Highland Heather - Highland Heather Part 84
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Highland Heather Part 84

"Forgive me, Majesty."

Brenna regained her feet, then offered a hand to the queen. Elizabeth refused to accept her offer. Instead, she slapped away the offending hand and lumbered to her feet.

"Hanging is too good for you. I should have you..." The queen's gaze was arrested by the arrow imbedded in the tree. She glanced at Brenna, then back to the arrow. She guessed that it was just about where her head had been when she was on her horse.

"Was that intended for me?"

"Aye, Majesty."

"Who..." Turning, she saw two men locked in a desperate struggle.

"Morgan? Lord Windham?"

"Aye, Majesty. Morgan and I discovered Windham's plot to kill you. We feared we would not find you in time."

As they watched, Morgan's sword slipped from his hands and clattered among the rocks. With a valiant effort he lunged at Windham. But the wounds suffered at the inn had taken their toll. Windham evaded his grasp and with a vicious kick sent Morgan stumbling to his knees.

Windham seized Morgan's mount and pulled himself into the saddle. As he disappeared among the trees, Brenna and the queen hurried to Morgan's side.

"You are safe, Majesty?"

"Aye. Thanks to you and Brenna. But you are badly wounded, my friend."

"My wounds will heal. But we must find Windham."

"Let your soldiers find him. We must get you back to Greystone Abbey and have those wounds tended."

"Greystone Abbey." As a sudden, terrible thought struck, Brenna turned to the queen.

"Who is left at Greystone Abbey?"

Elizabeth thought for a moment.

"Besides the servants, only Richard and Adrianna."

"God in heaven." Brenna stared down at Morgan, who had come to the same conclusion and was already struggling to his feet.

"We must mount and ride. And pray we make it in time."

Chapter Twenty-four

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