by Ria Cantrell
Morag said, “Ruiri can be stubborn. Ye’ mustn’t take his words to heart.”
A small sob escaped and she said, “I think…I have fallen in love with him.”
“Aye, lass, of course you have. I knew ye’ had, despite yer’ own doubts. Caleb has known, too. Ye’ need to fight for him. Dunna’ give up on our Ruiri, now. Help him heal with yer’ love for him.”
Brielle drew in a labored breath. Tears streaked her cheeks and she said, “I never saw such a look of hurt on a man’s face. It was like I killed his betrothed myself.” Morag tucked a blanket around Brielle.
She sat next to Brielle and she said, “T’is time ye’ learned a little more about Ruiri. Let me tell ye’ about our Ruiri. If ye’ are going to love him, ye’ need to know all about him. There may be some things that will scare ye’ about him. If you love him, ye' will need to know it all. He has a darkness inside of him because of what happened. He blames himself more than the Campbells, for while it was their arrow that cut down Caitlyn, he always felt he should have protected her. Ruiri thinks he hides the Darkness but I see it, and little by little it eats away at his spirit.”
“Ruiri would never hurt anyone.”
“Aye, lass, that is where ye’ are wrong. He would hurt someone and he can. He has, but only in warrior situations. Nay, I think he would never hurt a woman; not even a Campbell woman, but ye’ must know he is a lethal and powerful warrior. I’m afraid he would happily kill your brothers if the opportunity presented itself.”
Brielle swallowed deeply. She unconsciously fingered that scar again and that action wasn’t missed by Morag. So, it was one of her brothers who inflicted that on her. That alone would give Ruiri his justification to take down the Campbell’s offspring if ever they came face to face. Rory would protect a woman at any cost, and it was only magnified if it was the woman he loved!
“Ruiri vowed to one day avenge his betrothed if it meant finding each and every one of your siblings and cutting them down personally. At the time of her demise, his woman was carrying his babe. So t’was after her death, that he lost a part of himself. He fought with a vengeance and few could best him. T’was then he earned the title of the Highland Wolf, because of his relentless fury. He slashed his way through the highlands cutting down anyone who opposed him or his clan. Whenever there were raids, Ruiri was out in the forefront, first to plunge headlong into the fray. Sometimes I have thought that he hoped that in the midst of his warring, he would be cut down, too, so the pain he carries would die with him.”
Brielle gasped. No wonder he hated her!
“Oh Morag…I canna’ blame him for his hatred.”
“Nay, but t’is time he faces the past and opens his heart to love. For as fiercely as he wars, so too, will he love. Only he willna’ allow his heart to open…except for his beloved sister, his brothers and his da’, he willna’ let his heart seek the love that will heal him. I believe in fate, girl. There is a reason t’was Ruiri who found ye’, broken on his journey home. Ruiri had been in England near four years. It was no accident that he was returning home the same time your tragedy struck. I believe ye’ to be the girl to open his heart again.”
Brielle took all that Morag had said into her heart.
“Never has a man touched me with such gentleness. I owe recovering to Ruiri. I think he used his body to warm me when I was very sick. I had thought it a wonderful dream, but I am near certain it was he that warmed me.”
“Aye, lass, indeed he did. He so needed to save ye’ because I think in saving ye, he saved a part of himself. He couldna’ bear to let ye’ die. I think deep down he knew ye’ would save him from the darkness that threatens his very life. Ye’ must fight for him.”
“But how? I am sure he will now have nothing else to do with me.”
“Ahhh, there ye’ are wrong, girl. He is drawn to you. Ye’ must be persistent. Get under his skin. Make him look at ye’. Force him to see ye’. He is already so very attracted to ye’. I promise I will help ye’. I think ye’ are perfect for him and I am an old woman and want to see him settled with bairns afore I die.”
Brielle blushed. “I dunna’ know how to seduce him.”
“Just be how ye’ were with yer’ husband.”
Brielle looked down at her hands holding her cup of tea. They were shaking, slightly. She hated to admit this to anyone, as it made her look as if there was something wrong with her. Dragging a ragged breath, Brielle finally admitted, “My…husband never…touched me. I have never…”
Morag clucked her tongue. “There’s the pity for ye’ are beautiful and made for a man to love ye’. Ach, our Ruiri will be perfect to teach ye’ about bein’ a woman in his arms.”
Brielle felt new hot tears sliding down her face.
“When he kissed me, it was…wonderful. I knew for certain right then that I am in love with him. Mistress Morag, I had nothing to do with the death of his betrothed. But I canna’ blame him for feeling betrayed and to harbor hatred against me.”
“Of course ye’ didn’t hurt that girl. He will realize the truth in time. And the hatred will be consumed by love. I believe if ye’ fight for love, it will prevail. ”
Morag was convinced more than ever that this girl was Rory’s intended mate. She expected her to be afraid of that darkness that Rory harbored. Instead, Brielle merely dismissed it. It was of no consequence that he was the dreaded and feared Highland Wolf. She loved him despite his darkness. She did not even seem fazed by the mention of it. Morag knew that Brielle was well acquainted with the darkness in men for certain, being the sister of the Campbell scourge. It was just that the mere fact that Brielle was undaunted about Rory, set Morag’s heart at ease. She accepted Rory, despite what he tried to hide from everyone, including himself. Aye, she was the one. Rory needed her to set the darkness aside.
Chapter Ten
Caleb approached Ruiri, who was in the stables tending his horse. He could see by his stance that Ruiri was in that black place. Caleb neared his son and said, “She is as much a victim as Caitlyn.”
“Dunna’ speak her name, Da. Ye’ canna’ speak her name.”
“Not speaking her name willna’ change the past son. Brielle is a mere innocent in this. She has suffered much at her brothers’ hands. She is in love with ye’.”
Rory looked stricken. “I did not tell her to fall in love with me.”
Caleb rolled his eyes. Rory grumbled, “She should not have done that. It is not wise to love a man like me.”
“Oh and ye’ had no part in it, Aye? Ye’ saved her life. Ye’ held her in yer’ arms. Ye’ cared for her wounds and today ye’ kissed her.”
“I should not have done that. I realize that was a mistake. She needs to go…back to Castle Campbell.”
“Ye’ canna' send her there. I will not allow it.”
Rory shot his father a look that bespoke of his disquiet anger.
“Fine! Harbor the enemy. I will be sleeping elsewhere till she is removed from our keep.”
Caleb shook his head but said, “First of all, Son, you brought her here. I didna' do it. You did. Ruiri, sending her back would be like throwin’ her to the wolves. That scar she bears; they did that to her…her own brothers, Ruiri. Secondly, she didn’t kill Caitlyn.”
The sound that left Rory actually scared Caleb. It was part scream, part roar and all anguish. It was almost inhuman. Hearing the sound, with the naked fury, Caleb was reminded of the sound a mortally wounded wolf makes. Never had he seen his son in this state.
Rory leapt up onto the back of his horse and rode it out of the stable. Caleb called, “Son--Ruiri--dunna’ go.”
Rory didn’t look back, but rode from the keep. He rode like the demons of hell were truly at his heals and in a way, Caleb thought, they were. They were the demons of the past come to claim him.
Rory needed to put distance between himself and the girl. Now, Rory was thinking he should have never left England. He wasn’t even aware that angry tears streamed down his strong warrior�
��s face. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. Why the hell did he have to kiss that girl? He could still taste her honeyed kiss on his lips. He could still feel her soft and warm in his arms. This was insanity. She meant nothing to him. Despite the nagging voice in his head that said, “Then why does the hurt on her face haunt ye’?”
And haunt him it did. He saw the look of brokenness in his mind. He saw it, shutting his eyes. He felt it in his heart. He saw it when he was well in his cups, later that night, after finally riding to a local tavern. He saw her face when he had tucked Maggie into his bed to pass the night with and to dispel the hold Brielle had on him.
Maggie didn’t care about his black moods. It always meant for a lustier romp. She was a randy girl and liked it when Rory visited her. She liked it best when Rory was in one of his moods. Only tonight, she could not please him. It wasn’t that he had nearly drunk himself sick. It was a restlessness that filled him. Despite every attempt, Rory couldn’t find the release he had hoped to find in order to banish the lust that surged through him for that girl.
Long after Maggie had fallen asleep, Rory stayed awake. Images of the past and present collided till he felt as if he would go insane. He wished the whiskey would have dulled his thoughts but somehow it made the images of her more intense. Damn her, he cursed. Why was he the one to find her broken and battered on the road? Why did he have to find her so beautiful? Why did she get under his skin the way she had? Why did she have to be a hated Campbell? Damn her and her entire cursed clan!
~Rory stood in a glen near a crystal pond. The swirling mist caused a chill to pass over his heated flesh. The trees seemed to whisper her name and then he saw her. His beloved Caitlyn stepped from the mist holding out her hand to him. She was smiling and real. He was sure he could touch her. He stepped closer to her, feeling her presence before he even reached her.
Her honeyed voice said his name, “Ruiri…”
She did not look like a ghost. Her lips were pink as he remembered they were in life.
“Caitlyn…dunna’ leave me.”
“Ruiri, it grieves my heart, Beloved, that ye’ let love pass ye’. Yer’ heart is too pure to not fill it with love.”
“I only love ye,’ Caitlyn.”
“I know ye’ love me…but Ruiri, ye’ must let me go. It was na’ meant to be fer’ ye’ and me.”
Rory shook his head, no. “If only I had protected ye…if only…”
“Hush, my beloved Ruiri. T’was never yer’ fault. It was my time, love. But now Ye’ have another chance, Ruiri.” She swept her hand toward the bank of the pond where Brielle sat there weeping.
“Nay, not her, Caitlyn. She is a Campbell…I could not dishonor ye’ by being with the likes of her.”
“She is a Campbell, t’is true, but she is as much a victim by the hands of those who shot those arrows so long ago, as I was. Only she can heal ye,’ Ruiri. I sent her to ye…so ye’ can love again. I was there the day you found her broken and hurt. Dunna’ blame her. Love her…make peace with the war in yer’ heart.” Caitlyn held her arms around Rory’s ribs and she said, “Love again, my beloved Ruiri. Dunna’ grieve me anymore.”
Rory held her tightly and said, “No! I will never stop loving ye.’ I canna’ love another…I canna’ ever love that one.”
“I am but a memory, Ruiri. I belong to the land of dreams now. But she is real. She is life.”
As Ruiri held Caitlyn in his arms, never wishing her to go, she vanished. The mist lifted and all that was left was the weeping girl on the bank, oblivious to his presence.
“Caitlyn!” Rory’s voice roared in the quiet of the glen, more the sound of that dreaded animal he didn’t want to be than human. It was a sound born from despair and grief. ~
Rory woke with a start. He was bathed in sweat. The girl lying beside him stirred and said sleepily, “Are ye’ alright Rory?”
He left the bed and said, “Aye, Maggie. Sorry to have disturbed ye’.”
“Come back to bed.”
He shook his head. “I need to go, lass. Go back to sleep.”
She yawned prettily and said, “Alright. Will ye’ come back, later?”
“Perhaps, Maggie, girl, perhaps.”
He gave her a quick kiss and dressed. He didn’t know where he was going but he knew where he wasn’t going to go and that was back to the keep. He murmured, “I’m sorry Caitlyn, I canna’ be with that one. Ye’ sent me the wrong girl.”
He left, riding into the cold crisp air of the night.
****
Brielle had finally cried herself into a fitful sleep. Her dreams would not allow her much rest as she dreamed things that tore at her soul as much as Rory had after they had shared those few passionate kisses.
~Brielle sat weeping on the shore of the crystal pond. She was once again in that enchanted glen. The swirling mist caused a chill to surround her. When she looked up, there was a beautiful lady dressed in white standing before her.
“Are ye’ an angel,” she asked.
“Nay, Brielle. I am here to help Ruiri.”
Brielle stood and moved closer to the young woman. She had seen her before, when Ruiri found her bleeding on the road.
“Who…are you?”
“I am Ruiri’s past and while he clings to me I remain forever caught between the world of dreams. But Ruiri is in terrible danger.”
This was Ruiri's woman. Brielle suddenly felt terrified.
She stammered, “I am so sorry for what my brothers did.”
“It was an accident. I dunna' think they even knew I was hiding in the brush. It was my time, Brielle. But as I am Ruiri’s past, ye’ are his future, and unless ye’ help him; he will never escape his past. He will be lost forever, for I am just dreams, but Ruiri sinks closer to the land of the dying everyday he canna' leave his past behind him.”
Brielle hung her head and said, “Ruiri does not want me. T’is as if I shot the arrows myself.”
“Brielle, please listen to me…t’is almost morning and I must go. Ye’ will have thought this to be just a dream, but it is not. My time here grows short. You must heed my words. Ruiri blames himself and while he does, he closes his heart. Ye’ are needed to open his heart; fill it back with love…save him…save him…”
“But, how? He has rejected me. Tell me, Lady, what I should do.”
“Love him. Dunna’ give up on him. He is not just my Ruiri, now. He is ours. Ye’ must save him.”
“But I dunna’ know….”
“Dunna’ give up on Ruiri,” the lady said again, sliding into the mists before vanishing from Brielle’s sight.
“Wait…dunna’ go. Please wait.” Brielle was left in the glen at the pool’s edge.~
Brielle woke with a start, crying out for Ruiri. Morag’s soothing voice said, “There child. T’was only a dream.”
“What are ye’ doing here, m’lady?”
“I came to see if ye’ were alright. I worried ye’ were not and when I did, ye’ were weeping.”
“I--I saw her.”
“Who, Lass?”
“The lady. Ruiri’s lady.”
Morag looked startled. “Ye’ saw Caitlyn?”
“Aye.”
Morag was horrified. “Nay, t’is not possible.”
“She said she lives in the world of dreams now because Ruiri clings to her.”
“Oh, dear. That does not bode well.”
“She asked me to help Ruiri, only I dunna’ know what I can do to help him.”
“Ye’ love him, girl. T’is what will help him. Follow yer’ heart. Surely that will unlock the prison Ruiri has created for himself…and for Caitlyn, too, apparently.”
“She did not seek help for herself; only for Ruiri. She said she was his past and I am his future. She said he belongs to us both now.”
Morag pondered Brielle’s words. This was bigger than she had guessed. “She doesna’ blame Ruiri…or even my brothers.”
Morag sighed. “She was such a sweet child. It doesna'
surprise me that she still looks after Ruiri, even beyond her grave. I sense that same gentleness of heart and devotion in ye’, lass. Did she look…tormented?”
“Nay. She was beautiful. She seemed only to be worried for Ruiri. I saw her once before. She was standing behind Ruiri when he found me. I didn’t know who she was at the time and I thought I had dreamed her…or imagined her from the shock of the accident. Remember? I asked ye’ about her.”
Morag eyes widened at the memory. “So ye’ did, child. So ye’ did. Try to rest and sleep now, Brielle. Ye’ still have much healing to do, and if ye’ are to help our Ruiri, ye’ need all yer’ strength to do so.”
Morag didn’t want to alarm Brielle, but she was concerned about this revelation. Being one of the Old Ones, she did not like that the spirit world was so close to the living as it was this night. The girl had indeed mentioned seeing that woman and Morag thought it was from the extent of the injury to the poor lassie’s skull. There were powerful forces at work. Taking a calming breath, Morag saw Brielle settled.
She looked up at the old woman who had been so kind to her and she said, “I want to help Ruiri. I really do, Morag. I fear, I do love him.”
“I know. Ye’ will. Rest now, t’is almost morning.”
Morag turned to leave to allow the girl to rest, but Brielle called her back.
“Lady Morag…she said Ruiri is in danger.”
“Aye, he has been for quite some time.”
The two women’s eye met in understanding.
“He is the kindest man I know, besides Caleb. I will do everything to help him.”
“Aye,” and with a smile, Morag said, “and it doesn’t hurt that Ruiri is a fine looking man.” That remark actually made Brielle smile.
“Ruiri is the most beautiful man I have ever rested my eyes on.”
Chapter Eleven
Rory finally returned to the keep shortly before morning. He hunkered down next to the fire and settled into a large chair there. He was tired and chilled to the bone. Rory had spent the remainder of the night riding through the MacCollum lands. He finally wrapped himself in his plaid when exhaustion claimed him and slept on the cold hard earth, sheltered beneath the boughs of a huge fir.