Chapter 28
Niall sat by the fire, across from Jamie.
After Dugald and Jamie had talked, the whole clan had been offered the warmth of the hall, and food.
Niall knew what the agreement between his father and Sir Jamie was, for his father had come downstairs blustering over Sheena’s stubbornness awhile before.
But one look at Jamie and he had gone back upstairs to try again.
Niall was not surprised that The MacKinnion wanted to marry Sheena. He wondered if Sheena knew that James MacKinnion had seen her in the glen, or that trying to find her again had got Jamie captured.
Watching the Highlander, Niall almost laughed.
He was as nervous as any bridegroom, worrying over what was happening in the part of the castle where Sheena was staying, and throwing tantrums. He hadn’t spoken one word to Niall, didn’t seem even to know he was there, but instead kept his eyes turned to the end of the hall where Dugald had disappeared.
It was just as well. Niall wasn’t eager to speak to Jamie. He was still in awe of the large man.
“’Tis well our father never lived to see our hall overflowing with Fergussons.”
Jamie turned and looked at Colen coolly. “If you’ve come to argue more with me, I’d rather no’ be hearing it.”
“No’ to argue, Jamie. But I canna contain my curiosity. Has it been settled?”
“Her father is still with her.”
“And who is this?” Colen asked.
Jamie noticed Niall then, and smiled at him. “Sheena’s brother, Niall,” he said to Colen. To Niall he said, “And this is my brother, Colen.”
Niall’s light blue eyes were huge. “Och, you’re as big as he is!”
Colen laughed. “So I am—almost. And did he tell you we were both wanting your sister?” He kept his voice light.
Niall looked from one brother to the other. “But you’re younger than she is,” he blurted innocently, not realizing what a sore subject it was.
“So I’ve been told—one too many times,” Colen replied curtly.
“You mean you’d no’ mind dancing to her tune? My sister has a knack for getting her way, you know. Even our father canna contend with her when her temper’s up.” Jamie chuckled, and Niall said firmly, “I wouldna laugh, MacKinnion. You’ll no’ have an easy time of it.”
Jamie grunted, making Colen laugh. “I suppose I should be grateful I’ve lost her to you, brother. I think I’d prefer a wife I can handle.”
Jamie lingered his cheek, remembering the slap. Sheena was indeed a lass to contend with. But she could be tamed. He had no doubt about that.
They went on, the three of them, swapping stories about the girl, until Colen left to visit Daphne. His sister had been in bed, ill, since her arrival.
“I’ll be telling Daphne the news, if Aunt Lydia hasna already done so. ’Tis all she can talk about, how happy she is Sheena’s a Fergusson,” Colen said in parting. Then he suddenly added solemnly, “Just never hurt her, Jamie. ’Tis all I ask.” He turned away abruptly.
Jamie stared after his brother, a frown creasing his brow. “Sweet Mary, my own brother thinks me a brute,” he muttered.
Niall heard him. “Then you really havena touched her? I mean…?”
“I hate to disappoint you, lad, but I’m no’ the ravisher of women you assume I am.”
“The impression you gave when last we met was no’ encouraging. You did say—”
“You’ve no’ need to remind me,” Jamie interrupted. “But I was angry then, Niall, with you and with your father. The truth is, your father never offered me Sheena. But if you hadna thought so, then you would never have let me go. So I let you think he had.”
“Sheena wouldna be here now if she hadn’t been banished,” Niall continued thoughtfully. “She had a great fear of you, James MacKinnion. Does she still? Is that why my father is taking so long?”
“She did fear me, I’ll no’ deny it. But what she feared was my learning who she was.
Even knowing how much I wanted her, she thought I’d do her harm if I discovered she was a Fergusson.
Today she learned it made no difference to me.
I’d never harm her. She knows that, deep in her heart, but she’s too stubborn to admit it. ”
“What are you saying, MacKinnion?”
“That I believe she feels the same about me as I do about her.”
Sheena burst into tears the moment her father left her room. Not five minutes later, Niall was knocking on her door, ready to continue where her father had left off. What was she to do, when the two people she cared the most for were insisting she marry The MacKinnion?
Her father hadn’t been kind about it. “The feud will be over,” he had said. “Our kin will be safe.”
As if the fate of them all were in her hands. He had made it sound as terrible as he could.
“You want us all to die?” he had stormed. “He says you’ll no’ leave this place unless you’re his wife. Can I go home, knowing that? Nay, ’twill mean war now, the bloodiest war yet. Is that what you’re wanting? Are you that selfish, Sheena, lass?”
How he had heaped on the recriminations! He had thundered, and he had threatened. His last words had been, “You’ll do it!”
And then Niall. She was so happy to see him, but he ruined their reunion. “You’ll have to be marrying him, you know. And ’tis lucky you are, I’m thinking.”
Lucky! Could no one see her point of view? “What of the raids, the killings?” she finally demanded, furious with her brother, her father, all of them. “What of his first wife, who died rather than be married to him? And what of love? He’s no’ spoken of love.”
“And if he did speak of it?” her brother asked quietly.
Sheena never answered. She didn’t know why she had mentioned it at all. Grasping at straws was what she was doing, reaching out desperately. But whenever she reached out, she found herself clutching at nothing. Was there no help for her? Had they taken everything away?