Chapter 16
R yan was uneasy as he saddled the horses. He turned his gaze to the horizon. He was a master of his own territory, but what lay beyond that was beyond his control. There were bandits, foul creatures of the night, and prowling Gilmour men looking to take his wife away from him.
He had spent so much time by himself that worrying about other people was an uncommon notion. Anxiety laced his heart as he feared that a grim fate would befall them. He had almost lost Caroline once and had only just gotten to her in time.
Then, she hadn’t meant as much to him as she did now. If they were set upon by bandits, he would fight to the death for her, not that he was about to tell her that.
Caroline came striding out of the Keep. She wore thick boots, a heavy skirt, and a warm woolen shawl. Her hair was tied back, revealing her fierce features. She nodded towards Ryan and smiled, relishing the opportunity to ride. She inspected the horse and nodded approvingly.
“This looks a fine steed,” she observed.
Before Ryan could offer to help her upon the horse, she pulled herself up and swung her leg over, settling onto the beast. She patted its mane and the horse responded positively to her. Ryan stifled a helpless laugh. Wild horses could be broken, but he was getting the sense that such a thing would have been impossible where Caroline was concerned.
Ryan mounted his horse too, and they began trotting towards the path that led away from his Keep.
“Ye are nae gaeing tae try anything foolish and escape, are ye?”
“Ye are just gaeing tae hae tae trust that I will nae,” she flashed him a wicked smile.
Ryan narrowed his eyes. He doubted that she would, for surely she wouldn’t leave her sisters behind, but there was always an element of doubt with her. She broke away at a fast trot as they cleared the Keep. Ryan geed his horse to keep up with her.
“Dinnae stray tae far. We are safe here, but once we leave my territory all manner of danger can befall us, and we hae nae idea how many men yer uncle has, searching for ye.”
“I hae my eyes peeled. I dinnae plan tae be captured again,” she yelled, and then lowered herself to increase her speed.
Ryan exhaled with frustration, although he couldn’t help but admire her as well. She was courageous and bold, never shying away from danger, whether that be from other people, or from himself. It had taken her a great deal of courage to confront him in the manner that she did. She had put everything she had at his mercy, for he could have done anything to her whilst in his bed. But what they shared had been profound. He was still reeling from it even now. To be so close to another person, it seemed impossible, but it truly felt as though their souls had melted together. He wondered if any parts of her had been left within him, and vice versa.
Stray locks of hair whipped in the wind as she rode slightly ahead of him, and his heart thrummed. He enjoyed waking up beside her, feeling her touch with the first rays of dawn, and thought to himself that he could well get used to it.
The morning sun was pale, breaking through the trees in shards of light. The horses galloped along the worn path, thundering against the ground. It would take a day to arrive at the MacLeod Clan, although they pushed the horses hard to shorten this, as Ryan did not want to spend more time in the dangerous outside than was necessary.
As they rode, he had to force himself to tear his gaze away from Caroline. He could not allow himself to be distracted. He scanned the shadows for signs of danger, but thankfully saw none.
They rode for the entire morning before they stopped by a stream, allowing the horses to slake their thirst. It gave Ryan and Caroline a chance to rest their aching thighs as well. Caroline knelt down and cupped fresh water in her hands, lapping it up from the crystal stream. The mossy ground was soft and lush around her, whilst the branches of a tree stretched overhead, casting her in a comforting shadow.
“If ye want tae bathe, I am nae gaeing tae stop ye,” he said.
Caroline turned to him and smiled.
“I thought ye were in a hurry?”
Ryan rolled his shoulders. “Some things are worth waiting for.”
“Well, if ye would oblige me, perhaps ye should bathe,” she challenged.
Ryan shifted his weight between his feet. She rose, laughing, her lips still wet with the water from the stream.
“I think ye hae a wee bit of a problem, Ryan. I think ye are falling in love with me.”
How easily she got under his skin. How easily she saw the true feelings that he had always striven to keep private. His cheeks burned. He had lain with her, but he was still getting used to how their dynamic had changed. He was so used to being a Laird that he could adopt the mannerisms and attitude required by the role without any difficulty at all. As a husband, he was still learning.
“I could never love ye, Gilmour,” he responded, with a hint of dark humor.
Caroline arched a beguiling eyebrow. “I fear that is one thing beyond yer control. Is it the only thing that scares ye?” she asked, playfully pacing before him, twirling her skirt and casting her wide eyes in his direction.
It wasn’t the only thing that scared him. He was also afraid of losing her, although he wasn’t ready to admit that. He remained silent, keeping his lips pressed together, as he feared that speaking would reveal too much of himself. He wasn’t used to someone having so much of an advantage over him.
“I am nae afraid of it. I welcome a challenge. I never thought that I would marry under these circumstances, but actually, I believe it is a boon. Imagine how mundane it would hae been hae I fallen in love at first sight. Where’s the fun in that?” she flashed a smile towards him, and he couldn’t help but reflect the expression.
She had a way of breaking through every barrier that he erected, and at some point he was simply going to have to accept surrender.
“Ye mean ye dinnae love me when ye were on yer knees before me?”
By now she had pranced her way towards him, and he caught her waist, unable to resist touching her again, holding her. She draped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. She was impossibly soft, and he could feel himself prickling all over with an energy that was ready to explode. His fingers twitched against her, and he swallowed a lump in his throat. She pressed her fingers against the back of his head, encouraging him to tilt it forward. She pushed herself onto her tip toes and their lips were almost touching.
“I felt many things that day, but nae love. That came later. And I know ye feel the same way. Ye showed me last night. I want ye tae show me again.”
Her voice fell to a whisper and the words ran through his mind. He felt weak in front of her, ready and willing to do anything she asked. He closed his eyes and drew her in for a passionate kiss, one that sent fire spewing through his body. She arched her back and his knees trembled, ready to sink into the moss, but they were interrupted by a rustling sound.
His protective warrior instincts took hold immediately. He tore his lips away from her, with much regret, and then pulled her behind him. With his other hand, he drew his sword and turned in the direction of the noise. The blade gleamed in the pale light, and his eyes twitched. His ears were pricked, listening for voices and trying to gauge how many threats were present. Caroline pressed herself tightly against his back, her breath fervent.
How quickly paradise could be disturbed.
He gripped the hilt of his sword, so tightly his knuckles went white. His gaze caught the flicker of movement. Emerging from the underbrush was a fox. It stared at them for a moment, then with a flick of its tail darted away again. Ryan breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled, turning back to Caroline. She mirrored his feelings.
“We should probably get gaeing,” he suggested with much regret.
In an ideal world, he could have spent hours with her here in this glade, lying naked with her in his arms, listening to the stream dance nearby. But every moment they tarried gave more opportunities for them to be discovered, so they had to dampen their desire for the time being. They returned to their horses, which were invigorated from the brief respite, and then returned on their way, riding at a quick pace towards MacLeod lands.
She had already given him her body, and she claimed to give him her love. But if she did speak out against her uncle and get Laird MacLeod to help Ryan, then he would trust her beyond any doubt.
Ryan and Caroline encountered no more threats on their journey. They passed into MacLeod land and rode towards the Keep at great haste. The Keep was low and flat, with a domed roof that set it apart from others.
As they entered the village, they passed a huge stone monument that had been there for centuries. It was carved with strange markings, the meanings of which had been lost to time. Villagers looked at them with curiosity, although nobody seemed bothered by their appearance.
Ryan looked for any sign that Gorram Gilmour was present, but he could see none, and this eased the tension within his heart.
They hitched their horses and were escorted into the Keep. Laird MacLeod was sitting in his chamber, enjoying some food. He was a content and well-fed man, his rotund figure unlike that of Ryan’s. His fingers were thick, his lips full and twitching. Furtive eyes darted around, drinking in everything. Dressed well, he carried himself with an air of refinement. While many Lairds in the Highlands were bred for war, this one was not.
A plate had been placed on a small table in front of him. He was eating a small bird, peeling the meat from the bone. A servant handed him a cloth to wipe the grease off his fingers. He slowly turned to Ryan, and then raised an eyebrow as he saw Caroline.
“This is most unusual. I never thought we would meet again under these circumstances, Lady Gilmour,” he said, directing his words towards Caroline.
He glared at Ryan, clearly wary of him. Ryan looked towards Caroline. For a moment, his heart flickered with heat. If she wanted, then she could accuse him of being her captor, and it was he who was in a position of vulnerability. Laird MacLeod could order his guards to subdue him, and he would not be able to do anything about it. His heart was in his throat and he held his breath.
“If I may correct ye, my Laird, I am now Lady Knox,” she declared.
Ryan let his breath go.
The Laird leaned forward and had a curious look on his face. “I see, and how did this come tae be? I dinnae realize that any wedding hae been arranged. Surely, I would hae heard if yer clans were forming an alliance.”
The very notion made Ryan feel sick. He grimaced. Caroline placed a subtle hand on his arm, suggesting that she had everything under control.
“It was nae arranged, but sadly the Gilmour Clan hae been shrouded in darkness.”
“Of course. I am sorry for yer loss.” Laird MacLeod bowed his head deeply.
“Thank ye, yer words are kind. However, there is sinister behavior afoot. The new Laird, my uncle, wanted tae take me as his bride. I could nae abide such a thing, sae I ran and found myself a guest of Laird Knox. He made me a generous offer, one that I found I could nae refuse,” she flashed a wry glance towards Ryan. “He offered tae protect me from any fate that might befall me. However, now my uncle seems determined tae win me back, and I fear that he might present the situation as one where he is the victim. But I can assure ye I was nae stolen without my consent. I agreed tae marry Ryan willingly.”
To emphasize this point, she took Ryan’s hand and laced her fingers with his. Ryan felt strength flow through him. His back straightened and he pushed his shoulders back.
Laird MacLeod considered her words, tapping his finger against his lips. “Well, that is most reassuring tae hear. There hae been rumors…” He waved his hand in the air.
“We hae come tae ye tae ask ye again tae aid us in the fight against the Gilmour Clan. I would like tae reiterate what I mentioned in my letter,” Ryan began, but the Laird cut him off by raising a hand.
“I remember yer letter well. What ye propose is beyond the pale. I hae known Gorram for a long time. I cannae simply take yer word for it. Ye ask tae much, especially when the blood of my people is at stake.”
Ryan stepped forward, about to speak again, but Caroline stopped him.
“Then perhaps we could come to an agreement where ye dinnae hae tae sacrifice the blood of yer people. Will ye at least agree tae remain neutral if a conflict does arise between the two clans? Promise that ye will nae side with my uncle. Da always spoke well of ye, and if my uncle did kill him, then ye would be siding with his murderer.”
The approach was not without risk. One mistake Ryan now realized he made during his reign was that he had been insular and isolated. He had not cultivated good relations with the clans around him, so he was largely an unknown factor to people like Laird MacLeod, and they were not inclined to trust him. He was grateful that Caroline had insisted on coming here with him, for otherwise he might well have been turned away with his words being ignored.
“I see that ye hae inherited ye Da’s wisdom,” Laird MacLeod nodded. “I will indeed sign such an agreement.”
“And what if we can prove that the former Laird was murdered?” Ryan asked.
Laird MacLeod took a heavy breath. He leaned back in his high seat and lifted his gaze towards the ceiling. “It can be a messy thing, justice. Even if ye dae prove this tae be true, what dae ye think is gaeing tae happen? The current Laird hae a son who I am sure will wish tae press his claim. The only thing ye are promising me is a bloody affair. Now, if there was another heir, one that hae a direct link tae the murdered Laird, then they would hae more of a right tae the clan. If ye hae proof and an heir, then aye, perhaps, I can support ye in that instance. But ye hae better be careful because ye are venturing intae murky territory. This is gaeing tae get very gruesome very quickly, sae tread carefully,” the Laird warned.
He ordered his servants to have an agreement written up there and then, which was quickly signed, with copies given to both parties.
“It’s quite a ride back tae yer Keep. If ye like, ye can enjoy our hospitality for the night,” Laird MacLeod offered.
Ryan bowed. “I am grateful for yer offer, but these are dangerous times for a Laird tae be away from his clan. We must return swiftly,” he said.
The Laird bid them farewell with a supply of food to seem them along their journey, and then he and Caroline left.
“I know that it’s nae as much as ye were hoping for,” Caroline began.
“It’s more than I hae when I came here, and we only hae it thanks tae ye.”
Ryan nodded in her direction and offered her an appreciative smile. She grew and grew in his estimation, and she had truly proven herself to be on his side. They saddled their horses, but before they rode, Ryan took her hand.
“I hae a spy in yer clan,” he confessed.
Caroline’s eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open. “A spy?” she gasped.
“Aye,” Ryan nodded. “That’s how I was able tae learn about the nature of yer Da’s death. It was hard for them tae escape the clan without being noticed, but they are on their way tae us with the proof. They hae the bottle of the liquid, and they hae been working tae trace the seller. Once they hae his identity, they are gaeing tae get them tae reveal that yer uncle bought the poison, proving that he was responsible for yer Da’s death.”
Caroline spent a few moments in silence, trying to understand what was happening. “But why, why would ye dae this? Dinnae ye want my Da dead? Why dae ye want tae punish the one responsible?”
“Because he stole my justice from me, first of all. Second of all, yer clan being in turmoil is good for me. I can take advantage by pressing my claim on disputed lands. It just sae happened that ye fell intae my lap, sae tae speak, and I realized I hae another way.”
Caroline nodded. “I see. Well, I want tae know what this spy hae tae say for himself, and if my uncle truly is responsible, then naething on earth will save him from justice,” Caroline said with anger flashing in her eyes.
She was a formidable woman in so many ways, and Ryan was proud to call her his wife. They set off for home, plunging into the twilight with the wind at their backs.