Marti Talbott's Highlander Series, Volume 4

by Marti Talbott

“Not in the least.”

  “Then you are sensible too. But you need two of your lads to kill each of mine. I had hoped you might save us both the trouble of having to train more lads, by putting your best against mine instead.”

  “We need lasses, MacGreagor. If it takes two lads to kill each of yours then so be it.”

  Neil looked him in the eye, could see no way out, and was about to go back and let the battle begin, when he thought of something. “Are you a God fearing man?”

  “Aye”

  “Would you make a lass commit adultery?”

  “Of course not.”

  “I am pleased to hear it. Some of these are already married.”

  MacPhearson eyed Neil suspiciously. “And you are not inclined to tell me which ones?”

  “I am not.”

  MacPhearson slowly smiled. “You are a clever lad. Do you mean to send us away empty handed?

  “Aye, but I will tell you a secret.”

  “Which is?”

  “There are plenty wanting Highlander husbands. All one need do is go to England and make an offer.”

  “What sort of offer?”

  “Tell them they can choose their own husbands, they will not be forced and they will have plenty of meat to eat.”

  MacPhearson raised an eyebrow, “Meat?”

  “Aye, the English give all their meat to the wealthy.”

  Laird MacPhearson stared at the ground and considered Neil’s instructions. “We are not fond of forcing lasses anyway. They tend to kill us in our sleep when we do.”

  “Keeps a lad from getting his rest,” Neil agreed.

  “True enough. Where do the MacGreagors live?”

  “North of the Haldane and just west of the Kennedy Clan.”

  MacPhearson spit on the ground, “We hate the Kennedys.”

  “I can see why.”

  MacPhearson’s eyes widened and he gave Neil’s stature a more intense examination. Then he began to chuckle, “You are the giant?”

  Neil grimaced, “That rumor will be the death of me.”

  “You mean there is no golden sword?”

  Neil dismounted, put his arm around the man’s shoulders and began to walk him back to his horse. “I would show you the sword, but it disappeared along with my magic horse and the fire breathing dragon I had in a very large pen behind the Keep.”

  Again MacPhearson laughed. Then he pointed west. “If you would like to see my dragon, you are welcome. We live over there.”

  “I would like that.” Out of respect for a man he thought he might call friend someday, Neil bowed. It seemed to please MacPhearson greatly and when Neil turned to go back to his horse, he did not feel a hot glare or the fear of being cut down from behind. Nor did he look back as it would have been a sign he did not trust the man.

  Just as Neil swung up on his horse, MacPhearson ordered his men to let them pass, and as the MacGreagors walked their horses through, Laird MacPhearson smiled at as many women as he possibly could. “Treat them well, MacGreagor, or they will come to us and we will welcome them.”

  They were almost all the way past when Neil looked back and shouted, “They have free will. They are free to choose their own clan and their own husbands. If they are unhappy with us, I will bring them to you myself.”

  “Meat, MacGreagor?”

  “Meat, MacPhearson, meat!” Neil yelled back.

  ONCE MORE, THEY AVOIDED a war, but Neil was not pleased. He had too much to worry about to let anything go wrong. A dark, gray sky, the smell of rain and the faint sound of thunder in the distance convinced him they were about to get wet. So he sent scouts to find trees with thick lower branches to shield them and was relieved when they quickly reported back.

  Once they were stopped for the night, Neil asked Greer to collect Glorie and bring her to him.

  Burk was expecting it and at the mention of Glorie’s name, he wanted to be nearby. Women sometimes cry when they are chastised and need a man to hold them—that man was going to be him, if he had anything to say about it.

  Everyone, even the women knew what was coming...except Glorie.

  GLORIE COULD NOT BELIEVE it, “You are unhappy with me?”

  Neil did not exhibit his most ferocious frown, but he frowned nevertheless. “You did a foolish thing today. You might have gotten several of us killed.”

  “How?”

  He could not believe she was questioning him and had to remind himself she was English. “How?”

  “Yes, how? I wanted to pray for the men who were about to die and since the MacGreagors are vastly larger, I was certain the MacPhearsons needed me more.”

  She had a point and Neil was not at all prepared for her kind of logic. “Aye, but the lad might have cut you down where you stood.”

  She put her hands on her hips in a huff. “I was not standing, I was kneeling, and no lad, even the most wicked would kill a lass in the presence of God. Highlanders do believe in God, do they not?”

  “All the ones I know do.”

  “Well then, the English and the Scots have more in common than you think. Am I excused yet?”

  “Not yet.” He ran his fingers through his hair and tried to calm himself. Scolding Glorie should have been easy, but it was not working out as well as he hoped. “You lied to the lad. For someone who prays constantly...”

  “Oh that. ‘Tis quite all right with the Father if one has to lie in the presence of one’s enemies.”

  “I thought bearing false witness was against God under all circumstances.”

  “Except when in the presence of one’s enemies. Everyone knows that. How else are we to survive such things? For all we know, Laird MacPhearson could have been a blight who enjoys killing for the sport of it.”

  “I am happy to see you understand at least that much. May I remind you, you lied while you were on your knees praying?”

  “Well, that might not be so allowable, but it could not be helped. I could not let him take the women, now could I?”

  “Glorie, that is precisely the problem. They are my responsibility, not yours. You are a lass and you must...”

  “Obey lads at all times, for all reasons and in front of all other people. But lads are not always right, you are aware. Besides, you lied too.”

  “When?”

  “When you said some of us were married. But do not fret, I have already spoken to God and He has forgiven us both for our transgressions.”

  Neil was so frustrated, he did not know what to do. Then he spotted Burk and nodded for him to come forward. While he waited, he made himself calm down and remember to change from English to Gaelic. “Our lovely and wonderful Glorie is having a difficult time understanding our rules. I assign you to stay close to her for the rest of this journey. If she again tries to interfere, you are to detain and keep her quiet.”

  Instead of looking put upon, Burk could not have been happier. Neil watched him take Glorie away and closed his eyes. God help the man who marries that one.

  CHAPTER VII

  RAIN WAS COMMON, BUT lightning and thunder upset some of the women and made them cry out. Keeping them quiet proved fruitless and the men soon gave up. Thankfully, on a night like this, there was little chance a rival clan would attack.

  Kadick was happy Donnahail let her get close enough to snuggle, but she did not close her eyes even once. Neil and Donnahail put her and Greer between them under a large tree and tried to stay dry. The rest of the people were also in small groups under surrounding trees. With every clap of thunder, some of the women squealed and Neil rolled his eyes.

  “Are all English lasses skittish?” asked Donnahail.

  Greer giggled, “Apparently so. Even Glorie is hiding and I did not think anything frightened her.”

  Neil turned to look. “She is at that.” Then he got quiet so he could listen. Burk was sitting up with his back against the tree and three women were huddled next to him. Glorie was practically sitting on his lap and Burk did not seem to mind. However, Glorie held a pla
id over her face as if that would somehow save her. Neil smiled. Burk was trying to comfort the women in Gaelic, but the women were fretting in English.

  BURK WAS PLEASED TO have Glorie close but he was also bothered. When Neil decided to take them to England to find wives, he had not given too much thought to the language barrier. Now he had plenty to say to Glorie and no way to say it. He was trying to learn English as fast as he could and he knew Glorie was also practicing, but it was a frustration he was not handling well.

  All he really had to express himself were physical movements and he was not practiced in that art. As a boy, all the boys tried to get a kiss occasionally and even dared to hold the hand of a comely lass. Yet as a man, open expressions meant commitment and he had not yet found someone to commit to...until now.

  Now she was practically in his arms but they were not alone and she had herself completely enclosed in a plaid. Not only that, his laird was watching him. Lightning flashed, the women squealed, Glorie snuggled closer and Burk sighed. What he would give for a moment alone with her, but that was not likely to happen anytime soon.

  THE STORM PASSED, THE people did not get too wet and the next morning, Neil suddenly woke out of a sound sleep and sat up. He just remembered he let Brendan think they would stay where they were and not try to go through the land of the Swinton. Now they were beyond both the Swinton and the valleys of the MacPhearson.

  Standing guard, Luag quickly knelt down beside him. “Is something wrong?”

  “Aye, we are not where I said we would be. Send scouts east and west so Brendan does not miss us. Tell them to whistle often.” He waited until his second was gone and then looked around. Most everyone was still asleep...except for Glorie who was already on her knees praying. He could just barely hear her, but soon he realized she had accomplished something he had not. Glorie already knew everyone’s name so she could say a special prayer for each. Hopefully, Neil thought, it would keep her very busy and out of his way.

  ONCE EVERYONE WAS UP and fed, the women mounted and then the men spread wet plaids over the horse’s rumps to dry. There would be a lot of washing to do once they got home and Greer agreed with the others—anything sounded better than riding a horse.

  Kadick still had not agreed to marry him and Donnahail was near his wits end. As hard as he tried to convince her he was serious, she did not believe him. Again, he rode on the opposite side of her from Neil, and everything seemed fine. An hour later, she let her head fall forward and her oversized hood completely covered her face.

  Alarmed, Donnahail reached over, wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his lap. Then he adjusted her, put her head against his chest, and raised her hood. Kadick was glaring. He laughed and turned to Neil. “I believe she wants to hurt me. She did not sleep well last night.”

  Neil grabbed the reins to Kadick’s horse to keep it in tow. “None of us did. You need to marry that one, Donnahail.”

  “I am trying, but she will not consent.”

  “Why not, I see nothing wrong with you.”

  Donnahail peeked under her hood again and her eyes were closed. “That is what she says as well. She likes me ... maybe even loves me, but she will not have me. She has decided I am to have a wife with no mark.”

  Neil took a long, deep breath and slowly let it out. It was not hard to see her logic. Her love for Donnahail being more important than her own happiness was admirable, but...but what, he wondered. He could not force a lass to marry...or could he? “Do you love her?”

  Donnahail looked surprised by the question. “I do. I cannot imagine life without her.”

  “Today her mark does not bother you, but in five years when you have children or ten when marriage has become tiresome and boring, will you resent her mark then?”

  “Could I have stopped loving a sister with a bent foot, or could Walrick have stopped loving Kindel because she was blind? Nay, love does not have conditions even in five, ten or fifty years. Besides, who is to say I will always remain this remarkably handsome.”

  Kadick pushed her hood back and sat up. “I smell intrigue.”

  Neil frowned. “So do I. We went to England to find you a husband. It was Glenna who talked me into this and when we return without a betrothal, she will be very disappointed.” Neil held his breath and watched Kadick’s expression turn from defiance to submission.

  “She will not be pleased at all, will she,” said Kadick.

  “Not at all. You are well aware a MacGreagor laird cannot, indeed will not force a lass to marry. But the law does not apply to the clan’s mistress. If Glenna commands it, you will have to marry him. Besides, you have already been in his bed and there are more than enough witnesses. The people will think Donnahail has refused to honor you.”

  She looked up at the man she loved and then looked away. “I would not want to shame him.”

  “I thought not.”

  “And I do love him.”

  Neil tried hard not to smile. “I am happy to hear that.”

  Kadick looked up at Donnahail again and then back at Neil. “On the other hand, I believe the two of you conspired to make up this trickery and it will not work! The lad is forced to marry the lass, not the opposite.”

  Neil shrugged. “If you insist.”

  Donnahail grinned. “I accept.” He leaned down and gently kissed her lips. To his amazement, she wrapped both arms around his neck and pulled herself up so she could see his eyes. “Say it again.”

  “Say what?” she asked.

  “Say you love me.”

  “Later.”

  She wanted to be kissed completely and for the first time, she touched her lips to his and let the feeling of love fill her whole being. It was finally hers—this, the most wonderful of all emotions. Kadick was more than a mark, she was a woman who would know the feel of a husband’s embrace and God willing, hold her own child in her arms. At last, Kadick was loved just like any other woman.

  CHAPTER VIII

  KEEPING GLORIE IN LINE was no easy task, especially with the language problem and when they stopped for the noon meal, Burk finally had to go get Greer to explain what he was ordered to do.

  “Which is?” Greer wanted to know and she walked from where she had been sitting on a dry rock to the damp grass where Glorie sat.

  “Keep her from interfering.”

  “I see. I am not altogether sure how to explain that to her.”

  “Tell her she is to obey me.”

  Greer was skeptical Glorie would take it well, but turned to her and repeated his words in English.

  Glorie was not happy to hear it. “That is just like a man. Women have no hope in this world, no hope at all.”

  “Burk is not a bad lad, Glorie. He will not make impossible demands on you.”

  “Burk is pleasant enough to be sure, but I do not wish to be...you know, kept. I have already belonged to several keepers and I do not enjoy it one little bit.”

  “What keepers?”

  “Lords and Barons and the like. Most send me away soon enough.” She lowered her voice and leaned closer to Greer. “They object to so much praying. Can you imagine? One baron said it frayed his nerves abominably and he hoped never to see my face again. It was fine with me, praying for that lad took nearly all my free time.”

  “Did you do it aloud?”

  “I may have...occasionally. I try never to do that, but...”

  Greer took her arm, led her back to the dry rock and sat her down. “Do you suppose some people do not like to be reminded of their misdeeds constantly?”

  “Well no, they do not. I have heard that from their very own lips often enough. ‘Tis why I try very hard not to do it aloud.”

  “You could stop kneeling in front of them?”

  “Oh, no, I could not do that. When the thought comes, I must do it right then and there or I will forget.”

  “I see.” Greer took a moment to explain to Burk what the two women were talking about. Then she turned back. “Neil has ordered Burk to care
for you.”

  Glorie was immediately suspicious. “Neil does not like me.”

  “He does not know you well enough to like or not like you. But you have not yet learned our ways well enough and he does not want you to endanger us again.”

  “Oh that.” She finally took a deep breath and paused to think for a moment. “Burk is to keep me from endangering us.”

  Greer sighed her relief. Maybe she was getting it across to her after all. “Aye, you are to obey Burk until we get home. Do you promise?”

  Glorie thoughtfully looked left, then up and then to her right before she answered. “Is this to be a sacred promise or just a little promise?”

  Greer put her hands on her hips, “Glorie...”

  “Oh alright, I promise. But I will not like it and I only promise until we get home.”

  Greer explained it to Burk in Gaelic and then went back to talking with some of the others.

  Burk smiled at Glorie, but she was not in the mood for his smiles. Instead, she started to get down on her knees again. Abruptly he took her arm. “Oh, so that is it. Neil wants me to stop praying. Well it will not work.” He motioned for her to go with him and since he was considerably larger, she decided resisting would be impossible. Besides, everyone was watching them. Then to her amazement, he took her to a dry spot under a tree, let go and did not object when she knelt down.

  He was pleased with the surprise on her face but he didn’t let it show. Instead, he put his hands behind his back and turned as though to guard her instead of guarding the others from her. Before she would obey, she would need to trust him at least a little. A few minutes later, he heard her mention his name and he did not doubt he needed all the prayer he could get.

  He wondered if she had any idea how pleasing she was to look at, with that red hair and those green eyes that flashed her every emotion. She must not know for there were other men who desired her, and she did not seem to notice. Then again, her praying put off some of the men and that was just fine with Burk. He very much hoped to give her something to do other than pray in the near future.