On A Highland Hill (Gunn Guardsmen)

by Kara Griffin

  “Verily, what Kenneth says is true. He is not a Gunn. He’s a McInnish. Are you finally admitting that, Kenneth?” Grey asked pointedly.

  Kenneth’s throat grew thick. The last thing he’d ever want to admit was being a McInnish. He wasn’t destined to be laird of his clan, his brother was. And because of Greer’s death the McInnish clan would have to bear the consequence of being leaderless.

  “Nay, I don’t own to that. Since I am a McInnish as you said, Laird, the honor should not be mine.” Kenneth’s stomach flinched. Deep down he wouldn’t confess that he liked the lady and would be honored to be her husband.

  “Then Sean will wed her. That is settled. Now I’ll just have to figure out a way to tell her.”

  The men, unhappy with Grey’s decision continued to bicker about it for a few more minutes before settling down. Sean was nonplused about it too and openly objected to Grey’s decision. It wasn’t like him to do so and with a glare from Grey, Sean retreated and became amiable.

  “I suppose she’ll do. Any woman’s as good as the next.” Sean guffawed and leaned on his side glaring at him.

  Kenneth wanted to blacken his other eye for that remark. Though he knew Sean said such nonsense to raise his ire, he wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. He lay back on his tartan and watched the sweet lethargic woman who had no idea what fate had been set for her.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Elisa opened her eyes and noted the darkened sky above. She’d never been so cold. Her teeth chattered and she couldn’t stop trembling. Coldness permeated her body and chilled her to the bone. She had no conception of where she was. Beside a tree, she lay and looked up, seeing the moon which shown brightly through the leaves. A stitch of pain jabbed her side and her head slightly throbbed.

  As her eyes adjusted, she glanced around and recognized the men of the Gunn clan. She realized she was alone with them. Why would they take her away from the village? Should she be worried for her safety? A panic twisted her stomach and her breath rose with each question.

  Elisa pulled the fabric she lay upon around her to ward off the chill.

  She tried to be quiet so they wouldn’t be roused. Before she’d act, she needed to consider this plight. If she had any sense, she’d be running. But she wasn’t sure if she needed to flee or even where to flee to. What if they didn’t intend to hurt her? What if they’d saved her?

  “Finally you’re awake. You worried us.”

  She jumped at the sound of a voice. Glancing at the light-haired man, Kenneth, she shied away. His speech was like a soothing caress, though deep with a burr. Elisa didn’t know why he affected her and she wasn’t sure if it was fright or apprehension at being around him. He watched her with his dark, dreamy eyes. That alone made her panic more frenzied. Her legs shook and she wasn’t sure if it was because of the chilliness of the night or because of him being so close.

  Elisa held back the scream that threated to escape for she knew she was in a dangerous situation. They could easily accost her, have their way with her, and even kill her. There was no way to protect against such warriors. Then she reasoned they hadn’t hurt her. She seemed fine and didn’t really hurt anywhere except for the slight throb in her head. If they wanted to harm her they would have done so and much more already.

  She reached the edges of the covering and pulled it tightly around her, hoping it lent a bit of security. Pressing her fingers against her temples, she tried to rid the ache and overwhelming fear that had come upon her. Leaning against her bent knees, she took a deep breath, her heart easing.

  “Elisa, rest easy. We mean you no harm.” Kenneth moved closer and tried to calm her with the offer of another tartan.

  With shaky hands, she accepted the cover from him and wrapped it around her shoulders. “T-thank you. I’m freezing to death. What happened? Why have y-you taken m-me? Where are we?”

  She noticed Kenneth wore a shirt beneath the tartan he’d given her. The light-colored material tightened across his chest and made his arms seem even bigger. Why she gaped at him, she didn’t know. He was too handsome to look away. An awkward silenced passed between them.

  Their leader awoke and sat next to Kenneth. Their stares engulfed her and warmed her for a second or two. The absurdity at being with them sent her nerves to fray. Elisa chewed her lower lip and avoided eye-contact. She swore she’d be well if she didn’t have to look at them, but Kenneth drew her eyes when he spoke to her.

  “I’m sorry we took you from your home.” His eyes peered at her.

  The leader leaned forward. “We feared you were in danger.”

  She looked at the leader and nodded slightly, knowing what he spoke to be true. Had they realized what Domhnall was going to do? Had Domhnall spoken of it with them? Of what connection did they have to the matter? Questions began plaguing her, but she was hesitant to ask them.

  “I wish to be honest with you, lass, I was approached by our king to retrieve you and take you to him. Do you know why Alexander would want to speak with you?”

  She shook her head, and drew her knees closer to her body. “The king sent for me?”

  At the mention of the king, she thought she’d been rescued. She hoped so and eased, feeling safe at their admission. Elisa released her knees and sat up, trying to relax her stiff muscles by rubbing her legs. She was sore and her head hurt. A thumping lingered and she thought she’d lose what little there was in her stomach. Then she remembered she hadn’t eaten for some time and the threat of that happening didn’t seem plausible.

  “I’m Grey Gunn, Laird of Gunn clan. We weren’t introduced at mac Raghnaill’s keep. These are my guardsmen: Kenneth, Sean, Colm, and James.” He waved a hand at each man as he announced them and she inclined her head. Except for Kenneth and the laird, the others rolled to their sides and seemed to be going to sleep. “You are Elisa MacQuarrie, are you not?”

  “Aye, I’m Elisa of clan MacQuarrie.”

  Kenneth moved closer and rubbed her back, making her more nervous than she had been. His hand warmed everywhere he touched. Still her teeth chattered and she couldn’t get warm. Mayhap his large body would afford some heat, so she shuffled a little closer. She felt small sitting next to him and yet his strength was oddly comforting. He set his arm around her shoulder, enveloping her with his warmth. She didn’t mind his forwardness as cold as she was.

  “I knew your father, Robert. My father was very good friends with him and our clans were allies. I was saddened by his loss,” Laird Gunn said.

  Elisa drew in a slow gasp. “His loss? My father is … dead?”

  Laird Gunn lowered his gaze and then glanced to Kenneth.

  “Aye, I’m sorry. We thought you knew.”

  She shook her head, despondent at learning her dear father died. Heat rose behind her eyes and burning tears threatened to fall. Elisa suppressed the urge to cry. “What of my family?”

  “Your family was killed some years back, your mother, brother, and sister taken too. All killed during the raid. You disappeared. None knew when you went. It was believed you ran away.” Kenneth continued to smooth his hand over her back.

  Elisa wept. She cried heart-ravaged sorrow and didn’t care if the warriors watched her. Her parents were dead? Her brother, Robby, and her sister, Mauri … were all dead? She didn’t want to believe it. Yet, in her heart she realized it could be true. They never came to visit and had not even sent her away with well wishes. No missives ever reached her. All those years, she’d thought they hadn’t cared, or even worse, no longer loved her. As her sobs came under control, she sniffled away the heartache. She didn’t know what to say as shock tensed her soul.

  “I’m sorry you had to learn of it this way,” Kenneth said.

  “It can’t be true. They can’t be dead.”

  He continued to hold her awkwardly. “I’m sorry to say they are. Did you run away, lass?”

  Elisa wiped her eyes and tried to calm. But the news was far more disheartening than she ever imagined. Her chest shuddered and she coul
dn’t stop shaking. “I cannot believe it is so. Nay, I did not run away.”

  “What happened then? How did you end up with Domhnall?” Kenneth took her hands in his and rubbed them, warming her cold fingers.

  “I remember that day vividly. It was the day he took me, Domhnall. I was on my way home from the stream and I heard him call out. When I reached the gate, it was closed and I couldn’t get inside the walls. So I started to run down the hill toward the woods to hide. He frightened me because I barely knew him.”

  “You were not there in your father’s keep when they came?”

  “Nay, I was returning … from the nearby stream. I heard him coming after me but I couldn’t outrun him. Domhnall caught me and took me to the village. He told me my father gave me as a bride.”

  “What a goddamned liar!” Kenneth said.

  Elisa pulled her hands free of his. “I didn’t know if it was true, and I had no way to ask my father.”

  “Did Domhnall wed you?” Laird Gunn asked.

  “Nay, he did not. He kept me in the village and every now and then he’d come to check on me. He’d ask me questions about my sister. It was she he wanted to marry, but Mauri promised herself to Alexander. My sister and I grew distant. She didn’t confide in me.” Elisa wanted to cry again.

  She wanted to bawl her eyes out at speaking of her family and what had happened to them. In all the years, she never let her heart’s dejection escape, but held it deep inside her. She never wanted to admit her family would be so unkind as to send her off with a man she hardly knew and without at least telling her themselves. Guilt at all the years she’d blamed them now stiffened her shoulders and made her want to climb into a hole. They hadn’t forgotten her and certainly hadn’t given her to Domhnall.

  “Domhnall was interested in your sister? Our king asked me to retrieve you so he could ask you about a parchment that Domhnall had. He believes your sister took it before her death. Do you know of it?”

  She shook her head at Laird Gunn. “Nay, nay. Domhnall kept asking me that too. I know of no parchment. Mauri would never have confided in me if she had taken it. Why does your king want it?”

  “It proves Domhnall’s involvement against the king of Norway. Our king wants to use it to barter the western lands,” Kenneth explained.

  “I know nothing of it.” Elisa wanted to shout her dismay. The deaths of her family and her life ruined because of a piece of parchment and land? Now she really wanted to cry or scream with pure anger. Domhnall never spoke to her of the land or of the Norway king. She knew she should fear him, but never realized what an evil man he was. Aye, he was a banshee who prayed on the innocent.

  Laird Gunn moved closer and he spoke low, “Elisa, you are going to have to trust me if I’m to keep you safe. Both Alexander and Domhnall want that parchment and they will do anything to possess it. Even kill for it. I must have your promise to do what I tell you. I only do so to protect you.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “I can only protect you from them if you are part of my clan. They cannot get to you if you’re under my clan’s protection. We have ways of hiding people …”

  “I see,” she said. But Elisa didn’t really understand what that meant. Did he want her to become a Gunn follower? She peered at Kenneth who looked cross. He didn’t appear to like what Laird Gunn was saying either. “You want me to become a Gunn?”

  “Aye,” Laird Gunn said.

  “I shall become a Gunn then. I do thank you, Laird Gunn, for your kindness and protection. Before I came to supper that night at Domhnall’s hall, he threatened me. I feared he was going to harm me. He asked about the parchment and had each time he’d returned to the village. I am pleased that you took me. I just have one question.”

  “What’s that lass?”

  “Who struck me on the head?” She rubbed the small bump above her ear. Though the thumping subsided, she didn’t like that they’d used force on her. Someone had to have hit her and she thought she remembered being struck.

  Both Laird Gunn and Kenneth grinned. She thought it odd, but didn’t remake on it. They pointed to a man who lay beyond them. She rose and went over to the large body lying helplessly on the ground in slumber. Why she did what she did was beyond her, but all of her fear and anger came out. She couldn’t help herself. With a force unbeknownst to her, she kicked him hard on his thigh.

  He came off the ground in a rush and grabbed his sword. Elisa’s breath caught. She was certain she’d be run through before she could scream. The tip of the sword was a hair’s length from the skin at her neck. She daren’t move, speak, or breathe.

  “Why’d you kick me, lass?” Sean yelled, lowering his sword to his side. “God Almighty, what the hell is going on?”

  And now the other two awakened and watched her. Elisa became embarrassed by her actions. She saw the smirks on their faces even in the shadowy darkness. Unable to meet Sean’s eyes or any of the men’s, she looked at the ground, feeling the burning in her ears.

  “Aye, you shouldn’t be kicking your husband,” one of the others said.

  “Husband? Husband!” Elisa turned and with hands on hips, she glared at Laird Gunn.

  “It’s been decided. Sean is to be your husband.”

  Elisa had never fainted in her entire life but the sensation of doing so came on strong. Her eyes blurred and her breath rushed out. She fought hard to keep on her feet. Forget having a sense of decorum, she would set them straight on the matter.

  “Nay! For all that is holy I will not marry him.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  On a bright sunny morning they left the farmstead, she’d been told, at the far western reach of their land, and began traveling to the east. The sun began to rise over the tree line. Elisa was happy to have some knowledge of the direction they headed. Though she still had no idea where they were in proximity to where she grew up.

  Exhausted emotionally and otherwise, Elisa stared ahead, unable to come to terms with the laird’s request. It was more of a command, because he wouldn’t relent and insisted the only way to keep her safe was to wed her to one of his men. Elisa tried her best to change his mind, but he wasn’t accommodating. One thing was certain; she definitely did not want to wed Sean.

  Colm held her tightly around her waist. Mayhap a little too closely. She’d loosened his hold at least four times in the last hour. What’s more, she caught him smelling her hair and when she turned to give him a reproachful look, he grinned as if he was a lad caught stealing a sweet cake from his mother’s table.

  Her ‘soon to be husband’ didn’t object to her riding with Colm or any of the others. She didn’t want to marry anyone least of all a man whom appeared not to need her. Sean’s soul seemed intact and he looked happy with his lot in life at being a Gunn guardsman. He barely spoke to her and when he had to, he scowled and his words short and to the point. Apparently he wasn’t happy having to wed her either.

  Elisa had to think of something to get the laird to change his mind. So far she’d used the excuse that they didn’t suit, but Laird Gunn stated most couples didn’t suit at the beginning. She also told him that he was too tall for her, to which he said Sean would have to bend to kiss her. That got chuckles from the others and Elisa huffed in objection.

  “Laird Gunn, surely we can come up with a compromise. I shall stay hidden wherever you send me. I can stay there until the threat is over.”

  He rode next to her and Colm, and Kenneth’s horse trotted on the other side. Kenneth kept his gaze ahead. She wanted to ask for his assistance, but he seemed oblivious to their discussion.

  “I told you, lass, we have no choice in the matter. You must do as I have commanded if I’m to keep you safe. With your father dead, it is up to me to ensure you are wedded properly. It is the least I can do to honor his memory. He would want me to take whatever measures are necessary for your safety. You cannot find a better husband than any of my guardsmen. They are all great protectors and providers. What more can you want o
f a husband?”

  She couldn’t answer that because his argument was sound. If she might, she’d say that she wanted to be needed as much as they needed to protect, but she refrained from speaking her thoughts. The men didn’t want to hear her position on such matters and she wouldn’t waste her breath.

  Kenneth kept his gaze ahead and she wished he would look at her. Surely she could get someone to take her side and she desperately hoped he would. But the farther they rode, the more she realized that each one of them wouldn’t contradict a thought their laird had. They truly were obedient and most likely never questioned the Gunn laird.

  When they stopped for a rest, Elisa stood within the calming woods. The trees overhead shaded her from the bright afternoon sun. She wanted a few minutes of peace and quiet to reflect on this latest dilemma. Men did not tell women of events such as war and political matters. She would have reasoned because they didn’t believe women were adept at thinking beyond what to make for supper or when to take care of the washing.

  She wanted to set them straight on that matter from the start. That she was capable of understanding the severity of the threat. Her entire family had been killed for Domhnall’s treason and she realized her life would be in danger should she meet him again. But she wasn’t a silly ninny who couldn’t protect herself if it came to it.

  “Elisa?” Kenneth strolled between two thick birch trees, and walked toward her.

  Her breath ceased at the sight of him. His stride was confident if not a little bit arrogant, and yet his face held a serene expression. Neither happy nor sad. Being close to him, she began to get a fluttering in her stomach and had whenever he got near. It was as if her body understood what her mind did not. Elisa wasn’t sure why she reacted to him the way she did.