Highland Devotion (The Band of Cousins Book 7)

by Keira Montclair

  How had all of this happened?

  Then, just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, any of it, Merewen called out to her. “Linet, please wait. I missed you. We need to stay together. I can’t bear to be apart from you any longer.”

  Linet stopped abruptly and turned around to face her dear sister, then ran to hug her, wrapping her arms so tightly around her that Merewen had to say, “Just let up a bit. I’m still a wee bit sore from last week.”

  Horrified, she let go but then smiled because Winnie had that same expression she’d always loved. Sheepish and giggly at the same time. “Oh, Winnie, I’m so glad to see you again.”

  It felt as if a missing piece inside of her had suddenly been restored, as if the world were sane again, or nearly there. Merewen took her wrist and pointed to a large rock. “Please, Linet. We need some time alone. I think there’s something you need to tell me.”

  They were in a corner of the clearing, in a place where they could both see Mal. Linet decided she didn’t wish to see his face so she repositioned herself to give him her back.

  Reaching for her sister, she hugged her more gently, careful not to hurt her. “I forgot to congratulate on your marriage. I’m so happy for you. You and Gavin are perfect for each other.” She paused, then added, “I think I’m in love with Gregor, but he’d never marry someone like me.”

  Merewen held her finger up to her sister’s lips. “Stop right there. I want to discuss this with you, but there is a more pressing matter at the moment. I need to know about Mal. Why does Gregor hate him so? What happened that I don’t know about?”

  Linet closed her eyes and reached for her sister’s hands, clutching them as if they were a rope in the deep sea. She needed to finish what she’d started the night she was stolen from her bed. She needed to tell Merewen the truth. Mayhap it would help her understand Gregor’s actions.

  “Mal misused me. It started when I was ten and two and lasted a long time.”

  “Oh, Linet.” Tears welled in Merewen’s eyes, but they weren’t tears of pity. Empathy was the most powerful skill her sister possessed.

  “I don’t wish to speak of it, but just know that I told Gregor the truth after he rescued me from that awful place. He was so accepting that I thought he could possibly be someone I could love, that maybe you and I were meant to marry cousins, not brothers.”

  “I’m so sorry, but why did you stop Gregor from killing Mal? He abused you, he’s the reason you were kidnapped, and he’s involved with the Channel. He deserves death. I know he’s our brother, but he’s never been exceedingly nice to you, only when he called you… Oh Linet.”

  “Aye, he would call me special, would he not?”

  Her sister’s eyes turned fiery with rage. “Oh, I’ll kill the bastard myself. Don’t judge Gregor for doing what Mal deserves. If you don’t wish to do it, I’d be happy to kill him for you.”

  “Nay, let the Ramsays decide what’s to happen to him. I hate him, but I didn’t want to be the cause of his death. Do you understand?”

  “Nay, I don’t. You wouldn’t be the cause. He’s the one who made the mistakes, who…” Merewen glanced over Linet’s shoulder at a young girl who appeared to be sneaking over to Mal. The lass’s gaze was on the group of warriors, who paid Mal no mind at the moment. “Who is that?”

  Linet turned around to look. “Her name is Elsie. She’s nice. She was one of the maids in the manor home. She’s only two and ten summers, and she has a friend named Bess. Poor lass is probably frightened by what happened. We should reassure her that she won’t be hurt.”

  They both gasped in shock as Elsie stepped behind the tree. She appeared to be doing her best to untie the brute.

  Linet glanced over to see if Gregor had noticed, but the cousins were in a heated discussion. Before she could call the situation to their attention, she saw Mal give Elsie a long, lingering kiss on the cheek.

  Nay. Nay. Nay. She’d never allow Mal to trick another lass into doing something she didn’t wish to do. She’d never let him steal another lass’s innocence. She wouldn’t allow it.

  Linet stood up, glanced at her sister, and declared, “You were right and I was wrong. I’m done being soft-hearted.” Her voice erupted in a roar as she clenched her fists and tore across the clearing, headed straight for Mal. “Elsie, run. Stay away from him. As far away as you can!”

  Elsie, shocked, stood up and ran, not waiting to see why Linet was so angry.

  When Linet reached Mal, she swung her fists at every part of him she could reach.

  “I hate you, I hate you! Leave her be. You have no right to touch her or me. Go away and never come back.” She kicked him twice, but then something happened she hadn’t expected.

  Mal grabbed her, swinging her around and holding her in front of him. Elsie had managed to untie him enough for him to free himself. “Don’t you ever touch me again,” he said, his vile breath in her ear.

  Linet bit his forearm and he howled. “You bitch.”

  Then he made his biggest mistake.

  He punched her in the jaw.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Gregor bellowed, “Stand back, Linet.”

  She did as he said and stepped to the side, giving him enough of an opening to do what he needed to do. Mal reached for her again, but he was too slow.

  One arrow struck him in the chest and two in his belly. He fell straight back, his gaze still on Linet.

  Gregor raced to her, though she hadn’t moved. She just stood there and stared at Mal. The three arrow wounds would kill the bastard, but Gregor wanted to get her away from him. He’d realized the mistake he’d made earlier and didn’t intend to repeat it—whatever the arse had done, Linet wouldn’t want the memory of watching the life leave her brother’s eyes.

  He was nearly upon them when Mal picked up his head and said to Linet, “Do not worry. I’ll survive this and find myself another one.”

  Linet leaped on him then, grabbing the arrow in his chest and twisting it. “Nay, nay, nay…”

  By the time Gregor wrapped his arms around her to lift her away from him, the light had indeed left Mal’s eyes, and they turned up, staring blankly at the trees above them.

  Linet turned around and leapt into his arms, launching herself at him with such power that her feet left the ground. She buried her face in his shoulder, wrapped her arms around him so tightly that he couldn’t take a deep breath, and sobbed.

  Merewen and Gavin came up behind him. “Linet, did he hurt you?”

  She picked her head up, her face red and streaked with tears, and barely got out, “Nay. My thanks for protecting me. You shot at him three times, Gregor. Three times and he didn’t die. That shows what an evil man he was.”

  “I didn’t fire three arrows,” Gregor said, brushing wild hairs away from her beautiful face. “I fired one.” He glanced at his cousin, wondering who had shot the other two.

  Gavin said, “I hit him once.”

  Merewen clasped her sister’s shoulder. “I hit him once, too. Linet, he deserved to die. His evil heart took over. You mustn’t feel badly because I don’t.”

  Linet pulled away from him enough to set her feet back on the ground and looked at all the people around them. The look on her face made him want to take her far, far away from here.

  Perhaps that was exactly what she needed.

  Another guard yelled, and Maggie approached them at a run. “We have another score of Ramsay guards nearly here, but there is also a group of unidentified horses coming this way. It could be more Dubh men or it could be the Grants. We can’t tell. I sent two guards out to find out exactly who they are.”

  Will strode over and said, “I just had an interesting conversation with one of the Channel guards.”

  “How did you convince him to talk?” Gavin asked.

  “My peregrine sat on his chest for a wee bit. Amazing how fast they talk when staring at the beak of a falcon.” His eyes glimmered with satisfaction.

  “Finish the tale, h
usband,” Maggie said with a smirk.

  “There are two men in charge, and they left a while ago for a larger building where they’re keeping more lasses. Next to the port and not far from the castle. The shipment is scheduled to leave in a sennight. Or shipments, I should say. There are many more coming and at least three ships. Apparently, the two men have connections because they’re using Berwick Castle for themselves, though they’re not so bold as to keep any prisoners there.”

  “Interesting…” said Maggie.

  “There’s more. They left because there is trouble at the other compound.”

  Gregor’s face lit up. “Connor and our Grant cousins.”

  “Verra possible,” Will said.

  “I’d say highly probable,” said Gavin, who then glared at Gregor and tipped his head toward Linet. She stood with her head on Gregor’s shoulder, her gaze fixed on the carnage on the ground.

  Maggie whispered, “Why don’t you take Linet away from here? With the other guards, we can handle everything.”

  Gregor glanced at Linet to gauge her reaction, and to his surprise, she gave him a quick nod and whispered, “Please?”

  The look in her eyes told him that she was finally beginning to heal—and it promised of a future that he desperately wanted with her.

  “Go to Drummond land,” Maggie said. “I was going to send a messenger asking for assistance. I think this is going to be more than we can handle. Tell Daniel and David we need them and ask for a score or two of Drummond guards, whatever they can spare.”

  Merewen hurried into the front house while Linet pointed to the small hut and said, “The bairns in there are ill. Promise you’ll protect them? You’re right, I cannot handle any more of this chaos. Please, just one day away? Then we’ll return to help.”

  Maggie reached for her hand and squeezed it. “We’ll take care of the bairns. I’ve already sent Matilda on her way. She was a miserable one, was she not?”

  Linet nodded. “She was indeed. I’m glad she’s gone.”

  Merewen returned with a sack and said, “Here, these looked like your things. Go to Drummond land. They say ’tis beautiful.”

  The sisters hugged, and Linet said, “I love you, Winnie.”

  Gavin brought Silver to them, Nari riding him. “What about me?”

  “We still need you here, Nari,” Maggie said, “if you’ll stay and help.”

  “Aye!” he said, perking up. He hopped off the back of the horse. “I can’t wait to tell Thorn about all I’ve done to help.”

  Gregor lifted Linet onto his horse, then tied the sack to his saddle and mounted.

  Maggie held a hand up and said, “Good work. We’ve saved another group of lasses and lads. Now go before any more men arrive.” She slapped the horse’s flank and they were off.

  ***

  Linet leaned back against Gregor, closing her eyes for a bit just because she’d cried so hard they were sore. She couldn’t cry any more tears.

  Some of her tears were for the atrocities she’d seen—dead men, sick bairns, Dubh men. But some of her tears were grateful, happy tears.

  She was truly free. Mal would never bother her again.

  She rested her head against Gregor’s shoulder, staring at the darkness of the forests and the glens they passed. One thing was for certain, despite all she’d seen and done, despite all that had been done to her, she had no fears at the moment.

  Why? Because she knew Gregor would protect her.

  Now that she was away from the chaos, she focused on the man who held her. She trusted him more than any man she knew. That was something she couldn’t ignore.

  He rubbed her forearm and kissed the back of her neck. “Sweetings, I think we’ll need to stop for the night. I don’t know this land as well as my own. I’m going to listen for water and search out an area hidden from the main path.”

  Half an hour later, they heard the sound of rushing water. They couldn’t see the falls, but they followed it by ear.

  A light snow had fallen and the moon reflected off the white on the ground, lighting the way for them.

  “You are not worried about being followed, are you, Gregor?”

  “Nay,” he said, turning their horse toward the waterfall. “No one in this area is interested in us. Besides, if the shipment meant to go in a sennight is as large as they say, every reiver and renegade in Scotland and England will be in South Berwick looking to gain coin.”

  The closer they came to the waterfall, the louder it became. When it finally came into view, Linet smiled. It was the most beautiful waterfall she’d ever seen. It was twice the height of any man, and the water fell into a small pool at the base, where a row of small pines grew as if planted there for protection against the cold Highland wind.

  Gregor dismounted and said, “Allow me to check the area. I think I might see a cave behind the waterfall.”

  Linet sighed. That sounded so lovely. The first twenty years of her life, she’d rarely traveled from Ramsay land. In the past moon or so, she’d seen much more than any of her friends in Clan Ramsay. Inverness, Edinburgh, South Berwick, and now they were away to Drummond land in Crieff.

  Gregor returned and reached for her waist to help her down. “We’re in luck. This cave is not so large as the last one, but ’twill protect us from the elements. It goes in deep enough to keep us from getting wet from the waterfall.” Once he had helped her down, he reached for her sack and his saddlebag, then took her hand to lead her back to the cave.

  She giggled when the cold water splashed her a bit as they entered the cave, but it refreshed her enough that she thought she’d take a bold step. Once they were inside, she opened her sack to see what Winnie had packed for her, surprised to see how thorough her dear sister had been. She’d packed an extra gown, wool leggings, a good sized linen square, plus a loaf of bread and some cheese. “Oh my, this bread is fresh from the oven. The cook must have just baked it.”

  “I’m glad your sister packed it. Those men won’t benefit from her cooking any longer.”

  “Merewen must have found my little stash. This sliver of soap was next to my bed.”

  Gregor grinned. “Lavender,” he said, leaning down to take in the aroma. His gaze caught on something else inside the sack. He reached inside and asked, “May I?”

  Linet nodded, willing to share anything with this man. “Aye, What is it?”

  He reached inside and pulled out the gift he’d made her many years ago. “You kept this?”

  “Of course.”

  He pulled it out, running his hand over the fine wood grain he had sanded into a soft sheen. He kissed her cheek and said, “I’ll have to find a new book for you.”

  “My apologies, Gregor, but my sire destroyed the one you gave me.”

  “Fear not, I’ll find you more and you’ll never have to hide your love of reading again.”

  She kissed him on the lips, running her fingers through his thick, wavy locks, wondering how she’d ever been so fortunate as to have found this man. Her gaze turned and stared out at the water as it fell over the outcropping, at a perfect angle for her to wash her hair and body. How she wished it were summer so she could stand underneath the water, relish in its freshness, and feel clean.

  After all she’d been through of late, she couldn’t help but feel dirty.

  Gregor wrapped his arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck. “If I make a fire in the corner there and go out hunting so you can have your privacy, will you do it?”

  She spun around, a wide smile on his face because he’d known exactly what she was thinking. “How did you…”

  “The look of longing on your face as you stared at the water, holding the soap firmly in your hand. I’ll promise not to look if you wish. It’s likely too cold for you to want to stay in it for long. I might even take a plunge myself once you’re done. As long as I can keep a fire going, I think it’s a luxury we should enjoy. It is at the perfect height for both of us.”

  She let him see her eagerness. For fa
r too long, she’d hidden how she felt, but that was something she’d rather not do with Gregor. “I would love to try it, but only if you can get a fire going.”

  He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and said, “I’ll go find some wood and brush to get it started.”

  A short time later, he returned and started the fire on the far side of the cave, at the edge of the waterfall. The water missed that corner, so she hoped it would stay lit.

  “I’ll see what else I can find to eat,” Gregor said.

  Linet settled her hands on her hips, looking at the cascading water not far from her. She had to know. What would it be like to be with Gregor? To feel his skin against hers, his heat pressed against her flesh, his lips on her body.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  She reached to the back of her hair and pulled the ties out, unplaiting her dark locks and allowing them to fan over her shoulder. Then she tugged at her gown and tossed it off to the side, leaving herself in just her chemise and wool stockings.

  She turned to Gregor with her hands folded in front of her in invitation. “Join me, Gregor.”

  Gregor’s expression told her she’d shocked him more than she had thought.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Linet trembled, but she wouldn’t change her mind. Not now. If she were ever to be with any man, it would be this man in front of her. Gregor represented everything good in life—honorable, hard-working, honest, compassionate, tender, and intelligent. It didn’t hurt that he was the handsomest man she’d ever met.

  His eyes, those warm brown eyes, had the ability to make her mind turn to mush whenever he looked at her. Had her regard for him deepened into love? Was this what love felt like?

  She didn’t know, but after nearly losing her life, she didn’t wish to wait to find out.

  She stepped close enough to touch his face, trailing her fingers down the rough stubble of his jaw. “Gregor, I want you, and I hope you want to be with me. We’ve known each other a long time, and my feelings for you grow stronger every time we’re together. I’m falling in love with you.”