by MacKay, Cali
“I hope you’re right.” With a sigh, she slipped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest as he held her close. “I know I have no right, and you can manage just fine, but you have me worried.”
“Och, love, that’s the last thing I want.” He kissed the top of her head and then took her hand. “Shall we continue? I believe this is the room Mrs. Wallace mentioned.”
Cat looked around, happy to leave her worries behind, if for just a bit. Most of the walls were still intact, despite parts of the roof missing. From what was left of the room, it appeared to be more utilitarian—a kitchen perhaps? She started to wander away from Iain’s side. “There could be an entrance hidden in the floor or the walls.”
“Just be careful. There’s rubble everywhere, and if there’s a tunnel below, I don’t want ye falling through.”
Unable to resist flirting with him, she threw him a teasing smile over her shoulder. “What are the chances of that happening?”
She barely had the words out when a wooden plank gave way, gouging her leg from calf to knee. Iain was at her side in a heartbeat, muttering curses under his breath as he helped her extract herself, leaving her boot behind in the hole. He carried her over to a large stone and sat her down.
“Let me see.” Carefully, he pulled her pant leg up and out of the way, and let out a huge sigh of relief. “We’ll need to disinfect it when we get back, but it’s mainly just a bit of scraped skin and a few splinters. Yer boot saved ye from the worst of it. I swear, Cat. Ye’re going to be the death of me. Are ye always this bad or is it just around me?”
“I think you’ve somehow managed to amplify how accident-prone I am.” Pulling down her pant leg, she gave him a reassuring smile, hoping it’d work. “Don’t look so upset. It’s just a scrape. I’m fine.”
“You’re fine this time.” His curses switched to Gaelic—never a good sign, as far as Cat was concerned, having been on the receiving end of it more than once when she’d exasperated her father.
“I promise to be more careful, but right now, I want my boot back and I want to know what sort of hole my foot fell into.”
He shook his head, his entire body tense. “Ye have a one-track mind, woman. Does it not matter that ye’re constantly getting hurt?”
“Iain… what do you want me to do? I’m here to find the necklace, and will do whatever it takes. I’m not going to let those jerks scare or bully me out of finding it, and I’m certainly not going to let bumps and bruises slow me down.” She grabbed his shirt, resisting the urge to shake him as her emotions rose to the surface, refusing to be beaten back.
Suddenly, everything felt as if it was slipping out of control. First James and Malcolm, and now total strangers, all trying to get to the Hope. The last thing she could afford to do was slow down and take things easy.
Her eyes burned with threatening tears, but she refused to let her emotions get in her way. “You’re not going to stop me, Iain, and I’m not leaving until I find the Hope. Do you hear me?”
“Aye, love. Hush.” He pulled her into his arms, and held her tight, murmuring to her in Gaelic until she’d calmed down. “I’m not trying to stop ye, Cat. But each time ye get hurt and brush it off like it’s of no consequence, it worries me that ye’re not being careful enough, and ye’re taking too many risks. We’ll find the necklace. But I don’t want it to be with our dying breath.”
With a large exhale, she rid herself of the tension eating away at her, knowing he was right. It just meant he cared—and that was nice. She went up on her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a sweet man, Iain MacCraigh. It’s a good thing I have you around to keep me safe.”
“A sweet man, aye? Just don’t let that get around. I have a reputation to uphold. You know… playboy, ruthless businessman, and what was it ye called me on the day we first met? Ah yes, arrogant jerk.”
She had to laugh. The two of them certainly had come a long way since he’d nearly run her over. “Who knew you’d be such a contradiction. I’ll admit, I’m glad I’ve been given the opportunity to find that out.”
“Are ye really?” He twined his fingers with hers and brought them to his lips, a sparkle in his eyes. “Then let’s hope ye manage to live long enough to make the most of it.”
The way he looked at her would have any woman swooning into his arms. Pity it would eventually have to come to an end. She supposed she could make the most of their time together—or concentrate on work instead. “Are you ready to check out that hole then?”
“Aye, love. But first things first.” He got to his feet, went over to where her foot had gone through the board, and pulled away at some of the rotten wood so he could reach in and grab her boot. He held it up victoriously before sliding it onto her foot. “Not exactly a glass slipper, is it?”
“Well, last I checked, I wasn’t exactly Cinderella.”
He laughed. “Ye know ye want to say it—and I’m not exactly Prince Charming.”
Her lips tugged into a smile. “Truth is, you’re pretty damn close. Not something I ever anticipated.”
“That’s because, like so many others, ye underestimated me, Cat.” He stood up and, taking both her hands in his, pulled her to her feet. “But I don’t mind, love. It’s how I’ll win.”
Somehow she’d managed to awaken his competitive side, and it now felt like he was getting ready to eat her alive. She perked an eyebrow at the thought, her lips curling into a seductive smile. Could be far too entertaining—and she was always up for a challenge.
“Ready to go exploring, then?” She looked up into those piercing blue eyes and thought him a worthy opponent.
“Aye, love. Just watch yer step this time. Wouldn’t want ye to do yerself an injury when the fun’s just starting.”
They squatted in front of the hole and removed the debris that had fallen onto the floor from the ceiling above. After a good ten minutes, they managed to expose what seemed to be a door in the floor. The hinges were rusted through, though they remained intact when Iain pulled it open. He grabbed the flashlight and shone it down the stone steps that led into the darkness. Cat’s heart thundered at the possibilities. The jewels had to be close by. It might be wishful thinking, but she had to stay positive. Research would never get done with a pessimistic attitude.
Iain handed her a flashlight, and slowly went down the steep staircase before turning around and giving her a hand. The passageway was narrow, dark and damp, and Cat had to suppress a shiver as Iain swiped at the cobwebs.
He stopped short. “It’s not a tunnel, Cat. It ends right here.”
She tried her best to not let it get her down, and yet a weary sigh escaped. “It was likely used as a hiding hole during the uprising and in the years after. Just means there’s a good chance there are other tunnels around.”
Iain held the flashlight up and started to take a closer look at the walls. “I keep thinking there’s more to these tunnels and rooms than we can actually see. Not that I expect us to press a button and have a wall swing open to reveal a hidden chamber, but… something.”
She had to laugh. “I know, right? And trust me, I’ve been on enough of these searches to know better, yet I still feel around for cracks in walls and pull down on wall sconces. I guess I’ve watched far too many movies.”
“You and me both.” He pressed on the wall, shifting his hand around as he applied pressure and ran his fingers down the seams, before turning back to her with a playful grin. “It was worth a shot.”
“We can keep looking. There might be another tunnel somewhere else in the ruins, or more clues in the paintings.” She couldn’t give in to her doubts, nor could she let James find the necklace. They just had to be persistent.
“Aye, love. Let’s finish looking around here so we can check it off the list.”
Cat started to head back when she startled to a stop, Iain coming short behind her. Voices could be heard in the ruins above them. With a tilt of her head towards the stairs, she motioned to Iain.
He quietly pushed past her while turning off the flashlight, his voice barely a whisper. “Get to the back of the room. Now. And no matter what happens, stay put.”
Chapter Fourteen
Iain’s mind raced. He had no weapon on him, and couldn’t risk Cat getting hurt. He snuck towards the opening to get a better idea of what he was dealing with—and if it turned out to be Malcolm and James, he’d murder them both.
He could hear them. There were at least two men, maybe three. Scottish. And unless his brother was keeping quiet, he wasn’t there. If they were the ones who attacked Cat, then the situation could be dangerous. Could he make his presence known and lead them away so Cat could escape, or would he just draw attention to her? Would it be better to just stay quiet and hope they didn’t notice the steps?
Except for the fact that he was furious that they’d hurt Cat. They were on his land, in his home, and he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to protect what was his.
Making use of his anger, Iain stalked up the stairs and pushed away any thoughts that he was doing the wrong thing. At the very least, he’d lead them away from Cat. He cleared the last step while quickly taking in the scene. Two men, about twenty feet away, one in his thirties, and another in his fifties.
“Ye better have a damned good explanation as to why ye’re on my property and snooping around my home. And if I find out ye’re the ones who attacked my guest, there’ll be hell to pay.” He tapped the long metal flashlight against his palm and moved towards them to draw their attention away from the room Cat was hiding in.
It was the older man who answered him. “The name’s MacTavish, and this here’s Campbell. Ye must be Callum’s lad then. My apologies about the girl—that wasn’t meant to happen, and the man responsible has been disciplined. She startled him, and he reacted on instincts that weren’t very good.”
“She could have been killed. And ye’ve yet to tell me what ye’re doing here on my property.” Iain took them in, wondering about his chances in a fight. If they remained unarmed, he thought he stood a fair chance, though the younger man was built like an ox.
“We’re here because yer brother thinks the Highlander’s Hope is on yer land, and ye know the legends, the symbolism—that Scotland will gain its independence when the Hope is found.” He shrugged, even if his eyes sparkled. “And aye, they’re just tales of old, but given the importance of the necklace, we can’t have it falling into the wrong hands.”
“Nationalists? Well, I fully support Scotland’s independence, but I doubt any official group has condoned yer actions or the violence used, which leads me to believe ye’re working on yer own. So don’t go hiding against the Nationalist movement, when ye’re no more than bullies.” Iain scoffed, trying not to give anything away. His nerves were on edge—the men had closed the distance between them, splitting up, so he’d have a harder time keeping an eye on both of them.
“Those are some harsh words, lad.” MacTavish looked annoyed, despite his lips curling into a smile.
“Well here are some more. If ye’re hoping to find anything of value in what my brother’s had to say, then ye don’t bloody well know him. He’s always been one to talk, and there’s yet to be any truth to anything coming out of his gob. So the two of ye can piss off and if I see ye on my land again, ye’ll be dealing with the police.”
Campbell was big but he was slow, so when he charged forward, Iain sidestepped him and lunged at MacTavish, catching him at waist-height and knocking him off his feet before he had a chance to react. MacTavish hit the ground hard, but Campbell hadn’t missed a beat. Pain erupted across Iain’s back and knocked him to his knees when Campbell hit him with a wood plank. Another blow had Iain’s vision erupting in a spray of light and darkness as he was knocked forward, his head swimming.
Iain managed to roll onto his back, hoping to catch the next blow, when Campbell’s eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell to the ground.
Cat stood there holding a rock in her hands, shaking. “He could have killed you. I had to. The cops… I called on my cell. They’re on their way.”
She dropped the rock and went to Iain’s side, helping to steady him and get him on his feet. Iain turned to MacTavish, his head still swimming. “I suggest ye take yer friend and get the hell out of here. Next time I see any of ye on my land, I’ll be armed and ye won’t get a warning.”
He could try and hold them for the cops, but truth was, he feared the attack would escalate, and he wouldn’t be able to protect Cat. Better to let them go and let the authorities deal with them later.
MacTavish hauled Campbell to his feet as the man started to come to, blood pouring from a gash on his head. “If ye think this is over, ye’re gravely mistaken.”
Iain watched them go until he was sure they wouldn’t be returning. Worried about Cat, he held her close. Adrenaline coursed through his body and left him overwhelmed and on edge, even if it wasn’t enough to erase the pain. It could have easily been far worse though, and for that he was grateful.
“Thank ye, love.” The poor girl was shaking like they’d fished her out of the loch in the middle of winter. Putting his arms around her, he held her tight, wishing she didn’t have to go through any of this.
“He was going to kill you, Iain—and I nearly killed him.”
“Hush, love. Don’t go worrying yerself. I’ll heal before long, and that bastard got no more than he deserved.” Iain kept scanning the area, half expecting more men to come traipsing through the ruined walls. If they did, there’d be little he could do to fend them off. He felt like he’d been hit by a train, his back and shoulders battered and bruised. “Did ye really call the police?”
“No. I couldn’t get any reception down in the hole, but thought it’d keep them from hanging around. But we should call the cops, Iain. This is totally getting out of control. I can’t bear to think of what might have happened.” She could barely hold his gaze for more than a second, and it made his heart ache.
He brushed her cheek and tried to get her to look at him. “Cat, we’ll manage. And I don’t want ye worrying about something that didn’t happen. Let’s just get back to the house for now. We’ll sort it out.”
“No, we won’t. They could have killed you, damn it. And you know what? No necklace is worth that.”
“Ye can’t give up, Cat. Not when ye’re so close. It’s too important to ye.” And that was the truth, even if he also had so much riding on the necklace. “We just need to be more careful. We’ll take more precautions from now on, and I swear, I’ll do all I can to protect ye.”
She nodded, but didn’t look at him as she started to head back. Her body was taut with coiled tension, and by the time they were back in the library, she’d barely given him a second glance.
When she did finally look at him, it was clear she was still struggling with what had happened. “I want you to see a doctor.”
“I’ll be fine, love. Don’t worry.” He took her hand in his, but she yanked it away.
“It will not be fine, Iain. How can you even say that after what just happened?” She shook her head, cursing under her breath as she started to pace the room. “You’ve been on my case about not being careful enough, but what about you, huh? You think it’s perfectly fine to nearly get beaten to death, and then not even bother to have your injuries looked at.”
The last thing he wanted to do was drag a doctor into this, but he found that, oddly enough, he actually cared about whether or not she was angry with him. “I’ll have Angus take a look. There’s no one else around, anyway, and while he’s here, he can also take a look at yer head.”
“Let me see.” She motioned for him to take off his shirt. “I want to see how badly you’ve been injured, especially if you’re thinking of only having a vet look at you.”
He didn’t protest too much, since she cared enough to be upset that he’d gotten hurt. His muscles screamed in protest as he tried to pull his tee over his head, grateful when she came to his aid. Taking car
e, she gingerly removed his shirt, and then stepped around him to look at the damage. When she sucked in her breath and said not a single word, he knew his back must already be bruised.
Turning to face her, he saw that her tears had spilled over, though there was more there—she was furious, and with an intensity that made him think that, for Campbell’s sake, it was a good thing he was long gone.
“Hush, love. Dinnae fash yerself. I’m fine. It’s just a few bruises.” And maybe a cracked rib or two, though he thought it best to leave that part out. He pulled her into his arms and brushed her cheeks dry. “Angus will send me to a physician if he thinks I need to go.”
She stepped out of his embrace and turned away, holding her arms across her chest as if to ward off a chill. “I think it’d probably be best if I got going.”
It felt like the air had gotten knocked out of him. “Go where, Cat?”
“Cambridge. I need to get a new tire and then I’ll be on my way.” She wouldn’t even look at him.
“Just like that?” He scoffed, his temper getting the better of him in the face of her leaving. “And here I thought ye were better than that. Go on then. Let MacTavish find it—or even better, James and my brother.”
Iain expected her to turn around, ready for a fight. Or to turn around with a smug smile to say she knew he was baiting her but she’d prove him wrong and they’d find the jewels. And he hoped she would look at him with that fire in her eyes that erased all thoughts but her from his mind.
Yet she did none of those things.
“I should go check my email and let my assistant know I’m ok, and will be back in Cambridge in a few days’ time.” She headed for the door, but he’d be damned if she was going anywhere.
“Cat… ye can’t go.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her around. “We’re too far into it to give up now.”