Canton had the pass well guarded, but Gallagher had gone around the backside of the mountain and come over the top, working down the roof of the fortress to the guard towers with ropes and a knife. It felt like old times, with Jamie watching his back for him, but Gallagher sensed something he didn't quite understand, an antipathy that hadn't existed before. He wondered what was wrong, but it was not the time for a heart to heart talk. He assumed it was worry about Eileen, and he could understand that. He was worried too.
He eased inside the fortress from the parapet opening and down the stone stairway that emptied into the upper halls. With his back to the wall, he slid along on silent feet until he came to a corner. Warily he looked around the corner and saw guards at two different doors. It was safe to assume one of them was probably guarding Eileen, but what was the other one for?
"There are two guards,” he whispered to Jamie. “Two different doors, I wonder why?"
Jamie's eyes narrowed. He knew why, but he didn't say anything. Apparently, Canton had separated the girls. Jamie knew he would never get a better chance to kill Gallagher. He had Canton's guards for backup if he failed. He hesitated a moment too long as Gallagher deliberately made a noise, causing the guard closest to them to come around the corner. Gallagher had him in an instant and slit his throat, releasing the man's limp body to the floor.
Stepping around the corner into full view, Gallagher released his dagger, and it flew straight to the other guard's chest. He too slumped to the floor with a strangled groan.
Gallagher opened the door and was instantly enraged at the sight before him. Canton had tied Kat face down and spread-eagled on the bed, with just her undergarments on. He had a crop in his hand and it was quite obvious what the next step was going to be.
"Kat!” Exploded Gallagher angrily. He charged into the room, drawing his other knife as he came.
"Guards,” shouted Canton as he dropped the crop and took his own knife from his scabbard. The two men faced off, but no guards were coming. They were as still as the stone beneath them.
Jamie held his knife carefully, his face pale yet determined as the two men fought furiously back and forth. His eyes bored into Gallagher's back—waiting.
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Chapter Nine
Morg eased down the stone stairway from the parapet, having already discovered the dead tower guards. Compliments of Gallagher, he was sure. Saracen followed closely behind, watching Morg's back.
As Morg glanced around the corner, he saw a dead clansman lying on the floor in front of a closed door, a knife hilt protruding from his chest. Another guard lay in front of the door down the hall—that one was slightly open. He started towards the sound of the fighting but suddenly heard banging on the door right beside him.
"Helpp!” came the muffled feminine voice from inside.
"Kat!” He exclaimed. He quickly removed the heavy wooden bar and opened the door. Eileen fell into his arms, and he hugged her close.
"Oh my god—Morg,” gasped Eileen thankfully. “I heard noises in the hallway, the sound of fighting. I prayed you would come!"
"It's not me fighting,” he replied gruffly, “I think it's Gallagher!"
"Kat!” She stared up at him with dark purple eyes. “Kat is here, he must have found her! Oh God, Morg. Canton ... he ... he..."
Morg's eyes narrowed, and he pushed Eileen into Saracen's arms and turned towards the room down the hall. His heart constricting with the fear that only love can really feel, he ran down the hall and burst into the room. Eileen and Saracen were right behind him.
"Do it, Jaime—do it now,” Canton demanded, panting and holding his fighting arm, the blood pulsing through his fingers.
Jaime was poised above Gallagher, who was lying on the floor against the far wall, obviously dazed as he put his hand to the back of his head.
The men had fought like demons possessed. Gallagher had finally cut into Canton's right arm just as Canton had kicked him against the wall, knocking his head back into the stone.
Jamie was frozen in place, his knife poised as he stared first at Gallagher, then at Canton. Now was his chance ... his one chance to have Eileen. Should he do it? His gut twisted in fury at the fate that had been dealt so cruelly to him. He wanted her! He could barely stomach the thought of Gallagher placing his hands on her intimately, his body blending with hers.
"Do it,” hissed Canton, panting. He couldn't grip the knife in his right hand anymore and moved it to the left. It would be tough to kill Gallagher left-handed. If Jamie would just do it, it would all be over with.
Jamie turned towards Gallagher and lifted the knife.
"NO!"
Jamie looked up in that instant to see Eileen standing there. The shock and horror on her lovely face was his undoing. He knew without a doubt when her eyes flew to Gallagher, that he had truly lost her. But then, it wasn't like he had ever really had her. Defeated, the knife dropped from his fingers.
"Eileen,” he whispered brokenly, standing up.
"Damn you,” cursed Canton. In a mad rage, he brought his left hand up, the knife catching Jamie in the stomach.
At that moment, Morg sprang across the room with a roar and sunk his blade into Canton's chest. Canton slumped to the floor without another sound.
"Jamie!” Gallagher held Jamie in his arms where he had fallen on him. Gallagher had sufficiently recovered to take in those last momentous seconds. He held his friend and cousin as Eileen flew across the room, the tears running down her cheeks as she kneeled in front of the two men.
"Oh god, Jamie, why? Why were you going to kill Gallagher?” Eileen took her devoted friend's cold hands in her own.
Gallagher knew Jamie was dying. There was nothing to be done for a stomach wound like this—he only had a few moments to live. His gut twisted in regret.
Morg quickly cut the cords holding his beloved Kat and threw a blanket over her shoulders, and then they joined the others as Jamie tried to speak.
"I ... I'm sorry, Eileen—so sorry,” whispered Jamie. His face was ashen as he attempted to talk. She had to know!
"No, don't talk..."
He cut her off. “Let me speak!"
"Donald was—mad—insane with anger. He burned for revenge. He ... he had a peasant lout ... a man he intended to ... to breed you with, and then destroy. He no longer cared about anything ... not bloodlines ... not breeding ... nothing but ... revenge.” Jamie gasped, trying to hurry. He could feel his life slowly draining from his body, and he wanted her to know this.
"I loved ye, Eileen, loved ye since I had set eyes on ye. I couldn't let that happen to ye. I ... I ... agreed to do it myself—rather than have ye suffer that horror. I thought ... thought that maybe one day ... ye might learn to love me ... to ... to forgive me. To tell Soren that ... that he had a father, but ... it seems was never meant to be."
Jamie coughed, blood slowly turning the front of his clothing red. He turned to Gallagher. “Take ... take care of her, cousin.” His eyes closed as his breath softly flowed between tortured lips one more time, and then his hands went limp within Eileen's. He was gone.
* * * *
They buried Jamie in the Brincairn family burial grounds; beneath the old oak tree he and Gallagher had spent many childhood hours in. It was away from the main part of the pretty old cemetery, but it was what Gallagher wanted. He said it was a fitting place for his childhood companion.
Eileen bent and gently laid an armful of fresh roses on Jamie's grave. “All that time, Gallagher, and I never knew he loved me,” whispered Eileen. She leaned back into her husband's warm and comforting arms and closed her eyes against the sunshine.
Sometimes she wondered how the sun could shine so brightly when people held sorrows that went so deep. It had been two weeks since they had put Jamie to rest; yet Eileen was still plagued with dreams at night. She was told she needed time to heal, and she tried to believe that.
"Aye, that was a shock,” replied Gallagher. “And yet, mayhap i
t will help ye to know that ye were not just used on your wedding night.” He gently turned her around so he could look into her lustrous eyes. “It's time to put hate and revenge behind ye, Leeni. Soren is a child of love, however strange it may have come about. One day, we will tell him about his father. He deserves to know he had a father who loved and cared for him and his mother."
Eileen put her small hand against his cheek. “Aye, every child. I'm sorry ye don't have that to remember, husband."
He took her hand and placed a kiss in the soft palm. “As ye said, Donald McDuggin was a bastard, but I never lacked for love. My mother gave me all she had.” He smiled down at her. “And in his own way, Father did love me too. It was an unhealthy obsessive love, but he did care for me. Besides, I plan on having my own children to love."
Eileen blushed under his intent gaze. Gallagher had been supportive and attentive, but so far had made no demands on her body. He had never said he loved her either.
The sound of Soren's laughter caught their attention, and they turned to see Morg and Kat headed their way. Soren was perched on Morg's broad shoulders, bouncing and laughing delightedly as Morg strode along.
After settling the unrest with the McAlester clan, Morg had decided to take a little trip to Brincairn and visit his nephew. He now wore his father's ring and even William seemed to have settled down and accepted his leadership. So Morg had left the castle in Saracen's capable hands and taken a small vacation.
Kat's green eyes sparkled in the sunlight as she watched Morg with Soren. How she longed for a child. Maybe now that things were settled with Morg's inheritance, she could stop taking the potion Alyssa had given her in Pirates Cove to prevent children. She had never told Morg she was taking it. He had thought it strange she had never gotten with child, but Kat had kept her own council. Pirates Cove had been no place for children!
"Eileen!” She waved her hand at Eileen and Gallagher. “Hey, we have an idea. How about Morg and I take Soren home with us for a few weeks?” She tossed her bright head. “Then you and Gallagher can have some time to yourselves. After all, you are still newlyweds!"
Eileen loved the color of Kat's auburn tresses, and she admired their gleaming luster in the sunshine. In fact, she admired everything about her fiery little sister in law. Eileen had plenty of room in her heart to be happy for her brother. He had been so angry when he left. Some of the stories Kat had regaled her with had turned her blood cold. The giant of a man that was being so tender with her son seemed a far cry from the bloodthirsty pirate Kat had known, but she knew that people could change.
Eileen herself had become a different person when she was seeking revenge on Donald and Canton. It had driven her to train for endless hours with Dungally, learning to defend herself and preparing for revenge. She had never had the heart of a fighter, though, not like Kat. She greatly admired Kat's knife skills and fiery temperament, but Kat had enjoyed training. Eileen hadn't enjoyed it at all—it had simply been necessary.
"I think that's a fine idea,” Gallagher replied enthusiastically. A little too much enthusiasm—he had Eileen blushing again.
With roses blooming in her cheeks, Eileen reached up to take her son's hand. “Would ye like to visit Uncle Morg and Aunt Kat for awhile, darling?"
"You mean go to their castle, Mama?” Piped up Soren, his eyes shining. “Aye, Mama ... aye!” He bounced on Morg's broad shoulders. The hold he had on Morg's hair caused the big man to wince.
"Easy there, lad,” cautioned Morg with a laugh. “I'd like to keep my hair for a few years, if ye don't mind."
Eileen pulled her son from her brother's arms and handed the laughing little boy off to Gallagher. “Would ye mind?” she asked softly.
Gallagher took the boy, and Eileen hooked her arm in Morg's. “Come, brother, let's walk a bit.” The two strolled back towards the castle, leaving Kat and Gallagher behind.
Eileen looked up at Morg, her lovely eyes intense in her small face. “I wanted to thank ye for being there, Morg, for coming to my rescue this time."
Morg stopped and took her face between his large palms. “I'm truly sorry for what has happened to ye, Leeni. Had I known what Canton would do, I would never have left."
Eileen felt that flash of insight that told her Morg meant every word he said. His earnest green eyes told her the rest.
"I know, I know ye would have been here, if ye could,” she replied with a smile. “And I forgive ye for leaving. Ye were not responsible for Canton's evil."
"I hope you'll be happy now, Leeni. Try to let go of the past."
"Gallagher was just telling me the same thing. She laughed and tossed her wheat colored braid behind her shoulder. Believe me, I want to, it's just..."
"Just what?” He brushed his finger down her smooth cheek.
"I ... I'm not sure I'm in love with Gallagher. I don't really know how I would know that. And ... and the dreams ... they still plague me at night.” She looked down at the ground.
Morg lifted her bent head to look into her expressive face. “When I wasn't sure about Kat, I just tried to imagine my life without her. When I couldn't, I knew I was hooked. Besides, I knew she was coming before she arrived in Pirate's Cove.” His eye's twinkled. “That uneasy nervous feeling wouldn't leave me be when she was on her way. I felt trouble before she ever got there!"
"As for the dreams, perhaps tis time ye replaced that experience with a better one.” He glanced meaningfully back at the couple behind them. “Gallagher is a good man, Leeni. He will take good care of ye, if ye let him."
Eileen pushed her slippered toe into the grass. “There is one other thing ... something I don't like, Morg.” She bit her lip and looked up at him.
"What is it?"
"He ... he spanks me! Like I was a little girl! Even with all that has happened, he says I deserve a spanking for going to the privy without him the night I was kidnapped. Can ye believe that?” Her small face looked pinched and anxious as she stared up at him.
Morg threw back his head and roared with laughter. “Oh, aye, I can believe that. I fully agree with him too."
"What?” Eileen was now embarrassed and indignant!
"I take it Kat has not confessed to getting her backside blistered now and then?"
"Kat?” Eileen was astounded. The fiery independent Kat didn't seem the sort to be bossed and bullied around and turned over a man's knee at all. Eileen's mind boggled at the thought.
"Aye, Kat,” agreed Morg, nodding his head.
"I heard my name,” said Kat, flashing her husband a smile. The other couple had come abreast of them and Soren ran for Eileen, throwing his arms around his mother. “What have I done now?"
"Shame on ye,” responded Morg. “Ye haven't told Eileen that ye get spanked too. She is worried and embarrassed about it."
"Humph!” Kat brought her small chin up, her aristocratic nose in the air. “You had best hush, mon cherie. Strange things happen to people in their sleep!"
The men just laughed, and Eileen shook her head. Would wonders never cease?
* * * *
Two days later, Morg and Kat were gone, taking Soren with them. There was a feeling of celebration in the air. Melba had ordered a special dinner prepared for Eileen and Gallagher and had the servants serve it in their new quarters.
Gallagher had completely redone the master suite, removing every trace of Donald Brincairn's presence, even the bed. A new bed stood in its place, made of fine cherry wood, hand carved by one of the village carpenters of LaCra. The heavy draperies had been removed, and new, lighter ones in pretty white cabbage roses now adorned the balcony window, tied back by thin gold cording. The heavy brooding air was completely gone, and Eileen loved it.
Eileen was, however, nervous—very nervous. She became more and more tense as the evening wore on, barely touching her food. Gallagher finally reached across the supper table and took her hand in his.
"Leeni, eat your dinner. There is nothing to be afraid of. Nothing has changed just because Morg an
d Kat are gone. I'm not going to jump on ye the minute we go to bed.” He gazed earnestly at her across the table, worried because she hadn't eaten much. He didn't like the shadows under her gorgeous eyes, and he didn't want to be the cause of them getting worse.
On the other hand, he wasn't sure how many more nights he could lay beside her without betraying his promise. He was only human, after all.
Eileen smiled and picked up her bread, nibbling on it as she watched him eat. She had made up her mind that she was going to give him a chance. Even if he didn't love her, she knew she had feelings for him. She had taken Morg's advice to heart and really thought about her life without Gallagher in it. She had been very surprised to realize how much she wanted him to be there. The thought of leaving him made her feel dark inside, and heavy hearted.
And there was Soren to consider. Gallagher was good with her son, and Soren loved him already with a childish enthusiasm. Even when his over boisterous spirits led him to disobey, Gallagher's firm words would set him straight immediately.
And last of all, there was the way her body reacted to his nearness. She enjoyed his kisses, even though she hadn't been able to keep herself from blocking him with her hands against his chest. Still, his touch made her feel trembling and weak inside. Her thoughts strayed back to that morning she had been over his knee and the explosive way her body had reacted to his intimate touch. She found herself wanting more, yet afraid to try. When he looked up at her with a quizzical look, she blushed and averted her eyes. Surely, he couldn't read her thoughts as well!
It was just getting dark when they decided to finally retire. Gallagher couldn't help being nervous himself, and hopeful that tonight she might turn to him. That perhaps she might feel a bit of the desire that burned within his blood and wish to do something about it. He had done all he could to understand and be patient, but he was starting to get a bit evil tempered with his men. She had agreed to give their marriage a try, but had shown no warmth towards him as yet. At least not in the way he needed. He found her looking strangely at him at times, like over dinner, but he didn't know what she was thinking.
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