Read Online Highland Knight by Hannah Howell - Free Book Online

and she had the chilling feeling they were armed and ready for something that would mean trouble or grief for her.
    “Avery,” Gillyanne said, the soft hint of a question in her voice
    “Hush. ’Tis still enough that I may be able to catch a word or two which will tell me why these bastards are here.”
    It was only a few moments later when Avery decided she had heard more than enough. DeVeau wanted his money back and cared not if he slaughtered every MacAlpin to get it. It had been foolish to think, simply because the man had not immediately set after them, that he would be willing to let so much of his coin leave his hands. As she watched the men ride away, Avery knew she was faced with a hard decision. Did she and Gillyanne continue on in their escape, or did they ride back and warn the MacAlpins? She sighed as she ruefully admitted the decision had been made the moment she knew about the threat.
    “The DeVeaux are going to kill them,” Gillyanne said.
    “I ken it.” Avery shook her head. “I think we might have actually been successful this time.”
    “We go back to warn them?”
    “As soon as I can figure out the best way to do so without tripping o’er the DeVeaux.”
    Gillyanne nodded. “I thought that was what ye would decide.”
    “Why? Cameron means to use us against our clan, against Payton. He means to ransom you and dishonor me. He and his men didnae attack our French kinsmen, but they were in DeVeau’s hire. We should be wishing the DeVeaux good luck and hying for a port.” Avery nudged her horse back across the brook.
    “Aye, we probably should, and no one would blame us—but we willnae.”
    “Nay, we willnae. We will put our own skinny necks in danger trying to save our captors. Misled as Cameron and the others are, they dinnae deserve to be slaughtered.”
    “Nay, they dinnae,” agreed Gillyanne. “Think we can reach the camp faster than DeVeau’s dogs can?”
    “We can only try. And they dinnae look to be in any great hurry.”
    “Mayhap they dinnae ken where Cameron’s camp is.”
    “They may not ken exactly, but they ken what port he heads to.” She nudged her mount into a steady trot, heading back the way they had just come but in a straighter line. “It may be but a good guess, or one of the MacAlpins told one of DeVeau’s men. Nay out of betrayal, simply nay kenning the depths of treachery his new master would sink to. Ye watch for any sign of a MacAlpin or that we have drifted too close to the DeVeaux. I will set my mind on getting us back to that camp as fast as possible.”
    As they rode, Avery prayed for success. Despite the situation Cameron had pulled her into, and his accusations against her brother, she certainly did not want to see him killed or maimed, or any of his people hurt, either. She suspected she would feel the same even if she did not care about the fool. Brief though the acquaintance had been, she liked the MacAlpins and did not wish to see them cut down by DeVeau treachery and greed. All she could do now, however, was try to keep herself and Gillyanne safe, yet reach the MacAlpins in time to save them.
     
    “Jesu, took there, Cameron,” said Leargan, his voice softened by both surprise and caution.
    Cameron looked in the direction his cousin pointed, and swore. He was thrilled to see Avery and her cousin close enough to capture, yet was confused as to why they were. They had executed a skillful escape, covering their tracks well. He had just admitted to himself that he had lost them, yet here they were, riding straight back toward his camp and captivity.
    “Think they are lost?” Cameron asked, doubting it.
    “I would be most disappointed if it was that simple,” replied Leargan.
    “Yet why are they returning to camp?”
    “Mayhap because they have decided that we are the lesser of two evils. They are being followed, cousin.”
    Cameron cursed and nudged his mount into a gallop even as the two men trailing Avery picked up speed. He was relieved