Chapter Twenty-Three
Healing a Highlander’s Heart
The book that changed all my plans. I received so many emails about Logan Ramsay that I had to add Clan Ramsay to my series.
Chapter Eleven
Logan Ramsay steals Brenna from her bed on Grant land to save his dying brother.
Alex wasn’t willing to lose his sister, so he does what he must to bring her home. Alex
arrives on Ramsay land with a large force of warriors to retrieve his sister—the beginning
of the Grant-Ramsay alliance wasn’t so grand.
I loved Brenna in this scene because she stood up for what she knew was right,
even though it meant going against her brother’s orders.
Quade heard the Grant’s battle cry and cringed.
“Grant! By my arrow, give me a moment before you finish me. Every man should be granted a last request. Aye? By your Scottish honor?”
Alex’s arm reached across the sea of warriors. Instant silence followed.
Grant nudged his magnificent stallion forward, bringing it within inches of his horse. “You kidnapped my sister, Ramsay. There is no honor in you as a Scotsman.”
The Grant was massive and every bit as impressive as he was rumored to be.
“Aye, I acted in haste. God’s truth, my brother acted in haste because I was on death’s door.
Your sister has come to nae harm. I ask you to come to my hall and speak to her before you pass judgment on my clan.
The actions I took were for my own benefit and no’ for my clan’s. ”
Quade’s eyes met the laird’s. He thought he saw a glimmer of softening there, enough to give him hope he was not about to have his head cleaved from his body in one swoop from the man’s giant claymore.
Grant’s brother flanked him. He had eyes like Brenna, more soulful than the lairds.
Quade reminded himself he spoke to the family of the lass he loved, and he would give them as much respect as he gave her.
Grant’s powerful warhorse whinnied and pawed the ground, anxious about something, but he couldn’t tell what. Then Quade caught the subtle shift of Grant’s eyes back toward the keep. What had he seen? He turned his head to look in that direction and drew back.
Brenna.
Brenna flew across the meadow on her horse in all her glory.
He tried to return his gaze to the Grant but couldn’t.
Powerless against the siren flying toward them, his chest swelled with a strange kind of pride as she galloped toward them.
Her hair was unbound, chestnut locks waving in the sun, but she didn’t let that stop her.
He knew Brenna by now. She never cared about her appearance, whether due to her innocent misunderstanding of how it affected people or because it wasn’t important to her, he wasn’t sure.
Her hair had been back earlier, but it was always in a bit of disarray, so it hadn’t taken much for the wind to pull it from its confines.
She was magnificent—glorious in her beauty, steadfast in her strength.
Everything about her called to him without speaking.
He couldn’t let her go, he realized as he watched her, he would never let her go.
Beyond her beauty, she was the most intelligent lass he had ever met.
She knew things most men could not begin to understand, things he couldn’t begin to understand.
They belonged together. He knew he couldn’t marry her, but mayhap he could settle with having her stay in his keep as the healer.
He would force himself to use restraint and stay away from her just to keep her near.
His people needed her, his children needed her.
He needed her.
He loved her and admired her more than he had ever loved before. That thought frightened him, but he knew he would do whatever it took to make her stay. What Laird Grant wanted did not matter. This called for extreme measures.
She approached their group and nodded to her brothers, situating herself almost between the two chieftains. “Alex, Brodie.” She greeted both with a stiff countenance that puzzled him.
“Lady Brenna,” Alex greeted her. “How do you fare?”
Her mouth curved a touch. “I am well.”
Quade still could not take his eyes from her. She sat her horse as a queen would, regal in her bearing, her brown eyes taking in everything at once. Grant’s entire army of warriors stood as still as can be, awaiting any word from her.
“Brenna, move your horse behind mine.” Alex barked his order without flinching.
She didn’t budge.
“Brenna? Your laird gave you an order.” Brodie glared at her.
“Aye, Alex. I heard your order. Excuse me, my laird. I would like permission to speak first.” Her eyes bored into her brother’s.
Stubborn woman! What was she thinking to deny her laird? Quade wanted to shake her before she made any more poor decisions. He glanced back at Laird Grant and decided he didn’t like the menacing look he was giving his sister.
Quade moved his horse over in front of Brenna. “Lass, go behind me.”
Brenna paused for a long moment, clearly thinking about her decision and its implications, before slowly moving her horse behind him.
Quade’s heart soared. Mayhap there was hope.
A muscle in Alex’s face twitched. “You give your life for my sister, Ramsay?”
“Aye, I do.”
“You’ve made your choice.” Alex pulled his claymore out, wielding it high enough for all to see.
“Alex, stop! Please listen to me. If you have any regard for me at all, you will stop this nonsense and enter the hall. I have need to speak to you and no’ in front of your guardsmen. Quade, you will allow my brothers into the keep for purposes of negotiation?”
Quade’s eyes never left the laird’s eyes. “Aye, your family is always welcome. As long as I have your brother’s word that he will not harm you or force you to do anything against your will.”
Alex’s eyebrow rose. “I would never harm my sister, but she may no’ like the decision I make. I agree, for her sake only, to discuss the situation.”
Quade looked to Brenna for confirmation. “Lady Brenna? Is this agreeable to you?”
“Am I allowed to be part of the discussion?” she asked, her eyes pinned on her brother. “Alex, I willnae have important decisions made about my life without my input. You ken how our mother felt about such things.”
Alex’s mouth quirked before he nodded in agreement. “Stubborn lass. You have my word.”
“I welcome you at my table, Laird Grant. You and your brother. We will send food and ale out for your guardsmen.”
“Agreed. Brodie, get the men settled and I will see you in the hall.”
Brenna is trying to convince Alex that Quade and his family are right for her:
She had to call on her reserves. She had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, that her brother would listen to reason and do what was best for the Ramsays, but she would have to do what was necessary.
Ever since he had married Madeline MacDonald, her brother’s heart had softened. Once she had given him twin boys, his heart had softened even more. His exterior was still a laird’s hardened countenance, but he had one weakness and she intended to use it.
When the twins were born, he had hoped for a lass. Alex so loved his wife that he had wanted a lassie with blonde curls, just like Madeline’s. He loved his lads with all his heart, but he still longed for a wee lass to settle on his lap, and hoped for one with Maddie’s present carry.
He wanted a lass just like Lily. Wee Lily with her long yellow curls and infectious giggle would bring Alex Grant to his knees.
Or so Brenna hoped.
“Alex, I must leave to check on wee Lily. I will return promptly, I promise.” She glanced at her brother before heading to the stairs. His forehead furrowed, but he nodded, indicating that she would have time to retrieve Lily before he acted.
A few moments later, she descended the steps with Lily in her arms, the wee lass bubbling with excitement to be allowed back in the great hall, especially to meet someone new.
“Lady Brenna, who is the really big lad? I think he is bigger than my da, and I thought my da was the biggest ever. What is his name? Is he one of your brothers? What are their names? Do you love both your brothers? Who is the biggest? Can I talk to them?” She waved to the group below stairs.
When Brenna set her down in at the bottom of the stairs, she charged over to her father as fast as her wee legs could carry her. Brenna was so proud to see her nearly running—not quite a full run yet, but she was so much improved.
“Papa! I am so happy to be here. See how fast I am now!”
Quade stood up and caught his daughter before lifting her in the air and planting a big kiss on her cheek. “Lily, use your proper manners.” He set her back down. “You must curtsy to Laird Grant and greet him.”
The plan had worked. Brenna watched as her big brother stood, clearly charmed by the wee lass. Her heart swelled because her instinct had been correct. A smile had broken out across Alex’s face counter to his will.
Lily stood in front of him, attempted a curtsy but stumbled. “Good day to you, Laird Grant.” Her father helped her straighten and her mop of curls tipped back as she stared up at Alex.
“My, he is big. Why is he bigger than you, Da?” Her innocent grin seemed to hit Alex right between the eyes.
Quade sat and picked Lily up, lifting her into his lap. “Sit, Laird Grant. My daughter is a bit talkative now that she has more energy. I have never seen her this way. I must confess that I owe her good health to your sister. She is the only healer who has been able to determine Lily’s problem.”
“And I am all better, Laird Grant. Watch me.”
Lily jumped off her father’s lap and turned to look at him. “Watch how fast I am. Papa, I will run to the other end of the hall and back.”
She took off, only stopping once before she came to the other end. “Papa, see? Am I no’ the fastest ever? Watch me, Laird Grant! I am the fastest.”
They all followed Lily as her little legs churned back toward them, her arms swirling furiously.
“See, Laird Grant?” She stopped in front of Alex. He stared at her wide-eyed and nodded his head.