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  Arthur stilled, his heart pounding in his chest as he felt the lass’s gaze sweep over the crowd of soldiers, and then—bloody hell—return to him.

  Instinctively, his hand tightened around the handle of his sword. A cold sweat slid down his spine.

  This time there was no helm to shield his face, and he felt the intensity of her scrutiny full force. He stilled when a small furrow appeared between her brows.

  For one long heartbeat he waited for her to unmask him. For her voice to ring out with the words that would condemn him to death … and to failure.

  But the furrow only deepened.

  And then in one reckless moment he knew what he had to do. He had to be sure.

  Slowly, he lifted his gaze to hers.

  He didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Didn’t blink as their eyes collided unhindered for the first time. Gazing into her eyes, as dark and deep a blue as the sea, he felt himself drowning. Lost, if only for an instant.

  When she gasped, he knew it was all over.

  BY MONICA MCCARTY

  The Ranger

  The Chief

  The Hawk

  Highland Warrior

  Highland Outlaw

  Highland Scoundrel

  Highlander Untamed

  Highlander Unmasked

  Highlander Unchained

  The Ranger is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  A Ballantine Books Mass Market Original

  Copyright © 2010 by Monica McCarty

  Cover Design: Lynn Andreozzi

  Cover illustration: Franco Accornero

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

  BALLANTINE and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

  eISBN: 978-0-345-51827-9

  www.ballantinebooks.com

  v3.1

  To Andrea and Annelise who are always ready with champagne, pom-poms, or words of wisdom. In other words: bartender, cheerleader, and Obi Wan Kenobi all rolled into two fabulous agents. Thank you for everything.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  A special thanks to the entire team at Ballantine without whose support along each step of the way—from art, to sales, to editorial, to production, and publicity—this book would not be possible. Taking point on all this, of course, is my fabulous editor, Kate Collins, whose enthusiasm and thoughtful feedback are invaluable. Can you believe it’s been three years and six books?

  Contrary to popular belief, writing is not a solitary endeavor. I am fortunate to have a wonderful group of writer friends to rely on when I need to bounce around ideas, come up with a solution for a plot issue, or flesh out characters. From daily phone calls (Jami Alden, stand up) to group lunches and emails (it’s your turn Bella Andre, Veronica Wolff, Barbara Freethy, Carol Culver, Penelope Williamson, Tracy Grant, and Anne Hearn), I don’t know what I’d do without you. My good fortune in writing friends has extended to the very highest peaks. Catherine Coulter is not only one of the all-time great romance authors, but also a fabulous hostess. Thank you for the delicious food, a beautiful view, and excellent company—your lunches are the best! When I feel the need for a little jump across the pond, I know exactly whom to call—fellow “Onica” Veronica, I can’t wait for Mommy Abandonment Tour 2010: The Yanks are Back (and our chance to redeem ourselves at the pub quiz). When it comes to navigating the business side of writing and learning about the industry, RWA national has become a fun barroom classroom where I get to learn from the best: Barbara Samuel and Christy Ridgeway, I’m already looking forward to next year!

  Thanks to Emily and Estella at Wax Creative not only for a beautiful website, but also for keeping up on the latest and the greatest so that I don’t have to.

  And finally to Dave, my constant source of inspiration (seriously, I’m not laughing … it’s really more of an overenthusiastic smile with sound), and Reid and Maxine who never miss the opportunity to promote my books by yelling across the bookstore, “Mom, they have your book!”

  Contents

  Cover

  Other Books by This Author

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  The Highland Guard

  Foreword

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  THE HIGHLAND GUARD

  Winter 1307–1308

  With King Robert Bruce:

  Tor “Chief” MacLeod: Team leader and expert swordsman

  Erik “Hawk” MacSorley: Seafarer and swimmer

  Gregor “Arrow” MacGregor: Marksman and archer

  Eoin “Striker” MacLean: Strategist in “pirate” warfare

  Ewen “Hunter” Lamont: Tracker and hunter of men

  Lachlan “Viper” MacRuairi: Stealth, infiltration, and extraction

  Magnus “Saint” MacKay: Mountain guide and weapon forging

  William “Templar” Gordon: Alchemy and explosives

  Robert “Raider” Boyd: Physical strength and hand-to-hand combat

  Alex “Dragon” Seton: Dirk and close combat

  With the English:

  Arthur “Ranger” Campbell: Scouting and reconnaissance

  FOREWORD

  The Year of Our Lord thirteen hundred and seven. The tide has turned, but Robert the Bruce is still far from being able to claim victory in his quest to claim the Scottish throne.

  With England in turmoil following the death of his greatest foe, King Edward I of England, Bruce turns to vanquishing the enemies within. Many of his own countrymen still oppose him, foremost among them the Comyns, the MacDowells, the Earl of Ross, and the MacDougalls.

  With the help of his secret band of elite warriors known as the Highland Guard, Bruce continues his revolutionary strategy of “pirate” warfare, cutting a swath of destruction across the lands of his enemies that will be remembered for generations.

  He subdues the MacDowells in Galloway before starting the march north into the Highlands. After securing temporary truces with Ross and the MacDougalls, Bruce attacks the Comyns at Inverlochy, Urquhart, Inverness, and Nairn.

  But just when victory seems to be in his grasp, Bruce is struck with a strange sickness, leaving the would-be king hovering near death. The enemy becomes cold and hunger, as his men are forced to wait out the winter in uncertainty.

  The year before, when all seemed lost, and Bruce was forced to flee from his kingdom a fugitive, he turned to the warriors of the Highland Guard to help him survive. Now, to defeat the powerful nobles who stand in his way, he will need them more than ever.

  Prologue

  St. John’s Church, Ayr, Scotland, April 20, 1307

  Arthur Ca