned to look at him over her shoulder, as if to make certain he was still with her, Rob knew he wasn’t
     going anywhere.
    Captain Edward Asher was a resourceful man. If Davina was still alive, he had to find her before Gilles did. And the Admiral
would
find her… eventually. Finally exposed to the world, people were going to take notice of Davina Montgomery. They would question
     why a woman of such radiance was clothed in nun’s robes. Though she would never tell the world her secrets, she was kind and
     outgoing, and those who met her would remember her, mayhap enough to describe for Gilles, should he question them.
    Edward had to find her. He had to warn her—and MacGregor if she was with him—that her enemies did not think her dead and were
     now, in fact, hunting her.
    He couldn’t do that on foot, and since the stable as well as the Abbey had been burned to the ground, he had to find a horse
     and a stream to cleanse himself of the blood of battle before he went searching through towns and villages for her.
    It didn’t take him long to find both when he came upon a small bothy nestled within a stand of trees. The well provided fresh
     water, and the steed tethered to the low front gate would provide speed. He washed quickly, filling the well’s bucket and
     dunking his head twice. He leaped upon the horse just as the door of the bothy swung open. The shouting man rushing through
     it gave Edward pause only long enough to slip the heavy ring from his left index finger and toss it