Highland Captive

by Alyson McLayne

  Kerr hesitated, his lashes flickering—an almost imperceptible giveaway to anyone but his family. “Aye, perhaps,” he said. “I remember well our time together. I have fond memories of us swimming together in the loch and trapping rabbits for our dinner. And quail too, as you say.”

  “Aye, a feast for kings.” Lewis smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “’Twas a relief to get away from the castle and our fathers’ watchful gazes. We got up to much mischief over the visit, most of which we kept hidden.”

  Kerr returned the smile, but his was insincere too. Had something happened when the two were lads? Or was something else at play?

  “Maybe now is the time to finally come clean, then. My father is dead, of course. But we could certainly confess all of our adventures to your father.” Kerr pointed to Laird MacIntyre as he spoke.

  “Ah, that may take all night, and we have more important things to discuss right now. I think it would be best to reminisce later. And perhaps you and I had best get our stories straight first, aye?”

  He laughed and Kerr laughed with him. “Aye. Later then, old friend.”

  Laird MacIntyre made a disgruntled sound. Had he noticed that something had just passed between Kerr and Lewis? He still looked as though he’d been carved from stone, the same as when he entered.

  “I remember that visit as well, Kerr MacAlister,” the laird said. “I also had an entertaining time with your father. I was much aggrieved to hear that you’d murdered him a few years later.”

  “What you call murder, Laird MacIntyre, I call self-defense. But I didn’t just kill my father, if you recall. I also killed three of his men and one of my uncles. A few days later, I killed two more of my uncles. They arrived to murder me and left without their heads. You’d do best to remember I’m not a man to take the protection of myself or my family lightly—as my one remaining uncle well knows.”

  The laird nodded. “Aye. I’m sure your uncle, the other Laird MacAlister, remembers those events as clearly as if they happened yesterday.”

  Was that a giveaway? Or a plant? Did MacIntyre want them to believe Kerr’s uncle would hold a grudge all these years?

  The laird turned to Gavin. “As much as the lass may want to stay with your lad, she canna. She is married to my son. We have a marriage contract in place.”

  Gavin shrugged as if he didn’t care, but inside he’d turned cold with anger. He took a moment to breathe through it, tapping his fingers on his chair as if he mulled over the problem. Finally, he said, “A marriage contract can be broken when one party does not fulfill their obligations. Seven years and no issue from the marital bed. Could be Deirdre’s barren and has no value to you as a wife. Could be your son is seldom there to sow the MacIntyre seed.”

  “Either way, we will decide, not you. Deirdre will return with me to my castle.”

  “Nay,” Lewis said. Laird MacIntyre’s eyes widened slightly, indicating his surprise. “She is my responsibility, Father. She’ll remain with me.”

  “She’ll return to the care of her family home. Her mother and I will care for her.” Boyd sounded like a boy among the men, with no power at all. No one even bothered to respond.

  “’Tis a moot point,” Gavin said. “Deirdre is staying. She’s my son’s mother. He canna be without her.”

  “And my son canna be without her. If you willna return her, we will consider it an act of war. ’Tis willful abduction.”

  Gavin nodded and smiled grimly. “’Tis an acceptable assumption on your part. I am much aggrieved by this situation, as are my allies. I doona believe the disappearance of my son is as simple a story as what Lewis has told us. Ewan’s name wasn’t changed, and someone knew who to look for at the gathering.” He leaned forward and stared at Laird MacIntyre. “I think the outbreak took everyone by surprise. I think whoever snatched Ewan died from the plague. And now here we are, and the only thing stopping me from putting my sword in your belly is my foster father, who counsels caution. You have one hour to get off my land. The MacIntyres and the MacColls will ne’er cross it alive again.”

  Lewis’s eyes widened, and his gaze jumped to Kerr’s. Aye, so the man wanted to come back. To speak to them.

  Gavin rose from his chair and jumped down. He headed straight for Laird MacIntyre, flanked by Clyde and Artair. The MacIntyre laird drew his broadsword at the same time Gavin did. They swung at each other, swords clashing and sparks flying. Gavin pushed forward until he was nose to nose with MacIntyre. Behind him, Kerr and Darach restrained Lewis, while Lachlan and Callum restrained Boyd.

  “I’ll see you dead for what you did to my son, MacIntyre. You almost succeeded, but almost isn’t good enough. I have my son back, and I have your daughter-in-law. I win. You lose.

  “Go back to your empty keep and tup your young, fertile wife until your stones burst. From what I hear it willna matter. There’s naught but dust inside them anyway.”

  “You have nothing I canna take back,” MacIntyre said before shoving himself away from Gavin and striding toward the door, Boyd and Lewis falling in behind them. Clyde, Artair, and the other MacKinnon warriors surrounded the enemy to escort them off their land.

  Gavin was so angry he shook, and he was tempted to take the laird’s head despite what Gregor had said.

  “You have one hour,” he shouted instead. “Ride hard or you’re all dead.”

  Seventeen

  No one spoke, not until the door closed behind the MacIntyres and Boyd MacColl, and their footsteps retreated down the stairs.

  Gavin swung around to Kerr, re-sheathing his broadsword between his shoulder blades. “What did he say?” Gavin asked.

  But Gregor whistled sharply and pointed upward. Obviously, he was worried they might be overheard. The group moved quickly and quietly toward the stairs, in the way they’d been trained. Gavin took the lead, bounding up three steps at a time. When they hit the landing and turned, he came to an abrupt halt, the others crowding in behind him.

  “What are you two doing here?” he asked his sister and Deirdre. They looked like they’d just jumped up from sitting on one of the steps, probably in the process of running back to their rooms.

  “What does it look like we’re doing?” Isobel said, hands planted defiantly on her hips. “We’re listening.”

  “Nay, sweetling, that’s not called listening. It’s called eavesdropping,” Kerr boomed from behind him.

  “It’s my keep,” Isobel retorted. “I can listen as much as I want to.”

  “We heard swords clashing,” Deirdre said worriedly. “Is Lewis all right?”

  Jealousy roared through Gavin’s body. “He’s fine,” he said stiffly, wishing he had his beard back so he could scrape his nails through it. Instead, he shoved his hands into his hair. “’Twas not your husband I clashed with. It was his father. I think ’tis as you say. Lewis is innocent. I doona think he’s been included in this conspiracy.”

  Gregor made a shushing sound. “Move it. All of you.”

  Gavin grasped Deirdre’s hand and helped her up the last few steps. He stepped to the side with her, and the others strode past them toward the laird’s solar at the end of the passageway. “I’m sorry, but you canna come in with us for this discussion. We are officially at war with Clan MacIntyre and Clan MacColl. We will be discussing strategy and the various clans’ strengths and weaknesses. The others willna want that information shared. I’ll tell you what I can, but I canna betray their confidences. I also doona want to put you at risk by having too much information.”

  “I understand,” she said. She looked toward Isobel, who stood at the solar door, arguing with Kerr to let her in. “I doona think she truly wants in; she just wants to defy Kerr.”

  Gavin nodded. “Aye, ’tis something Callum also said. Kerr may have to accept that she will never be his.”

  “’Tis true, although I doona think she’d know what to do with herself
if he stopped trying.”

  He turned to her, kissed the back of her fingers, and then dropped her hand. “And what about you, Deirdre? You asked me earlier to take you upstairs, but I see now that your husband cares for you and you him. When this is over, you may regret your decision. To many people, marriage vows are sacred. I wouldnae want us to do anything you might come to regret.”

  She dropped her gaze, and this time he didn’t raise her chin. “You are Ewan’s mother,” he continued, “and you’ll always have a cherished place here. But you should look to the future. Our time together has been verra emotional, both highs and lows. You may feel differently toward me in three months. If Lewis survives this conflict, and it is safe for you to do so, you can go for a visit…or for longer. We need to take a step back.”

  Deirdre shook her head emphatically, but she still didn’t look at him. “If you’ll have me, this is my home. I do care for Lewis. He’s been nothing but kind and considerate toward me for the last seven years, but I’ve ne’er been happier than the last few days I’ve spent here. Even when I was riding that bloody horse pony.” She glanced up at him—finally—a smile on her face, even though he could see her distress beneath it.

  He cupped the side of her head. “Aye, well. ’Tis not a decision we have to rush, no matter how much it might feel like it at times. You willna be able to go back, Deirdre. You must be certain you want to go forward—with me—and know the cost. Your marriage to Lewis will be over…but it won’t. Do you understand? An annulment, if Rome will grant you one, can take years.” He sighed. “’Tis fortunate we were interrupted, I think. We will speak on this again later, aye?”

  “Aye,” she whispered and dropped her eyes again.

  He pulled her toward him and kissed her forehead “Get some rest. I’ll wake you if anything else happens tonight. And can you check on Ewan, please? I canna stop worrying even though I know he’s safe. Call for me immediately if you think something’s wrong.”

  She nodded just as Callum called his name. “Gavin!”

  “I have to go.” He turned away and headed toward the solar, passing Isobel on the way. “Izzy.”

  “Aye?”

  “Can you stay with Deirdre tonight? At least until Ewan comes down to see her. I doona want her to be hurting and alone.”

  “Of course, but…be careful, Brother. I doona want you to get hurt either.”

  He knew she meant his feelings for Deirdre, and he gave her a quick, one-armed hug. “I’m afraid ’tis too late for that.”

  He entered his solar and strode to his desk. The room was a good size, but with six large, muscular men taking up space alongside the chairs they’d added for everyone that afternoon, it suddenly seemed cramped.

  He sat and looked at Gregor, who sat opposite him. “You think MacIntyre has spies nearby? Within the keep?”

  “I think that he has absolute belief in his success, which probably means he has spies close to you. Maybe even several of them, waiting to strike. We know they kidnap loved ones. You should check on the family members of your most trusted men and the folks in the castle.”

  “Aye, and randomly double or triple the guards, so if one strikes, the other two they’re matched with can fight back,” Darach said from his spot beside Gregor.

  “Be blunt with Clyde about it too. Gauge his reaction.” Callum stood beside the closed shutters. Every once in a while, he opened one slightly and peered out. “Maybe even set traps and see if Clyde or anyone else bites. God knows, if I’d been warier of the people in my keep, Maggie wouldnae have been in so much danger.”

  Lachlan stood with one arm resting on the mantel above the hearth. “Speaking of people in your keep, maybe you should—”

  “Nay.” Gavin glowered at him.

  “You doona even know what I was going to say,” he protested.

  “You were about to accuse Deirdre of being a spy.”

  “She’s my cousin,” Kerr said indignantly from in front of the closed door.

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Lachlan glanced at Callum. “Tell them I’m right.”

  “He’s right,” Callum said. “Everyone should be a suspect…”

  “See!” Lachlan said.

  “But I doona think she is.” Callum crossed to a chair beside the fire and sat down. “I’ve been watching her closely since we arrived, and there’s no artifice or malice in her that I can see. She cares about Gavin and Isobel as well as Ewan.”

  “And me!” Kerr added.

  “Aye, she gets exasperated with Kerr—but in a loving way.”

  Kerr beamed. “I’m verra loveable. And brawny and braw.”

  Gavin snorted. “And humble.”

  “Aye. The humblest of us all.”

  “But it’s how she looks at Gavin that convinced me,” Callum continued.

  Gavin whipped his head toward Callum. He had to clear his throat before speaking. “And how is that?”

  Callum grinned. “Like a woman in love.”

  The men all sighed. And then Kerr said, “I think I may just cry a little.”

  Gavin picked up a coin from the desk and hurled it at Kerr’s head, but he caught it and held it up triumphantly. “Not only humble, but I have the best reflexes too—ow, that hurt, ye wee shite. That too. Jealous blackhearts, all of you. Ow.” Everyone had grabbed something round and hard to throw at Kerr.

  “Watch yourselves, lads,” Darach whispered. “You doona want to set him off. He may go quiet.”

  “I’ll go quiet on your arse,” Kerr replied, “and I’ll tell sweet Caitlin you hurt my feelings. Imagine the disappointment in her eyes when she finds out her husband was mean to her favorite brother-in-law.”

  “Your brains are addled,” Lachlan said. “Everyone knows I’m her favorite.”

  Gregor held up one finger, and they all quieted. “I am most definitely sweet Caitlin’s favorite.” Then he turned to Kerr, who was now rubbing at several red spots on his forehead. “What did Lewis tell you? That was some kind of code he sent you, aye?”

  “Aye. We ne’er hunted quail. While Gavin was facing off with his father, Lewis said he’d come back as soon as he could. He asked for passage for himself and several women and children.”

  “Women and children?” Gavin asked, then caught the coin that Kerr threw back at him.

  “Aye. Took me by surprise too.”

  “Who are they?” he asked.

  “I doona know. Maybe it has to do with the money he’s been skimming from the funds his father sends. Ask Deirdre. She might know.”

  “Nay. I doona want her to know Lewis might be coming in case something happens. She…cares for him.”

  “He cares for her too,” Gregor said, “but once he was assured of her safety, he didn’t seem too concerned about her return.”

  Gavin made an angry, dismissive sound in his throat. Lewis was her husband. He should have done everything in his power to get her back.

  Callum pointed at him. “And that is the look of a man in love. Lewis and Deirdre love each other, but they’re not in love. I’d say it’s more like a brother and sister, except her brother doesn’t seem to care for her either.”

  “Nay, he’s a nasty piece of shite, isn’t he?” Lachlan asked.

  “Aye,” they all agreed.

  Gavin fisted his hand around the coin. “She said he came to visit her once, and Lewis did something to make him leave the next day. She was grateful.”

  “Let’s hope Boyd dares to step on the battlefield when the time arrives. ’Tis always good to rid the Highlands of rats,” Gregor said.

  “Aye, let’s hope.” Gavin leaned back in his chair and sighed. He was tired suddenly and felt the need to sleep beside Deirdre. “If she stays here, I’ll petition Rome to annul their marriage. If we can prove adultery, we’ll have a good case. But it will still take years.”

/>   “If she stays? I thought that was settled,” Kerr said.

  “She says she wants to stay. But…”

  “But?”

  “She cares for her husband—Gah, I hate that word! She may decide to stay with him once everything settles down. They took a vow.”

  “She would ne’er leave Ewan,” Kerr said.

  “Nay, but she may still want to stay with Lewis. Visit him on occasion. Or go back to live with him when Ewan is fostered to one of you. We haven’t known each other long, although it feels like I’ve known her forever.”

  The men all nodded, as if they could relate—even Kerr. Thinking of Isobel, no doubt, although he had known her for most of her life.

  “I can relate. Somewhat,” Darach said. “Of course, I found out Caitlin was married at the same time the marriage was declared invalid. And I married her the next day.”

  “Deirdre and Lewis have been married seven years, and he’s not a bad man. She speaks fondly of him.”

  Silence fell. His brothers and Gregor felt his pain, but there was naught they could do to help him.

  “Have faith, Son,” Gregor finally said. “It’s what holds me to this life—that someday I will see my sweet Kellie and our bairns again.” He rose from his chair and stretched, then reached into his bag beside him. “I brought a bottle of my father’s uisge-beatha. I think we all deserve some of the good stuff after today. Let’s toast Deirdre and Gavin and pray for a quick resolution to their difficulties.”

  They found enough cups for all of them—from the desk, the mantel, and a side table—and soon raised their drinks in the air.

  “May true love find a way,” Gregor said simply.

  Eighteen

  Deirdre woke with a start, sitting up to find Gavin sitting on the bed next to her.

  “Shhh,” he whispered. “Doona wake Ewan.” He’d placed a candle on her bedside table, and she could see he still wore his plaid from earlier. She glanced at the shutters, but no light yet seeped around the edges. At least their meeting hadn’t run until morning.