Captured Hearts and Stolen Kisses

by Ceci Giltenan et al.

“Boyd Sutherland recognized her.” Eoin glared at the Sutherland messenger before adding, “Damn him.”

  “What ransom does Laird MacLeod ask? We’ll pay it.” Fiona, who held their wee son on her lap, kissed the lad and hugged him tighter.

  Eoin knew this whole ordeal had been extremely upsetting to her. She understood what it meant to be held for ransom. Unfortunately, he couldn’t put his wife’s fears to rest. “He hasn’t asked for a ransom yet. Now he wants a face to face meeting.”

  “When and where?” asked Marcas

  “By the strait between the lochs, at sext, on the Feast of St. Joseph.”

  “That’s eight days from now. Why so long?” asked Tasgall.

  “I don’t know, but he says it is not negotiable. He also says he will have Anna there and any attempt at ambush will get her killed.”

  Fiona looked horror struck.

  “What assurance do we have that he won’t ambush us?” asked Marcas.

  “None. In fact he demands that both Tasgall and Aidan attend as well.”

  “Does he think ye’re daft? If he’s planning an ambush, all three of ye could be killed.”

  “I agree, but that too is not negotiable. He says that if we all aren’t there, there will be no discussion and he won’t ever return Anna.”

  Fiona gasped. “Nay, poor Anna. Eoin, what will ye do?

  “The only thing I can do; meet the bastard at the strait in nine days with Aidan and Tasgall.”

  “And yer full garrison?” asked Marcas.

  “I can’t do that either. I doubt that it is, but this could be a scheme to leave Naomh-dùn vulnerable. I must leave it sufficiently well-guarded too.”

  ~ * ~

  Monday dawned fair and bright. Anna felt sure she would be able to get a better look at the outside of the keep and the curtain wall today. However, once again it didn’t happen. Laird MacLeod, Andrew and Graham had gone out with a hunting party. Donald was left in charge and he allowed her to go for a short walk in the courtyard, with Mairi and under his watchful eye, but she wasn’t able to see anything more than she had the previous morning. There was nothing for it. She would have to leave tonight and figure out how to get past any obstacles as she came to them. I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. Again, she hushed the voice that warned against this.

  She spent the day helping Mairi make a new dress, which of course thrilled Mairi.

  “I love having ye here, Anna! I’ve never had a sister. I mean, I do have a sister, but she is much older, older than Andrew even. She was married and gone before my mother got sick and died and I barely remember my mother.”

  “I’m sorry Mairi. I don’t remember my mother at all. She died when I was born.”

  “My mother wasn’t Da’s first wife. He was married to Arabella first. She was Ena’s, Andrew’s and Graham’s mother. I’m only their half-sister.”

  “I have a different mother than my oldest brother too, but just like yer brothers love ye, my brothers love me very much and I love them.”

  “Aye, I do love my brothers most of the time, but I still would like a sister here. I wish ye didn’t have to leave soon.”

  “Please don’t wish that for me, Mairi. I miss my home and family so very much.”

  Mairi frowned and after a moment said, “I’m sure Da will let ye go home soon, but maybe ye can come back and visit?”

  Good Lord, come back? Nay, as soon as she was back on MacKay land, she would never leave. “I don’t think so, pet.” At Mairi’s look of disappointment she added, “But we’ll see.”

  ~ * ~

  Talking about her family during the afternoon with Mairi reminded her of just how much she missed them. She knew she had to escape and get home before the MacLeod thought of some other reason to keep her. When Andrew knocked on her door that evening to take her to the evening meal, once again she declined. She wanted to rest for a while so she could make the long walk home.

  “Anna, I refuse to have this argument with ye every day. Ye will join us in the hall for meals. All meals.”

  “Why are ye forcing me to do this? I don’t want to take my meals in the midst of the MacLeods, especially now they know who I really am. Would ye look forward to dining at my brother’s table?”

  “I would if I were an honored guest.”

  “I’m not an honored guest. I am a prisoner!”

  “Dammit Anna, ye’re not a prisoner. And don’t tell me that ye’ll thank me for my hospitality and bid me farewell. Can’t ye just put yer hatred aside and think of this as home for a while?”

  “Put my hatred aside?” She looked at him askance. “The MacLeods hate me every bit as much. Can’t ye just leave me be?”

  “The MacLeods do not hate ye, for the love of God, ye saved my son! This argument is over, Anna. We are going downstairs now.”

  “The argument is over because ye say it’s over? Nay, Andrew. I’m not going to eat among my enemies. Ye can’t make me.”

  He arched an eyebrow at her, picked her up and put her over his shoulder.

  Hammering on his back with her fists she demanded, “What are ye doing?”

  “Proving ye wrong. I can make ye.”

  “Put me down!” she yelled, kicking her feet.

  He barked “Stop it,” and popped her lightly on the backside. “If ye are going to act like a bairn, I’ll treat ye like one. Now ye have a choice to make. I can put ye down, and ye can walk to the great hall with me for supper, or I can carry ye down kicking and screaming like a petulant child. Which will it be?”

  Defeated, she sighed heavily and said, “Put me down.”

  She went downstairs with him but once again, she kept her eyes down, refusing to look any of the MacLeods in the eye. Just as he had done the last two evenings, Andrew sat her between himself and Davy, across from Mairi, who chattered happily throughout the meal about her new dress and Anna’s skill with a needle. Anna pointedly ignored Andrew and only spoke to anyone when asked a direct question. Even then her answers were short. It was rude and she knew it but she didn’t care. She seethed with anger at Andrew and by extension all of the MacLeods. Although she knew she should eat so she would have energy for the journey, she had very little appetite. To her chagrin Andrew noticed.

  “Ye need to eat, angel.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Ye have been ill and have not regained yer strength yet. Ye need to eat.”

  “Perhaps my appetite would be better if I were not sitting in the midst of the MacLeods,” she hissed.

  “We’ve had this discussion and it’s over. Eat!”

  She took a sip of ale from her goblet and ignored him.

  “Anna! I said ye must eat something!” he snapped.

  “And I said I have eaten all that I want!” she snapped back.

  Beyond frustrated Andrew threatened, “Shall I bind ye to that chair and force ye to eat?”

  “So I am a prisoner?”

  “No Anna! Ye’re not, but I am worried about yer health and ye must eat.”

  “If that’s yer concern, perhaps ye should just let me go—”

  “Don’t dare say it. By all that’s holy, Anna MacKay, ye would try the patience of a saint.”

  “Well I guess I had better watch myself, because I doubt that ye or any other MacLeod could be accused of sainthood,” she said scathingly. Suddenly she realized that Mairi and David had grown quiet and were watching the argument with wide-eyed horror.

  Andrew, quick to exploit the situation, said, “Davy, I am trying to convince Anna that she needs to eat a bit more so she can get better soon, but I’m having trouble. She doesn’t want to be here in the great hall with us. Perhaps ye can try. Yer angel needs to eat.”

  “Anna, don’t ye like us?” David asked sadly.

  Anna glared at Andrew for a moment and was rewarded with his smug smile. She turned to David and said “Of course I like ye, Davy. I’m just not very hungry.”

  “Well Da says ye need to eat, so here try some rabbit; it’
s my favorite,” he said pushing a dish of braised rabbit towards her.

  Not wanting to hurt him she took a piece and nibbled on it.

  “Do ye like it,” he asked with an expectant smile.

  “Aye, Davy, it is very tasty.”

  “Good,” said Andrew, adding, “Now Davy ye make sure she eats it all,” with an I-won-again smile on his face.

  Anna ate the rabbit Davy had given her, remained quiet until the meal was over, and then fled to her chamber. The day had been long and frustrating, and sparring with Andrew over supper exhausted her.

  She sat in her darkened room, looking out the window, waiting for the stillness of night to envelop the keep. She dozed briefly but before long awoke to the patter of rain on the window. God, are ye conspiring against me too? Attempting to escape in the cold rain would have her soaked and frozen within minutes. She knew better than to do something that foolish. She would have to wait another day. Dejectedly she crawled into bed and went to sleep.

  Chapter 6

  The following day, the Sutherland messenger arrived at Curacridhe with Laird MacKay’s response.

  “Well lads, he has accepted my request for a meeting.”

  “Did ye doubt it?” Andrew asked.

  “Nay, but I’d be mad as hell if I were him. We should increase patrols near our border.”

  “Why did ye set the meeting so far out? He’s got nothing to do for a week but stew,” observed Graham.

  “Anna is still weak. I want to make sure she is completely recovered before the meeting.”

  Andrew snorted, “If her temper is any measure of her health, she is well on the road to recovery.”

  His father scowled at them both. “Need I remind ye, she nearly died? Just over a fortnight ago she received Last Rites. The weather has been blustery and if she took a chill, I would never forgive myself. Furthermore, if Eoin sees her from a distance looking anything but hearty, trouble could start before I have the chance to talk to him. Considering all of this, it is not unreasonable to wait another week. But the fact is, it won’t hurt Eoin to stew a bit either. Lads, going into a meeting like this, it is imperative that ye control as much as possible so ye maintain the upper hand. Anything ye do to make yer opponent bend to yer will gives ye an advantage. If Eoin had suggested an earlier date I probably would have agreed. But he didn’t. It tells me he is desperate and didn’t want to take a risk that I’d pull out altogether. He’ll do whatever it takes to see to his sister’s wellbeing. And that is exactly where we want him.”

  Ignoring him Graham asked, “Are ye going to tell her, Da?”

  “About the pending meeting? Aye. But I have no intention of telling her about the betrothal…or that she won’t be going home.”

  “I should hope not,” agreed Andrew.

  “I understand about the betrothal, but Da, it will break her heart if she can’t go home. Can ye not let her go for a while? Get Eoin to sign the betrothals and agree to bring her back for the wedding?”

  “Are ye jesting, Graham?” asked Andrew. “If the situation were reversed, would ye honor a betrothal like that for Mairi, or once we had her back, would ye seek to crush MacKay?”

  “I see yer point.” Graham sighed. “But when she finds out, she won’t see it. No more than she’ll understand the reason for it all in the first place.”

  Dougal smiled confidently. “When she sees this is the only way to achieve a lasting peace for her children, she’ll understand.”

  Graham shook his head. “We can hope, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

  ~ * ~

  The evening meal was nearly ready and Andrew stood by the hearth, steeling himself to battle once again with his soon-to-be-betrothed. He must have looked grim because when Graham approached he said, “What has ye so troubled, or should I ask?”

  “A wee, stubborn, sharp-tongued MacKay lass. Why is everything with her a battle?”

  “It is all bluster, Andrew. She’s afraid.”

  “God’s teeth, what is she afraid of?”

  “Da. Ye. Me. All of us.”

  “I know her first few hours here were bad, but since then she has been treated with care. No one is unkind to her. She has no reason to be afraid anymore.”

  “I know ye believe that and it seems perfectly logical. Ye and Da are always logical but because of that ye miss a few things.”

  “What have I missed? She has no reason to fear us. I have told her that over and over.”

  “She isn’t afraid of being mistreated. Andrew, we are MacLeods, her clan’s worst enemy, we won’t let her return home and I suspect she fears that we never will. Not an ungrounded fear as ye are well aware. She is like a cornered animal, terrified, growling, and trying to appear formidable, yet all the while searching desperately for an escape. If ye think it’s bad now, wait until she learns that we aren’t letting her go home.” Graham shook his head as if imagining the eventuality. “What do ye think Ena would do if the MacKay held her, even if he were kind to her?”

  “Make his life a living hell,” Andrew said dryly, but he couldn’t keep from grinning.

  Graham laughed. “That she would. Truthfully, I suspect she would be much worse than Anna and Mairi combined.”

  “Ye’re probably right in that.” Andrew sighed in frustration, “After Joan died, I never planned to wed again and now I am forced to marry a wee fire-spitting devil who hates me. I just wish we could end this feud some other way. She deserves a husband who can love her.”

  “She might think she hates ye now, but give her time; she has a gentle heart. Ye’ve seen her with Davy.”

  “True, Davy loves her. At least she’ll have that, and Davy will have her.”

  “And why do ye think ye can’t love her? Ye care for her already.”

  “Aye, I care for her. I owe her everything. Losing Davy would have…dear God, I can’t even think about it. But Graham, I loved Joan with all my heart. Part of me died with her. I can’t love anyone like that again. I don’t even want to.”

  Graham’s expression suddenly turned hard, “Ye’re right, Andrew. Ye owe Anna everything and she deserves a husband who can love her. I don’t care if ye want to or not. Try. Or, for the love of God, hide the fact that ye don’t.”

  Andrew was both taken aback and angered by Graham’s words. “Brother, ye have no idea what it feels like to love someone as I did and then to lose them. Pardon me if I don’t take advice from ye on this subject. Please excuse me. I have to go fetch our unwilling guest for supper.”

  He turned and strode toward the tower stairs. How could he forget Joan and try to love the angry, scared, lass upstairs simply because she saved Davy? He would marry her if he had to in order to bring peace between their clans. He would care for her and protect her, but love her? He couldn’t do that.

  When he reached her door, he tried to quiet his anger before knocking. She was difficult enough to deal with when he was calm. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door and listened for a response. As he expected, there was none. He opened the door and saw her sitting sideways on the window seat, hugging her knees to her chest and staring out the window. “May I come in?”

  “Well, there’s a first, ye normally just walk in uninvited.”

  “Anna, may I come in?” he asked again, his frustration clearly reflected in his voice.

  “Aye. I don’t suppose I could stop ye anyway.”

  She stared at him warily from the window seat and he just watched her for a moment. God’s breath, she really was a beautiful woman. Her hair shimmered in the firelight like a dark copper veil around her shoulders. The color had returned to her cheeks and her eyes were a lovely green and gold, even though they glittered with anger. “Why are ye so determined to stay angry with me?” he asked.

  “Because ye are so determined to keep me here.”

  “Anna, I’m sorry ye’re unhappy, but can I ask ye something?” She shrugged her shoulders and, taking it as assent, he went on. “Knowing everything ye know now, if ye could change wh
at ye did that day and be safely tucked away at Naomh-dùn right now, would ye?”

  She looked surprised for a moment, but immediately answered, “And let Davy drown in the loch? Nay, of course not.”

  “Do ye believe what ye told him, that sometimes God makes sure people are in the right place to help when angels can’t be?”

  “Aye. I suppose I do.”

  “Then is it possible ye’re still meant to be here?”

  “Why would God punish me like that?” She said plaintively.

  Andrew laughed, “Maybe he is punishing us?” She frowned, but he went on “Or maybe, he put ye here to learn the MacLeods are not the source of all evil, and for us to learn the same is true for the MacKays.”

  She looked away, but didn’t say anything.

  Andrew went on, “I’ve already told ye the MacLeods respect ye for what ye did for Davy.”

  “But that is the only reason. The fact is, I’m still a MacKay and ye hate the rest of us. Do ye know what it feels like to be surrounded by people who would as soon k—kill my family as look at them?” Her voice caught. In that instant he knew Graham had been right—at least about her being afraid and feeling cornered.

  “Anna, what ye did allowed us to put our hatred of one MacKay aside and to see ye as the compassionate, courageous lass ye are. Don’t ye think it’s possible our attitude towards other MacKays might change as we learn more about ye?”

  “I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible.”

  “Is it also possible yer attitude about us might change as ye get to know us too? How can that be a bad thing for either clan? That’s why I want ye to take yer meals with us in the great hall.”

  She didn’t answer immediately, but turned her head to look out the window into the darkness.

  “Anna, will ye please join us for the evening meal?”

  “I’d rather not.”

  “But will ye?”

  Still not meeting his eyes, she asked, “If I say no, w-will ye carry me down over yer shoulder?”

  “Nay, angel, if ye aren’t willing to join us, I’ll have yer meal sent up.”

  He saw her body relax and he thought he had lost, but after a moment she nodded, “I’ll join ye.”