Highlander's Choice

by Annis, Dawn

  “I am no moon-eyed,” Thea protested. She stabbed at the small potatoes on her plate. “My thoughts are my own.”

  “Well, they had better no be with Callum MacLeod is all,” Simon said, his tone laced with disapproval. “The man is a rogue and a gambler. The rumors o’ his exploits are legion.” Like Hadrian, Simon was large and capable. He grew up idolizing his older brother but had strong opinions of his own. Where Hadrian was a cautious man, Simon balanced him with risk-taking tendencies. He was brash and a bit of a hothead.

  “Och, leave the lass alone.” Geoffrey stretched his legs under the table. “She is no doin’ any harm. As far as the MacLeod, we will see if the rumors be true or no.”

  “Since when d’ye listen to rumors?” Timothy straightened, his arms on either side of his plate. “Even if they be true, the man has come home and stepped up to his responsibilities when needed.” He punched Geoffrey playfully. “Ye mayhap judge him too harshly.”

  “When it comes to my sister, no man can be judged too hard. Ye would do well to listen to the rumors yerself,” Simon huffed. “Dinna ye see him sniffin’ after Thea last night?”

  “I did see him spendin’ more time than he should with the wee lass,” Hadrian chimed in.

  Michael ate his meal with no comment. He did catch Thea’s eye. With a jerk of his chin and a frown, he urged her to speak up for herself.

  Thea interrupted. “I will no sit here and listen to ye talk about me as if I am no in front o’ ye.” She stood, straightened her shoulders, tilting her nose into the air. “I havena set my cap for the MacLeod, so ye all can rest easy.”

  With Timothy chuckling and Simon scowling, she strode out of the hall and stomped toward the stables.

  She’d lied.

  Callum. She thought of him as Callum not ‘the MacLeod.’ Her body tingled at the memory of dancing with him. His charm, full of the gaiety of the occasion but with a tinge of sorrow around the edges. His eyes seemed to see right through her mishaps, her failings, her faults and liked what he saw anyway.

  Thea stumbled and caught her step as she walked to the stables.

  At the verra least get yerself on yer horse and out o’ the yard before ye get all moon-eyed. Blast it.

  Too impatient to wait for one of the stable lads to help her, and hoping to be gone before John showed up to ride with her, Thea saddled Destiny, mounted, and cantered her gelding down the lane.

  “Dinna get yerself thrown agin!” Timothy yelled. Thea swore she heard him guffaw.

  “Sod off,” Thea murmured.

  She didn’t want to ride with John. She wanted to be with her own thoughts this morning, and yes, those thoughts were centered around Callum. She couldn’t help it. The feelings she experienced with John could not compare with what Callum had stirred in her the night before.

  As if called by her thoughts, John stepped from the hedges. Her horse reared. Thea struggled to control Destiny.

  He grabbed the bridle with such force Destiny shook his head in protest.

  Thea grabbed the horn of the saddle. “John, ye startled me.”

  “’Tis sorry I am, my love.”

  His sarcastic tone gave her pause.

  It was perilous to step in front of a horse so suddenly. She could’ve been thrown. The hairs crawled up the back of Thea’s neck.

  Christ’s blood! Is he daft? He might have harmed me.

  “Please let go o’ my horse,” Thea asked as she tugged on the reins.

  “I will keep him here for now.” John’s voice shook. His eyes narrowed. His anger evident.

  “All right,” Thea said, tentatively. Glancing left and right, she hoped to see one of her brothers.

  “Why were ye hidin’?” Thea seated herself more securely in the saddle.

  “I hoped for a moment with ye. We were unable to meet yesterday. I tried but couldna get close to ye. Ye dinna seek me out at the feast.”

  “The funeral was a busy time for all o’ us.”

  “True, but yer time was coveted more than most. The MacLeod had his eyes on ye at the wake,”—his eyebrows lifted—“and ye had yer own on him. Ye enjoyed yer time with him, no doubt.”

  “I dinna ken what yer talkin’ about. His eyes were no on me anymore than another.”

  “Ah, but his hands were.”

  Guilt had Thea shifting in her seat. She adjusted her hold on the reins.

  “I saw ye, Thea. I will no have it.”

  “Saw me? I think yer eyes deceived ye.”

  “I saw how ye acted. Smilin’ prettily. Swayin’ yer hips. I am ashamed for ye. I am disgusted with ye.” John raised his arm as if to strike her.

  Thea’s stomach clenched. Instinctually, her arm came up to protect herself. The blow did not come. She cautiously peeked under her arm to see John’s eyes wild, looking as if he searched franticly for more words to rail upon her.

  He wants me feart.

  Thea straightened in the saddle, and her eyes narrowed. “I acted as a lady.”

  “Ye acted like a trollop. I will no have ye shamin’ yerself.” John’s shoulders heaved, his face marred with anger and disdain.

  Thea gripped the reins. “I think ye better stop there, John. I havena wish to argue.”

  “Ye will havena argument from me, Thea. Ye are mine, and I will no share ye with another.” John let go of the halter with a forceful shove.

  Destiny’s head snapped to the other side. He skittered, swinging his rump from side to side.

  “John!” Thea struggled to gain control of the animal. When Destiny settled down, Thea bent forward in the saddle to calm her horse, patting him on the neck, whispering soothing words. She turned her attention to the cur before her.

  “Ye care more for the damned beast than ye do for me.”

  John stomped through the hedge, his backward glance distorted with rage.

  Trying to catch her breath, Thea patted Destiny’s neck. She set her chin high. She thought about going to get Michael or Timothy to ride with her but decided against it. Thea inhaled a deep breath. She doubted he would follow her. She urged Destiny forward and rode through the copse of trees.

  Guilty. My thoughts were no on John. She had been intrigued with Callum. My eyes were for Callum.

  Her cheeks burned with shame as she took her usual route, spurring Destiny to a gallop across the field toward a bridle path leading to an outcropping of large boulders. A good place to think, away from prying eyes tuned too well to her thoughts, mood, and feelings. What should she do about John? Should she tell her father, her brothers? They had no love for him.

  She dismounted and let Destiny’s reins fall to allow the horse to graze. Thea wandered over to the rocks and sat down. She shaded her eyes to enjoy the sky, a bright, clean blue with only a few wispy clouds drifting by. John was right, of course. She’d had no care for him, hadn’t sought him out. She rubbed the goosebumps from her arms. Ballocks.

  This was not the John she knew, but was he the John others saw? She couldn’t be in love with him. How could she love someone she feared? She had guarded her feelings during the exchange, but would she be able to in the future? Recalling her discussion with her father, Thea saw the right of his and her brother’s feelings about John. His volatile outburst had scared her.

  I canna marry John. I feart him.

  Chills permeated her body from the encounter with John. She rubbed her arms.

  She heard a rustling noise and took her knife from her boot, fearing John had followed her. From the trees, Callum rode into the clearing.

  Her shoulders straightened. Taking in a deep breath, she let it out slowly in relief. She briefly recalled the morning meal with her brothers and what they had to say about Callum. But to her, he was perfect. She was not going to listen to rumors. Reaching up, she patted
her braid, checking to make sure her hair was not standing on end. She straightened her clothes and returned the knife to its usual place. Skimming her fingertips along her jawline, she gave him a brilliant smile.

  ~ ~ ~

  Callum rode before his meeting with Anthol to clear his head. It had been quite a while since he’d had mead. The ale made from fermented honey flowed easy on the tongue and soothed a parched throat. He’d always kept his head while drinking but had to admit when the morning came his head ached and his tongue felt thick. Throughout the morning, he’d managed to attend to business but hoped the fresh air would do him some good. Best to find out the scope of the responsibilities expected from him sooner rather than later, he’d set out to visit with the lairds of his septs.

  He rode through the fields, taking stock as he surveyed the land. The long-haired cattle were fat, chewing lazily as he and his horse cantered by. The sun warm on his back, he followed a bridle path toward a rocky ledge. As he drew closer, he stopped midstride and tipped his head. Thea, looking bonnier than she had the night before, sat on a rock with her face pointed toward the sky. He dismounted and walked with the reins in his hands down the moor.

  “Good morn!” he called as he strolled to her, the sun behind him.

  Thea lifted a hand to shield her eyes. “Lovely day, ’tis?”

  “What brings ye out into it?” Callum’s gut flipped. He hoped his voice sounded calm.

  “I ride nearly every day. Keeps Destiny exercised. He would eat himself fat if I let him.” Thea waved a hand toward her gelding. “’Tis good for me. I enjoy the fresh air, clears my head.”

  Callum rubbed his chin. “I needed to clear my head as well. I feart it has been too long since I drank mead.”

  She giggled. “Ye do have to be careful with it. Though take heart, I saw my brother Hadrian with his head in his hands this morn.”

  Callum chuckled. “Well, good to ken I am no the only one afflicted.”

  Thea possessed such radiance his heart just might stop.

  “May I join ye?”

  “I would be pleased.” Thea smiled.

  He dropped the reins of his horse to let him graze next to Destiny and climbed the small incline to join her.

  “’Tis a nice seat ye have found.” Callum shifted his weight. He leaned back on his arm, his other arm resting across his bent knee.

  “’Tis a pretty spot. Ye can see for miles from the top. Michael and I discovered it when we were young.” She pointed above their heads to an angled rock with a flat surface above it. “We thought that one looked a bit like a ship.”

  Callum agreed. It did resemble the prow of a ship jutting from the hillside.

  “We came here to play when we could sneak awa’ from our chores. We dreamed we were captains o’ our own ship.” Thea lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “Usually we were besieged by pirates. We fought them off usin’ our wooden swords. We would parry and thrust.” Thea parried with her imaginary sword. “O’ course, bestin’ our opponents, for we were the most talented o’ swordsmen, although before too long we grew bored o’ fightin’ air and would turn our swords on each other.”

  He admired her spirit and laughed. “Did ye?”

  She tilted her head slightly. “’Twas then I learned how to defend m’self. Either be better than Michael or listen to him crow about outdoin’ me. Neither o’ us bested the other, but it surely gave us the practice we needed to graduate to steel.”

  Callum waited for her to smile and indicate she was joking. She didn’t.

  “So, ye ken swordplay?” Callum asked, trying to keep the incredulity from his voice but failing.

  “That I do, MacLeod,” Thea said with an edge. “I can throw a punch without hurtin’ my hand and bring a man to his knees if needs be. I give as good as I get. Michael taught me well.”

  “I mean no insult, Thea. I havena heard o’ such a thing.”

  “Ah, the hazards o’ growin’ up with brothers. Swords instead o’ dolls.” She rolled her eyes heavenward.

  “I suppose so.” He gazed directly into her eyes. “Thea, ye are a lass o’ surprises.”

  Thea lowered her head regally. “Thank ye, my lord.” She beamed. “Ye are suitably impressed?”

  “Indeed.”

  Thea chuckled.

  A comfortable silence descended. They both watched as a nye of pheasants took flight from the field to their left.

  Thea drew her attention away from the birds. “D’ye miss England?”

  “I dinna, actually.”

  Thea swung her leg as she sat on the edge of the rock. She was lovely. He couldn’t help but compare her to the women of his acquaintance in England. The women with their creamy complexions rather than a rosy face with a sprinkle of freckles, their throaty laughs designed to entice a man rather than a carefree laugh of a woman with no such agenda, the fashions worn to intrigue rather than simple clothes that naturally enhanced a woman’s curves.

  He had grown bored of London life. He’d become bored of the distractions that used to occupy his time. Bored with the women who were bored themselves. Before him was a woman whose eyes shone brightly, fairly dancing with life. The curls of her hair tempted a man to grab hold of its dark shining mass. She was stunning.

  “There truly isna much to miss.” Callum thought of the days recently passed with the blur of activity. The activities of daily life in the Scottish Highlands. Activities that stretched a man’s muscles and busied a man’s mind.

  “I would think there would be a great deal to miss. London must be a verra busy place.”

  “‘Tis busy,” Callum explained, his voice rough. “There is no peace to be had. The streets are dirty and crowded. There is a constant din as people go about their business, the vendors hawkin’ their wares, the hackney drivers yellin’ for space in the road. In the parlors and clubs of society, there are niceties to be observed. There is no time to oneself. There is always someone near.” His frown disappeared. “’Tis peaceful here. A person can think.” He smiled. “London is no all ye would believe it to be.”

  “I dinna have the verra chance o’ ever seein’ England much less London.” Thea sighed, a touch of wistfulness in her voice.

  “One day I will take ye, and ye will see for yerself.”

  A heavy feeling settled in Callum’s stomach as he went over in his mind what he’d said. Years at the card tables had taught him to guard his feelings from showing on his face. He hid his surprise at his unexpected response to the longing in her voice. He wasn’t sure where such a declaration had come from, but once he thought about it, the idea appealed to him.

  He cleared his throat and reached over to her. “Lean in.” At her questioning look, he waved her closer. Thea bent her head toward him, and he plucked a stray leaf from her hair. She sat up, and he presented the leaf as a trophy. Thea took it from his hand and grinned her thanks. Studying the gift, she twirled the stem between her fingers.

  Callum turned his face toward the warm sun. They sat in silence, enjoying the quiet companionship. Callum glanced at Thea as she turned to him. For the first time in his life he was interested in a woman for more than her knowledge of the bedchamber. He wanted to know her. What she enjoyed. What she thought about this, that, or the other. What made her laugh. To his surprise, she was mysterious and intriguing yet oddly comfortable.

  “Tell me about yer brothers. I enjoyed talkin’ with them last eve, but we dinna have the opportunity to tell each other the news in our lives. Simon seems as serious as ever.”

  “Ye mean as bossy as ever.” Thea scowled. “He and Hadrian spend their time with Da. The cattle, their breedin’ and care occupy Simon and Hadrian’s time.”

  “I rode pass one o’ the herds. They appear to be healthy, robust.”

  “Mmm, they are. My brothers see to it. Gre
gory has made several trips to some o’ the herds on the mainland and farther south. He sailed to France recently.”

  “France?” Callum’s interest grew sharp. “Why France?”

  “Och, no reason in particular. He studies languages and people. He said he wanted to get a taste o’ local color. I wish I could go to France,” Thea mumbled.

  “Tell me about Timothy. What has he been up to?”

  Thea brightened. “Timmy and I are plottin’ our revenge aginst Simon for tellin’ Da about our last prank.”

  Callum chuckled. “Does he spend all o’ his time hatchin’ Machiavellian plans with ye?”

  “O’ course no,” Thea laughed with a quick tap on his arm. “He has many things to occupy his time. Da sees to that. His sons work hard.”

  “And his daughter? What does she do to fill her days?”

  “I help run the household, care for the wee ones—”

  “Go ridin’,” he interrupted.

  “Go ridin’,” she replied with a grin. “’Tis my favorite.”

  Callum moved closer to Thea. “Tell me about the times I have missed, the people.”

  Thea replied with no hesitation, filling him in on events large and small since his departure from the island. Once she had given him the higher points, she told him about her life and the people who shared it.

  He listened carefully, made appropriate comments, and laughed at her anecdotes.

  She stopped abruptly, the pink of her cheeks pretty on her face.

  “Nay, dinna stop. I have been enjoyin’ yer tales.”

  “Och, ye have enjoyed listenin’ to me run on at the mouth?” she asked dubiously.

  “’Tis yer mouth that has me intrigued.”

  With a blush, she avoided his gaze for a moment, then slowly raised her eyes to meet his. “Now, ’tis my turn to hear about ye. What have ye been doin’ so far from home?”