The Highlander's Enchantment Read online

  “I’m sorry, my love,” Edan said. “I want to give ye everything ye ask. But I canna give ye this.”

  “I know.” Blair pressed her quivering lips together. “I know.”

  “But I will make it swift. That is all the mercy I can show.”

  She nodded, turning her back on the woman who spewed even more vile things their way. Words and actions and curses that Blair was certain would haunt her dreams.

  Edan shifted at her side, and she heard him say, “Bow,” in a low tone to Raibert, who was distraught enough that his sister had killed their own mother, that he’d offered to enact the punishment himself. Edan had denied him however, stating that if he were to give the executing blow to his sister, it was an act he might never recover from.

  Still, Blair didn’t turn around. She squeezed her eyes shut, ready for the nightmare to come to an end. The raving screams grew louder, shriller, as she demanded Edan end her.

  There was a short whistle as his arrow flew, and then sudden silence from Willa, as his aim rang true.

  Strong arms came around her. “’Tis over.”

  Blair couldn’t find her voice. She circled her own arms around his waist, pressing her face against his chest.

  “And now we can start anew.”

  “Aye. The way it should have been all along.” He lifted her in his arms, cradling her against him as he took her back into the keep and up the stairs to their chamber.

  Bluebell scurried over from her wee bedding on the floor to nuzzle Blair’s hand. She kissed her sweet lamb’s nose.

  “Out with ye, cherub, I’ve a need to make love to my wife.”

  Blair clucked her tongue and led Bluebell to the door, letting her out into the corridor where she’d find her own way outside. Now with Willa gone, there was no more threat to her sweet lamb.

  Edan came up behind her, his hands on her shoulder as he pressed his lips to the back of her neck and started to pluck the pins from her hair.

  “I think when ye called yourself Blair the Not So Fair, ye spoke not of your beauty, for that would be a lie. Ye’re the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen. With breasts as lush as fields of heather, and hips that keep me anchored as I fall into a deep well of lust. I have figured it out, though.”

  “Ye have?”

  “Aye. Ye meant not so fair, as in the way in which ye planned to torment me. For ye’ve been verra, verra unfair, my love.”

  She turned in his arms, kissing him with all the passion she possessed and murmured, “Love is not fair, but it is kind.”

  “Just like ye.”

  Excerpt from The Highlander’s Temptation

  Where the Sutherlands all began…

  Prologue

  Spring, 1282

  Highlands, Scotland

  They galloped through the eerie moonlit night. Warriors cloaked by darkness. Blending in with the forest, only the occasional glint of the moon off their weapons made their presence seem out of place.

  ’Twas chilly for spring, and yet, they rode hard enough the horses were lathered with sweat and foaming at the mouth. But the Montgomery clan wasn’t going to be pushed out of yet another meeting of the clans, not when their future depended on it. This meeting would put their clan on the map, make them an asset to their king and country. As it was, years before King Alexander III had lost one son and his wife. He’d not remarried and the fate of the country now relied on one son who didn’t feel the need to marry. The prince toyed with his life as though he had a death wish, fighting, drinking, and carrying on without a care in the world. The king’s only other chance at a succession was his daughter who’d married but had not yet shown any signs of a bairn filling her womb. If something were to happen to the king, the country would erupt into chaos. Every precaution needed to be taken.

  Young Jamie sat tall and proud upon his horse. Even prouder was he, that his da, the fearsome Montgomery laird, had allowed him to accompany the group of a half dozen seasoned warriors—the men who sat on his own clan council—to the meeting. The fact that his father had involved him in matters of state truly made his chest puff five times its size.

  After being fostered out the last seven years, Jamie had just returned to his father’s home. At age fourteen, he was ready to take on the duties of eldest son, for one day he would be laird. This was the perfect opportunity to show his da all he’d learned. To prove he was worthy.

  Laird Montgomery held up his hand and all the riders stopped short. Puffs of steam blew out in miniature clouds from the horses’ noses. Jamie’s heart slammed against his chest and he looked from side to side to make sure no one could hear it. He was a man after all, and men shouldn’t be scared of the dark. No matter how frightening the sounds were.

  Carried on the wind were the deep tones of men shouting and the shrill of a woman’s screams. Prickles rose on Jamie’s arms and legs. They must have happened upon a robbery or an ambush. When he’d set out to attend his father, he’d not counted on a fight. Nay, Jamie merely thought to stand beside his father and demand a place within the Bruce’s High Council.

  Swallowing hard, he glanced at his father, trying to assess his thoughts, but as usual, the man sat stoic, not a hint of emotion on his face.

  The laird glanced at his second in command and jutted his chin in silent communication. The second returned the nod. Jamie’s father made a circling motion with his fingers, and several of the men fanned out.

  Jamie observed the exchange, his throat near to bursting with questions. What was happening?

  Finally, his father motioned Jamie forward. Keeping his emotions at bay, Jamie urged his mount closer. His father bent toward him, indicating for Jamie to do the same, then spoke in a hushed tone.

  “We’re nearly to Sutherland lands. Just on the outskirts, son. ’Tis an attack, I’m certain. We mean to help.”

  Jamie swallowed past the lump in his throat and nodded. The meeting was to take place at Dunrobin Castle. Why that particular castle was chosen, Jamie had not been privy to. Though he speculated ’twas because of how far north it was. Well away from Stirling where the king resided.

  “Are ye up to it?” his father asked.

  Tightening his grip on the reins, Jamie nodded. Fear cascaded along his spine, but he’d never show any weakness in front of his father, especially now that he’d been invited on this very important journey.

  “Good. ’Twill give ye a chance to show me what ye’ve learned.”

  Again, Jamie nodded, though he disagreed. Saving people wasn’t a chance to show off what he’d learned. He could never look at protecting another as an opportunity to prove his skill, only as a chance to make a difference. But he kept that to himself. His da would never understand. If making a difference proved something to his father, then so be it.

  An owl screeched from somewhere in the distance as it caught onto its prey, almost in unison with the blood curdling scream of a woman.

  His father made a few more hand motions and the rest of their party followed him as they crept forward at a quickened pace on their mounts, avoiding making any noise.

  The road ended on a clearing, and some thirty horse-lengths away a band of outlaws circled a trio—a lady, one warrior, and a lad close to his own age.

  The outlaws caught sight of their approach, shouting and pointing. His father’s men couldn’t seem to move quickly enough and Jamie watched in horror as the man, woman and child were hacked down. All three of them on the ground, the outlaws turned on the Montgomery warriors and rushed forward as though they’d not a care in the world.

  Jamie shook. He’d never been so scared in his life. His throat had long since closed up and yet his stomach was threatening to purge everything he’d consumed that day. Even though he felt like vomiting, a sense of urgency, and power flooded his veins. Battle-rush, he’d heard it called by the seasoned warriors. And it was surging through his body, making him tingle all over.

  The laird and his men raised their swords in the air, roaring out their battle cries. Jam
ie raised his sword to do the same, but a flash of gold behind a large lichen-covered boulder caught his attention. He eased his knees on his mount’s middle.

  What was that?

  Another flash of gold — was that blonde hair? He’d never seen hair like that before.

  Jamie turned to his father, intent to point it out, but his sire was several horse-lengths ahead and ready to engage the outlaws, leaving it up to Jamie to investigate.

  After all, if there was another threat lying in wait, was it not up to someone in the group to seek them out? The rest of the warriors were intent on the outlaws which left Jamie to discover the identity of the thief.

  He veered his horse to the right, galloping toward the boulder. A wee lass darted out, lifting her skirts and running full force in the opposite direction. Jamie loosened his knees on his horse and slowed. That was not what he’d expected. At all. Jamie anticipated a warrior, not a tiny little girl whose legs were no match for his mount. As he neared, despite his slowed pace, he feared he’d trample the little imp.

  He leapt from his horse and chased after her on foot. The lass kept turning around, seeing him chasing her. The look of horror on her face nearly broke his heart. Och, he was no one to fear. But how would she know that? She probably thought he was after her like the outlaws had been after the man, woman and lad.

  “’Tis all right!” he called. “I will nay harm ye!”

  But she kept on running, and then was suddenly flying through the air, landing flat on her face.

  Jamie ran toward her, dropping to his knees as he reached her side and she pushed herself up.

  Her back shook with cries he was sure she tried hard to keep silent. He gathered her up onto his knees and she pressed her face to his leine shirt, wiping away tears, dirt and snot as she sobbed.

  “Momma,” she said. “Da!”

  “Hush, now,” Jamie crooned, unsure of what else he could say. She must have just watched her parents and brother get cut to the ground. Och, what an awful sight for any child to witness. Jamie shivered, at a loss for words.

  “Blaney!” she wailed, gripping onto his shirt and yanking. “They hurt!”

  Jamie dried her tears with the cuff of his sleeve. “Your family?” he asked.

  She nodded, her lower lip trembling, green-blue eyes wide with fear and glistening with tears. His chest swelled with emotion for the little imp and he gripped her tighter.

  “Do ye know who the men were?”

  “Bad people,” she mumbled.

  Jamie nodded. “What’s your name?”

  She chewed her lip as if trying to figure out if she should tell him. “Lorna. What are ye called?”

  “Jamie.” He flashed her what he hoped wasn’t a strained smile. “How old are ye, Lorna?”

  “Four.” She held up three of her fingers, then second guessed herself and held up four. “I’m four. How old are ye?”

  “Fourteen.”

  “Ye’re four, too?” she asked, her mouth dropping wide as she forgot the horror of the last few minutes of her life for a moment.

  “Fourteen. ’Tis four plus ten.”

  “I want to be fourteen, too.” She swiped at the mangled mop of blonde hair around her face, making more of a mess than anything else.

  “Then we’d best get ye home. Have ye any other family?”

  “A whole big one.”

  “Where?”

  “Dunrobin,” she said. “My da is laird.”

  “Laird Sutherland?” Jamie asked, trying to keep the surprise from his face. Did his father understand just how deep and unsettling this attack had been? A laird had been murdered. Was it an ambush? Was there more to it than just a band of outlaws? Were they men trying to stop the secret meeting from being held?

  There would be no meeting, if the laird who’d called the meeting was dead.

  “I’ll take ye home,” Jamie said, putting the girl on her feet and standing.

  “Will ye carry me?” she said, her lip trembling again. She’d lost a shoe and her yellow gown was stained and torn. “I’m scared.”

  “Aye. I’ll carry ye.”

  “Are ye my hero?” she asked, batting tear moistened lashes at him.

  Jamie rolled his eyes and picked her up. “I’m no hero, lass.”

  “Hmm… Ye seem like a hero to me.”

  Jamie didn’t answer. He tossed her on his horse and climbed up behind her. A glance behind showed that his father and his men had dispatched of most of the men, and a few others gave chase into the forest. They’d likely meet him at the castle as that had been their destination all along.

  Squeezing his mount’s sides, Jamie urged the horse into a gallop, intent on getting the girl to the safety of Dunrobin’s walls, and then returning to his father.

  Spotting Jamie with the lass, the guards threw open the gate. A nursemaid rushed over and grabbed Lorna from him, chiding her for sneaking away.

  “What’s happened?” A lad his own age approached. “Why did ye have my sister?”

  Jamie swallowed, dismounted and held out his arm to the other young man. “I found her behind a boulder.” Jamie took a deep breath, then looked the boy in the eye, hating the words he would have to say. “There was an ambush.”

  “My family?”

  Jamie shook his head. He opened his mouth to tell the dreadful news, but the way the boy’s face hardened, and eyes glistened, it didn’t seem necessary. As it happened, he was given a reprieve from saying more when his father and men came barreling through the gate a moment later.

  “Where’s the laird?” Jamie’s father bellowed.

  “If what this lad said is true, then I may be right here,” the boy said, straightening his shoulders.

  Laird Montgomery’s eyes narrowed, jaw tightened with understanding. “Aye, lad, ye are.”

  He leapt from his horse, his eyes lighting on Jamie “Where’ve ye been, lad? Ye scared the shite out of us.” His father looked pale, shaken. Had he truly scared him so much?

  “There was a lass,” Jamie said, “at the ambush. I brought her home.”

  His father snorted. “Always a lass. Mark my words, lad. Think here.” His father tapped Jamie’s forehead hard with the tip of his finger. “The mind always knows better than the sword.”

  Jamie frowned and his father walked back toward the young laird. It was the second time that day that he’d not agreed with his father. For if a lass was in need of rescuing, by God, he was going to be her rescuer.

  Chapter One

  Dunrobin Castle, Scottish Highlands

  Early Spring, 1297

  “I’ve arranged a meeting between Chief MacOwen and myself.”

  Lorna Sutherland lifted her eyes from her noon meal, the stew heavy as a bag of rocks in her belly as she met her older brother, Magnus’, gaze.

  “Why are ye telling me this?” she asked.

  He raised dark brows as though he was surprised at her asking. What was he up to?

  “I thought it important for ye to know.”

  She raised a brow and struggled to swallow the bit of pulverized carrot in her mouth. Her jaw hurt from clenching it, and she thought she might choke. There could only be one reason he felt the need to tell her this and she was certain she didn’t want to know the answer. Gingerly, she set down her knife on her trencher and took a rather large gulp of watered wine, hoping it would help open her suddenly seized throat.

  A moment later, she cocked her head innocently, and said, “Does not a laird and chief of his clan keep such talk to himself and his trusted council?” The haughty tone that took over could not be helped.

  After nineteen summers, this conversation had been a long time coming. It was Aunt Fiona’s fault. She’d arrived the week before, returning Heather, the youngest and wildest of the Sutherland siblings, and happened to see Lorna riding like the wind. Disgusted, her aunt marched straight to Magnus and demanded that he marry her off. Tame her, she’d said.

  Lorna didn’t see the problem with riding and why that m
eant she had to marry. So what if she liked to ride her horse standing on the saddle? She was good at it. Wasn’t it important for a lass to excel in areas that she had skill?

  Now granted, Lorna did admit that having her arms up in the air and eyes closed was borderline dangerous, but she’d done it a thousand times without mishap.

  Even still, picturing her aunt’s look of horror and how it had made Lorna laugh, didn’t soften the blow of Magnus listening to their aunt’s advice.

  Magnus set down the leg of fowl he’d been eating and leaned forward on the table, his elbows pressing into the wood. Lorna found it hard to look him in the eye when he got like that. All serious and laird-like. He was her brother first, and chief second. Or at least, that’s how she saw it. Judging from the anger simmering just beneath the surface of his clenched jaw and narrowed eyes, she was about to catch wind.

  The room suddenly grew still, as if they were all wondering what he’d say—even the dogs.

  He bared his teeth in something that was probably supposed to resemble a smile. A few of the inhabitants picked up superficial conversations again, trying as best they could to pretend they weren’t paying attention. Others blatantly stared in curiosity.

  “That is the case, save for when it involves deciding your future.”

  Oh, she was going to bait the bear. Lorna drew in a deep breath, crossed her arms over her chest and leaned away from the table. She could hardly look at him as she spoke. “Seems ye’ve already done just that.”

  Magnus’ lips thinned into a grimace. “I see ye’ll fight me on it.”

  “I dinna wish to marry.” Emotion carried on every word. Didn’t he realize what he was doing to her? The thought of marrying made her physically ill.

  “Ye dinna wish to marry or ye dinna wish to marry MacOwen?”

  By now the entire trestle table had quieted once more, and all eyes were riveted on the two of them. However she answered was going to determine the mood set in the room.