Highland Heart

  Ian paused at the head of the stairs and waited until Lindsey and Jamie

  joined him. Inwardly Lindsey groaned. Outwardly she was poised and

  polite as she placed her hand on his proffered arm. Jamie trailed

  behind them. The furrow between his brows left no doubt as to his

  feelings.

  "You are up early, my lady."

  "Aye." Lindsey thought about the long hours she had tossed and turned

  in her bed, her thoffghts in turmoil. Finally she h-d given up all

  attempts to sleep.

  When they entered the refectory, Lindsey was surprised to find her

  father and brothers already seated around the queen and her husband.

  "I had thought you would sleep late after your journey," she said as

  she took a seat beside Robbie.

  Ian quickly took the seat to her other side, forcing Jamie to take a

  place across from them.

  "I could not sleep," Neal admitted, "knowing that today I will be

  privileged to groom and saddle the queen's own horse." '

  "Aye. And Neal saw to it that I could not sleep," Robbie said with a

  laugh.

  "Which meant that we were awakened," Donald said, glancing for

  confirmation at Murray, who nodded his head.

  Joining in the laughter, Douglas added, "And with all the voices

  complaining and boots hitting the floor, my sleep ended as well."

  Lindsey leaned back in her chair. A smile of pure delight curved her

  lips. This was what she had missed. This chorus of voices. They were

  like a symphony. Aye. A symphony of love. How could she help but

  love these men?

  Jamie saw the smile on her face and joined her. When she realized that

  he shared her secret, her smile grew. Aye. Jamie understood what her

  family meant to her.

  Seeing the two of them, Ian said sharply, "What amuses you, my lady?

  Have I missed something that was saidT' Lindsey merely shook her head

  and pretended to eat. It pleased her that she and Jamie shared a

  secret from the others. She could not bear to share it with anyone

  else. She pushed her plate aside. For some strange reason, she had

  lost her appetite.

  When they had broken their fast, the queen smiled at Neal.

  "When my--stable master has my mount ready, I will ride."

  "Aye, Majesty." Neal was on his feet at once.

  "I shall come to fetch you as soon as I have your horse groomed

  saddled." iii and'I should like Lindsey to join us," the queen

  called.

  Lindsey could not hide her pleasure. But she was startled when Ian

  said, "Would I be too bold if I were to ask to join you as well,

  Majesty?"

  Mary turned. Seeing Ian's boyish look of eagerness, she could not

  resist. But when she caught sight of Jamie's frown of displeasure, she

  nearly laughed aloud. So, these two young stallions wanted the same

  mare. What fun it would be to watch them vie for the lady's

  attention. Oh, she would enjoy this day immensely. Life had become far

  more interesting since their small band had grown larger.

  "Aye, you are indeed bold, Ian MacPherson." Mary's haughty tones gave

  way to delighted laughter.

  "But I like a man who knows how to slip past protocol at times. Aye.

  You may accompany me on my ride."

  "I am most grateful, Majesty." He made a grand bow and kept his head

  lowered until the queen swept past him.

  "I will be in the withdrawing room. Come, Douglas," Mary said, placing

  her hand on his arm.

  "I would speak with you about several matters."

  "Aye, Majesty."

  Lindsey watched as her father and the queen exited the refectory. When

  she glanced at Lord Darnley, she saw his barely concealed look of fury

  at being excluded from his wife's company.

  Lindsey descended the stairs wearing a riding gown of emerald velvet

  and a matching green cloak lined wither mine, which Mistress Macnab had

  found for her among the trunks.

  As he watched her, Jamie thought he had never seen anyone so lovely.

  Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm for the ride. On her lips was a

  smile of pure pleasure.

  "Why do you not join us?" she asked Jamie.

  "I regret I cannot. Your father wishes to speak to me about--several

  matters."

  "It is a pity that you must always attend to such dull matters when I,"

  she said with a laugh, "have every intention of playing."

  It cheered him to see her so happy. But his smile suddenly faded when

  Ian MacPherson appeared, wearing black breeches and a crimson cape

  flung rakishly over his shoulder. Ian held the door for Lindsey, then

  bent to whisper something in her ear. The sound of her laughter was

  like a knife twiting in Jamie's heart.

  He stood at the window and watched as the queen and her party took off

  at an easy trot. Then he reluctantly turned and went in search of

  Douglas Gordon, who awaited him in the lib'ary.

  The queen was in high spirits. She had been sequestered far too

  loflg.

  Now, suddenly, she was free to ride the beautifully manicured paths of

  Lochleven. And when she tired of the safe trails, she could always

  venture into the surrounding woods.

  "Are you a skilled rider, Lindsey?"

  "A fair one, Majesty."

  "Would you care to race me?" Lindsey'S eyes crinkled.

  "Aye, Majesty."

  The queen pointed to the maze of hedges and formal plantings that

  surrounded the castle.

  "The first one through the maze wins. I will take Neal with me as a

  guide, and you will take Ian."

  Lindse)' nodded, her blood already heating at the thought of a race.

  "Beware Lindsey," the queen said with a smile.

  "There are many paths in the maze, but only one leads back to the

  beginning. Your guide must make decisions in the blink of an eye. And,

  to make it more interesting, I think we should make a wager."

  "Aye, Majesty. Name your price."

  The queen smiled. This was too easy.

  "Ten gold sovereigns."

  "Ten..." Lindsey arched a brow. The queen did not play for small

  stakes.

  "Aye, Majesty."

  "Then let the race begin."

  The qoeen wheeled her mount and entered the maze, with Neal by her

  side. Just behind her rode Lindsey, with Ian beside her. Though the

  queen and Neal turned left into the first hedgerow, Ian caught

  Lindsey's bridle and urged her to turn right. They rode at breakneck

  speed through the maze, twisting and turning with amazing skill.

  "I believe we are lost," Lindsey called to the man beside her.

  "Nay, my lady. Trust me. I have an instinct for such things." He

  pointed to a turn ahead, and they took it with out pausing.

  Within minutes they had broken free of the maze and reined in their

  mounts. It was several minutes more before the queen, with Neal by her

  side, came thundering toward them.

  As they pulled alongside, Mary said wryly, "I see that my young stable

  master knows more about this maze than I." She leaned over and patted

  his hand, a gesture that caused him to blush clear to his toes.

  "He bade me turn right, but I refused, thinking I knew better. That


  misjudgment caused me the race."

  She glanced at Lindsey.

  "It would seem that I owe you ten gold sovereigns." She dug the coins

  from her pocket.

  "Will you grant me the opportunity to win it back?"

  "Aye, Majesty.

  Name your skill. " The queen paused, deep in thought.

  Ian's voice interrupted.

  "The woods, Majesty. Let us race through the woods to the far side of

  the island and back. The first ones back shall be the winners."

  Lindsey shook her head.

  "Nay, Majesty. Jamie would not be pleased if we were to ride that far

  without him."

  "Are we children to be watched over by a wet nurse Ian asked.

  Ian's words had their desired effect. The queen could not ignore a

  challenge, no matter how dangerous.

  With a glittering smile she said, "I have Neal; you have Ian. What

  could possibly happen on such a sunny morn as this?"

  "Please, Majesty," Lindsey pleaded.

  "Wait until an other time."

  "Nay. I demand the chance to win back my gold. We ride," Mary called,

  wheeling her mount.

  Lindsey hesitated a moment, then followed. Beside her, Ian MacPherson

  could hardly contain his delight.

  Chapter Nineteen

  As the darkness of the forest closed around them, Lindsey felt a sudden

  chill. Thoughts of her last adventure in the Highland forests filled

  her mind. With an effort she brushed the gloomy memories aside.

  This was nothing more than a morning jaunt. She would be back at the

  castle in time for Mistress Macnab's midday meal.

  As she began to follow a well-worn path through the woods, Ian clutched

  her reins.

  "Nay, my lady. This way."

  "If we leave the path we will be lost."

  "Did I not tell you that I have an uncommon sense of direction? Trust

  me."

  Without waiting for her reply he veered off the path and plunged into

  the darkened forest. Lindsey followed.

  The foliage was so thick they had to pick their way care fully over

  fallen logs and around muddy bogs. The farther they rode, the deeper

  grew the forest, until it seemed to close around them, shutting out all

  light, all sound.

  Ian held several thick branches aside and reined in his mount, allowing

  Lindsey to move ahead of him. As she did, her horse stumbled down a

  sharp ravine, sending her flying through the air. She landed with a

  dull thud on the spongy, moss-covered floor of the forest.

  For several moments she was too stunned to react. Then, quickly

  getting to her feet, she was dismayed to see her horse galloping ahead

  of her through the thick foliage.

  "Nay," she shouted.

  "Halt. You must wait." The horse was swallowed up by the woods.

  She turned, scanning the wall of trees. Ian was nowhere to be seen.

  "Ian. Where are you?" she shouted.

  The only sound she heard was the shrill cry of a bird.

  "Ian. This is not amusing. Do not tease," she called.

  "Show yourself."

  Her voice seemed to echo in the mist-shrouded woods. The forest closed

  around her. She stood very still, gripped by a paralyzing chill. It

  was happening again. The demons that had plagued her for so long were

  returning to torment her once more.

  The queen, accompanied by Neal, waited in the courtyard to claim her

  victory. Soon her smile of anticipation turned to a frown of

  concern.

  "They should have emerged from the woods by now." Neal glanced at the

  sun, almost directly overhead.

  "Aye, Majesty. It is not a large island. They could have traversed

  the entire distance by now."

  "Help me from the saddle," Mary commanded.

  Neal assisted her and stood holding the reins of her horse as she

  climbed the steps of the castle.

  Over her shoulder she called, "Summon me when your sister returns. I

  wish to collect what it due me."

  "Aye, Majesty."

  When the door opened, Jamie and Douglas, who had been deep in

  conversation, looked up to see the queen's flushed face. Both men

  scrambled to their feet.

  "It would seem you exerted great energy on your ride, Majesty."

  "Aye. I engaged Lindsey in a race. But she has not yet returned." '

  "Where did you ride?" Douglas came forward to offer his arm.

  "The forest."

  Douglas paused and glanced toward Jamie, whose smile faded to a look of

  alarm.

  "Lindsey is alone in the forest?"

  "Nay. Neal and I rode together. Lindsey is with Ian MacPherson."

  MacPherson. That was even worse. Jamie's throat went dry. Struggling

  to control his voice he asked, "Did you see the direction they took?"

  "Nay, my friend. You know how I hate to lose a wager. I led the way

  into the forest and never looked back."

  Jamie was already heading up the stairs toward his chambers.

  Strapping on his scabbard, he lifted his sword from the mantel and

  hurried from the room.

  As Lindsey picked her way through the undergrowth, she cursed the

  clumsy skirts that impeded her progress. Having had the occasion to

  wear a lad's breeches, she knew that a woman's clothing put her at a

  distinct disadvantage.

  She paused a moment, seating herself on a fallen log. As she lifted a

  handkerchief to her face she had the eerie feeling that she was being

  watched. But when she turned to glance over her shoulder, she saw no

  one.

  Getting to her feet, she studied the progress of the sun. It seemed

  only minutes ago it had been directly overhead. But already it had

  begun its arc to the western sky: She must find her way to the castle

  before daylight faded. Else she would be forced to spend a night of

  terror alone in these woods.

  She tossed her head, refusing to permit such thoughts. She would think

  of this forest as a maze. And she would work her way through it to

  safety.

  She heard the snap of a twig above her and looked up just in time to

  see a heavy branch falling toward her. With a cry she leaped back and

  watched in horror as the limb crashed to the ground inches from her.

  Had she not looked up in time, she would have been crushed.

  She looked through the dense foliage. There was no one visible. It

  was merely the wind. She knew she was imagining dangers that were not

  really there, but she could not fight the terror. With her heart

  pounding she took off at a run, plunging deeper into the woods.

  Behind her, pale, nearly colorless eyes watched her progress. The sun

  glinted on fair hair. The hand holding the dirk tightened its grip.

  The neighing of a horse alerted Jamie that someone was near. Following

  the sound, he left the well-worn path he was traveling and entered the

  thick forest.

  He was a man unaccustomed to fear. It never occurred to him to worry

  about his own safety. And yet, since he had met Lindsey, he had been

  afraid for her more than once. This time, the fear bordered on

  desperation. He must find her, and soon.

  The sound of a woman's cry turned his blood to ice. Urging his mount

  to a run, he tore
through the wild, tangled growth.

  "Lindsey," he shouted.

  "If you can hear me, call out so that I may follow the sound of your

  voice."

  Despite the crackle of brush underfoot, Lindsey heard Jamie's words and

  came to a sudden halt. She turned. For a brief moment she thought she

  saw the flutter of crimson in the woods behind her. She blinked and it

  was gone.

  Cupping her hands to her mouth she shouted, "Jamie. I am here."

  With her heart pounding, she continued to call until a horse and rider

  emerged from the forest.

  "Jamie." With a cry she raced toward him.

  He leaned down and lifted her easily into his arms.

  "It seems all I do is save your pretty neck," he muttered thickly.

  "Praise heaven you found me. I was beginning to fear that I would be

  forced to spend the night in this..."

  She glanced up and the words froze on her lips. Though he said

  nothing, the dark scowl on Jamie's face spoke volumes.

  Her cheeks flamed. And to think that she had almost hugged him

  fiercely in her joy at being rescued. In such a temper he probably

  would have pushed her away.

  Wheeling his mount, they plunged into the darkness of the forest. They

  picked their way through the woods until they emerged on the path.

  Minutes later they broke free of the forest and entered the clearing,

  They rode the entire distance to the castle in silence.

  When they reached the courtyard, Jamie tossed the reins to Neal, who

  led the queen's lathered horse to the stables.

  Taking Lindsey's arm, Jamie strode up the steps and sent the door open

  with a resounding crash. Once inside he released his death grip on her

  arm as Douglas and his sons stir rounded Lindsey, embracing her

  warmly.

  They looked up when the queen came hurrying into the room.

  "Wherever have you been?" Mary demanded.

  "I fear I became hopelessly 10st in the forest," Lindsey said, feeling

  th sting of shame upon her cheeks.

  "Where is Ian MacPherson?"

  "I know not. I became separated from my horse during a fall. When I

  looked around Ian was nowhere to be seen. And though I called and

  called, I never caught sight of him."

  Jamie and Douglas exchanged a glance.

  "You look terrible," Mary said.

  Surprised, Lindsey glanced down at her arms and saw that they had been

  scratched by brambles and were bleeding in a dozen different places.

  Her gown and cloak were like wise torn and stained with her blood.

  "Oh, my," Mistress Macnab cried when she entered the withdrawing room

  and caught sight of Lindsey.

  "I shall see to your bath immediately, my lady."

  "Thank you, Mistress Macnab." Turning to the queen and her family,

  Lindsey said softly, "There is no need for all this fuss. It is not

  nearly as bad as it looks. A few scratches. A torn gown." She turned

  to include Jamie, who had still not spoken a word. His features were

  stiff with anger.

  "You will see. I will be fine after my bath."

  "I am relieved that you are unharmed. But you seem to have forgotten

  something," the queen called.

  Lindsey arched a brow.

  "You owe me ten gold sovereigns."

  "Aye." Reaching into the pocket of her gown, Lindsey withdrew the

  coins.

  "Now you may retire to your bath," Mary said with a smile of triumph.

  Lindsey saw Jamie's scowl deepen. With a look of extreme discomfort

  she turned and followed Mistress Macnab up the stairs to her

  chambers.