Free Tarnished Honor by J. Lee Coulter Page A

may go and retrieve your mama.” She kissed his black whiskers noisily and took the maid’s hand as they left for her chambers. “Do nae leave her alone, Mary.”
    “Aye, my lord. I will nae leave her.”
    * * *
    It was a dark moonless night. The tracker had followed her path to the forest, where he informed Connall that there had been a struggle. “There are deep hoof prints, my lord. Both must be astride the animal. The trail leads north.”
    His gaze hardened as his worst fears were realized. She had been abducted! His heart clenched as he struggled for control of his emotions.
    “North it is then. Release the dog on the scent.” They had brought Arthur’s bitch which could track silently ahead, returning to alert them to the trail sporadically . And right now they needed speed and stealth.
    All were silent for the next few hours as they crept through the dark forest . They had performed this act many times while serving the king and were well trained.
    Connall held up his hand to halt as he neared the collie standing silently ahead of him, staring intently through the brush. His ears perked up as he detected several men sno r ing just beyond in the clearing. They slid silently from their horses as one. Peering through the brush, they spied ten men sleeping around a fire and a small tent near the center of them.
    Connall bristled as he recognized McGee warming his hands over the flame. Ross! Nay…it can nae be! Fear that Brighde had been raped seared his brain. He trembled with rage! Robbie’s hand stayed him from charging in amongst them as he directed Blacksword’s attention to a man lea v ing the camp to relieve himself. Using hand signals, he d i rected one of the men to capture him. He disappeared into the darkness.
    A safe distance from the camp, the warrior was que s tioned by Connall’s man, then he slit his throat. None would live after abducting the Countess. It was understood by all!
    The Earl had never known such fear before. He had to mentally force the horrid thoughts from his head as his man returned. He barely breathed the question.
    “Did he touch her?” That is all he wished to know. Nothing more…nothing less.
    The warrior smiled, shaking his head. “He will nae be touching any lass for many days, my lord,” he whispered. “It seems that my lady has a very wicked knee. She maimed two of them afore he bound her.” Connall grinned widely with relief as his mind eased. He took a deep breath as he shook off his anxiety. It was time to plan how he would reach her, knowing that Ross must be in the tent, as well. His men circled the camp awaiting the right moment for their assault. First, Ross had to leave the shelter . Co n nall positioned himself as close to the rear of the tent as he dared, settling in for the long cold night ahead.
    Stephen sat across from her staring at the bruising from the beating he had given her earlier. Her cut lip had stopped bleeding a short while ago. He grunted in pain as he adjus t ed his position. She had deserved the thrashing . Brighde is mine! She has no right to deny me…her intended! How dare she strike out at me! Things will be different once we wed. My bride will nae turn me away again.
    Ross stood and nudged her with his foot. She whi m pered as pain shot through her frail form.
    “Good! At least ye are nae dead…yet.” He checked her bindings before he strode out of the tent to relieve himself.
    Connall’s ears perked up at his wife’s moans of pain. His eyes hardened with hate as a stabbing pain struck his heart. With a clenched jaw, the Earl fell back on his warr i or’s training to calm his need to charge into the enclosure. The signal came a few moments later that Ross had left the shelter.
    Crawling quickly to the backside, he slit the canvas with his dirk and slunk inside. His keen eyes searched the dark recesses until he located his objective. In one swift movement he cut her bindings, then Connall lifted her limp form gently in his arms.