A Highland Pearl (Highland Treasures Book 1) (21 page)

Colin released Andrew and stepped back with a red face. “Sorry,
M’Laird, but I thought I may never see you again.”

“Never you mind, Colin. I like hugs. I’ve had very few in my
lifetime.” Andrew smiled.

“Did they hurt you in any way?” The
gille
walked around
him with an examining eye.

“Nae, lad. Stop scrutinizing me in such manner. The only thing
hurting about me is my heart.”

Colin looked him in the eye with brows knit together. “How so,
M’Laird?”

“I met a wee lassie of only four years who is my daughter.”
Turning, he strode to the small window. He could see naught except the curtain
wall of the castle, but the warmth from the sun felt good on his face.

Colin remained silent while Andrew relayed the story of Tara
and his daughter. A knock sounded. The
gille
opened the door for two servants with trays of food and ale to drink. They
placed the trays on the table, then pulled two chairs close. The famished men sat,
not waiting for the servants to leave. With the odor of tasty food permeating
the room, their hearty appetites returned with gusto. Andrew immediately took
up a fork and began eating. Colin bowed his head to say a prayer. The chief
felt his face grow hot. He had already forgotten to thank God not only for the
food, but for his daughter also.

“Wait, Colin. Let me say a prayer of thanksgiving.”

Colin nodded as Andrew led them in a simple prayer thanking
the Lord for the great blessing of his daughter, for delivering them from the
dungeon, and for the food. He swiped at his eye, catching a tear before it
formed. He could not remember the last time he shed tears, but for the second
time in a few days, his eyes dampened with moisture.

The day passed slowly. Food for the evening meal arrived. Loud
laughter, talking, and music could be heard in the great hall. The two men ate
their food while the bright light of afternoon turned into the dim light of
gloaming. Gloaming gave way to night with no word from the MacKenzie. Surely,
Gavin had arranged things. Andrew thought his brother may prefer to keep Maidie
and Sven, rather than trade them for his chief.

His thoughts turned to the wee lass who had captured his heart
in such a short time, and the bright eyes searching his face for answers of who
he might be, and why had he not been in her life before. He knew her now, and
no one in heaven or earth would keep him out of her life. Andrew made up his
mind also, to stop denying his feelings for Maidie Munro. The time spent in
Castle Lach’s dungeon taught him to hold tightly to things that matter. They
can easily slip away, and Maidie mattered.

Colin retired to the trundle. Andrew removed his plaide laying
across the bed with his arms behind his head. He dozed and dreamed of a
beautiful woman with golden locks drifting down to her shoulders and sky blue
eyes. She wore a large pearl around her neck and motioned to him. He tried to
go to her but could not move. He tossed and turned, trying to reach the bonny
lass. Warm lips covered his as a soft female body pressed close. He turned to
wrap his arms around her and smell her sweet fragrance wafting through the air.
She snuggled closer. Hair tickled his nose.

His eyes popped open and he sat up in the bed. “Tara, what are
you doing here?”

Thank the Lord she wore a night shift, although a thin one.
Tara reached an arm around his neck, pulling him to her, covering his lips with
passion and tender caresses. He yielded to her curvaceous softness while heat coursed
through his body. She pressed her lithe body against his, entangling him in the
old web of desire that he could not resist.

Maidie.
He pulled
away and raised up on an elbow to look at Tara. The darkness of the room kept
him from seeing her dark eyes, but they were burned into his mind. “How did you
get in here?”

“I bribed the guards. Are you afraid to kiss me?” she whined.

“Aye, I’m afraid to kiss you. You’re promised to another, my
enemy. I wish no’ to end up in his dungeon again. Where is Colin?” He looked
around. The trundle was empty.

“He’s outside with the guards. He can’t protect you now.” She
extended her arms, trying to reach his neck.

Andrew rose from the bed before the lass pounced on him. He
walked to the window and watched a guard on the wall.

“Where is the MacKenzie. He’ll kill both of us if he finds you
in here.”

Tara rose to join him. She put an arm through his. “I put a
sleeping potion in his whisky. You’re afraid of me. Afraid of the spell I can
still cast upon you,” she purred, wrapping her lithe body around his.

He tensed. “Aye, I’m afraid of you. You broke my heart in a
million pieces.”

“You lived over it and are the stronger mon. If you take me
with you, I’ll never leave again.” She ran a smooth hand across his shirted
belly, felt the wound, then lifted his
léine
.

“Ach! Who did such a thing?”

“One of the Cameron’s warriors sliced my middle with his an
ax.”

Tara bent her head and kissed the ugly wound. Her lips felt
cool and moist to his hot, angry flesh. He yielded to her caresses, relishing
in the sensation of her lips on his body. Then he remembered the one who
stitched the awful thing to save his life, and pushed Tara away, holding both
her arms. Moonlight shone through the sheer nightshift. She still held a beauty
that intrigued him.

“Ha! You canna take your eyes from me still.” She moved closer
with her face close to his. The scent of lavender filled his nostrils. “Take me
with you. I ken a way out of the castle through the MacKenzie’s study. I bribed
a servant to show me when I heard you were taken. You can wait for me in the
woods east of the castle after the exchange.”

His lustful desire for her had not diminished, but then his
thoughts turned to Maidie. He pushed her away. “Nae. I wanna break my word.”

A look of angst crossed her face. “I want my child. He wanna
let me keep her.”

How sad. Now Tara must be separated from her child, and he
could do naught for her. Andrew pulled her close, and as in the days gone by
wrapped his large arms around her delicate frame. His heart went out to the
mother who would soon lose her child. He shouldn’t care, after what she had put
him through, but he did. She snuggled against his chest. Tears dampened his
léine
.

“Why are you marrying the boar?” He tilted her head to look
into her face, only the dark outline of her beauty visible in the moonlight.

“My father owes gambling debts and the MacKenzie paid him a
large sum, plus he will get part of my dowry.”

“Your father’s selling you like a whore.”

“I agreed. I need a marriage and standing. After Gregor died
in a shipwreck, I was left alone. He left his entire estate to his son. The
MacKenzie is well-known and powerful.” She reached to touch his face. “I need you.”

“Why didn’t you come to me after Gregor died? I would have
taken you back then. Now ‘tis too late.”

“I didn’t ken if you would want me. I heard naught from you
for five years.” Tara wrapped her arms around his waist. “I will go with you
now.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his lips.

He yielded for a moment, then pushed her away. “’Tis too late
for us, Tara.”

She backed up. Brown eyes searched his face. “You love
another.” She pounded his chest with her fist. Her voice rose to a high pitch. “You
love another. You love another.”

Tara said the words Andrew had denied too long. “Aye, I love another.”

She began a scream, but he put a hand over her mouth. “Shhhh! You’ll
be heard all over the castle.”

Pounding his chest with her fist, she wept until spent then
rested her head against him. He stroked her hair that still felt like silk
under his fingers. His heart ached for Tara, but not in the powerful lustful
love he had felt before. The feeling was more of sympathy and sadness with her
state.

The door burst open. Bryson Fraser entered with a torch and
the two guards from outside. He walked to Tara, jerked her out of Andrew’s
arms, pushed her to the back of him and into the hands of a guard.

“Put your robe on, Tara,” Laird Lovat said to his daughter,
and then turned to the guard. “Take her to her chamber. Set a guard at the
door.” He turned to Andrew. “Are you out of your mind, Munro?”

“She came to me, as you can well see, Bryson. Naught happened
between us except a sad conversation.”

“Aye, the guard who fetched me said Tara entered your chamber
to give you a message from the MacKenzie, but then failed to come forth in due
time.” He paused. “You’ll be exchanged on the morrow. The MacKenzie received a
missive and your brother’s campfires burn in the forest not far from the castle
as we speak. He came with many men in arms.”

So Gavin came through and decided to ransom Andrew instead of
leaving him at the MacKenzie’s mercy. What price beside Maidie and Sven was
being paid for his freedom? Hopefully, his brother didn’t bring gold. The
barony’s coffers would be empty with the return of Tara’s dowry. Selling
precious land for the payment was an option only if the funds could not be
obtained elsewhere.

“My granddaughter will be ready when you leave. Treat her well
or I’ll come for you myself. I only agreed for you to take the child to keep her
away from the MacKenzie. I am too old to take on the care of a wee one with a
defect.”

“What is my daughter’s name? I haven’t been told.”

“Her sweet name is Briana, and she is truly a goddess with a
gentle nature and goodness about her I’ve never seen in a bairn.” The Fraser
took Andrew by the shoulders. “Although Tara loves the lass, she has not the
ability or temperament to raise a defected bairn. Now Tara will be married to a
mon who cares naught and wishes no’ to be bothered with the wee one.” The
grandfather shook Andrew. “Treat her well, Munro.”

“Aye. She has already won my heart. I will treat her with
great love and care.”

The Laird Lovat turned, walked from the chamber, and closed
the door, leaving Andrew to stare after him. A short time later, Colin entered.

“We will go home on the morrow. Gavin is camped nearby.”

Colin lay on the trundle. “Ah. ‘Tis good to be going home.”

Andrew stretched out on the bed once more with his arms behind
his head, dreaming of Fàrdach Castle and how good it would be to see his home,
lie in his own bed, visit with his sister, and yes, even his brother, play with
his daughter, and bask in the care of his
luchd-taighe
. He planned to
ride Scara through his estates at full gallop, stopping only long enough to
visit with tenants about the harvest. He would oversee the rebuilding of
Swordale and provide for its people, then organize a great hunt with many
guests, feasting, and tournaments. Briana should be introduced to her friends
and neighbors. Yet, one person would be lacking, and that one important person
was Maidie Cameron Munro. His life could no longer be complete without her.

Chapter Eighteen

Maidie woke with the sound of movement
around the camp. Sven slept soundly, so she rose without a noise and dressed.
The gurgling of a burn nearby brought her attention to the need for washing and
preparing to see Andrew for the last time. She prayed they would be allowed to
exchange a few words of farewell before being torn apart. His face loomed large
in her mind and she smiled. She imagined his bright smile, dark wind-tossed
hair, the stubble of a beard to hide the scar along his jaw, and his grey eyes
shining like silver in the moonlight. Her heart almost burst with love of him.

The bubbling burn beckoned, so she quickly made her way to the
banks of the swift stream that flowed from Ben Wyvis, through the highlands,
and emptied into Cromarty Firth. Maidie clutched the branch of a low hanging
tree as she descended the steep bank, then stumbled and fell on the rocky
ground. She rose and looked at the burning palms of her hands now bearing
scratches and cuts. How careless. She would be unable to hold the reins of her
horse, and they had another day’s ride before reaching Castle Lach. Maidie
eased through the gorse, along the edge of the burn to the water, trying not to
touch the thorns, then knelt beside the swift stream. The cold water helped
ease the burning of her hands. How she wished for her plantain salve to soothe
the pain. She removed the quilted jacket, splashing water on her face and arms,
then shivered.

“Madam, what are you doing here alone?” A gruff voice sounded
behind Maidie, making her jump to her feet with water running down her face and
neck.

She turned to see Gavin standing close, so she picked up the
jacket, put it on over her chemise, and buttoned the garment securely. Gavin
watched with brows knit tightly, lips pressed in a hard line. He stepped toward
her and took her hands, turning them over to examine the cuts.

“Did you follow me here?” She took a deep breath. He stood too
close for comfort.

“Aye. I saw you leave the tent.” His blazing eyes pierced
hers. “You should ken to no’ leave by yourself. We’re being watched by
MacKenzie warriors and wild animals are about.”

Now she thought how foolish she had been. If MacKenzie warriors
captured her, there would be no need to exchange Andrew. He would remain a
prisoner.

Maidie returned Gavin’s gaze. “I’m verra sorry, Sire. I did
no’ think of the danger, only of washing in the burn’s cool water.”

“You wanna be able to hold the reins of your mount now, and we
have a day’s journey before reaching Castle Lach.” Gavin shook his head, letting
her hands fall.

“’Tis a mess I’ve gotten myself into.” She must agree with the
tanist.

A slight grin crossed his face as a glint sparkled in his eyes.
“Aye, you are in a mess. Seems you must ride with me this day and let Sven ride
with Erskin.”