Struggling with the weight of her sodden gown, her lungs robbed of air, Gwen kicked with all her might, but her struggle was futile. Her arms and legs quickly tired in the icy depths. Just when she thought she’d never make it and her life was over, a strong hand grabbed the back of her garment and hauled her upward. As her head breached the surface, she sputtered and gasped for air.
“Get in,” Kyle demanded, his voice hoarse. He slid his hands beneath her arms and pulled her into the small boat, then grabbed the oars and began to paddle like a man possessed. “That was close. Another minute and they’d have caught us.” He continued to row extremely hard until the boat pulled away from the ship.
“What if they follow us and bring us back?” Gwen peered back at the ship, and the group of angry men shouting from the deck and lowering boats over the side to give chase.
“I don’t think we need to worry,” Kyle said and slowed his pace. “Before we came for you, Blair and Rory poked holes in the bottom of all the boats but this one. The laird’s men may get in them, but they won’t get far before they fill up with water and start to sink.”
Relieved to hear they were safe and out of harm’s way for the moment, Gwen couldn’t help but worry what would happen next. They were both soaked to the skin, the air was cold, and they were in the middle of the northern straight between Scotland and the Orkney Islands. While she had faith in Kyle and figured he knew the direction to row, they had no idea how far out they actually were.
She began to shiver, her teeth chattering and Kyle reached out and stroked her cheek. “You’re frozen, I guess we didn’t think this through well enough. I’m sorry.”
Grasping his hand, she gazed into his eyes. “You have nothing to apologize for. You did what you could to rescue me and I will be eternally grateful. There was no other way to avoid capture. I still can’t believe you came for me.” She glanced over her shoulder at the ship—which was now a dot on the horizon.
“When you disappeared after the tour of MacQuin Castle, I was ready to move heaven and earth to find you. But then I met Beatha.”
“Oh my God, you met her? And she sent you here?”
“I have to admit, I didn’t believe her at first,” Kyle said. “I thought she was a crazy old bird trying to con me into following her into the forest so she could steal my wallet and watch. But I soon learned different. I was in a clearing behind the castle ruins one minute, then in the fourteenth century the next.”
“That’s basically what happened to me as well. But I didn’t meet Beatha until I arrived in 1305.” Gwen wrapped her arms around her middle, trying to conserve what little body heat she could, but failed in the attempt. She was already too cold, her feet and hands numb. “Beatha told me some pretty unbelievable stuff, and if I hadn’t experienced it first hand, I would have thought the same as you about her sanity.”
Kyle stopped rowing and reached behind Gwen. “What’s this? I didn’t notice it when we climbed into the boat.” He scratched his head. “I’d swear it was empty.” He dragged a canvas sack forward and opened it, a broad smile crossing his face. “They thought of everything.” He pulled out a length of thick wool fabric and handed it to Gwen. “Take off your wet gown and wrap yourself in this.”
She didn’t need to be told twice and stripped down to her chemise, then wrapped the dry fabric around her body, reveling in the warmth. “Is there one for you?” She peeked into the sack and frowned. Instead of another plaid, she found a flagon of whisky and some oatcakes.
He shook his head. “I’m fine,” he said, then began to row faster.
“But you’ll catch pneumonia if you don’t get out of those wet things.”
“Don’t worry about me, Gwen. I’m already working up a sweat and if I keep it up, I’ll be warm in no time.”
She could tell he was lying and was every bit as cold as she was, but there was no point arguing. After opening the container of whisky, she offered it to Kyle. “At least have some of this. It might help to warm you from the inside out.”
Kyle brought the flagon to his lips, took a drink, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “A shot of whisky never tasted so good. You should have some too.” He handed the spirits back to Gwen. “I noticed some oatcakes, have one if you’re hungry.”
She capped the whisky and put it back into the sack. “I have the plaid, so will save the spirits for you. As for the food, I think it best we wait. There is no telling how long it will be before we reach the shore, or when we will find food.” She wanted to say if they reached the shore, but was determined to remain as optimistic as possible. She had never been a quitter, and after all she’d been through, she wasn’t about to give up now.
After a few hours, Gwen cupped her hand over her eyes and peered in the direction from which they’d come. “Do you think they’ll follow us with the ship?” She was much warmer now and couldn’t help wondering what happened to Blair and his brother. “I hope your cousins are safe and the laird didn’t find out they were part of my escape.”
“I haven’t known them long, but they strike me as quite resourceful. I doubt they’d leave themselves without options. Besides, the only one who might suspect them is the guard who was watching your cabin. But I doubt even he would put two and two together.”
She exhaled a heavy sigh—her breath turning to a fine smoky mist as it left her lips—and twisted the edge of the plaid around her finger. “I hope you’re right. I’d hate to think they were punished on my account. Laird Gower is a very cruel and vindictive man. I shudder to think what he’d do to them if he found out.” She closed her eyes, remembering the encounters she’d had with him and the fear he evoked in everyone he met.
Kyle slowed his rowing again and glanced up at Gwen. “Did Gower hurt you? Did he...”
While he stopped mid-sentence, Gwen knew what he was about to ask. She reached out and caressed his hand. “No, he didn’t rape me. We had words and he hit me, but only once. Aside from that one time and the verbal abuse, he never touched me sexually.”
“I’m glad,” was all he said, then picked up the oars and began to row again.
After telling her of his adventures so far in medieval Scotland, how he came to befriend Blair and Rory, about his uncle, his visit to MacQuin Castle, and countless times how much he loved her, Kyle rowed in silence. Gwen took her turn as well, hoping to spell Kyle and give him a chance to rest, but they covered a lot more distance in a shorter time when Kyle manned the oars. He kept saying he was fine and didn’t need a break, but she knew he was just saying that on her account. It seemed like forever, but by the grace of God, they finally reached the shore, landing close to where the ship had set sail.
The sun was setting when Kyle pulled the boat onto the sand. He helped Gwen climb out, then crumpled to his knees.
Gwen squatted beside him and lightly stroked his back. His shirt had long dried, but his skin still felt clammy. “I can’t believe we made it.” She peered out to sea, relieved there was no ship on the horizon. “You must be exhausted.” She nuzzled his ear with her nose.
“We both need to rest for a bit before we start back to MacKay Castle, but not here.” Kyle slowly rose to his feet and drew Gwen into a tight embrace. He swept a lock of hair from her forehead, then kissed her brow and her cheek, before kissing her soundly.
She opened her mouth, granting him access, and returned his kiss with equal enthusiasm. When he pulled away, she felt empty. “What’s wrong?”
“Not a thing.” He gave her another quick kiss on the forehead, then plucked the sack from the boat. “We’ll need this for the journey. But we also need to find a place that is not so open where we can rest.”
She glanced around the beach and toward Collin Gower’s castle. “Duncan’s brother lives just beyond that ridge. If he finds us on his land, and learns that I abandoned Duncan, he will kill you and hold me prisoner until his brother can return for me.”
“I know where he lives. We made camp in a clearing not too far from his keep last night, and planned how best to rescue you. We hid three horses in a cave not far from where we made camp. Hopefully they are still there. We can rest a bit, then take my mount and head back to MacKay Castle, where my uncle will grant us sanctuary from Damen. We’ll leave the other two in hopes that Blair and Rory got away as well.”
She also hoped the MacKay brothers had gotten off the ship, but if what Kyle said was true, she couldn’t see how it could happen, not if they’d punched holes in the other small boats. They’d put their lives on the line to save hers, a debt that could never be repaid, and she’d be eternally grateful. “I know the odds were not in their favor, but pray they got off unscathed.”
Her thoughts returned to their current situation. While she and Kyle had managed to get off the ship and back to shore, they were by no means out of danger. The question was where to go? Kyle needed to rest before he collapsed, and they ran the risk of being caught if they tarried on the beach any longer. They couldn’t go back to her father’s castle, not while Damen was there and acting as laird.
She had no doubt he’d lied about Ainsley and may have even murdered her to carry out his fiendish plan. By sending her instead, he was protecting his identity and the life as a mortal he loved so well—well enough to kill for it. If she returned to MacQuin Castle, he’d never let her live. But is if she didn’t, Gwen go back, she worried about Lilith and what he might do to her. She was also concerned about accepting help from Laird MacKay. She didn’t want to be responsible for a clan war.
“I don’t see how we can go to MacKay Castle and not cause a feud if Damen finds out.”
Kyle cocked a brow. “You’re not suggesting we go to MacQuin Castle, are you?”
“No. Damen would not only punish me for disobeying him and running away from Duncan, but he’d surely kill you for your part in it.”
“I’m a big boy and can hold my own against the likes of Damen.”
“Can you? There are things about him you might not know and should fear.” She wondered if telling him Damen was a changeling, an evil fairy bent on ruling his world at all costs would make him more cautious. Or would he think she’d lost her mind? She’d certainly thought it was insane when Beatha told her, but having seen it for herself, she no longer doubted the merit of Scottish legends.
“Do you mean because he’s from the other side, a changeling capable of great evil?” Kyle asked in a matter-of-fact tone. “Don’t forget I’ve met the man and wouldn’t put anything past him. Is he a rogue fairy? I’m not sure. But I’m not certain about a lot of things these days, especially things I once believed to be fact. Is he a vindictive devil who will stop at nothing to get what he wants? I have no doubt.” He slid his fingers under her chin and raised it until their gazes met. “I also believe that together we are stronger than him, and good will triumph over evil in the end.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she managed to keep them at bay. “A noble thought, but at what cost? He torments his mother without mercy and may have even killed her by now.” Her heart clenched at the thought. “I have reason to suspect he killed his cousin so he could send me to the Gower in her stead. Blair and Rory paid the price for helping me, and who knows who else have been or will be harmed so he can get what he wants.”
He used the pad of his thumb to catch a stray tear, then kissed her. “We don’t know for sure what happened to Blair and Rory. Hopefully nothing. As for his cousin and Lady Lilith, we can only speculate. You’re a lawyer, Gwen, and you know that is not conclusive evidence.” A smile tugged at his lips and he took her hand. “One thing I do know for certain is that I love you and will do what it takes to protect you. I also know that you’re exhausted and need some rest. Let’s go to the cave and see if the horses are still there. After we’ve rested, we’ll decide what to do.”