“Are ye all right, lass?”
Catriona squeezed the arm he held tight around her waist. “Aye. I’m a far sight better now that it’s no longer raining arrows.”
Alexander laughed, his amusement rumbling against her back in the most pleasing way. “Agreed. A storm of arrows is never a good thing.” He reined in the horse as they reached a small plateau above the niche of the mountain cradling Clan Neal’s keep. “No riders yet but I’m certain there will be soon.” He turned in the saddle and waved down Graham and Magnus. “Keep to the west for a few more miles so they’ll believe we’re headed to Fort William, ye ken?”
Both men nodded and nudged their heels into their mounts to urge them higher up the mountain and westward.
“Are your other men safe and waiting for ye or have they moved on?” Relief had filled her to see Graham and Magnus unscathed from their recent escape but concern had dampened the sentiment when the rest of Alexander’s kin had been missing. While they’d been at Neal keep, she’d noticed on more than one occasion that the group of seven men were a tight knit bunch—more loyal to each other than any clan and from the stories they told, they seemed to always travel as one.
“Whilst we fetched ye, the rest have tended to other matters we pray will show us the best way to help ye forever escape the clutches of your brother.”
Catriona pondered this answer for a long moment, drawing in a deep breath as she drew her arisaidh closer about her. Help me escape. But what about everyone else? Her cheeks heated as the memory of both her father and Calum’s deplorable behavior filled her with nauseating guilt. She couldna desert her clan to such a horrible fate. She swallowed hard and ground her teeth as she clutched the lip of the saddle tighter. Her mother shouldha killed her father during one of his drunken stupors. Killed the wicked disease at its source before it had consumed Calum.
“I have to save my clan,” she said, shifting to look Alexander in the eye, praying he’d understand. “I canna leave them to Calum.” She couldna bring herself to say more. She couldna bear the shame nor what Alexander would think once he learned the truth about her twin and how he’d come to be such a monster.
Alexander studied her for a long moment, dark brows knotted together, eyes narrowed, and black hair whipping in the wind. “Ye ken there’s only one way to ensure that Calum is stopped and his followers dispersed?”
Catriona knew with a sick sense of finality what Alexander meant but she couldna put it in words. After all, her poor demented twin had become evil incarnate because of her. “I ken it well, Alexander.” She looked away and swallowed hard, her throat aching, but she didna fear the onslaught of tears because she had none left to cry when it came to her family.
“Dinna fash yourself, dearling,” Alexander said with a soft kiss to her temple. “We’ll see this through and save all we can, aye?”
Catriona nodded and forced a smile.
“Besides,” Alexander whispered against her cheek, his warm breath tickling her skin. “All that truly matters is that ye’re back in my arms, aye?”
“Aye.” She released the tensed breath she’d been holding and snuggled back against Alexander’s chest. A sudden weariness made her ache to give up the battle and rest. How long had it been since she’d slept? So much had happened, she couldna remember the last time she’d actually closed her eyes and lost herself to the blissful oblivion of sleep. A long, hiccupping yawn overcame her.
Alexander cradled her head back against his shoulder and kissed the top her head. “Close your eyes, lass, and steal what rest ye can whilst we ride. I’ll keep ye safe.”
Safe. She relaxed against him and nestled her cheek more comfortably into the dip of his shoulder. Aye, she was most certainly safe from Calum now but how safe was her heart from Alexander? Her eyes popped open, and she caught her breath. He’d greeted her most ardently in the cave but could that have merely been his relief at finding her so he’d be rid of the guilt of losing her to her brother? She thought back to the keep and the tender moments they’d shared. He’d seemed truly fond of her but would that fondness grow into something more? Something strong enough to keep him ever at her side?
He’s a mercenary. A man of travel. Catriona caught the corner of her lip between her teeth. She was wide awake now but slow to wish herself free of Alexander’s arms and the thump of his heartbeat against her cheek. I could travel with him. Tend to his wounds whenever he was injured. The idea sounded laughable even to herself. What mercenary, what warrior for hire, wished to travel with a woman and all the trappings required for her to travel with him?
Nay. Alexander had no need of her. But since he was most assuredly a man of honor, he’d ne’er allow himself to leave her behind. A burden. She’d be a burden he’d grow to resent. Catriona closed her eyes again, squinting them shut against the burning signal of oncoming tears. 'Twas true she’d ne’er cry for her family ever again but she had tears a plenty left for Alexander.
Chapter 15
She hadna slept nary a minute. Not even dozed. Her deep breaths had exhaled in soft, controlled sighs and the tensed way she held herself against his chest told him she didna give in to slumber. Aye, but at least she stayed pressed close. He took some small comfort in that.
Alexander snugged his arm tighter around her sweet softness and held her steady as he turned the horse in a northeasterly direction and headed up the steep incline. Graham and Magnus fell in line behind him. They'd wandered the mountain long enough. 'Twas at last safe enough to veer back to their cave. The Neal warriors had no' given chase.
Strange. If Alexander had been in Calum’s stead, he would no' have hesitated to send riders to fetch back the escapees. Especially with the renowned horseflesh housed in the Neal stables. The horses Murtagh had supplied them were fine but they werena the best from the select herd bred by the Neal Clan. The stronger horses from the main herd wouldha overtaken them with little trouble.
An ill feeling, an ominous foreboding, settled like a stone deep in Alexander’s gut. Why had Calum no' given chase? What was the man’s plan? Calum Neal was a cruel bastard, but he was far from stupid. Alexander had surmised that much during his stay at Tor Ruadh.
“Riders up ahead,” Graham called out, pointing toward two large horses and what looked to be a small, round-bellied mare.
“Riders?” Catriona pulled away from Alexander and straightened in the saddle, straining to peer over the arm he held snugged around her. “Neal riders?”
“Nay,” Alexander said, instantly missing the warmth of her cuddled close against him. “'Tis Duncan and Sutherland.” He paused for a long moment, studying the third rider on the mare. “And a priest.” He blew out a heavy breath. What the hell had those two done this time?
“A priest?” Catriona shifted in the saddle, stretching to see. “Sweet Jesu, they’ve bound his hands and tied the reins of his horse to Sutherland’s saddle.” She looked up at Alexander. “Be they mad? Taking a priest captive?”
“Not mad—just a bit inclined to follow the path no' usually taken.” Alexander reined in his horse and waited. He scrubbed a hand across his face and rubbed at the gritty corners of his eyes. He was damned tired and needed sleep. If these two were bringing more burdens to bear, he’d thrash their arses for them like he’d done when they were weans.
Duncan was grinning like a lad who’d just sampled his first whore and Sutherland looked the same. Alexander prayed this meant they bore promising news but with those two, one never knew. Their prisoner, the priest, looked ready to condemn them all straight to Hell.
“I dinna recall a request to take prisoners,” Alexander said as Duncan’s horse nickered a greeting to Alexander’s mount and came to a halt in front of him. He looked to the priest and gave a polite nod. “Father.”
The thin balding man dressed in dark, modest robes glared at him for a long moment then lifted his bound hands. “This is how ye treat a man of God?”
Alexander took a deep breath, gave Duncan and Sutherland a joint damning
glance, then huffed it out. “Forgive my brothers, Father. They oft get a mite overzealous.”
“A mite overzealous,” the priest said, the pitch of his voice squeaking higher. “I dare say shoving a sack over me head while I’m at prayers and bagging me arse like a plump hen for market is a damned sight more than a mite overzealous!” He jerked his wrists toward Alexander again. “I demand ye untie me this instant.”
Alexander shifted his attention to Duncan and didna say a word, just waited for an explanation.
“He’s the priest what was traveling with Jameson Campbell.” Duncan stole a quick glance at Catriona then returned his focus to Alexander. He leaned forward and lowered his voice as he jerked a thumb toward the holy man. “They were within two days’ ride of Neal Keep. Coming for the marriage, they were.”
“We figured if we kidnapped the priest, 'twould at least slow their plans. If we hadna stolen him away, even though ye’ve rescued Mistress Catriona and prevented a civil ceremony, they couldha done a marriage by proxy, ye ken?” Sutherland said with a smug nod.
Whilst their treatment of the priest left something to be desired, their reasoning was sound. Alexander looked back at the priest still holding his tied wrists aloft. “I apologize for the harsh treatment, Father. Once we reach our destination, we’ll remove your bindings and do our best to be more hospitable, aye?”
The priest glared at him all the harder, setting his jaw and baring his clenched teeth as he dropped his tied hands back to his lap.
Aye. We are all going to Hell for certain. Alexander took the lead and urged his horse back to the narrowing path, tossing his words back over his shoulder. “How many rode with Campbell?”
“Near to sixty,” Duncan said. “All armed.”
“They even brought cannons. A pair of them loaded in wagons,” Sutherland called out from farther back in the line. “To a wedding, mind ye. What the hell do ye need cannons for at a wedding?”
Catriona shifted in front of him. The poor lass had started to shake. Her pale hands trembled atop the horn of the saddle. “Calum means to make a strong alliance with the Earl of Breadalbane,” she said in a quiet tone meant for him alone. “He swore to become the strongest outpost looking out across the glens.” She shook harder and her voice fell even lower. “Jameson Campbell is the earl’s successor and Calum considered myself and a dozen or more horses a fair trade for cannons and allies.”
Alexander held her closer and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Ye be safe now, Catriona. Ye be no man’s bargaining piece. Never again. I swear it.” The Campbell troops and firepower complicated matters to be sure. But he’d faced worse. They’d merely have to adjust their tactics.
“But how will we ever overcome Calum against so many?” She shifted with a deep sigh and bowed her head. “Such impossible odds.” Her voice quivered with her overwrought emotions. “I fear my people lost.”
The fear and desperation in her tone fueled Alexander’s determination to ease Catriona’s pain and set things aright. He had nary a clue how to accomplish it all at the moment but he’d damn well sort it out. All he could do right now was hold her close and keep her warm. He pulled his kilt tighter around her. “Hold fast, dearling. I swear to ye all is not lost.”
The horses slogged into the small clearing in front of the cave. With the sky cloudless on the early spring day, the snow and ice had reduced the ground to a muddy slush. Alexander dismounted then pulled Catriona down into his arms and cradled her like a babe.
“Sawny!” He paused until the boy looked his way. “You and Tom tend to the horses afore ye seek the fire, aye?”
“Aye, Master Alexander.” Sawny waved Tom forward and the two boys gathered the horses by their reins and led them to a drier portion of the plateau hemmed in by an array of boulders.
Alexander carried Catriona inside the cave and lowered her feet to the dry slab of stone. With a brush of his fingers against the silky line of her jaw, he gave her a reassuring smile. “Fire. Food. Then sleep. Ye’ll feel better and I promise ye, we’ll win the day, aye?”
She didn’t answer. Just looked up at him as though trapped in a trance. Her trembling smile and the sorrow in her deep green eyes came near to undoing him. She’d always been so strong but this situation had most nigh bested her. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it before leading her to a rock beside the coals of last night’s fire. “Sit ye down and rest whilst I stoke the fire and get the lads settled, aye?”
“Aye,” she responded with a soft dip of her chin. Her hand trembling, she pulled her arisaidh tighter around her shoulders and fixed a forlorn gaze down at the mound of ash-covered coals and blackened bits of burned wood.
With a stir of the coals, Alexander fed small sticks and dried moss to the faded embers until flames rose and crackled through the fuel. Larger pieces of wood soon had the fire blazing. He looked at Catriona, puzzling at her sudden withdrawal. She’d acted so happy to see him and yet now, she almost appeared as though she were sorry they had rescued her. Alexander shook away the thought. 'Twas mere weariness troubling the both of them.
“Warm yourself, aye? I’ll be back anon.”
Catriona nodded, leaning closer to the fire and stretching out her hands toward the flames.
Making his way to the front of the cave, Alexander made a spinning motion with one finger to turn his brothers around and lead them back outside. He stopped short at the sight of the scowling priest still sitting on the mare. “Duncan,” he said with a weary huff. “Get the poor Father to the fire and untie him while ye are about it, aye?”
Duncan grinned then pulled the priest from his mount with an unceremonious yank and led him inside the cave.
Alexander turned and glared at his youngest brother. His irritation shifted from Duncan to Sutherland with the ease born of years dealing with the two and their antics. “Ye could no' have treated the priest any kindlier?”
“He knows more swear words than I do, brother.” Sutherland accented the revelation with a defensive snort. “Dinna feel too sorry for the man. I promise ye, he doesna merit it.”
Alexander dropped his chin to his chest and shook his head. “Any sign of Alasdair and Ian?” He lifted his gaze and scanned the surrounding area.
“No sign of anyone,” Graham replied from a stone outcropping higher up the path.
Alexander pondered the situation as he studied the horizon, squinting against the bright blue of the sky. “If they rode all the way to Fort William, 'twill take more than a day to hear from them.”
“At least spring is struggling to reclaim the land,” Duncan said as he exited the cave. “'Tis almost balmy down in the glens.” He clapped a hand to Alexander’s shoulder and grinned. “Shall I see to finding a bit of greenery for your bride to hold whilst the priest hears your vows?”
Alexander came close to choking on his own air. Jerking away from Duncan’s grasp, he stole a glance back into the cave to make sure his brother’s statement had not been overheard. “Are ye daft? This is no time to jest about such.”
“Who says I’m jesting?” Duncan said with an irritated frown. “Magnus, do ye no' think that would be the best way to keep the lass safe from both Campbell and her brother?”
Magnus nodded. “Aye. A good tactic indeed.” He waved Graham down from his lookout and pointed at Alexander. “Do ye no' think that marriage would be a good start to clearing up this mess and repaying Mistress Catriona for all her kindness and hospitality?”
“Aye,” Graham agreed then added with a grin, “She’ll keep him in line the rest of his days.”
“I told ye before, I have nothing to offer the lass.” Alexander kept his voice to a low whisper. He’d not have Catriona hurt nor any more upset than she already was.
Duncan thumped him on the chest. “Ye’ve already given her your heart, man. 'Tis plain as the nose on your face.”
“My heart willna feed her nor protect her from the cold.” Alexander shoved Duncan and Magnus both farther away from the mouth of th
e cave. “We’ve already discussed this.”
Magnus shoved him back. “Then what the hell do ye mean to do with her, Alexander?” Magnus thumped him again. Hard. “Ye’ve stolen her away from clan and home. Do ye mean to take her to some strange place where she kens nary a soul and dump her there to fend for herself?”
“Ye’ve meant to marry her since we started out. Admit it,” Graham said with a shove against his other side. “Why else would ye bring her here?”
Why else indeed?
Alexander turned and stared back into the cave, his mouth gone dry as old bones. From this distance, he could just make out the light from the fire. The cavernous hole they’d found this high on the mountain was deep and generous. A chill ran through him. Caves. What sort of life was that for Catriona? Traveling hither and yon across the Highlands and sleeping in caves. What could he say to her? He had nothing to offer.
“Go to her, man,” Magnus urged with a nudge against his back. “The words will come.”
Feeling more fear and dread than he’d faced during any battle, Alexander stole one last glance at each of his brethren’s faces. Every one of them gave him an encouraging nod.
Sutherland held up a hand. “Wait one more moment.” He headed into the cave. “I’ll drag the priest somewhere else so ye can have a bit a privacy to do your wooin'.”
“Dinna drag the man!” Alexander knotted his fists, doing his damnedest to bite back the curse words threatening to roll off his tongue. Christ Almighty. We’re every last one of us headed straight to the hottest part of Hell.
Sutherland and the priest emerged a short time later. The priest was wrapped in Sutherland’s cloak but still looking sullen enough to damn them all. With his arm around the priest as he led him away, Sutherland thumped the poor man on the chest as he smiled up at Alexander. “He’s got his prayer book and everything!”
Fixing Alexander with a very un-Christian-like look, the Father stumbled and mumbled something under his breath as Sutherland led him aside to a narrow ridge of stones.
The Chieftain: A Highlander's Heart and Soul Novel Page 15