Highland Angels

by Ceci Giltenan

  She seemed amused. “That doesn’t surprise me, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Ye’re unnecessarily worried.”

  “Nevertheless, we will not release ye to him until we are sure.”

  Instantly all hint of her merriment disappeared. “How do ye intend to assure yerselves? Did Laird MacKay not suggest a way for me to come home?”

  “Aye, he did, but it isn’t acceptable.”

  Clearly frustrated she demanded, “Why not?”

  “Because he suggested a face to face meeting at our border and that’s too risky. It leaves us vulnerable to an ambush.”

  “They won’t ambush ye. Please, just let—”

  He put up his hand to stop the predictable request again. “Angel, ye’re nothing if not persistent. We’ve sent a message suggesting Laird Sutherland act as an intermediary and, based on Laird MacKay’s reaction, we will decide what to do then.”

  “What gives ye the right to decide?” she demanded.

  “Eve, ye’re being insolent and I’ve had enough. Ye’re in our care and I know ye would prefer not to be, but that can’t be helped now. I owe ye more than I can ever repay and whether ye like it or not, I will not allow ye to risk yer safety. I will protect ye until I am certain that someone else will do it adequately.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “The only protection I need is from the MacLeods.”

  “I have told ye before, ye are in no danger here.”

  She looked away, angrily swiping the tears from her face.

  He sighed in exasperation. “Please try to understand, angel, this is for the best.”

  Chapter 4

  Once again Aidan, Tasgall and Marcas sat with Eoin in his solar discussing the newest message from Laird MacLeod.

  “As we expected, he suggested Sutherland serve as an intermediary.”

  “Do we risk agreeing?” asked Aidan.

  “Nay. He hasn’t actually committed to sending her to Sutherland. He has only said he would ‘consider’ it and has offered no specific plan.

  “What game is he playing? If he thinks he has a seamstress, someone of no importance, why is he being so cautious?” asked Marcas.

  “I don’t know, and I worry that he will wonder the same thing about our reaction, but I don’t completely trust Sutherland. Alec MacNicol has agreed to be our intermediary and I am going to ask that MacLeod send ‘Eve’ there before the feast of St. Zacharias. The MacNicols will escort her here after that.”

  “Maybe Fiona’s Uncle Bhaltair will bring her the rest of the way. He is particularly fond of her after all. Perhaps he’ll stay for a nice long visit,” teased Tasgall.

  “If it means getting Anna back, I won’t complain” said Eoin.

  ~ * ~

  Disbelievingly Graham asked, “MacNicol? He wants ye to spend a whole day taking a seamstress to Laird MacNicol? What does he have against Sutherland?”

  “Well, Eanraig arrived on his doorstep with an army a couple of years ago, after Eoin married Bram’s betrothed. Some men might hold a grudge over that,” said Andrew, dryly.

  “But they reached an accord, there was no battle and if anyone has a right to hold a grudge it would Bram, but he certainly doesn’t. Nay, Sutherland is more of a neutral party than MacNicol. MacNicol is Eoin’s brother by marriage for the love of God.”

  Dougal paced in front of his hearth. “Something’s wrong. Perhaps he’s intentionally being obstinate. Maybe he’s trying to goad me into keeping her.”

  “Aye, perhaps,” agreed Andrew. “I’m certain Laird MacKay is more aware of the problems she will face with his clan than her family is. He may mean to spare their feelings by ensuring that she doesn’t come back. Was the messenger able to provide any more information?”

  “Not really. Laird MacKay continues to be reticent, revealing nothing, and this time there was no message for the lass.”

  Andrew was convinced that sending her back was not the right course, but he couldn’t tell what his father was thinking. “What are ye going to do?”

  “Nothing for now. I am going to think about it for a few days. At this point the only thing I would be willing to do is take her to Sutherland and if MacKay doesn’t agree, she won’t be returned.”

  Graham shook his head. “That will break her heart, Da.”

  “I know, but she will just have to adjust. Perhaps it would be best if she started getting used to life here. Give her something to do.”

  Graham looked astonished. “Ye can’t be serious. Ye want to put her to work? Da, a bit more than a sennight ago, Father Ninian was giving her the Last Rites.”

  “Nothing strenuous. God’s teeth, lad, she’s a seamstress. See that she has some mending to do or something.”

  Andrew chuckled. “She is not very happy with the MacLeods at the moment. I fear she would sew sleeves shut or work some other mischief if given the opportunity.”

  “Lads, help me out here.”

  Graham shrugged. “She likes Mairi, perhaps she would make a new dress for her.”

  “There ye are, ye can keep Eve busy and make Mairi happy at the same time. I also think Eve should take her meals with us in the great hall beginning tomorrow.”

  This time it was Andrew’s turn to be shocked. “Now that’s an interesting idea, Da. What exactly are ye proposing?”

  “Just what I said, I want her to dine in the great hall.”

  “At yer table?”

  “Aye, I suppose so.”

  “Da, ye know full well she is terrified of ye.”

  “Well if we want her to be accepted by the clan, they need to understand her status. I can’t very well have her sit at the trestles with everyone else. As I said, she will have to adjust. She must learn she has nothing to fear from me.”

  “Aye, I can see how forcing her to dine with ye will help her there.”

  “Don’t mock me, Andrew, just see it done,” commanded Dougal irritably.

  Andrew and Graham exchanged amused glances but didn’t argue further.

  ~ * ~

  “I don’t want to dine in the great hall. I don’t belong there.”

  “I’m not giving ye the option, angel, and ye do belong there. Ye will join us for the evening meal tomorrow,” said Andrew.

  “Do ye normally ask yer prisoners to dine with ye?”

  “Ye’re not a prisoner, Eve, ye’re a guest.”

  “Guests are free to leave. So if I’m a guest, I will thank ye for yer hospitality and bid ye farewell.”

  “Eve, don’t start this. Please do as ye’re asked and join us for the evening meal with no argument.”

  “And what if I refuse?”

  “Then Davy will be extremely disappointed. I understand he is very excited that his angel is going to sit with him at supper.” By the look of defeat on her face, Andrew instantly knew he had wielded the proper weapon.

  She sighed. “I don’t want to upset him.”

  “I thought not, so ye will join us?”

  “Aye. I suppose I can manage one meal surrounded by MacLeods.”

  Andrew decided this would not be the best time to tell her she would join them for all meals going forward.

  ~ * ~

  The next evening, dressed in a soft cream-colored wool léine that belonged to Mairi, but with her own plaid around her shoulders, Andrew escorted her to the great hall. All eyes followed them as he led her to the table where the family dined. She avoided making eye contact as much as possible, but it pleased Andrew to see the MacLeods accept her presence without question. Everyone knew what she had done, and warm smiles followed her, even if she didn’t see them. Andrew thought it best to seat her well away from his father. He took a seat near the end of the table, placing Eve between himself and Davy, across from Mairi.

  The evening meal went well and although Eve was subdued, David and Mairi kept her distracted. Andrew glanced around to see how the clan seemed to be responding to the little MacKay at the head table. Again, he was generally pleased. However, he noted that one young man, Boyd S
utherland, kept staring at her and whispering to his comrades.

  Andrew wasn’t the only one who noticed the lad’s odd behavior. Near the end of the meal Dougal called the young man to him. Boyd conferred quietly with the laird for a few moments. Andrew knew there was a problem when he saw his father’s expression turn grim.

  When the meal was over and the family stood to leave, Dougal looked down the table at them. In a surprisingly gentle voice his father asked, “Eve lass, would ye join me in my solar for a bit? I have a few things to discuss with ye. Andrew, Graham would ye come as well?” He stared pointedly at Andrew.

  Andrew nodded, taking her elbow. “Aye, Da.”

  Eve looked worried and balked but Andrew put his other hand on the small of her back, urging her forward. They followed his father out of the hall and up the stairs to the solar.

  Dougal entered and lit several candles, then gestured to one of the chairs near the fire. “Lass, please come and sit down.” He used the same gentle tone he had in the hall.

  Eve stiffened, eying him as if he were a wild beast poised to attack. Andrew urged her towards the chair, but again she balked and pushed back.

  If anyone else had openly defied an order, Dougal would have roared, but he looked at her intently and said, “Anna, I know who ye are. Please sit down.”

  Stunned, her head snapped up and she looked terrified. She stumbled backwards trying to get away and Andrew steadied her. “Calm down, angel, ye’re safe.”

  “Nay. Nay, let me go.” She tried to twist away from him.

  “Wheesht, no one is going to hurt ye.”

  “Da, what’s going on? Did ye call her Anna?” asked Graham.

  “Aye, I did. Anna, calm yerself,” Dougal commanded firmly. “Andrew is right, ye are safe here and no one will hurt ye.”

  “Are ye Anna MacKay?” asked Graham, stunned.

  “Aye, I’m Anna MacKay. I lied. What did ye expect? I’m one of the lying MacKays after all.”

  “Anna, please…,” Dougal tried to calm her.

  “I was a-afraid when Graham brought me here,” her voice caught. “I-I thought maybe, once ye knew I hadn’t tried to hurt Davy, if ye thought I was nobody ye would just let me go.” She looked at Dougal and couldn’t hold the tears back “Ye said t-terrible things to me. Ye h-hit me. Ye’ve been worried about my b-brother and my clan hurting me. N-no one can hurt me as ye have.”

  Dougal walked toward her. She shied away but he put his arms around her and gently pulled her close, as a father would a frightened child. Anna trembled and sobbed against his chest “I know we hurt ye, lass, and by all that’s holy, I’m sorry. I understand how scared ye must have been and that ye’re still scared. Please don’t cry.”

  “Boyd Sutherland recognized her?” Andrew asked his father.

  He nodded. “Aye. He met her at the celebration of Bram’s wedding a few years ago.” Anna continued to weep in his arms. He stroked her hair. “Wheesht lass, ye’re safe. Everything will be all right.”

  “That’s why Laird MacKay didn’t want ye taking her to Sutherland. He knew Laird Sutherland would recognize her,” said Graham as the implications became clear.

  “I suspect.”

  Anna began to regain her composure and stepped back, away from Laird MacLeod, wiping the tears from her face. Dougal kept his hands on her shoulders. “Please sit down now.” He gently guided her to a chair.

  Laird MacLeod sat again and motioned for his sons to sit as well. Graham did, but Andrew moved to stand by the hearth, close to Anna’s chair.

  Anna sat and while she seemed embarrassed by her outburst, she finally looked Laird MacLeod in the eye. “Will ye let me go home now?”

  “Anna, there are a few things to sort out before any decisions are made.”

  “That’s not an answer,” she whispered and biting her lower lip looked away.

  Andrew suppressed a smile. He finally understood the source of her boldness. She was not a lowly seamstress who didn’t know her place. She was a noblewoman with an impudent streak, not unlike his sister’s.

  “Lass, why were ye so far from home and unaccompanied the day ye saved David? Is yer brother always so careless with ye?”

  She stiffened angrily. “My brother is not careless with me.”

  “Then why were ye alone?”

  “Eoin and I had an argument and I was angry. If I had ridden out that day, I would have had an escort but I don’t need one if I am walking close to home.”

  “But ye weren’t close to home,” said Andrew.

  “I didn’t intend to walk that far. I was preoccupied. I wasn’t supposed to walk northward on the bluff anyway. I just wanted some time alone. That’s why I said that Eoin would be angry.”

  Dougal frowned at her. “I would certainly be angry if ye were mine. But maybe God did lead ye there so that ye could save Davy. What had ye argued about?”

  Anna frowned and looked away, eventually answering, “My betrothal.”

  “Are ye betrothed then?”

  “I wasn’t when I left.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that my brother was considering a betrothal but hadn’t agreed to it yet. That is what we argued about.”

  “Who was he considering?”

  “Fearchar Morrison,” she said miserably.

  “Fearchar Morrison is an idiot,” said Graham.

  Anna’s expression suggested that she agreed with him, but she said, “I thought the MacLeods were allies of the Morrisons?”

  “We are,” said Andrew, “another of Laird Morrison’s sons trains here, but that doesn’t stop Fearchar from being an idiot.”

  “Fearchar will be chief someday but I’m surprised yer brother was even considering it. The MacKays and the Morrisons have never been particularly cozy, and the Isle of Lewis is so remote.” said Dougal.

  “Well, I admit I’m no great prize, but I’m not without skills. I do know how to run a household.”

  “Anna, that’s not what I meant, lass.”

  “I know what ye meant,” she snapped. “As ye said, the Morrisons and MacKays have never been cozy but he’s an ally of yers. If I marry Laird Morrison’s heir, the power shifts and the MacKays would have the tighter bond. In a conflict, if it came to choosing sides, the Morrisons might stand with the MacKays. Not that it does either of us much good with them on God-forsaken Lewis.”

  “Anna, stop it. I am concerned about ye, not whomever the MacKays choose to ally themselves with. It’s clear ye wouldn’t be happy that far away.”

  “Ye needn’t concern yerself about me any longer. I have brothers for that. Let me go back to them.”

  Ignoring her Dougal asked, “Has Eoin considered anyone else?”

  Anna flushed angrily. “Pardon me, but I don’t see how my betrothal is any of yer business.”

  Andrew cringed. No MacLeod in their right mind would speak to Dougal like that.

  Dougal however, smiled. “Ah let me guess, little dove, ye haven’t agreed with any of his choices so far and he hasn’t wanted to force ye into a match ye didn’t want.” Still glaring, Anna didn’t answer him, but her silence was affirmation enough. “That at least tells me that he loves ye. He’s probably ready to wring yer neck about now, but he loves ye. He might even have been baiting ye about Morrison in the first place. Andrew has a way of setting Mairi off regularly.”

  “And she, him,” said Graham.

  Andrew couldn’t argue. It was true.

  “Will ye demand a ransom now?” asked Anna tentatively.

  “I’m not sure what I am going to do with ye, but it’s clear yer brother and I need to speak face to face. I will send him a message tomorrow telling him that we have discovered who ye are, that ye are an honored guest here and we’ll arrange a meeting. Cheer up, little dove. Ye’ll see yer brother soon.” Then as an afterthought Dougal asked, “By the way, ye told us yer brother’s name was ‘Sorley’ and clearly it wasn’t. Who is Sorley?”

  It warmed Andrew’s
heart to see her smile as she answered, “My gelding.”

  Andrew and Graham chuckled at that but their father laughed until tears ran down his weathered cheeks. Dougal finally managed to say “I’m sure yer brother was less than flattered by that, but it serves him right for threatening to send ye off to Lewis!”

  “And it explains why Sorley was saddled with grief,” Andrew commented, remembering how delighted she’d been by the message.

  “If it is any consolation to ye, I will not return ye to yer brother if he plans to marry ye to Fearchar.”

  She smiled weakly. “If he plans to marry me to Fearchar, I’ll stay.”

  Dougal laughed again before calling for his squire. “Colin, lad, would ye escort our guest to her chamber please? Anna, ye need to rest and we have some other business to discuss. Sleep well, little dove.”

  “Thank ye, Laird. Good night,” she said quietly before leaving with Colin. Her polite, meek veneer was back in place.

  Dougal turned to his sons, shaking his head, “Kentigern MacKay should have settled her betrothal years ago.”

  Andrew snorted and Graham said, “Oh, like ye’ve settled Mairi’s?” They were both fully aware their father had not yet arranged a betrothal for her. Dougal glared at them.

  “I will never forgive ye if ye leave me to sort out a betrothal for Mairi,” warned Andrew.

  “If I didn’t know better, son, I’d say ye were afraid of a wee MacLeod lass,” replied Dougal, echoing Andrew’s taunt from several days ago.

  “Mairi’s defiance would try the patience of a saint, and ye let her get away with it too often.”

  “I’ll remind ye of this, Andrew, when ye have a wee daughter of yer own who wraps ye ‘round her finger.”

  “Ye know I have no intention of ever marrying again. Joan was…well I have an heir and that’s enough. Ye can warn Graham about the perils of daughters.”

  “I know ye didn’t want to marry again, but I am going to ask Eoin MacKay to consider a betrothal between ye and Anna.”

  Nothing his father could have said would have shocked him more. “Ye’re not serious, Da.”

  “Oh but I am.”

  “Nay. Marry her to Graham if ye feel the need.