“Save us?” Bonnie found herself saying up to him in disbelief. “What do you mean save us? I thought you were here to rip us all to shreds and storm our castle?”
John Campbell laughed and shook his head kindly.
“No, my dear,” he said, “I’m afraid you’ve all been lied to in so many ways… It’s a good job we are here, we’ve reached you just in time.”
Bonnie looked to her mother and she too had her mouth gaping open. John Campbell walked toward them and held out his hand for Bonnie’s mother, helping her to her feet. At the same time, another of the big, burly men climbed down from his steed and approached Bonnie. She saw his feet first, but when she let her eyes travel up his legs and muscular torso, she couldn’t help but gasp, especially when their eyes finally met.
Although he was very similar to John Campbell in appearance, there was something about this man that was very different indeed. His eyes were intense and penetrating, and the way he held out his hand strongly toward Bonnie made her bite her bottom lip and a throb pulse through her pussy. His eyebrows were heavy on his head and his hair was a deeper, richer red than the others, it was almost brown. Bonnie felt herself blush as she slid her hand into his and let him pull her to her feet.
“M’lady,” he said as he bowed and she felt herself smile shyly as he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a delicate kiss on it. “Alexander Campbell,” he smiled and it sent a quiver down Bonnie’s spine.
“Bonaventure Grant.” She smiled from ear to ear and felt the blush on her cheeks spread down her neck.
“We are here to meet with Lord Grant,” John Campbell said. “There is much to discuss about the future of the Highlands and the safety of the people in it.”
“But,” Bonnie continued, “I thought you were here to harm us? There have been rumors running rife over the mountains for generations that a clan of men and wolves are the next clan to destroy Scotland.” She didn’t know where she was getting her nerve from, but she figured she had nothing to lose. And besides, with Alexander Campbell by her side, holding onto her hand warmly, she felt as if she could take on anything.
“Never fear us, Lassie,” Alexander said. “We have much to explain and a lot to arrange before the day is through.”
He led her across to her mother’s horse and John helped Bonnie’s mother up onto its back and then Alex lifted Bonnie at the waist and placed her delicately behind her. He lifted her with such ease that she felt tiny in his hands, and then he stood back and smiled with his incredible eyes glinting in the misty light.
“We shall ride together,” John Campbell said. “And we shall all return to Castle Grant safely.”
Bonnie noticed her mother nodding her head and she decided that they had no other option but to trust them.
Maybe her father had known what he was doing all along by dismissing the help of Lord Drummond… Bonnie’s mind started to race as she thought of the possibilities of where the truth may lie.
They rode quickly across the field and up the hill toward the drawbridge. Bonnie looked back over her shoulder as the loch disappeared into the fog behind her, but she smiled when she realized she had something even better to look at. A view that, although she had never seen before, was one that she also never wanted to forget…
A view of Alexander Campbell riding up behind her, so close she could almost feel his hot breath reaching out to her and skimming her skin.
They thundered across the drawbridge and Bonnie couldn’t believe her eyes, as not one guard attempted to stop them.
What was happening?
Surely, after all of the rumors and legends, they would be fearful of what it may mean to have these wild highlanders and their wolves coming into Castle Grant and dispersing amongst them.
Up ahead, she could see her father. He stood with his legs wide and his arms folded across his chest, a warm smile spreading out across his cheeks.
“These two are forever causing me trouble,” he laughed as they all came to a halt before him.
He looked up at Bonnie and her mother, and the two women scrambled down and threw themselves into his arms.
“Father!” Bonnie gasped. “What is happening? Are these not the men we should fear?”
“No Lassie,” her father soothed. “They are the ones who are going to save us all.”
Bonnie couldn’t help but be confused, but as she looked around at all of the men who had come storming down the mountainside and found them by the loch, there was no malice in them and they all looked down on her kindly.
“I don’t understand…” she said as her eyes found Alexander again, and she realized he was watching her intently.
Whoever he was, she had certainly caught his attention and she was pretty taken with him too. He had a dangerous demeanor that was edged with a sexy roguish charm.
“We have been duped,” her father said as he took his wife’s face in his hands. “Lord Drummond is a liar.”
Bonnie’s stomach dropped at the news. It had been less than twenty-four hours since Lord Drummond’s visit when he had told them that they were all in danger. How had he lied to them and why?
“He’s in cahoots with Clan Rose,” John Campbell stepped in and spoke up. “The real clan who has been travelling Scotland and destroying castles and the people within them for many years.”
Bonnie shivered. They had been so close to trusting Lord Drummond. But what had changed?
“I knew from the moment he arrived that something was afoot,” her father said. “And I also knew the legends of the men and wolves and of the reality of how the Rose Clan had spread them to cover their tracks over the years.”
“So how did you get Clan Campbell here?” Bonnie asked with intrigue.
“I sent men out in the dead of night to find them,” her father smiled. “And now we have to formulate a plan…”
The men all looked to one another, and Bonnie could sense the heightening tension between them. It was almost too much to bear.
“Come,” her father said as he wrapped a welcoming arm around John Campbell’s shoulders. “Welcome to Castle Grant, we have much to talk about.”
They all made their way inside. Bonnie’s head was spinning with all of this new information… But not as much as it was spinning from the fact that she couldn’t take her eyes off Alexander…and she was pretty sure the feeling was mutual.