Free Highland Wolf (Highland Brides) by Lois Greiman Page A

behind him. He knew he should turn, knew he should duck, but his muscles were weary, his reactions slowed.
    Even as he twisted something hit him like a sledgehammer to his skull. Pain erupted in his head, crashing his brain with bright lights and clanking sounds. But the agony didn't last long. The noises drifted to silence, and darkness came for him.
     
    "'Bout time ya wake up, Scotsman."
    Roman heard Betty's voice above the clatter of pain that echoed in his cranium. He tried to sit up, but the clatter turned to an insistent clang.
    She pressed him back down. "Was I you, I'd stay put lest ya bust your 'ead wide open."
    "What happened?"
    "Ya been 'it over the 'ead."
    Memories bloomed in painful colors. "The Shadow," he whispered. "I had just caught him when someone hit me from behind."
    'The Shadow, 'ell," Betty snorted. "Ya attacked poor old George. Near scared him into 'is grave. 'E and Birley was just 'eading 'ome. Lucky for George, Birl 'eard 'im 'ollerin; otherwise, who knows what ya would 'ave done ta 'im?"
    "George?" Roman tried to shake his head, but the cacophony of pain discouraged such a bold idea.
    "What the 'ell were ya doing, Scottie?"
    "The Shadow," Roman murmured. Reality was a slippery thing. Exhaustion and pain seemed more real, unconsciousness far more tempting. "He was there, just outside yer house."
    "The Shadow?" Betty opened her eyes wide. Roman could see her face clearly, which was of some comfort to him considering the resounding clatter in his head. "Outside me own 'ouse?" she said as if dazzled, then laughed. "Mayhap 'e was coming ta see me. I suspect I should be fair put out that ya scared 'im off. Could be 'e wanted ta take me away from it all. Come and live with 'im in comfort, aye?"
    She laughed again. Roman scowled, realizing where he was. "How the hell did I get ta yer house?"
    "George and Birley brought ya. And lucky they did, too. Cause Backrow ain't no place ta be takin' a nap."
    "Backrow?" Roman fingered his aching skull, and found, to his surprise, that there were no gaping holes. "Where's that?"
    "'Tis where foolish Scotsmen go when they're tired of livin'," Betty said, pushing his hand away. "What the devil were ya thinkin'?"
    "I told ye ..." Roman began, but his own frustration increased the pain in his head, and things were far too blurry to understand, much less try toexplain. "Why did they bring me here?"
    She shrugged. "Ol' George ain't too bright, but 'e's got a good 'eart. Seems 'e didn't want ta see ya killed in your sleep. Despite the fact that ya'd just scared the livin' soul out of 'im. Once Birley knocked ya cold, they recognized ya from the Red Fox and figured I'd see ta ya.
    "Guess there's some advantage ta dressing in that little gown of yours, Scotsman. It makes ya stand out in a crowd."
    "It's a plaid," Roman said. It seemed as good a thing to argue about as any. Nothing made sense anymore. Nothing was simple.
    "Why do ya wear it?"
    He opened one eye to peer at her. Dressed in a voluminous white nightgown, she looked different, younger, innocent. Her hair was the color of spun gold, falling in static waves about her shoulders.
    "Why do ye wear that?" he asked.
    "I was sleepin' afore I was so rudely awakened."
    "Ye see," he said, turning his gaze to the ceiling. It was pitched in shadow, as was so much of this strange world he'd fallen into. "With a plaid, ye dunna need separate clothes ta sleep in and wake in. Ye simply unbelt the thing and use it for a blanket. 'Tis a practical tool, as is everything Scots."
    "Truly?" He could hear the laughter in her voice. "Is that what ya are then, Scotsman? A practical tool?"
    He turned toward her. In the irregular, flickering light of the candle, she no longer looked merely bonny, but breathtakingly beautiful, with a regal innocence that stunned him. "Who are ye?" he murmured.
    "Who am I?" Her face became immediately somber. Taking a damp cloth from a nearby bowl, she touched it to the bump on his head. He realized now that he