Chapter 38

"Help! Anyo?—"

Arran could hear her cries echo off the cobblestone as Morag tore through town.

Scarlett! Keep fighting, lass. I'm almost there!

His eyes stung as the bitter wind whipped at his face, and he urged Morag on faster.

Scarlett's screams grew louder and louder as he came upon the old stables, and he could see a dim lantern light inside.

I'm coming, me heart. I'm coming.

"Get off of me!"

Her cries ripped at his heart as he sprinted into the stables and toward the hatch in the far corner.

Arran heard a blow land and a wheeze, and the corners of his eyes grayed out. His focus was the hatch.

Through the hatch. Kill Reuben. Get Scarlett.

"Ye will love me and only me," he heard Reuben spit out

"Help! I'm down here!"

That was the last plea that he could hear because when he heard the undeniable sound of her dress being ripped open, he only saw red.

When Arran jumped down through the hatch, he saw Reuben straddling Scarlett. He could see that she was wailing and thrashing, but she was restrained. His eyes met hers, they were consumed with fury.

She's alive… she's alive… good.

He grabbed Reuben a half-second later and threw him across the room.

Reuben landed in a pile of wooden boards with exposed nails that pierced through his right leg, and one splintered through his arm. Arran couldn't hear his screams. He couldn't even see the man's face clearly as he landed blow after blow.

He had definitely broken both of the man's legs with the kicks he landed, as he could tell the limping body was being supported by the implanted pieces of wood. It wasn't until he gripped both sides of the man's dense head and bashed it against the concrete wall that he realized that Reuben Buchan was dead.

It was a brutal way to go, but not the most brutal and certainly not nearly as cruel as Arran wished it would have been.

He let go of the man's head and watched the blood stain the wall as the rest of the body slid down to the ground in a heap. He bent down and set his hands on his knees to steady himself as a high-pitched sound rang in his ears. He knew what this was. This was battle frenzy. He remembered the similar feeling during the five-year war.

Scarlett. Scarlett. Find her.

Arran turned to where he knew she was, but he couldn't see her. His eyes were still unfocused. He heard himself say her name aloud, but he didn't move.

It came as a low, unintelligible noise at first. As if it were spoken through water. He tilted his head and strained his ear, remembering that she was on the ground.

He heard it again—this time the sound was muffled. It was just slightly more recognizable, and he closed his eyes and took a hesitant step toward it.

Come on, where are ye, lass?

He kneeled down, placed his hands on the ground, and reached out toward where he thought she was, until he finally felt her velvet skirts. His vision finally focused as he opened his eyes and he saw her.

"Arran?" Scarlett asked, tears in her puffy eyes, her entire body shaking with fear.

"Ye're safe, Scarlett. I've got ye, lass. Ye're safe," he repeated softly and calmly.

His vision now clear and focused, he cut her restraints, and he caught her before she lunged at Reuben's limp body and pulled her into his lap.

Me little fighter.

Her body continued shaking as she screamed into his chest with all of her might. He held her tightly, checking her over to make sure he accounted for all of her injuries. She screamed until she went hoarse.

"I've got ye, Scarlett. I've got ye," he said over and over until the jarring sound of footsteps overhead made them both stand up.

He refused to let go of her hand as Zachary Buchan's angry shouts drifted down the hatch.

"Arran Williams, the stables are surrounded by witnesses. Now, ye will release me son and heir back to me this instant!"

Arran and Scarlett wordlessly looked across the room at the limp body of the late young Buchan. Neither said a word.

"Give him to me now!"

Arran looked down at Scarlett's face and knew he made the right decision. Her porcelain skin was marred by bruises and red splotches. His thumb came up and rubbed her swollen bottom lip, and she winced at the touch. Her piercing blue eyes still gripped his soul even though they were partially hidden by the swelling in her cheeks and eyelids.

I would revive him and kill him again if I could.

"I willnae ask ye again!" Zachary yelled.

Arran sighed. Choosing his words carefully, he stepped closer to the hatch and said, "Zachary?—"

"Nay! Nay. Give me Reuben, now!"

"Zachary…" Arran tried again, but the sounds of Laird Donaldson's muffled wails drifted down the hatch.

Arran moved so that only he was visible as he addressed the grieving father. "Zachary, I got here, and he was actively attacking Scarlett. He was going to rape her, had I nae gotten here when I did?—"

"Nay, Reuben would never do such a thing."

Scarlett stepped forward without warning, and Arran gritted his teeth upon seeing the horror on Zachary's face as he took in her state.

"Nay, nae me Reuben…" Zachary mumbled.

Arran led Scarlett up through the hatch.

Zachary sniffled, and Arran saw that he had opened every window for everyone to hear and bear witness to the events. When the onlookers all saw what Scarlett looked like, their gasps could have been heard all the way to the Continent. Men and women alike lowered their gazes from her battered face, bruised body, and ripped dress.

Arran draped his riding cloak over her and buttoned it before grabbing her hand and turning to address Laird Donaldson again. "Zachary, he attacked her. Ye can see that plainly, now that we're all in the light."

"Nay! I refuse to believe that. That… That whore must have seduced him!" Zachary spat out and pointed an accusing finger right in Scarlett's face. The girl he watched grow up from the day she was born.

Arran dropped Scarlett's hand and closed the distance between them. He towered over the now-cowering old man, and he spoke with an eerie calmness, "If ye ken what's best for ye and whatever is left of yer family line, ye will apologize and leave, or else ye'll meet the same fate as yer son."

"I—" Zachary's eyes darted between Arran's and Scarlett's. "Scarlett, I'm sorry, dear. I…" His voice cracked, and he hung his head, unable to finish what he was saying.

Arran looked around and saw most of the crowd dispersing.

I'm done with this. I need to get her back.

He reached back and grabbed Scarlett's hand to lead her back to the castle.