Could she possibly hope he still wanted her after learning she was no longer a maiden? She found herself lost in all that was Alex. She remembered his gentleness, the way his skin felt against hers, the way his lips tasted. The way he gazed at her made her heart melt. Conjuring up his scent, his warmth, his essence, she realized her heart was totally captured by the fierce highlander.
Though she was sure it was too soon for Alex to be in love with her, maybe that would change some day. Could she be happy being his mistress if that was the only way she could have him?
***
Two days later, there was still no word of the men. Maddie searched outside for her little ones, hoping to occupy her time with telling them stories. As she strolled down the hill, she spotted a small group of children in the middle of the courtyard on the grass. She waved and several of them ran up to greet her. Wee Emma was just learning to walk, so she struggled to keep up with the others. Maddie greeted them all and then swept by to scoop Emma in her arms.
“Oh, what a big lass you are, Emma! You are walking about like an expert. I am so proud of you.” Maddie glanced at Emma’s mother, who beamed back at her.
“She has been waiting to show you, my lady. She is quite proud of her new talent.”
“As she should be.” Maddie hugged the little girl tight and set her down with the others. “What is everyone doing this morning?” she asked as she looked at her little group of darlings.
Jennie came tearing out of the keep, running right up to them. “We have been waiting for you, Maddie,” she said eagerly. “We were hoping you would tell us another story.”
“Please, my lady, please!” A loud cacophony of little voices greeted her. How could she refuse them?
Maddie eased herself down on the grassy knoll. “I would be happy to tell you a story, but be sure to sit close to me so you can hear me well.” Emma toddled over and plopped herself into Maddie’s lap.
Several stories later, a low rumbling noise interrupted her words.
Tommy jumped up, screaming, “They’re back! The guardsmen are back! I can’t wait to see my da. My lady, you must come and look with me.”
Maddie handed wee Emma to her mother and then followed Tommy to the staircase to the battlements. What Maddie saw in the valley beneath them made her freeze in place.
Horses—so many she couldn’t count. They filled her vision, moving swiftly toward the keep. Shouts from the clan guardsmen reverberated as they drew near. She saw horses with men, horses without them, and she thought she saw some men tied to horses. What had she done?
She grabbed the stone wall to steady herself. Alex? Where was Alex? Her eyes searched for him, but the guards were still too far away for her to find him in the crowd. Blood pounded through her temples as she scanned the horizon.
“Someday I will ride as a guardsman for Laird Grant!” Tommy pulled on her hand to get her attention. “My da said I could if I work real hard. I will, won’t I?”
Maddie glanced at Tommy, but could not focus on his words. Her hand went to her mouth as she continued to search the sea of Highlanders for one man. As they drew closer, she was finally able to pick him out, riding in the front with a grim look on his face. Was that blood running down his arm? Was he seriously injured? Maddie’s eyes blurred as she turned to race back down the stone steps.
She fought for control, for focus, but she was not sure she could deal with this situation. What if Alex had come back with both Kenneth and Niles? Saints above, the possibility of seeing them both again was more terrible than she could bear. She rushed so fast toward the steps of the keep, she tripped over a stone in the courtyard. Jennie’s voice called out to her as she caught her fall, but as soon as she was steady, she continued on toward the steps. She had to get inside. She had to get to the safety of her room.
Please, Papa. Don’t make me have to face them again.
Her skirts crinkled in her hand, she charged forward blindly. The grate of the portcullis raising broke into her thoughts, unleashing panic within her.
Lord, please help me.
Total chaos erupted as mothers shoved their little ones into their cottages and everyone else ran toward the gates. The thundering of horses’ hooves came closer and closer. The air filled with clouds of dirt and angry shouts.
Maddie grabbed wee Jennie as the lassie approached the steps. Jennie’s eyes were huge as she watched Alex lead the men into the bailey.
“What is happening, Maddie?” she cried out. “I don’t understand. My brother looks so mean and mad. What has happened to him! Maddie, please, make this stop!”
Maddie held Jennie tight as Alex and his brothers approached on horseback. “I am not sure, Jennie,” she whispered. She wound her trembling arms around the lassie and buried her face in her hair.
Alex’s black destrier stopped in front of them, prancing with excitement. Madeline stared wide-eyed at Alex. He sat tall, his sword at his waist, blood weaving a current down his left arm. His dark eyes wrenched her gut as they connected with hers. After a long moment, she tore her eyes from Alex and searched behind him.
Two men were bound and gagged on their horses, thrashing to get free. Robbie punched one of the men in his belly as he yanked him from the horse. Another guard did the same with the other.
Niles and Kenneth!
Madeline’s vision blurred as she watched as the men were roughly toppled from their horses. She shrank back and closed her eyes, shuddering, and reminded herself they were both tied up and could not hurt her now. Alex would never allow it.
Madeline vaguely heard Alex shout to Jennie, “Inside!” His wee sister took off toward the keep without question. Maddie turned around in confusion, unsure of what to do or where to go.
Alex dismounted, strode toward her, and briefly bowed his head before returning to the center of the courtyard, bringing her with him. He strode with conviction, his muscles bulging down his forearms, rippling in his legs. The other guards followed, and stable boys rushed forward to remove the horses in the melee. Madeline stood to Alex’s right, slightly behind him, while Niles and Kenneth still stood bound and gagged amidst a circle of soldiers, their faces twisted in anger and indignation.
Alex’s people gathered in close, seemingly in awe of what was happening. More and more streamed in through the gates, anxious to see the laird and his men. Once the horses had all been removed, a dead silence hung in the air as everyone waited to hear what their laird had to say. What would Alex do next?
Madeline’s insides turned to water. Anger was written all over Alex’s face. Tension was evident in his every muscle, and she could almost feel the rage coursing through his body. She glanced at Niles and Kenneth, hoping they had not noticed her yet, then quietly moved away from Alex, hoping she could slip inside without being noticed. She was not sure she could face Niles and Kenneth together.
“Madeline!” Alex hollered. “Stop where you are and be still!” He turned to face the crowd.
Madeline froze in her path and turned toward the courtyard. “Yes, Laird Grant,” she whispered with her head down. She slowly raised her eyes to meet Kenneth’s. He sneered at her, despite the gag in his mouth, but he wasn’t so overbearing in his present state. Maddie inched her chin up and stood tall. She scanned all the people gathered in the courtyard, noting their bewildered looks. Well, they would probably hear all now. She was determined to keep her head up. Alex would want her to be strong.
Alex pointed to Maddie’s stepbrother with his sword. “Remove the prisoner’s gag!”
Kenneth shouted obscenities and accusations as soon as his mouth was freed. “How dare you touch me, Grant! You have no right, you bastard! Return my sister to me. I am her guardian. The law says she is mine to do with as I wish.”
“And does the law include beating the lass with a horsewhip? I witnessed the effects of your cruelty, MacDonald. You will never get the chance to hurt her again. Madeline stays here with me. I will take the matter to the king if I must. He won’t side with you. You
are my prisoner until he decides otherwise.”
As the two men battled with words, Madeline listened and subconsciously took a small step toward Alex. She realized what she was doing and inched a little closer yet. She trusted him to protect her. Who knew if Niles could possibly break his bindings? Mayhap Kenneth would break free and lunge for her. She rubbed the underside of her arms without thinking, tears blurring her vision. She inched a little closer to Alex. Alex, I know you told me to stay still, but you are moving too far away. Please stay. Don’t let either of them touch me again. She brushed at the invisible tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks. Certainly he would not be upset by a little movement.
Alex pointed to the Comming next, ordering for his gag to be removed, too. Niles spat on the ground in front of Alex. “You will pay for this, Grant. First, you back out of the contract with my sister, now you interfere with my betrothed. Madeline is mine. MacDonald betrothed her to me, and I want her back!”
“You are released from your betrothal to this lady. She does not want you, Comming. She never did,” Alex stated. “She is under my protection now, and you will no’ touch her again.”
“At whose orders is she under your protection, Grant?” Kenneth yelled out.
“At the lady’s request. She does not want anything to do with you or your friend.”
“And since when does a wench have any say about her future?” asked Kenneth.
Alex strode up to Kenneth and positioned the point of his sword at his throat. Madeline could not hold back a gasp.
“Since she came to my keep, MacDonald.” A small trickle of blood slid down Kenneth’s throat. The man’s face instantly went white and his knees buckled. One of Alex’s guards caught him before he went down.
Alex chuckled and turned to smirk at the Comming.
“She is mine, Grant!” Niles glanced around at the gathered crowd. “And she will tell you the very same. She begged me to take her maidenhead! Who could possibly want her now?” he yelled out for all the crowd to hear.
Madeline cringed as a collective gasp range out from the spectators. The crowd quieted as they waited to hear their laird’s response to the accusation. What would his people think of her? Her secret was out. She took two more steps toward Alex. He might be the only one willing to help her now. Her stomach churned from the sight and smell of so many male bodies. They could reach her in a moment if they decided to make her suffer for the Comming’s accusation. Her eyes snapped shut.
She loved so many of Alex’s clan. They had welcomed her with open arms, but how would they feel about her now? Who would allow someone so wanton to tell stories to their children? Her world crumbled in front of her, what was left of it, anyway. She opened her eyes and took another tentative step toward Alex. Toward safety.
Alex strode over to Niles and placed his sword at his belly. Madeline stared at the ground, her breath hitching in sheer fright. Her legs wobbled as she fought to regain control.
Alex! Don’t you recognize how much I need you right now?
She took another tentative step toward him. The men appeared to be closing in around her. She coughed to try to draw in more air, tugging at her bodice to loosen it.
I can’t breathe!
Angry eyes stared at her from the crowd. Tightness clawed at her chest. Would anyone dare reach for her in front of Alex? She shivered and rubbed her hands up and down her arms.
Just one more step closer. Alex, please don’t leave me.
Alex’s voice echoed deep but powerful. “How dare you tell such lies about the lady! You are fortunate that I am a laird of the king, else I would gut you right here. Or make certain you will never rape again. Perhaps some time in the dungeon will help to clear your thoughts for now, Comming.”
***
Alex caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned and gaped when he realized how close Madeline was to him. She took another step toward him, her eyes locked directly onto his, fear radiating from every ounce of her being. Toward him? She was finally moving toward him? He immediately felt a little tug in his chest, but he fought the urge to let a smile steal over his face. By the saints, he would banish that fear from her eyes forever. He knew what he had to do. He pointed to Madeline, and in an instant, his brothers and three of his soldiers had circled around her.
He then turned to Niles Comming, raised his sword, and shouted, “The lass marries me!”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Madeline jump in surprise.
Kenneth hopped up and down as if possessed and shouted, “She’ll never agree, Grant. She is a dead woman if she marries you.” He lurched toward Madeline, but was restrained by several soldiers. “I will kill her with my bare hands if she agrees. Madeline, do you hear me? I will kill you, but not until I beat you near to death first! If you think the last time was bad, wait until you see what happens this time. You will never be able to walk again.”
The angry roar of the crowd practically masked the conversation.
“I have not heard it from her, Grant!” Niles bellowed. “She would not dare to marry you when she knows she is mine.”
“She will agree to marry me. Will you not, my lady?” He turned to Madeline, who was still surrounded by his men.
Madeline blanched and said, “May I have a word with you, Laird?”
Lowering his voice, he said, “Just say ‘aye’ Maddie and your troubles are over.”
“But could I please have a word first?” she asked beseechingly.
“Are you jesting with me, Maddie?”
The Comming chuckled. “She’s daft, Grant. Have you not learned that yet?”
Alex waited patiently for a moment. What was the lass thinking? He knew she was upset by the presence of her two tormentors. But were not lasses supposed to be thrilled by proposals of marriage?
“She does not sound so agreeable to me, Grant!” Niles taunted.
“Please!” she cried.
Alex gazed into her big blue eyes and recognized the fear in them. He sighed, sheathed his sword, and stepped inside the protective circle his warriors had formed around Madeline. They had to step apart to make room for his broad shoulders.
“What is it, Maddie?”
“I think it should be in private, Alex.”
Close to losing his patience, Alex ground out, “Niles and Kenneth cannot hear you. We do no’ have time, Maddie, you must ask me in front of my men.”
Madeline leaned toward him and whispered, “All right. If you give me your word that you will not tie me to the marriage bed, I will agree to marry you.”
The guardsmen shuffled their feet and stared off into the distance.
Alex’s brow furrowed, “What did you say?”
“If you promise not to tie me to the marriage bed, I will agree to marry you,” she said as she gazed into his eyes. “Please, Alex, I need your word on this.” He noticed her wringing her hands as she spoke. He raised his eyes to hers, but could not bring himself to say a word.
That bastard had tied her to the bed? Raping her had not been enough for him? No wonder the lass was afraid of him. He studied her in amazement. In telling him this, she had confirmed two things. One, this woman would give him the strongest lads in the land. Two, Niles would never make it to the dungeon.
Alex squeezed her hand, then stepped out of the group of warriors surrounding Madeline. He heard Brodie whisper to Robbie. “This will not be good.”
Then Madeline’s sweet voice said, “I do not understand.”
“Oh, you will understand in a minute, my lady!”
Alex did the only thing he was capable of doing at that moment. Roaring, he unsheathed his sword, swung it over his head in a circle, and rushed toward Niles Comming. In his mind, all he could see was his Maddie tied to a bed as Niles Comming grinned and grunted over her.
“Untie him and get him a weapon! This is between you and me, Comming. I fight you for my betrothed’s honor. We fight to the death!”
“Gladly, Grant. I have waited for t
he moment to use a sword on you. But know that I will be the last man standing!” Niles snickered. “First, you die, Grant, then I will have my fun with the lass again.”
Madeline grabbed Brodie’s shoulder to keep from swooning.
RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
A guardsman untied Niles and led him to the center of the courtyard while another tossed him a sword. He spent several minutes stretching his muscles, showing off his strength. He paced and paced, bellowing and shouting occasionally. Alex just stood there quietly, ignoring the bluster, and focused on his enemy’s face.
He would have to summon all of his strength and focus to do this right. The vision of his Madeline at the Comming’s mercy was something he had to remove from his mind. It would cause him to act emotionally instead of instinctively, which he could not afford right now. His goal was to let the Comming tire himself out. All of his yelling and pacing was costing him energy, energy he would need to stay in the ring with Alexander Grant. Finally, he stepped toward him.
The two men circled each other, measuring the other’s strengths and weaknesses, and the crowd moved back to make room for the upcoming battle. Even though he had fought in numerous battles and his reputation as a swordsman was legendary, Alex knew better than to underestimate his enemy. Niles Comming was also an excellent swordsman. But every man had a weakness. He was quite sure he knew the Comming’s. But the Comming also knew that Madeline was his weakness.
***
Madeline’s gut clenched as she watched the scene unfold. Robbie and Brodie and the other warriors still surrounded her. From the corner of her eye, she saw Brenna making her way down the steps of the keep.
“I do not understand, Robbie. What is happening?” Brenna asked when she reached them. Her hands flew up to her throat as she surveyed the courtyard.
“The Chief is avenging Madeline’s honor. Alex announced that he would take Madeline as his wife, but she insisted on asking him a question before she would accept his proposal,” Robbie said, speaking quietly so as not to disturb Alex’s concentration.
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