The Bride Chooses a Highlander

by Adrienne Basso

  “I thank ye heartily fer yer prayers. They are both needed and appreciated.” Lachlan blocked Aiden’s path, forcing his brother to face him. “I can remember when the brotherly affection between us ran deep and true. I would like fer it to once again be that way.”

  “We were lads,” Aiden countered. “Much has changed.”

  Lachlan could decipher nothing in Aiden’s words or tone to let him know if that bothered his brother. “We must stand together against our enemies or most assuredly we shall be defeated,” Lachlan insisted.

  “I’m loyal to the clan,” Aiden insisted hotly.

  “Aye, but not to yer laird,” Lachlan said softly.

  Aiden lifted his chin sharply. “Harsh words, Brother.”

  “Harsh truths.”

  Lachlan waited, hoping, yet not really expecting, a denial.

  Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll not follow ye blindly, if that is what ye’re asking of me.”

  “Aye, ye’ve shown me proof of that. I specifically ordered ye to stay away from the McKennas and instead ye brought me one.”

  Aiden pulled in a mocking breath. “Ye seem rather pleased with her.”

  Lachlan nearly growled as his anger spiked. His brother had spoken aloud the truth that Lachlan had been trying so hard not to acknowledge. He was very attracted to Katherine and frustrated because he knew there could never be anything of substance between them.

  “What have ye discovered about Fraser’s attack yesterday?” Lachlan asked, deftly shifting the conversation.

  Aiden’s eyes widened but a fraction, yet Lachlan swore a look of guilt momentarily darkened his brother’s face. “I have unearthed some promising leads, but no definitive answers as of yet,” Aiden hedged.

  Lachlan fought to contain his disappointment. “Then, in the interest of family harmony, I’ll not press ye fer the name of the woman who betrayed us.”

  There was no sense of satisfaction when he saw the glint of shock in Aiden’s eyes. Only further disappointment that his brother had deliberately withheld the truth.

  “Ye know?” Aiden croaked.

  “I know.” Lachlan sighed. “Secrets are impossible to keep, especially from the laird. ’Twas easy to get Mother’s maid, Catrina, to confess that her husband had brought a message to Fraser. Though pressed, Catrina refused to admit that her mistress had ordered her to do it, not even when I threatened to have her whipped.”

  “Ye’d have a lass punished so severely?”

  “’Tis my right.”

  Aiden gave him a long, disgusted look. “Christ’s blood, Lachlan, have ye no mercy in yer soul? The lass was just doing as she was bid.”

  “I said I threatened,” Lachlan clarified. “No matter what ye may think of me, I can assure ye that I dinnae brutalize women or children. I am sworn to protect them.”

  Aiden scrubbed his hand vigorously across his brow. “Mother thought she was helping our cause by placating the Frasers. She meant no harm to ye or Lady Katherine. ’Twas a mistake that has brought her a great deal of anguish and guilt.”

  “Aye, so Mother has said.”

  “Ye’ve spoken with her about this?” Aiden asked, frowning when Lachlan nodded. “Do ye believe her regret is sincere?”

  “Should I?”

  Aiden didn’t bother to hide his skepticism. “Ye’d trust my word on this matter?”

  “I would. Even though we both know I should not.” Lachlan clasped Aiden’s arm. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to rise in the world, Brother, but ye willnae do it at my expense.

  “I want the MacTavish to be known as a respected, honorable clan. I want our people to have enough to eat, clothes that are not threadbare, land to live on that is fertile and provides fer us all. We need to be able to fend off our enemies, keep our people safe and secure, and hold what we own.

  “I’m not so arrogant that I believe I’m the only one qualified to make decisions fer the clan. But if our opinions differ, then my word is law. I will be obeyed. If ye cannae respect that, if ye cannae live with it, then ye had best take yer leave.”

  Lachlan spoke with force and command. If his brother did not yield to his authority and continued to openly defy him, Lachlan would have no choice but to banish him. Aiden remained silent and the strain between them surged as neither man spoke nor looked away.

  “Ye must do as ye see fit,” Aiden finally replied. “And so must I.”

  Then with a curt nod Aiden turned and walked away.

  Chapter Twelve

  The alarm bell sounded soon after the great hall had been cleared from the morning meal. Katherine swallowed her final bite of porridge and exchanged an anxious glance with the maid who had been brushing the few bits of food from the tables. The young girl’s eyes widened and she dropped her rag. Wordlessly, the two women ran outside.

  The courtyard was in complete disarray. Men were shouting, women screaming; everyone seemed to be running in a different direction. Katherine had never seen the like. McKenna Castle was a fortress, protected by great numbers of Highlanders known for their fighting skill. None had ever been so bold as to advance upon her father’s holdings—not even the English.

  Katherine waited anxiously for the portcullis to drop and the gates to shut, but instead they opened wider. ’Twas then she realized that the villagers would be at the mercy of the attackers, exposed without any protection. She had heard chilling tales of attacks where villages were burned and the innocent killed. Their best chance for survival lay within the walls of the keep.

  If they could reach it in time.

  Amidst all the chaos, Katherine spied Lachlan. He appeared calm, ordering the warriors who surrounded him with words and gestures. They hurried to do his bidding, arming themselves with axes, bows, maces, and swords and then positioning themselves strategically on the parapets and at posts throughout the courtyard.

  The villagers began pouring into the bailey, carrying children and herding livestock, packs of their belongings hastily thrown on their backs. She could see the frantic fear in their eyes as they huddled together, uncertainty punctuating their movements.

  One of the soldiers ordered them into the great hall. En masse they moved. Katherine was swept up in the tide and found herself being propelled along with them. Yet, just as she reached the doorway, Katherine caught a glimpse of Lady Morag bursting through the crowd.

  The older woman grabbed a young soldier’s arm to garner his attention. “Is it the Frasers?” Katherine heard her ask.

  “They are too far away to see their colors, milady. Our lookout spied a cloud of dust on the distant horizon. We know only that there are a fair number of men, riding hard. They will be upon us soon.”

  “Too many of our people are still outside the walls,” Lady Morag exclaimed. “We must see to them.”

  “I am ordered to prepare the archers, milady,” the soldier answered, lowering his gaze. “I cannae help.”

  Lady Morag nodded in understanding and Katherine watched in astonishment as the older woman ran through the bailey and out the gates. Giving the matter little thought, Katherine charged after her. ’Twas clear that the other men were also too busy to help—thus the women must do their part.

  “Katherine!”

  She heard Lachlan shout her name, but she ignored him, suspecting he would forbid her to leave. She did not wish to openly defy him if he ordered her to the great hall with the others. Yet she could not cower in safety when she was fully able to aid those in such desperate need.

  Following on Lady Morag’s heels, Katherine ran through the gates into the winding lane, heading for the cottages at the farthest edge of the village. There she found a mother in tears as she struggled to carry her four young bairns.

  “Bless ye,” the woman sobbed, when Katherine stopped.

  She scooped a toddler under one arm and accepted the babe who was gratefully thrust at her in the other. The poor mite was shrieking in her ear, but there was no time to try to soothe him. Together, the two women fled toward t
he keep, their breaths coming in rapid pants as they ran.

  Katherine handed her precious burdens off to a lad standing a few feet from the gate, then turned and ran back. She passed Lady Morag, who was holding the hands of two crying children, pulling them along so quickly their feet skipped off the ground. Behind them a man carrying a goat and a woman balancing a large basket in her arms urged them to move faster, panic evident in their voices.

  Katherine noticed there were fewer people about as she sprinted through the lanes. She helped five more women and their children and one very pregnant lass to safety and returned once more to the nearly empty village.

  Suddenly, the alarm bell rang again, causing her heart to jump in fear. The riders must be getting closer! She was preparing to turn back when a noise drew her attention. She ran to the back of the cottage and discovered an elderly couple trying to coax a thin, sickly looking cow from its pen. The animal’s eyes were round with distress as it loudly protested their prodding.

  “Ye must get to the keep,” she cried. “There’s no time to waste.”

  “If they steal our cow we’ll have nothing,” the old man argued, wincing as he tried unsuccessfully to move the beast.

  “There’s no time,” Katherine protested.

  “If we lose her, we’ll starve,” the old man insisted, his face flushed with his failed exertions.

  “Go!” she ordered, deciding it was useless to waste any more time arguing. “I’ll see to the animal.”

  The old man’s brow curled in objection, but his wife tugged urgently on his arm. Reluctantly, he handed Katherine the switch. His wife dipped a hasty curtsy, caught her husband’s hand, and the two hurried away.

  For a moment, Katherine was flummoxed as she stared at the reluctant animal. She knew little about livestock—except for horses—but she knew the old man had spoken the truth. The couple would suffer mightily without this beast. She had to at least try to bring it to safety.

  Seeing that the couple’s method of switching the cow from behind had failed, Katherine threw the stick away and reached for a length of rope. She hastily tied it around the cow’s neck and attempted to lead it from the pen.

  The balking animal refused to budge. Katherine wound the rope tightly around her arm and pulled, leaning so far back her slippers dug into the hard dirt. But the cow planted its feet, too, let out a mournful sound, and wouldn’t move.

  Growling in frustration, Katherine tried again, achieving the same result. She considered abandoning the beast and somehow compensating the couple for the loss, yet knew that all possible sources of food would be needed if whoever was approaching laid siege to the keep.

  Renewing her efforts, Katherine looped the rope around her arm and began tugging with all her strength. She swayed off balance, leaning to the right, and nearly tumbled to the ground when amazingly, the animal took a step. Only a single step, but it was progress.

  “Aye, now ye understand,” she said.

  Encouraged, Katherine repeated the motion, this time leaning to the left, and the cow again took a step. She continued to alternate the lead until she managed to get the beast to move at a steady pace.

  “Bless ye, milady, ye’ve done it!” the old man cried when Katherine reached the gate. With a relieved, exhausted smile, she handed off the rope and turned to go back into the village. ’Twas then she realized that she and the cow were the last ones to reach safety.

  “Katherine!”

  She lifted her head and met Lachlan’s furious gaze. He was still on the ramparts with his men, preparing for their defense. Though she understood the reason for his anger, she felt a stab of disappointment over his lack of understanding. Did he believe her to be so unfeeling that she would sit idly in safety when she was fully able to help?

  A soldier approached him and Lachlan turned away. Mouth tightening, Katherine took advantage of his distraction and followed the remaining villagers into the great hall. She accepted the tankard of ale thrust into her hand. Her thirst was so strong she drank it all at once, managing to ignore the constant burn of the bitter brew as she swallowed.

  “Lady Katherine.”

  She spun around, nearly choking on the last of her drink. Aiden stood before her, his expression grim.

  “What has happened?” she asked nervously, wiping her wet mouth with the back of her sleeve.

  “My brother commands yer presence on the ramparts.”

  She tried to study his face, uncertain what to make of the request. However, Aiden turned away without waiting for her reply, clearly expecting her to follow. She watched his long, steady strides and for an instant felt shaken and afraid.

  Was it the Frasers coming to exact revenge? Or coming for her? And what would Lachlan do? The warrior in him would want to fight. Yet given the poor condition of the keep’s defenses and the relatively small number of soldiers at his side, the odds of victory would be against him.

  Lachlan’s first duty was to his clan—would he be forced to give her over in order to save his people?

  Katherine shuddered. He had demonstrated that he was the sort of man who would not surrender easily. Yet could he in truth put so many innocents in such grave danger for her?

  Katherine felt her cheeks burn as she climbed the steps. When she reached Lachlan’s side, she followed his gaze and looked to the eastern horizon. Squinting, she lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the sun and scanned the long column of men riding hard toward them, counting at least seventy.

  “They fly the McKenna banner,” Lachlan observed.

  “Aye!” Katherine replied excitedly, her heart accelerating its rhythm as she recognized the confident warrior leading the men. “’Tis my younger brother, Graham, in the lead.”

  “Why does he come with so many soldiers?”

  “I assume that he is searching fer me and expects a battle to win my freedom.” She could feel Lachlan’s eyes upon her, watching her intently, as though assessing her thoughts. “Fear not. Once he sees that I am unharmed, Graham will act reasonably.”

  Lachlan grunted in reply. Katherine leaned forward, hoping to recognize some of the other riders. Lachlan placed a restraining hand on her arm. “Be careful. The last thing we need is fer ye to go tumbling over the wall.”

  She nodded, keeping her eyes on the column of men. She smiled when she saw two of her father’s guardsmen, but her delight was short-lived when the features of another man became clear.

  Nay! It cannae be!

  Lachlan somehow sensed her distress and moved protectively closer. “Whatever ye aren’t saying is causing me great concern, Katherine,” he said softly, his expression quizzical.

  For an instant, words failed her. She shivered with apprehension, then deliberately calmed her nerves. “Sir Hamish Drummond rides at my brother’s side,” she said.

  “Yer betrothed?”

  “Aye.” Katherine swallowed, then shook her head vigorously. “Nay. No longer. He knows that I willnae marry him. I dinnae know why he has come.”

  Lachlan scoffed. “I do. Ye’ve placed too little value on yerself, Katherine. If ye were my intended, I’d not let ye get away from me so easily.”

  He was close enough that his warm breath feathered her cheek, causing a fluttering of excitement in her breast. Tentatively, she looked up into his eyes. They shone like fire and she felt her heart jump anew at his scrutiny.

  There was something strangely hypnotic about Lachlan’s stare, for it seemed to be reaching inside her to a deep, secret, hidden place. A place that only he could find.

  The sound of hoofbeats broke the spell. Katherine turned away, once again looking beyond the wall. The McKenna contingent had arrived. Two men separated from the rest and rode across the moat bridge. Katherine didn’t have to squint to identify them—’twas her brother and Hamish.

  “I am Sir Graham McKenna. My sister, Lady Katherine, stands at yer side,” he shouted with a menacing scowl. “I demand that ye release her at once.”

  “I’m not a captive, Graham,”
Katherine called out.

  Her reply seemed to bewilder her brother. He looked hesitantly back at his men, most of whom still held their weapons aloft.

  “I am Lachlan MacTavish, laird of my clan. There is much to tell, but I’ll only open my gates fer ye, Sir Graham,” Lachlan yelled. Despite its volume, his voice was calm, authoritative, but Katherine sensed the tension in him.

  Graham’s scowl deepened as he and Hamish exchanged a silent look of communication. The two men pointedly lowered their swords. Graham signaled one of his men to come forward. He and Hamish then made a great show of relinquishing their swords to the fellow.

  “As a sign of good faith we two shall enter without our weapons,” Graham conceded.

  The MacTavish retainers on the wall went silent as they awaited their laird’s decision. After a moment of contemplation, Lachlan spoke.

  “Open the gate. Only these two men shall be allowed entrance.”

  Katherine lifted her skirts and started scampering down the stone steps. Lachlan grasped her elbow and drew her back.

  “Nay, we’ll wait until they have passed through the portcullis and dismounted before entering the bailey,” Lachlan said.

  His firm expression told her it would be most unwise to question his command. In truth, she did not mind the delay. She knew she should be feeling joy and relief at the sight of her brother’s familiar face and instead her stomach was twisting in knots.

  It took a few minutes for the men to arrive in the courtyard. Once they were off their horses, Lachlan and Katherine went to join them. As they gained the courtyard, she forced a smile to her lips. Graham returned it with a hard stare and she nearly stumbled when she felt the weight of his disapproval.

  Hamish’s eyes locked with hers and he began to make his way toward her. Panicked, Katherine veered away.

  “Stay beside me,” Lachlan commanded.

  Katherine obeyed without hesitation, taking comfort from the calm power emanating from him. Hamish extended his arms as he drew closer.