One & Only (23 page)

CHAPTER twenty-One

A beautiful dream came to her. Bree
smiled in her sleep. Looking at her hands, she realized she was young, quite
young. She ran along and turned to see a lad chasing her. The lad caught up to
her and tackled her on the grass. Laughter came from them both. The lad’s
silver eyes held her entranced and she knew in her heart she loved him. His
eyes were the color of the fancy goblet her mother drank from. Bree threw the
sweet cake at the lad and then she envisioned hugging him.

Why she felt protected, she didn’t
know, but they whispered together. She was lulled to sleep with the comfort of
her thumb and sweet thoughts. Then darkness came, she was lifted by a man and
carried away. She cried and stretched her arms out, hoping someone would come
and help her. But no one did.

* * *

Noise awakened her. Bree thought she
was strapped to the bedding for all she could move. Every muscle ached. She
groaned at the heaviness of her limbs. Her head pounded a little and it hurt to
open her eyes, so she kept them closed. Someone was in the room with her and
that scared her. If MacWilliams hadn’t died as she thought, he could harm her
more so. With that, she forced herself to peek between the slits of her eyes.

Amazed to find herself in the
chamber she shared with Cait at the Gunn keep, she relaxed. She saw Bea and
Cait standing at the foot of the bed, they spoke quietly. Cait looked solemn
and her eyes showed worry. Bree kept her gaze fixed on Cait when she noticed
she’d awakened.

Relieved to see her, Bree moaned.
“I’m home?”

“My girl, you live. Come, drink
this.” Cait held a cup to mouth and she drank small sips. “I thought you were
dead when they brought ye. Never been so scared, Bree.”

“I am so happy to see you, Cait.”
She took hold of her friend’s hand and gently squeezed it. “I had to go to
MacHeth. It was the most frightening place I’d ever seen.”

“You sound like ye been to hell and
back. What happened to your voice?”

Bree sounded like a frog which had
been stretched to the limit. She didn’t recognize her own deep raspy voice. She
tried to sit up, but didn’t have the strength to do so.

“What happened to me? Am I injured?”
She couldn’t remember if she hurt herself if the struggle with MacWilliams.

“Appears ye hit your head. I didn’t
see any other wounds, Bree. You’ll be well again soon. Rest. I’ll let the laird
know you are awake.”

“He’s free?”

Cait touched her face. “Aye, he is.
And he’s been wanting to see you, keeps coming by and asking if ye stirred.
He’ll be happy you have awakened.”

Bea gently lifted her head and
fluffed the pillow and then pulled the cover over her shoulders. “I am glad you
are alive, milady.”

Her words shocked Bree. That was the
last thing she’d ever expected to hear from the woman. Before she could say
anything, Bea turned and left the room.

Sounds retreated and Bree closed her
eyes again. The next thing she knew, someone was touching her face. She didn’t
have to open her eyes to know it was Grey.

“You came for me.” Seeing him made
Bree want to cry with joy, but she suppressed the emotion.

“Of course, the minute they let me
out of the damned dungeon. How are you?”

Bree sighed. His voice sounded so
nice, deep, and it warmed her. She spread her arms and hoped he would join her.
He gently lay next to her and cuddled by her side.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t. I’m a bit sore, but am
not hurt. Mayhap my head hurts a little.”

He kissed her forehead.

“That feels nice.”

“Anywhere else?”

“Mayhap here,” she said pointing to
her cheek. He kissed her on her cheek. “And mayhap here,” she said pointing to
her lips.

His lips brushed hers in a sweet
touch.

“I dreamed about you. You were a
young lad and chased me.”

Grey chuckled. “I was always chasing
after you. Still am.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You were a wee lass and didn’t mean
to cause trouble,” he said, moving his hand to her neck and then over her
shoulder.

Bree couldn’t concentrate with the
way his hand meandered over her. If she wasn’t so sore she would pull him close
and tell him what she really wanted.

“Nay, about not believing you …
about the betrothal. But now you don’t have to wed me. MacHeth told me I wasn’t
a Mackay. I was given to Lady Mackay. Are ye not relived?”

Grey gently squeezed her shoulder.
“It doesn’t matter, Bree. I was betrothed to you, no matter what your name was
or is and I won’t have any other.”

A small smile came to her lips. “You
still wish to wed me after all this?”

“Aye, damned right I do.” Grey was
through with talking it seemed, when his lips moved to hers. He kissed her
tenderly and then moved his lips to her neck, where he let them linger a
little.

Bree was caught up in the sensual
sensation; she hadn’t realized she’d held her breath. The fabric of her cotte
was pushed aside and then she felt his lips burning a hot trail over her cleavage.
A strange sound came from her throat.

“Grey, you make me … Oh, do that
again.” He cupped her breast and skirted his lips across her nipple. She sucked
in a breath when he caught it with his teeth, gently squeezing it and then
sucking. “You make me want you.”

“I want you too,” he said. “Feel.”

Bree caressed his body until she
reached his abdomen, but daringly she kept going. When she reached his
erection, she pressed against him and made him groan with delight. He continued
to press light kisses over her face.

“As much as my head hurts, I don’t
want you to stop.”

Grey pulled back and looked at her
with a bemused gaze. “We cannot. You need rest and if I make love to you, I’ll
wear you out.” His grin attested that he would do that and more. “You scared
the hell out of me. I thought MacWilliams killed you.”

“He might have if Greer hadn’t given
me that dagger. Grey, I killed him. I do hope Father Geoffrey is here. I need
to speak with him and ask for God’s forgiveness. I am surely condemned now.”

Grey chuckled low. “Father Geoffrey
is here, and I’m certain he’ll give you forgiveness. You did what you had to
do, Bree. God would never condemn such a sweet lass.”

“What happened? I only remember that
MacWilliams came into my chamber. MacHeth told him I would wed him. He was the
man I was betrothed to. If you had not saved me, I cannot imagine what fate I
would have suffered. MacWilliam claimed he wanted his husbandly rights. I was
so scared, Grey, I couldn’t let him do that … so I used the dagger Greer gave
me.”

“You don’t have to be so brave any
more, Bree. I cannot fathom the terrors you witnessed. Och ye are safe now.”

“I cannot bespeak what I witnessed
there. I wish to block it from my memory forever. Did you find MacHeth?” She
sighed and squeezed her eyes closed to refute the visions which would surely
haunt her for many a year to come.

“Nay, he wasn’t there. MacWilliams’
head was sent to Alexander. The king and his army are confronting MacHeth and
his followers at Kinloss. MacHeth’s head will surely join MacWilliams’ in
Edinburgh on the pikes.”

“I am surprised you have not joined
them in the fight. I deem you would want to confront MacHeth as well.” Bree
gave him a wary look.

“I wanted to ride after him, Bree.
But ye were hurt and needed me more. If the king and his army are unable to
thwart the banshee, then I shall go and finish the war MacHeth started twenty
years ago.”

“The king released you? I doubted he
would.”

“Aye. When Gordy came and told the
king his news, he released me. I set out for you as soon as I was freed.”

She kissed his chin, because that
was as far as she could reach. “I am gladdened you did. So it’s over?”

“Nay, it’s only just begun. But you
don’t have to worry about MacHeth or MacWilliams.”

“That’s good. I am so hungry. I
didn’t eat a thing the entire time I was at MacHeth’s holding. I feared the
food was ill prepared.” She had believed that, and after being put in that
chamber, she was glad she hadn’t eaten any of the offerings.

Grey kissed her cheek and moved off
the bed. “I’ll have Gell make you something. Get some rest and I’ll bring you
food.”

Bree closed her eyes again. She
drifted to a deep sleep and dreamed again. Strange people weaved in and out of
her consciousness. She was sad that she wasn’t sure who they were. An older
man, very tall, stood before her and handed her a beautiful dress.

She smiled at him and he lifted her
in his arms. He didn’t seem to be her father, because another man stepped
forward and took her from the man. Her dream changed and she saw MacHeth, but
he was much younger than she knew him to be. His eyes seemed to glow with
hatred.

Bree’s body tensed in sleep, fearful
that the MacHeth would harm her. She cowered on the flight of stairs on her way
to break her fast. Light in the stairway dulled and it seemed early enough that
most had not risen. She wished she awaited her mother as she often bade her to.
MacHeth spoke to her and she tried to concentrate on what he was saying.

‘I was there the night you were
given to Lady Mackay. You are not the Mackay’s child. Aye, I know who your
father is. If the king wants a war, then a war he shall have. And I will use
you to lure him to us. William will lose his crown either way.’

She cried out in her sleep and then
her eyes flew open. That was the secret. Grey had told her when she was wee
she’d told him about MacHeth making her keep a secret. Now she knew what that
secret was and why he’d bade her not to speak it.

A creek from the door sounded and
when she glanced at it, she saw Grey entering with a tray of foodstuff. Bree
was ravenous. She could eat the entire tray. The aroma of Gell’s food waffled
to her causing her stomach to groan.

“Eat,” Grey said, setting the
trencher on her lap. “Now about our betrothal …” He grinned and she found his
smile endearing.

Bree stuffed her mouth with a huge
piece of cheese and pieces of juicy warm chicken. She tore a piece of bread
when she hastily swallowed.

“I remembered what the MacHeth told
me when I was a child. He told me I wasn’t a Mackay and that he planned to use
me to war against King William. I suspect he deemed me to be the king’s
bastard.”

Grey took a seat in the chair next
to the bed. He folded his arms over his chest and watched her. “King William
had a few bastards ere he wed Emergarde and a few after. Mayhap he gave you to
the Mackays for safekeeping. I heard tell from my father that the king loved
all his children. There were rumors he often visited them.”

“Would the king have given up his
crown for one of his bastards? I doubt that, Grey.”

“Nay, I doubt he would have too. But
the Mackays and the Gunns would have secured his crown for you, if we’d known
what MacHeth was up to. Now about our wedding.”

She frowned at him and wasn’t sure
what to say.

“I know you need time to recover. We
will wed in a sennight. Will that give you time to prepare? Because I don’t
want to wait. I would wed ye this day, Bree, aye with ye laying in your bed
looking so bonny. Tell me, Bree, say aye. I won’t leave until you agree.”

She giggled. “I will wed you, Grey.
I only hope you will not regret it. Are ye certain you wish to wed me?”

He moved from his chair and set her
trencher aside. Leaning over her, his eyes bore into hers. In the most serious
tone she’d ever heard from him, he said, “Aye, no regrets, Bree. You are the
only woman I am destined to be with.”

CHAPTER twenty-two

In all her days, Bree had never felt
so cherished. During the two days she spent in bed recuperating, she’d been
doted on by Sunny, Cait, Bea, Gell, and Grey. She liked Grey’s doting most of
all, especially in the evenings when he’d finished his tasks and joined her.

Their quiet discussions on their
childhood and their future pleased her. She had to promise on the sun and the
moon that she was well enough to leave the bed. Her head didn’t hurt any more
and she’d eaten and gained her strength.

After the morning fare was finished,
all went about their tasks. She spent time with Gell who wished to know what
she wanted served at her wedding feast. Bree delighted in their conversation
and after an hour of going through the menu, Gell asked for her help.

Bree carried a small bucket to the
stream to get water. He was in the mood, he’d said, to clean all the pots in
the kitchen this day. The poor helpers would be scrubbing pots for the rest of
the day and likely into the next.

As she neared the stream, she felt
someone watching her. During her walk she was sure someone followed, but when
she tried to see if anyone was there, she didn’t see anyone. Bree noticed many
clans people doing chores and some of the children playing beside the water.
The sight lightened her heart. She would never tire of the scene.

Thoughts of her family came. Just a
few months before she was at Falstone, awaiting her parents’ return from the
festival at Berwickshire. How had her life changed. Not once had she thought of
Rhys in the past months.

She couldn’t seem to recall what he
looked like and try as she might to envision his face she couldn’t. How she had
thought to be his wife? Rhys was sweet, but definitely no comparison to the man
she was now betrothed to. How she loved Grey. Loved him as a woman should love
a man, loved him as she had always hoped to be loved in return.

Bree thought of her mother and
father. She couldn’t envision her sister either. But she wasn’t a Champlain and
had never been one. She wasn’t a Mackay either nor family to King William’s
kin. Here at the Gunn keep she sort of belonged, at least in her heart she did.
They would be the family she’d always dreamed of having and one day they would
accept her.

She scooped a bucketful of water and
turned when a lady approached. Behind her, several others women stood, all
wearing serene gazes. Bree startled and dropped her bucket, water sloshing to
the ground.

“I do apologize. I shall move aside
so you can access the water.”

The woman set her hand on her upper
arm stopping her from passing. “Await, milady.”

Shocked, Bree stood firm waiting for
the lady to speak.

“Princess, ye were brave. We are all
glad you came back to us safe.”

Her words stunned Bree. “I am not a
princess. Please call me Bree.”

“My name’s Margaret, Princess. We
cannot call anything but. Aye, we heard tell you were birthed by our own
beloved King William. Ye be the daughter of our fair king. Is it true?”

Bree wondered how they’d heard about
her birth. Likely Cait had told anyone within hearing distance. She’d have to
have a word with her later about keeping such things to herself.

“I may be. I don’t rightly know as
yet. I can only speculate that I am the daughter of King William. From what I
heard—”

“Then ye are our princess. We are proud
ye came back to us, milady. Aye, ye belong to the Gunns now.” Margaret bid
those behind her to curtsey.

Bree felt ridiculous. “Pray, you do
not have to be so formal. Do not curtsey. I am no one of consequence.”

“Oh, but milady, ye be everything to
us.”

She smiled and dunked her bucket,
taking as much water as she could carry. When she started to step away, someone
grabbed the bucket from her.

“My name is Martha, milady. Let me
carry your bucket.”

“Oh, thank you, Martha, but I can
carry it.” Bree smiled again taking the bucket back from her, unsure what to
make of their sudden friendship. “Please go about your day. I need to return to
the kitchen. Master Gell is awaiting.” She left them staring after her and
quickly walked the path toward the keep and beyond.

When she reached the kitchen, she
handed the bucket to Gell who grumbled about her taking forever. The old coot
was in rare form. Bree decided she would return to the hall and take a break.
She wanted to see Sunny.

Before she reached the entrance of the
keep, she heard many voices. There must be a meeting taking place, she thought.
She would take Sunny to her chamber and take a nice long afternoon nap. The
last thing she wanted was to intrude on a meeting Grey was having, especially
if their discussion alluded to war.

Upon entering, she noticed all the
ladies. There were a good many of them standing about in an apparent meeting
with Grey. She looked for Cait, hoping to find out why all the ladies were
there. It seemed almost every lady in the clan was in attendance by the crush
in the large hall. Those that met her by the loch entered soon after.

“Bree, come.”

She heard Grey’s voice. He sat at
the table giving her a strange look. Taking small steps, she hesitantly walked
to him. “What is happening?”

“The ladies came to discuss your
place within the clan.”

His expression became quite serious
and stern. Bree was unsure what was happening. Did they object to her marrying
their laird? If so, then she was going to be cast aside and probably sent back
to the Champlains, banished once again. Emotion suddenly overcame her. She
couldn’t speak to ask what there discussion had been.

Cait stepped next to her. “Bree, ye
never have to be alone again.”

She couldn’t help weeping at that.
At least she had her good friend Cait. Cait would never allow her to be alone
and never had.

“I see.” Bree turned and gazed at
all the ladies staring. “I am sorry you don’t deem me acceptable enough for
your laird. I know I am of your hated enemy, the Mackays. I do agree that I am
not good enough for Laird Gunn. He should be wed to someone who—”

Grey stood. He stopped her from
continuing when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. The kiss was
thorough and absolutely claiming. Bree didn’t know what to make of his action.
She also couldn’t help returning the sensual kiss. The women cheered and when
Grey pulled away, Bree was astounded by what happened.

“Bree, they came to honor you. They
want ye to wed me and in fact, demanded to know when the wedding was.” He
laughed and left her standing amid the smiling women of his clan.

“Aye, milady, when is the wedding?”

“In two days,” she answered whoever
had asked the question. There were so many ladies present, and she wasn’t sure
which had spoken.

“We are gladdened our laird finally
gets to wed ye. He was always taken with you, even when ye were mite and caused
all kinds of trouble,” an older lady said. “Aye, ye were meant to be together.
I have told all within our clan how our Laird Mikal, God rest his soul, adored
ye. He said if ever there was a lass born for his son it was ye.”

“We brought ye gifts, milady, to
start off your life with our laird.” Bea came forward and took her hand. “I
must apologize for my behavior of late. We thought you were sent here to take
advantage of our laird and didn’t know.”

“Aye, we didn’t know you were the
wee lass that he lost so long ago,” another woman said.

Bree was taken to a chair by the
hearth and handed piles of covers, sewn with tender loving care. Many had the
Gunn plaid sewn in squares. Piles of dresses and other items were placed on her
lap. Elaina came forward and held out a neatly tied bundle.

“For the wee bairns when they come,”
she said.

Bree couldn’t help but want to untie
the bundle. She held up an adorable little dress for a baby. Tears sprang to her
eyes as the loving gesture of what they had done cause her emotions to burst
forth.

Gell came inside the great hall,
carrying a large tray. His helpers also carried trays of foodstuff. They set
them in the center of the long table.

“Aye, ye kept coming into the
kitchens. Ye were going to spoil the surprise. I had to send ye to get water in
order to keep it a secret.”

Bree laughed and waved at him.
“Thank you, Gell.”

As the afternoon wore on, Sunny ran
between the ladies, gaily playing with some of the other children. The women
were friendly and asked her many questions. Those who had dared ask about her
unfortunate visit to the MacHeth holding didn’t get an answer. She couldn’t
bring herself to speak about what she had witnessed there and hadn’t even mentioned
anything to Grey or Father Geoffrey.

After the last lady left, Bree found
herself sitting with Cait at the table. “That was really kind of them. I never
expected to be so … welcomed.”

“You see, milady. You have friends
aplenty now.”

“Indeed. Did you tell the ladies of
my birth? They asked me about it and called me princess.” She folded her arms
and gave her a look of disapproval.

“Oh nay, Bree. I would never bespeak
it, unless you asked me to.”

Bree sighed. “I wonder then how they
knew about King William and that ‘tis speculated that he is my father?”

“I know not.”

Suddenly, Grey’s guard came
thundering into the hall. Their large feet stomping the floorboards as they
walked in. They made such a racket. Bree was about to stand and greet them when
they all surrounded her.

Duff touched Cait’s nose and winked
at her. It was uncharacteristic of him, but Cait smiled. She had yet to ask her
friend if there was to be another wedding.

“Milady, we have come to pledge our
fealty to ye.” Duff knelt on one knee and the other members of Grey’s guard did
the same.

“Duff, please, rise. I do not need
your fealty.” They were the most peculiar men she’d ever encountered.

“Are ye not to wed our laird?”

“Aye, I am.” Pride suddenly came to
her. She was honored to be marrying Grey, especially because she knew his clan
loved him.

“We have promised to protect you
with our lives and almost failed when the king sent you to MacHeth. No matter
what happens, milady, we vow before you now that we shall not ever let that
happen again.”

Bree was astounded by his words.
“Thank you, Duff. I understand. I do appreciate your concern. I don’t blame you
for what happened.”

“Ye do like us, don’t ye, milady,”
Kenneth asked.

“Of course I do,” she said.

“Ye want to belong to our laird.
Ye’ll give him fine sons, milady,” James said.

Greer leaned on the hilt of his
sword, its tip now sticking into the floorboard. “Finally, milady, Grey will
not have to tie ye to a tree to have you do his will.”

“Nay, he does not.” She smiled, a
giggle coming to her.

Their smiles were enough to make her
weep with pleasure.

“What’s for supper, milady? Did ye
make us something good?” Sean asked.

She did cry then, tears of profound
joy. And that’s how Grey found her. He demanded to know why Bree was crying and
who caused her tears, but she couldn’t speak with such emotion clogging her
throat.

“I only asked if milady was making
supper,” Sean said. “I don’t know why she cried.”

“I know why. Go and find your own
supper. Gell will serve it from the kitchens.” Grey scooped her in his arms and
nodded to Cait, a signal for her to keep Sunny occupied.

Bree held on to Grey when he took
the steps in a mad rush. After entering his chamber, he leaned back against the
door, content to look at her.

“Bree, if ye were never taken from
us you would have known.”

“Would have known what?”

“How much this clan loved you.”

She cried harder.

“Ah love, don’t weep. At least you
are with those who care for you as I do.”

Bree rubbed her eyes and looked into
his shining eyes. He did care, had always cared. Without thinking, Bree kissed
him. She showed him how much she loved him with the most sensual kiss.

Grey returned the kiss and before
she knew it, she was settled on his bed. He stood before her, staring down.
“What?” she asked, wondering what more he had to say.

“You look like you could use some
loving.”

“I do?” She patted the bed next to
her and waited.

Grey stripped his tunic off and then
whipped his tartan from his waist. He quickly removed his boots and joined her
on the bed. “Aye, ye do.”

Bree didn’t give him a second to get
settled. All she wanted at that moment was to show him how much he meant to
her. She began massaging his muscular thighs, trailing her palms up his steely
body, taking extra time to caress her hands over the rippled muscles of his
arms. She tenderly smoothed the light hair that covered his chest, and over the
severe scar. He was finely made as a warrior should be.