Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

  He chuckled deeply at the sound of worry in her voice. She didn’t know that whether his father approved or not, ‘twas too late for anyone to naysay their joining. He’d loved her thoroughly and with great pleasure more than once, and once was all it took. She may be carrying his babe at that moment.

  “It isn’t funny, you big ape,” she said, punching him in the stomach.

  He pushed her down to the bed and gently snagged her injured hands, pinning them above her head. Ah, the fire snapping in her eyes did marvelous things to him.

  “I’m not laughing at you, love, but the situation. Although I wanted you, I wouldna go against the agreement with the MacKenzie,” he said, watching her scowl deepen. “But my father saw that I didna care for Aileen. I couldna hide my heart from him or Elspeth. He didna want me tae marry without love.”

  Her scowl faded as her eyes focused on his chin. “And, um, Aileen wasn’t disappointed?”

  He grinned and nuzzled her delectable neck. “Nay. She loves Robert as he loves her. All has turned out for the best.” He nibbled across her chin to her lips. “Now if you dinnae mind, I’ve other things I’d rather discuss.”

  He took his time loving her, touching her, savoring the feel of her skin against his. His lady wife. His heart.

  Hours later, Colin escorted Amelia to the solar, her hand trembling in his. This magnificent woman, capable of dealing a fatal blow to a man twice her size, was afraid his father would reject their marriage although he’d tried to assure her countless times while they made love.

  Elspeth lifted her head from her stitchery. “Did you have a nice rest, dears?” she asked, a distinctive twinkle in her eye.

  Amelia’s face burned brightly.

  “I would say so, by the color of Amelia’s face,” Ian said with a hearty chuckle.

  Colin shot him a glare, then pulled his beloved with him to his father’s side where he sat across from his so-called-friend at the chess table.

  “I have news of some interest tae you,” he said. “Amelia has consented and is now my wife.” He lifted their joined hands, displaying his ring on her finger.

  His father stood. “Is this true, lass?”

  She nodded jerkily.

  The old man slapped him on the back then stole a kiss from his stunned bride. Elspeth hugged her with tears in her eyes.

  Ian pressed a hand to his chest and bowed before her. “My heart may never recover, but I congratulate you.” He leaned close for a kiss, but paused at Colin’s low snarl. Chuckling, he took her hand and kissed it.

  “Wonderful,” his father said. “We’ll have a grand feast to celebrate the union.” Elspeth slipped into his arms. “The solstice should serve us well. We have much to rejoice over and will need the longest day of the year tae do it. Peace, love, and mayhap an heir in the near future to carry on the clan MacLean.”

  They all laughed, except Amelia. Her hand fell limp in his and the warm blush had disappeared from her cheeks.

  “What is it, mavourneen?” he asked.

  She lifted her wide-eyed gaze to his, her mouth opened and closed silently. Her head slowly waggled from side to side, then she darted out the door.

  He started after her, but was stopped by his father’s hand on his arm. “Leave her be, lad. She’s overcome by all this excitement,” he said jovially. “Come and sit. There is much we need tae discuss after our meeting with MacKenzie this morn.”

  He let his father lead him to a chair. Something was wrong. His instincts had never failed him, but it would have to wait. He’d ignored his duty long enough that afternoon. His wife, and whatever troubled her, would have to wait a few more minutes.

  ****

  Tuck stared out her window over the Isle of Mull twisting the ring on her finger. The Celtic knots inscribed in the wide band were nothing compared to the knot of pain in her heart.

  “The solstice,” she murmured. Why hadn’t she remembered?

  On the solstice the water sprite returned to the magical waters of the burbling stream, leaving his heart sadly broken.

  Tears slid down her cheeks as Jenny’s story and its terrible ending echoed in her mind.

  “It isn’t fair,” she cried softly. She’d only just found him, learned to love him and be loved in return. How could she give him up now?

  The image of the goon at Raghnall Castle pressing his gun into Jenny’s side flashed before her mind’s eye. If she didn’t go back, Jenny could die, but if she did go back, her heart would shatter.

  Warm hands slipped around her waist and pulled her back against a solid chest. She closed her eyes and leaned into Colin’s strength.

  He pecked a gentle kiss against her temple. “What ails you, love?”

  She clenched her teeth against the pain. “I remembered how to get back to my time.”

  He eased away, leaving her cold inside. She wrapped her arms around herself and gathered the strength to explain everything.

  She turned and looked up at his stoic face. “There are things I didn’t tell you.”

  Gripping the bedpost, he turned away, his profile grim.

  “I was guarding a woman, a very wealthy woman,” she said quickly, eager to tell him so he’d understand. “There had been kidnapping threats made. That day, at Raghnall Castle, we were attacked.” She swallowed down the lump of failure threatening to choke off her words. “We struggled, but my client, Jenny, decided to help.” A smile teased the edges of her mouth at the memory.

  “She jumped on the guy’s back, and well, in the scuffle I got pushed into the fountain. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in that field near the spring.” She took a deep breath and dropped her arms, releasing the steady grip she had on herself. “Then I met you. I have to go back, Colin.”

  He turned from his study of the bed, the bed where they’d made love and consented to be husband and wife, his amber eyes colder than the chill stealing down her spine.

  “I forbid it,” he said firmly.

  “What did you just say?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “You’re my wife, and you’ll do as I say!”

  Her brittle hold on her emotions snapped like a twig. “I don’t believe this. Haven’t you been paying attention? No one tells me what to do. Not you, not anybody.”

  “You’ll not be going, and I’ll hear no more on the subject!” He spun away and stormed out of the room, slamming the door in his wake.

  “Damn you, Colin MacLean,” she whispered roughly.

  Tears slid down her cheeks as she turned back to the window. Why couldn’t he see that she didn’t want to go, but that she had to? It was her duty. He should understand that. He almost married someone he didn’t love because of his responsibility to the clan.

  She twisted the ring on her finger. But he married her, Amelia Tucker, bodyguard for hire instead. A woman who was nothing like the ones he knew. She could never follow his orders blindly, could never be the subservient woman he was accustomed to. Only in bed did she give him that power over her, and that she gave with her whole heart.

  It had all been a horrible mistake. She knew that now. She should’ve never let him so close. She should’ve never let him near her heart or any other part of her anatomy. It was a good thing she was leaving. What could she have been thinking to fall in love with the man?

  “The solstice can’t get here soon enough,” she mumbled between sniffles.

  ****

  Over the next several days they didn’t so much as look at one another, and managed to never be in the same room at the same time. Elspeth and the others had noticed, but remained silent, apparently hoping that whatever had transpired would run its course. Yet Colin knew it would never be so.

  He made his way to the top of the keep after yet another exhausting day in the lists, but it didn’t dull the pain. She wanted to leave him. The truth hurt him more than the deepest thrust of a finely honed claymore.

  Bile rose in his throat as he paced the battlements. He felt betrayed. After they’d love
d one another, spoke of the future and their life together, how could she do this? Did the words mean nothing to her? Had she lied to him from the beginning?

  Accustomed to suppressing his feelings, he couldn’t begin to grapple with the flood of conflicting emotions overwhelming his thoughts. Part of him wanted to hurt her as she had him, while the other wanted to pull her into his arms and hold on with everything he had. He could force her to stay, but what purpose would that serve? She would hate him then, if she didn’t already.

  Lifting his head to the heavens, he wished for the days before she’d stormed into his life, when he’d known the course of his future, when he’d had control of his heart. A bitter smile eased over his lips. And yet, to have never known love, or the feel of her beneath him, the taste of her lips, the sound of her voice, soft and pleading as he brought her pleasure. Nay, he would not change the past. If only he could change the future.

  The solstice arrived and the celebration went as planned although Tuck and Colin hadn’t said one word to each other for more than a week.

  Holding back the tears the well wishes brought to her eyes, Tuck was amazed at how these people had become such a large part of her life in so short a time. She was going to miss them terribly. Even an irritating, overbearing, hardheaded Highlander. What a lamebrain she was, trying to convince herself that loving him had been a mistake. As if she could’ve stopped the inevitable.

  She stole a quick glance at him beside her where they sat at the big table. He looked wonderful and yet just as miserable as she was. Returning her gaze to her food, she stabbed a bit of meat with more vigor than necessary. For the first time in her life she wanted to compromise but couldn’t. Jenny needed her more than Colin did.

  Her insides knotted. Pressing her hand to her stomach, she tried to blame the twist in her gut on her period, which had come earlier that morning, but knew it was a lie. She’d always been lucky where that was concerned, and suffered little to nothing when it came around in the way of discomfort. It was more of an annoyance than anything. No, losing Colin was partly to blame for the pain, but the rest lay in her secret hope her period wouldn’t come for a while. Like nine months.

  Although it wasn’t right to take his heir away, it was a part of him she would have with her in her own time. She idly wondered what sort of mother she’d be.

  “Not a very good one,” she whispered to herself. Having had no good role models in her life, the prospect was pretty dismal. Yet, she wanted to be one. Something she’d never considered before, it simply didn’t fit into her lifestyle, and after all, she needed a man for that. Something she’d been convinced would never happen. Strange, how loving one man could bring about so many changes in her. Jenny wasn’t going to recognize her when she got back, she thought with a rough chuckle.

  “I know not what has occurred between you two, but I wish to Heaven you would end this feud,” Ian grumbled by her side, pulling her from her depressing thoughts.

  “Nothing’s occurred. We just had a difference of opinion, that’s all.” She slipped the tasteless bite of food into her mouth and chewed.

  He scoffed. “If this is what things shall be like around here on a regular basis, I may actually have to find another place to lay my head. Before Colin removes it from my shoulders permanently.”

  Her head snapped up at his comment, then to Colin who was intently listening to something his father was saying

  “What do you mean, permanently?” she asked.

  “He’s been like a madman in the lists. When he’s nearly killed off his garrison, he chooses me as his opponent. I’ve never seen him so agitated.” He took her hand and pressed it to his chest. “I beg you, dear heart. Make peace with your husband so the rest of us may live to see another day.”

  Just talking about the man brought parts of her body to life, flooding her thoughts with bittersweet memories. She’d never felt so rotten in her life, but almost smiled at Ian’s exaggerated plea.

  Pulling free of his grasp, she said, “I’m sorry he’s being such an ass, but I can’t help you. Unless you want me to show you a few moves.”

  “Uh, no. I do not think ‘twould be wise to beat him in a match, although I’d sorely like to try. It would only serve to anger him further.”

  “Then you’re SOL.”

  He gave her a puzzled glace.

  “Shit out of luck,” she said flatly, not caring in the least that she’d shocked him with her crudeness.

  The festivities during the feast grew a bit rambunctious with the bagpipes playing and everyone dancing, except her and Colin. She watched him, wanting to catalog everything about him, but turned away whenever he looked in her direction. There was no doubt he’d detect in her eyes that this was the last time she would ever see him again. During their argument, he’d failed to ask her when she would leave. In all likelihood, he’d probably try to stop her once he realized her intent. She almost wished he would.

  The sun crept across the sky, and it was time to go. With one last glance at her husband, she silently stole out of the great hall and made her way up the stairs to her chamber. She changed into her jeans and gathered her things. Looking around the room, where she’d been happier than she’d ever dreamed, tears burned the backs of her eyes.

  Her ring glinted in the sunlight streaming through the window. Twisting it off her finger, she laid it gently on the mantel. He would find another woman to love, another wife, one from his time who would do as she was told.

  Wanting to leave him something of her own, she bent over and unstrapped her knife from her calf. If archeologists found it in the future, they’d be confused as hell, but she didn’t care. She laid it alongside the ring and turned toward the door, then paused. With a grin, she set the last of her Gummy Bears beside her knife and left the room.

  With all the revelry going on, no one noticed her slipping out the door and through the gates. It was better this way. Saying goodbye would tear her up inside.

  Swiping at her tears as she made her way through the woods, she knew somehow, deep down, that the spring would work this time.

  In minutes, she stood on its bank, the sunlight sparkling on the dappling water. She stared into its meager depths then looked back to where Arreyder Castle stood, hidden from view by the woods.

  “I’ll love you forever, Colin,” she whispered.

  As she took a deep breath and lifted her foot, the sound of heavy feet tearing through the forest made her pause. She turned to find Colin standing at the edge of the wood, his chest heaving with his quickened breath.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat, but it didn’t stop the tears from silently sliding down her face. “Don’t try and stop me, Colin. I have to do this. I could never forgive myself if Jenny was hurt or died because of my selfishness, because I want nothing more than to stay here with you.”

  “I know.” He quietly crossed to her. “You gave your word tae her before you gave your hand tae me, but when you said you knew the way back, everything I’d feared from the moment I realized I loved you seemed tae be coming true. It tore at my heart, and I fought back the only way I knew how. I shouldna have said what I did. ‘Tis your duty tae protect the lass.” He swallowed hard. “Forgive me, love. I beg you.”

  A tremulous smile spread across her lips. “You’re forgiven. Just don’t let it happen again.”

  His lips turned up at the corners with a rough chuckle. “’Tis the solstice that you remembered,” he said, a sorrowful frown quickly replacing his smile.

  She nodded.

  He looked to the sparkling water, his jaw clenching and unclenching. “I’ll not stop you.” He turned his misty gaze to hers. “Although I wish tae with all my heart.”

  She flung herself into his arms and buried her face against his chest, muffling her sobs. He held her tight, and she knew he cried as well.

  He cleared his throat. “You left something behind.” Lifting his hand, he pulled her ring from his pinky. “This belongs here,” he said, sliding it onto her f
inger. “For always.”

  “I wish—I—”

  “I know, mavourneen. I know.” He kissed her.

  Ian burst into the clearing. “Colin, the Campbells are—” He stopped and smiled. “’Tis about time you both came to your senses.”

  “What about the Campbells?” Colin asked.

  Ian’s smile faded. “They are landing in Mull Bay. We must hurry to join the MacKenzies.”

  “Let’s go,” she said. She took a step toward the castle then was tugged backward.

  “Nay,” Colin said. “Your duty isna here.”

  “You need me. I’ve got to watch your back. I’ve got to—”

  “Nay, love, though it pains me greatly,” he said solemnly, shaking his head. “You must go tae Jenny. She needs you. ‘Tis your duty tae return.”

  Her eyes filled once again. He was right.

  She looked at the spring, then back at his handsome face. More love than she ever thought possible filled his eyes. Love for her.

  “Who is Jenny and return to where?” Ian asked.

  She stepped up to the handsome Englishman and took a deep breath. “I’m trusting you to watch his back,” she said tearfully.

  He nodded firmly. “As always, but where are you going? I do not understand.”

  “I’m going to miss you, hotshot.” She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek then turned back to Colin.

  “I love you,” she said.

  “And I love you.”

  They looked at one another for several long, painful heartbeats then she pressed her lips to his and moved to the bank.

  “Remember me, mavourneen,” he said, his voice breaking over the words.

  “Always.”

  Tears streamed down her face as she stepped into the spring. Sunlight reflected off the water, sending stars darting across her line of vision.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  “Holy Mother, Mary and Joseph,” Ian muttered. “Where—what—tell me there is a good explanation for what I just witnessed,” Ian said.

  Colin unclenched his fists and swallowed down the grief threatening to choke the life out of him. “She has returned tae her home.”