Alana hadn’t meant to oversleep, but after her night of wonderful lovemaking with Ethan, she’d had the best night’s sleep she’d had in the past five years. The sun was starting to rise. She saw the lightening sky out the window. If she didn’t hurry, all the MacKeefes would be awake and she’d have no chance to go back to the isle without someone seeing her leave.
Glancing over at the spot next to her in the bed, she could see the lump of Ethan’s body under the covers. Sneaking out of bed, she looked for the dog, but it was still dark in the hut and she couldn’t see it without lighting a candle – which she wasn’t about to do.
Wishing for her own clothes, she had no idea where they were. So she had to don the MacKeefe plaid again that Ethan had stripped from her body last night and threw on the floor. Hopefully, Diarmad and the smugglers would all be gone with the shipment before she returned and she’d have time to change into some of her own clothes before anyone saw her.
That brought up another problem. She had no idea what she would tell them about Isobel when they discovered her missing. Well, at least she might have a little time to talk things over with Kirstine before they returned. Diarmad and his men always left before the sun rose. The weather seemed to be clear so she could only pray they were gone. Together with Kirstine and Finn, she hoped they could come up with some kind of plan.
After dressing, she noticed her necklace in the bed and went back to get it, putting it around her neck. Then she donned a cloak, pulling the hood over her head, looking back at the bed in the semi-darkness one more time. “I love ye, Ethan,” she whispered, feeling tears welling up in her eyes as her emotions almost choked her. She wanted more than anything to stay here and marry him like he’d planned, but it wasn’t going to happen. Not now anyway. She had too much of a mess to clean up first. She had to come up with a plan and was finding it very difficult to think straight right now.
Hurrying out the door, she headed for the boat as fast as she could, constantly looking over her shoulder, hoping not to be noticed. It didn’t feel right not saying goodbye to Isobel, but if she did, her daughter wouldn’t want her to leave. She had to stick to the plan.
Thankfully, it had stopped raining and it looked to be a promising day. But since there was no wind, it might create a problem trying to sail back to the isle. She’d have to row, and that would take twice as long. Her body ached in a good way from making love with Ethan, but it would hurt like hell after rowing all the way back to the castle.
She broke through the trees where she left her boat, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw Ethan sitting in his own boat with his dog and also her daughter.
“Guid mornin’, sunshine,” Ethan called out. “We were startin’ to wonder if ye were goin’ to sleep all day.”
“Ethan!” she exclaimed, realizing now why she hadn’t seen the dog in the hut. And that bump under the blankets was naught but a means to trick her so she’d think he was still in bed.
“Hello, Mama,” said Isobel, holding up a new rag doll that Alana had never seen before. “Look what Da gave me.”
“What?” Her heart about stilled when Isobel called Ethan Da. “Ethan, how could ye have told her without even waitin’ for me?” She stormed up to the boat.
“Now, calm down, Lanny. It’s no’ what ye think. She decided to call me Da on her own since she told me she didna have a da and really wanted one.”
“Oh,” said Alana, feeling terrible now. She never even knew that her daughter wanted a father. Then again, she supposed she had never asked. “Ye made her a doll?”
“Aye.” Ethan smiled proudly. “I made it out of one of my auld leines and a frayed plaid. I didna want her cryin’ durin’ our trip back to the castle.”
“Our trip?” she asked. “I dinna recall askin’ ye to come with me. As a matter of fact, I dinna recall even mentionin’ to ye at all that I was leavin’.”
“Nay. Ye seem to have forgotten to mention that part. But I figured ye’d be here bright and early, so I took the liberty of meetin’ ye here . . . with our daughter.”
“Nay, Ethan. Isobel and ye are no’ comin’ back to the castle with me.”
“Mama? Ye arena goin’ to leave me here without ye, are ye?” asked the little girl about breaking Alana’s heart. “I want ye, me, and Da to stay together from now on.”
“I ken, sweetheart. I want that, too,” she said and then let out a frustrated breath. This was going to ruin all her plans.
“Ethan, can I talk to ye privately for a moment?” she asked, pacing back and forth in front of the boat.
“Of course,” he said, hopping out of the boat right into the water and sloshing his way up the bank. Trapper barked from the boat, looking like he was about to jump over the side. “Stay there and watch Isobel, Trapper,” commanded Ethan. The dog whined and lay down on the seat with its nose between its paws. “Is there a problem, Lanny?”
“Is there a problem?” she repeated, angry with him, but trying not to show it for the sake of her daughter. “Ethan,” she said in a low voice. “I dinna want ye and Isobel to go to the isle with me. How dare ye pack her up in the boat without even discussin’ this with me first.”
“Well, I couldna discuss it, since ye conveniently forgot to mention yer plans to me last night. I figured ye’d be off and runnin’ again, and this time, sweetheart, I am no’ goin’ to let ye go without me. Without us,” he said, looking back at Isobel who was making her doll talk, shaking it in the dog’s face. Trapper kept his nose down and looked up at the doll with wide eyes but didn’t move. It was so cute that it made it even harder for Alana to even think of leaving her daughter . . . or Ethan behind. Even if it was only to protect them.
Alana sighed. “Fine,” she said. “Ye can take us to the isle but then ye’ll need to return here. Ye canna stay at the castle.”
“That seems like an odd arrangement for a husband to leave his wife and child unprotected. Nay, I canna do that,” he refused, shaking his head.
“Husband?” Her head snapped up and she looked directly into his eyes. “Ethan, I had a wonderful time with ye last night, but we are no’ married.”
“Yet,” he said, looking up over her head to the bank and waving his hand in the air. “Over here, Faither.”
“Faither?” she asked, thinking at first he was talking about his father, Onyx. That is, until she turned around and saw a small entourage headed down to the lake. Caleb led the group, holding his pine marten in his arms. Behind him was Logan and his wolf, and also Hawke, Storm, Lady Wren, Phoebe, and of all things, a priest! Apollo, Hawke’s red tail hawk made lazy circles in the sky above them. “Ethan? What’s goin’ on?” she asked, feeling a bit panicked.
“One thing ye may have forgotten is that the MacKeefes are early risers. I figure it’s best we get married before we even leave for the castle. That way, my friends can be here as witnesses. I had Caleb ride to a neighborin’ village to fetch the priest before the sun even rose.”
“We’re – we’re goin’ to get married?” She could feel her heart beating in her throat. “Here? Now?”
“That’s right,” he said. “I figured it’s the right thing to do since we’ve already had a child together. I dinna want anyone callin’ my child a bastard.”
“But . . . but . . .”
“Guid mornin’,” Phoebe called out, waving her hand in the air from the hill. She held on to a bouquet of flowers. “It’s a wonderful day for a weddin’.”
“Ethan, how could ye?” Alana spat, feeling so out of control. She had plans but now everything was about to change thanks to him.
“How could I?” He chuckled in a sarcastic manner. “I think the real question here is how could ye leave me at the altar and then never tell me I have a child? I’ll no’ let ye get away again, leavin’ me standin’ here feelin’ like a fool. Now, we’re goin’ to get married and ye have nothin’ to say about it.”
“But I canna marry ye. No’ now. No’ here.”
“Why no’?” he asked,
throwing down the challenge for her to give him an answer. “If ye have a reason, then tell me now. If no’, then I suggest ye smile and act like ye are enjoyin’ this, because everyone is watchin’. Alana, I’ll no’ let anythin’ ruin my weddin’ day . . . again.”
“Are we ready?” asked the priest, stepping in front of them with his prayer book in his hand.
“Just a moment, Father Lewis,” said Ethan, squinting in the rising sun and looking up the hill. “We are waitin’ for a few more people to arrive first.”
“More?” gasped Alana. “Ethan, did ye really have to invite the entire MacKeefe Clan?”
“Nay, I didna want to embarrass ye, so I didna do that,” he answered. “But I asked the chronicler and his daughter to record our weddin’ in the Highland Chronicles for our king.”
“Ye did?” Alana was ready to faint. Ethan had made sure there was no turning back this time. He’d gone to extremes and there was nothing she could do but go through with the marriage as planned. It was what she really wanted in her heart, but now it was going to be even harder to figure out what to do once she got back and had to face Diarmad.
“Isobel,” called out little Sophie, running down the hill to the lake, holding on to the hand of her brother, Oliver.
“Sophie! Look at my new doll.” Isobel jumped up in the boat, rocking it and leaning over the side, almost falling into the water. Trapper gripped the back of her dress in his teeth and pulled her back into the boat.
“Guid job, boy,” said Ethan, running over to the boat. “But I think I’ll hold on to Isobel for now.” He scooped her up in his arms and she clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. It was such a sweet sight that it about melted Alana’s heart.
“Ethan, if we’re goin’ to do this, let’s get started,” said Storm. “I havena even had my mornin’ ale yet.”
“Storm was never a morning person,” Wren said in apology. She grabbed her husband’s arm and smiled at him. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I got up early and made haggis to give to Ethan to take back to the castle. I saved a little for you, too.”
“Haggis?” Storm suddenly perked up. Haggis was one of his favorite foods.
“Are we finally ready now?” asked the priest impatiently. “I have another weddin’ to perform this mornin’ and I canna stay long.”
“We’re ready,” said Ethan, holding Isobel in one arm and wrapping his other arm around Alana.
“Wait! Here is yer weddin’ bouquet,” said Phoebe, handing her a bouquet that Alana realized wasn’t flowers at all. Since it was winter, Phoebe had used some hearty herbs of thyme, mint and sage.
“Thank ye,” said Alana with a smile, taking the herbal bouquet from her, inhaling a big sniff of its powerful aroma. “If we get hungry later, we can eat it.”
“Enough clishmaclaver,” said the priest. “If we dinna hurry I’m goin’ to miss the next weddin’, so I’m goin’ to make this fast. Ethan MacKeefe, do ye take . . . what’s yer name, lass?”
“Alana. Alana Chisholm,” she told him.
“Do ye take Alana Chisholm for yer wife?”
“I do,” said Ethan, looking over at Alana and winking. He looked so sexy standing there. And with little Isobel balanced on one hip, she could see he would make a great father.
“And ye, Alana Chisholm,” continued the priest. “Do ye take Ethan MacKeefe for yer husband?”
Alana suddenly felt as though she couldn’t speak. Looking out at the crowd, every single person was staring at her. Of course she wanted to be married to Ethan, but part of her felt it wasn’t right to do so before she told him why she left him on their wedding day the first time. She really didn’t know how to tell him she was being held captive along with her family and forced to help run a smuggling ring. Nay, it wouldn’t be a good time to mention it. Perhaps she should have said something about it last night instead. But now it was too late. Part of her was also frightened to be married, because she didn’t feel she deserved someone as good as Ethan MacKeefe.
“This is the part where ye say I do,” said Ethan in a low voice. Still, Alana couldn’t seem to say a word. Ethan leaned over and whispered into her ear. “If ye dinna say it, we’ll stand here all day until ye do and ye’ll never get back to yer castle.”
“Nay!” she spat, glaring into his eyes.
“Nay?” asked the priest. “Ye willna marry him?” He slapped his book shut and let out a breath. “Why was I woken from a sound sleep and dragged here in the cold if this weddin’ is no’ goin’ to take place?”
“It will take place, Faither,” Ethan told him. “I’m sure Alana didna mean that in the way ye thought. Did ye, sweetheart?” he asked, making a big show of reaching up and kissing Isobel on the cheek while looking at Alana all the time, subtly reminding her he was the father of her child. He played a dirty game and Alana didn’t like it. Then again, she supposed she couldn’t blame him.
“All right,” she whispered and looked back at the priest. “I do,” she answered. “I will marry Ethan MacKeefe and be his wife.”
“Yay!” shouted little Sophie, throwing her doll up in the air.
“Now the ring, please,” said the priest.
“Give me the ring, Alana. I want to put it on yer finger,” said Ethan. His palm shot out as he waited for it. Then he put Isobel down and untied Alana’s necklace himself, slipping the ring and the key off the string. Alana reached out and took the key and string back, sticking them into her pocket. “Hold out yer hand,” he told her.
Nervously, she held out one shaking hand and Ethan slid the ring onto her finger. She stood staring at it, not able to believe she was now his wife. She’d thought he was dead all these years, and now – now they’d finally said their vows and became man and wife. She was so overwhelmed she couldn’t speak and once again felt like crying since this is what she wanted for as long as she could remember. To be married to Ethan MacKeefe. All thoughts of Diarmad, her father, and her horrible life were brushed away as she reveled in the good feeling. It was a dream come true. She smiled.
“Congratulations,” said Hawke, coming to shake Ethan’s hand. “None of us thought this day would ever happen.”
“How do ye spell Chisholm?” asked Bridget, walking up with her father holding the Highland Chronicles in his hands. “I want – I mean, we want to make sure to spell yer name right for the king. Even though we dinna ken ye, I’m sure King Robert kens the Chisholms well.”
“Aye,” answered Alana, thinking how well they’d be known once her father was exposed for running a smuggling ring. She was sure his execution would be mentioned in that book as well.
“I’ll spell it for them,” Lady Wren told them. “Here, take this basket of haggis and bannock bread. I also put in some apple tarts and a few sweetmeats since Isobel seems to like them. There is enough there for your sister and brother as well, and even your father, too.”
“Oh, thank ye,” said Alana, taking the basket from Lady Wren. Her heart ached to stay here with the MacKeefes. Not all of them seemed to forgive her yet for leaving Ethan at the altar the first time but, still, there were quite a few of them who were welcoming her with open arms and that made her feel like part of the clan – part of the family. Even so, who was she fooling? She was far from being a true family with Ethan or anyone other than her family of cutthroat thieves back on the isle.
“Well, I guess it’s time we get goin’,” said Caleb. “I’ll hold the basket.” Slipping his pine marten into his pouch he took the basket from Alana. “I hope there’s a little extra food in here for me and Slink as well.” He lifted the covering on the basket to see, but Ethan’s hand shot out and slapped him.
“Ouch,” said Caleb. “What was that for?”
“I dinna want ye holdin’ the food or it’ll be gone before we make it to the isle. Here, take Isobel and get in the boat. I’ll hold the basket.”
Ethan picked up and handed the little girl to Caleb, switching with the basket of food.
“That
smells so guid, and I havena had a bite to break the fast yet since I was the one who had to fetch the priest in the dark,” Caleb told him.
“Stop complainin’,” grumbled Ethan. “At least I’m allowin’ ye to come with us.”
“Allowin’? Ye ordered me to come with ye because ye are afraid of goin’ to the haunted castle alone.” Caleb grumbled some more and carried Isobel down to the water.
“He’s comin’, too?” asked Alana, thinking things were getting worse. “Why?”
“Dinna fash yerself. He willna cause a problem,” Ethan assured her. “And I promise I willna let him get anywhere near this basket of food.” Ethan lifted the cloth and looked inside, and when he did, Alana couldn’t help herself. She playfully slapped his hand the way he had done to Caleb.
“Ouch. What was that for?” he asked.
“Sorry,” she said with a smile. “Ethan, ye’re no’ really afraid of a haunted castle, are ye?”
“Me?” He slapped his hand against his chest and cocked a half-grin. “Of course no’. I dinna believe in things like that.”
Logan snuck up behind him, grabbing him by the shoulders. “Boo!” he said, making Ethan jump, almost dropping the basket.
“Ye fool!” said Ethan. “Do that again and I’ll have yer head.”
Everyone laughed and wished the newlywed couple well as they got into the boat and sailed away toward the Isle of Kerrera.
Alana was married now and hardly able to believe it. Everything was happening so fast that she hadn’t had a minute to think things through. All she knew was that she was going to have to do something to get Ethan and Caleb to leave the isle before Diarmad and the others returned.
But now, it was going to be harder than ever. Because now, Ethan was not only her lover . . . he was her husband. Families were supposed to stick together, but she had a dilemma on her hands. She had two families now, and this situation was not the best. Once again, she was going to have to make a choice of what to do and she hoped, this time, it would be the right one.
Chapter 12
Highland Spirit: Highland Chronicles Series - Book 2 Page 14