Read Online A Highlander for Christmas by Jamie Carie - Free Book Online Page B

flown to the door and was rolling a large stone and some furniture before it.
    “There’s a lock.” The blacksmith nodded toward him. “Used many times before.”
    Ruck nodded as the blacksmith took their hands and held them up. “No rings?” he quickly asked Iain.
    “Not as yet. It will come later.”
    “Verra good.” He bowed to pray as if nothing was wrong, even though the men outside had gathered around the door and were banging on it, trying to get in.
    “Ruck.” Ian motioned with his head that he get away from the door in case some fool starting shooting at the latch.
    “Oh, aye.” Ruck rushed back over toward them, the noise growing louder, the yells more threatening and belligerent. So help him, if they harmed a hair on her head…
    He looked at the blacksmith with raised brows.
    “Ah, yes.” The blacksmith cleared his throat and loudly proclaimed, “What God has joined together let no man put asunder. I pronounce you husband and wife.” He banged on the anvil with his hammer several harsh blows, making the announcement ring around the room.
    A creaking sound and then a shattering sound and then a musket went off with a loud boom. The blacksmith yelled out and fell to the floor.
    God help them. They’d broken through.
     

Chapter Eight
    I ain grasped Juliet and pulled her to the floor, half dragging her around the large anvil that had served as the pedestal for the blacksmith’s prayer book. Iain saw the man near him grasping the hammer in one of his hands and a long, wicked-looking knife in the other. “’Tis only a flesh wound,” he said , motioning his chin toward a bloody shoulder. “I can fight.”
    Iain nodded, knowing that as a Scot he would most assuredly have his back against any English lord.
    The smoke from the shot was clearing. Iain cocked and aimed his pistol toward Lord Malcolm. Oh no! He stopped, his heart dropping to his stomach.
    “No!” Juliet choked out, seeing it the same time Iain did. Malcolm was holding Ruck to his chest, his pistol pointed at the young man’s head.
    “Come out! Stand and drop your weapons or the boy dies!” Lord Malcolm jammed the gun into Ruck’s temple.
    Juliet let out a cry. Ruck visibly trembled from head to toe.
    Iain closed his eyes for a brief moment, sending up a prayer for help. He slowly stood, taking Juliet’s hand, helping her rise and looking over to the blacksmith with a nod to do as he said. He left his pistol on the stone floor.
    “Your knives and any other weapons, MacLeon,” Malcolm snarled. “Don’t test me.”
    Iain reached inside the part of his tartan that covered his chest and drew out a knife that hung by his belt. Next, he took a dagger from a band around his calf and laid it beside the other weapons. The blacksmith did the same. Taking a step closer to Juliet, he slid a small knife from his back and thrust it toward her, blocking the view of what he did with his side and shoulder. He felt Juliet take it, her hand trembling against his for a second. Malcolm’s gaze swung back to the pair, squinting at them as if suspicious.
    “Send Lady Lindsay to me and you shall have the brother. I’ve no need of him.”
    Juliet took a step toward them but Iain stopped her with his hand. “The marriage is legal, Malcolm. You’re too late.”
    “Ha!” Malcolm sneered, his upper lip curling against his hallow cheeks. “You haven’t had time to consummate it, so it’s as good as a piece of parchment burned in the fire. I…will…have…her.” He held out his arm and made a come-hither motion to her with his fingers.
    Juliet made a sound of anguish from her throat.
    Malcolm lowered his chin and gave her a hard stare with his dark eyes.
    “The wedding is legal, my lord, I assure you. Even in English law.” The blacksmith took a step forward.
    Malcolm swung the pistol from Ruck’s temple, pointed it at the blacksmith’s head and pulled the trigger faster then any of them could have anticipated. Juliet screamed as the