Forget Me Not, My Scottish Love (Heart of a Highlander Collection Book 3)

by Allie Palomino

  Moments passed in silence and suddenly Abby’s head swung up to meet Cameron’s gaze. Change slowly took over her.

  He couldn’t believe his eyes. No! They were playing a trick on him. Damn, she looked just like the young girl that night.

  “It’s all right, Abby,” Diane repeated.

  And he knew. It was her. That had been her name.

  He saw the shock and recognition dawn on her face. She stopped whimpering and her eyes were wide.

  “C-Cameron.”

  There was an audible gasp.

  “Abby! Did you just speak?” Diane asked stupidly. She was utterly shocked.

  “Cameron,” Abby said again. The fear in her eyes evaporated, replaced by something akin to worship.

  “What is going on here? Did you compromise my daughter, MacPherson?” Haynsworth asked, rushing over to Abby. He grabbed her arm harshly and asked, “Did you lie with this bastard, whore?”

  Abby started to cry again, trying to wrestle free from his grasp. Her head shook back and forth in denial and fear.

  “Get yer hands off my wife, Haynsworth,” Cameron snapped.

  Haynsworth looked up at the laird. “She’s my daughter and I’ll do as I wish.”

  “Careful, Haynsworth.”

  The Baron looked at Cameron. “You will not tell me how to handle my daughter.”

  Cameron placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. His eyes were hard. “I will.”

  Haynsworth ignored him and painfully jerked her arm again. “Did you lie with him? Did you play the part of a whore for this Scottish bastard?”

  Abby groaned from the pain.

  Cameron ripped Haynsworth’s hand off her arm and threw him back. Haynsworth fell to the ground and his face reddened. He hastily stood up and straightened his appearance. Cameron had placed Abby behind him. He stood in front of Haynsworth and stared down at him.

  “Touch her again, and ye willna have a hand to scratch yer bollocks,” Cameron said with a threatening calm that didn’t match the fury in his eyes.

  “You are protecting my daughter from me?”

  “She’s no longer yer daughter.”

  “Who is she, then?” Haynsworth laughed derisively, looking around him in mockery. Some smiled encouragingly at his question and bravado.

  “My wife.”

  His answer wiped the smiles off everyone’s faces including Haynsworth’s.

  Diane felt a great weight lift off her. Her instincts were right. It was safe to leave her daughter with this man.

  Cameron was aware that Abby was grabbing his tunic from behind. She was petrified of her father and that didn’t surprise him. He turned back to her and looked down.

  Abby had changed since he last saw her six years ago. She was still petite, not quite reaching mid-chest. Her eyes were still the same green only now they were fearful and guarded. Her hair was much longer now. She was thinner than she had been before. Much thinner. He had a brief memory of how she had been before the battle. He had seen the courage and intelligence in her eyes. He had also seen those same characteristics disappear in an instant that night long ago.

  Now he understood why she had screamed when she saw his plaid. She still remembered that night and the plaid signified the evil men in her mind. Those men hadn’t been MacPhersons. They had taken plaid and dressed like the MacPhersons in order to ambush her. When Cameron and his men had showed up, they were wearing their green hunting plaids. They’d found one of the mercenaries half-alive, and tortured answers out of him.

  Her husband had hired them to kill her.

  Cameron returned from his memories and studied her. One thing had stayed the same. Abby was beautiful, even in her disheveled state.

  “Cameron?” she said hopefully. She obviously remembered his name. He didn’t quite understand why that pleased him.

  “I am Cameron, Abby. Do ye remember me?”

  Abby smiled then and Diane sighed, rushing over. She hugged her daughter.

  “Oh, Abby! How is this possible?” Diane asked, looking over to the laird. “How is this possible, Laird?” Diane asked, her face joyous.

  “I saved her that night,” Cameron said, looking at Abby and then to Diane.

  “Saved her?” Diane asked and Abby nodded her head.

  “The men who attempted to kill her. There were men who were pretending to be MacPhersons. My clansmen and I appeared before they attacked. It was a horrible night…for her,” he said as an afterthought. He studied Abby for a long pause.

  “Liar! You were responsible, MacPherson! It was your plaid!”

  Cameron’s fists clenched and unclenched at his side as his eyes snapped to the other man’s.

  “I’m sorely tempted to shut ye up permanently, Haynsworth.”

  “Diane, you and I will speak when we’re alone,” Haynsworth said and Diane paled.

  “No!” Abby said and pulled her mother, crying. Tears flowed from Abby’s eyes.

  Cameron knew what Haynsworth meant.

  “Haynsworth, if it comes to my attention that ye have harmed my wife’s mother in any way, I will do three times the service on ye.” His eyes held all kinds of unspoken promises. Abby quieted.

  “Do not threaten me, MacPherson. Come, Diane,” he said and turned around, walking away.

  “If he harms ye, Lady Haynsworth, send me a message.”

  Diane smiled sadly and gave a slight nod of her head.

  “It was never my fear that he would hurt me. It was always my fear for Abby, though. Now she is well protected and I am at last at peace. Thank you, laird.” Diane turned to hug Abby.

  “Darling, Laird MacPherson will care for you. I am sure of that. You must go with him because you are his wife now.” Diane started crying, and continued, “I love you sweet baby and you’ll be safe now. I’ll always be here for you, baby. I love you.”

  Abby cried and didn’t want to let go of her mother. Finally, Diane was able to leave Abby’s grasp and follow behind Haynsworth’s footsteps.

  Alice came forward then, having heard everything.

  “Hello, Abigail, I am Alice, Cameron’s mother.” Alice smiled and reached out her hands to grasp Abby’s.

  Abby returned Alice’s smile with a small upturn of her lips, but glanced again in her mother’s direction. Abby continued to keep close at Cameron’s side. He noticed and placed his hand on the small of her back.

  Cameron took note of how small she was again. She had truly been endangered by her father’s wrath. Haynsworth preyed on the weak. He had preyed on Abby and her mother. It was clear that her mother tried to shield Abby from his abusive ways, but apparently, she wasn’t always successful.

  “Come, Abby, let’s get ye settled into a room,” Alice said gently.

  “That willna be necessary, Mother. We’re leaving now.”

  Abby’s eyes grew wide with fear. Her mother’s safety was on her mind. The only lucid thought she ever had.

  “Mama,” she said in a barely audible whisper.

  He looked at her then. “Abby, there’s no need to worry about yer mother. I will know if she is mistreated.”

  This seemed to calm her a little. He was surprised she understood what he said.

  “I’ll go to her mother to gather her belongings. Remain near her.” He nodded to Aidan and Keith.

  Cameron turned to walk away but Abby grabbed his tunic. Her eyes were wide.

  “All will be well, Abby. These two men are my brothers and they will protect ye. I will return,” he said to her, hoping she understood.

  Cameron pried her fingers off his tunic and walked away. She looked after him even as he disappeared in the corridor. Abby began to hum, trying to ignore those around her. Only two people gave her a sense of peace and protectiveness, her mother and Cameron, and both were not with her now.

  Chapter Five

  Cameron heard them before he saw them.

  “You are an embarrassment, Diane! Speaking for her at the ceremony?” Haynsworth yelled in rising crescendo, his hand
rising as well.

  “I wouldna strike her, Haynsworth. I’m itching for a fight and ye’re the one I’d like to use to scratch it,” Cameron said, as Haynsworth lowered his hand.

  “What do you want?”

  Cameron ignored him and spoke to Diane.

  “Lady Haynsworth, I will be departing now with Abigail and will be needing her belongings.”

  Diane’s mixed emotions showed on her face. While she was glad that he would protect her daughter, she was sad that she was leaving. Would she see her again? She remembered asking herself that same question the night she married Elliot.

  She turned to get Abby’s things.

  “I’ll see to the marriage’s annulment. I’ll be damned if my daughter will be married to you,” Haynsworth bit out.

  “The marriage will stay firm, Haynsworth, unless yer daughter canna get with child. And, yes, verra damned ye are.”

  “If Abigail cannot get with child, ‘twill be your fault, Scot. Your seed is faulty, causing a weak lineage.”

  “John! That’s enough!”

  “Stay out of it, Diane!” Haynsworth said, his breathing shallow, his agitation rising.

  “Here you are, Laird MacPherson. Her baggage is meager. For obvious purposes, she isn’t concerned about appearances. Nothing concerns her. Her mind…,” Diane broke down. She began weeping.

  “Enough! Get the hell out, Scot. This will not be the last you see or hear of me.”

  “Nor ye of me, Haynsworth. We’ve unfinished matters between us,” Cameron promised, his gaze measuring.

  “What are you speaking of, Laird?” Diane asked, her cheeks wet from tears.

  “Stay out of it, woman!” Haynsworth said cuttingly. “You cannot prove anything, Scot.”

  Cameron took Abby’s satchel, gave him a hard look, and left.

  When Cameron returned to his family and Abby, his breath caught in his throat. They had managed to comb her hair and straighten her disheveled appearance.

  Abby looked beautiful.

  Her hair had been plaited and whimsical blond strands had freed themselves. Her green eyes were bright as she looked at him. She immediately smiled when she saw him.

  “Cameron.”

  “Hello, Abby.”

  “Seems to be the only thing she says. Even her mother was in awe that she had managed to say yer name. She willna speak, though,” Alice said.

  “Of course, Mother. I told ye, she is mute,” Catherine said in a voice as if she were instructing a child.

  “She’s nay mute if she spoke his name, Catherine,” Aidan said.

  Alice turned to Catherine and Aidan to give them a stern look, and then spoke to Cameron again.

  “She cried when ye left and the only way I managed to stop the tears was by speaking of ye,” Alice said smiling.

  “Doona give me that smile, Mother,” Cameron said reservedly. “We must leave. Now.”

  “Now? But dark is falling, Cameron. Is it safe?” Catherine asked.

  “D’ye think I’d hear the end of it from Peter were it not safe, Catherine? I doona know how ye managed to convince him to care for the children while ye came here for the wedding,” Cameron said with a half-smile.

  Catherine crossed her arms and stared at her older brother. Her toes tapped on the floor in a sign of impatience.

  “He loves me and gives me everything I want.” She looked pointedly at him. “Ye should learn.”

  “Actually, ‘tis more like ye drive him so daft with yer incessant chatting that he gives ye what ye want in order to have a moment of quiet,” Keith said, laughing.

  “Really, Keith?” Amy looked at him with this new discovery as she crossed her arms. Keith’s smile vanished. Cameron smirked.

  “Come, Amy. Let us await them outside,” Catherine said, her smile widening and chin lifting up a notch as she made eye contact with Keith. She fairly pranced as they left.

  Cameron laughed. “I’ll never be wrapped around any woman’s finger.”

  Keith pushed him, making Cameron laugh harder.

  Witnessing the teasing sibling banter, Abby laughed as well. Cameron looked over at her. Her eyes gleamed and her smile was wide. Was she mimicking them or did she understand their playful chat?

  He couldn’t help but admire her beauty.

  Was this wrong? he asked himself. Was it wrong to be attracted to this woman- a woman whose mind is broken and who is mute?

  Mute wasn’t so bad, but her broken mind? She was very innocent and naïve, almost child-like.

  He shook his head. Heavens, no! That would be sick if he thought of her as a child. Nay, she was naïve and fragile.

  He cleared his throat.

  “Let us depart. ‘Tis late,” Cameron said, turning.

  “I thought we would stay for a night.”

  “No. We’re leaving now, Mother. ‘Tis best.”

  Alice helped Abby out of the chair and held her hand.

  “Cameron?”

  There was an uncertainty in her voice. Her face looked troubled.

  He turned around to her, noting the spooked look on her face. Her eyes mirrored her worry. Their green depths were now a rich emerald color. He sensed her urgency, and her need to be reassured.

  “Ye are nay staying behind, Abby. Ye’ll be coming with us.”

  Abby looked somewhat relieved, but still untrusting.

  “Cameron, give us a moment. I am going to help change her into something more comfortable for traveling,” Alice said. She looked in a bag, took out a light yellow dress. “Come, Abby. Let us get ye changed so that we may leave.”

  Abby had not taken her gaze off Cameron for a moment and neither had he taken his gaze off her. He saw the uncertainty in her eyes. She had lived through horrible atrocities alone. Not being able to speak and having Haynsworth as her father would force anyone’s mind to break.

  “I’ll remain here, Abby.”

  She followed Alice out, but looked back once to make sure he was there, and then disappeared around the corner.

  “She has eyes for ye, Cameron,” Keith said.

  “Do ye remember her?” Cameron asked.

  “Who can forget her?” Aidan asked, smiling. Cameron shot him a irritated look.

  “I remember her, Cameron. She was the young girl that night,” Keith said.

  “Aye, she was. I remember seeing the light dim in her eyes. I saw the lucidity leave her only to be replaced with bleak horror. Her life changed that night,” Cameron said, staring into nothing.

  “Aye, and it changed yers, too,” Keith said seriously.

  “Doona be so damned histrionic, Keith,” Aidan said.

  “‘Tis the truth, Aidan. He hasna been able to think of another woman since that night. He’s often thought about her.” Keith knowingly stared at Cameron.

  Cameron ignored his perceptive and intuitive brother.

  “Get her belongings out. We must leave,” Cameron said, moving towards the door.

  “See there. He avoids the topic.” Keith raised his hand. Cameron looked back at them with pursed lips and a clenched jaw.

  A few moments later, Cameron, Keith, and Aidan were side by side. The clansmen faced the entrance of the holding, while the brothers had their backs to it, as Cameron addressed his men. As Cameron spoke, he noticed that their attention was no longer on him. Something behind him distracted them.

  “What has ye distracted?” Cameron asked impatiently when he’d seen the tenth set of eyes look behind him. He turned around.

  He forgot how to breathe.

  Abby stood next to his mother in a pale yellow dress. The bodice was a little too low cut for Cameron’s liking. Her skin was fresh and creamy porcelain. He wondered if it felt as velvety as it looked. She was beautiful and he felt the blood within his veins pump faster.

  “Who is she, Laird?” one young warrior shouted.

  He turned back to his men and was struck speechless by the lustful look in their eyes. Possessiveness surged through him.

  “Lady MacPhe
rson,” Cameron responded in a hard voice.

  “Nay, Laird, we’re talkin’ ‘bout the beauty in the yellow dress,” another clarified.

  Both Keith and Aidan laughed. Cameron clenched his jaw.

  “So am I,” Cameron said through his teeth.

  All of their gazes lifted to meet Cameron’s hard stare.

  “Our pardon, Laird,” one spoke in Gaelic. All murmured their apologies as well.

  Aidan smirked, and said in a forced thick accent of mockery, “Lord above, my bollocks shrank jost lookin’ at yer face.”

  Cameron rolled his eyes, and Keith laughed.

  Cameron asked Keith to ride with Abby, since he would be continuously moving from the front to the back of the pack. Alice helped Abby get comfortable and arranged her gown atop the horse. Abby wasn’t cooperating but finally gave in after glancing at Cameron one last time. Catherine and Amy were already seated on their mounts.

  Alice walked over to Cameron.

  “How is she mother?” His lips were still twisted as he stared at his men.

  “She is only calm when I speak of ye, Cameron. She doesna like letting ye out of her sight.”

  Cameron didn’t know how to respond to that, so he just nodded. “Is everything ready?”

  “Yes,” Alice said curtly. She disliked his dismissive attitude.

  “Let’s go then. Move!” he yelled the order and mounted his powerful steed.

  Minutes later, they made their way home. Cameron kept noticing Abby looking back at him as he trailed behind the last of the packhorses.

  What the hell was going on? He ignored it for the moment.

  Although their journey to Wexford’s holding was relatively quick, it would take slightly longer to return home. It was getting late and the moving darkness required more vigilance at a slower pace. Warriors flanked the front and back of their procession.

  As the sun fell in the sky, he kept seeing Abby look back at him. Keith maintained his posture sitting forward.

  “What is going on in there?” Aidan asked.

  “I doona know, but I’m going to find out,” Cameron said and kicked the horse to gallop faster.

  Abby turned again, and a fleeting expression of horror passed over her face until her eyes found his. He saw relief then.