My Hunted Highlander

by Badger, Nancy Lee

  “Trust me, brother, I understand.” He gazed down at Blair’s pale face.

  “I feel terrible,” Blair said, then her eyes rolled back in her head.

  “Nay! Stay with me, love!”

  Niall dashed up the stone steps, and barreled through his chamber’s heavy oak door. After laying her on the bed, he lit as many candles as he could find, to force the darkness away. He tossed bricks of peat into the grate and urged the cinders to light. When flames flickered higher, their rosy glow was the only color on Blair’s cheeks.

  “Where is she?” Jenny said.

  Niall turned to Jenny, as heat raced across his cheeks. His brother’s woman had seen him naked before fainting, and he did not wish to cause her any more grief. “She is here.”

  Jenny was a pretty thing, with golden-streaked brown hair and lovely deep brown eyes. She carried a basket on one hip and a pitcher in her hand. After setting them on a side table, she sat beside Blair’s quiet form. She touched Blair’s forehead, as she shook her shoulder.

  “Keegan. Where are you, my son?” Blair whispered.

  Jenny glanced up at Niall. “She has a son?”

  “Aye. Adopted son. He has gone missing. I must…”

  Jenny must have sensed his inner demons wanted to drag him in different directions. “How about I take care of her, and you bring back her child?”

  Thankful that someone had taken the decision out of his hands, he bowed, and headed back to the great room. Gavin joined him near the dais. “Jenny saved Dorcas. She will save yer lady.”

  Niall’s entire body relaxed. Blair was in good hands. “I pray ye speak the truth. The lass has captured my heart, the same way she imprisoned me on her ship.”

  It was Gavin’s turn to stare at his older brother in shocked silence.

  CHAPTER 30

  Blair’s eyes felt heavy, as if weighed down with a damp blindfold. Her head buzzed with the sound of muffled voices, as they pushed through the cobwebs. Trying to sit up, her limbs wouldn’t respond to her commands. Was she tied up? Manacled? Terror made her heart beat faster, while forcing her lips apart. She took in a deep breath, and screamed.

  “Take it easy, lady. You’re safe. At least, until our Neanderthal-sized lovers decide to brawl all over again.”

  When Blair realized it was only a damp cloth covering her eyes, she swatted at the offending piece of linen, and blinked. The room was in shadow, but candlelight flickered over the face belonging to the woman sitting beside her, on the bed. She was the same woman who had fainted outside their door.

  “You’re Jenny?”

  “Yes, and I have met Niall. In all his glory, no less!” Jenny’s cheeks reddened.

  Blair laughed. “You sound like me. You’re not from around here, are you?”

  Jenny shook her head. “I’m from New Hampshire. Four-hundred years in the future, actually.”

  “Me, too!”

  “We’ll talk about our previous lives later. First of all, how do you feel?”

  With Jenny’s help, and with pillows piled behind her, Blair sat up in bed. “I feel weak and nauseated, but stronger. What happened?”

  Jenny passed her a small metal cup, and helped her bring it to her lips. “You have to keep drinking this. It’s an antidote. Gavin said you were poisoned.”

  “The apple…I remember. Something about Cinnie, the woman I met in the orchard. I can’t believe she meant to hurt me. Actually, she didn’t. I took the apple without her knowledge.”

  “Which means she planned to poison someone else!”

  “Quick, Jenny! Warn Mackenzie, before someone dies!”

  Jenny raced into the hall without shutting the heavy oak door. Too weak to get up, Blair sipped the bitter brew and wondered how much time had passed. When a servant poked through the door, she smiled. She didn’t want to be alone, not with all the craziness going on around her, and her missing son.

  “Can I help ye dress, my lady?” Her head was down, and wrapped in a triangle of white linen. One gold braid hung down her back. She shut the door behind her, and strolled to a large armoire.

  “Yes, but I’m pretty weak.” Blair swung her legs to the side of the rumpled bed, but held tight to the bedclothes. The woman, her back to Blair, dug through clothes. “Those must be Jenny Morgan’s dresses. I am lucky we are both tall.”

  When she noticed that the servant was no more than four feet tall, she changed the subject. “Is it still snowing?”

  “Nay, the sun is shining. ‘Tis morning, and still early, but the menfolk have left the castle grounds.”

  “What? They left without me?” Blair hopped to the floor, wobbled, and nearly fell to her knees.

  The servant’s hands clasped her waist from behind. “Take care, my lady. The poison is still in yer system. We would no’ wish ye injured.”

  A shiver zipped along her spine. “We?”

  Without answering her, and still behind Blair, the servant helped her out of her nightdress, settled a white chemise over Blair’s head, then laced her into a simple dark blue day gown. She pushed her back onto the bed, knelt, and helped her step into her ankle boots. When she moved away, and pulled Blair to her feet, still not meeting Blair’s gaze, the servant tossed a heavy black cloak around Blair’s shoulders.

  “I’m not that cold, though this is very soft wool.”

  “Ye will need it, my lady. Come.” The servant stepped in front of Blair, and smiled.

  “Cinnie? What are you--”

  “Doing in yer bedchamber? Saving my own life, and the life of my da’. He assured me ‘tis the only way.” She grabbed Blair’s wrists.

  Too weak to pull away, Blair watched, horrified, as Cinnie bound her wrists in the linen she had pulled off her head. When she forced her to the wall on the opposite side of the bed, she pressed a crack in the stone wall. A small door opened, and the odor of moist dirt and dank air wafted out.

  “Get inside,” Cinnie ordered.

  Blair gazed down at the small woman. Her eyes blazed with a golden hue from a torch that had materialized in her fist, brighter than the black orbs Blair had witnessed, when she had tied her wrists. Could she escape the small woman?

  No, I’m as weak as a lamb.

  “Please tell me why you’re doing this? You were so nice to me in the orchard.”

  “And ye went and ate the only poisoned apple in my basket!”

  “Believe me. I’m as sorry as you. But, this still doesn’t explain…” Blair pointed at the dark passageway with her chin.

  “Do no’ fret. The Sinclair wants ye and yer bairn, and I plan to give him what he desires. If my plan works, our world shall brighten, for the better.”

  “What plan?”

  “Ne’er ye mind. Go!” She shoved Blair forward.

  Blair bent forward to walk through the low door. The ceiling wasn’t much higher, as if created for tiny people like Cinnie. If she was being led into the clutches of Angus Sinclair, she needed to escape. But, if Keegan had been captured, she wouldn’t leave without him.

  If only I wasn’t so weak.

  The passageway curved as it headed up on an upward slope. This surprised her, since she assumed Cinnie planned to escape the castle via a hidden door in an outside wall. As they walked higher, fresh air scented with salt rushed at her. “We’re heading for the roof?”

  “Keep walking. Ye shall no’ escape. Ye wish to see yer bairn again, aye?”

  “Of course, but if you harm one hair on his head…” Blair doubted her threat held merit. At least not until she regained her strength. She was terribly thirsty, and hadn’t been able to drink the rest of the antidote. Did that mean she wouldn’t regain her full strength in time to help Keegan?

  “I doono’ plan to hurt anyone. Well, ‘tis no’ completely true. Someone shall die this day, so…watch yer step.” She tapped a protruding rock on the left wall, and a door swung inward.

  Daylight flooded the dank passageway, but no warmth settled over Blair’s worried heart. The sea breeze snatche
d her breath before she could think to scream. A gag was shoved in her mouth, stopping her from uttering any sound. Where were the guards? Surely someone would miss her. Would Cinnie throw her from the top of the battlements?

  Yanked to the left, toward the wall that overlooked the North Sea, Blair lost all hope.

  ***

  Angus Sinclair smiled, and wondered what his older son’s whore was thinking. She was gagged and bound, and at his mercy. The little servant had surpassed herself and, to her great misfortune, her usefulness.

  “Come here, my dear. Let us complete our transaction. ‘Tis a sack of gold ye demanded? Aye?”

  Cinnie trudged through the snow blanketing the stone battlements over to where he stood. She was tiny, and looked like the half-brownie he believed her to be. The moment she reached out to grab the drawstring purse, he would shove her up and over the wall.

  Her hand reached toward him, but it was not open, or empty. A dagger pointed at his breast. Before he could move out of its reach, she thrust the dagger deep into his abdomen. “Ye bitch! I shall kill ye for stabbing me!”

  “And that be the only way a woman would want to touch ye. Yer a conniving bastard, who hurts people for his own gain. I will no’ let ye hurt this innocent woman, and I will certainly no’ see ye hurt her bairn.”

  Before he could spit out a response to the ornery wench’s words, the gagged woman beside her strode up to him, and kicked him between the legs. Gasping in pain, he staggered back against the wall. As a roar filled the air, smoke billowed up from beyond the wall. Grunting from the pain, and cursing the two wenches, he slid through one of the archers’ opening in the crenellated top, and jumped.

  ***

  Where did he go?” Using her bound hands, Blair had pulled the gag down, even as she ran to the castle’s outer wall. What she saw made her rub her eyes, then blink several times. “Is that…Angus Sinclair riding a…dragon?”

  Cinnie was beside her, untying her bonds. “Aye, the bastard escaped again. The poisoned apple was for his pet. ‘Tis said it is a conjured beastie, and I was no’ sure it could die, but I wished to try.”

  “Well, I wish you’d shared your plan with me, in the orchard. I wouldn’t have taken the apple, otherwise. I was starving. My own fault.”

  “We must depart and follow the cur and his companion. He was to kill me, ye know.”

  Blair growled. “He might be Niall and Gavin’s father, but he is certainly no gentleman.”

  “Gentleman? The man has killed two wives, and tried to kill Gavin’s lover, Jenny Morgan. I hear he tried to hurt ye earlier, as well.”

  “You’re right. Niall even shot him with an arrow, but he obviously survived unscathed.”

  “He must have help. Magical help. A healer with great power.”

  Blair tapped her chin, as they returned to the passageway and headed back to her room. “Niall mentioned someone who is a healer. Lana Sinclair.”

  “Aye, the lass is well known around the castle, as a wench who likes to warm the beds of many men. I hear tell that a pirate visits her cottage, whenever his ship, The Black Thistle, nears our shore.”

  Blair stared at the back of Cinnie’s head, until she disappeared into the darkness flooding the dank passageway. When the shock lessened, and she regained her wits, she hurried after her.

  Clinging to the stone walls, as the ramp sloped downward, she recalled something Barnacle Bill had said. He visited a friend whenever they stopped at their hidden cove. He never told her straight out about a relationship, but Keegan had followed him once. He told her he visited a woman’s cottage.

  Adding two and two together, she had to assume Bill was the pirate that visited Lana Sinclair. Was he aware of her witchcraft? Did he know that Angus Sinclair also used the woman?

  Too many unanswered questions made Blair’s head hurt. Her stomach flipped, and she wished she’d finished drinking the antidote. As the torches had gone out, and darkness closed in around her, Blair hurried to catch up to Cinnie. As she spotted the open door just ahead, and headed toward the bedchamber beyond, Cinnie screamed.

  ***

  Niall’s gaze had fled from the empty bed and the missing clothes, to the secret door that opened into the room. When a head lowered to enter through the low door, then raised, he grabbed the wee lass by the arms.

  She screamed, then kicked him in the shins. The pain intensified as she screamed and kicked him, again. He let her go, and she slipped to his right, barreling straight into Laird Mackenzie’s chest.

  “Look who we have here. Should ye no’ be safely caged in my dungeon?”

  “Belay that, Mackenzie. Ask her what she has done with Blair MacIan!”

  “MacIan? As in, the pirate from The Black Thistle?” Gavin asked, walking toward them.

  Mackenzie glared at Niall, then slid his gaze to a spot behind Niall. When Niall turned, his heart stopped. “Blair!”

  She collapsed into his arms, and planted a kiss in the hollow beneath his chin. “Bloody Hell, love! I come back to find ye gone. Ye dinno’ finish yer healing potion, and I feared…”

  “Help me to the bed and hand me the cup, but don’t hurt Cinnie. She saved my life, and nearly killed Angus.”

  “What? Where?”

  “The roof. I mean, the battlements. We went up through that secret door. He was waiting for us. She stabbed him.”

  “Is he still up there?”

  “Nay,” Cinnie added, as she shrugged out of Mackenzie’s grip. “He flew away on his fire-breathing beastie.”

  The room went silent, then several voices rose. Blair stepped to Cinnie’s side, and raised her hands to quiet everyone.

  Jenny slipped into the room and collected the cup beside Blair’s bed. “You’re still too pale, Blair. You had better finish this, and rest.”

  “How can I rest? We have to save Keegan!”

  Before Niall could reassure her that dozens of Highland warriors were scouting the woods and the beaches for the lad, shouts and the stomping of boots grew louder. Several guards stormed into the bedchamber followed by a man no taller than Niall’s waist.

  Mackenzie waited for someone to explain the commotion. The small man raced to the laird’s side, and pointed at Cinnie.”

  “Doono’ hurt my daughter, my laird. ‘Tis Angus Sinclair’s work.”

  “Aye, my laird,” a guard said, striding closer. “We spotted a man riding atop what looked like…a dragon.”

  “Aye, my laird,” Cinnie said, “Angus Sinclair planned to leave with this lass.”

  Blair collapsed on the side of the bed, and finished the cup of potion. When Cinnie pointed directly at her, her eyes widened.

  “It’s true. He would have gotten away with it, if it wasn’t for Cinnie. I was bound and gagged, and still weak.”

  Niall knelt at her feet. He clasped her hands in his, glaring down at her bruised wrists. “He has hurt ye, again. I shall kill him.”

  Blair blinked, and pulled him to his feet. Standing with him, she swayed, but he helped her gain her footing.

  She shook her head. “No. You can’t. Killing your own flesh and blood will haunt you forever. Besides, once we rescue Keegan, I’ll kill the bastard myself.”

  The room filled with laughter, but as Niall pulled her into his arms, all he could hear was the beating of two hearts as one. She was safe, alive, and where she should stay.

  In my arms.

  “Shall we go?” Blair asked.

  Taking a deep breath, he nodded, and they strode from the crowded room. Together, for all time.

  CHAPTER 31

  “I suppose we have a plan?” Blair asked, glancing at Niall, as he lifted her onto the back of a large black warhorse. As she settled in front of him, she thought of what had happened since her latest reunion with Angus Sinclair. Against the Mackenzie laird’s better judgment, he had freed Cinnie and Jaden-Tog, the petite servant’s father. Blair’s testimony about how Cinnie had saved her, plus the fact that the poisoned apple was meant for the dragon, was ke
y. “I guess Cinnie and the brownie are starting a new life together. I pray they survive and thrive.”

  “The brownie has certain powers, and will keep her safe. We must do our part to capture my sire, so he is unable to seek revenge upon either.”

  “Right. He said as much, when Cinnie foiled his plans. So, like I asked before. Do we have a plan?”

  “Aye, lass. The scouting parties came across the tracks of a small bairn, walking alone. We have to assume it was Keegan. None other would be out in such weather.”

  The blizzard that had howled all night left a crisp blanket of snow in the bailey and the outer meadows. Sitting sideways on his horse, Blair leaned back against his chest, and he curled an arm around her waist. Anchored to him, like The Black Thistle, when safely anchored in their secret cove, she relaxed.

  The glorious sun shone down on the mounted party, as they galloped out of the bailey. As they headed along the edge of the cliff, kicking up a light dusting of snow, Blair grew tense. Niall must have felt her fear, as he slowed his horse, and pointed out at sea with his free hand.

  “Here is where my sire’s mercenaries ambushed me and my men. This verra’ spot ‘tis where I fell into the sea.”

  As close as they stood beside the edge, she could see the dark stone pinnacles that reached skyward, out of the waves. “You could have died!”

  “I nearly did, lass, but a bunch of bloody pirates saved me skin.”

  “I remember that skin. You wore it well, but I cringed at the bruises and cuts. You’ve healed nicely, so promise me you won’t tempt fate again?” Turning her head, she kissed his mouth. Their tongues tangled in a dance that heated her to her very core, and she wiggled, trying to get closer to the hardest part of him.

  He growled, but a few whispered words in his ear earned a gentle caress along her shoulder. As she yearned for his gloved hand to search out her breast, she realized he had calmed her fear of heights, so close to the edge of the precipice.

  Breaking the kiss, he laughed aloud, and kneed his mount. She held onto his waist, as they galloped to join the group.