Free Highland Hellion (Blades of Honor #1) by B.J. Scott Page B

is my woman and I will rescue her. Our men are assembled and ready to ride. We take care of our own and will bring her home safely.”
    “And just how to you expect to do that?” Connor asked. “You are wanted by the Campbell for the same crimes as Arya. I know him well, and he isna a man to show compassion for his enemy. They’ll be waiting for you. If you try to break her out of the dungeon, and he catches you, he will see you hanged.”
    “Do you think you can do better?” Garrett stood toe-to-toe with Connor. “What can you do that we canna?”
    “Try to reason with him,” Connor answered. “I fought beside the Campbell long enough to know how he thinks. If I approach him as a friend and ask that he release Arya as a favor to me, he might comply.”
    “Then you dinna know him very well. He would flay his mother if he thought it would be to his benefit,” Garrett spat. “I say you let me handle this, Scotia.”
    “The way you did the raid?” Connor took a menacing step forward with his hands fisted at his side. “I am not totally convinced what Scotia says is true. But if there is even the slightest possibility that Arya is my sister, I am the one with the best chance of saving her.”
    “And if you fail?” Garrett asked.
    “Then we take her by force.”
    “Please, Garrett, you canna fight the Campbell’s warriors with the meager numbers of men you have, and perhaps Connor can help. At least, let him try,” Scotia pleaded.
    Garrett hated to yield. He felt responsible for Arya’s plight, and she was his woman. Even thought she might not agree. But he could not bear to see Scotia beg. As much as he hated to admit it, Connor had a point and might be able to succeed in freeing Arya.
    But one thing bothered him more than accepting aid from his enemy. What if he decided to honor her mother’s wishes and took her back to Beauly? The thought of losing her forever caused his gut to twist and his chest to tighten. But getting her out of the hands of the Campbell had to come first. He’d deal with the rest if the need arose.
    “What say you, Garrett? Will you let them help?” Scotia asked.
    After a moment’s pause, Garrett offered a reluctant nod. “Aye, Scotia, but I am going with them. And no one had better try to stop me.”
    “Fine.” Connor conceded. “But you do what I say and stay out of sight. I dinna want the Campbell to know you are there unless the need presents itself. Is that clear?”
    “Very clear.” Garrett studied Bryce, who had remained strangely quiet. “What about him? He has made no secret of how he feels about my clan and me.”
    Connor looked his brother in the eye, before answering Garrett’s question. “Bryce will accept that you are coming and not use this as an opportunity to seek revenge for wrongs committed by your clan in the past. You have my word upon it. Don’t I brother?”
    Bryce turned and stormed out of the croft without offering a reply.
    “Ignore him. He’ll come to accept this, he always does.” Connor motioned for their three companions to join them. “These men are our cousins. Ian is the captain of the Fraser guard, and the other two lads are his brothers, John, and Collin. They will accompany us as well. I want you three to go and help Bryce ready the horses. We leave within the hour.”
    Ian nodded. “Let’s go,” he said to his brothers, then raced out of the croft.
    Connor faced Scotia. “Try not to fash . We’ll do everything we can to rescue Arya.”
    “Then you believe what I say is true?”
    “I have yet to decide. But am not ruling out the possibility. In any case, we will do what we can to have your daughter freed and home to you by the evening meal.” Connor faced Garrett. “Gather what you need, then meet us outside in fifteen minutes or we’ll leave without you,” he said then left the hut.

Chapter 8
    Arya repeatedly tugged at the shackles binding her blood-encrusted wrists, but to no avail. She’d sat up most of the night,