Read Online Tempted by the Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham - Free Book Online

of her, Cairnross had come. If she’d remained behind, none of
these men would have died.
    Marguerite took a step towards Callum, but before she could
emerge from the trees, she saw Bram explode in fury. His claymore flashed as he
brought down man after man and Alex stood at his back to defend him.
    They fought for their lives and in the midst of the battle,
Callum seized a quiver of arrows from a dead archer. As he released the arrows,
one after the other, he moved into the forest, moving straight towards her.
    Marguerite didn’t move, not understanding why he was leaving
his brothers behind. When he reached her side, he pulled her veil free and
dropped it, pulling her to higher ground. She suddenly realised that the white
colour had made her visible from below. And she was still in range of their
arrows, where she’d been standing.
    ‘You can’t leave them behind,’ she pleaded, looking back at
Bram, Alex and Nairna. ‘They need you.’
    Callum’s face hardened and he climbed atop a large boulder,
drawing back his bow. He released another stream of arrows toward the enemy,
bringing down one man after another.
    Shame reddened her cheeks when Marguerite realised she’d
accused him of cowardice. That wasn’t it at all. He’d been moving into a
position where he could better defend them.
    ‘I misunderstood,’ she apologised. ‘I’m sorry for what I said.’
By leaving his brothers and hiding within the trees, he’d gained a more
strategic position, fighting where the enemy couldn’t see him.
    Callum pointed to the top of the ridge, in a wordless order for
her to join the other women. She understood, but hesitated, not wanting to leave
him behind. ‘Thank you for protecting me,’ she whispered.
    He lowered his bow for a moment. His brown eyes held a steady
reassurance, as if he would never allow anyone to harm her. The look on his face
was of a man prepared to die.
    Marguerite reached down to the fallen veil and brought it to
him, binding it slowly around his left forearm. ‘Take this,’ she said. ‘It will
protect your arm from the bowstring.’
    It was all she could give him. Callum remained motionless while
she tied it off, then he covered her hand with his. The warmth of his palm
reassured her, and he squeezed her hand in silent farewell. She didn’t know what
would happen to either of them now, but she squeezed it back.
    The rumble of horsemen approaching caught Marguerite’s
attention. She saw two armies of men and, at the sight of the tall man leading
the group, her heart soared. The Duc D’Avignois had come at last.
    She started to move downhill, but Callum caught her by the arm.
‘It’s my father,’ she explained. ‘I have to see him.’ If she could reach the Duc
in time, she might convince him to save the MacKinlochs.
    She started to pull free, when something made her stop and turn
around. Callum held his bow over one shoulder, his gaze shielded. He gave her a
signal to leave, that he wouldn’t stop her. But she realised the truth of what
was happening.
    The moment she reached her father’s side, everything would
return to the way it had been. She would be safe with her family, and likely she
wouldn’t see Callum again.
    Regret pulled at her, even though she’d known the moments
between them were never going to last. They would fade into bittersweet
memories.
    ‘I’ll never forget you,’ she whispered, touching his cheek in
farewell.
    * * *
    Callum drew his bow as soon as Marguerite left the
trees, intending to shoot any man who came near her. Two of her father’s guards
escorted her to safety and she spoke to them, gesturing toward the MacKinlochs
as if to intervene.
    He kept low, crouching with his bow as he watched the men.
Harkirk was still alive, but the body of Cairnross lay upon the ground,
slaughtered by his brother Bram.
    He should have been relieved that Marguerite would never marry
the earl. Instead, angry resentment filled him up, that Bram had wrought justice
instead of