Free Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) by Aury Dobsyn Page A

a
snarling beast ripping through fabric.  
    With Nicholas close behind, he tore through the woods
towards the unmistakable threat of a wild animal. Sword in hand, Gavin was
determined to slay the dangerous creature, yet was completely unprepared for
the sight he came upon a scant moment later.
    Amidst the strong currents of the burn, Ella fought to
stay atop a boulder that peaked above the freezing water, while on the
riverbank two crazed boars ravaged her discarded clothing as they waited for
their next meal to come out of the water.
    Sprinting to the burn, Gavin was confident he could
get past the beasts that instantly turned to attack him once he was in view. He
ran into the water, and was quick to realize why she had not stayed closer to
the bank.
    Instead of gradually sloping as Gavin expected, after
a few steps the ground beneath the burn suddenly dropped away. Chest deep in
the water, he quickly glanced over his shoulder and spied Osgood and Tavish
coming up behind the boars. His men would make the kill quick and easy, which
is why he did not help their effort.
    Gavin’s concern was for Ella, knowing that her body
would not last long in such icy water. Living in the Highlands of Scotland, he
was accustomed to such frigid temperatures. He was also an unusually large man,
which helped to insulate warmth within his body. Ella’s slender body would only
be able to withstand a few moments at most. Unfortunately, she had long
surpassed that short period.
    With strong strokes, he closed the distance between
them, while cursing himself for not coming sooner. The fading sun provided just
enough light to see her naked upper body hugging the tip of a boulder that
protruded from the water surface, and her submerged lower body battling the
forceful current, threatening to pull her from the safe haven. The water was
too deep for her to stand, but not for him, he realized when he stopped
swimming an arm’s length away from her.
    Then he froze, consumed by rage.

8
    Gavin had seen scores of horrendous acts of brutality
and injustice throughout his life, but never had he seen a young girl, so
slender and small, flogged to the severity of drawing blood.
    Long, bloody lacerations covered the length of her
ivory back, making the contrast as distinct as night and day. Fury heated the
blood coursing through his veins, as his mind accepted what his eyes did not
want to believe. Ella, the wee hellion, had been severely whipped.
    The bloody crisscross lash marks from her shoulders to
just above her buttocks temporarily paralyzed Gavin, but he forced himself to
act with uncommon gentleness until he could later unleash his wrath on the man
responsible for this act.
    He moved behind her, and with deft fingers, pried her
hands away from the rock.
    “I’m here, little one, ye can let go. I will take care
of ye.” Hearing his own words, he realized how true they were, and how
possessive he felt for the fragile beauty.
    He felt her small body tremble violently and saw that
her lips were pale blue. Although it caused her great pain, he curled one arm
around her back, the other under her legs, and then swiftly carried her from
the loch.
    “Fetch me a plaid, now!” Gavin roared when he reached
the bank.
    While Osgood and Tavish tore their own plaids from
their shoulders, he noticed that they had successfully killed the two boars.
    Slowly lowering her feet to the ground until she stood
quivering before him, Gavin held her close as his men came running with their
plaids. When he heard her faint whisper, he bent his head forward to catch her
words.
    “Gavin, pleeease,” she begged as her hands and
forehead rested on his chest. “Don’t tell yourrr men. Theeey will thiiink I’m
weak. Pleeeese.”
    Hearing his name on her lips was sweeter than the
finest wine, but short lived when he absorbed her plea. Her ludicrous request
angered him for a moment, and then pride sunk in. She would rather suffer
than appear weak.
    Scots respected strength in