Cam nodded. It was easy to understand, even if he didn’t agree. “As ye said, we have time.”
Though he wasn’t sure if his words were true. Not for Mari, at any rate. Even now, Ridley could be heading for Dunardry.
Cam had never wanted to take a wife or have a family for fear he’d leave them early if he was struck down in battle. In all that time, he’d not considered the opposite could be the case—that his wife could be taken from him.
He’d be alone again, but with a broken heart…just like Bryce.
He couldn’t ever let that happen.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Mari came down to the hall in the morning to find four men asleep in chairs by the hearth. Well, two of them were not men yet, but they were on their way. Cam and Lachlan dozed, each with a twin sleeping in his arms.
Seeing Cam with Lachlan’s boy brought back the concerns and wishes she’d been feeling the night before. How she longed to see Cameron holding their own child while they slept peacefully.
But Mari didn’t think it could ever happen. She could be carrying his child this very moment, so that part of the dream was possible. What she doubted was her ability to give her family any kind of peace.
Safety and tranquility were the things she’d longed for over the years. But in securing her safety, she’d sentenced herself to being hunted down and put to death. Which in turn put her entire family in danger.
It seemed the worst kind of irony.
Cam’s eyes opened, and he smiled, scattering her worries for the time being. When he looked at her like that, she couldn’t think. Could barely breathe.
“Good morning, wife,” he said quietly, holding out a hand toward her. The other hand held the sleeping twin.
He pulled her closer, and she sat on his free knee.
“One can almost think them angels while they sleep,” he teased.
“They are angels.” She picked up the boy’s hand as Cam made a sound of disagreement. She laughed and relented. “Which means they are normal, active little boys.”
“Demons, in other words.” Cam brushed the black hair away from the child’s forehead and placed a kiss there. “I would give my life for them without a thought, and they are not even mine. I canna imagine what it would feel like, the bond with a child of our own.”
“I imagine it would be much the same. Maybe more intense. You would protect them body and soul from anything that threatened.”
Mari couldn’t help but think her presence was the biggest threat to these boys, her husband, and her clan. How much time did she have before she’d need to make a fateful decision?
Years? Days? Mere hours? Before a messenger delivered the grim news that Sir Ridley was there with orders from King Charles to take her back to England…
“You were smiling, and now it’s gone. What’s amiss?” Cam asked.
She shook her head and let out a breath. “Nothing. Nothing to worry about now.”
It was true they didn’t need to find a solution that instant. They could enjoy a quiet moment with their nephews.
Someday soon, however, they would need to make a plan. To prepare for the worst.
For now, she was content to take some breakfast to her sister and help with the new babe. She gave her husband a kiss and rose.
From the window in her sister’s room an hour later, she watched him running drills below with his men. A smile full of pride pulled at her lips. He moved so gracefully, and yet she knew well the man was lethal. Like the flames of a fire that could draw you in by their mesmerizing colors but burn you with that same beauty.
“You may want to wipe the drool from your chin before you get a spot on your dress,” Kenna said from her place on the bed.
Mari didn’t pretend she wasn’t in danger of such a thing. But fortunately not at the moment. She went to sit on the edge of the bed while her sister nursed wee Cameron.
Kenna wiped away wetness from her cheeks, but Mari knew they were happy tears. She’d come to recognize them in the past month.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more than I have on this day. Did you ever think we’d be so happy?” Kenna asked, her eyes brimming over with it.
“Our father didn’t give us a great example of happiness. But I remember Mama. She was happy despite being married to Papa. Perhaps Father was happy with her and I don’t recall. Still, our home was nothing like here.” Mari fell quiet as she remembered the worries that were never far from her thoughts.
“What is it?” Kenna asked.
But Mari refused to ruin the perfect moment. She pasted a fierce smile on her face and said, “Nothing is wrong. How could it be when we are celebrating this precious new life?”
Her enthusiasm must have shown false, for Kenna reached out to touch her hand. “You are safe here. No one can take you from us.”
Mari wanted to believe her fervent words, but the truth of the matter was that the king of England did have that power. And no one could refuse the king.
…
Cam knew something was amiss with his wife. She’d been tired after staying up with Kenna, but three days later, Mari still wasn’t herself.
When he asked, she assured him she was fine with a brittle smile he thought might crack into pieces before him. He’d hoped it was fatigue. But he could guess the true cause of her distress.
She was worrying.
He understood. He was worried, too. It was only natural. With each day they grew closer, but there was a good chance that everything they’d built together could come to a sudden stop and be ripped away.
Lach had reached out to a few people to see if something could be done legally to protect Mari. In the meantime, Cam had plotted out three possible escape routes from the MacKinlay lands. In the next few weeks, he rode them at night to make sure he knew the way in the cover of darkness. He rode during the day, as well, looking for places to hide along the way so as not to be discovered.
His planning missions kept him away from their bed until well after Mari was asleep. He missed her. He missed her genuine smile. She was lovely when she smiled. But her smiles had been all but absent lately.
He hoped someday he’d be able to give her a reason to smile again, and this time for good.
…
When Mari woke one morning, she found Cam sitting on the edge of the bed gazing down at her. In the past weeks he’d been gone when she woke, off on some secret mission outside the castle. He hadn’t invited her to ride with him, and he’d been gone well into the night.
He hadn’t made love to her, either, and a small, silly part of her worried he’d found company in the bed of another woman. But in truth, she knew him better than that. He was an honorable man. Far more honorable than the supposed proper gentleman she’d been married to before.
She took a good look at her husband sitting there in his best shirt and plaid, with an unreadable look about him. His hair was combed back neatly instead of in the wavy locks he normally wore.
“What is it?” she asked, sitting up.
“Will you come for a ride with me this morning?” he asked, not meeting her eyes.
In the past, his expression might have made her nervous. But she had come to know this man and knew she was safe with him. He’d sooner cut off his own arm with a dull blade than cause her a moment of pain.
Cam was safe for her body, but not necessarily for her heart. In truth, her heart was engaged in a full-scale battle. On the one hand, she was trying her best to keep her distance from him, to be ready to run at the first sign of trouble. On the other, she yearned for the closeness they had briefly shared when they became lovers.
There hadn’t been any sign of Ridley, but she remained vigilant.
For this day, though, she wanted to spend it with her husband, being happy while she still could.
“Of course,” she said with a real
smile.
She got dressed quickly, the sooner to be on their way in the sunshine. When she was ready, she looped her arm through his, and he led them straight to the stables in silence.
That made her uneasy. Her husband was many things, but silent wasn’t usually one of them. Any time they walked together, he was quick to tell her a story of the place they visited. Something that had happened there when he was a boy, a person or animal he’d encountered.
But now he was uncommonly quiet.
It was a puzzle and was made more so when they headed directly for the forest. After several minutes, he stopped and slid down from his horse, then helped her down. There was a blanket tied to his saddle, but he made no move to get it.
Glancing around, she recognized the same woods she’d been in when the dogs had come after her. Her heart pounded at the memory.
That day she’d run for her life through these trees and bushes, not sure where to go to escape. When she broke free of the forest and saw Cam in the field, she’d run toward him, desperate for help. She hadn’t even considered he might turn her over to the men chasing her. She hadn’t thought for a moment that he would not protect her.
She’d instinctively known him on that day.
And she still knew him today. He was her faithful protector.
Without preamble, he showed her where to hide if she needed to, how to cross from the field without being detected, and where he’d hidden supplies in case she wasn’t able to take anything with her if she had to flee.
“If we’re not together, you’ll need to go alone. The rise there”—he pointed—“that’s where we’ll meet up. Wait for me and I’ll join you as soon as possible.”
Mari nodded, but she knew when the time came she wouldn’t wait for Cam to meet her. She wouldn’t put him in danger by helping her.
He’d done enough for her already.
Chapter Twenty-Four
With his sword raised and sweat on his brow, Cam smiled, ready to beat Lach. They were only sparring, but Cam never missed an opportunity to let his cousin know he was the weaker MacKinlay. Victory was interrupted by a lad tearing into the bailey with a message.
“McCurdys are raiding our cattle along the west border,” the boy cried out, breathless.
Lach lowered his sword and headed for the keep. “Let’s go.”
The call went out, and everyone at the castle was prompted into action. This was not new. It was the normal way his people reacted when intruders invaded their lands with the intention of stealing from their clan.
But this was the first time while collecting his armor he was met by his wife.
“How can I help?” she asked, standing back out of the way as he filled his strap with daggers and grabbed up his ax.
“Can you get my extra flask?” He nodded to where it hung and she hurried to collect it as he affixed the rest of his weapons.
“I’ll see you out,” she offered when he hesitated by the door. She stayed right behind him as he rushed to the stables to mount up. “Cam?” Her voice was quiet in the hustle and clanking of men getting suited up to leave.
He turned and saw the worry and fear in her eyes. He knew what she would say next, before her mouth opened.
“Promise you’ll come back.”
It was unfair for him to make such a promise. These things were out of his control. But it was also unfair of her to ask him to make it, so he nodded and kissed her hard and quick before pulling himself up on his horse.
“I’ll see ye soon, wife.” With that he tore out of the gate to catch up with his men.
He moved to the head of the line with Lach at his side as they strategized and planned for a successful stop to the raid. A ridge on the east side of the field would give them the advantage of sight, but the McCurdys would see them coming before they could do any damage. And if they’d already fled with the cattle, his men would need to give chase. Who knew how far they may have gotten.
There was always a risk, but Cam knew the McCurdys were short on coin so they couldn’t pay for weapons. And their warriors had been reduced in previous battles. This incursion would be an excellent opportunity to eliminate even more of their army. If the MacKinlays made a good showing today, they would be better positioned to take over Baehaven Castle and the whole McCurdy clan.
Cam held his reins tighter in anticipation. He was always the first into a skirmish. It was his duty as war chief. But this time he was also a husband. He’d never had to be both.
Going with his warrior instincts, he did his best to forget about what awaited him at home for the time being. It was not good to be distracted when facing the enemy.
He let out the war cry and descended on the McCurdys spread below them on the field. For a moment he hoped they’d retreat so he’d not need to fight at all. And not risk breaking his promise to Mari.
But the damned McCurdys stood their ground to fight.
And they fought hard.
Cam had taken down six on his own when he saw Liam struggling with two warriors. The boy had only returned the day before from his task of taking the Stewart lass back to her home. He was a good fighter, but his age didn’t give him the strength needed to fight off two grown men, and he was most likely still tired from his travels.
Hurrying to offer the support of his blade, Cam slid from his horse and spotted an older man to his left. Cam raised his sword to take him down and was struck hard from behind. The shock of the blow stilled the force of his movement.
The old man gave him a toothless grin as his blade arched across Cam’s chest. Vengeance fueled a burst of energy, and he thrust his sword forward to impale the man and wipe the ugly smile from his face. Cam didn’t want that to be the last thing he saw in life.
Closing his eyes, he pictured his wife. The kind smile she offered when she noticed him across the bailey or the hall. The trusting look she gave him when she was close to finding her pleasure in their bed.
He dropped to the soil, glad that he’d die on his own clan’s lands.
He’d leave Mari a widow, just as he’d expected.
As darkness came for him, he truly wished he’d been wrong about that.
…
Mari stood at the battlements next to Kenna as the men approached. At first they were too far away to distinguish individuals, but as they came into sight, Mari checked the men, knowing Cam would be the tallest of them. He sat his horse nearly a head taller than the other men.
She didn’t see him.
Scanning the line again, she waited. There were still more warriors cresting the hill, and while Cam’s place as war chief was at the front, leading his men, it was possible he’d trailed behind to speak to someone.
That excuse was quickly brushed aside as they approached the gate. There was no way a war chief wouldn’t enter the castle with his flags flying, if he were able.
“Cam,” she whispered fearfully. “Oh, God.”
Kenna said something, but Mari was already running for the stairs and down to the bailey. She’d just cleared the gates when the first men rode in looking battle-weary but happy.
The crowd that had gathered for their return cheered as Lachlan made the announcement of their victory. That was all well and good, but she still hadn’t set eyes on her husband.
“Brother?” she called to get Lachlan’s attention.
He frowned and slid down from his horse, patting a few backs as he fought his way through the growing crowd to get to her.
“Where is he?” she asked, her voice sounding so small she wondered how he’d heard her with all the noise around them.
“He’s sure to be fine. He’s coming along in the wagon now. He was injured. It’s made him cranky, but he’ll be all right. We’ll have Kenna and Abagail take a look at him as soon as he’s brought in.”
Mari twisted her fingers together as she nervously waited fo
r the wagon to drive into the bailey. She didn’t even wait for it to stop before she climbed up into the back. There were two men bouncing along. One man was staring up at the sky in death.
The other, thank God, was her husband.
“Help me get him inside,” she ordered as if she were still a duchess at Blackley House in London. Here at Dunardry she had no authority, but the men listened anyway. They hurried to take Cam into the keep and straight up to their room.
He still hadn’t spoken or so much as moaned. His eyes were closed, and the gray color of his skin startled her.
“Cam?” She settled by his side and placed her hand on his cool cheek. “Husband?”
Then she moved his ratty plaid away and saw blood covering his chest. His shirt was soaked with it.
“Kenna!” she screamed, earning a slight wince from Cam. “Cam? Please hang on. Kenna will help.” Leaving him alone in their room and sprinting to the door, she nearly ran into Kenna and Abagail. “Help him, please.”
“Light the fire and get a pot of water to boil,” Abagail ordered.
Mari was grateful to have something useful to do and turned to her task.
“Cam, can you hear me?” Kenna said, and Mari paused to see if her husband responded. A slight grunt from the bed nearly made her drop the pot. She let out a breath in relief.
She knew he was far from fine, but he had responded. There was hope.
Abagail cut off Cam’s shirt in one quick move and hummed in disapproval, only glancing at the gash before looking away.
Mari’s hands trembled as she bent to start a fire. It took a few tries, but soon there was a blaze glowing in the fireplace, and she placed the pot over it to boil. She left the room briefly to gather linens, then started ripping them into strips for bandages.
When she returned, she stayed off in a corner, out of the way. She told herself she kept back so the others could help him, but in truth she was afraid to get too close. Afraid he wouldn’t make it. She couldn’t stand to see him like this, for she was too much a coward. She’d come to need this man for much more than his protection.
Her Accidental Highlander Husband (MacKinlay Clan) Page 16