Halting a few yards away, he tipped his head in acknowledgement. “MacGregor.”
“Draw your weapon.”
Aaron did not mistake the lethal menace in the other man’s tone. “I’d hope we might have a word.”
“Draw your damned weapon.” MacGregor spoke with a slow precision, enunciating each word.
Within the next heartbeat, MacGregor lifted his blade and Aaron scrambled to snatch his sword from the scabbard at his side. He hefted the weapon in the air just as the larger man’s heavy blade came down, clashing with Aaron’s sword in a jolting ring of steel.
Unprepared for MacGregor’s swift advance, he leaped backward a few paces, disengaging their weapons. Attempting to affect a defensive stance, he raised his sword as MacGregor charged at him, swinging the heavy blade at Aaron’s head. Parrying the powerful blow, he struggled to keep his footing and his head attached to his person.
Mairi’s brother was relentless. Aaron dodged and weaved each heavy-handed blow, desperately hoping to tire the larger man. Alas, MacGregor pushed his advance with invigorated strength, charging full force at Aaron. He grappled to keep pace with the other man. Not that he truly intended to strike out at MacGregor. Instead, he defended each swing with a parrying thrust. The muscles in his arms and shoulders burned from his efforts, while he labored to draw in air.
Growing weary, he jumped aside, his foot snagging on a rock, just as MacGregor swung his imposing blade. The edge nicked Aaron’s arm, scoring his skin with stinging pain. Caught off guard, he lost his footing and tumbled backward to the hard-packed ground, the sword clattering from his grasp. Scrambling to grab the weapon, he could not recover from his blunder quick enough before the sharp tip of MacGregor’s blade was poised within a hairsbreadth of his neck.
“Do you yield?” MacGregor glowered down at him.
Aaron frowned at the query. “I do not suppose I have a choice in the matter.”
The big man snorted. “Your sword arm’s shite.”
Rolling his eyes, Aaron dropped his head on the ground while he panted to draw in air. “Your hospitality’s shite.”
The blade pushed into Aaron’s neck. “Do not push me, MacRae. You’re fortunate I’ve allowed you to breathe.”
Aaron would not dispute the truth of the man’s words. MacGregor could’ve easily dispatched him without a great deal of effort. Why the man had not puzzled Aaron.
MacGregor moved the blade away, his gaze narrowing. “I do not like you in the least.”
“I’m not avidly fond of you either,” Aaron muttered.
“I have a damned good reason for my dislike, if you remember.” MacGregor upper lip twisted with distaste. “You stole my wife and my sister. ’Tis not something I shall forget.”
Aaron admitted, “There’s no apology adequate to excuse my actions that day.”
“Nay, there’s not.” In the next breath, MacGregor admitted, “Howbeit, I comprehend the reasons for your actions, but you should’ve spoken to me first. I would’ve helped you and your brother any way I could’ve.” He tilted his head. “Now, tell me. Why are you here?”
“You know why,” Aaron replied in a droll tone.
The other man lifted his chin. “Why should I allow you to see her?”
With a deep sigh, Aaron used two fingers to shove aside the sharpened edge entirely too close to his throat. Thankfully, MacGregor permitted the action. Hefting himself to sit upright, he propped his elbows on his raised knees and peered up at the man.
“Why did you not end my life?” he countered.
For a moment, the laird gazed at him while considering the question. At last, he grunted. “Because she loves you.”
“And I love her,” Aaron retorted.
“Then, why the devil has it taken you a fortnight to come for her?” MacGregor accused, “Hell, you waited a blasted year before that. What has changed?”
Dropping his head to stare at the dirt at his feet, Aaron stated, “I realized I cannot live without her. Though, I tried my damnedest for a miserable year. You know as well as I do, I have no wealth or jewels to offer her, nor do I deserve her, in truth. But, I cannot fathom facing the rest of my life without her beautiful smile, bold spirit, or kind heart. Mairi means everything to me. There is naught I would not do to make her happy. That is, if she will still have me.”
“Saints, the pair of you belong together. You’re as blasted sappy as she is.” MacGregor barked out a laugh, drawing Aaron’s stunned gaze.
’Twas the first time the man had done something other than scowl in his presence.
Rolling his eyes, MacGregor extended a large hand. “Come, get to your feet.”
Aaron stared at the offering for an apprehensive moment before clapping his palm in the other man’s. With a forceful tug, MacGregor helped him to rise on his shaky legs.
In such close proximity, Mairi’s brother speared him with a warning look. “There’s much I can forgive, but if you ever hurt my sister again, I shall not hesitate to end you. Understood?”
Aaron met his gaze with equal measure. “Understood.”
“As for wealth, you should know my sister cares not if your coffers are filled with coin or cobwebs. ’Tis fortunate for you, I would say. ’Tis fortunate, too, that my sister has a substantial bride price to bring to the union of her choosing.”
Aaron blinked at the information. Not that it made a difference to him either way. “Even so, ’tis Mairi’s. I’ve no interest in her dowry. Mairi’s prize enough for me.”
“I wholeheartedly agree. However, the dowry is hers to do with as she pleases. Now—” MacGregor peered over Aaron’s shoulder. “Tell your man to join us in the hall for a drink.”
Aaron glanced behind him to find Niall sitting as straight as a lance in his saddle, worriedly observing the exchange. With a tip of a head and a wave of his arm, he urged his friend forward.
He swung his gaze back to MacGregor. “Where’s Mairi?”
“You’re exhausted. You should rest a moment before you seek her out,” MacGregor suggested.
“Nay, I’ve wasted enough time,” he insisted. “Please, where can I find her?”
A broad grin eased a degree of harshness from the laird’s features. “She’s in the garden outside the kitchens. I’ll show you.” The man cuffed Aaron’s shoulder. “Come, allow me to lead the way.”
Oh, he knew precisely where Mairi’s garden was located. Though, he kept that bit of information to himself for the time being. Before MacGregor steered him inside, he halted in his tracks. “There’s something I must fetch from my bag.”
Whirling around, he hastened the short distance to Niall who approached with Aaron’s gelding in tow. Heading for his saddlebag, he rummaged through the contents until finding what he sought. Grabbing his mantle from the saddle, he swung the cloak around his shoulders and tucked the small item in the inner pocket.
Niall quirked a brow. “So, they have no plans to kill us after all?”
Aaron grinned. “It would seem not. I’ll meet you inside the hall shortly. I must find Mairi.”
*
MAIRI SWIPED HER wrist over her brow, brushing away the stray hairs tickling her face. Stabbing the spade in the turned earth in front of her, she pressed a fist into the strained muscles in her lower back. Despite the cooler temperature, the biting weather had eased enough for her to spend the past two days hunched over her mother’s garden, pruning the overgrowth and dead foliage away.
’Twas a mindless task she welcomed as of late. Anything that might quiet her incessant thoughts. Of course, the feat was nearly impossible, despite her best efforts. No matter how much time she spent with her kin and their bairns, or toiling in the garden, her mind always returned to Aaron. Even now, she thought of him.
Though her heart ached, she harbored no malice toward him. Regardless of how matters ended for them, she hoped with her whole heart that he’d not slipped into the same patterns as before. His clan needed him every bit as much as he needed them.
“Do you suppose you might ever plant a garden for me?”
Her heart almost leaped from her chest at the familiar, roughened voice. In the next breath, she spun on her knees to find Aaron standing a few yards away, watching her with the same sharp, assessing gaze as usual. For long moments, she sat in stunned silence, soaking up the sight of him.
Lines of exhaustion hung from his features while his thick, sable hair lay tussled and askew. His brows tugged low to match the circles beneath his dark eyes.
Once she found her tongue, the breath hissed out of her. “You’re here.”
The statement bordered close to a question, but she could not contain her astonishment.
Nodding, he stepped closer and offered her his hand. “Aye, Mairi. I am here.”
At present, she would not deny his aid. Between her weak knees and drumming heart, she needed a hand to rise to her feet. She hardly wished to blink for fear he might turn into naught but a hopeful illusion.
As soon as she placed her hand in his, a breathless sigh left her lips. His warm fingers twined through hers, proving he was every bit as real as she hoped.
Aaron swept her in his arms, pressing her firmly against his frame. He brushed an errant curl behind her ear and traced his finger over her flushed cheek. “I’ve missed you.”
Damned if the soft-spoken words did not bring tears to her eyes. Swallowing the emotion lodged in her throat, she whispered, “I’ve missed you, too.”
“Please, sit with me for a moment.”
With an arm around her middle, he guided her to the bench along the wall where they’d once sat together after their first meeting in the garden. It seemed so long ago, as if the two of them had been acquainted for a lifetime.
Seated beside him, she shifted to face him with a frown. “How? What of my brother?”
He grasped her hands in his lap and a grin lifted his cheeks. “Do not fret. Your brother and I have called a truce.”
She stared at him in disbelief. Her brother, Calum MacGregor, had agreed to a truce with Aaron?
A laugh tumbled out of him as he tucked her closer to his side. “Do not look at me like that. ’Tis truth. How do you suppose I knew where to find you?”
“I just…’tis shocking.”
“Aye, well. ’Twas shocking to me, too. Though, I’m not complaining.” He peered at their joined hands as his thumbs brushed circles over her skin. “It would seem that I am in the habit of asking your forgiveness. I made the worst decision of my life by sending you away, Mairi. I should’ve given you the respect you deserved and allowed you to explain the situation with MacEwan before losing my head over the matter. ’Twas unforgiveable and I shall have to live with the folly of my decision.”
So, he had read her letter. “Did you think I planned to wed MacEwan, in truth?”
“Nay. Aye. Mayhap.” Shaking his head, he shrugged. “I know not. I merely knew I could not compete with the man’s wealth or golden looks. I suppose I was jealous, fearful that you’d found another who could give you a life that I could not. I never once considered the burden weighing on you, or the position I’d left you in for the past year.” He hesitated a moment. “In truth, I worried of my place within the clan. For a spell, I was adamant that Connor should lead the MacRaes, but the lad has expressed no interest in doing so.”
“Why should he? You are the eldest and ’tis your birthright. Connor looks up to you. As does your clan. Every one of them looks to you for guidance. Despite your reservations, you are not your father, Aaron. You are a decent man who loves his clan. And, they love you.”
“Aye, I know they do.” He nodded. “But, I fear I shall always struggle to feel worthy of my position. Just as I shall always struggle to feel worthy of you. ’Twas not a falsehood when you and I spoke before. You’ve lived among my clan. We are not a wealthy clan, Mairi. ’Twas no lie when I said I had naught of consequence to offer you.”
Disentangling their hands, she gripped his cheeks in her palms and glared at the man. She loved the man more than anything, but he infuriated her at times. “Would you stop fretting over what you lack and focus on what is right in front of you.”
He frowned in confusion.
“Me, you foolish arse. You have me. For Christ’s sake, I love you.” She scowled. “I do not give a twig whether your coffers are bare or overflowing. As long as you love me, then I am the most prosperous woman on earth.”
No sooner had the words left her lips, he seized her mouth with a deep, demanding kiss that curled her toes and left her breathless. No one, absolutely no one in existence, could rile her passion and stir her heart like the man holding her in his arms as if she were his salvation.
He released her mouth, brushing his nose over hers. “You hold my heart, Mairi. You have since the moment I met you. I will love you until I depart this earth, and even then, I shall love you in the hereafter.”
Smiling, she slipped her hands into his. “Your hands are not bare, Aaron. You have me and I shall do everything in my power to stand beside you as you work to right the wrongs of your father. Together, we can do this. But, you must learn to lean on your clan for aid just as I’ve leaned on mine.” She bit her lip. “Please, do not be wroth with me for interfering, but I’ve spoken to my brother and cousin. Both have agreed to set up a trade alliance with the MacRaes. That is, if you’re willing.”
He grinned at her. “Why should that anger me? I cannot believe that you would go to such lengths for me and my clan. Especially after the way I treated you.” A laugh tumbled out of him. “Nay, ’tis not difficult to believe in the least. ’Tis your kind nature and loving heart. Of course, you would try to help us any way you could.” Leaning away from her, he reached inside his mantle. “I have something for you.”
His cheeks bloomed bright crimson and he ducked his head with a sheepish grin. Grasping her hand, he placed a necklace in her palm.
Enchanted, she touched the carved, wooden heart strung from a delicate chain of gold. She stroked over the intricate etching he’d crafted in the wooden piece of jewelry.
He shrugged off his embarrassment. “’Tis not a fine jewel like you deserve, but the chain belonged to my mother. I added the heart later. For you.”
“’Tis beautiful, Aaron. More precious than any jewel I’ve ever seen.” She smiled her pleasure. “Please, help me put it on.”
Nodding, his grin returned. He rose to stand behind her while she brushed her hair aside for him to loop the chain around her neck. Shifting to face her, he helped her to rise from the bench. As he held her hands, his searing gaze captured her.
“Will you marry me, Mairi MacGregor?”
Her heart swelled, brimming over with love for the man in front of her. Everything about Aaron MacRae had captivated her from the start, since their fateful encounter in her herb garden the year before. Even the foul storms they’d weathered in their long acquaintance had proven they belonged together. As long as they had each other, they could face anything together.
Twining her arms around his neck, she beamed her delight. “Naught would please me more, Aaron MacRae.”
With a broad grin, he pressed his mouth to hers in a chaste kiss. He murmured against her lips. “Forever, my lass.”
Staring into his earnest gaze, she reaffirmed the vow. “Forever, my love.”
The End
About the Author
Melissa Limoges lives along the Gulf Coast with a bossy orange tabby named Mr. Tibbs. Property appraiser by day, romance writer by night, she enjoys anything coffee-related, traveling, and reading a good book in between.
You can find Melissa on her Facebook page at facebook.com/MelissaLimogesAuthor or her website at www.mlimoges.com.
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Victoria Vane, Reckless Scotland: A Scottish Medieval Romance Bundle
Reckless Scotland: A Scottish Medieval Romance Bundle Page 144