A Wee Highland Predicament

by Ceci Giltenan

  That would be the worst possible outcome, but Lucas had to do what he believed was right. And he firmly believed returning the woman he loved to her family was the right thing to do. He had to try.

  But he couldn’t wait until tomorrow. The best chance he had of making this work was to leave tonight. He looked out the window. The rain had stopped earlier in the evening and the sky was clearing. The moon was just past full so he’d have enough light to travel by.

  He waited long enough to ensure his family had retired to their beds and the only people remaining in the great hall were asleep on the floor. He took several lengths of coiled rope and slung it over his shoulder. Although he hoped it wouldn’t be necessary, if he had to disable her guard he would. And in order to have enough time to get away, he’d have to bind and gag the man.

  Then he wrapped his sword in an extra plaid and went downstairs. When he reached the great hall, he checked to make certain no one would see him before crossing silently to the south tower. He stashed the plaid and sword at the bottom of the stairs. It was late enough that the guard would have changed and he wasn’t sure who might be on duty. He hoped he’d just be able to convince whomever it was that he was just taking her for an evening stroll. It wouldn’t give him much time, but it might be enough. If that didn’t work he’d do whatever was necessary.

  When he reached the top of the tower stairs he encountered his first blessing. Ben, a very young man, was on guard duty. He was sitting in a chair, leaning against the wall, with his eyes closed. If he was asleep, maybe they could just slip past him. But as soon as Lucas stepped into the corridor, Ben was alert.

  “Lucas, what are ye doing here so late?”

  Well he’d have to go with his first plan. “It’s a beautiful night. The rain is gone and there’s a fresh breeze. I thought maybe Ailsa would like to take a stroll.”

  “This late?”

  “Aye, I think she’d like a bit of air.”

  “But it’s the middle of the night.”

  “We won’t be long.”

  “Nay, Lucas, I can’t let ye. The laird wouldn’t like it.”

  “The laird said she was allowed out of her chamber if I was guarding her.”

  “During the day. But I’m certain he won’t approve of this.”

  This wasn’t going to work. “Fine. I’ll go back to bed.” Lucas turned away, as if he were heading to the stairs, then spun back suddenly, slamming his fist into Ben’s face, knocking him out. “I’m sorry, Ben. I’ll make it up to ye somehow.” Lucas bound and gagged him.

  The key to the chamber was hanging on its hook. As quickly as possible, Lucas unlocked the door and entered the room. The room was dark and Ailsa was asleep. He stared at her for a moment, watching her sleep. He smiled remembering the night on the road after she’d fallen into the stream. He’d stayed awake so he could build a fire to keep her warm and he’d watched her sleep for hours. She was so beautiful.

  Tonight, however, he couldn’t indulge himself for more than a moment. They had to leave. He moved to the edge of the bed and placed a hand over her mouth before shaking her gently.

  She woke instantly, his hand muffling her shocked cry.

  “Wheesht. It’s just me.”

  “Lucas? What are ye doing here?” she whispered.

  “Ailsa, I’m sorry for everything that has happened. I should never have brought ye here and I’m going to take ye home to Brathanead now.”

  “Why now?”

  “It’s a long story. I’ll tell ye everything later, but we have to go now. I’ll turn my back while ye dress.”

  She nodded and climbed out of bed. It wasn’t long before she laid a hand on his arm and whispered, “I’m ready.”

  He smiled. She was wearing the dress she’d worn to the Michaelmas celebration and that she’d worn throughout their journey north. It had been laundered, but was considerably worse for the wear. She also had a plaid wrapped around her.

  “How are we going to get out?”

  “Ben was on guard duty. I tried to talk my way around him, but I had to knock him out.”

  “What happens if he regains consciousness?”

  “He’s bound and gagged. He won’t be found for a couple hours, until the next guard arrives to relieve him. Be as quiet as ye can on the stairs and stay close to me as we cross the hall.”

  She did as she was told. Ben was stirring as they passed, so Lucas hadn’t injured him too badly. At the bottom of the stairs, he retrieved his sword and plaid then led her out the back of the keep. They kept to the shadows at the base of the keep until they neared the stable.

  There were guards on the top of the wall who might see them crossing to the stables. Since he intended to ride out, it didn’t matter if he was seen, but he needed to keep Ailsa hidden.

  “Lucas, how are ye going to be able to do this? If we’re caught, yer brother will be furious with ye.”

  “We won’t be caught,” he said with a confidence he didn’t feel. He knelt down on one knee. “Get on my back as ye did when I stole ye away from the Galbraiths. Cling as tightly as ye can, making yerself as small as possible. I’ll cover ye with my plaid and walk to the stable as if I’m alone.”

  She followed his instructions and he swept the extra plaid he’d brought around his shoulders. In the dark he didn’t think a guard who might see him would notice anything amiss. He walked confidently across to the stables and as he’d hoped, no one seemed to pay him any heed. Once inside the stables he put her down and led her to Captain’s stall.

  She stood wringing her hands while Lucas saddled his mount. “Lucas are ye sure this is necessary? I don’t want ye to anger yer brother.”

  “It’s too late for that, sweetling. I promise ye, this is the best thing for both our clans. But I’ll tell ye everything as soon as we are well away.”

  “How are ye going to get me through the gates?”

  “On my back again,” he said strapping his sword to his side. “Ye’re small enough, if I drape the plaid loosely, ye won’t be seen.”

  When he’d finished saddling Captain, he mounted and then pulled her up behind him. “Now wrap yer legs around me, tuck yer head to the side, and flatten yer body as much as possible.”

  As soon as she’d done that, he draped the plaid around them once again, covering her completely. Then he offered up a silent prayer. Dear God, ye’ve granted me one blessing tonight, but I need another. Can ye please get us past the men on the gate?

  He rode out of the stable, the woman he loved clinging to his back under the plaid, and made his way to the gates.

  Davis was the guardsman on the gate. Thank ye, God, this might work.

  Davis called to him, “Lucas, by all that’s holy where are ye going this late?”

  “I’m too irritated to sleep. There was something that I wanted to discuss with William earlier and he refused to hear me out. Anyway, Captain hasn’t been out for several days because I’ve stayed within the walls with Ailsa. I thought a ride might help calm my temper and give him a bit of exercise too.”

  “Ye’re exercising yer horse in the middle of the night?”

  Lucas was going to have to give him more. He grinned, cocked his head and said. “Davis, Captain isn’t the only one who needs a bit of exercise tonight—if ye catch my meaning. It’s been a damn frustrating day.”

  Davis laughed. “I’m sorry to hear that but I’m sure a nice ride would do ye both good. And yer brother will have calmed down by morning too.”

  “I believe ye, thousands wouldn’t,” said Lucas, dryly.

  Davis laughed, letting him through the gate.

  Lucas rode into the village and when he was out of sight of the gate, he whispered, “Ye can relax now. I’ll keep ye covered with the plaid until we’re out of the village then ye can ride on my lap.”

  She released her grip and readjusted herself. “When are ye going to tell me why ye’re doing this?”

  “When we are well away.”

  He rode with her astride
, behind him until they were far enough into the glen beyond the village that they wouldn’t be seen easily. Then as he said he would, he moved her to the front of the saddle and mounted behind her, wrapping the extra plaid around them both for warmth.

  “Are we well away?” she asked.

  He chuckled. “Aye, lass, we are.”

  “Then ye’ll tell me what’s happened.”

  “Aye. I’m just not sure where to start.”

  “The beginning is always a good place,” she offered her voice light and teasing.

  “Well, if I’m going to start at the beginning, a little more than two weeks ago, I was riding north from Edinburgh.”

  She laughed. “Not that far back. I know that part of the story.”

  “Ah, but sweetling, that’s where it starts. That’s when I stole a wee MacLennan lass from a group of Galbraiths and I fell in love with her.”

  “Ye what?”

  “Ailsa, I love ye, and I think I have from the moment ye threatened to walk back to Edinburgh alone.”

  Ailsa turned her head and looked up at him, a sweet smile on her lips. “I know ye love me.”

  “Ye do? How? I’ve never told ye.”

  “Gillian once said that love exists as much in the ordinary as the extraordinary and that ye can feel the strongest love in the littlest of gestures. With the exception of lying to me about who ye were,” she cast a sidelong glance over her should at him, “ye tell me ye love me with everything ye do. On the journey here, ye took care of me, ye made sure I was safe and warm. And then after we arrived at Castle Grant, ye just kept doing it. Ye tell me ye love me with every kindness, small or large. And, Lucas, I love ye too.”

  “Ye do?”

  She nodded. “With all my heart.”

  After everything that she’d been through, to hear her say those words thrilled him. He leaned down and kissed her gently. “Well that’s the most important part of the story. The rest of it is just details.”

  She laughed, “Aye, but I want the details.”

  “Ah, well, if ye insist. The truth is I want to marry ye. I’ve given it a lot of thought. The best thing for both clans would be to end this ancient feud and seek an alliance, secured by our betrothal. I tried to talk to William tonight about it. I thought he could offer the betrothal instead of a ransom, but he didn’t even have five minutes for me. He’s so closed-minded about the MacLennans he probably wouldn’t have listened anyway.”

  “Oh, Lucas, I’m sorry.”

  “Nay, ye’ve nothing to be sorry about. But I realized that time was growing short and I couldn’t risk yer laird showing up with the ransom and taking ye from me forever. I’m hoping that by taking ye home, as I should have done when I stole ye from the Galbraiths, I can win some good will with yer laird and get him to at least consider a betrothal. Then maybe if it isn’t me proposing it, William will listen and see the wisdom of it too.”

  Chapter 13

  Ailsa could hardly believe she was on Lucas’s lap with his strong arms around her, on her way home to Brathanead. He wanted to marry her and she wanted nothing more. He had defied his brother and was truly rescuing her. For the first hour of their journey, she floated on that happy thought.

  Then it began to sink in.

  She was in Lucas’s arms—Lucas Grant’s arms—on her way home to Brathanead. She had been held hostage at Castle Grant for the last twelve days and Laird Grant had sent Fingal a ransom request. When she rode up to the gates with him, she was certain that Lucas would be tossed into their dungeon before she could stop anything. The fact that she loved him and wanted to marry him might not make any difference.

  “Lucas, I love ye with all my heart, ye know that.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “I do.”

  “And I am thrilled to be going home.”

  “I know that too. However, it sounds like a ‘but’ is hovering at the end of that sentence.”

  “But, I don’t know how my clan will react to ye. Fingal surely has the ransom request and has returned to Brathanead by now. Even though ye’re bringing me home, I can’t help but think he’ll be furious with the Grants. He might take ye as a hostage.”

  “Aye, Ailsa, I’m aware of that too.”

  “Then ye agree, ye shouldn’t take me all the way home.”

  He snorted. “I most certainly do not agree.”

  “Nay, listen to me. Ye could take me most of the way—to within easy walking distance of the village. Then ye can return home while I explain everything. I believe, after a few days, once he calms down, Fingal will be more inclined to listen to reason about a betrothal.”

  “I will absolutely not leave ye alone miles away from Brathanead.”

  “Nothing could happen to me once I’m that close.”

  “Ye don’t know that. I’ll remind ye that ye had a similar thought in Edinburgh. Ye saw no danger there and look what happened.”

  “I met ye and fell in love,” she said happily.

  He chuckled and kissed the top of her head again. “Well that’s true, but it could have been significantly worse.”

  “Ye worry too much.”

  “And that’s a good thing because ye don’t worry enough. Nay, Ailsa, I will take ye to Brathanead Castle.”

  “But—”

  “No more ‘buts’. I understand the risk I’m taking. I will not leave ye unprotected to save my own skin. I’ll hear no more about it. Even if I’m thrown in the dungeon, I won’t perish there. It’s as ye say, after a few days Laird MacLennan may be willing to listen.”

  “He might not be willing though.”

  “I said no more ‘buts’.”

  “I didn’t say ‘but’.”

  He grinned. “It was there nonetheless.”

  “Lucas, I ken the reason ye held me for ransom was because yer clan was in need of funds. That could be the only reason William wanted ye to marry Moira MacNaughton. What if William can’t pay yer ransom.”

  “Oh, my sweet lass, after this, William wouldn’t pay a ransom for me if he were the richest man in Scotland.”

  “Ye’re not serious.”

  “I am. When he allowed me to escort ye out of yer chamber and granted ye greater freedoms, he warned me not to fall for ye. What he didn’t realize was that I already had. When he finds out what I’ve done tonight, he’ll be livid. He already believes I don’t respect him and that I defy him just to be irritating.”

  “Do ye?”

  Lucas sighed. “I certainly did when I was younger. Honestly, he was an arse. I’ve told ye that before. He’s never been fond of me. I’m not sure why he even wanted be to come home from training. Clearly he thinks I’m useless. Even so, I’ve tried to do what he asks. Sometimes he just asks the impossible. I would rather become a priest than marry Moira MacNaughton.”

  Ailsa chuckled. “Somehow, I don’t think ye’d make a very good priest.”

  He smiled. “Nay, I wouldn’t. But how can anyone presume to tell a person who they can and cannot fall in love with? It’s just as ridiculous, and in this case it was like shutting the stable door after all the horses were loose—it was already too late. I suppose I’m destined to be a disappointment to him.”

  Lucas sounded so melancholy as he said that, Ailsa’s heart ached for him. “Maybe we shouldn’t have left. Maybe there is another way to do this without disappointing him.”

  “Nay, my love, there isn’t. There were too many things against us. I’m certain William would never consider a betrothal between us if it were my idea. And if forced to pay a ransom for ye, Laird MacLennan won’t either. Ye think very highly of yer laird, and I believe he will try to see that ye’re happy. I feel certain that if we have any chance of being together the betrothal offer will have to come from him. If that happens William might concede.”

  Ailsa pondered this silently for several long minutes. Fingal did love her and would want to see her happy. But what if he refused? And even if he agreed, what if Laird Grant refused? There were too many chances for thi
s to fail.

  “Lucas, what we’re doing is daft.”

  “Wanting to be married and spend our lives together?”

  “Don’t be an eejit. That isn’t the daft part. Both of us riding back to Brathanead is daft.”

  “I’ve already told ye, I’m not leaving ye to find yer way home alone.”

  “Ye’ve made that perfectly clear, my love. So if we want to be married, we should just do it. We can handfast right now. And then we could go…somewhere else.”

  He laughed. “That’s a good plan, Ailsa. All except that wee bit at the end. We don’t have anywhere else to go.”

  “Ye said yer mother was a Macrae didn’t ye? Coira Macrae? She was the current Laird Macrae’s sister?”

  “Aye, she was.”

  “Well, Laird Malcolm MacLennan was married to Nuala Macrae another sister of Laird Macrae. The Macraes might shelter us until tempers cool.”

  “I doubt it, Ailsa.”

  “Yer own uncle wouldn’t take ye in?”

  “It’s not that. I fear my uncle wouldn’t take ye in. It is widely known that Malcolm was not faithful to his wife. That, with the other terrible things he did, have soured the Macrae against him and his family.”

  “But the Macraes are still our allies.”

  “Only because the king appointed Fingal as yer laird and I don’t think he’d risk angering Fingal by taking us in.”

  “There must be someplace we could go. Didn’t ye train with Laird MacPherson? Would he welcome ye?”

  “He might. In fact, he probably would. But we’d have to traverse Grant territory to get there and the chances of being discovered are too great.”

  Ailsa sighed. “So there’s really no other way?”

  “None that I’ve been able to see. Besides, running away from our families isn’t the answer. Ye love yer sisters, it would break yer heart to leave them. Nay, I love and respect ye too much to do that to ye. We will do whatever it takes to convince yer laird that a betrothal is not only what we want, but it serves the interests of both clans.”