Taming the Wild Highlander

  Her father was speaking to one of his men, ignoring her. She touched his arm to get his attention. She couldn't wait for the meal to end to tell him what her brother had said to her.

  Glowering, her father turned cold blues eyes on her, his dark brown brows pinched together.

  "Da, I need to let you know what Kayne told me," Edana said, attempting to keep her voice steady.

  "Is that why you sneaked into my chamber this morn?" he asked, his voice angry, but low.

  He knew. Zeneva, the witch, had told him.

  "Never enter my chamber without my permission again," he growled low for her hearing only.

  She wanted to crawl under the table, yet she tried to bolster herself with the notion she'd embarrassed her father by catching him with Zeneva in his bed and that he hadn't wanted her to know. Now he didn't have any idea how to deal with her concerning the whole horrible matter.

  Despite telling herself that, she felt her eyes fill with tears. If she stayed a moment longer, those same tears would be flowing down her cheeks. He'd always adored her—or so he had acted—because she was his only daughter.

  When her mother was alive, he'd had enough love for them both. Now that her mother was gone, she assumed another woman would take her mother's place and Edana would no longer matter to him.

  Feeling guilty, ashamed, and unworthy, she dropped her gaze, which instantly made the tears begin to roll down her face. "May I be excused?" she asked, her voice soft, choked, as she refused to look at her father.

  "Aye, go," he snapped, as if he wished never to see her again.

  She quickly left her chair and headed out of the great hall. If she could have done so, she would have obliged him. Una jumped up from the bench she was sharing with others at one of the lower tables and hurried after her.

  "You didna get his permission, did you?" Una asked gently, as she redirected Edana from the spiral stairs to her chamber, and out the door of the keep instead, heading straight for the stable.

  "Nay. He knew I saw him with Zeneva. The woman told him."

  Una sighed. "I knew that witch would. I was watching you the whole time, saw your da speak to you, and witnessed your reaction. He was angry."

  "Aye, and he had every right to be."

  "You have always gone to your father's chamber if there is a great need. He has always welcomed you to speak with him no matter the time of day or night. Even if he chose not to believe what you had to say."

  "No longer. He said I am never to enter his chamber again without his permission. Though I would never wish to after what I saw."

  "So we go without your da's permission?"

  "He wished me gone. Out of his sight. We will find my brothers and my da can do whatever he wishes to do with the scullery maid. 'Twill be none of my concern."

  Yet it would be. Even thinking he would be with that hateful woman where her dear sweet mother once had lain with her father made her heart shrivel.

  "I…already spoke to two of the guards. Seumas is coming with us, through no fault of my own," Una warned.

  Alarmed, Edana glanced at Una as they crossed the inner bailey to reach the stables. "You said he wouldna let you go."

  "I thought so. But he wanted to come, knowing we would go anyway. He overheard me talking to the other guard. Seumas said he believed you."

  "Good. Then let's be on our way." Mayhap she could convince her brothers, if she could rescue them, to talk their father out of his folly. Though she would not tell them she had seen him naked with the scullery maid.

  ***

  Standing in his older brother's solar at Craigly Castle, Angus MacNeill stared at James in disbelief. Aye, James was laird of their clan and he could set any task before him and Angus would be obliged and honored to carry it out. Normally. But this time, Angus was desperately trying to come up with another solution to the problem. His brother's angular jaw was set as he sat at his table, and Angus was certain he wouldn't be able to change his mind. Not when he looked that determined.

  Their cousin, Niall, as much a brother to Angus and the rest of his brothers, was quietly waiting near the doorway to see what would happen next, not about to get himself tasked with such an assignment. He had a slighter build, not as muscular as Angus and his three brothers, but he had the same quick wit and smile, his dark hair much curlier, his eyes a darker brown. Gunnolf, their Norseman friend, blond with sharp blue eyes and sturdy features that said Viking warrior, was leaning against the wall, wearing a smirk.

  "I canna see why Edana's own brothers wouldna be the ones to fetch the wee lass home," Angus said.

  His dark gaze on Angus, James shook his head. "Her da sent her brothers on an errand, and they willna be returning for a fortnight. In the interim, you would reach their lands sooner than they would."

  "Surely Tibold has other clansmen he could send to retrieve her, who are in the area and could find her more quickly." Angus would stick his life on the line to protect a beautiful young woman. But the time it would take to travel to the chief's lands, in Angus's estimation, placed the lass at greater peril.

  "She needs…special care," James said.

  Angus frowned at his brother, knowing fair well the special care he mentioned. Angus was certain forcing her to return home would mean tangling with the lassie—and that would not be a good thing. Not that he didn't want to see her again—he did, but under better circumstances. He just didn't want his family to know how much so. Nor did he want to upset her in any way.

  Even her name meant fiery, and she had a temper to match. He'd never been able to banish her from his thoughts since that fateful day when she'd proved she was one of the fae. Her dark brown hair had a reddish cast to it, and that made her look all the more wild when she became angered. She had bewitched him from the very beginning.

  "Why did she run off?" Angus asked.

  "Her da didna say."

  "Did he no' know?" Angus asked, suspecting it had something to do with her fae abilities.

  "He just sent a messenger, Angus. The lad only told me what her da requested of me."

  Angus had a few adventures under his belt, and many more that he was interested in enjoying, but this one bothered him more than he wished to say. Niall was excited about going on more adventures also—now that he wasn't tagging along with Dougald, which invariably meant a stay in a dark, dank dungeon—except he also looked reluctant, wary.

  Gunnolf was ready for any adventure, even if it landed him in a dungeon. And even if it had to do with Edana. In fact, Angus thought their friend looked hopeful that James would send him if Angus managed to talk his way out of this.

  "So send Niall." Angus waved his hand at his cousin, who looked as though he didn't want the task any more than Angus did. He swore Niall paled a little at being included in the conversation.

  "He is more afraid of the wee lass than you are." James's eyes sparkled with dark humor.

  "I am no' afraid of the lass," Angus said vehemently. He wasn't. More than anything, he didn't wish to upset her. That wasn't the same thing as being afraid of her as much as he felt concerned about her feelings.

  Straightening his back, Niall protested, "Nay, I am no' afraid of the lass. I will return her to her da."

  Deep down, Angus wanted to be the one to find the fae woman and take her home. He still feared distressing her when she must already be in such a state or she wouldn't have left the keep without her father's blessing. He was certain James would command he go anyway, and then the matter would be out of his hands. But if James chose Niall to go? Angus would have to go nevertheless. Just to see that the task was handled in as proper a manner as possible, considering who the girl was.

  James paused, considering the notion for only the briefest moment, then shook his head and rose from his chair, his decision made. "You will go, Angus. You are the only one of my brothers who is available. We have been friends with the Clan Chattan forever. The chief has asked our help, specifically, for me to send one of my brothers. And as such, you are a
ssigned to the task. I wish this matter taken care of at once. You will gather as many men as you deem necessary."

  "To locate the wee lass and return her to her castle?" Angus snorted. "I will need no one." At least he didn't want anyone to see what would happen when he tried to make the girl mind. She was an untamed wildcat, and he still wasn't sure what she could do with her strange abilities. He paused, another concern coming to mind because of what they had witnessed of her in the past. "She didna run off alone, did she? Surely someone is with her."

  "The chief didna know for certain. He is trying to account for everyone. He hopes she has an escort, but no matter what the situation is—escort or no'—he wants her returned home at once."

  Angus folded his arms.

  James sighed in the way that said he was deeply exasperated with his brother. "You will gather an accompaniment of men, your choice as to the number and who you wish to take with you."

  "Aye," Angus finally conceded. He glanced at Niall, who looked somewhat relieved it wasn't his job, but a little worried that Angus might choose him to go. "Then since Niall is unafraid of the lass and wishes some adventure, and Gunnolf doesna believe in our Gaelic mysticism, they will come with me."

  "Good. Dinna tarry. Every day the lass is missing, the more her da believes some harm has come to her."

  After having fought in the Crusades alongside his brothers, Angus would prefer that to the task at hand. "We will go now."

  And with that, Angus, Niall, and Gunnolf left his brother's solar to ready themselves for the journey. "Dinna look so worried, Cousin," Angus said to Niall, as they headed to their chambers to pack. "You said you would find and return her yourself. Just dinna rile her."

  Gunnolf chuckled. "We probably willna land in a dungeon this time, Niall. Which will be a good thing. Dougald usually is the one who can get us out of one. And he willna be with us."

  The Norseman was always game for an adventure, and he looked pleased to be going on this one. Niall looked unsure, as if he had spoken too soon about rescuing one wee bonny lass. But this was one that Angus would have preferred someone else deal with.

  Chapter 2

  Lightning and the resounding boom of thunder shook the ground as Edana and her escort traveled away from Rondover Castle while she continued to listen for her brothers' pleas, praying their silent entreaty could aid her in finding them. A low cloud hung overhead, while the wind and cold and a wet drizzle persisted in stalking her party. Seumas stuck close to Una, while Kipper rode beside Edana.

  "Have you heard anything more, lass?" Kipper asked. He and Seumas were about the same tall height as her brothers, but Kipper was heavier, older, mayhap in his thirties, his face more weathered. Seumas was nine and twenty, the same age as Edana's oldest brother.

  "Nay," she said, shaking her head. She'd heard Gildas cry out, cursing unlike she'd ever witnessed before, and she had let her party know. But not about the cursing.

  They deviated in the direction she thought she heard his voice. It was as though the words were spoken aloud and the hearer could pinpoint the speaker's location. But his voice sounded still far too distant.

  Then the weather worsened, the sky turning a murderous greenish-black. Before they could prepare themselves for the torrent and with no shelter that they could find, the ominous skies let loose a drenching rain. Chunks of ice intermingling with the rain fell from the heavens. Lightning forked into the low lying hills and thunder boomed almost on top of it. Heart pumping, Edana attempted to get her horse under control as the others were struggling with their own mounts.

  The rain and chips of ice were coming down so hard, she couldn't hear anything but the roar of water in her ears as her horse galloped off, threatening to dump her and be on its way.

  "Nay, Nana," Edana shouted, trying to get the mare to slow down before she injured a leg, took a tumble, and Edana was thrown.

  "Nana, whoa!"

  But the horse continued on its hell-bent course across the glen, not minding her master, the mare's only interest—survival.

  Which was Edana's as well, but she feared she would not make it if she couldn't get Nana under control.

  She seemed to have galloped for miles before her frightened horse calmed a bit. Edana was soaking wet, her brat that had once served as a hooded cloak of waterproof wool, had slipped from her head during the wild ride. The rainwater saturated her hair and ran down her neck, managing to soak her léine and chemise.

  The mare finally slowed to a canter, then to a walk as the rains lessened, the lightning still intermittingly illuminating the sky and the thunder booming or crackling nearby.

  Edana considered where they were—at the forested edge of a stream, and thinking she knew their location, she headed north. Or should she have gone south? Somewhere along the river, a shieling was built into the side of a rock face and that would provide welcome shelter. Hoping her escort would think to go there, she could dry her sopping wet clothes also.

  She began calling her companions' names, but no one responded in the chilly rain. She clucked at her mare to encourage her to move a little faster as they climbed the slight incline through the trees lining the stream.

  In the blinding rainstorm, she knew for certain she had lost her escort. The two men of her father's guard were not scheduled to serve on duty for three days. Una had feigned visiting a sick aunt at a croft several miles away. Kipper had only agreed to go with Edana, fearing she was right and her father wrong and wished to aid her. If they could locate her brothers before her father could send out men in search of her, all would be well. Seumas joined them because of Una, not wishing anyone else to be with her. None of them wanted Edana searching the countryside for her brothers unaccompanied.

  Yet now she was alone. Not that she feared being on her own. She was used to being by herself until Una came to stay with them three years earlier.

  Cold and wet, she heard her brother Kayne call to her again—Drummond, was the only word she could make out. Her youngest brother. Was he all right? She prayed it was so and tried not to worry as she could do nothing but continue to look for them in the morn. When her brother's name had swept across her thoughts, from the sound of it, she was certain she was headed in the right direction still.

  If she continued to follow her brothers' cries, she hoped to discover their whereabouts before long. She refused to return to the keep until she knew where her brothers were being held or her father would most likely lock her in her chambers for a fortnight when they were scheduled to come home.

  Movement in the woods made her heart quicken. If it had been her escort, they would have called out to her.

  On foot, the two men suddenly appeared, dark beards, long wet hair, dirty tunics, plaids just as filthy, muddy from all the rain. Thieves. The one had ice blue eyes. She didn't have time to see the other's.

  "Look what we have here," the blue-eyed man said, grabbing for her reins.

  She kicked out with her foot as hard as she could, hitting him squarely in the chest, knocking him off-balance. He tripped backward over a downed tree and swore words she'd never heard before. Getting the better of him had been pure luck because he had not expected her to fight. She couldn't let these men get hold of her.

  The other man was laughing at his companion, but when he attempted to grab her reins, she managed to unsheathe her sword—the small size fashioned just for her by her father's armorer—and slashed at the brigand. To avoid the slice of her blade, he dove back so quickly, he lost his footing and fell on his arse in the mud.

  She charged off. On foot, they'd never catch up to her. But what if they found her when she tried to sleep during the night?

  Her heart thundered as she pushed her horse onward at a gallop until she felt it was safe to walk her again. If it wasn't for the fear her brothers could be in danger if she did not find them, she would return to the safety of the keep. She felt she had no choice but to continue on.

  For now, she headed for the haunted shieling where she could slee
p under a thatched roof this eve and hoped to reach it before gloaming.

  Alone with her thoughts, she wondered if the guards who had accompanied her knew about her father and Zeneva. The woman would most likely spread the word about her being with the chief if she had not already done so. Despite the cold seeping into her bones, for an instant, Edana felt hot with anger.

  Had she told everyone that Edana had spied them together? So that if their clansmen and women did not believe her, Zeneva could say Edana was her witness? Edana wouldn't put it past the woman. What if Edana declared she hadn't visited her father's chamber? That Zeneva had lied about the whole sordid affair? Who would they believe if she told everyone she had not witnessed her father in bed with the scullery maid? But what if her own father admitted to having been with the woman? Then everything Edana did to cover up what she'd seen would be for naught.

  Edana clenched her teeth to try to stop the shivers racking her body. Soaked to the skin, she was freezing. She hoped she'd reach the shieling soon. And tried to think of anything but of how upset she was with her father and Zeneva. Edana prayed she'd hear something more from one of her brothers.

  She had to concentrate on the darker concern. Her brothers weren't coming home. Not when they were manacled in a dungeon somewhere. She'd felt their anger, heard their pleas directed at her to find them and free them, could almost see them.

  "Edana, manacled, dungeon, blindfolded, help," Gildas suddenly said. Torn, she knew she needed to head in a more westerly direction, but she had to find the shelter and stay there until morn.

  She rode forever, it seemed, before she spied the abandoned stone shieling built into the side of a hill near the stream she had been following. Relieved, she sighed, looking forward to sleeping in the shelter and not slumbering under the stars or mist or drizzle while the chilly breeze cloaked her this eve. And hoped her escort would also find their way here before long.