Page 357 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“David Robertson, your chieftain?”

“Aye.”

“He was one of the men who took you?”

“Nay. He instructed the other men to deal with me. Though…” she paused.

“What?” the lass urged as she seated herself once again.

“I do think he had the intention to go with the men, but it seemed at the last minute he changed his mind.”

The lass looked to him. “Is it the way of the Scots to take a condemned prisoner away for punishment?” “I do not know about the Scots,” Iain replied,

“but it is not the way of the Highlander.” “What do they do?” she asked.

“Death by hanging is reserved for such occasions.

Usually in the village square.” She gasped.

“’Tis not so different in England,” Iain said.

“Nay,” she agreed, “but barbaric, nonetheless.”

He shrugged. “No more so than a sword through the heart. Which is what usually brings on such judgment.”

“You are not saying so in this case, my lord,” she objected.

“Nay, lass, I am not saying so. I am simply answering your question. You are no more a fool than I am to think they took this girl for anything but their pleasure.”

She shot to her feet. “My lord!”

Iain grimaced. “For Christ’s sake, do not act as if I agree with them.” He returned his attention to Jillian.

“Continue.”

“They took me past the crag near the bottom of Iona. The village is in the mountains, and the crag sits near the bottom.”

Iain nodded. “I know it.”

“We passed that, then continued out of the mountain before stopping. They brought me down from the horse and, instead of doing what I expected, they sat me down on a rock and circled me.” Jillian gave her head a serious shake. “I wondered if it were some workings of the devil. You know, mayhap they were going to try and steal my soul. But they began to talk to me all nice like.

“‘Lass,’ one said, ‘how long were you in the cottage? Well, I was so surprised by this question. After all, they hadna’ asked me a blessed thing during the trial. In fact, I had not been allowed to say anything, save, yea or nay to their questions.

“‘Answer the question,’ another said, so I did. ‘I had only been there a few minutes,’ I said. ‘And, did anyone else come there while you were there?’” Jillian’s brows rose. “I thought this an odd question but, having no wish to hurry my sentence along, I took a long while in answering. Finally, they had enough of my tears and forced me to say no one had been by. Then they asked if Jonathan had said anything.” A look of grim defiance shadowed her face, and she said in a low voice, “I refused to answer.”

“Why that of all questions?” Iain asked.

Jillian gave a harsh laugh. “Someone took him from me, and those men wanted to take what I had given to no man but Jonathan. I was not about to give them the satisfaction of telling them what had passed between Jonathan and me in those last moments.” She looked up at him. “He didna’ want me to forget him. I was not going to let them scoff at him. He woulda’ done the same for me.”

“Aye, lass,” Iain nodded. “I believe he would.”

She sighed and, for the first time, a smile, small, yet satisfying, curved her mouth upward. “They were angry. Donny, in particular. ‘Tell us, lass,’” she mimicked his deep voice, “‘and mayhap we will release you.’” Jillian snorted. “They must have thought me a green girl. I told him to go to the devil. ‘You will see him sooner than you like if you do not answer our question,’ he said. I was not surprised when he raised his hand to me, but I was not fast enough to dodge it.”

“’Tis not easy,” his captive agreed.

Anger flashed through Iain at the mental picture of her dodging her husband’s hand.

“I think he enjoyed it.” Jillian’s voice shattered the picture. “Still, it was worth seeing his face twist like a madman when I yelled I would see him in hell first. Aye,” she added softly, “worth everything.” “Was Donny the only one who hurt you?” Iain asked.