Highland Soldiers 1: The Enemy

by J. L. Jarvis

  “No, it’s too wet. I’ll go fishing instead,” Callum said with a look toward the sea.

  “The raspberries are ripe. Would you fancy a raspberry cranachan when you come back from your fishing?”

  Callum scooped his arm about Mari’s waist. “That’s not all that I’d fancy,” he said as he pulled her against him and kissed her. And there, in the field, he unfastened her bodice and growled into her ear, “Mari, love. It’s a shame that the ground is so wet, or I’d take you right here. But that tree over there looks inviting.” With a wicked grin, he scooped her into his arms and carried her over to the tree, where he set her down gently, leaning her back to the tree.

  “And what about your fishing?” she whispered, as he stroked her earlobe with his tongue. A light gasp slipped out. “And the berries?” It came out as a weak sigh at best.

  “Stop talking,” he whispered into her neck as he worked his way down the newly parted bodice to the edge of her corset.

  She smoothed her hands up his thighs until he groaned and buried his face in her breasts.

  As he hoisted her up with her legs wrapped around him, she gave in to the pulse of his body against hers. How she had missed the fit of their flesh together, and his unabashed fervor.

  As she caught her breath, he tenderly set her down. “You’ve made me weak in the knees,” she said with a laugh as she tightened her grip on his shoulder.

  He smiled. “I’ll not let you fall. If I did, I might not get that raspberry cranachan you’ve promised.”

  “Oh, I see! So you’re just after my cooking?”

  He could not help grinning. “Something akin to that. Although you are a fair bonnie lassie. Come gie us another kiss.”

  “If you were not so handsome, I’d never put up with you!”

  “Aye, but I am, no?” He grinned.

  “Aye, and modest!” With a light laugh, she picked up her basket and shooed him away. “Go catch us some supper while I pick some fine berries.”

  “Och, lass. Would you send me away?”

  “Aye, I would,” she said as she set out. With a sudden stop, she said quietly, “Callum.”

  He went to her side.

  “Do you see something there? In the mist?” she asked.

  In an instant, Callum pulled Mari behind him and pulled out his dirk. “Hie you inside, Mari.”

  “Not without you!”

  “Mind me, lass. Climb the ladder up into the rafters and hide yourself there until I come for you.”

  His stern tone and strong arm sent her back to the cottage as two horsemen thundered out of the mist and headed straight for Callum.

  29

  The Legacy

  Callum steeled himself, gripping his dirk. Defensive moves raced through his mind. He had to keep himself between the horsemen and Mari. He could use his agility to his advantage, but against two horsemen, that would only get him so far. He could shift direction to dodge their blows, at least for a while, but he was in the more vulnerable position. He knew it well, as would they. His mind raced.

  “You’ll be wanting this,” Mari said, as she put his basket hilt sword in his hands.

  “You’re a brave one, Mari MacDonell.” With a proud look, he said, “Now get back inside.”

  “I’ve a dirk, and I’ll use it before I go back inside.” As she spoke, her eyes remained set on the horsemen’s approach. “Callum? Are those—”

  “Aye.” He started to laugh. “MacDonell plaids. Aye, that they are.”

  Mari ran up to greet them as Alex and Charlie dismounted. Alex first caught Mari in an embrace, and then released her to Charlie. She hesitated, unsure of how he would receive her after the way they had parted. Her doubts vanished as he offered a warm smile and open arms.

  “Come here, dearie.”

  After a hug that put tensions behind them, she said, “Och, look at the two of you. Come in and rest, and I’ll get you some ale. Are you hungry? Of course you are.” She arranged herself between the two men and hooked her arms through theirs as she led them inside. “I’m so happy to see you!”

  “Mari,” said Charlie, as she sat him down at the table.

  Mari was too excited to hear the serious tone in his voice. “Did you go by the castle? Of course you did. How is Nellie?”

  “Mari,” Charlie repeated, a bit louder.

  She looked at him with surprise, but his look told her that something was not right. Her eyes flashed to Alex, who was silently watching her, with a somber look that alarmed her.

  Callum watched and drew close beside Mari.

  Alex met Mari’s gaze with a directness that made her shudder. “Your brother’s dead, Mari.”

  She did not move, nor did anyone else. Having seen death and brought news of it before, they knew better than to speak yet. Mari seemed not to have heard him.

  Callum took hold of her arm. “Come, lass. Let’s sit down.”

  Mari looked at Alex, and then Charlie. “Did you kill him?”

  Charlie met her eyes squarely. “I tried to.”

  Mari started to nod slowly.

  “Alex stopped me,” said Charlie.

  Her eyes darted to Alex, who looked downward.

  Charlie’s words caught in his throat. “Jamie was there at Airds Moss. He had joined up with Cameron. They were praying.” Charlie shook his head, not believing.

  Alex said, “Our orders were to surround them. Barely a man escaped.”

  Mari said, “And how did he die?” She looked plainly from one to the other. “Just tell me.”

  Charlie said, “I dinnae do it, if that’s what you’re thinking. I would have, but Alex stopped me. I’m sorry, Mari, but he killed my brother. I had my dirk at his throat, but Alex reminded me that we had to take him back to Edinburgh. We needed to return him so Jamie could take his rightful place in prison. Then Callum would be free.”

  “And we did that,” said Alex. “We took him back, and secured your freedom, Callum.”

  Callum gave a slight nod to Alex, but said nothing out of deference to Mari. Regardless of what Jamie had done, he was Mari’s brother, for whom she was grieving. He would not express his own joy at her brother’s expense, but he let Alex know with a look that he was deeply grateful.

  Alex went on. “We were sure he would get transportation, his original sentence.”

  “But he didnae,” said Mari softly.

  Alex shook his head grimly.

  Charlie said, “Airds Moss was a bloody business. They cut off Cameron’s head, and—”

  “We dinnae need all the details,” said Callum, his eyes darting toward Mari.

  “When we got back to Edinburgh, Jamie was put on trial.” Alex lifted sympathetic eyes to Mari’s. “He was sentenced to death.”

  “Oh, Jamie.” Callum guided Mari to a chair. “All alone.”

  Charlie said, “It all happened so fast. We couldnae get here to tell you and bring you to him. But your parents were there.”

  Startled, Mari looked up. “Were they?”

  Alex said, “Aye. He didnae die alone.”

  “Good,” Mari said, but an odd look came over her. Callum took hold of her shoulders. “Mari, lass?”

  “For all that he’s done, with all the men he has killed, they went to him.” She tried to fathom it. “With Jamie, no sin was too great for their forgiveness.” Her lips spread, almost smiling. “But for falling in love, I am dead to the people I love. At least Jamie died with their love. They left me with no family.”

  Callum said quietly, “Except us.”

  * * *

  In an effort to get her mind off her grief, Mari spent the afternoon staying busy. She went out to get berries and came back to cook. The men went fishing for supper and returned ready for the mugs of ale Callum kept filled. When the eating was done, the talk turned to the future. In the fire’s warm glow, Mari set her mind toward happier matters. It was good to see Alex and Charlie. Although it hurt to think of Charlie with a knife at Jamie’s throat, she knew he had fresh in his
mind the vision of Hugh’s death by her brother’s hand. As much as Jamie’s death grieved her, Hughie’s grieved her as well. She could not fault Charlie for harboring bitter feelings. They had done the right thing in bringing Jamie to justice to restore Callum’s freedom. Mari could not blame them for a result no one would have expected. Perhaps Callum was right. They were family, and family forgave if they were to stay together. She needed to feel there was family about her. She glanced around the table at the men as they laughed over something she’d missed. The three men looked so happy. She would always miss Jamie and her parents, but this was her family now.

  The men spoke of more cheerful matters. “It was Glengarry who did it,” said Alex.

  Callum lifted his chin and stared, unbelieving.

  “Aye, when he learned of Jamie’s capture, he dispatched a letter to each man on the Edinburgh Privy Council. The man isnae without influence. Your pardon was signed and then we were charged with delivering it back to Invergarry.”

  Callum leaned back. “Glengarry did that for me?”

  Alex nodded, content to see how much the news must mean to Callum.

  Callum reached over and grasped Mari’s hand. “No more hiding, my love. We can go wherever we want.”

  She looked at him, and shared not only relief, but new hope for the future. Their lives could move forward.

  Callum said, “Where shall we go, lassie?”

  “Invergarry,” said Charlie.

  “I was not asking you,” Callum said with an arch look. “Unless you answer to ‘lassie’ now.”

  Alex leaned back and laughed. “What a bonnie lassie he’d make.”

  “Aye, far more bonnie than any lass who would have you,” Charlie said, with a sideways glance.

  Alex grinned, and turned to Callum. “I hadnae meant discuss it this evening, but the subject seems to have come up.” He rolled his eyes in Charlie’s direction. “I ken that you’ve had enough news for one night.” Alex paused.

  “May as well tell me now,” said Callum.

  Mari slipped her hand into the crook of Callum’s arm, where it leaned on the table.

  “Lady MacDonell died a sennight ago,” said Charlie.

  “I’m so sorry to hear it.” Mari slipped her arm into Callum’s, whose somber expression conveyed his conflicting emotions. Both he and his mother had suffered at the bidding of Lady MacDonell.

  Mari asked, “What of the bairn?”

  Alex said, “The wee thing was stillborn, and his mother was gone the next day.”

  “A son? She once told me, when she thought I was too young to remember, that one day she would have a son. And when she did, the chief would forget all about me.”

  Unable to hide her dismay, Mari looked to the others, excepting the same. But she saw from their faces that this was not news. “She must have been so unhappy to say such a thing.”

  “Aye, but she had no cause to make a child suffer for it. And suffer I did.” Callum showed little emotion, but it was there underneath.

  Mari stroked Callum’s arm, wanting to soothe him, but he covered her hand with his.

  “And how fares Glengarry?” said Callum.

  “He’s not been himself,” Alex said.

  Mari nodded. “Understandably.”

  “Aye, true enough.” Alex studied his interlaced hands for a moment, and then looked up at Callum. “We’re to bring you back with us.”

  * * *

  When they arrived at Glengarry, the chief greeted them, shared a meal, and retired to his rooms. Callum did his best to conceal his surprise when he and Mari were given a room in the castle. While Lady MacDonell was alive, he had never been invited to stay in the castle. He had never dared hope for this sudden inclusion in castle life. Even so, the chief spoke little to them, and never of why they were here or how long they would remain.

  In the days that followed, The Glengarry was scarce, grieving alone and not leaving his rooms except to oversee the most pressing matters. But the days passed, and he emerged from his grief and began to spend time with the people around him. On one such evening, he invited Mari and Callum to the solar. The late summer night had grown cool. They had gathered about a large fire. A glowing log sparked and crackled.

  Glengarry said simply, “I’d like you to stay.”

  Callum lifted his eyes toward his father’s. His throat thickened with emotion. How many times over the years had he wished for these words?

  “As my son,” he added, meeting his eyes squarely.

  “Aye?” Callum answered. He was too stunned to say more. He had spent his life as an outsider, a bastard. It had shaped who he was as a man. He had turned years of emptiness and sometimes ridicule into strength of heart, mind and body. And now, when he had finally resolved who he was as a man, he was given the chance to be something he had not dreamed of since childhood: Glengarry’s son.

  “Think on it,” said his father.

  Callum nodded. He could not shake the feeling that there was something more. It was in Glengarry’s manner, something to which Callum had become attuned over the years. He chastised himself for being so reluctant to trust. After all, it was a simple offer. And why would Glengarry not long to have family about him?

  “You honor me, sir.”

  * * *

  Later, a fire warmed the night air as the men sat about it outside on a bright moonlit night. Mari had gone to sleep, but Callum was restless. He came to join them with a sudden longing for their simple life as dragoons, when few problems loomed from one day to the next. He told them of his father’s offer. They were not surprised.

  Charlie said, “When we were sent to bring you back, we expected it. After all, he’s lost his only heir.”

  “Only legitimate heir,” Alex corrected. “There are rumblings in the clan. The chief knows this and wants to secure the clan’s peace and stability after he’s gone.”

  “Is he ill?” Callum asked.

  “No, but the death of a loved one reminds us of our own mortality, and I think he is weary. He wants someone to keep the clan together in peace.”

  “Ranald could do it,” said Callum.

  “Aye. So could you.”

  Callum met Alex’s eyes, but could not share his confidence.

  Charlie said, “There is talk that Clan MacKenzie would attack, given the chance.”

  Callum said, “Och, that talk has gone on for the last hundred years.”

  Alex raised an eyebrow. “Aye, well, when you trap a congregation in their kirk and send your piper marching about it merrily playing a tune while it burns to the ground, people tend to hold a wee grudge.”

  They all stared into the fire in silence. It had not been their clan’s finest hour.

  Callum said, “Leaders do terrible things.”

  “And sometimes they do great things,” said Alex. “That choice would be yours.” He looked at Callum with confidence.

  * * *

  Gray and misty days followed in which Callum spent hours with the chief learning about the workings of the castle and clan. Mari thought she should be learning as well about running a household, but whenever she broached the subject the chief put her off, so Mari felt idle and restless. When the sun at last rose, Callum took her out riding. It was a crisp autumn day, and the hills were brilliant with color. At a sunny clearing beside the loch, they stopped and spread out a spare plaid that Callum had brought. Mari leaned back into Callum’s cradling arms and they stared at the loch and the hills, and they talked. Despite how busy Glengarry had kept Callum, Mari was happy to see him forming a bond with his father and finding his place in the world.

  “And what of you, love? How is your life here?”

  She rested her head on his chest. “It is quiet and good to watch you. You are where you belong.”

  He smiled gently. “Am I?”

  “Aye.”

  “I belong beside you, as well, and I’ve missed you, my Mari.” He leaned down and breathed in the scent of her hair. Gently, he removed the combs t
hat held it in place, until it cascaded in thick lengths that spilled over her shoulders. He combed his thick fingers through her hair and lifted enough to expose her bare neck. There he pressed soft lips upon it until Mari shivered.

  “Are you cold?” He pulled the plaid over her shoulders.

  With a warm look, Mari said, “No, not as long as you keep your arms about me just so.” She nestled into his arms as she pivoted around and thoroughly kissed him. Her breath brushed his neck as she whispered, “I have missed you.” She reached down and pulled his plaid up the length of his thighs. “And I’ve longed for you.” She turned and straddled him. With a throaty growl, he gripped her hips as she guided him into her. His hands slid up to her breasts, and he fumbled to unfasten her bodice. With a curse, he curled his fingers over the edge of the fabric as Mari laughed lightly. She unfastened her clothing and bared herself to him. With a deep sigh, he brushed his hands over her satin skin, and then lifted her off him and lowered her onto her back. He touched her and watched her face flush with the bliss he brought her.

  When Callum collapsed beside her, he lay his head on her shoulder and stretched his arm over her.

  Late in the afternoon, Mari opened her eyes to see clouds rolling in over the sun. She stirred, and Callum awoke. “Now I’m cold,” she said, pulling her clothing about her. She looked down and smiled wistfully at him as he watched her. “It’s late.”

  “Aye.” He sat up with a regretful sigh.

  They shared a last lingering look, and then Callum patted her hand and they got up to leave. As Mari shook the plaid and began to fold it, he circled her waist and pulled her against him. “I love you,” he whispered into her ear.

  She returned his embrace. “I know. But you should continue to tell me—in case I forget.”

  “I’d rather show you.”

  Mari lifted her eyes and grinned. “You could do both.”

  And he did.

  * * *

  In no hurry, they returned to the castle. But as they entered the bailey, there was a flurry of activity and new horses being led to the stable.