“What about taking the women and going home?” Duncan leaned toward him. “We could protect them at Sithean Fardach, no worry. I dinna like being here, lad. There’s too many people about. Too many unknowns.”
The old warrior was right, but that plan carried its own dangers.
“We’ve been over this, Duncan, weighed the risks. Staying here, keeping my future bride under the protection of my family, is the proper thing to do.” Protection? That was a joke.
Duncan snorted derisively. “As if you’ve ever had a care to doing what they deem proper.”
“If we escape to Sithean Fardach now, they’ll be watching, their network of spies stationed outside by the time of the wedding. It will be much harder to convince them we’ve sent Cate home directly after. If we can just hold out until the wedding, we have the luxury of time before they’re in place. Then, after she’s gone, we can tell them all that her father sent an escort for her. No one will be the wiser, and we’ll have Mairi and Rosalyn safely tucked away, out of their reach.”
He didn’t like the plan any better than Duncan did, but it was the only logical course of action for now. Unless they came after her again. Another attempt and he’d be out of options. He’d not allow her to come to harm.
“And the riding-out? You’ll still chance that?”
“Aye, I’ve no choice.” He smiled grimly at his friend. “But I’ve an idea to make it safer. They’ll ken we’re to do this so we’ll hae to be on our sharpest guard the whole time.”
“We?” Duncan frowned in confusion.
“Aye.”
With one last glance down the hallway to ensure their privacy, Connor launched into his plan. They’d keep to the old customs as his uncle demanded. He simply planned to add to them a bit.
CHAPTER 15
Final banns were posted and the wedding ceremony was just five days off. Today was the day Cate and Connor would ride out to the surrounding countryside to personally invite each and every person to attend the wedding and celebration.
She had, at most, a week left here.
Cate had been up for hours, unable to sleep, anxious about what the day would bring.
After changing her outfit twice, she was once again dressed in the lovely green overdress she’d worn for her betrothal party. Putting it on, she had thought longingly about how much better she would feel facing this ride dressed in a pair of her favorite jeans.
Glancing across the room, she caught sight of her grandmother’s wedding dress. Last night, when Rosalyn knocked on her door, she was delighted to find the older woman holding the dress that meant so much to her. It had been packed away since her arrival.
Cate had untied the ribbon holding the dress in a crumpled bundle and carefully stretched it over a chair, smoothing it down to encourage the wrinkles out before the wedding.
She walked over to it now, running her hand over the old lace. Her grandmother had been a wonderful woman, strong and unafraid to make the decisions necessary to control her own life. She wouldn’t have let any of these people intimidate her.
“Why can’t I be more like you, Granny?”
She still hadn’t seen Connor since the night he’d confined her to her room, effectively putting her under house arrest. She was nervous about spending the day alone with him, but more than that, she was determined. Especially after her conversation with Mairi last night.
Mairi finally had the opportunity to spend part of the afternoon with her cousin Lyall. And somewhere in their discussion about his adventure, the king coming, and everything that had happened in his absence, he’d apologized for leaving her in the lurch the day he was supposed to meet them for the riding lesson. It appeared he had never asked Blane to take his place that day. Mairi had barely given it more than a mention, but it had certainly captured Cate’s attention.
Blane had lied to them. More important, why had he lied to them?
Although Cate didn’t have an answer to that question, when she added it to the marks on the horse that matched the one on her back, everything seemed just a little too suspicious to be coincidence.
When she was a girl, Cate’s favorite heroine had been Nancy Drew. She’d read every single one of those books, and she knew how to spot a mystery a mile off. Not that she’d ever been involved in any of her own, but still, even she could tell something was going on around here.
Blane was her number one suspect.
She didn’t like him and she didn’t trust him. Now she was sure she had more reason than ever to suspect him of . . . well, something. She hadn’t quite put it all together yet, but she was determined to share her suspicions with Connor. He couldn’t possibly ignore her through an entire day of their being alone together like they would be today.
Alone together, riding.
Would he remember his promise to her? Her face flamed and her heartbeat accelerated at the thought of being held by him as they rode through the countryside. She took a deep breath to prepare herself.
When the knock sounded at her door, she quickly ran her hands down her skirt, more to dry her sweaty palms than to straighten her dress.
* * *
Cate was surprised to find Duncan waiting at the door to collect her, but not nearly so surprised as she was when she reached the courtyard and found the large group of people already assembled there. It seemed she and Connor were to have an entourage for their little outing.
Not at all what she’d expected based on what she’d been told about this particular custom.
Rosalyn, Mairi, Lyall and Fergus, the guardsman who’d escorted them upon their arrival at Dun Ard, were all waiting on horseback along with Connor, who nodded to her, but didn’t speak. Duncan’s mount was waiting as well.
She studied Connor’s face briefly before descending the stairs, but could determine nothing, his expression completely closed to her.
When she reached the courtyard, just as he had that first time in the forest, he drew his mount near her. Reaching down, he swept her up into his arms. She couldn’t prevent a little gasp as he swung her up, and for just a moment something flickered there in his eyes before he closed himself off again.
While it appeared the discussion she planned would have to wait, at least he hadn’t forgotten his promise about allowing her to ride only with him.
* * *
The sun was high overhead. They’d ridden for hours, and Cate had lost count of the number of people they’d spoken to. Every stop was more of the same. People came out and stared up at her with unabashed curiosity. A smiling Connor introduced her to each person and then issued the official invitation to attend their wedding and the celebration that would follow. Then they left, off to seek the next group of people.
And each time they left, the smile Connor had worn was left behind as well.
It was painfully obvious to Cate that this must be a distasteful duty to him. He hadn’t spoken directly to her even once and only smiled when approaching the various crofters to play out their little charade. During the early hours, while the others had visited with one another as they journeyed, he rode in silence, looking everywhere but at her, holding himself stiff as if to avoid contact with her body.
In response, Cate had done her best to keep her distance, too, holding her back rigid, not allowing herself to relax into him. The few times she tired and let down her guard, his whole body had tensed and she’d corrected her position immediately.
Finally even Cate had been fooled by his performance when they stopped at the last crofter’s house and a small boy there asked Connor if something was wrong with his lady’s legs that she had to ride on his horse.
The adults had smiled uncomfortably and looked embarrassed, his mother pulling him in front of her and quickly placing a hand over his mouth while his father apologized. Connor laughed and ran his hand over Cate’s shin where her dress left it exposed by her sitting on the horse. He told the child that “his wee Caty” had the finest legs in all of Scotland and that she rode where she was by his
choice, so he could keep her near his heart. Then he’d winked at the little boy and, leaning down confided that he would understand someday when he found his own lady.
Everyone had laughed and bid farewell, and all the while Cate’s heart pounded double time in her chest. Yet as soon as they had ridden away from the family, she’d glanced back at Connor’s face to find the hard look had returned to his eyes and he ignored her, once more scanning the horizon.
It had all been an act to him and nothing more. But to her it was the final straw of the day.
Reluctantly she acknowledged to herself that his behavior toward her hurt, but she determined that she wouldn’t let him see it. She had her pride to think of.
Back in her world, Richard may have made a fool of her, but she wouldn’t make that mistake here in this time. She wouldn’t let that happen to her again.
Even though it chafed that pride now to speak to him, she had to ask him for a rest stop. She couldn’t sit here next to him for another minute knowing how much he wanted to be rid of her, not without everyone finding out just what a fool she really was. The pressure from the tears was already building behind her eyes, her throat closing off. She had to escape, if only for a short time.
Cate cleared her throat, hoping her voice wouldn’t give her away. “I need to get down.”
Connor flinched when she spoke. “What?”
He sounded gruff and annoyed to her overly sensitive ears.
“Down.” She hadn’t meant to yell. She breathed deeply, desperately seeking to gain control. “I need down. Now. I need to stop.”
She couldn’t look at him, but at least she’d managed the whole thing without bursting into tears.
“Verra weel.” He sighed against the top of her head and turned to the others, pointing. “There’s a place just there, a break in the forest by the stream, that will do fine for a meal stop.”
“Thank the saints,” Lyall muttered. “I’m fair hungry enough to eat the sacks we carry the food in.”
The others laughed at the young man’s grumbles while he grinned amiably. There was general visiting again as they stopped and dismounted.
Cate felt as if it took forever to reach the chosen location just a few yards away. As soon as Connor lifted her off the horse, she raised her skirts and ran. She wasn’t sure where she planned to go, but she needed to get away, into the trees, away from all the eyes, away from him. She heard him call her name, but she kept going. She thought she might have heard him curse, but she was too far away to be sure.
She stopped downstream and leaned over. Placing her hands on her thighs, hanging her head low, she simply breathed, gasping for air. She couldn’t be sure any longer if she needed to cry or throw up.
It hurt. His total rejection of her caused actual physical pain. This felt worse than when she’d walked into Richard’s office and found him with his receptionist.
She kneeled down by the stream and splashed a handful of water on her face just before Connor burst through the underbrush into the clearing.
“Dinna ever, ever run away from me like that again.” He was scowling fiercely as he grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. “What were you thinking to run off like that? Anything could hae happened to you.” He was breathing hard.
Grateful that the water on her face hid the tears, she shook her arm free of his grasp.
“I had to . . . ” She stopped.
What could she possibly tell him? That she was stupid enough to think that she might have meant something to him? That it hurt so bad she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think when she realized she didn’t?
“I felt sick.”
The excuse sounded lame to her ears, but for a moment she imagined concern reflected in his eyes. Then it was gone.
“Yer better now?” Back to the gruff, annoyed Connor.
She nodded, not yet sure of her ability to speak.
“Then you’ll come back, join us to eat?” He had his hand on his sword, looking around, everywhere but at her.
She nodded again and they walked back to where the others waited.
“I told you to leave her be,” Mairi complained when they reached the makeshift picnic.
Cate took the bread and cheese the girl handed her and walked away from the others. She sat with her back against a rock, watching the water flowing swiftly away down the stream.
It was a good thing she was going home soon. She was completely losing her mind here. Her reaction to this man was absolutely, totally preposterous. She’d known him for less than a month. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, feel anything for him. In another week, she’d never see him again, unless it was in a history book somewhere.
Her stomach clenched at the thought. When she returned home, he would have been dead for over seven hundred years. It would be as if none of this had ever happened, as if he weren’t real.
This was insane.
She was insane.
He was the only one who was acting sensibly. She couldn’t possibly care for a man who wouldn’t even exist in a few days. She had to collect her wits and be sensible as well.
She had accepted the logic but was still trying to control her emotions when Connor and Lyall sat down a few feet from her, deeply involved in discussion.
“How many times are you going to make me speak of this? I hae no interest in replacing yer father. He’s laird of the MacKiernan.”
“But, Connor, he’s gaming away everything. It’s become a sickness with him. One of many. It’s why he plans to give wee Mairi to the MacPherson. He owes the man that much more than he can pay. He fears the MacPherson will ride against him.” Lyall spoke quietly, urgently. “The people would follow you gladly if you’d only bring yer men here to throw him out. You can see for yerself how they greet you today. They remember how it was when yer father was laird.”
“No, Lyall. I’ve told you before, I’ll no do it. After my marriage, I’m content to settle at Sithean Fardach and make my life there. I’ll keep Mairi safe with me and yer father will just have to find another way to pay off his debt to the MacPherson. It’s no my concern. Dinna hound me with this again. Artair is the laird.”
“But you’ve no sworn fealty to him, Connor. Everyone knows that.”
“My loyalty is to my king and no one else. I’ll swear to no other man. It disna change a thing. I’ll no challenge Artair and bring death and destruction to our land. I’ve seen what happens to the people when there’s a struggle for power. I’ll no be a part of it.” Connor stood and threw the remains of his lunch into the water. “We’ve stopped long enough. We hae to get on the road or we’ll no make it back before dark sets in.”
They mounted and started off again, but this time Cate had other things on her mind to distract her from feeling sorry for herself.
It was starting to make some kind of sense now. If Lyall, who was obviously close to Connor, still thought there might be a chance that he would attempt to reclaim his rightful place as laird, it would only follow that his uncle and Blane, who never talked to him at all, would think the same thing.
Of course, it still didn’t explain what someone would hope to gain by spooking her horse. Or Blane’s actions toward her for that matter.
Where was Nancy Drew when you really needed her?
* * *
They had ridden for perhaps another thirty minutes when Cate spotted a small boy approaching, running hard. She clutched at Connor’s sleeve, but he had already seen the child. He urged their horse to a gallop to meet him.
“What is it, lad? What’s happened?” The boy’s eyes were large and he was gasping for air. He looked no more than six or seven years old.
“It’s my mum, sir. It’s her time and she sent me to fetch help.”
Duncan had reached them now. He leaned down and lifted the struggling boy up behind him. “Where do you live, lad? Show us the way.”
“No. You canna take me back. My mum says I’m to find someone to take me to the MacKiernan. She says she needs Lady Rosalyn.”
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Rosalyn pulled her horse forward, next to where Duncan was trying to restrain the struggling boy.
“Be still, child. I’m Rosalyn. Who’s yer mother that she’d send for me?”
“Grizel Maxwell, milady. My mum says Lady Rosalyn has given her promise to come when she called.”
His eyes were enormous brown saucers. Cate could feel the fear in him from where she sat.
“Och,” Rosalyn groaned. “No wonder.” She turned to the others. “Grizel’s the midwife in this area. She’s no one to ask for help, and she’s lost her last two babes. After the last time, I chastised her for no sending for me. Mairi.” Reaching for the boy and placing him on her own horse, she called for her niece. “We’re closer to the old castle than to Dun Ard. Yer likely the only one who can find my potions and herbs there. They’re in my tower, in the little solar. Ride to the castle, lass, and bring them back to me quick as you can. If you cut cross-country, it’ll be much faster. Grizel lives just around the next bend in the road. Go quickly now and hurry back to me.”
Mairi took off without a backward glance, looking for all the world like a wild creature taken flight. Connor yelled her name, but she didn’t turn her head.
“Dinna fash yerself, Cousin. I’ll go with her to make sure she’s safe.” Lyall wheeled his horse from the road and galloped away after her.
Rosalyn turned back to the boy. “And what is yer name, lad?” She was stroking his head and he seemed to be calming.
“I’m Donald.” He looked at Connor. “Are you the MacKiernan?”
“No.” Connor nearly yelled it, but as the boy cringed, he gentled his voice. “No. That would be my uncle. I’m Connor MacKiernan.”
“The mighty knight MacKiernan?” The boy was wonder-struck, his mouth hanging open in awe. “My da tells stories about yer battles, he does. They’re my favorite tales. When I grow up, I want to be a knight just like you and fight for our king.”
Cate smiled at the look on Connor’s face. He was actually blushing. This was something she’d never expected to see in him.
Thirty Nights With a Highland Husband Page 14