MacAlister - Taming The Scotsman Part 14

Nora gaped indignantly.

"I think we should keep him unconscious." That was definitely Lysander's voice. "He'll be more than angry at us and I've no wish to taste his wrath."

"That would defeat the purpose, now wouldn't it?" Catarina asked. "Nay, we have to be getting the man up at some point."

Ewan scowled at that. What did they mean?

"Let's open it then, and see if he's up." It was the first man again.

Then a small slit was opened in the back of the wagon and a pair of black eyes peeped in.

It was Bavel.

"He's loose," Bavel said. "The lady must have untied him."

"I thought you said you tied him well," Catarina inserted testily.

"I did."

Bavel was moved out of the way and Catarina's blue eyes stared inside. "Hand me your ropes," she demanded.

"Why?" Ewan asked.

"Well, if you be wanting out of there to attend to your business, you'd be best doing as you're told."

"Just let them out, Cat," Viktor said.

She refused. "Not until I see those ropes. I want to know how they got them off him."

Ewan pulled Nora back as she started to comply. "You've no need to see the ropes, la.s.s. Let us out."

"Ha!"

Ewan ground his teeth. What was it with this day that he was cursed with women who didn't know their places?

Nora shrugged off his hold and handed one of the ropes to Catarina through the slot.

"What are you doing?" Ewan asked her through his clenched teeth.

"Getting us out," she hissed back.

"See," Catarina said triumphantly. "The rope's been cut. They have a dagger in there. Had you opened the door, one of us would most likely be dead now."

"Hand over the dagger!" Lysander snarled.

Ewan scoffed at the thought.

Hand over his only weapon? Never.

"Nay."

"Then the two of you can just stay in there," Catarina said.

"There's one wee problem," Nora said. "I really need to leave the wagon."

"Why?" Viktor asked.

"I have to... umm... I just need to leave the wagon. Very soon."

Ewan cursed as he caught her meaning. Leave it to a woman to have no control over her body.

Catarina was the one who answered. "Then you'd best be making your man hand over his dagger."

Nora looked up at him imploringly.

"Nora, I can't give them my dagger. If I do that, we're defenseless."

"Ewan, I have to leave the wagon. I can't wait much longer."

The slot opened and a metal chamber pot was slid through it. "Never let it be said we lack mercy,"

Catarina said.

"Oh, but you can't be serious," Nora said as she eyed it with distaste. "I'll not be using that with him in here with me. 'Tis indecent!"

"I won't look."

Nora was aghast at Ewan's words. The man was truly a barbarian to even suggest she do such a thing while they were in such tight quarters.

Not to mention they were unmarried. Unbetrothed.

Unsuitable.

He was mad!

"Nay! I'll not be using that. You hand over that dagger right now, Ewan MacAllister, or I swear I shall talk until your ears bleed."

He grimaced at the threat.

She could see the indecision in his eyes.

"Ewan, please," she tried again. "I truly have to go outside."

Growling under his breath, he removed the dagger from his boot again and handed it hilt first through the slot to the gypsies.

"Are you happy now?" he asked, his tone surly.

"Aye. Thrilled." She turned back toward Catarina, "Now may I be let out?"

The door opened slowly to show Lysander and Bavel holding swords angled at them.

Viktor and Pagan stood back. Viktor looked nervous, while Pagan looked as if he were withholding laughter.

Nora descended the wagon and watched the armed men carefully.

Both men had their attention trained on Ewan, who stood a.s.sessing them as well. He was coiled like a snake, ready to strike, and both men knew it.

Nora bit her bottom lip as she weighed what she should do. Oh bother that, she knew what she needed to do. It was the only way to keep Ewan from attacking them and killing one of the fools.

Stumbling against Lysander, she caught his wrist that held the sword and gave a sharp twist with her hand.

The sword came free as she used her unexpected weight to unbalance him. She pulled her skirt up and wrapped it around her left hand, then turned to confront Bavel, whose face paled considerably as he looked about trying to decide if he should fight her or not.

Ewan was beside her in an instant. "Give me the sword."

She stiffened at his implication. "You know, I am quite capable of fighting him. My aunt sent a tutor to me when I was scarce more than a child, and at her behest I studied for years, even though it made my father livid that she would dare acquire such without his approval."

"The sword, Nora. Now."

She made a face at him as she handed him the sword hilt first. There was no use in arguing with him while they needed to escape. That wasted time, and the distraction would only get them taken again.

"Get him, Bavel," Lysander said as he came to his feet, The two men clashed swords.

Nora watched in awe of Ewan's skill. For a bear, he was quite nimble. He moved like fluid. Graceful.

Powerful. He was quite a handsome sight.

It was quite apparent who the better swordsman was. She doubted if anyone could best Ewan's skill.

Then Bavel did the unexpected. He ducked beneath one of Ewan's parries, spun on his heel, and handed the sword off to Catarina.

Nora gaped at his actions.

Catarina tested the sword's balance, then moved in to engage Ewan, who backed up in disbelief.

"Afraid of a woman?" Catarina asked.

Ewan shook his head. "I'll break your arm if I hit your sword."

"Try me." She swung, but Ewan didn't even attempt to parry.

Instead he ducked and twirled away from her.

"Ewan!" Nora cried, holding her hand out for the weapon. If he wasn't willing to fight for their freedom, she most definitely was.

Nora didn't really expect him to return the sword to her, but he did.

She inclined her head at him in thanks, then turned to face Catarina. "Shall we?"

Catarina's eyes glowed. "Let's."

Ewan stood back with the men as he watched the women fight. He'd never in his life seen the like. They fought like two champions.

At first Ewan had almost not handed the sword off to her, but he'd been completely unwilling to hurt Catarina by fighting her. Now he realized he had made a very wise choice in trusting Nora.

"Amazing, eh?" Viktor said, coming to stand beside him. "Catarina is one of the finest swordsmen you'll ever see."

Ewan frowned as he looked at the four men beside him, all of whom were watching the women.

He should be fighting the men, but he couldn't quite manage it while the women were at it. They were fascinating. Not once in his life had he ever seen two women fight with swords.

"Cat was trained by King Phillip himself," Viktor said. "He always said she had the skill of ten men."

Ewan agreed. "I'm impressed. She fights well."

"As does your lady," Bavel added. "Truly she is Cat's equal."

Aye, she was.

"How is it King Phillip trained a gypsy la.s.s to fight?" Ewan asked Viktor.

Viktor and Bavel exchanged uneasy glances. "He's a friend of the family. Sort of. He's known Cat all her life."

Hmmm... how very odd.

"Shouldn'twe be fighting?" Lysander asked.

Ewan unfolded his arms and turned toward the men. "Most likely. Shall we?"

The three related gypsies gave one another nervous looks while Pagan laughed and shook his head as if to decline the fight.

Viktor and Bavel took a step back.

"I for one have no wish to spill blood this day," Pagan said. "What say we allow the women to determine the outcome?"

"Aye," Lysander agreed. "Whoever wins gets..." He paused as if a thought had just occurred to him.

"Well, if we let them go we won't get paid, now will we?"

Viktor sighed. "Most likely not."

"Get paid for what?" Ewan asked.

"We were hired to abduct you," Bavel said.

"Why?"

They shrugged. "We were told to ride you and the lady about for a few days and then leave the two of you alone to find your way home."