Read Online Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander by Connie C. Scharon - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Connie C. Scharon
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eyelids go closed and
reopen. Hugging him, she tried to control her excitement. With one quick glance
around the room to assure they were alone, she began. “I think Rannoch and
Sorcha have poisoned you. Blink once if you agree, twice if you do not.” Her
father blinked one time. Katie could not suppress a sob. It was the first time
she talked with him in any way since he became so ill. “I overheard them.” Her
father gave out a snort of sorts. Brian Blackburn knew of the tiny chamber with
the spy hole into Rannoch’s room.
Trying to soothe him, she stroked
his arm. “I am always careful. It became necessary,” she assured him. As his
eyes lost some of the fire she had lit, she inhaled sharply. “They fear you
will die from the poison before Rannoch can put his plan in action. I heard
them plot to cut back the dose. I pray this will help your condition, but you
must not let them know if you start to get better. Perchance they will continue
cutting back if you dinna let them see improvement. Can you do that?”
Her father blinked once. She
nodded at him. “Good, ‘tis so wonderful to be assured you understand.”
His eyes searched hers. Even
totally immobile he knew there was more she should tell. “Aye, so. There is
something else. We need Keith’s help, but Rannoch sent Keith from the keep. I
canna get his help until he returns.” Wiping away the tears that flowed down
her cheeks, she hugged her father again. “Can you endure a bit longer? ‘Tis
only until I can find someone to aid me.”
Her father blinked a single time.
She closed her own eyes in a grateful prayer. “I will find a way out of this,”
she promised him.
For a brief moment, she
entertained the possibility of telling her father about her captive then
dismissed it as something that would only worry him more. His mind still worked
inside his helpless body. She could tell by the way that he looked at her now.
Katie needed him to fight through
this treachery until she could stop Rannoch’s evil plan. She would save him.
Years of what her father called her hard-headedness taught her if you persisted
long enough, you would succeed no matter what barriers stood in your way.
Hadn’t she brought order to the family after the untimely death of her mother?
Devastated by the loss, her father lost his way for a time. Katie rallied the
family until they found the will to continue living.
She wiped his brow again. “I must
go and see what can be done to undo this foul plot.” He blinked his agreement.
“Be strong until I can find a way to free you from their evil clutches.” A
single tear streaked down his cheek. She smiled at him. “Dinna fear, you always
told me I was the strong one, remember?”
Again, he agreed in the only way
he could. Brushing a soft kiss on his forehead, she left his chamber in search
of Rannoch.
An abiding chill fell on Duntaigh
Castle ever since her father became ill. Now knowing Rannoch was the cause, she
had to face him, face him, and give him no suggestion she had discovered his
secret plot. Her stomach lurched as a brief vision of the episode between
Rannoch and Sorcha leapt into her mind. She would do anything required to save
her family, if only she had a plan.
It came to her then. Ian Innes
would give her advice if he thought it would aid his cause. She had not seen
Draco all day. Perchance the time was right to see what insight she could gain
from her captive.
Katie should have been back by
now. Ian strained at his chains. He’d spent hours trying to loosen the
shackles. Nothing worked. If his captor didn’t set him free, he would stay
chained to the wall. He needed some tool to try and pry loose the lock. Sighing
in disgust, he watched the last flicker of the lantern that lit his cell.
Pitched into darkness, he dreamed
about his captor, the sweet taste of her lips, and her creamy skin. He became a
man possessed. What the hell had Katie Blackburn done to him to scorch her
image across his brain so
reopen. Hugging him, she tried to control her excitement. With one quick glance
around the room to assure they were alone, she began. “I think Rannoch and
Sorcha have poisoned you. Blink once if you agree, twice if you do not.” Her
father blinked one time. Katie could not suppress a sob. It was the first time
she talked with him in any way since he became so ill. “I overheard them.” Her
father gave out a snort of sorts. Brian Blackburn knew of the tiny chamber with
the spy hole into Rannoch’s room.
Trying to soothe him, she stroked
his arm. “I am always careful. It became necessary,” she assured him. As his
eyes lost some of the fire she had lit, she inhaled sharply. “They fear you
will die from the poison before Rannoch can put his plan in action. I heard
them plot to cut back the dose. I pray this will help your condition, but you
must not let them know if you start to get better. Perchance they will continue
cutting back if you dinna let them see improvement. Can you do that?”
Her father blinked once. She
nodded at him. “Good, ‘tis so wonderful to be assured you understand.”
His eyes searched hers. Even
totally immobile he knew there was more she should tell. “Aye, so. There is
something else. We need Keith’s help, but Rannoch sent Keith from the keep. I
canna get his help until he returns.” Wiping away the tears that flowed down
her cheeks, she hugged her father again. “Can you endure a bit longer? ‘Tis
only until I can find someone to aid me.”
Her father blinked a single time.
She closed her own eyes in a grateful prayer. “I will find a way out of this,”
she promised him.
For a brief moment, she
entertained the possibility of telling her father about her captive then
dismissed it as something that would only worry him more. His mind still worked
inside his helpless body. She could tell by the way that he looked at her now.
Katie needed him to fight through
this treachery until she could stop Rannoch’s evil plan. She would save him.
Years of what her father called her hard-headedness taught her if you persisted
long enough, you would succeed no matter what barriers stood in your way.
Hadn’t she brought order to the family after the untimely death of her mother?
Devastated by the loss, her father lost his way for a time. Katie rallied the
family until they found the will to continue living.
She wiped his brow again. “I must
go and see what can be done to undo this foul plot.” He blinked his agreement.
“Be strong until I can find a way to free you from their evil clutches.” A
single tear streaked down his cheek. She smiled at him. “Dinna fear, you always
told me I was the strong one, remember?”
Again, he agreed in the only way
he could. Brushing a soft kiss on his forehead, she left his chamber in search
of Rannoch.
An abiding chill fell on Duntaigh
Castle ever since her father became ill. Now knowing Rannoch was the cause, she
had to face him, face him, and give him no suggestion she had discovered his
secret plot. Her stomach lurched as a brief vision of the episode between
Rannoch and Sorcha leapt into her mind. She would do anything required to save
her family, if only she had a plan.
It came to her then. Ian Innes
would give her advice if he thought it would aid his cause. She had not seen
Draco all day. Perchance the time was right to see what insight she could gain
from her captive.
Katie should have been back by
now. Ian strained at his chains. He’d spent hours trying to loosen the
shackles. Nothing worked. If his captor didn’t set him free, he would stay
chained to the wall. He needed some tool to try and pry loose the lock. Sighing
in disgust, he watched the last flicker of the lantern that lit his cell.
Pitched into darkness, he dreamed
about his captor, the sweet taste of her lips, and her creamy skin. He became a
man possessed. What the hell had Katie Blackburn done to him to scorch her
image across his brain so
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