by Fiona Faris
“Aye, would seem so.” He smiled again, and they both laughed.
After a few moments, Amelia’s curiosity started to get the better of her.
“Gavin, what was it that you were doing that kept you away from Cadney?”
He was silent, and he looked up at the sky, the day had quickly shifted to night, and the stars were just beginning to peak out from behind quickly fading clouds. She thought maybe his long silence meant she had asked a question to which he did not want her to know the answer.
She knew he wasn’t married, as back at Cadney he told her he wanted to court her. Did he have another woman that he was keeping? Her stomach turned at the thought. After so much time away from him home, he had seemed eager or even obligated to leave it. Perhaps an illegitimate child?
Amelia shuddered to think about it, but, really, she didn’t know as much about this strange Highland man as she had previously thought she did. Was it fair to ask him to live up to those fantasies without knowing if he was anything like the man she imagined him to be?
If he was still intent on courting her, should they not get to know each other a little bit?
“I’m buildin’ a house, for me family.” She was crestfallen. So he did have a family before her. Mayhap he wasn’t serious about her at all, but rather a cad, who was only entertaining himself with the novelty of her because of their shared pass.
“I see,” was all she could manage, she turned from the fire and him.
“Lass, why on God’s green Earth would that upset ye?” Was she that obvious?
I guess so. Keeping her back to him, she could barely speak above a whisper. “After last night, I guess I just thought…”
She heard him approach her side of the fire, and she tried to prepare herself for when he forced her to face him, but instead, he whispered in her ear from behind. “After last night, lass, th’ only thing ye should be thinkin’ is that yer mine. I thought I told ye as much. One taste of ye was not enough. It will never be enough.” He kissed her neck then, not the sweet, gentle kiss that he had given on the boat, but a deep claiming kiss. One that would leave his mark on her for hours, if not days to come. She closed her eyes against the fire of pleasure he stirred in her.
“So, you don’t have another family?” she whispered. He laughed, throaty and heavy. His laughter should have made her feel better, more secure. Instead, it angered her. She pulled away from his embrace. “You can hardly blame me for thinking it? You are a MacGille, with a family castle? Why would you be off in the wilds building a house?”
His smile grew larger, “Och, lass, ye really think I would say and do the things I’ve said and done to ye,” he gave her a wink, “if I had another woman?”
Hearing him voice her concern out loud made it seem silly and missish. But she couldn’t help the way she felt. She crossed her arms and glared at him.
“I don’t know.”
“Lass, come, sit beside me. I promise I’ll tell ye everything ye want tae ken. There is no one else.” She cautiously moved toward him, sitting. He pulled a loose strand of her hair from its pins and twirled it around his finger, much like he did the first night back at Cadney. And much like that night, she was speechless. So he continued, “aside from the memory of your eyes and your hair these last four years, there have been no women. When I told ye I meant tae court ye proper, I meant it. I’ve no family aside Lucas, Milly, and our Ma.”
“Then why build on land outside the castle walls?” He took a deep breath and stared into the fire.
“Being in a cell was hard. It was hard to be thought dead for almost four years. When I returned, I found everything so changed. My Da was gone, Lucas was laird. He was married tae yer bonny sister, and they have bairns. Milly was marrying Nathan. And Ma, well she sits in her grief. There was nay place for me tae fit in. Magnus has the clan battle-ready and in hand. I needed to find my place. I wandered for a bit. Nathan gave me connections, and I learned new skills, but at the end of each night, I closed my eyes and only saw a memory.”
“Of me?” she asked.
“Aye, of ye. Or more like what ye represented tae me all those years. Home. I kent I needed tae find my own place. I secured some land between MacKenzie and MacGille lands, with Nathan’s help, and I started tae build.”
“A house.”
“Well, first a barn, but yes, eventually a house. I was plannin’ on livin’ in it alone, raising coos, makin’ a go of th’ land. But then ye came along, and since that first night I ken ye were real, well now it seems I’m buildin’ it for us.”
His confession was the most amazing thing anyone had ever said to her. He wanted her, Amelia. Not because she was Ella’s sister, or because she was an English lady with a plentiful dowry. He wanted her on her for herself. He wanted to live in a house with her and raise a family and cows. She almost burst at the thought of it. Not able to think of words to say, she did the only thing she knew would express how she felt. She leaned into him and kissed him.
* * *
It was sometime before dawn when Gavin heard the unmistakable sound of the movement of men. He wasn’t sure exactly what sound had woken him, but as he lay huddled next to a sleeping Amelia, he knew they were soon not going to be alone.
Chapter Twenty
“Amelia, lass, wake up.” Her eyes opened wide instantly. Smart lass. Even at a whisper, she could tell something was amiss. Nearby the horses gave a soft whiny. The animals also knew something was not right.
“What is it?” she whispered back.
“I’m nay sure, but someone is nearby. Ye need tae take yer horse and conceal yerself as best ye can. If whoever is out there thinks they came upon one lonely traveler, they might think twice before doing bad.”
She nodded sharply, and Gavin was relieved she was not going to argue. She got up and adjusted her traveling dress and cloak. He handed her a plaid to cover her hair and pointed her in the direction of the nearby trees.
“I’ll come for ye when it’s safe.”
He watched as Amelia walked away, keeping his ears and eyes tuned to the sounds around him. A cracked branch behind causing him to turn, sword in hand.
“Show yerself, and let’s talk like men!” he shouted into the night air. Three men moved silently from behind nearby rocks.
“‘Allo,” the tallest of the men said. He was large, larger than Gavin, and covered in filth. His beard looked as if it hadn’t been tended in weeks, his plaid was more mud than wool, and his missing teeth gave him an air of trouble.
The intruder’s tone was pleasant as if he were greeting an old friend. Gavin knew better than to trust it. These may be Cabduh men, but he couldn’t be sure, and the night was still too dark to see the colors of the man’s plaid under all the mud.
“What can I do for ye on this early mornin’?” Gavin asked, bored. He twirled a dagger he pulled from his boot. He would’ve appeared casual to any casual observer if the sword gripped in his other hand and his straight spine was not seen. The ogre gave him a smile.
“Saw yer fire. Seems we’ve fugitives on this road, an’ I’m wonderin’ if ye’d seen a couple traveling this way? Got word from th’ mainland they might be on this road. We aim tae bring them tae justice.” Interesting. So, not Cabduh men, rather, he was dealing with mercenaries, bounty hunters, or even highwaymen looking to make some quick coin by bringing him and Amelia back, if he guessed correctly.
“Fugitives, aye, what kind of fugitives?” Gavin made a move toward the men and away from where Amelia had gone. If their discussion went poorly, Gavin wanted to move the men as far away from Amelia as he could.
“A murderous English witch and her lover,” the man nodded toward the rumpled plaid on the ground by the fire. “That is if th’ stories are true.” So, the old laird didn’t trust him at all. He knew it when they last spoke, but he wasn’t prepared to think the Laird would really accuse him of conspiring. Questions flared in Gavin’s mind. How had Laird Cabduh realized they were headed north? Did that mean Tristan
succumbed to his father’s questioning? Was Tristan alright, or had his evil father finally done something horrible? It was no secret the man despised his son. These men would provide no answers. Gavin did a quick calculation in his head. There would be time to mourn his friend later. The smartest course of action now would be to get rid of the men in front of him without violence, retrieve Amelia, and move on as quickly as possible.
“Well, as ye can see ’tis only me an’ me beastie here. No… how did ye say it? Murderous witch?”
“Aye, murderous English witch…that we did. So ye’ve nay seen any pair traveling this way?” Gavin holstered his dirk and rubbed his chin as if in thought.
“Yes, English… well, that would be unusual up here. I did see a couple that may fit what yer lookin’ for back in Stornoway. Said something about sailin’ for Ireland.”
“Ireland, ye say?” he looked at his men and back at Gavin. “Well, then I guess we are done here. Where did ye say ye were headed again?”
This is too easy. His gut was telling him to be prepared for an attack.
“I didn’t say,” he replied. Before the man could respond, a rustling in the brush behind them took the attention of both men. Gavin could scarcely believe what he was seeing. Amelia tore through the brush, her face contorted in rage. Gavin had no time to think as she swung a fallen log, much too heavy for her, against the head of a fourth man, one Gavin hadn’t seen standing behind him a hare’s breath from drawing his sword. There was no time to question what the hell the lass was thinking. He moved back and slowed her momentum, finishing the man off with his sword, before turning to see the leader of the group nodding at the other two men. Some sort of signal was given, and they rushed Gavin and Amelia.
“Lass what were ye thinkin’?” he asked, breathlessly trying to move her behind him.
“I was thinking it was four against one, and you needed my help, Gavin MacGille.”
“I tried tae keep ye safe and hidden lass!” He was infuriated, what if something happened to her. He knew this fight was far from over, and she was a mere slip of a lass. He wouldnae be responsible for his actions if even a hair on her bonny blonde head was out of place when all was said and done.
“I would not let you battle alone!”
But, aye she’s fierce. He shook his head. Had she always been this much of a force? He was starting to think there was so much more to Lady Amelia Pearson that he would like to discover. Before their conversation could continue, the two henchmen were upon them. Gavin swung his sword, making quick work of one, while Amelia used her log and some familiar footwork to knock the other to the ground in a fit of moans.
“Where th’ hell did the lass learn moves like that?” their leader shouted as if he and Gavin were on the same side. There was no way Gavin was going to answer the brute, but at the same time, he made a mental note to ask Amelia later what exactly she had been doing at Cadney while he was away. If he had to hazard a guess, her moves looked very similar to a style of fighting Magnus taught the clansmen for battle.
She was breathing heavily but braced for more action. Her cheeks were pink with exertion. Her eyes were dark and threatening. Gavin found her utterly enchanting. Maybe there was something amiss in his brain that he was aroused by her skill and bravery but were they alone, he would have taken her maidenhood right that moment, in the grass under the bonny dawn sky. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
“Ye’ve a choice, friend,” Gavin turned, addressing the leader and only criminal left standing. “Take yer leave and forget ye saw us here or take yer chances with me an’ th’ lass.”
“I’ll gladly take me leave. I ken a battle lost when I see it, but th’ men lookin’ for ye willnae be stopped.”
“Mayhap not, but we give ye leave tae try tae convince them. ’Tis nay bloodshed we’re after.”
They watched, bodies alert and at the ready, as the man picked up his fallen friends and made his way away from them.
“I don’t understand — why did you let them go?” Amelia turned on him once the mercenaries were out of sight and earshot. Her face was red with exertion and anger. Gavin knew she may be upset, but it was a code among highlanders, among the battle weary. He would not kill if he didn’t have to, and he knew they needed all their strength to continue rapidly to the MacLeod Keep. Overexerting themselves any more than necessary would be a mistake.
Allowing the mercenaries to live, also served another purpose. The men would most surely run their mouths about what Amelia had done to them, word could get back to Cabduh, and perhaps the mad laird would give up his quest. Or at the very least rethink his strategy. Either way, it could give them much needed time.
“Lass, I did what was best for our journey. We must hurry, who kens what other men are out there, thinkin’ us bandits.” Amelia was quiet. Gavin could tell she was thinking hard on what he’d said. A month ago, he would not have cared if a lass agreed or disagreed with his strategies, but now, he found himself searching her face for any sign of disagreement. Shocking himself that he cared so much what this one woman thought.
Slowly she nodded her agreement. “You’re right. We should get moving. Do you think word of us has already reached the MacLeods?” Relief coursed through him.
“There’s nay tellin’, but the sooner we reach th’ keep, the better.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, his mouth crashing down on hers, in a quick claiming kiss, as they made their way back to the horses.
“What was that for?” she was breathless, and Gavin found he liked the look of her that way. Shocked into silence, but still brave and strong as steel.
“Yer an amazing woman, lass. An’ ye ken, I’m nay sure I’ve told ye that enough on this journey.” She gave him a confused smile, he kissed her again, this time quick and gentle before releasing her to her gelding.
“By the way lass, how did ye learn tae fight like that?” he asked as they mounted.
She gave him a sly smile, “You’re not the only warrior in the family, MacGille.”
Family, he found he liked how it sounded. He smiled back, determined as ever to get her where she needed to go quickly and safely.
Chapter Twenty-One
They rode hard for the rest of the morning and well into the late afternoon. Amelia was not used to such strenuous riding, but the adrenaline from the morning skirmish with the highwaymen fueled her.
When she recognized the fourth man had been hidden from Gavin’s view and aimed to harm him, something animalistic took hold of her. Her only thought was to save him. He hadn’t come so far from the dusty prison cell to help her only to be leveled by a filthy, sneaking brute.
Then as they continued to fight side by side, and she saw the admiration in his gaze, Amelia allowed herself to take pride in the hard work she had undertaken at Cadney to practice alongside the men and learn how to defend herself. It was simply exhilarating.
As the day of hard riding wore on, they moved in silence. Gavin had decided they would cross over to the more well-used road. Now that they knew they were fugitives, it made sense to her that they travel as quickly as possible. However, moving across the land did add some miles to the journey, the road, once they arrived at it, would be easy to traverse.
Until then, however, the roads along the way became bare hints of what Amelia assumed was a path through tougher and tougher terrain. It was incredulous that any clan could live here. She mentally prepared herself that the MacLeod Keep would be much worse than anything she’d seen in Scotland thus far. They had to be brutes to be able to survive in such an unforgiving place. Yet it held beauty as well, she had to admit. Several times as they crossed from one end of the long island to the other, she caught glimpses of the sea.
“We should stop and camp for the night,” Gavin said, slowing his horse to a trot alongside Amelia.
“Is that wise? Should we not make haste and continue on?” Her body did, in fact, feel tired, and she could benefit from a rest, but she didn’t
want to chance another encounter like they had in the morning.
“Aye, lass, in an ideal circumstance we would push on, but the path is treacherous before we reach the main road, and I doona want tae hae ye ride it in th’ dark. Once we reach th’ main road, I estimate we’ll be on MacLeod lands. We’ve a better chance of currying favor if we’re rested and sharp.”
Amelia looked around. She spied a small stream and a hidden cave like a break in the rocks. She supposed Gavin was right. And after all, it would do them no good if one or both of them fell down a crevice with the horses.
“Very well,” she said, climbing down. “Let us stop for the night, but I think we may both sleep with one eye opened.” Gavin gave her another slick smile. She couldn’t tell if the chill in the air that accompanied them throughout the day was from the air or from the arousal she felt whenever she caught Gavin’s gaze. Settling on the air, she winced as a biting wind that carried with it the scent of the sea beyond, curled up her cloak. She could use a fire to warm her bones.