Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

neck.
    Connor held her tight and whispered in her ear. “You must be quiet.” He waited for her nod and then slowly took his hand off her mouth. She was once more in his arms and he couldn’t resist. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. She didn’t pull away, so he kissed her longer. Finally, he remembered they were at war and stopped. He took her hand and led her behind a tree. The early morning wasn’t very light yet , but when he glanced back, he could see Threcher walk into the meadow to graze.
    He took her back in his arms and put his mouth next to her ear so he could whisp er, “They will attack at dawn.”
    She was happy to have her arms around his neck and reached up on tiptoe, “My mother?”
    “We took all the lasses and children out in the night. They should be half way to the Cameron hold by now. Most of the lads are out too.”
    “Were there warriors in the woods?”
    “Nay.” He tightened his arms and quickly kissed her lips again. It was then he realized she was holding him , but her touch was too weak. “Where are you hurt?”
    She hesitated. She didn’t want to admit she really couldn’t protect herself, but she finally took his hand and put it on the sore spot on her head.
    He grimaced when he felt the lump. He drew her close again and let her put her head on his chest. All he wanted to do was hold and comfort her, but he was worried about keeping her safe. If their plan didn’t work, the battle might spill into the meadow. He heard something in the woods and with one swift movement; he turned, drew his sword and shoved Rachel behind him. It was Kevin. Connor put his sword back in his sheath and smiled. He reached back, took R achel’s arm and pulled her out.
    Kevin couldn’t have been more relieved. He looked at her for a long moment and touched her hair just to make sure he could believe his eyes. At last, he pointed at the horse and when Rachel nodded, he nodded as if to say he thought so. It couldn’t be the same horse that brought Anna back to him thirteen years ago, it didn’t look old enough , b ut maybe. Kevin would have to think about that later.
    It was getting lighter by the minute and Kevin motioned for them to get behind the trees. The bridge began to screech as though it was coming down and then stopped. Rachel took a quick peek around her tree and noticed everything seemed normal. Smoke drifted into the air from cottage hearths as though women prepared the morning meal. She could hear a baby cry , but she knew it wasn’t a real baby. One of the men had mastered the art of imitating sounds. A woman moaned and another man coughed several times. Then the bridge started to go down again and she held her breath.
    From inside the village walls, the leader of a MacGreagor hunting party appeared on the bridge. He halted his horse just outside the wall, slowly looked in every direction, and pretended to be convinced there was no danger. Then he raised his arm and motioned the other men to follow. As soon as they were across the bridge, they turned toward the loch.
    Just as Kevin hoped, finding the bridge down was too much of a temptation and once the hunters were gone, Ferguson warriors rode swiftly out of the forest and onto the bridge. The hooves of a hundred horses pounded on the wooden planks, followed by at least two hundred foot warriors. At first, there were shouts and bellows coming from inside. Then it got quiet.
    MacGreagor warriors quickly gathered outside the lowered bridge with their bows already loaded. The archers in the front knelt down on one knee, the ones behind remained standing, and then the hunting party came back and arranged themselves behind the archers. When the Fergusons saw it, they could think of nothing else to do but raise the bridge.
    Kevin was pleased. He watched the window of the second story bedchamber he shared with Anna, and just as he suspected, Laird Ferguson appeared. Kevin walked into the meadow, stopped, spread his legs apart and folded his arms. Another hundred footmen, including Connor, walked out right behind him. Then more men walked their horses through the trees into the meadow. On the hillside above the trees, another two hundred Cameron horsemen showed themselves.
    Rachel thought she could actually see Laird Ferguson shudder in the window. She walked into the meadow and stood by Connor.
    “What are you doing, Lass?”
    “They left me for dead, Connor. I want him to know I am alive.” She glanced up and when he