A Very Highland Holiday

by Le Veque, Kathryn

  They’d both learned to play the lute when they were young, but he was the only one who’d continued to play. He told her about how he and Thea would combine their musical talents to entertain the clan, to which Sarah belted out in the most angelic voice he’d ever heard a ballad of winter and the spring that was to come.

  When they were willing to brave the cold, they pulled on their cloaks on the pretense of checking on the horses, but in reality, it was to check the weather.

  The crowd in the common area had slimmed now that the scones were gone. In the corner, an older man sung and played his lute. The brim of his hat pulled low, casting a shadow on his face. The two of them were very tempted to join him, but at that moment, Balthazar came barreling into the room, demanding the man change his Christmas tune to one of battle.

  Rather than brave the kitchens and more of Cook’s ladle flinging, they went out the front door, the cold of winter slapping against their cheeks, along with a gust that brought with it dustings of snow from the ground. They slammed the door shut to keep it from entering the tavern, though it was likely too late.

  The snow was easily above their ankles, but the lads had shoveled a path leading from the front door around the back of the tavern toward the stable.

  “Still coming down,” Thane mused.

  “Aye, but at least the sky is not only white with clouds. A bit of blue peeking through the white means we may yet get a reprieve.” The wind whipped against them, and Sarah tripped then clutched at his arm to keep from falling. And good thing, because right then, a massive icicle fell from the thatched roof, stabbing into the snow where she’d just been. Both of them leapt back, he as though to protect her and she because her life was flashing before her eyes.

  “We’ll need a good two or three days reprieve if we’re to make it back in decent time. Might have to stop along the way at another tavern or two.”

  “Additional adventures then.” She grinned up at him, excitement in the creases about her eyes. What had transpired between the two of them was almost enough to erase the reasons they’d got together to begin with. Almost.

  “Aye, but also more possibility of your brothers finding us,” he reminded her grimly.

  The light left her eyes then, and she seemed to remember that she’d been running from them suddenly. “Do ye think they’ve left yet?”

  Thane nodded. “They’d no’ wait too long to come after ye. And our tracks may yet be visible in the snow, though with the way it fell through the night, I’m hoping most were covered. At any rate, they’ll have lost us by the time they get to the road, given all the others who’ve traversed.”

  “But they would guess it was ye?” She glanced around nervously as if expecting to see her brothers leap out.

  “Does your clan have any other enemies?” That was a silly question, and he knew it.

  “Of course.”

  “Then maybe we have a chance yet.” He offered that as hope.

  Sarah shivered, and he took her hand, looping her arm in his and rubbing vigorously at the exposed skin of her fingers. They made their way to the stables and poked their heads inside when no lads were seen lurking about.

  The stable was long and smoky, with the telltale sounds of horse snuffling and stomping.

  “Destiny, we’ve come to greet ye,” Thane called out, and his horse stuck his head out from one of the stalls, letting out a hearty neigh.

  They made their way down until they reached him, observing a clean stall, a bucket of water and another filled with hay.

  “I see ye’re being properly spoiled.” Thane stroked his hand over his horse’s soft muzzle.

  “Why did ye name him Destiny?” Sarah asked.

  “I found him on the battlefield. Or rather, he found me.” He’d never told anyone this story before, but with Sarah, it came out easily. He would need to keep some of the details vague, so if anyone were listening in, they wouldn’t realize which side he fought on. He also kept to himself that Destiny’s previous master had been a dragoon, evident from the contents he found in the attached satchel, and the crest stamped into the saddle. Wasn’t it ironic that the horse of his enemy had saved his life?

  “This is going to be intriguing,” Sarah said, wiggling her brows.

  “The enemy was surrounding me, knocking me back. My own horse had already been massacred, and so I was on foot, in danger of joining my brethren in the beyond. Then from behind me comes this massive warhorse. He nuzzles me in the back as men advance on me, taking aim. I leapt up into the saddle, and he took off, with shots fired at us from behind. He saved my life, and the fact that we found each other on the field like that, well, it felt like Destiny.”

  Sarah leaned against him, her hand joining his in stroking the horse. “That is an incredible story. And the perfect name. I’m glad for my sake that he found ye.”

  Thane grinned. “He’s a good horse. And for that reason, he should be spoiled for the rest of his days.”

  Sarah leaned her head against Thane’s shoulder, so glad that he’d come to Campbell lands. Even if his intent had been to abduct her, which now seemed like a massive jest. He’d rescued her from a fate that could have been horrible. And to think she was now going to be linked to her dearest friend’s brother—a man of honor and integrity—she couldn’t have dreamed up a better scenario.

  They left the stable, agreeing to spend one more night at the tavern, and then hopefully be on their way the following morning.

  By the time they made it back to their chamber, the delicious stew they’d been smelling all day waited for them on the table, along with wine and thick brown bread. They ate with gusto, having worked up an appetite earlier in the day, and when their meal was complete, they made love again and again.

  When morning finally broke, a slim crack of light was seen through where the wall met the roof, and so they rose with tired eyes. Sarah prayed the weather had waned, and they could be on their way from this tavern of sorrow. And yet, she’d always remember it fondly for being the place where she’d given herself to Thane.

  “That sun is a good sign.” Thane climbed from the bed, giving her arse a gentle pat.

  Sarah giggled and rolled over. “Ye think we can leave?”

  “Aye, we can try.” He tugged back the covers, and she squealed at the cold blast of air.

  They dressed quickly and exited the chamber, skipping the porridge in favor of a hunk of bread with butter, and then before the sun had fully risen, they climbed onto Destiny’s back and took off at a trot down the road. Some of the snow had started to melt, and with the morning sun the twinkling white moors took on more of a glistening shine.

  Just as they had the night they escaped Campbell Castle, they stopped every few hours to rest Destiny and relieve themselves. They packed their canteen with snow to keep it full. No one seemed to be following them, and indeed they did not pass anyone of note on the road.

  In the distance, the clanging of kirk bells could be heard coming from a small village.

  “I think we need to make it official,” Thane said.

  “What’s that?” Sarah mused sleepily.

  “Our union. Would ye, Sarah Campbell, consent to being my wife?”

  She sat up a little straighter, nodding as she looked into his quite serious gaze. Though she’d agreed before, the fact that he asked her once more warmed her heart. “Every day for the rest of my life.”

  They rode into the village and to the kirk, where they found a priest more than willing to wed them for a small fortune.

  “I dinna have a ring for ye.” Thane frowned as they stood on the stairs out front of the kirk.

  “Wait,” she said. “I have one.”

  Sarah pulled the small box from her satchel, revealing the ring that had once been her mother’s. The rubies glistened in the sunlight. “My ma gave me this. ’Twas hers.”

  “’Tis perfect, just like ye.”

  Sarah’s face heated at his words. He made her feel so special. She passed the jewelry b
ox to Thane, and when it came time to place the ring on her finger, he did so slowly, eyes locked on hers. So much emotion was conveyed there, so much trust, and anticipation.

  They were in this together. Them against the injustices of the world.

  She couldn’t help but smile with joy, for even though destiny had brought them together, it would seem the two of them had forged their own path from there on.

  When the priest said the groom could kiss his bride, Sarah didn’t wait. She tossed herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his, startling the priest and their witnesses by her boldness. But Thane was not surprised at all. By the way he wrapped his arms around her, she knew he relished her.

  “That’s my lass,” Thane said with a chuckle.

  They left the kirk and took a room in the village tavern. Regaled by singing and festive games, which they joined in this time, not feeling threatened or haunted, but amid company they could revel in. They feasted on roasted pheasant and stewed turnips in a thick brown sauce that was perfect for dipping bread into. And that night, when Thane made love to her, Sarah felt a deep emotion for him all the way to her soul…

  Love. Wholly and passionately. Everything tingled inside and out, and not just from his touch, but his gaze, his presence, the idea of a future together.

  As they lay in the dark, fingers and legs entwined, their breaths in sync, she whispered, “I love ye.”

  Thane rolled toward her, tugging her close against him. “I love ye, too, lass. I canna believe that I set out to steal ye, and instead, ye’ve stolen my heart.”

  Epilogue

  Several months later…

  The prisoners arrived just before sunset, shackled on top of their mounts, shackled and gagged, so no one had to hear them speak.

  “They are here,” Sarah said quietly. Her eyes were riveted on the two men who’d been willing to sell her. The two men who had been responsible for Thane’s sister’s death.

  “We dinna have to go through with this.” Thane tucked his arm around her shoulders. She was beautiful in winter, but even more so in spring. Especially with his bairn rounding out her belly. Sarah had taken to the Shaw clan as if she’d been a member all along. They loved her dearly, and she loved them. “There is always an execution or exile. I can put them on a ship to the Americas.”

  She shook her head. “I canna have the guilt of their deaths on my conscience or the guilt for it being on yours. Nor do I want to unleash them on anyone else.”

  Thane cupped her chin, brushed his lips over hers. “I will do whatever ye want, my love.”

  “Your plans for their imprisonment are perfect. Perhaps in time, they will be reformed and can be set free. But for now, they will be punished.” Sarah wrapped her arms around his middle and tucked her body close to his. “Thank ye for all ye’ve done.”

  “I couldna have done it without ye.” And that was the truth. They’d worked as a team from Christmas Eve until now, securing the safety of the Campbell clan, and the men responsible for Thea’s death, and it had been glorious. “Both our clans will thrive from here on out.”

  Hand in hand, they met Angus Campbell, the new Campbell laird, outside Tordarroch gates, eyeing Edward and Ellyson, who glared down at them.

  “Thank ye, Angus.” Sarah embraced her uncle. “The clan will be in excellent hands with ye.”

  “Nay lass, thank ye, and your husband.” Her uncle glanced down at her rounded belly. “And I see we may yet have an heir to Jon’s seat growing in your womb.”

  Sarah pressed her hand over her middle. “We would be honored for our child to have such a choice.”

  “Your father would want that.”

  Angus nodded to Thane and reached out his hand, grasping Thane’s arm and shaking it. “We owe ye a great debt.”

  “Ye owe me nothing, I did my duty.” And he meant it.

  Sarah, Thane and Angus made a deal, surreptitiously. A coup, really. With Thane and Sarah’s assistance, Angus had been able to take over his clan. A task which had not been too hard, given how everyone had felt about Edward and Ellyson’s rule. Not to mention they did not want a war on their head, which Thane might have exaggerated slightly, with the help of his Chattan clan confederate.

  “Ye’ll make an excellent leader,” Sarah said. “My da and Jon would be so proud of ye.”

  Angus was Sarah’s uncle, the much younger brother of her father, and the natural and best choice for the clan’s new rule. He’d graciously accepted the appointment after a secret vote by the elders. Part of the plan was that Edward and Ellyson would be brought to Shaw lands, where they would be held prisoner for the remainder of their days, unless it was deemed safe for them to be let out. Sarah did not want to execute her brothers, though they deserved it. And Thane wanted to make her happy. He supposed death in this case would not make right what had been done in the past. Thea wasn’t coming back. But at least they could honor her memory every day in having freed the Campbells from the rotten brothers’ rule.

  “Will ye join us for supper, Uncle?” Sarah asked.

  “Gladly.” Angus offered Sarah his arm, and they walked into Tordarroch ahead of Thane, who waited behind to escort his prisoners to their new quarters.

  When Sarah was out of earshot, Thane turned on the two bastard brothers. “I’m going to make your lives a living hell, lads. Ye took my sister and possibly her child from this world without a care. My wife has seen fit to let ye live because she is a merciful and good woman. But that does no’ mean ye get to live free and well.”

  Thane dragged the shackled men to the dungeon of Tordarroch and grinned widely. In the end, he’d gotten more than he bargained for, retribution, love and a bigger family. Glancing down at the two men who glared fire and hate at him, Thane said, “Welcome home. I like to call this the Chamber of Sorrow.”

  * THE END *

  About Eliza Knight

  Eliza Knight is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty sizzling historical romance and erotic romance. Under the name E. Knight, she pens rip-your-heart-out historical fiction. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses and two very naughty puppies.

  For a book list, visit Eliza at www.elizaknight.com or her historical blog History Undressed: www.historyundressed.com. Sign up for her newsletter to get news about books, events, contests and sneak peaks!

  Follow Eliza on:

  Facebook: facebook.com/elizaknightfiction

  BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/eliza-knight

  Instagram: @elizaknightfiction

  Twitter: @ElizaKnight

  Goodreads: goodreads.com/elizaknight