"Why were you against the marriage?" Dougald finally asked, knowing James had already asked him as he said he had, but that Cameron wouldn't tell him the reason.
"You truly care for my niece?" Cameron asked, avoiding answering Dougald's question.
Thinking it obvious, Dougald was surprised to hear Cameron ask him. Then again, mayhap her uncle believed Dougald's mind was filled with lust for the lass, but that wasn't all that consumed his thoughts for now.
"Aye, I do," Dougald admitted without reservation.
"She is a bonny lass," Cameron agreed.
For some reason, the Cameron's words bothered Dougald. Aye, she was a beautiful woman, but she was much more than that. "She has quite a tongue," Dougald said, loving that about Alana as much as anything.
"Oh?" Cameron said, his eyes growing round.
"Aye," Dougald said. "She speaks her mind when she disagrees with others. And with…me."
"Oh," Cameron said. He seemed uncertain as to how to address the issue satisfactorily. Did her uncle think to give advice on how to handle the lady?
Dougald had no need of anyone's advice where Alana was concerned. They suited each other fine to his way of thinking. "I enjoy that she does. I love that she does. 'Tis refreshing and quite honestly, she reminds me of James's wife. I admire her greatly. I wouldna have wanted a wife who couldna speak her mind."
"I see." Cameron visibly relaxed in his saddle.
"She is beautiful, both inside and out," Dougald continued. "She concerns herself with healing the sick…"
"Even when someone feigns being sick when they are not," Cameron said, his face darkening.
"You mean Odara?" Dougald asked.
"Aye." Cameron rubbed his whiskered chin, then turned to Dougald, his brow deeply furrowed. "I shouldna ask such a thing of you or any other man who might have wed my niece, but I have to know—did the two of you suit?"
Dougald couldn't help grinning. He tried to wipe the smile off his face because he knew Cameron was concerned and quite serious about the matter or he wouldn't have asked. Still, he had a devil of a time controlling his smile. He couldn't be happier with his lady-wife.
"Aye, Laird Cameron. We have well consummated the marriage." He didn't intend to say any more than that, but he could see her uncle was still worried. Dougald finally said, "She is a delight and I will not stray from the marriage bed, if that is what you are concerned about. I vow this on my grandmother's grave."
He couldn't do such on his father's grave as he'd had many mistresses, to everyone's consternation. Mayhap Cameron thought Dougald would be like his da. But he had always vowed when he took a wife, he would never seek another woman's bed, not like his da who had distressed his good mother so.
"We will see."
Dougald nodded. He would prove to her uncle he would not dally with any other lass.
"You really dinna mind that she sees…what she ought not?" Cameron asked.
Dougald shook his head. "She's gifted. Mayhap 'tis because of her desire to heal those who are sick. Those who have not found their way still seek her comfort? I dinna know, but 'tis no' a problem for me. And I will take any man—or woman—to task who gives her a difficult time over the matter."
"Aye, that is good. Did you know her da showed her the way home, she said? Though she knew which berries and mushrooms and other plants she could eat, she didna know how to reach the castle. Some say she has a guardian angel who watches over her."
"Mayhap."
"But you trust her da took her home?"
"Do you no’ believe so?" Dougald asked, surprised. Surely her uncle had not doubted the lass.
Cameron took a deep breath. "Over the years I have tried hard not to imagine what it must be like for her. She attempts to hide from me that she speaks to people who no longer live."
"At your behest."
"Aye. But we have all seen her talking to people who are no' there." Cameron paused, taking a deep, settling breath. "I didna know her brother was visiting her."
Dougald considered that for a moment. "Mayhap…if he should be able to recall anything that had happened before his death that might point to wrongdoing as far as the trouble he found himself in and shares this with Alana…"
"That we must keep secret. It would not be prudent for the word to get out that she might learn the truth of it."
"Aye," Dougald said. That only added to his concern over Alana's safety. "I rather like her brother. He's protective of Alana."
Cameron studied him for a moment.
Dougald realized her uncle must think he could see her brother as well. "I have no' seen him."
Cameron frowned. "He canna help her."
"Nay, but I think his presence is comforting to Alana to an extent." When he wasn't scaring her out of her wits. Dougald had to admit Connell had advised Alana not to touch Dougald when they supped together alone in the tavern room. So her brother had protected her then. It didn't make a whole lot of difference in the end as Dougald and the lass were now wed. Which had him thinking back to the bed and what he would be doing with her now if they could have stayed at the tavern tonight.
"Because you understand her strange ways and dinna seem to mind them, I have to admit I am relieved," Cameron said.
"You have no worry concerning me and how I feel about Alana's gift. She is safe with me."
"'Tis good to hear. I wasna certain how Hoel MacDonald would feel about her had he known."
Dougald had worried about that himself. On the other hand the thought that either his brother or cousin would marry the lass had him grinding his back teeth. The lady had been his the moment he saw her sitting so fae-like on top of the hill.
***
Later that night, Dougald helped Alana down from her horse as camp was made.
Looking worried and stiff from the long day's ride, she asked him, "What do you think happened to Gilleasbuig?"
That was what she was concerned about. "He might have been whipped or just sent away from the clan. I have no' seen him unless he is staying clear of us and spreading his discontent among those at the fringes of the group. I didna ask your uncle. 'Tis his clan to guide and his decision to make." When she still appeared troubled, he said, "You are no' worried about him giving you difficulty, are you, lass? We will keep an eye on you always, my cousin and friend, the lads, and the men I brought with me."
"Aye, I know, Dougald. I just wish I knew what happened to him. I have looked, but have seen no sign of him. I dinna know how many traveled with my uncle, and everyone is so spread out, I canna tell how many are still with him."
"Twenty-one came with your uncle. James's advisor, Eanruig, counted them when they first arrived. But like you said, they are so spread out, 'tis hard to tell how many are still with us if no' all of them."
With help from his cousin and Gunnolf, Dougald and the others quickly set up a tent for the lasses. He wished he could be with Alana for the night. Of all the times Dougald had traveled with his men with nary a lass in sight, he had never been bothered by it. But this eve? He couldn't stand being away from Alana. The woman had thoroughly bewitched him.
Cameron motioned to Dougald to join him at the campfire after seeing where Dougald's attention was focused. They talked for a while about clan business, his military advisor, Bran, joining them and then when Dougald could beg off, he finally did.
Even though he could not sleep with Alana in the tent, Dougald curled up in his plaid nearby. He didn't care what anyone thought of his behavior either. He'd heard the taunts from the Cameron men and had seen the good-natured smiles from both Gunnolf and his cousin and his own men, knowing just what he wanted to do.
A couple of his men were posted on guard duty. The others settled down nearby. Gunnolf and Niall laid out their plaids close by. As did the two lads, Tavis and Callum, who had stayed near the ladies all day as if they were their personal guards.
Finally, Dougald closed his eyes, wondering just how receptive the Cameron's people would be to his livin
g among them. Certainly, the Cameron's men he had dealt with already had not been all that welcoming.
Most of all, he wondered if someone would make an attempt on his life next if they didn't want him ruling the clan.
Chapter 20
The night air damp and chilly, Alana wrapped herself in her husband's spare plaid, feeling comforted by the smell of Dougald—of the leather of his saddle and the fresh pine fragrance, even though she would have preferred his body wrapped around hers, warming her in the tent. Worn out from the long day's journey, Mary and Katerina, the maids accompanying her, had already fallen asleep.
Seana joined her in the tent and Alana whispered, "There are extra furs you may use." Even though it seemed odd that a spirit would need such a thing.
Seana laid down on a fur near Alana. Dougald's sister had ridden with Connell on Spirit all day, because he had said that Seana would give anyone a chill if she had ridden with anyone else. She had reluctantly agreed. Then they'd argued nearly nonstop the whole day, but Alana had been careful not to say a word to them with so many staying so close to her. She'd desperately wanted to scold her brother and tell him to hold his tongue a time or two. And Seana, too, but her brother should have been man enough to allow some of Seana's insults to slip by.
He was of a mind to keep the conflict going, however. Alana had just shaken her head at him, catching his eye. He'd only smiled back at her as if he was having the best time so not to worry.
"I dinna know why you are in here while he is out there," Seana grumbled. "My brother, I am meaning. If it were me, I would be with my husband."
Alana suspected Seana was feeling badly that she had never had a husband before she grew ill and died. "He canna come in here with the other maids sleeping nearby. Can you imagine what the other men would think? What they would say?"
"That you were with your new husband where you ought to be."
"And he was with three women at one time," Alana whispered back.
Seana said, "Och, have you no legs to carry you into his arms?"
Alana pondered that. But she didn't want whoever was still awake to see her while she searched for her husband in a sea of sleeping bodies.
As if she read her mind, Seana said, "He is to the left of your tent, and I am certain he is thinking of you and no' sleeping either."
"What if the men give him a difficult time over it?"
Seana smiled. "'Twill be because they are envious and believe me, my brother willna be bothered by it. Instead, he will be proud his wife sought him out in the heather."
Alana sat up.
"If he doesna want you to join him, he is a fool," Seana added.
"What if he doesna want to sleep?"
Seana chuckled. "You think he would only wish to hold you close tonight? Nay. But he will because there are too many men about, and he wouldna want to embarrass you. Or make the others too envious."
Alana stood. "I will blame this on you if he doesna like me bothering him."
Seana took Alana's place on the furs and snuggled in them, pulling them up to her chin. "He will be pleased. And you can tell him I sent you to him then. Now go before you change your mind and none of us get any sleep."
Alana studied Seana, wondering why the ghost would need to sleep. She left the tent and glanced around. The chilly fog settling over the area made her shiver. A guard sitting by the campfire watched her. He was one of her uncle's men. He probably wondered if she thought to join her husband or mayhap needed to take care of a more personal matter.
She glanced down at the bodies wrapped in their plaids around the tent—Callum, Tavis, Gunnolf, and Dougald. Niall must be off guarding. She walked over to speak with Dougald, but he suddenly jerked upright, sword in hand.
"Alana," he said, his voice gruff and hushed. "Is there something the matter, lass?"
He was getting ready to stand, but she quickly moved to him, crouched down, and said, "I wish to join you."
He grinned.
"Your sister put me up to it since I couldna sleep," she whispered.
He pulled Alana into his arms and snuggled with her. "It had naught to do with what you wanted, aye?"
"Oh, aye, it did. But she was the one who prodded me into coming out here."
"I am glad you did, lass." He wrapped her in his plaid, kissed the top of her head, and kept her snug against him.
The night was much like the time she was hunting with her da in the woods, the clouds filling the sky, the brush of the chilly breeze against plants making a wooshing sound. Only with a man wrapped around her in a comforting embrace and no moldy leaves to smell but leather and spicy male, she was warmer. With the heat of Dougald's body on the chilly night and the sound of his heartbeat against her ear, she soon fell asleep.
The sounds of swords clanking against swords and her da yelling at her to hide filled Alana with dread.
Then they faded away and she heard the MacNeill say he had found her horse. 'Twas her horse and she wanted her back, but she was drawn to Dougald's voice, to his concern that he had not found her body. She headed for her horse—in Dougald's direction, a fleeting hope that he would rescue her from the others who were seeking her.
But then her da ordered her to go with him. She could not disobey him, as stern as he was and as angry. She glanced back in the direction of her horse where Dougald must be.
"Alana!" her da shouted.
She cringed, worried the others would hear him and come and fight him again. But mayhap the MacNeills would rescue her and her da also.
Her da made her walk until she could walk no more. "Sleep," her da finally said when she'd fallen so far behind.
She was cold and tired and afraid. She heard no more sounds of men. She only heard birds and saw a fleeting glimpse of a red fox.
"Sleep," her da said again.
Though she was cold, she found a place by another fallen tree and used it as a wall of sorts and again buried herself with leaves if only to provide a little bit of warmth.
When she woke, her da told her, "Eat, drink, lass."
She did as she was told, moving through her world as if in a fog, drinking from a stream, eating berries she knew were safe.
"We go now," he said.
She was so tired, her feet hurt something awful, and she didn't think she could move one foot in front of the other. She'd heard the men fighting in the woods most of the night—yet they hadn't been there. Just in her nightmares.
Her da was talking again, like he had the day before. But she couldn't focus on his words. His lips moved and he was speaking, yet she couldn't concentrate on them.
She closed her eyes, wanting desperately to sleep, stumbled, and fell.
"Landon," her da said.
She stared up at her da. He was looking into the woods, and she looked also, thinking that had Landon survived, he must be following them. Then she vaguely remembered her da mentioning his name before. She was certain he was angry that Landon had abandoned her to fight with the men. And then? Had he gotten himself killed? He must have or he would have joined them.
Her da shook his head and looked down at her. He began speaking again, but the words floated past her, and she could not make them out. She didn't wish to. She was tired and hungry and her feet and legs hurt. And she was so cold.
"Alana!" her da said, breaking through her scattered thoughts. He sounded impatient, worried. "Come, lass. We must get you home. We canna let them find you."
Then she was again buried in the leaves, the leather of the boot brushing against her arm. She shuddered, heard the voices whispering.
"Come with me," the man whispered.
"No," she moaned. He couldn't have found her. He couldn't have seen her.
Arms tightened around her and she gasped.
"Shh, Alana," Dougald said rubbing her arm, kissing the top of her head. "What do you see?" he whispered. "I am here. What is it that you see in your nightmares?"
She remembered them like she hadn't before, not until she was immersed
in them again, only to forget them once she had fully awakened.
"He…he was standing next to me, his boot brushing up against my arm. I…I knew he saw me. Or…I thought he had. But then…but then I heard you talking to your brothers," she whispered. "You were close by."
She felt Dougald grow very still. "You were close to where we were?" he said, his voice hushed, upset.
"Aye, buried in the leaves. You found my horse. I didna want you to have her. She was mine."
She looked up at him and in the soft glow of the firelight, she saw him smiling down at her.
"What else, lass? What else do you remember?"
"My da was angry that Landon had left me alone."
"Landon?"
"Aye, a friend of Connell's. They were the same age at five and ten. When my brother was with me on a hunt, he was given the duty of watching over me if I got behind. But he had to stay at the castle that day, my da's punishment because Connell had stolen a loaf of bread from the kitchen that morn before we broke our fast. He was going to give it to a family in need. Landon had to stay with me instead. He was not happy about it. He wished to ride after the stag with the men. Connell never minded when he stayed with me. He said lasses were ever more important than chasing down stags."
"He had the right of it," Dougald said, kissing her again. "Landon left you to help the Cameron fight?"
"Aye. And then he never returned. My da rode back to me and told me to hide."
"Was he alive?"
"I thought he was. I dinna think so any longer. He was yelling at me, afraid for me, but wanting to get back to the fight. If he wasna alive, he must have still thought he was."
"He knew you could see and hear him if he was naught more than a spirit?"
"Aye. He didna wish to believe I could, but he knew it. When he took me home, my da talked to me for long periods of time, but I didna hear what he was saying."