To Have and to Trust (Heart of a Highlander Collection Book 1)

by Allie Palomino

  Charlie looked down at her. She looked nothing like she used to. Her face was pale, and where her lips weren’t blue, they were as pale as her skin. Her eyes, when she managed to open them, were a dull, dark brown. The whites of her eyes were not as white as they had been. She was so pliable it almost seemed as if she had no bones in her. Above all that, her legs were covered in her blood. Though the bleeding had come to a near stop, some still slid down her legs.

  “I canna do that, Andie,” he said, gritting his teeth as the horse galloped.

  She silently sobbed and murmured, “Gavin.” She slowly melted back into her sleep.

  Charlie masked a shudder that ran down his spine at the mention of Gavin. Another shudder crawled down his spine at the thought of the Dark Wolf catching them.

  Perhaps Alistair was right in hastening home.

  Gavin slowed his horse. “Andie?” he said into the breeze. It was almost as if he’d heard her.

  Shaun galloped alongside him. “Gavin, why’d ye slow?”

  Gavin looked over at Shaun with furled eyebrows. Although he was pointedly looking at the other man, he wasn’t really seeing him. He felt Andie nearby. He didn’t know how or why, but he knew that she was near. A sense of awareness had settled over him.

  “Liam nears,” Shaun said, galloping forward to him. Gavin did the same, giving the signal to his men to stop.

  “He rides about 100 paces ahead and has two dozen or so men,” Liam said, sucking in air. “We can overpower him. ‘Twould take no time to circle him and await ahead of him.”

  Gavin knew the more they stood waiting, the more Alistair’s lead would increase. He turned back to his men. The row behind him protected both Althor and Greida, who rode behind them.

  “I want four dozen men now,” Gavin deep voice resonated. Men all but fought their way forward to do their laird’s bidding. “Ride ahead, quietly,” he ordered them. “Await the rat. Ambush him. We will follow behind the bastard. If ye see him, doona allow him to escape. Use any means necessary, but doona kill him,” he said, his eyes bright with anticipation. “That duty is mine and mine alone.”

  The men galloped forward, spreading into two groups. One group headed left and the other right. They circled wide so that they could pass Alistair undetected.

  Gavin looked at Liam. “Did ye see my wife?”

  Liam was a bit unnerved by Gavin’s appearance. His laird’s eyes would not darken. They were eerily bright like a wolf’s eyes at night. Gavin looked bigger, more muscular. The menacing aura around him made all of them catch their breaths.

  “Aye,” Liam said tightly. “Briefly. Charlie had her.”

  “Was she alive?” Gavin asked impassively. It was a sign of his fury.

  “I couldna tell, Laird. I apologize-”

  “Nay need,” Gavin said, cutting him off. He gave the sign to move forward and everyone proceeded.

  In a few short moments, they would be coming upon the demon.

  Gavin’s skin warmed with anticipation. Soon, he would send him back to hell.

  “D’ye hear that?” one of Alistair’s men yelled.

  Alistair looked at the man and rolled his eyes. “Damn but I’m surrounded by cowards.” He hastened forward, increasing speed.

  “Alistair!” Charlie bellowed.

  “Damn these bastards,” he muttered and slowed considerably, allowing Charlie to catch up. “What is it?”

  “She keeps sliding down. ‘Tis nay easy to hold her up and ride at yer pace. We must slow down.”

  Alistair’s sigh would have parted a tree. He hastily grabbed Andie’s boneless body and hung her over the horse. “That was how ye should have had her, dimwit,” Alistair said, ignoring Andie’s whimpers of pain. Without another word, he kicked his horse five times to force the animal into a fast run.

  He came upon Gavin’s men and forced his horse to stop. Snow flew upwards in the air around the horse’s legs. “Damn it!” he bellowed. “Take them!” he said, pointing forward. His men rushed Gavin’s, while Alistair stayed behind. “Stupid mon,” he sneered, referring to Gavin.

  “Arena ye worried?” Charlie asked, moving to his side.

  Annoyed that Charlie was with him rather than fighting with his men, he said, “Nay. There arena many of them. We’ll overpower them and move ahead.” He gave Charlie a once over and sneered. “Shouldna ye be with the rest of my men?”

  Charlie cocked his eyebrow. “I prefer to remain here and see to yer protection and safety, Laird.”

  Alistair closed his eyes in acknowledgement, appeased by the title Charlie had used.

  Alistair looked down at Andie. Her rear was facing up and so Alistair was able to see the blood that had soaked through the gown.

  “Glad I am she delivered the little bastard. With any fortune, the spawn will die.”

  “‘Twas two.”

  “What?” Alistair asked Charlie irritably.

  “She had two bairns.” At Alistair’s questioning look, Charlie said, “I heard her mumble about them in her sleep.”

  “The bastard has two to follow him?”

  He stopped when he felt the hairs on his neck stand. Hastily, he forced the horse to turn around expecting to see someone watching him. “Damn,” he breathed.

  “What is it?”

  Alistair turned around again, feeling his hair stand on end. It was the most peculiar feeling, as if someone was both marking him for dead and dancing on his grave. It was ominous, menacing, and intimidating.

  He couldn’t stop the shudder as his body reacted to the intangible threat.

  “What has ye so riled?” Charlie asked again. Feeling eyes on him, he too turned his horse around.

  Both horses began neighing and stomping in nervous agitation.

  “Ye feel it also,” Alistair said.

  Charlie nodded. “Aye. It feels as if there are eyes on me. Predatory eyes.”

  “The men are losing,” Charlie said suddenly.

  “‘Tis best that we hurry forward. We’ve little to go before we reach McBride territory,” Alistair said, kicking his horse to hurry forward.

  “Doona hurry so soon, Alistair. The amusement has only begun,” Gavin said calmly, moving forward on his horse.

  Both Alistair and Charlie’s eyes widened as Gavin moved forward. The enormous laird with chilling blacker-than-night eyes made them catch their breath. ‘Twas almost as if Gavin saw through them.

  How many of his warriors had he brought with him? Alistair thought.

  “Run,” Gavin said softly. “‘Twill make the hunt more exciting.”

  Alistair made a move to throw Andie off the horse.

  “A word of warning, Alistair,” Gavin said, his tone rising a bit. The deep timbre of his voice reverberated around them. “If ye toss my wife to the ground, yer death will be more painful.”

  Alistair sneered at Gavin. “Really, Maitland. D’ye think I am frightened of ye?”

  Gavin’s head tilted down. He shook his head, as a humorless laugh hovered over his lips. Gavin looked up and his eyes were incandescent. Alistair and Charlie audibly gasped. Gavin smiled then. “Nay, but ye are afraid of the Dark Wolf, and if ye arena,” he said, pausing, “ye should be.”

  Alistair and Charlie didn’t move. They stood there transfixed, staring at Gavin’s face and his eyes.

  Not wasting time, Gavin commanded Shaun, “Get my wife from that bastard and take her to Greida and Althor.”

  Shaun dismounted, hurried forward, and took Andie gingerly from where she hung over the horse. Andie limply conformed to his hold. Gavin’s eyes followed them.

  His chest tightened when he saw her in Shaun’s arms. Gavin tried not to let his eyes stray on her, as it would cause his resolve to falter. The anger and rage in him tore through his veins. It wanted an outlet, and Alistair was its target. If she moaned or showed the slightest wince of pain, he would erupt without thinking clearly.

  He steeled himself before asking, “Does she live?”

  Gavin didn’t want to hea
r the response because it looked as if she was dead. Her body was pliable. He noted the myriad of colors on her. She was pale from weakness and loss of blood, red due to the hemorrhaging, and tinged with blue from the cold.

  Shaun sighed audibly. “I canna be certain, Laird. I doona feel her taking breath.”

  Gavin shook his head quickly to clear it. His eyes closed briefly as he prayed for his wife to live. “Just take her to Althor and Greida.” He turned his lethal gaze to Alistair again.

  “Charlie is mine,” Bryce growled, moving forth. Gavin looked over, surprised to see Bryce there. “I have unfinished matters with that mon. I will be unable return to yer holding, or Meghan’s, until they are settled.”

  Gavin nodded.

  “Good-day, Charles. I see ye’re a bit surprised to see me breathing.”

  “Never wanted to harm ye, Bryce,” Charlie yelled in response, making sure his voice carried over the distance between them.

  “Nay? Well, the large rock ye struck me with over my head would tell otherwise.”

  “Why are ye loyal to her? Andrew shoulda never given her power,” Charlie said angrily.

  “But he did, and we were bound to follow. Not only out of loyalty and respect, but because she would make a good leader and because Andrew was our friend,” Bryce yelled back. “And our brother!” he bellowed furiously.

  Not waiting another minute, Alistair turned and hurriedly rode away. Charlie did the same.

  Alistair let go of a shudder as he heard the Dark Wolf’s menacing laughter and battle cry. He rode as if the devil chased him and he truly felt that Gavin was him.

  Bryce, Gavin, and his men charged forward.

  “On to the McBrides!” Liam shouted to the force. He left Charlie for Bryce and Alistair for Gavin.

  Charlie, no longer riding away, stopped and faced Bryce. Immediatley the two began sparring on horseback.

  “Ye will die, Charlie. It pains me, it does, for I once considered ye a brother,” Bryce said, between spars.

  Charlie breathed heavily, winded. “I never thought we’d fight one day,” he replied through gritted teeth.

  Bryce lunged forward and knocked Charlie off his horse. He hopped down from his steed and began sparring again with Charlie. He deflected Charlie’s blows, knowing the other’s weaknesses as well as he knew his own.

  Charlie left his right side open, deflecting a blow that Bryce aimed towards his left. Seeing that, Bryce quickly brought his sword down on Charlie’s right side. Charlie looked down as Bryce’s sword wounded him. Blood gushed and Charlie fell onto his knees, no longer strong enough to stand.

  “Ye never corrected that weakness, Charlie. I always told ye to guard yer right when opponents swung to yer left.” Sad, and feeling none of the usual elation at defeating an opponent, Bryce looked down at his old friend. “That was for Andrew, Maggie, Tanna, Beth…” Bryce said, listing all of Andie’s sisters and other dead clansmen whom had died because of Charlie’s betrayal. Time seemed to stand still as the list continued.

  Charlie could do no more than look up at Bryce. The blood was oozing out of his wound at a quick rate. He tried to mutter words but none came out. Charlie gasped for breath but the air was too thick. He was choking.

  “Goodbye, Charlie. May the Lord have the mercy I couldna grant ye.”

  With one last look, Bryce mounted, and rode towards the McBrides.

  ‘Twas the laughter of madness and it was surrounding him. The Dark Wolf was fast on his heels, making his hairs stand on end. Never had Alistair run from an enemy, but never before had the devil chased him.

  “Alistair, ye’ll only tire the horse,” Gavin bellowed, following much slower behind him, “Nay me.”

  Alistair didn’t fall for that, and continued his pace. Fleeing from Gavin had cost the horse much of his energy and gracefulness. The horse stepped improperly and neighed in pain. He reared, throwing Alistair back. He fell to the ground.

  Gavin urged his horse closer to Alistair, who was struggling to rise. Gavin looked down at him, smiling.

  “Arena ye going to take the upperhand?”

  Gavin shook his head. “I like to fight fairly. Besides, ‘twould be too easy for ye. I want ye to suffer before ye die,” Gavin said, so passionately, that Alistair felt goosepimples on his skin.

  “Rise, Alistair,” Gavin said dispassionately as he dismounted. Gavin sighed. “I’d soon like to kill ye so that I may return to my wife.” His eyes flashed.

  Alistair rose, swallowing a moan. He clumsily unsheathed his sword. “Nay need to hurry. They willna bury yer wife without ye.” Alistair looked up at Gavin and smiled until Gavin’s eyes darkened to complete blackness. Alistair’s smile faltered when Gavin’s eyes just as suddenly glowed again.

  “Lord,” Alistair said on a sigh.

  Gavin smiled so diabolically, Alistair involuntarily shuddered. “Aye. Pray to him, though ‘twill nay save ye from going to hell.”

  Gavin attacked, catching Alistair off-guard. Grunting, Alistair hastily and sloppily deflected his blow.

  “Ye can do better than that, Alistair. ‘Tis of nay enjoyment for me if I kill ye this easily.” Gavin took a couple of steps back from Alistair. “There. Now rise at yer leisure, but I do bid ye to hurry.” Gavin sniffed the air theatrically. “I do love a fresh kill before dawn.”

  Alistair rushed Gavin. Laughing, Gavin easily deflected the blow. Alistair’s eyes widened in shock at the realization of Gavin’s enormous strength.

  Gavin smiled wickedly again.

  “Ye are the devil,” Alsitair said, almost in awe.

  Gavin’s eyes glowed brighter then resettled to its normal incandescence. “My sincere appreciation for the compliment,” Gavin said as he lunged again at Alistair.

  They sparred for what seemed like an eternity to Alistair. He was winded, tired, and careless.

  “I should be dead by now, Gavin. Ye sorely lack skill,” Alistair taunted, trying to buy time.

  Looking bored, Gavin responded, “Like any good predator, I like to toy with my prey.”

  Alistair’s eyes widened as Gavin determinately swung his massive broadsword. Alistair grunted from exertion, while Gavin barely broke a sweat.

  How long had they been fighting? Alistair wondered, wanting to shake the cramps he felt in his sword arm.

  Stepping left to avoid a blow, Alistair fell in the snow. He breathed heavily as he rose again to his feet. Gavin had stepped back, wanting to kill the bastard on his own terms.

  “So…” Alistair said, trying to catch his breath. “How’s Riley faring?”

  Gavin froze on the spot. “Doona mention my son’s name nor my wife’s Alistair, or I will swipe ye a deathblow.”

  Alistair laughed. “Yer son?” Alistair sighed and said, “I never much liked that name. Why she chose it for him, I’ll never understand.”

  Gavin’s eyes looked as if pure light emanated from them. Alistair’s breath caught.

  “There were more fitting names for him.”

  “Really,” Gavin said tightly. The anger in him was rising to an unbearable level.

  “Aye. Like Alistair, after his father,” he said, laughing. He looked at Gavin. “I see that information was unexpected. Aye, the whore was in my bed. Threw her out of it when she grew too demanding. I see that she went in search of, and found, a fool who would tolerate her insufferable ways.”

  Gavin began sparring with Alistair. Hoping that his taunts would make Gavin lose his focus, he continued. “I want my son, Gavin. I’ll raise him to be a strong mon, just like his father.” Alistair was breathing heavily and his voice wavered in inflection at his exertion.

  Gavin came at Alistair unerringly. Seconds later, Gavin’s sword made impact with Alistair’s ribs, slicing him through. Alistair began to gurgle, his eyes round with surprise.

  “Riley will be raised to be a strong man.” Gavin stopped as Alistair fell back on the snow. Gavin loomed over him and added in a lethally calm voice, “By his father, by me.”

  Ben
ding down to wipe his sword on Alistair’s plaid, Gavin walked to his horse and mounted it.

  “Die a slow death, Bastard. Feel the blood as it drains from your body. Feel the cold invade your bones. Feel each beat of that black heart ye have as it panics for its blood. Choke for air as yer organs stop living.” He paused, looking upon Alistair with cold, hard eyes. “’Tis no less than what ye deserve.”

  Knowing Liam was capable of retaking the McBrides, and that Bryce would be riding there, Gavin turned towards his home.

  Home- where his wife was probably fighting for her life, if not already dead.

  How did he know?

  His soul.

  He recognized the emptiness again, that which he’d lived with before meeting her, before she filled his life with love and warmth.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “The bairns still cry?” he asked hollowly, taking Maggie from Esther. As soon as he had the small baby in his arms, she quieted.

  “She misses her mother,” Esther said sadly. At the look on Gavin’s face, Esther said immediately, “Oh, Laird, I’m so sorry.” She left quickly before tears fell down her face in front of her already suffering laird.

  Speaking gently to his precious daughter, he walked over to his now quieted son. He ran a finger tenderly down his face. Andrew’s eyes glowed slightly before he gave into sleep. Looking down at Maggie, he found his first smile in a long while. She was staring up at him, blinking awkwardly. She sniffed a little, still calming from her bawling cries.

  “I know ye miss Mama,” he whispered. “I miss her, too.” He rocked his daughter to sleep. The servants had grown accustomed to calling him when his daughter wouldn’t stop her wails. They’d joked with him that only he could calm her- Papa’s little lass, they’d teased.

  He set Maggie down and looked at her for a long minute. Assured that she and Andrew were not wanting for anything and were sleeping quietly, he walked somberly to his chamber. As he entered his room, the familiar dread entered his chest.