“Then you’re saying there is no curse? That you and your brothers just happened to be the first in a long string of strange tragedies between Claren and MacKinnon unions?”
Duncan leaned the poker against the wall and crossed the room toward her. “I thought you didn’t believe in Cailean’s talk of curses either.”
“Lachlan’s curse,” she corrected.
“Aye, auld Lachlan and his stories. Auld man let his love for a MacKinnon twist him up inside until he was seeing ghosts in every corner and faery spells ’neath every bunch of heather.”
“You sound as if you knew him.”
Duncan shrugged. “As ye said, lass, he claimed to own this place. He was here from time to time.”
“Did you see him? Speak to him?”
“I saw him, aye.”
“Did he see you?”
Duncan scowled. “No. Now tell me about this fool journey Cailean’s taken it in her head to make.”
“Why are you so worried? What is it to you if she’s off on a wild goose chase?”
“I didna say I was worried. I just don’t see why she has to go poke around in what should be left alone. What’s past is past. There is no changin’ it.”
Maggie stepped closer, her head tilted slightly to one side as she studied him. “You really are worried,” she mused. “What is it you think she’s going to find?”
“She’ll find nothing! There is no curse! Clarens have been bad luck for MacKinnons forever. I am proof of that, if nothing else.”
“I thought you were just proof of your own ignorance in how to treat women.” Maggie’s blood pressure rose along with her voice.
His eyes blazed. “Claren women cost the lives of two MacKinnon brothers and I’m betting they claimed Rory as well. It would no’ surprise me if their descendants held claim to their fey faery ways and claimed men for centuries to come. If there is a curse at work here, it be a Claren one.” He spun on his heel and stalked to the fireplace.
Maggie was right behind him. She grabbed his sleeve just as he reached for the poker. “What are you so upset about? What are you afraid she’s going to find, Duncan?”
He stared at her for a long time, then quietly said, “Let it go, Maggie. She’ll find wha’ she will. You canna do anything about it.”
“But you could.” Why was she reminding him? He was likely the only chance she had of straightening out the mess her life had become. “You could return home, Duncan.”
“I havna forgotten, Maggie.”
“Then why don’t you go after her,” she said quietly. “Or blink yourself over there, or whatever it is you ghosts do.”
“I made ye a promise.” He blew out a harsh sigh, then reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Maggie trembled as his fingers brushed her cheek. Cailean’s unwanted warnings echoed in her mind. “I told you before, I’ll take care of my own problems.” She stepped back slightly. “If you’re worried about Cailean, then follow her. Your time is limited and I can’t ask you to—”
“I dinna recall you asking me. MacKinnons have always tried to do the honorable thing, even if their efforts didn’t reap the rewards they sought. I canna make amends for my past actions, nor those of my clan. What’s past, is past.” He stepped forward, closing the space between them until she had to tilt her head back. “But whether they be righteous or false-hearted, one answers for one’s actions. I didna fully understand this until now. Until you. For that I pledged my help to ye, Maggie, and ye shall have it.”
A small sigh slipped from her lips as he cupped her cheek, his warm, rough skin claiming hers as his fingers slipped into her hair and tugged her forward.
He bent his head to hers. “Time has become a precious commodity for me, Maggie. I would not waste a moment arguing with ye about that which we canno’ change.”
“No,” she whispered. “No more arguing.”
He claimed her mouth only, but in that moment Maggie felt as if a far more important part of her had become his and his alone. Yet instead of feeling vulnerable, she felt quite the opposite. He moved his lips on hers, and slid his tongue inside to claim her deeply, intimately, and she felt full and strong, rich beyond her wildest dreams.
She couldn’t explain it, couldn’t think clearly enough to put words to it. She’d been kissed passionately before, but this claiming had nothing to do with his mouth or lips or tongue. This bond between them had been forged with words and actions and his kiss merely sealed it.
She slipped her fingers into his hair, loosening it from the slip of white fabric he’d used to tie it back. She rose onto her toes and took the kiss deeper. It no longer mattered if they had weeks or decades or a lifetime. The time they did have together would be cherished, savored, indulged in to the fullest. Precious time indeed.
There was a sudden, loud rapping on the door.
Duncan’s hold on her tightened, but Maggie was already pulling away, anger blazing.
“For heaven’s sake, I swear Cailean—” She stormed toward the front door. Duncan swiped for her arm and missed.
“Maggie, don’t!”
Duncan lunged for her just as she yanked open the door.
“What is it this—” She broke off abruptly, shock and terror rooting her to the spot.
“Hello, darling.”
It took a heartbeat too long to realize Judd was pointing a handgun at her chest.
She heard the loud explosion even as something slammed into her side. She went down hard, knocking her head on the wooden floor. Darkness crept in from all sides. There was a loud scream.
It must have been hers. It echoed again and again inside her head as she was pulled under.
THIRTEEN
Duncan barely avoided rolling on top of Maggie. She had been knocked unconscious, but at least she hadn’t been shot. The slice of pain shooting across the back of his arm was proof of that.
He was quite aware that Judd was still armed, which made Maggie a vulnerable target. The crack of the gunshot still echoed as he shifted to his feet, squatting low to shield Maggie and to give himself leverage. He launched himself at Judd’s knees.
Duncan’s size and force knocked Judd down and across the porch. Judd’s head glanced off the side of Lachlan’s trunk and snapped forward. Duncan was more than happy to meet it with his fist. Blood spurted from Judd’s nose and he howled in pain as Duncan rammed a shoulder into his middle, driving him backward down the stairs.
Duncan grunted in pain himself. He should have used the other shoulder. He could feel the warmth of his blood seeping through the back of his sleeve. It had been a long time since he’d felt the pain of a battle wound. He’d never thought to live through that again and, in truth, he hadn’t missed it. Yet, a black rage had filled him when he’d spied the gun aimed at his Maggie’s heart, and he would not be satisfied until Judd’s heart no longer beat inside his chest.
Duncan pushed himself upright, then scraped the tangle of hair from his face. Judd lay in a dazed heap halfway down the stairs. His suit was dirt-smeared and torn, blood had dripped from his chin, marking his white shirt, staining his tie. He looked beaten, another foe vanquished.
But the gun was still in his hand.
For the first time, Duncan felt real fear. Even when he had charged into battle against the Clarens, willing to give his life to the honor of defending his people, he had not felt emotion of this magnitude. Yes, he’d fought for all members of his clan; man, woman, and child. But never for one particular woman. It had never been Maggie’s life at stake.
A roar began low in his chest. This sniveling blackguard had come here intent on doing battle with an unarmed woman. His woman. The roar erupted with the force of a volcano, the hills echoed his raging battle cry as he launched himself off the porch.
Judd turned his head at the sound, barely managing to roll away in time to avoid being crushed by the massive force of Duncan’s body. Duncan twisted to his side, grunting as his shoulder bore the brunt of his fall. He rolled to his belly
and reached out, latching a firm hand around Judd’s ankle as the bastard tried to scurry out of reach.
“Ye willna hurt her.” Duncan growled through bared teeth as he dragged the man toward him. “No’ ever again.”
There was terror in the smaller man’s eyes, but he quickly regrouped. He had been using his hands for leverage, trying to resist Duncan’s greater strength by grappling at the ground. Now he gave up and rolled to his back, bringing the site of the gun down, resting his hand on his stomach for balance. The muzzle was pointed directly at Duncan’s head. “I don’t know who the hell you are or where Maggie dug you up, but it looks like you lose.” He spat out the blood that streamed into his mouth. “And here I thought she understood the balance of power.” He cocked the gun. “You know, brains win over brawn every time.”
“Think again, mister.”
Judd turned to look at Maggie, who stood over them, holding the fireplace poker like a spear. Duncan could only see her in his peripheral vision. He didn’t dare turn, instead keeping his gaze fastened firmly on Judd … and the gun.
“Go awa’ from here, Maggie,” he said. “I said I’d handle him and I will.” Even as he said it, he was busy trying to calculate just how fast he’d have to move if Maggie followed his command. Judd could swing the gun wide and shoot her through the back in the blink of an eye. Would he be fast enough? Beads of sweat trickled down his neck and under his collar. His palms grew damp. He tightened his grip on Judd’s ankle.
“He’s holding the gun, or hadn’t you noticed that?”
Eyes widening at her thankless tone, Duncan growled. “I see that bump on the head didna knock any sense into ye.”
“It gave me a helluva headache is what it did.” She shifted her weight. “Another thing I owe you for, Judd.”
“The one paying here will be you, Maggie,” Judd spat out. “I explained everything to you, but you wouldn’t listen. I could have given you everything you ever wanted if you’d only understood. Don’t you see? We would have been perfect together. You belong to me, Maggie. Mine. All mine. But you ruined it all. Why did you do that? Why? I loved you and you ruined my life.”
Maggie let out a shocked laugh. “Your life? I ruined your life? Why I ought to—” She swung the poker up and Judd flickered the gun in her direction.
“Maggie, don’t!” Duncan yelled.
Judd moved the gun firmly back toward Duncan, his aim maddeningly sure-handed. “Listen to the man. Unless you want to see him shot through the head first.”
Maggie froze, the poker high over head, then slowly lowered it.
“Dinna let him use me tae bargain wi’, Maggie,” Duncan warned. “He canno’ hurt me.”
Now it was Judd’s turn to laugh. It ran on the side of irrational and made Duncan’s skin crawl. The man was truly mad. “Where did you dig this guy up, Maggie?” Judd demanded. He narrowed his gaze on Duncan now. “Let go of my ankle.” He flickered the gun toward Maggie. “Do it.”
Duncan gritted his teeth and swallowed just enough rage to keep him from clawing his way up Judd’s narrow frame and ripping his heart out through his throat. He was certain he could kill this man. But he wasn’t certain that a bullet wouldn’t pierce Maggie’s heart before he got his hands on Judd’s. He let go.
“Very good.” Judd scrambled to his feet, wiping his mouth along his sleeve. He waved the gun, motioning Duncan. “Join her. You’ll be joining with her eternally anyway.”
“If you only knew,” Maggie said under her breath.
Duncan got his first good look at her. She was pale and there was a noticeable bump on the side of her head. Despite her bravado, she was clearly hanging on by a thread.
“Steady, Maggie. Dinna do anythin’ rash,” he said softly. Her eyes flickered to his briefly. There was stark apology and regret. He motioned to her with a short shake of his head. “It’s no’ over yet,” he whispered.
“When did you switch to the brute savage type?” Judd goaded, clearly smug now, but his eyes glittered with a mad rage. “Slumming it, Maggie? Is that what turns you on? I never pegged you for a slut, but then it seems I was mistaken about many things. Too many things. Blinded by my love for you and you think to mock me like this?”
Duncan vowed that he would be wiping that smile from Judd’s face. And he planned to take a good deal of pleasure in the doing of it.
“I’m not slumming anywhere. It’s not money or slick Wall Street charm that gives a guy class.”
Hatred flickered in Judd’s eyes, sending a renewed jolt of fear and anger through Duncan’s body. “Maggie—”
“No, let her talk.” His grin could only be described as feral. “And since when did you choose men based on class?” he taunted. “I thought you got off on power. Who has the power here, Maggie?” He waggled the gun.
“If you were truly powerful, you’d have been able to take a simple no from me, Judd.”
Only Duncan saw the tightness at the corners of her mouth, or the way she held her head and shoulders so rigidly. She was terrified but damned if she’d let anyone see it. She was standing up to Judd as fiercely as any warrior he’d fought with or against. She’d fight until the battle was done. Duncan felt something shift inside him.
He’d lay down this life and any other for her, proud to have known her, whatever the duration.
It hadn’t escaped his attention that if Judd killed her, Duncan could spend eternity with her. But the thought of her dying ripped at the heart he had not thought he owned.
She would not die here today. No’ if he could help it.
“Well, this little reunion has been fun, but I’ve got more pressing matters to attend.” Judd smiled again. There was a desperation to it that made Duncan’s gut tighten in dread. “Who wants to go first?”
“You said I ruined your life,” Maggie said. “Seems like the only one ruined here is me. Certainly you have enough things going for you, big man in the world of high finance, to not feel ruined because one woman walked out on you.”
Hatred twisted Judd’s face into an ugly mask. “You have no idea what your run-in with the police cost me! I should have wrung your neck the first time I had my hands around it.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Veins popped out on Judd’s forehead. Duncan balanced his weight, and flexed his hands against his legs, ready to shove Maggie down and launch himself at Judd if he moved so much as a muscle toward her.
“My boss got wind of our little domestic dispute. He wanted to know if I was handling the matter.” Growing more visibly agitated, Judd was clenching and unclenching his fist, the gun bobbing dangerously. “I was up for promotion, but he wasn’t going to promote someone who couldn’t control his own personal life. I had to make you understand that.” Sweat was beading on Judd’s forehead now, too. “Why wouldn’t you understand that? You had to come back to me.”
Maggie shifted her weight, moving slightly closer to Duncan. “Just how did you find me anyway?”
Judd puffed up a bit, his irritation smoothing out somewhat. “Power, Maggie. So what if Henderson is a tightass who can’t see beyond his idiotic family values. He should never have fired me, Maggie. I might be having some difficulties, but I’m still a powerful man.” He snapped his fingers. “People jump when I do that, Maggie. Your timely little inheritance situation came to light when your cousin tried to contact you.
“It’s all over now, Maggie. I’ve lost everything. It’s only fair that you lose everything too.” He swung the gun out, straight-armed.
Duncan could remain silent no longer. “Maggie, move back.”
“Come on, Judd,” she said, her voice wavering a bit. “You’re a money man, not a killer. Can you stand here and gun me down in cold blood?”
There was a roar of an engine just as Judd slipped his finger across the trigger. His attention was diverted for one split second. It was all Duncan needed.
He lunged at Maggie, shoving her down and covering her with his body. A stand of trees jutting out prevented Dun
can from seeing the vehicle he heard spewing gravel as it swung around the last bend. Judd was just far enough out in the clearing to be in sight of the oncoming car. Duncan could only pray it was not Cailean.
Duncan lifted his head just in time to watch Judd turn back, and fire … directly at him.
“Freeze! Police! Put down your weapon!” It was Deputy Branson.
Duncan had been hit in the side, but even with the red haze of pain blinding almost all his senses, he was able to focus enough to watch as Judd swung around and fired at Branson.
Branson took him down with one clean shot to the head.
Maggie was safe. Maggie was safe. The words echoed in his pain-fogged head. She began to struggle beneath him and another realization dawned. As soon as Branson stepped toward Judd’s body, he would be able to see Duncan and Maggie, sprawled on the ground.
“Are ye okay, Maggie mine?” he said in a low whisper next to her ear. “Yer no’ hurt?”
“Other than having two hundred pounds of Scot on me, no,” came the muffled reply.
Duncan laughed, sucking in his breath at the resulting pain. “Och, Maggie Claren, ye’d have made a fine warrior.”
She tried to wiggle from beneath him. “Are you okay? Duncan, what hap—”
He kissed her and held her down one moment longer. “Shh. It’s all right now. Yer safe.” Then he squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated hard … and disappeared.
• • •
Maggie rolled to her back as the weight on top of her suddenly vanished. “Duncan?”
“Maggie?”
Deputy Branson’s shout jerked her head around. She choked on a gasp at what she saw just beyond him: Judd’s lifeless form, sprawled awkwardly on his back in the dirt. There was another uniformed man kneeling over him. Branson’s partner, she guessed. She hadn’t known he had one.
God, was it really all over?
“Are you hurt? I called for an ERT team, but it will take them a few more minutes to get here. Just lie still.”
“It’s okay, I’m—” She moved to sit up, but her head reeled. “What happened?”
The Legend Mackinnon Page 12