Page 358 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Jillian blushed and bowed her head.

The lass smoothed back Jillian’s hair. “You suffered more than a hand to the cheek. Your dress was ripped and your hair…”

“Aye,” Jillian said, “they were bent on finding their answers. They wanted to humiliate me. They tore my clothes and threw me down on the ground. But I am a woman, not a child, and not so easily brought low.” The last was said with more of the same spirit she had exhibited earlier.

“What does being a woman mean to you?” the lass asked.

“I told you, I grew up with Jonathan. We always knew we would marry,” she answered. “I am not ignorant to what they wanted.”

“How old are you?”

“Sixteen.”

The lass drew in a slow breath. “So you know the ways of a man and woman, then?”

Jillian’s chin rose. “You may think me wrong, and mayhap I will burn for it, but I loved Jonathan, and he loved me.”

“Nay, child, I do not sit in judgment of you. I am sorry those men…” She paused, then said, “How did you escape?”

Another smile touched Jillian’s lips. “At first I thought it was God, but once the wildcat eyed Donny

I knew it had to be Jonathan.”

“Jonathan?” the lass repeated.

“Aye. Two men held me down while Donny tried to take me. He forced my legs apart and woulda’ had me but for the cry of that wildcat. You should have seen it.” The satisfaction that shone on the girl’s face made her look older than her years. “Donny’s eyes were a few inches from mine. When he spied the cat, his face turned white, and you would have thought it was him lying beneath me instead of the other way around.

“God as my witness, that cat had eyes for no one but Donny. Donny yelled for the others to do something.” Jillian paused, and Iain was forced to strain his ears in order to hear the words she whispered as she leaned toward the lass. “It isna’ easy for a man to defend himself when he is lying on top of a woman.” Her look of satisfaction deepened, and Iain marveled at the spirit that hadn’t crumbled under such circumstances.

“But,” she went on in a louder voice, “they did not move a muscle, except to release my arms. They let go and stepped away when the cat made a wide circle around us. The beast circled closer, his eyes on Donny. The cat lunged at us, and when he did, Donny rolled over and the cat landed on me.” “Sweet Jesu,” the lass murmured.

Jillian nodded. “Aye, the three of us rolled, but the cat never clawed me.” She shuddered. “Somehow, I broke free. It happened so fast, but I think the animal managed to lay a fang into Donny. I heard him yell—Donny, that is—and the next thing I knew, I was rolling to the side. For a moment, I couldna’ move. I heard the growls of the cat and the yells of the man. When I looked, the cat was chewing Donny to bits.” She gave a hollow laugh. “A bitter sight it was, though I do not regret seeing it. I probably would have watched until kingdom come, but then something strange happened. The cat looked up from Donny and stared at me. It was only for an instant, but there was no mistaking it. He was telling me to run.”

She shrugged. “So, I did. Ran until I did not think I could ever move again. I thought I would collapse, and then I heard someone coming. I ran into the bushes. I could not see a thing. Imagine my amazement when I found that cave. Then you came.” She motioned with her head at his captive.