A Time & Place for Every Laird by Angeline Fortin (ebook reader TXT) 📕

flintlock pistols of his time but perhaps more deadly.Hugh whipped the piece of wood around once again, catching the manacross the hand and sending the pistol skittering across theparking lot.

Disarmed, the man staggered to his feet,watching Hugh warily before glancing at his partner. “Don’t worry,your friend ain’t dead, but you will be if you don’t leave thiswoman alone,” Hugh threatened in a flat, accentless voice. Nosouthern boy this time, just an average Joe.

“This is none of your business, pal,” theagent said, holding out a palm toward Hugh as if that could holdhim off. “Listen, I don’t want to hurt you but I am taking thiswoman with me.”

Hugh’s brow went up as he sized up hisopponent. The fellow was large but likely more flab than muscle andhe didn’t seem to Hugh to be much of a threat. Hugh tossed thestick to the side and beckoned his opponent forward with a wave ofhis hand. “You’re welcome to try.”

And despite the blood trickling down histemple, the agent apparently felt the need to. “I’m gonna kick yourass, man!” He came at Hugh, turning his body along the way andswinging out a leg, which Hugh deflected easily, throwing the manoff balance. The agent came at him again with more exaggeratedkicks and arms swinging, and Hugh thought a child could see thepunches coming. Spinning about, the agent tried to kick again, andHugh caught his foot and twisted sharply, sending the man to theground.

Panting, the agent leapt to his feet andcame at Hugh more directly, this time swinging like a man, or atleast a strapping youth, though his efforts were still laughable.Hugh’s fist shot out, catching the man hard in the stomach andagain under the jaw while deflecting a dozen wildly thrown puncheseasily. It was ridiculous, really. Sneering at the agent, Hughasked, “Are you not even going to make it a challenge for me?”

With a mighty swing, Hugh caught the agentunder the jaw and sent him down on one knee. “What are you, specialops?” the agent asked with a gasp of pain.

“SEAL,” Hugh said, throwing himself forwardto head-butt the agent and sending him sprawling to the ground,unconscious, before looking up at Sorcha, shaking his head indisgust. “The braggarts in this world, Sorcha! Is there nae one whocan put up a worthy fight?”

“I don’t know. Are you planning on testingthem one by one?” Claire admonished, though she was anxiouslyscanning Hugh for injury as he backed away from the fallen agent.She denied the impulse to fling herself into his arms like a damselsaved from the dragon. “We are on the clock, you know.”

“Thought I might let him get in a fewpunches before I put him down.”

“He didn’t need a feel-good moment, Hugh,”she said, shaking her head with wonder. “But you’re right, normallythe bad guy does get in a couple good punches before the good guyknocks him out.”

Hugh grinned as well, pulling her into hisembrace. “Am I the good guy?”

“Mmm, very good.” Claire said, giving in tothe urge to hug him tightly. “You’re my hero.”

Hugh snorted at that but looked pleasednonetheless.

“Where did you learn to head-butt likethat?”

Hugh smiled. “Keir. Did ye think it wassomething new?”

“I guess I did,” she said with a grin. “Didyou have SEALs as well?”

“Nae, I read about them inthe TIME magazine,” he said, his heart warming under her praise andenchanting smile.

“What were you doing over here, anyway? Youwere supposed to be putting the car on the ferry,” Claire said witha sudden frown. “What’s wrong?”

“They’re searching the cars,” Hugh told her,the humor slipping away.

“So? They usually have bomb dogs checkingthe cars.”

“Nae, love,” he shook hishead, looking suddenly grim as he studied the unconscious agents.“They aresearching the cars.”

Claire looked toward the far side of thelot, where past the fence, six lanes of cars waited to board thelast ferry of the night. There was nothing to indicate that asearch of any sort was going on, but she didn’t doubt what Hugh hadseen. Damn, that Jameson! All she wanted to do was get Hugh tosafety but that damned Jameson wasn’t going to make it easy, washe?

“We need to get back to the house. Where isthe Tahoe?” Hugh pointed up the hill, and Claire worried her lowerlip between her teeth.

Hugh was at risk now and it was her fault,because they were looking for her. Only her.

The truth hit her hard.Not only could she not go with him to Scotland—though she hadn’ttold him that yet—she was a danger to him every step along the way.Before she had thought that it was better for Hugh to be with her,to have her help, and she had fought against his previous attemptsto separate based on that belief. But Hugh had been in the rightall along. They were better off apart. Not because of the threat he posed to herbut because of the one she presented to him.

They wouldn’t know who he was if she wasn’twith him. Even if he got caught speeding or without an ID, therewould be nothing to link him to Mark-Davis. She did that, and aslong as she was with him, Claire was a threat to his freedom. “Youshould take the car and go, Hugh,” she urged. “I’m leading them toyou. Without me, they’ll never be able to find you.”

“Nae,” Hugh said sternly.“’Tis as ye said, we are in this together. They hae no proofagainst ye. Now, come, we need tae gae before theywake!”

“Damn it, Hugh, I’m saying you were right!”Claire cried, standing firm. “I don’t say it often, so pleaselisten! If they find me, they find you. I’ll take my chances thatthey don’t have anything on me.”

“Well, I willnae!” he said, commanding as hereached for her, “Come now!”

“No!” she said, pulling away from his grasp.“You go!”

“Bluidy hell, lass, we hae nae the time forthis!”

“Hugh! Put me down!” Claire shrieked,beating Hugh’s back as he hauled her away over his shoulder.

Chapter 36

With the ferry unavailable to them and Hughrefusing to drive away and leave her, Claire had no choice but totake the wheel and drive them away from the terminal, though shecursed his undignified handling of her person