Seduced by Her Highland Warrior

by Michelle Willingham

  ‘I’m hungry, Da,’ Mairin informed him. ‘Don’t you think we should eat something?’

  He nodded, taking her hand in his. ‘We’ll fetch some food and bring it to your mother.’ He didn’t like the idea of Laren working alone, even if her apprentice Ramsay was there. Though her cavern was hidden on the far side of the loch, it didn’t mean his wife was safe from an attack.

  Mairin dashed across the fortress toward Vanora’s house, while Alex trailed her. Adaira put her hand in his, emitting a stream of girlish chatter. When his elder daughter emerged with a sack of food, Alex brought both of them close. His claymore was strapped to his back and he had another dirk at his waist, if he needed to defend them.

  He said nothing to the girls, but, as they walked, his eyes searched the horizon for any movement or sound. Adaira made him stop several times as she watched a bird hopping upon a tree branch or a fish splashing within the loch. He hoisted her on his hip when she grew tired, her arms settling around his neck. As he drew closer to the cavern, he could smell the smoke from Laren’s fires.

  He listened hard, but the sound was gone. A part of him wondered if he could have imagined it. But then, his hearing was acute and he was well attuned to the signs of a forthcoming raid. It might have been an enemy scout, sent to determine their weaknesses.

  Or perhaps he was feeling troubled by the long silence from the English. He’d expected an attack long before this and it was starting to make him uneasy. Since he hadn’t heard the sound a second time, he dismissed it as nothing but his imagination.

  When they reached the entrance to the cave, he set Adaira down. Laren was inside alone, working with a long pipe. To his surprise, he saw that this time the cylinder was rotating outward, becoming a disc. With deft fingers, she whirled the pipe until it flattened out.

  The girls stared at her, their faces awestruck. It was like watching a sheet of sapphires form before his eyes. She rolled the spun glass repeatedly, until it was about ten inches in diameter.

  Then she transferred it to the annealing oven and turned back to face them, smiling at the sight of the girls. ‘I’m glad to see you.’ She kissed them on their cheeks, but when she lifted her eyes to Alex’s, her expression grew guarded. ‘Is the rebuilding going well?’

  ‘Well enough.’ He shifted Adaira’s weight to the other hip. ‘My mother returned.’ Laren showed no response, though he knew she wasn’t fond of Grizel. ‘Nairna found a way to keep her busy.’

  ‘Drowning kittens, is she?’ His wife turned back to another crucible, checking the colour of the melt.

  ‘Grizel isn’t that bad.’

  Laren raised her eyebrows. ‘Not to you, perhaps. But we’ll leave that subject for a time when little ears aren’t listening.’

  Mairin pointed to a piece of glass in the shape of a partially opened flower bud. It hung from a piece of rope, suspended above the fires, and Alex hadn’t noticed it last night. ‘Do you think there are any witches in there? Mama said it’s a trap for them.’

  When he sent his wife a questioning look, Laren shrugged. ‘If there are any evil spirits lingering, I don’t need them near my glass. It belonged to Father Nolan. I keep it because it reminds me of him.’ Her face softened in memory as she reached up to touch it.

  ‘Mama, I’m hungry,’ Mairin informed her. ‘We brought food for you.’

  A grateful look passed over Laren’s face. ‘I haven’t had time to eat.’ When they sat down and opened the sack Mairin had brought, Alex started to pass out the food his daughter had selected. To his chagrin, she’d brought a container of honey, oatcakes and every sort of sweet Vanora had in her possession.

  ‘Did Vanora pack this?’ Laren asked.

  Mairin shook her head. ‘I did. I packed my favourites.’

  Alex sent his wife a private look and a shrug and he saw the amusement on her face. He should have known better than to let Mairin choose the food. Adaira selected a sweetened cake and then toddled over to him, planting herself on his lap. He helped her break off pieces and while they ate, Laren said, ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve shared a noon meal as a family.’

  He didn’t know if she meant it as a compliment or a criticism. ‘I can’t stay for too long.’ There was so much work to be done, his absence would be noticed.

  Should he leave Laren alone again? It bothered him that he hadn’t located the source of the sound he’d heard and it was difficult to release the suspicions. The last thing he wanted was to leave his wife unguarded while an enemy was nearby.

  Alex was about to set Adaira down when he suddenly felt something warm and wet against his tunic. He pulled Adaira back and she continued to puddle upon the sand.

  He grimaced and set her down. Laren saw what was happening and a smile of amusement perked at her mouth as she chided her daughter for the accident. ‘Wait here, both of you, while I see to your father.’

  He didn’t hide his disgust as he stripped off his tunic. Fortunately, he’d caught the mess before Adaira soaked his trews.

  Laren took the garment from him and rinsed it in the loch, scrubbing it with sand. ‘It will dry soon enough.’

  While she cleaned the tunic, Alex scooped up some water, washing off his skin. Rivulets of water spilled over his hard muscles and Laren found herself staring at her husband. He stretched and shivered from the freezing water. Her eyes followed the water that pooled over his skin, trailing downwards.

  He saw her staring and sent her with his own frank gaze. Dark eyes moved down her face, past her breasts, to her hips. Unable to help herself, she reached out and touched his cool skin, wiping away a droplet of water with her fingertips.

  Alex didn’t move, but he caught her wrist and held it to his skin. ‘After the girls are asleep, meet me here again tonight.’

  He pressed her fingers over his ribs, guiding her hand around his waist. Though his skin was icy cold from the water, she leaned in to warm him. His hand cupped her face and she stood before him, his nose resting against hers.

  Though he hadn’t done anything at all, Laren’s breath was shaky, her body seeking his nearness. He was watching her with unveiled desire and she wondered when he would take her to his bed. She’d expected it last night, but he’d surprised her by holding back.

  His fingers stroked the side of her face and she lifted her mouth to his, claiming the kiss that he hadn’t given.

  At the first touch of her lips, he opened to her, his firm mouth seeking. She’d forgotten this, the way he made her pulse race. Though he kept the kiss gentle, she wanted more from him. She wanted to lose herself in his arms, to let him drive out all the demons of their past.

  When he pulled back, he let his hands remain around her waist. ‘Tonight,’ he repeated. She nodded and when he released her, she nearly stumbled, feeling foolish that he could still make her weak-kneed. ‘Will you be all right with the girls, or shall I take them back with me?’

  ‘They can stay. Ramsay will be along soon and he’ll take over the fires.’

  Alex donned his wet tunic, shrugging off the discomfort as he turned back to the fortress. Though it was cold outside, he showed no sign of it as he walked away.

  When Laren returned to the cave, her girls busied themselves playing in the sand near the entrance. And as she worked to make more sheets of coloured glass, she thought about how alone Alex was. He worked endlessly on the building and it was weighing upon his spirits.

  But never did he talk to her about his own worries. He kept those thoughts closed off, as if they revealed a weakness he didn’t want to show.

  Laren set down her cutting instrument and stared at the afternoon sky. A cold rain began to drizzle and the girls had moved inside the cave for shelter. It was starting to grow darker and she needed to bring them back home before it grew too late.

  ‘Come, girls,’ she said, lifting Adaira into her arms and wrapping her younger daughter beneath her cloak. She used the other side of the cloak to shield Mairin from the rain. As they hurried back to the fortress
, she glanced behind her and saw a hooded man, mounted on horseback. Her heartbeat quickened, for he’d emerged from the woods near the loch. Not far from her son’s grave, if she guessed correctly.

  Who was he? And what did he want? From his clothing, it appeared he’d come from another clan. Was he a messenger?

  She hastened back to the fortress, but he didn’t follow. It seemed that he was watching her and she wondered why. When she reached the interior of Glen Arrin, she breathed a little easier. It was raining hard now, and most of the men had abandoned work for the day, seeking shelter inside their huts.

  She brought the girls to Vanora’s home and the older matron welcomed them inside, fussing over their wet clothes. Alex was speaking with Ross and in the corner sat his mother, Grizel.

  The woman’s dark hair was pulled back from her face, a sour expression on her mouth. Her gown was spotless and she wore a woollen wrap to keep out the cold. ‘Come and give your seanmhair a kiss,’ she ordered the girls.

  They glanced at Laren, who had no choice but to nod in agreement. The girls weren’t fond of Grizel, but she hoped Mairin could manage to control her impulsive tongue.

  After the girls had greeted her, Laren came forwards and bent to give the matron a kiss of welcome, but Grizel turned her cheek aside. ‘I meant the children, not you.’ Bitterness lined her mouth and she nodded towards the outside. ‘I see you’re neglecting your home and family again.’

  ‘I see you’re as pleasant as ever,’ she retorted. As soon as she had spoken the words, she wanted to bite her tongue. She knew better than to fight with Grizel, but there were times when her patience was sorely lacking.

  ‘If you would spend half the time looking after your responsibilities, you’d be a better wife to Alex. Why he ever married you, I’ll never know.’

  ‘That’s enough, Mother.’ Alex broke away from his conversation with Ross. ‘If you’ve nothing better to do than offer insults, you can return to Locharr.’

  ‘I’ll not. This is my home, where I belong.’

  Laren moved as far away from Grizel as she could manage, but already she could feel the tension stretching through her. The girls were picking at their food and Adaira began to whine.

  ‘Hush now,’ Laren soothed, picking up her youngest and stroking her hair. ‘You just need to rest, sweet one.’ She began speaking words of comfort, ignoring Grizel’s proclamations about how her boys never fussed a day in their lives.

  She tried to block out the words, but the longer Grizel went on, the more she needed an escape. When the girls finally fell asleep, she walked outside, heedless of the rain.

  She heard footsteps behind her and saw Alex following. Laren didn’t stop, but continued trudging through the mud until she reached the outer wall. She rested her hands upon the wall, staring at the ruined foundation where they had once lived. ‘I couldn’t stand it any more,’ she told her husband.

  ‘She’s always been that way. Nothing you say can please her.’

  Laren turned to face him. Rain was pouring down over both of them, but she’d rather stand outside and be frozen than endure another moment of Grizel’s company. ‘Tell me that we won’t be living with her for long.’

  Alex came up beside her and sat, shielding her from the rain with his cloak. ‘We’ll finish as soon as we can.’

  ‘Good.’ She shivered beneath the makeshift shelter. ‘Alex, I saw a horseman near David’s grave.’

  His arm came around her shoulders, as if to guard her. ‘When?’

  ‘Not long ago. Just as the girls and I were returning.’

  He stood and let the cloak fall away. His hand caught hers and he walked back with her to the low wall overlooking the fortress.

  ‘He was hooded. I couldn’t see his face, but he looked like another clansman, not an English soldier.’

  ‘Harkirk could have hired a clansman to gather information,’ Alex responded. She could feel the tension in him, the restlessness of a man who would do anything to protect them.

  ‘Go back to Vanora,’ he ordered. ‘Bram and I will search the forest. If he’s still there, we’ll find him.’

  Chapter Eight

  Night fell and Laren hadn’t seen Alex or any of his brothers returning from their search. She kept glancing at the door, hoping to see him enter. When the hours stretched on, she thought of his earlier request for her to meet him at the cavern. No doubt he would want her to remain here, after the stranger’s appearance.

  Ramsay. The thought came out of nowhere. Her apprentice would have gone to the cavern to tend the furnaces. He’d be there alone and knew nothing about the threat.

  She needed to send word to him, to bring him back to the safety of the fortress. But whom could she send? Alex had taken Bram and Callum with him, and she didn’t know whether Dougal had gone as well.

  ‘This house is too cold for my old bones,’ Grizel complained. ‘The fire’s not hot enough and you ought to patch the holes in the walls.’

  ‘The fire is as hot as we can make it,’ Vanora said. ‘Sit closer, if you’re cold.’

  ‘If I sit any closer, I’ll go up in flames,’ the old woman retorted. From the amused look Vanora sent towards her husband Ross, she wouldn’t be at all disappointed.

  Ross looked pained at Grizel’s tirade of complaints. It occurred to Laren that he would be more than willing to leave the house for a short time. He was her best hope of bringing Ramsay back.

  She reached for her cloak and beckoned to the older man. ‘May I speak with you for a moment?’

  He looked eager for a reprieve and rose, reaching for his own mantle. When they were outside, he asked, ‘What is it?’

  Though he already knew about the horseman she’d seen on the far side of the loch, he knew nothing of her glassmaking. She chose her words carefully. ‘Ramsay MacKinloch went to Father Nolan’s cave, on the far side of the loch. He doesn’t know about the horseman. Could you go with me and help me bring him back to Glen Arrin?’

  Ross started to shake his head. ‘Alex doesn’t want you leaving my house.’

  ‘I know. But Ramsay is only eleven years old. He needs someone to take care of him.’

  ‘Eleven is old enough to know better.’

  ‘Please, Ross.’ She touched his arm. ‘I worry about the boy. And he’ll be waiting for me to…’ she hesitated, then amended ‘…to bring him a meal. His father often forgets to feed him.’

  The older man appeared reluctant, but at last he took a torch from one of the sconces in the fortress. ‘Walk with me to the edge of the loch and show me where I can find the cavern. Then swear to me that you’ll return to your daughters.’

  ‘I promise.’ She joined the older man, walking slowly outside the gates. The night was so dark, she could hardly see anything without the torch. ‘Follow the shore line around the curve,’ she directed. ‘Then about a half a mile with the trees to your right. He—he keeps the fire burning to stay warm. You’ll smell the smoke.’

  Ross lifted the torch and turned back to her. ‘I’ll fetch the boy and bring him back.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She waited as he trudged forwards, watching to be sure he’d gone the right direction around the loch. Her cloak wasn’t warm enough and she held the edges tight, turning back toward the fortress. The faint light of the torches guided her way, but she heard the snapping of ice behind her.

  The hairs on the back of her neck rose and she knew instinctively that someone was there. She had no weapon with her and the gates were further ahead. For a moment, she remained motionless, hoping that the darkness would make it impossible for the intruder to find her. Holding her breath, she questioned whether to remain in place or try to reach the fortress.

  When the footsteps drew closer, she broke into a run. A hand reached for her cloak and caught it, jerking her backwards. She lost her balance and let out a scream, just as a hood blinded her. The suffocating darkness choked her; when she tried again to scream, a hand covered her nose and mouth.

  Oh God, not this. Sh
e struggled against her attacker, trying to break free of him. His strong arms held her trapped and she was starting to lose consciousness from lack of air. Dizziness and a ringing in her ears made her knees weaken.

  She didn’t know who the man was or why he was trying to take her hostage, but she wasn’t about to let him seize her without fighting as hard as she could. Letting her weight go slack, she fell to the ground. Laren tried not to move, hoping that he would relinquish his grip enough for her to make an escape.

  His hold relaxed against her throat and she cried out, ‘Alex!’ as loudly as she could. A fist cuffed her jaw and she saw stars, her head reeling.

  Then, without warning, the hands released her. She heard her husband and Ross fighting and the sound of swords clashing. Laren kept low to the ground, unable to see anything. She struggled to remove the hood, and when at last she saw the flare of Ross’s torch her attacker was gone.

  ‘Stay with Laren,’ she heard Bram say. ‘We’ll find him.’

  Both he and Ross disappeared into the woods. Laren pressed her palms against the frozen earth, fighting for a deep breath.

  Alex helped her up, gathering her into his arms. She was shaking so hard, she couldn’t seem to stop. ‘I’m s-sorry,’ she stammered. ‘I never meant to leave. I wanted Ross to warn Ramsay—’

  But he only held her tight, stroking her hair and murmuring that it was all right. ‘I’ll take you home.’

  ‘Not yet,’ she pleaded. ‘Take me to the cavern. I need Ramsay to be safe.’

  Alex gave no answer and she suspected he would ignore her request, forcing her to return to Ross’s house. He took her hand and led her back to the fortress, but when they reached the gates, she was startled that he took a torch and brought her back again.

  At her questioning look, he said, ‘It’s important to you, isn’t it?’

  She nodded, still stunned that he would listen to her. Along the walk, she huddled close to him and his arm remained around her waist. With each step, she drew comfort and strength from him.