Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

Oscar paced the water’s edge, trotting over the stones and yipping as Gabriel burst through the freezing water to wash himself and put his mind back in order.

But it was later in the afternoon, and his heart was sore, and his mood was well past sour. He was convinced with each passing moment that he had made a grave mistake by giving up Kate so easily.

No, nothing about it had been easy.

Sitting there at his desk as he had, speaking so callously, acting as if it meant nothing to dismiss her and watch as her world crumbled at his hands.

He had done that.

His fear.

He was the coward, not Kate.

“I’m an arse, Oscar.”

The giant dog circled the rocky shore, plopped onto its rear, then tilted his head as if puzzling Gabriel out.

Nothing made sense to him either.

He flexed his arms, attempting to shake off the stiffness that had settled in after the fights last evening. His knuckles were split out and his hands swollen. His head throbbed, though that was likely on account of the whisky and not from the few uppercuts that had snuck past him.

Gabriel slapped the surface of the water, cursing himself for being the biggest eejit in Scotland. There was nothing honorable about dismissing Kate so she could return to London with her parents and that damn blackguard who ruined her.

She didn’t wish to go, yet he told her she must. He was just as bad as her parents.

If she married that man, he was certain he would lose his mind.

“Come,” he barked at the dog who followed close at his heels. Gabriel strode back to the house as the afternoon sun sank lower into the sky, summoning the night. A lonely night. A night without her laugh, or her smile, or hearing her sing and dance in the music room with the girls, or giggling with Elsie.

In a few quick months, she had swept in and left her mark on his life, and he feared there wouldn’t be much that didn’t serve as a reminder of what he had done. But loving her, keeping her, meant only loving her for a few years, perhaps. He didn’t wish to be a burden on her or to break her heart. Though, inadvertently, he had done just that.

“I should write her,” he said to himself. Oscar looked up at him with big dark eyes as if agreeing. “Damn it,” he muttered.

As he approached the castle, he found it odd that it was quiet. The castle was never quiet. Something tugged at his chest, some dark-seated worry. Oscar plopped down on his hind legs beside Gabriel and waited. He hadn’t slept in two days now, and perhaps he just needed some rest.

Suddenly, Oscar’s ears turned toward the drive. He could hear something as well, a horse galloping full speed. The dog stood at attention, then raced toward the noise. The damn dog would be trampled by a horse going that speed. Gabriel yelled for Oscar to stop, then he himself froze as he saw the marquess on horseback, racing up to meet him.

“Where’s Kate? ”

“I need your help,” he said. “A group of men took your sister, your nieces, and Kate is gone as well.”

Gabriel strode over to the horse, grabbed the man by his shirt, and neatly pulled him off, setting him to stand up as if he were a marionette. “What do you mean? Took them?” he growled.

The marquess looked up at Gabriel, his eyes wide, uncertain. “We were leaving the village when Kate noticed something by the forest edge. Then the carriage stopped, and the driver went quiet. Kate rushed out, and I followed. When she went through the tall grass, she found Elsie with a nasty gash on her head and a rag tied around her mouth. She wouldn’t wake up, and the girls were lying in the grass, their mouths gagged as well. I attempted to help Elsie when a man walked out of the forest, threatened Kate, then dragged her away as more men came out and attacked me.”

The marquess looked as if he had been set upon. His clothes were messed, his hair as well, and his face bruised.

“Who were they, and what did they say?” Gabriel snarled. He tossed the marquess against the horse, then turned, and raced for the castle, throwing open the door and striding into the family library, where he neatly ripped the sword off the wall and marched for the door.

“Finn,” he bellowed.

Oscar raced up and down the hall as Gabriel’s voice echoed in the empty castle.

“I ken ye’re here,” Gabriel yelled again. “Finlay Wallace!”

The marquess rubbed his elbow, standing by the front door, swaying back and forth as if he wasn’t certain where he should be. The cad let them take her. Take all of them.

“If they touch a damn hair on their heads,” he yelled.

“What is it?” Finn leaned over the balcony, squinting. “God, man. Let me sleep.”

“Duncan took Kate, the girls, and Elsie.”

Finn jumped back from the balcony and raced down the stairs to Gabriel, mumbling the entire way. “Who’s he?” Finn asked, coming to a stop and pointing to the marquess .

“The blackguard I almost let Kate marry.”

“Kate left?”

“We’ve nae time.” Gabriel pushed by the marquess to the drive and swiftly mounted the horse. “Finn, head to the stable and ride for the village. Fetch the constable. Duncan wants a fight, so he willna be far from where they were taken. But we’re up against nightfall. Hurry!”

He dug his boots into the sides of the horse and sped through the forest, his heart drumming in his ears.

A feral rage coursed through his body. He would burn down all of Scotland to find her and see her safe. It was a fool’s errand to spur him on. Duncan didn’t know the depths of Gabriel’s wrath when harm was done to those he loved.

But he was about to find out.

The sun sank lower as he thundered through the forest. Gabriel’s thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind. He couldn’t shake the guilt gnawing at him, knowing that his decision to send Kate away had left her vulnerable.

He hadn’t listened to Duncan’s threats for months. Hadn’t taken stock in what could happen. And now she was gone.

And the girls. And Elsie.

Everything he held dear in this world.

He wouldn’t let Duncan McQuarrie win.

Gabriel heard Finn and the marquess behind him as he pressed on, riding hard to reach the village before sunset.

“Look for the carriage and start your search there,” the marquess shouted from behind as they finally rode by the inn. “I’ll bring the constable. Ride on, Finn.”

Twenty minutes later, Gabriel reached the abandoned carriage left on the side of the road. He dismounted, then clenched the hilt of the sword he’d retrieved from the castle. Her parents were gone, but there were no other signs Duncan had remained close by.

But he could see where they had dragged her off.

“I won’t lose her,” he growled as Finn rode up behind him and tied off his horse .

“The constable and the marquess are on their way. Do ye want to wait?”

There was no time to waste. The sun was quickly sinking into the sky, and soon dusk would collapse into night, and Duncan would once again have the advantage.

“They can follow.”

Gabriel stormed into the thick forest, scanning the treeline for any movement. They hadn’t set up a campsite as he didn’t smell a fire. Where had he taken them? He tightened his grip on the sword and pressed on, checking for broken branches and turned over leaves or stones. Anything that would signify a struggle.

Then just beyond a small clearing, down the hill and near the rushing river, the last reach of daylight filtered through the treetops and fell upon Kate surrounded by a group of Duncan’s men. Her dress was torn, and her hair was down, but she held herself with that same quiet strength he loved about her.

Duncan stood behind, appraising her, sneering as if he were a dog with a cornered rabbit. Finn rushed forward, about to charge, when Gabriel held his hand out, staying his friend.

“Touch her, Duncan McQuarrie, and ye willna live to regret it.” Gabriel’s voice echoed through the clearing before he stepped into view.

“She told me ye wouldna come.” Duncan flashed a quick smile, his fingers tightening in Kate’s hair. She winced, but her defiant glare didn’t waver.

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. If he charged Duncan now, he didn’t trust that Kate would remain safe.

“Ye’ve got something that belongs to me, Duncan,” Gabriel answered, his voice a low, menacing growl.

Duncan chuckled, the sound grating against the tension in the air. “Do I now? Think it’s only fair as I gave ye plenty of time to sort yer business out. But ye ignored me. I made a good business for myself while ye were gone. And yer brother was too distracted to mind losing business to me. By the end, he was paying me for his whisky stores. ”

Finn tried to pull away, ready to charge. “No’ yet,” Gabriel muttered.

The account Kate had discovered had been Tavish’s payments to Duncan? No wonder Duncan didn’t want anyone looking around the business. He had everything to lose.

Duncan stepped away from Kate, then circled around until he reached the girls and Elsie huddled together by a fallen log not far from the fire. He dove for Elsie, laughing as she shuddered and drew back, before marching toward Kate.

“Please, my girls have suffered enough.” Gabriel edged closer, raising his hands in the air. “Let them go. Ye can have me instead to do as ye wish, but let them all go.”

“I dinna want ye. Killing ye willna bring me pleasure. I want yer stills and yer word ye’ll leave Scotland for good and give the business to me. It’s an even exchange—the girls for my business.”

Gabriel tossed down his blade, now only a few feet away from Duncan, never taking his eyes off Kate.

The older man considered it for a moment, his eyes narrowing on Gabriel, before grabbing the discarded sword and shoving it against Gabriel’s chest.

Kate softly gasped, but Gabriel shook his head.

“I should slit ye from neck to gullet.”

How could Gabriel reason with the man when he had clearly gone mad? The girls for the business?

“This needs to end tonight. Do what ye must, but let’s get it over with.”

“No!” Elsie grabbed the girls closer, pulling their heads to her chest.

At the sound of her cry, Finn leaped into the clearing, brandishing his own sword. Kate elbowed Duncan and spun to the ground, tripping the older man who fell and struck his head on a rock. She quickly crawled for the girls as Gabriel rushed forward and reclaimed his sword, fighting off the rest of Duncan’s men as the constable and marquess arrived .

Lorna and Maisie shook, tears streaming down their cheeks before the marquess leaped forward to untie Kate and Elsie.

The clang of the men’s swords echoed off the trees.

Kate bent her head and softly spoke to the girls, then addressed the marquess. Gabriel couldn’t hear as the constable roared, “Duncan McQuarrie!”

Duncan wavered as he stood to face the constable, staggered a step, then quickly turned and waved his dirk at Gabriel.

“Ye’re like yer father, ye ken. Tavish had some sense… until he didna. Family curse to die young, is it no’?”

Kate reappeared at the edge of the clearing and dove for Elsie, but one of Duncan’s men saw and charged. Finn threw himself between Elsie and the blade.

His friend collapsed onto the ground, shielding Kate.

It might have been a matter of moments or a matter of hours, Gabriel didn’t know. But he watched as Finn lay slumped over Kate, and the constable and his men finally gained the advantage on Duncan.

“Help,” cried Elsie. “Gabe, help me with Finn. He’s bleedin’.”