With Love from the Highlands : A Highlander Love Story Duet, One
Page 28
What on earth was he doing?
“I love ye, Leelah Hay-MacDonald. With all of my obstinate, arrogant, flea-ridden self,” he said with a smile. “I want to spend the rest of me life with ye, helpin’ ye to raise those heathens ye call children. Mayhap we will make a few beasties of our own.”
Stunned didn’t begin to describe how surprised Leelah was. When she looked into his eyes, she saw nothing but love and adoration staring back at her.
Giving a shake of her head as if the action would bring clarity, she fought against the knot lodged in her throat. “Ye want an annulment just so we can be married proper?” It didn’t make a lick of sense.
“Aye, because this time I would like verra much to be sober whilst I say me vows.”
Leelah couldn’t help but laugh at him. “Ye are mad, Graham Keith.”
Standing to his full height, he pulled her against his chest. “Aye, I be mad, but I still love ye. Now, what be yer answer? Will ye marry me or nae?”
She made him wait a few moments, pretending to ponder the question, but really just to annoy him. Peering around his shoulder, she looked at her children. “What say ye? Should I marry this tetched man?”
’Twas a universal yes from the older three. John was too busy chewing on his toes to offer his own reply.
“Then aye, I will marry ye, Graham Keith.”
He let out a relieved sigh. “Good! Mum has already started wedding preparations.”
“And if I had said nay?” she asked with a quirked brow.
“I would nae have given ye the annulment.”
12
Graham Keith and Leelah Hay-MacDonald were married three days later, in the quiet magical Keith glen. In attendance were the four hundred or so Keith clanspeople, Graham’s entire family, and Leelah’s children.
Leelah wore a beautiful blue dress, flowers in her hair, and the Keith plaid draped over her shoulder. Graham remarked more than once how pretty he found her. And more than once, he whispered into her ear that he was looking forward, with great anticipation, to removing that splendid blue gown later.
Leelah blushed, as most brides do on their wedding day, even though she hadn’t been an innocent young maid in more years than she cared to count.
In less than eleven months after exchanging their vows, Graham and Leelah welcomed twin sons into the world. They named them Daniel, after Graham and Leelah’s brothers, and Bron after one of Graham’s great grandfathers.
A year later, they were blessed with a daughter who they named Maggy. Two years later, another son was added to the growing family. They named him William simply because they liked the name.
Over the years, Leelah and Graham’s love for one another grew and matured into something their own children would come to envy and strive for.
At least once a week, they would visit the glen and watch their children play and grow and daydream about their own futures. Just as Graham had done as a child. While the children played, Graham and Leelah would watch from the comfort of a blanket, happy in the knowledge that their children knew they were loved by both parents. Graham didn’t struggle with the words like his own father had. He never had to rely on Leelah to tell them for him.
On a warm summer day, seven years after they wed, Graham and Leelah lay side by side, staring up at the blue sky.
He realized in that moment, that all the wishes he had made as a young boy had come true. He had a wife even more beautiful than his mum, and many, many children.
“Thank ye for lovin’ me, Leelah,” he told her as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
She smiled warmly at him and gave his cheek a kiss before lying back down. “Lovin’ ye has been the easiest thing I have ever done,” she told him.
“Never forget how much I love ye.”
“How could I? Ye tell me at least a dozen times a day.”
He chuckled and pulled her against his side. Graham felt an overwhelming sense of peace and contentment.
He made new wishes that day. He wished for he and Leelah to always be as happy as they were right then.
And he wished that their children would someday know just what true happiness and love felt like.
Prologue to Black Richard’s Heart
Death could not come fast enough for Black Richard MacCullough.
’Twas difficult to distinguish his blood from the countless others who lay dead or dying on the cold spring grass. Grass he had played in as a child, MacCullough grass, was now painted in blood—the blood of his kin and the blood of his enemies.
It had been a long, hard-fought battle between the MacCulloughs and the Chisolms, a battle that had lasted for three long, bloody days. The MacCulloughs were laying siege to their own keep, a keep that had been stolen from them five years ago by the ruthless Maitland Chisolm. Like the cowards they were, the Chisolms had waited until most of the MacCullough fighting men were off at their southern border, fighting against the MacRays, before they attacked. Outnumbered four to one, the MacCullough keep fell for the first time in more than ten generations.
Now, Galen MacCullough—Black Richard’s father—and his men were fighting to get back their keep and lands.
The first two days had been spent trying to get beyond the massive, well-fortified walls. Knowing how well built they were, for Galen MacCullough’s grandfather had built the damn things with his own hands, a decision was made: On the third day, Galen, chief and laird to his clan, decided to burn the bastards out.
Thick, black smoke billowed from the roof of the keep. The early spring breeze picked up sparks and carried them from the keep to the granary. Before they knew it, several buildings were aflame. The Chisolms came pouring out of the gate, like rats leaving a sinking ship. Apparently, their ill-gotten gains were not worth fighting for.
Then the rains came, drenching man and beast alike.
Through the pounding rain and relentless wind, the proud MacCullough warriors fought. They fought for revenge. They fought for honor. And they fought to regain their home and lands.
Black Richard had watched his father, Galen, die first, cut down by Maitland Chisolm’s own blade. Unable to aid him, for he was too busy in a fight for his own life, all he could do was watch his father fall to his knees. A moment later, Maitland was using his battle axe to sever Galen’s head from his neck. Black Richard fell to his knees, engulfed in grief and despair. Throwing his head back, he let loose with a guttural lamentation that could be heard for miles.
Then, one by one, four of his six brothers fell.
There was naught to be done for any of them now. Picking up his sword, he was possessed with a fervent need to avenge the deaths of his father and brothers.
Black Richard fought ferociously and bravely until he could no longer lift up his own sword. His last and final act, before being cut nearly in half, was sending Maitland Chisolm to Hell. Black Richard had plunged his already bloodied sword deep into Maitland Chisolm’s chest. The pleasure he derived in watching the life fade from Maitland’s eyes was immeasurable.
Now Black Richard lay dying in blood and mud, his face flayed open by Maitland’s blade, his gut sliced open by a nameless Chisolm.
The MacCulloughs had fought bravely, and none who had died or were about to would die in vain or in shame. He was certain just as many Chisolms (may the greedy bastards all now be burning in Hell) had been killed as his own clansmen.
Knowing death was inevitable, Black Richard did not bother with plotting revenge. He would have to leave that up to his two younger brothers, Raibeart and Colyne. Far too young to fight now, but hopefully, with time and guidance by anyone left standing, the two young boys would rise and seek revenge in the name of their father and brothers. There was one Chisolm left to be dealt with: Randall, the son of the Chisolm chief responsible for the hell on earth they had been living in all these years. Hopefully, someday, Raibeart and Colyne would kill the bloody bastard.
Through the fog of pain, the blood rushing in his ears, and the pounding in his skul
l, he thought he heard the call of victory. Whether it be real or imagined, he neither knew nor cared. All he wished for was the pain to cease and for the sweet release of death. Mayhap someone would take mercy on him and slice his throat to speed up the process of dying.
Which hurt worse, his face—flayed open from the top of his skull to his neck—or the gaping, bleeding wound on his side, he did not know. ’Twas agony either way.
It seemed an eternity passed before silence filled the air. The rain stopped as suddenly as it had begun. A strong breeze blew in, chasing away any remnants of the clouds. Soon, the sun was shining so brightly it pained his eyes to look upon it.
This must be the end, he told himself. Death has finally come for me.
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About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, storyteller and cheeky wench, SUZAN TISDALE lives in the Midwest with her verra handsome carpenter husband. All but one of her children have left the nest. Her pets consist of dust bunnies and a dozen poodle-sized, backyard-dwelling groundhogs – all of which run as free and unrestrained as the voices in her head. And she doesn’t own a single pair of yoga pants, much to the shock and horror of her fellow authors. She prefers to write in her pajamas.
Suzan writes Scottish historical romance/fiction, with honorable and perfectly imperfect heroes and strong, feisty heroines. And bad guys she kills off in delightfully wicked ways.
She published her first novel, Laiden’s Daughter, in December, 2011, as a gift for her mother. That one book started a journey which has led to more than twenty published titles. To date, she has sold more than 650,000 copies of her books around the world. They have been translated into Italian, French, German, and Spanish.
You will find her books in digital, paperback, and audiobook formats.
www.suzantisdale.com
Also by Suzan Tisdale
The Clan MacDougall Series
Laiden’s Daughter
Findley’s Lass
Wee William’s Woman
McKenna’s Honor
The Clan MacDougall Boxed Set
The Clan Graham Series
Rowan’s Lady
Frederick’s Queen
The Mackintoshes and McLarens Series
Ian’s Rose
The Bowie Bride
Rodrick the Bold
Brogan’s Promise
The MacCulloughs
Black Richard’s Heart
Lachlan’s Heart Arriving January 2021
The Clan McDunnah Series
A Murmur of Providence
A Whisper of Fate
A Breath of Promise
The Clan McDunnah Boxed Set
Moirra’s Heart Series
Stealing Moirra’s Heart
Saving Moirra’s Heart
Stand Alone Novels
Isle of the Blessed
Forever Her Champion
The Edge of Forever
In the Echo of a Kiss
The MacAllens and Randalls Series:
Secrets of the Heart
The Daughters of Moirra Dundotter Series:
Mariote
Esa
Muriale
Orabilis
The Brides of the Clan MacDougall
(A Sweet Series)
Aishlinn
Maggy
Nora