Free Quinn: A Scottish Outlaw (Highland Outlaws Book 2) by Lily Baldwin Page A

right.”
    “Hiding away in Ravensworth Castle is clearly not yer destiny.”
    She raised her head. “What is my destiny?”
    “That is for ye to decide. What is it that ye wish for?”
    Her eyes fell on James. “For him to survive all this.”
    Quinn reached across James and squeezed her shoulder. “Yer son will live, my lady. I promise ye.”
    “You promise?” she whispered, tears once more filling her eyes.
    He nodded. “Aye, I do, but that is yer son’s destiny. What is yers? Ye must have some secret longing.”
    She shook her head. “If I do, I have not told myself.”
    Just then James stirred. Quinn smiled and whispered, “Mayhap this journey will reveal the workings of your heart along the way. For now, just close yer eyes, my lady, and try to rest. We dare linger only a few hours more.”
    She laid her head down, resting now on the crook of her arm. “What of yourself? Do you not require rest?”
    He sat up. “I will stay awake and keep watch. When we reach a safe place, that is when I will rest.”
    “Is there such a place?”
    A sideways smile upturned the corner of his lips. “There’d best be, or else I’m going to be mighty tired.”

Chapter Ten
    Stephen sat at the high dais in what should have been Catarina’s seat. His shallow breaths filled his ears as he fought to block out Rupert’s voice. Even now Rupert stood in Henry’s place, addressing the Ravensworth castle guard.
    “Catarina Redesdale is the daughter of an outlaw and a whore,” Rupert said, his voice booming.
    Stephen’s stomach twisted. He clenched his fists to keep his hands in his lap when all he wanted to do was cover his ears and scream his protest to anyone who had ever loved Catarina. He refused to believe her capable of the wickedness Rupert describe, and yet, his eyes had seen the bloody poker and his own brother’s broken skull. 
    “She killed my brother, our lord and master, in cold blood,” Rupert shouted, his words echoed throughout the great hall. “But she did not act alone. The Gospel of Matthew warns us of monk’s like Brother Augustine. Matthew said to beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
    Stephen slunk lower in his seat as members of the castle guard shouted slurs against Catarina, including some of Stephen’s closest friends—Jarrett, Aldwin, and even Edgar who had professed on several occasions to being secretly in love with the lady of Ravensworth.
    “This wolf was sent to us by none other than Catarina’s father, the former Lord Redesdale—a man guilty of treason and a coward running from the law.” Rupert pulled back his sleeve and thrust his bandaged arm beneath Stephen’s nose. “I have felt the sting of his claws.” He then held up his arm for all to see. “The very claws that stole one of our finest knights, your brother at arms, Sir Matthew Archard.”
    The hall erupted with fresh jeers from the guard.
    “And worst still, the she-devil and her wolf have kidnapped the heir of Ravensworth, my nephew, James.”
    Stephen straightened in his seat at the mention of James. He looked sidelong at his brother’s bandaged arm. How could he deny Rupert’s truth when he witnessed the murders and suffered injury for his attempts to intervene? How could Stephen deny Catarina’s role when James was missing? His hands gripped the sides of his head against the fire of doubt burning his heart.
    “Your lord will be avenged. James will be returned. Because I will hunt down Catarina and her monk and bring them to stand before King Edward.” Rupert’s promise was met with passionate support from all of the Ravensworth knights.
    At that moment, the doors in the rear of the hall swung wide. Stephen’s chest tightened as Jasper, the castle dog handler, and his four bloodhounds entered.
    “Come forward,” Rupert said eagerly. He stepped from the high dais and met Jasper in the middle of the great hall.
    “These are your finest?”