Beneath a Highland Moon (The Highland Moon Series 1)

by Gwyn Brodie

  If he brought her along with him, she'd slow down his search for Jillian. But he couldn't leave her there. She was a fine mare and someone would steal her for certain. Perhaps he could find a place to leave her for a time.

  A short while later, Kade smelled peat burning and bread baking. He hurried down the road toward it, coming upon a small stone cottage. A plume of gray smoke puffed out of the chimney. A milk cow stood contentedly grazing nearby. He slid off Caesar and knocked.

  A young man cautiously opened the door but a crack. "What is it ye want?"

  Somewhere inside, an infant cried loudly and a woman tried to soothe it. "I'm Kade MacLachlan, laird of Ravenskull. I'm in search of my wife, Lady Jillian. She's been kidnapped by a dangerous man and I fear for her safety. Has anyone passed by recently?"

  The door swung open. "Och, Laird MacLachlan, two strangers passed by whilst m' own wife and m'self tended our crops. One was a young woman."

  "What of her appearance?"

  "Fair, with very light hair," he said, peering around Kade at Bonnie. "'Tis the very horse she rode."

  The mare must have doubled back, if Jillian was riding her when they passed the cottage. "I came upon her a short distance from here. She's slowing down the search for my wife. I'll pay you well if you'll keep her here and take care of her, 'til I can send someone to fetch her."

  "Aye, laird, we'll gladly help you. There's no need for you to pay us. 'Tis the Christian thing to do."

  Kade knew the young couple could use the funds. He handed the man several coins and gave him the reins. "Her name is Bonnie."

  The man smiled. "Aye, I'll take good care of her, laird. Ye can be certain of that."

  "Aye, I ken you will," Kade said, as he mounted Caesar.

  "M'laird, I've bread for yer journey," said the man's young wife, stepping around her husband standing in the doorway. She reached half a loaf of warm bread, wrapped in cloth, up to Kade.

  The wee family probably didn't have much more than what she'd already given him, left for themselves, but Kade knew the fierce pride of the Highland people. If he refused the bread, she'd be hurt. "Much thanks, good woman. It's been some time since I've eaten."

  She smiled up at him.

  With a nod of thanks, he hurried off to find Jillian. He looked up at the sky. Night wasn't far away.

  ***

  A pig squealed. Jillian stirred. There weren't any pigs in her bedchamber. It squealed again and she jerked wide awake. She wasn't in her bedchamber, but lying on a bed of hay in a shed, with her cloak tossed nearby. The air hung heavy with the scent of animals. A cow mooed in the stall beside her, pigs grunted somewhere behind her and chickens clucked above her, as they settled in to roost. Gloaming was drawing to an end. Nightfall slowly blanketed the land.

  Jillian wondered why her jaw ached so badly. Then remembered. Gordon had hit her. Hard. When she tried to reach up, her hand wouldn't move. Her wrists were tightly bound in front of her with a thin strip of leather that dug into her skin. Jillian raised her hands and felt the back of her head. The wound had stopped bleeding and her hair was matted with dried blood.

  But where was Gordon? Mayhap he'd left her there, thinking she'd be out until he returned. Jillian hoped he'd decided to go on to Edinburgh without her, but she knew the truth in her heart. Wherever he was, he'd be back for her. And Jillian intended to make certain she wasn't around when he did.

  With great difficulty, she held on tightly to the wall of rough boards separating her from the animals and pulled herself to her feet. Lightheaded, she closed her eyes and stood still until it diminished. She let go, and took a step. The dizziness lessened. She took another step, refusing to give in to the overwhelming need to sit down. After a short while it became bearable, before finally disappearing altogether. Even though her wrists were tied, Jillian managed to secure the cloak around her shoulders.

  Anxious to be on her way, she cautiously peered out. Smoke curled up from the chimney of the tiny stone cottage attached to the shed. Her stomach growled as the smell of fresh baked bread reached her nose. Jillian didn't ken how long she'd been out, but if the hunger pangs in her stomach were any indication, it'd been some time. She wondered if Gordon sat inside the cottage, and if its occupants had suffered at his devious hands.

  Jillian's only hope lay in reaching the cover of the wood. When Gordon returned, he'd not be able to find her hiding in its thick underbrush—in the dark of night. But before she could reach the protection of the wood, Jillian had to cross an open meadow, with the full moon lighting up the countryside—and with her hands bound. She searched inside the shed for some sort of tool to use to cut the leather bindings. But 'twas no use. With nightfall, she could hardly see anything inside the shed.

  Twisting the fabric of her skirts tightly around her hands, she lifted them out of the way of her feet and raced across the meadow. As she neared the wood, and with her breathing coming in short gasps, hoof beats pounded behind her. Pure terror spurred her onward. Horse and rider drew down upon her, but Jillian didn't dare look around. If she fell with her hands tied, she'd never be able to regain her footing. Closer and closer they came, until she was certain the horse's breath warmed her back. Without warning, an arm encircled her waist and swept her off the ground.

  She kicked and screamed. "Turn me loose! Turn me loose!" she shrieked, her fists hammering her captor.

  "Jilly, 'tis me," Kade said, grabbing her arms before she could strike him again. "You're safe, lass."

  Jillian immediately stilled. She reached up and touched his cheek, as if to make certain he was real. Then buried her face against his neck, sobbing. "I thought you were Gordon come back for me."

  Kade held Jillian, her body trembling and her heart beating like a drum against his chest. A lump formed in his throat and he swallowed hard. "Shhhhh, don't cry, Jilly," he said, pressing his lips against her forehead. "Hold out your hands," he said, slipping his dirk from the sheath at his waist and quickly slicing through the bindings.

  Her trembling slowly subsided and her tears dried. "How did you find me?" she asked, rubbing her wrists.

  "When I found a piece of your dress along the road and strands of your hair tangled up in the briars. The clues you left told me I was searching in the right direction and I just kept going."

  "I knew you'd come for me."

  "You never had any doubt?" he teased.

  "Nay."

  "Why?"

  "I ken you love me."

  He smiled to himself. Aye, he loved her. "You seem to be mighty certain of that, lass."

  "Aye, I am," she said, smothering his face with kisses, before brushing her lips, warm and sweet, against his own.

  Kade took her face between his hands and covered her mouth with his, devouring her like a man long hungry. After a moment of passionate kissing, he moaned and lifted his head. "I'd like naught better than to lay you down in the middle of this meadow, and show you just how much I love you, Jilly, but I want to get you as far away from this place as possible. MacRae might still be lurking about. When I face him again, I want you elsewhere." He turned Caesar toward Ravenskull.

  She leaned back against him and rested her head beneath his chin. "Are you certain Gordon could be nearby?" she asked, fear clear in her voice.

  "I don't ken, Jilly. Perhaps he decided to go on to Edinburgh without you."

  That seemed to satisfy her. But Kade didn't believe for a moment that after going to all the trouble to bring Jilly along, MacRae would just up and leave her behind. He'd be back to get her. Of that, Kade was certain. "While in the wood searching for you, I found your kertch soaked with blood."

  She nodded. "Aye, Gordon dragged me from Bonnie. My head hit the ground and re-opened my recent injury. I used the kertch to stop the bleeding, and must have dropped it when I ran."

  Anger surged through Kade, causing his hands to close into fists. Did he harm you in any other way," he asked, holding his breath as he waited for her answer.

  "He struck me and I pas
sed out, 'til just a while ago."

  It hadn't been the answer he sought, but still it made him want to kill the bastard with his bare hands. MacRae would've had to hit Jillian hard to cause her to black out. "Where did he strike you?"

  She lifted his hand and placed it against her face. "Here."

  Kade gently ran his fingertips over her cheek, feeling a lump on her cheekbone. He tilted her head back, hoping to get a better look under the pale moonlight. The skin surrounding her injury stood out much darker than the rest. Kade cursed beneath his breath. MacRae would pay dearly for the way he'd treated his wife. He brushed his lips across her cheek, wishing there was some way he could take away all the pain.

  "How did you ken I was at this place?"

  "I didn't. I'd but stopped at the cottage to see if anyone there had seen a man and a woman traveling on horseback. The old man said he'd seen no woman, but a man had ridden past—in a hurry—not long before my arrival. Hearing you weren't with MacRae, I feared he'd already taken your life. I was just about to go after him, when I saw you run from the shed and across the meadow. You don't ken how relieved I was, once I realized 'twas you I was seeing."

  "I'd planned to find a place in the wood to hide until Gordon gave up searching. I'm so glad you saw me." She snuggled back against his chest and sighed contentedly.

  He wasn't about to tell Jillian, but MacRae wouldn't have given up searching until he'd found her. Kade slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, thankful he'd been the one to find her instead of MacRae.

  Night settled around them like a soft blanket, with only the light of the moon to guide them. Kade listened to Jillian's breathing, deep and even as she slept in his arms. With every shift of the saddle, she moved against him. A wave of desire washed over Kade. His mind slipped back to the amazing feel of her lying in bed curled up next to him. And he couldn't wait to have her there again. But first, he had to get her back to Ravenskull, and they had many miles yet to go.

  After riding for some time, Kade stopped to allow Caesar to rest for a bit. The horse was not used to carrying two riders, and even though Jilly was but a wee thing, he didn't wish to tire him out. Gusts of salty sea air shoved at their clothing, and whipped their hair about their faces. The North Sea beat against the cliffs below, sending sprays of water high into the air. A chunk of the moon and a good portion of the stars had disappeared behind the clouds. Kade feared they might be in for a storm.

  With Jilly in his arms, he threw his leg over the saddle and slid to the ground.

  Jillian roused. "Where are we?" she asked, yawning.

  "Somewhere near Aberdeen. How are you feeling?"

  "My head and jaw ache and I'm starving, but other than that I'm quite well."

  "I'm glad to hear that," he said, setting her on her feet. He took out the remainder of the bread the young wife had given him. "This is all the food I have," he said, reaching it to her.

  Jillian hungrily shoved pieces into her mouth, barely giving herself time to chew the first bite before adding another.

  Kade frowned. "When did you eat last?"

  She thought for a moment. "I ate some berries beside the road when Gordon stopped to let the horses rest and drink. But, aside from that, 'twas the night after Will and I left Ravenskull—just before Gordon grabbed me. Poor Will. He gave up his own life to protect mine, and 'tis entirely my fault," she said, her voice seeped in sadness. "If I'd but listened to you, Kade, this wouldn't have happened, and he'd still be alive."

  "Don't fash yourself, Jilly. He's not dead. Thankfully Galen and I found him before he bled to death. Galen took him on to Ravenskull. More than likely he'll recover. Och, I forgot to tell you. I found your mare."

  "Where is Bonnie? I thought I'd lost her for good. When I fell to the ground, she became frightened and ran off. I never caught sight of her again."

  "She's being well cared for by a young family I met along the way, 'til I can send someone to fetch her. I made certain I paid them well for their trouble. That's where the bread you're eating came from."

  "Umh, 'tis delicious," she said, finishing off the last bit of crust.

  "I've more good news. Both Roderick and Winnie are alive and doing well. Winnie asked about you and Ian. And she seemed most pleased to hear of our marriage. She thinks 'tis time you found happiness, and said as much."

  Jillian gently touched Kade's face. "'Tis of a certainty that I have. I'm so glad Winnie is alive. I greatly feared for her safety. If it hadn't been for her slipping what I needed into my bedchamber, and giving my instructions to Roderick, I'd never have been able to escape."

  He pulled her to him and held her close. "I'm much thankful to them for what they did."

  "Winnie and Glennis were close friends, 'til my father sent her away after my mother's death. I'll have Winnie come stay at Ravenskull, so the two of them might be friends once again. It'd also make Ian very happy. He's quite attached to her."

  "Aye, whatever you wish, lovely and delightful wife of mine."

  She smiled up at him. "Will you always be so quick to go along with my requests?"

  He snorted. "Nay, I'll not. Remember? 'Twas I who told you to stay put at Ravenskull."

  "Aye, indeed 'twas. I wish I'd listened. Tell me of Roderick? He's been my pillar of strength since Father's death. I don't ken what I'd have done without him to guide me."

  "He's well and much thankful for his freedom. I had him show me to your bedchamber."

  "Why did you need to go there?"

  "My garrison searched the castle from top to bottom without finding MacRae. Knowing you'd used the tunnels to make your escape, I suspected he'd done the same. Once we opened the panel, I realized I'd been right. His boot prints shown clearly in the thick dust."

  "Aye, Gordon told me as much. He also said that I was more than likely a widow by the time he found me, for he'd left you surrounded by his guards. But I knew in my heart you still lived."

  He kissed her. She'd become his life's blood. He lifted his head. "I love you, lass."

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing his head back down. "I love you, too, Kade," she said, kissing him passionately.

  A sudden clap of thunder rumbled through the hills and valleys, followed by a flash of lightning. "We'd best find some shelter from this storm. There's an old crofters hut but a little ways from here," he said, helping her back up on Caesar and jumping up behind her. "I've stayed there in the past whilst hunting game. 'Tis not much, but it'll do to keep us dry."

  "I hope the rain holds off until we reach it," she said, snuggling her hips back against him.

  Kade gritted his teeth. She was driving him mad, and didn't even realize it. The skies suddenly opened up and the rain came down in torrents. They were soon soaked to the skin. Lightning intermittently lit up the dark countryside, aiding Kade in locating the old hut.

  Jillian shivered against him, drawing her cloak tightly around her. "How much further?" she shouted over the storm.

  "It's just down this glen." After a few minutes more he had sight of the crofter's hut. Reining Caesar to a halt, Kade jumped off and quickly helped her down. Throwing his pack over his shoulder, he gathered her up into his arms, kicked the crumbling door open and carried her inside. He hesitated putting her down, not certain what creatures might be using it as their home.

  After a few moments in his arms, she said, "Kade you can put me down now."

  It might be better if he made no mention of the creatures. Kissing her on the forehead, he set her on her feet. He removed his flint and steel from his pack. "Stay put. Once I start a fire, we can light some candles. If memory serves me correctly, there should be several bits of discarded candles somewhere along the hearth." Kade slowly made his way across the room, using the occasional flashes of lightning as his guide. Once he'd found the fireplace, he ran his hand over the rough stone of the hearth. A mouse squeaked somewhere nearby and Jillian inhaled sharply.

  "Kade, where are you?" she asked, anxiety clear in her voi
ce.

  "At the fireplace. Just a wee bit longer now." As he searched for something to start a fire, his hand brushed across a small heap of dried leaves along the wall. He gathered and placed them in a small pile within the inner hearth. After several strikes of steel on flint, a tiny spark jumped to life, growing brighter and brighter within the dark confines of the crofters hut.

  Jillian glanced around the room. "It looked much better in the dark," she said dryly.

  Kade laughed. "It'll make a fine place for us to spend the night out of the rain, lass, just you wait and see." He'd been correct about the discarded candles. He lit one and wedged it into a small crack in the hearth. He lit another to help him see to gather the dry twigs and more of the leaves that had blown through the broken shutters, and now lay scattered about the hut. He quickly added them to the tiny fire before it burned itself out. The flames leapt higher and higher, adding much needed warmth to the small space.

  Jillian knelt on the hearth beside him, rubbing her hands together. "This feels wonderful."

  He glanced at her and winced. A dark bruise covered her left cheekbone, with the lump he'd felt earlier standing out clearly. Not wishing to upset her, he said naught. Bruise or no bruise, she was still beautiful to him. Then his gaze dropped to her bodice, ripped and torn. His heart beat wildly against his ribs. "Jilly, what happened to your clothing."

  She glanced down. "When we stopped to rest the horses, Gordon forced himself on me. He kissed me, and tried to tear open my bodice. He let go of me when I hit him on the shoulder I'd stabbed earlier with my sgian dubh."

  "Good lass. I found your blade lying in the grass where we found Will. 'Tis in my pack. I wondered who the blood on it belonged to; now I ken."

  She shivered and her teeth chattered. "I'm so cold."

  "You'll not be getting any warmer, lass, 'til you get out of those wet clothes. I'll not have you catching your death of cold."