Read His Bonnie Bride for Free Online

'Twas little guarding going on."
    Storm sighed. " 'Tis sure to ruin us. So, sir, what do ye plan to do with me?" She was not at all sure she liked the way he smiled, for she was no child now but a woman.
    Tossing her upon his horse, Tavis mounted behind her, grinning at the way she tried to tug her skirts down over her slim legs. "I am sure there'll be some benefit from your abduction." Slipping an arm around her tiny waist, he started his mount on the way to Caraidland, the keep of the MacLagans.
    Tavis was not at all clear on what he would do with Storm Eldon. All he knew was that he wanted to keep her with him for a while. There was also a very healthy desire for her involved but, although he could take her at any time, he strongly wished for her to succumb willingly. He certainly did not want to send her back to Hagaleah so that Sir Hugh could maul her.
    He was puzzled by his attitude toward her as, for a long time, he had felt women were good for only one thing and aside from that he had no use for them and less interest. Yet, when Sir Hugh had attacked the girl a white-hot rage had seized Tavis far in excess of any offended sense of chivalry or honor. He wondered if it was because he still saw Storm as that engaging child of the past.
    Storm was no less confused. It was a wonder to her that she was unafraid. It was well known what a man did with a woman captive, yet she could not seem to conjure up any real fear. Some instinct told her she would not be tossed out as amusement for the men. That same instinct told her that Tavis was not taking her along simply to reminisce about their meeting in the past.
    Despite that, she felt relatively calm. A part of her acknowledged that she would prefer Tavis MacLagan to steal her virtue than Sir Hugh, who was plainly not going to give up and so would therefore eventually succeed. That thought managed to stir up a little resentment over the way that men simply took as they pleased with little or no thought to the lady involved. The fact that it had always been so did little to ease that resentment.
    Several hours later they halted, although they had not gone far. Driving the stolen animals made it impossible to gain any speed. Storm was also sure that they were not all that far from Caraidland, but the men were plainly in need of a little respite. She sat calmly on a rock as the animals were secured and a guard chosen. As they seemed to, she doubted there would be any immediate attack put forth. Her father would have hesitated for fear of endangering her, but those at Hagaleah now would be slow due to unreadiness.
    Tavis handed her a blanket, watching quietly as she rolled herself up in it, pillowing her head upon the moss as the men did. He then wrapped himself up in his plaid and lay down beside her, his sword away from her but near at hand. She was an uncomplaining captive, but he did not doubt that she would try to escape if given half a chance. He fixed his gaze upon the gentle curves of her blanketed form and his eyes were slow in closing.
    Thoughts of escape were indeed in Storm's mind, but she could see that her chance would not come yet. A part of her was glad, for the idea of trying to get back to Hagaleah alone in the dark was terrifying. She sighed silently, wishing she were a man, for then she would only face ransoming. Then, too, she would have been better equipped to plot escape, manage it and elude her captors. As she began to close her eyes a movement in the forest just beyond caught her notice. She stiffened for she feared she knew what it was.
    Like some specter and with as little noise, the small figure crept over to her. It was at her side when Tavis suddenly sprang to his feet, his sword raised. With a small cry and no thought to her own safety, Storm placed herself between Tavis and her cousin Phelan.
    "Do not harm him. 'Tis but a boy." She saw that the other men had roused quickly, ready for battle.
    Tavis did not put away his sword, but he held it less