Free A Fire Within (These Highland Hills, Book 3) by Kathleen Morgan Page A

long, though. Kenneth had his hands more than
full with Caitlin, who seemingly had taken advantage of Dar's
departure to engage in a wrestling match with his friend. Indeed,
Dar's arrival was most fortuitous.
    At that very moment, Caitlin managed to trip Kenneth and
escape his tenuous hold on her. She sped off in the direction of
the horses.
    Dar spared but a moment to deposit Janet before his friend.
"Tie her up, if ye can, then join me at the horses," he said, shooting the bard a long-suffering look. "And don't forget the basket
of food, will ye?"
    Lingering just long enough to make certain Kenneth now
had a good hold on Janet, Dar turned and raced after Caitlin.
This was swiftly becoming a farce of an abduction, he thought in
disgust. In the bargain, they were losing valuable time in which
to make their escape.
    But not for long. He'd had all he could stomach of wild Camp bell women for one day. Like it or not, Caitlin would now bear
the brunt of his ire.

    She was surprisingly fleet of foot, however, and he barely
reached her in time. As it was, she had untied her mare and
mounted when he managed to grab the horse's reins with one
hand while, with the other, taking hold of a fistful of the cloak
she wore and tugging hard. With a cry of dismay, Caitlin fought
to break free by wheeling the horse around, but Dar nimbly
stayed with her.
    As they circled in tandem, bit by bit he jerked on her cloak
until she began to lose her balance. She kicked out at him and
missed. She kicked again, and that was her undoing. At that same
instant, Dar wrenched hard on her cloak.
    Caitlin tumbled from her mount, her trajectory sending her
sailing to land right on top of him. Dar took the brunt of the
fall, rolling away to avoid the horse's hooves, and came to a halt
atop Caitlin. Her blue eyes blazing, she glared up at him.
    "Get off me, ye lecherous knave!" she cried. "Get off me!"
    "Gladly," he snarled in turn. Rising, he took a firm grip on
her arm and pulled her to her feet. "Ye won't get away from me
quite so easily, though."
    He pulled two lengths of rope from where he had tucked them
inside his shoulder plaid and clenched them in his teeth. Dar
swung her around and grabbed both of her hands. Though she
squirmed and fought to break free, he managed finally to secure
one rope around her wrists. Next, after forcing her back to the
ground, he bound her ankles.
    Though she fought him with all her strength, it was evident
she was already winded by her battle on her horse. "Ye w-won't
get away w-with this," Caitlin gulped between panting breaths
even as he finished and pulled her to her feet. "And when my
br-brother comes for ye and skewers y-ye on his sword, I'll laugh,
I will. I swear it!"

    "Aye, I imagine ye will." He stooped slightly and bent her
forward to toss her over his shoulder. "Even for a lass, ye do seem
the bloodthirsty sort."
    Kenneth, apparently at last successful at binding Janet, ran up
at that moment. He carried the basket of food and the leather
bag containing his harp.
    Dar indicated Caitlin's mare. "Tie up yer harp and the basket
to that horse. That one's yers from here on out."
    He then headed to where Jamie's big gelding was still tethered,
placidly grazing. Without any pause or explanation, he slung
Caitlin face down over the horse's withers, untied the reins, and
led the animal back to where Kenneth stood.
    "I doubt she'll be able to escape now," he said, handing the
reins to his friend, "but just in case, hold her horse for me. I need
a moment more to speak with Jamie."
    The bard nodded and took the reins. Dar spun on his heel
and walked back to where Jamie and Janet now lay beneath the
trees. The girl shot him a murderous look but, thanks to the gag
Kenneth had provided, she couldn't put to voice what she was
most evidently thinking. Dar turned away from her and knelt
beside Jamie.
    "Don't harm her, I beg ye," the big man pleaded, looking Dar
straight in the eye.