Page 46 of A Highlander's Vow

Chapter Twenty

They searched everyinch of the keep, with Gregory going from worry to panic to anger. He couldn’t believe neither he nor Daniel had figured out that the Gunn and Sinclair attack was not a serious one. They’d had their doubts about it, but it never occurred to him that it was a ruse to grab Megan.

“Laird!” One of the warriors ran up to them, taking deep breaths. “We discovered how The Gunn got Megan out of the castle.”

Daniel and Gregory turned at the same time. “Show me,” Gregory said.

As a group they raced to the kitchen, out the back door, past the garden and a little more than halfway down the back wall where a warrior stood. They came to an abrupt halt. Gregory squatted and looked at the hole that had been broken into the wall.

He reached out and ran his finger over dried blood. “Her skin was scraped.” The rage at his wife being so mishandled had his heart thumping.

Someone would pay.

He stood and placed his hands on his hips, then turned to Daniel. “If they are traveling in a group, which they most likely are, they canno’ travel verra fast. I’m going after her.”

Daniel reached out and grabbed his arm. “I have a feeling they are taking her to Edinburgh.”

“Why there?” Gregory asked.

“I received word last week that the king was traveling from London to Edinburgh in an apparent show of power. ’Twas probably why Sinclair and Gunn decided to grab her now. ’Tis a much shorter trip to Edinburgh than London.”

“I doona ken what proof they have come up with to annul our marriage, especially after we saw the king’s order, which we are certain was false,” Gregory growled.

Daniel shook his head. “If they are so determined to get their way that they forged a king’s order, ’tis an easy thing to do anything they want in order to break yer vows.”

Gregory started to walk away from the wall toward the keep. Daniel grabbed his arm. “I will go with ye. Having a Clan Chief speak for ye might be more convincing.”

Gregory shook his head. “Nay, I have our marriage certificate signed by the priest. The king canno’ ignore that. And with both of us gone ’tis too dangerous. I still doona trust The Gunn.”

Daniel nodded. “Aye.” He studied the hole in the wall. “Ye are right,” He turned to the two warriors who stood with them. “Get men here immediately and get this hole fixed. Also check the rest of the castle walls and make sure there is nothing else that needs attending.”

Gregory left Daniel explaining to the men what needed to be done and jogged the steps up to his bedchamber. His stomach fell when he saw all of Megan’s things. He would get her back and make sure The Gunn and The Sinclair received their just punishment.

Broken bones and swords to their middles came to mind.

A great deal of blood.

He took the time to pack his grooming items, along with clothes he would need to appear before the king. He rummaged through one of his trunks, all the way to the bottom where he had placed their marriage certificate.

Once he had everything he would need, he brought his satchel tothe stable to have the stable lad tack up his horse and fasten the satchel to the saddle.

Then he strode to the kitchen and talked to Jemima, the cheerful and helpful cook into packing food for him. He had no intention of taking time to do anything except track his wife.

He found Daniel in his solar, looking out the window. He turned as Gregory entered the room. “Ready to leave?”

“Aye.”

“I still believe ye would have more influence with the king if I was with ye.”

“Nay. Whatever happens, I will return with my wife.”

Daniel leaned back in his chair and rested his chin on his thumb and index finger, offering a smile. “Ye love her.”

After a moment, Gregory nodded. “Aye. It started out as a vow and obligation, but I love the lass. Megan is my wife and will remain my wife, even if I must go against the king.”

“Just be careful, mon. Ye doona want to end up in the king’s dungeon.”

Gregory laughed. “Nay.”