The Devil's Laird

by Brenda Jernigan

  Siena frowned at him. “Of course, I can ride.” It was one of the few things she’d taken pleasure in doing back home. Roderick raised a brow in question. The man seemed to have little faith in her abilities, and she wondered if the icy air wasn’t hitting him in the face like it was hers. He acted like it was a mild summer’s day and they were going for a ride in the country.

  Roderick turned and led the way out of the castle. They cantered down the road until they came to a cave carved into a huge dirt mound. No one would ever guess that it was anything but a hill the way they had disguised it. The entrance had loose brush that looked like bushes in front of the opening.

  Roderick dismounted and pulled the brush out of the way and sat them to the left of the opening. Next, he helped Siena dismount. They led their horses into the mouth of the cave, so they would not be out in the stormy weather. There was plenty of room for them and there was straw on the ground indicating this was where animals were kept.

  “This is a most unusual cave,” Siena commented as she unwrapped the plaid and shook off the snow. She watched Roderick strike a flint. He held it to one of the torches until it burned bright orange. Next, he lit the other four torches that were in metal brackets along the wall.

  “We made the cave ourselves. As ye can see, it is well supported with timbers and supplies for anyone who would have to stay here. He grabbed one of the torches and lit the pile of wood that was already stacked in a stone circle located in the middle of the cave. She watched the white smoke spiral up and out an opening that had been made in the roof so that the cave wouldn’t become smoky.

  “The pit is for warmth?” she asked.

  “Aye. We built it to hide our women, so they would be safe during an unexpected raid. Unfortunately for us, it dinna work when yer brother attacked.”

  “I wonder why they didn’t use it?”

  Roderick shook his head. “I dinna ken. It appeared that a few women were on the road headed toward the caves when they were struck down and left for dead. ‘Twas the way we found them.”

  “I’m so sorry,” she said. It was no wonder Roderick was bitter. She would be too.

  Siena wandered to the back of the cave where there were two very large, square timbers stacked on the floor. “This is where I left Michael.” She knelt down and looked around the dirt floor. Spotting a small gray stone, she picked it up. It was cool and smooth to the touch.

  “Do ye remember anything?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Elen said if I’d find a small stone and keep turning it over and over in my hand that maybe I could see something. You have to remember that I’m still new at being a seer.”

  “I dinna imagine these things can be forced. We’ll give it some time.” He spread a tartan out and motioned for her to join him by the fire. He liked the sound of her voice … it was soft, pleasant and English. He smiled at the thought. Who would have thought that he’d like anything English?

  The timbers behind them had been draped with furs for softness, and now they had fire in front, which gave warmth from the chilly air outside.

  “Did ye light a torch for Michael?”

  “I did long enough to get him settled, but I put it out when I left. I was afraid someone would see the light. I did tell him his mother would be along shortly so not to be afraid. He had his favorite stuffed rabbit.”

  “Ah,” Roderick nodded. “Michael is afraid of the dark.”

  Siena noticed that he didn’t speak as if he thought his son was dead. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know, but I’d hoped his mother would be along shortly with the other women, and he wouldn’t be alone. I’m sure I warned your wife that there wasn’t much time.”

  “’Tis not yer fault, lass.” He extended his hand out toward her. “Let me see the creag.”

  “It is nothing special.” She handed him the stone that she’d been turning over and over in her hand. For just the briefest moment, their skin touched, and she felt the oddest reaction. As if she’d come alive for the first time. It gave her warmth inside.

  Roderick took the warm stone and held it in his fist. If only the stone would work. He’d never believed in any kind of magic. Now he was desperate. “I dinna see how this creag will do anythin’.” He dropped it back in her hand.

  “I don’t know either. She caught the stone then glanced toward the opening. “Is that rain? It sounds funny.”

  Roderick stood, then walked to the cave opening. He held his hand out in the snow. “Nay, lass, worse. It’s sleet. If it keeps up, we’ll have to spend the night. I dinna think that we would have sleet today or we wouldna have ridden out.” He ran his hands through his hair. We could make a dash toward the castle, but I’m still hoping ye’ll see somethin’. ’Tis all downhill and we dinna want to endanger our mounts. I’d rather wait. Let’s hope it snows over the sleet tonight which will make it easier goin’ tomorrow.”

  Alone with Roderick … it was highly improper, but she’d spent so much time with him that she didn’t feel strange. Because he’d been so kind to her, and she had no fear of him. “Will your men worry?”

  Roderick glanced at her like she had just insulted him, then he said, “I think I can protect us, lass. Besides we can see the castle from here, so I’m no worried about attacks.”

  He went outside and retrieved a small barrel, which he dragged inside. Withdrawing a dirk from his sock, he broke the ice, so the animals would have something to drink. Next, he unsaddled both animals and gave them some feed that was stored in a barrel in the corner of the cave.

  “I must say you have this place well prepared, even food for the animals,” Siena said as she started to get to her feet. “Can I help you do something?”

  “Nay, lass.” He pulled a torch out of a bracket and went to the mouth of the cave. He waved it several times before putting it back into place. Then he strolled back over to her with a sack in his hand, which he dropped on the blanket.

  “Why did you do that?”

  “I was afraid something like this might happen. The torch was a signal to let my guards ken we are spendin’ the night.” He smiled at her. “Remember, I am with the White Witch.”

  Siena straightened and gasped. “I don’t believe you said that.”

  Roderick grinned. She saw such a different man than the more serious one she’d seen before, and he was quite handsome with a square jaw and a hint of dimple in his left cheek.

  She couldn’t believe he was actually joking with her. Well two could play at the game. “Then you best remember, my lord, I am a White Witch, so you could leave this cave as a toad.”

  Roderick threw back his head and laughed. A sound Siena found very appealing.

  “I brought some bannocks and cheese in case we were stuck here. But we’ll have to share the whisky. It will help keep us warm. Ye do drink whisky?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “Ye’ll be in for a treat then.”

  After he placed a couple of logs on the fire, Roderick joined her, and they leaned back against the furs that covered the timbers and began to eat.

  Siena pinched off a piece of bread. It hung in her throat, so she waved her hand and pointed to her throat. Roderick handed her his pouch and she took a big swallow of whisky which burned her throat all the way down. She began to cough, so Roderick patted her on the back.

  “It takes some gettin’ used to, lass.”

  “It sure does. It is different from ale.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “W--why don’t you tell me a little bit about your family? The more I know the sooner I can help you.”

  Roderick would have normally refused. He didn’t like talking about himself, but he’d had several healthy sips of whisky and he was a bit more relaxed. “Let me see. I have four younger brothers, Galen, Gillard, Patrick, and Angus. My parents died several years ago in a fire. Since I’m the oldest, I became laird, however, my brothers are verra independent and they set up their own holdings. All just a stone’s throw from here.”

  “I’m sor
ry about your parents.”

  “I was too. They were fine people, but sometime accidents happen, and we have no control over them. Being the oldest, I had to step in and take over the clan at a young age.”

  “That must have been hard.”

  “Aye, it makes a mon of ye fast.”

  “Were you and Gillian married long?”

  “Five years. My wife and I grew up together, so it was a natural thing to wed.” He sighed. “She was a good woman and a good mother who died much too young.” Roderick frowned over his memories. “Enough about me. Tell me somethin’ about yerself.”

  “There isn’t much to tell. I’ve never done anything exciting or traveled anywhere.” Siena hated talking about her life when she only wanted to forget it, however, as she rolled the stones together in her pocket, a peace came over her and she began to relax. “I was born a twin, but my mother and brother died at my birth, which some have blamed on me.” She took a sip of whisky and sighed. “Like a baby could do something like that.”

  “Nonsense.”

  “Nevertheless, my older brother, who was a good fifteen years older than me, helped fuel the rumors, and said the devil had marked me.” She stuck out her arm. “See. I hate it. I try to keep it hidden because I do feel marked.”

  Roderick rubbed his thumb over the strange mark and something deep inside him stirred. Was it only compassion or something more? He wasn’t sure. He’d been so full of hate these last few years that there had been little room for anything else, but now he found he wanted to comfort Siena. He wanted to erase the hurt he saw in her eyes. “’Tis a birthmark nothing more, lass.”

  “Thank you. But others feel differently.” Siena stared at him for a moment before she spoke again. “If I hadn’t had Agatha, I’m not sure what I would have done. She managed to get Father John to teach me to read and write and that helped keep my mind busy. When I got older my father sent me to live with Fidach.”

  “What happened to yer father?”

  “He’s still alive so I guess I do have a relative, but I’ve not seen him in several years.”

  “Yet, he sent ye to yer brother?”

  “He did. I think seeing me reminded him of my mother,” she paused as if she were lost in the past. “Strange. I never remember being held by my father.” She shrugged, then continued. “Fidach was happy having me, torturing me became his favorite pastime.”

  What a horrible childhood Siena had, Roderick thought. He clenched his fist. “What would he do?”

  “Lock me in a dark room and leave me there. Once it took Agatha two days to find me –” she trailed off with a faraway look in her eyes. “By the time she did, I was hoarse from screaming.”

  Roderick was so angry that he wanted to kill Fidach all over again. Yet he didn’t want to scare Siena, so he kept a tight hold on his emotions. This young woman had known little love in her lifetime and his heart swelled with a feeling he thought long dead. He touched her arm. Siena turned to him with tear-filled eyes.

  Roderick pulled Siena over to him and enfolded her in his arms. “I’m so sorry, lass. Ye will not have to go through something like that ever again. Ye dinna have to say any more.”

  “Maybe it will do me good to get it all out,” she said, her head still on his chest. “On the last day at Berwick, Fidach had been in a rage about you. He’d already hit me twice that day, but when he grabbed me for the third time, I came up with a knife. I sunk it deep into his heart,” she paused, then added softly, “I should feel sorry for taking a life, but I don’t.”

  Roderick pushed her long hair over her shoulder and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb. “Sometimes men are evil and there is no good in them. I believe yer brother was such a mon and deserved to die.”

  Siena raised up and looked at him, then said, “Thank you.” Roderick might be a fierce warrior, but he was being so tender with her that her heart was melting. What would it be like to be kissed by such a man? She felt a warmth creep through her veins, and she longed for something more.

  Roderick cradled her in the crook of his arm and lowered his mouth to hers. His lips were wonderful, warm, teasing. His fingers slid to the back of her neck as his lips moved against hers. She could taste whisky on Roderick’s lips, and when he coaxed her lips apart, she gasped as his tongue dove into her mouth. Siena had never felt this way before and she had surely never experienced a man’s kiss. She found she liked the way he kissed her. A liquid fire burned in her blood like the hottest fire, clouding her brain. Her desire for him overrode everything else.

  Siena’s arms slid around his neck and she began to explore his mouth as he had hers. She heard his moan which sounded more like a growl, so she leaned back, thinking she’d done something wrong. “I--I’m so sorry.” Perhaps, she wasn’t good at this thing called kissing.

  Pulling her back to him, he held her tight, and kissed the side of her neck. “Ye did nothing wrong, lass. ’Tis I who should apologize.” Roderick waited for his breathing to return to normal. He didn’t know what it was about this slip of a woman, but she had touched him deep down. “Know this … no one will ever hurt ye again. Ye have my promise.” And with a supreme effort, Roderick ignored the urge to make love to her, he finally said, “We better get some sleep.” He pulled her beside him and said no more.

  Siena felt someone truly cared for her … maybe not love … but actually cared what happened to her. She knew there was something special about this man from the very beginning. Roderick had awakened something within her, and it left her reeling, but also contented.

  A strange feeling.

  For the first time in her life Siena felt safe because she trusted Roderick completely.

  Chapter 9

  “Laird Scott, the road has been cleared for ye!”

  Duncan’s booming voice jarred Siena awake from the peaceful dream she’d been having. She had to blink several times before she could focus. That is when she realized she was half laying on top of Roderick. Perhaps, she’d never been exposed to men much in her life, but she knew this was no lady-like position, so she scrambled to put some distance between them. What must Duncan think of her? Surely, he couldn’t see them from the mouth of the cave. Better yet, what must Roderick think of a woman sleeping with him whom he wasn’t married to? She didn’t like the answer to her question.

  Roderick sat up and spoke, “I thank ye for yer concern, Duncan, but I’m sure we could huv made our way home this mornin’.”

  “We must take care of our laird. Can I speak with ye for a moment?” Duncan asked. He’d only taken a step into the cave, but he thought better about it and turned to wait outside for Roderick.

  “Sorry for the interruption, lass.”

  Siena nodded not knowing what to say, but she was sure her eyes must have been huge with embarrassment.

  Roderick shoved himself to his feet and stretched before making his way to the mouth of the cave. “What is it?” he snapped. “It had better be good. ‘Twas the first good night’s sleep I’ve had in a while.”

  Duncan noticed the mon did have on his clothes. “So that’s what ye were doin’?”

  “I dinna care for yer insolence, Duncan.”

  “Weel I dinna think ye realize that ye have put the lass’s reputation in question.”

  They stood right outside the mouth of the cave, so Siena wouldn’t be able to hear them. “What the hell are ye talking about, Duncan?”

  “It dinna go unnoticed that ye and the lass dinna return last night.”

  “And?”

  “Now the men think the White Witch has cast a spell on ye and ye might not be right in the head.” Duncan took a step back as he said this. Just in case Roderick decided to swing at him.

  “By all that’s holy!” Roderick did swing, but his arms flew up instead of at Duncan. “Such nonsense. Do ye not have anythin’ better to do but gossip? I need to find my son, and Lady Siena, if she has any special powers, is going to help.”

  “Ye dinna have to shout. I’m stand
ing right in front of ye.”

  “Ah, wull, be glad that yer not picking yer arse off the ground.”

  “Ouch.” Duncan stood a little straighter. “Someone needs to be telling ye. Ye’ll go back and someone might try and hurt the lass. Do ye want that?”

  “They will do no such thing!” Roderick turned back to the cave. “Be off. We will follow shortly.”

  Laird Scott didn’t look happy when he came back to where Siena sat. He stood with his hands on his hips, but he didn’t say anything, and she had no idea what he was thinking. Had she crossed some line and was in trouble?

  When he didn’t speak, she finally asked, “Is something wrong?”

  Roderick appeared to have been in a daze, because his eyes sharpened and now, he was looking at her when he asked, “What makes ye say that?”

  “You don’t look exactly happy, and I heard you shout, so I figured I must have done something wrong.”

  “Ah, wull not ye, lass.” Roderick shook his head. “’Twas I who forgot ye were a lady.”

  “I think you have insulted me, but I’m not sure.”

  “Nay,” he said, shaking his head. “But ye are a lady and shouldn’t have spent the night with me. Yer reputation is now ruined.”

  Siena started laughing. “I hate to tell you, but my reputation wasn’t too good at home, but for a different reason. I’m not sure that I’ve ever been a proper lady because I’ve lived such a sheltered life, but I thank you for your concern.”

  Roderick chuckled. “This is different and all my fault. We shall marry.” The words were out of his mouth before he realized that he’d said them. He couldn’t believe what he’d just said, however, the look of astonishment on Siena’s face made Roderick want to smile again. Apparently, he’d shocked her. And he had most certainly shocked himself.

  “You want me to marry you?”

  “Aye.”

  She had a doubtful look in her eyes. “You are not very good at proposing,” Siena told him.