Moonstruck Madness

by Laurie McBain

  Richard ran across and stared down into one of the chests, his hands finding a large gold goblet filled with golden guineas. He picked up a necklace of pearls and held it out to Sabrina, the large pearl drops gleaming ghostlike in the torchlight.

  “The treasure, Rina, we’ve found the treasure!” he cried, jumping up and down as Sabrina came to stand beside him.

  Ewan stuck the torch in the wall above the chests and moved away, lighting other torches around the room while Sabrina and Richard gazed in awe at the treasure. Richard stuffed as many coins as he could into his pockets as he gazed in rapture at the fortune that was his.

  Ewan silently came up beside them and watched with a half-smile on his lips. Sabrina wished she could feel the excitement, but the look on the Highlander’s face worried her as he stared almost hypnotically at them and the treasure.

  As Sabrina remained subdued beside him, Richard turned around, his small face glowing with excitement as he said, “Come on, Rina. You can have wh—” He stopped what he was saying abruptly, the coins he had held in his hands dropping to the stone floor and rolling across it as he stared in stunned silence at the opposite wall of the cave that was not illuminated by torches.

  Sabrina turned reluctantly to follow Richard’s pointing finger, her startled cry echoing around the small chamber as she stared into the hollow-eyed skulls of skeletons hanging in chains from the wall. Richard buried his face against Sabrina’s breast as she leaned weakly against him as they cowered in front of the treasure. They stood frozen in fear as the Highlander chuckled beside them.

  “They waur fules. They shouldna come in tae the glen. They wae goin’ tae steal the treasure. Naebody haed better try tae do that,” Ewan said as he stood before them now, his feet planted firmly apart and his broadsword held carefully before him at an angle. He could easily lift his arm, bringing it down in a mighty swing that would split either of their heads wide open.

  Sabrina held Richard rigidly still beside her, some instinct warning her should she move it would mean instant death.

  The Highlander shook his head regretfully. “Ye shouldna hae come here, fer I canna allow ye tae leave knowin’ the secret. Ye can stand watch over it like them on the wall,” he told Sabrina and Richard with a sly grin, his crazed eyes glowing in the flickering light.

  “You must not harm us,” Sabrina told him shakily, “We are the laird’s kin. He would be very angry with you.”

  Ewan frowned. “Angus wouldna be happy? I dinna ken what tae do? I’m supposed tae protect the treasure frae the English,” he mumbled, then with a gleam in his eyes he looked at them. “I canna believe ye the laird’s kin. He dinna like the English, and ye be English dogs, comin’ tae steal our gold,” he spat. “A real duinhe-wassel ye are, in yer fancy britches. Wheer is ye kilt, mon?” he asked Richard angrily.

  Sabrina pulled up Richard’s face, holding it to the light frantically. “Look good, Ewan MacElden,” she cried “See the red hair, the nose, and eyes. He’s Angus. Angus has come back from the grave to see you,” she told him, urging Richard in front of her while she moved closer to the chest full of heavy gold goblets and plates, her hand searching for a weapon.

  The Highlander peered down at Richard’s face in doubt. “Come back frae the grave, the auld laird, just to see me, MacElden?” he whispered, his broadsword lowered for an instant.

  Sabrina’s fingers wrapped themselves around the thick stem of a heavy goblet and without warning or aim she swung with all of her might against the side of the Highlander’s head. The goblet struck his skull with a thud, stunning him as he sunk to his knees.

  Sabrina grabbed Richard’s hand and ran from the room, the evilly grinning skulls dancing in the light behind them. They ran through the darkness of the narrow passageway, slipping on the rocks as they skidded down it. Richard missed his footing once, falling painfully to his knees, but Sabrina jerked him to his feet before he knew what had happened, her sense of urgency spurring them on faster. They breathed a sigh of relief as they came out into the lighted main cavern, and not stopping to rest, Sabrina urged Richard on through it, her heart jumping in terror as she heard the cry of rage echoing behind them. She remembered it from the battlefield, and knew the Highlander was out for their blood as he gave the war cry.

  As they cleared the tunnel that opened into the hillside, Sabrina stopped in disbelief. Ewan had lied to them—the mists had lifted, she could see sky above them and in the distance through the trees the rim of the lake shimmering silver.

  They ran down the hillside, fear quickening their steps as they scurried like rabbits through the pine trees and around outcroppings of rock until they reached the lake’s edge.

  “What do we do now?” Richard cried, looking back over his shoulder fearfully, expecting to see the crazed Highlander come charging down on them any second.

  “Help me, Dickie,” Sabrina called as she struggled to pull the small boat across the beach. Richard grunted as he pulled and pulled along with Sabrina until they finally managed to get the boat in the water. Jumping in, they slowly floated away from the shore, but not before Sabrina saw the glinting of Ewan MacElden’s broadsword through the trees, and a spot of plaid near the shore.

  They paddled wildly as they tried to move the boat across the lake, the water splashing noisily as they struggled. Sabrina looked up startled as Richard cried out a warning, looking over her shoulder to see another boat leave the shore with a kilted figure rowing smoothly through the water in pursuit of them.

  “Together, Richard, together,” Sabrina cried, tears of frustration and fear streaking her face as they moved jerkily through the water. But suddenly the little boat began to move steadily and faster toward the opposite shore where they could see the familiar ruins of the castle.

  “We’re in the current!” Sabrina called out, new hope surging through her as she saw the distance lengthen between the two boats as they neared the shore. The boat scraped bottom suddenly, throwing them to the floor as it beached. Richard scrambled out, giving Sabrina a helping hand as they stumbled over the rocky shore toward the concealment of the ruins of the castle. They ran along the narrow path they had traveled on only the day before and breathlessly fell into the castle grounds. They would never have made the cover of the trees along the shore or have made it back up into the glen.

  Sabrina tried to catch her breath as she stared between two large blocks of granite at the empty lake. She could see the two boats bobbing on the shore, but there was no sign of Ewan MacElden.

  Richard pressed against her as they hid under the overhanging stairwell and waited. Sabrina cursed beneath her breath at the cries of the gulls protesting their presence and certain to give their hiding place away.

  “Rina,” Richard whispered, “I’m sorry.” Tears trickled from his eyes as he hunched beside her, his face white as a sheet.

  Sabrina put her arm over his shaking shoulders protectively. “It’s all right, Dickie, I don’t blame you, love.”

  Richard sniffed, taking deep gulps of air as he tried to control his sobs. Sabrina rocked his body back and forth trying to calm him, when suddenly she stilled as she heard the sound of a foot striking stone. She could feel Richard’s uncontrollable shaking as they crouched together.

  The terrible scream directly behind them frightened Sabrina until all she could hear was the pounding of her blood in her ears, and looking up she screamed in pure terror as she saw the Highlander swinging his broadsword from the top of the crumbling wall above them, his eyes blazing with bloodlust as he screamed and jumped down behind them. He raised his claymore and began to run toward them. Sabrina pulled Richard behind her, shielding his body with hers and prepared to feel the cold blade cut into her body. But before he reached them a loud shot rang out, and with a stunned look on his face, Ewan MacElden fell to his knees, his broadsword clanging against the broken stones of the castle as he fell forward onto the ground, his plaid spread
out across his arm and claymore.

  Sabrina stared at the dead man in disbelief, not hearing the running footsteps that came up quickly to where she and Richard still knelt against the ruins.

  “Sabrina, my love,” Lucien said hoarsely as he pulled her up into his arms and held her body to his tightly, as if making sure she really existed.

  Sabrina looked up into his scarred face, her violet eyes full of shock and disbelief. “Lucien?” she whispered, her hands holding on to him desperately. “You are here?” she asked in confusion as she managed to drag her eyes away from his face and saw Terence holding Richard against his chest comfortingly.

  She looked back up at Lucien, her eyes taking in every detail of his beloved face. “You came, you came when I needed you. Oh, Lucien, I don’t ever want to leave you again. Never let me go, please,” she pleaded tearfully as she buried her face against his shoulder, blocking out the chilling sight of poor Ewan MacElden, once, long ago, piper of the clan.

  ***

  Sabrina smiled shyly at Lucien as he sat down on the edge of the bed in her room at the inn in Timere. Richard was asleep in the other room, his little face drained of emotion as he mechanically ate his dinner and then without argument allowed Lucien and Terence to put him to bed. Sabrina sighed as she remembered this morning, pain darkening her eyes to purple.

  “Try not to think about it, Sabrina,” Lucien advised as he took the tea tray off her lap and placed it on a table nearby. “The Highlander must have gone mad years ago, and now he’s no longer suffering.”

  “I keep remembering how he saved my life so long ago, only now to try and take it,” Sabrina said sadly. “Do you know, I won’t be sorry to leave here. Once I would’ve given anything to have been able to return to the Highlands, but now all I want is to return to Camareigh and Rhea.”

  “And me?” Lucien asked softly. “Would you want to return to me?”

  Sabrina looked up into his sherry eyes, humbled for the first time in her life. “I would like to return to you, if you want me. I know you do not love me, but,” Sabrina hesitated, swallowing painfully, “it does not matter as long as I can be with you, Lucien.”

  “Oh, Sabrina, little love,” Lucien spoke against her ear as he pulled her into his arms and held her against his breast. “I have loved you since we kissed in the fields at Verrick House.”

  At her start of surprise he laughed. “I was all kinds of a fool, and I knew in your anger you would never believe that I would’ve married you even if my inheritance had not depended upon it.”

  Sabrina’s violet eyes were wide with astonishment as she stared at him.

  “I decided not to pressure you, to give you time to learn to love me all over again, only your stubbornness and pride stood in the way, as well as my temper.” He put his hand under her chin and held her face to his. “I love you, Sabrina, and I will not live without you. Do you think you can find it in your heart to forgive me?” he asked gravely, his eyes clinging to hers, waiting for an answer.

  Sabrina clasped her hands around his neck and looked deeply into his eyes, her violet eyes mirroring her deepest feelings. “I missed you desperately, Lucien, and I longed for you to come to me. I thought if ever I got back to Camareigh I would do anything to try and make you love me. My pride be damned, life isn’t worth living without you, Lucien,” Sabrina confessed, then touching her lips to his softly, whispered, “I love you, and if you’ll have me, this time I’ll gladly give you a son.”

  Lucien laughed, holding her close to him, loving the feel of her soft body against his. “The sun is indeed shining in the Highlands today, for Richard has found his treasure, and I…” he paused, kissing Sabrina lingeringly. “I have found mine.”

  About the Author

  Laurie McBain became a publishing phenomenon at age twenty-six with her first historical romance. She wrote seven romance novels during the 1970s and 80s, all of which were bestsellers, selling over eleven million copies. She is a winner of the Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Historical Romance Author. Laurie now resides in Northern California.