Healing the Highlander's Heart

by Scarlett Adams

She took his heart, Dougal thought with a smile on his face. He had found he couldn't keep his head in his duty today and was headed for the stables to groom his horse.

  Dougal had woken this morning, alone in the garden save for the delicious feelings and memories of the night before. The tender way she had held onto him and her soft cry of passion. He felt empty when he found she was gone but his heart swelled to thrice his size when he saw she had taken the necklace with her. To him it meant she had accepted her proposal. She was going to be his till death parted them.

  There was an almost jaunty spring to his step as he strode across; a smile on his face that had everyone he passed gaping at him. He almost felt like bursting into a song and dancing; like grabbing someone and screaming that Lili had accepted his heart.

  Dougal was headed to the Ràild tower because of the solitude and he was sure he would be able to dispense of his restless energy there and be able to return to work. It wouldn't do for him to be distracted from his work just days into his appointment as chief but that did not stop him from thinking about Lili.

  He wondered if she was scrubbing pots at the moment. That will soon come to an end. He wanted to see her, to talk to her and kiss her again. He wanted to revisit last night again, the passion and ecstasy they had felt and shared.

  Distracted as he was by the reverie of Lili, Dougal didn't notice the footprints on the steps and it was only when he arrived at the bell chamber that he saw the old hound and the lanky lad that was Lili's friend and one of the chase of her worries.

  “What is it, Wee Laird?” The boy asked twisting his body to look back. He saw Dougal and his eyes went wide before a belligerent frown furrowed his brow. He stood up, towering over Dougal who felt the beginning of irritation. “Milaird,” he murmured.

  “What are ye doing up here?” Dougal demanded.

  “No one said I shouldnae come up here,” the boy grumbled in a sulky tone.

  “What did ye say?”

  “Nothin' milaird.” He shuffled on his feet, looking discomfited. “Mistress Eubh excused me frae the scullery and I thought tae come up here and …”

  “Get a look of the castle for the last time. I heard you were leaving for Edinburgh.”

  Ailbeart flushed, looking away. “Aye milaird. I'm leavin' the nicht.”

  Dougal felt oddly empathic towards him. This was a lad that had lost his love. “Does Lili ken ye are leaving tonight?”

  “Naw. I told her not fur another three weeks. I fear I'm gaunnae stay if I saw her afore I left. I should get goin' milaird. C'mon wee Laird.” The hound bounded ahead of the lad who started to move before something occurred to him and he paused.

  “I forgot somethin’.” He drew out a coin purse from inside his coarse shirt. “I found this on the nicht I found Lili. Her father made me swear tae keep it tae myself bu' noo that he is gone.” Ailbeart gave a shrug and held it out to Dougal. “Farewell,” he saluted before leaving Dougal with the purse

  The purse was made of blue silk and embroidered with flowers around the edge. Dougal pulled open the drawstrings and dumped the content into his palm. There was a rolled up parchment, a pendant hanging from a long chain and a seal with the Campbell crest on it. Dougal replaced the pendant and the seal, before unrolled the parchment. What was written on it made his eyes widen.

  “A bonnie lass like ye shouldnae be wanderin' the castle at this time of the nicht,” a gruff voice said behind her.

  Lili whirled around, the hair on her arms standing on end. Coming out from the tower's archway were three of the most brutal men she had ever seen, instead of Peigi and Finlay she had arranged to meet there tonight. Her mouth opened in shock and fright and she stumbled a step backwards as the men advanced.

  “What's the matter lass? Dinnae be scairt of us, we'll take care of ye. Ain't we lads?” It was the one with a dark matted beard that spoke, showing broken teeth in a leering grin.

  Lili knew they didn't belong in the castle and didn't know how they gotten in here bit she knew their purpose in here was dark. She must have missed seeing the fourth man as he snuck around behind her and as she was about to flee for help, he pressed a foul-smelling cloth to her nose, holding it until she slumped against him.

  The man gently laid her on the burlap sack the others had prepared and rolled her up in the rough material. They hefted her up and carried her to the wagon full of barrels that they had carefully hidden and put her in a particularly fat one. Glancing about to ascertain there had been no witness, three men climbed onto the wagon while the fourth melted back into the shadows.

  Posing as wine merchants returning with empty barrels, they passed through the inner Bailey's gate and also the outer bailey. They took the trail through the woods and were soon out of the castle's sight.

  Chapter 21

  Dougal was waving master Aodh away when Ailbeart burst into his solar, red in the face and out of breath. Dougal had just about had enough of the elderly man's nagging about sleep when Ailbeart came in almost shocking Aodh out of his skin.

  “What is the matter with ye lad?” He demanded, outraged that he and been startled in such a way.

  “They've taken her!” Ailbeart gasped out, paying no mind to Aodh.

  “Taken who? What are ye blathering about lad?” Aodh asked but Dougal knew who he was talking about. He found himself rising from his seat, his face white form his fright as panic gripped him. Not Lili, he thought.

  “Who?” He asked.

  “I dinnae ken. But they were four, three went off with Lili in a wagon and I dinnae see where the fourth went off tae.”

  Dougal was already striding to the door as Ailbeart spoke.

  “What direction did they go?”

  “The woods.”

  Dougal's lips tightened to a thin line as his anger awoken and he thought of how he was going punish those that had dared kidnap her. Just as soon as he got Lili back. With what he had read from the letter, she was more than qualified of being his bride. She would have no excuse to give.

  “I’m sorry your journey got delayed. Ye may go now,” he dismissed him but the lad was irritated at the dismissal.

  “Lili is my friend and I can be helpful in findin' her. Ye dinnae ken how the men or their wagon look like.”

  “Ye can explain to me.”

  “Will be a waste of time.”

  Dougal glowered at Ailbeart before saying a curt fine and turning to Alec who was coming up to see him.

  “Gather your best trackers, Alec. There are people we have to find.”

  Alec didn't question. He merely lifted his teeth in a hungry grin and left to carry out Dougal's orders.

  “I suppose ye can ride,” Dougal turned to Ailbeart who squared his shoulder and tried to look older.

  “Aye milaird.”

  “We will take two of the swiftest horses from the stables.”

  “Ye might want tae add one more tae that, milaird. There is a man wantin' tae come with us, he claims he is Lili's brother.”

  They found Finlay anxiously waiting in the stables.

  “Who might ye be?” Dougal challenged when he saw Finlay.

  “Finlay of clan Campbell. Son of the previous chief and brother to Lili. I tell ye my black heart uncle Hamish is behind this. He desires Lili as a broker for power.”

  Dougal's fury was pounding on his ribcage, desiring to be turned loose to wreak havoc.

  “Are ye certain about this?” Dougal was thinking of the chief sequestered somewhere in his quarters, sleeping peacefully while his men did his dirty job for him. His blood sang for his head.

  “Aye, but getting Lili back is imperative at this moment.”

  Lili. Her name brought a measure of sanity to him. He realized the more he dallied her, the further she was getting from him.

  “Wait for me my love,” he thought as he mounted his stallion. “I’m coming.”

  Lili came awake with a blinding headache and into darkness. For a moment she thought she'd gone blind and was near the grip of panic
when she spotted a sliver of moonlight coming through a slit. It was then she realized she was moving. The memory of what happened came rushing to her and she realized she had been kidnapped.

  A scream rose to her throat but she choked it down. It wouldn't do her good to make a sound and announce she was awake to them. She needed the time. It appeared that they had believed her to be Finlay's sister and were now transporting her away from Castle Alban. But to what end, she didn't want to think about. She had to get out of this box. But how?

  Lili was still pondering on that when the box slowed to a stop and she heard footsteps outside. Someone was coming. She hurriedly lay back and shut her eyes before the door opened and someone entered. A man, she could tell from the heavy footfall.

  A cold hand touched her cheek, almost making her start but she composed herself.

  “I’ve searched for ye for so long, Lili.” A voice murmured it. She recognized it as Chief Hamish's and took extra care in not revealing that she was awake. “The McCormicks would be glad to see ye as I am.”

  “My laird!” Someone cried. “The Domnhalls are here!”

  Hamish cursed and whirled around, the hem of his cloak whipping the side of her face. He slammed the door shut and she heard the lock turn but she didn't mind. Dougal was here.

  Lili didn't remember much about the battle that ensued as she was locked in the carriage. But she heard the noise of it although it wasn't as drawn out as she thought it would be. The door was unlocked and Dougal's frame filled the doorway. Lili fainted with relief.

  When she woke, she was in his bed in the castle and he had been sitting by her, holding her hand. He kissed her as soon as she opened her eyes and the horror of the past night fell away from her mind.

  “Marry me,” he told her.

  “I cannae Dougal,” Lili said, moving away from him but he pursued her. “I told ye. I am a scullery maid and ye are a chief, ye have obligations. Ye'll have to marry a lady and I am not.”

  “But ye are,” he told her with a grin.

  Lili gave him a suspicious grin. “Dinnae tell me ye have been listening to Finlay and Peigi. They are mistaken.”

  “They are not, my love. Listen.”

  He explained to her all he knew. The purse Ailbeart had found with her that night and the things it had contained. The letter in there had been from her father, the late chief of the Campbell clan, to his father about protecting her.

  “So ye see my love, I dinnae need anyone else but you.”

  Lili's face was wet with tears as she realized she could he with Dougal like she had longed for with all her heart. “Is this true?”

  “Everything my love. Master Aodh and Mistress Eubh confirms it.”

  Lili gave a squeal of delight and threw herself into his arms. “Aye, aye I'll marry you.”

  Epilogue

  Five years later

  “Dinnae go far Malcolm!” Lili called after her son as he began sneaking off from under her protective eye.

  Her four-year-old son made a noncommittal noise in reply. Lili smiled fondly after him, shaking her head. She knew he was going to disturb rabbits in their warren.

  “He kens the traps we set this morning are the other way.” Dougal asked, coming up behind her and putting his arms around her, his huge hand caressing her swollen belly.

  “I think he does.” She leaned against him, quite content and thought her life was good.

  “He’s scrawny enough to fall into a rabbit hole,” Dougal noted.

  “Is he? I dinnae ken. He’ll be fine Dougal. He’ll probably return holding one by its ears and ask me to make a stew with it.”

  They were in Dougal’s secret place in the woods. One of the places he’d want to show her and he had gotten his wish. It was one of the most beautiful places Lili had ever been to. Lying amidst wildflowers and listening to the sweet songs of the birds; the worries of running a clan banished for a few hours that she had for her husband. In the five years, Dougal had proven to be a better chief than his father had been, driven to taking the clan to better heights with the help of the Campbell clan. Finlay was forever in Dougal’s debt for saving his sister and clan from destruction.

  As for the both of them; their love had only waxed over the years and Lili thought it would last forever.

  Thank you, friends!

  Thank you so much for reading Healing The Highlander’s Heart. It’s the first book in my new Highland Brides Series and I’m happy to share it with you!

  If you love romance filled with dukes, highlanders, and mail-order brides, you’ll love my books!

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  About the Author

  Scarlett Adams loves two things: history and romance! She’s combined both to create heart-warming romance stories where love triumphs over all the obstacles. She lives in beautiful Pennsylvania where they make the best chocolate! Her free time is spent gardening, reading, and collecting antique tea pots, which she never uses.