Colin's Quest (5 page)

Colin turned to Angus and let out a steadying breath. “Let’s go.”

The MacGregors sat around a fire, finishing their evening meal. Unlike the MacLaren camp, where laughter and constant conversation filled the time, this camp was solemn, oppressive. A sense of foreboding crept through Colin as they walked straight up to Dougal.

Without acknowledging them, Dougal washed down his food with coffee and set his cup aside.

“You’ve wasted your time, MacLaren.”

“But you’ve yet to hear why we’ve come,” Angus replied, frustration at the man’s lack of respect burning a hole in his gut.

“I know why you’re here and my daughter will never marry your boy. I’ll send her to a convent before I’d let that happen.”

A collective gasp from Dougal’s wife and Sarah had no impact on him.

“Mr. MacGregor, let me—”

Standing in one abrupt move, Dougal whirled on Colin, their chests touching. To his credit, Colin stood firm, glaring into the older man’s eyes.

His face red, eyes bulging, he repeated his message. “You’ll not have my daughter. It makes no difference if you offer all you and your family own. She’ll never be yours.”

Colin took his gaze off Dougal long enough to glance at Sarah, tears streaming down her face as her mother wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Anger swelled within him. He should be the one comforting Sarah, telling her to forget what her da said and believe they still had a future. Sarah had to understand he’d never give up on them—not ever.

Angus stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. “Perhaps if we calm down—”

This time Dougal’s wrath turned on Angus. “Take your kin and leave.” He jutted his chin toward Colin, unmistakable hatred blazing from bloodshot eyes. “We’ll speak of this no more.”

“But, Da…” Sarah tore herself from her mother’s embrace and ran toward Dougal. “Please, Da, just listen to him.” She got to a foot from him before his massive arm swung out, knocking her to the ground.

Colin could take no more. Launching himself onto Dougal’s back, he grabbed the man’s arms, wrenching them backward, pulling him away from Sarah.

“You’ll not hurt her,” Colin yelled, his voice containing all the pent up fury he felt for the vile man.

Dougal whirled, throwing Colin from his back, then turned toward his wife. “Take her to the wagon,” he ordered, shooting a gaze at Sarah. He spun back toward Colin who charged, ramming his head into Dougal’s stomach.

The man stumbled backward, falling over a log before landing with a thud. “I’ll kill you,” he bellowed before storming toward Colin.

As if prearranged, the three oldest MacLaren men and their sons appeared from out of the darkness, standing behind Colin.

“You fight one of us, you fight us all, MacGregor. Make your decision carefully,” Angus warned, inserting himself in front of Colin.

Even with his one brother and cousin, Dougal knew they were no match for the four brothers and oldest sons. Although he wanted nothing more than to teach the MacLarens a lesson, he couldn’t afford to get hurt before finishing their journey to Oregon.

Dougal stepped up to him. “You take your boy and go. Do not let him near me or mine again. I won’t be responsible for what happens to him if you do.”

Angus’s eyes narrowed on him before nodding, then turning to Colin.

“It’s over, lad. Let’s go.” He took his son’s arm.

“Da…I can’t—”

Angus yanked Colin to him, sending him a stern look. “You will do as I say and leave. It’s done.” Pushing his son ahead of him, Angus followed, his body shaking with anger at MacGregor and grief for his son.

They’d made it no more than twenty feet when Sarah’s anguished cry carried through the night.

“Colin!” His name echoed through the camp, then her voice grew silent.

Angus tightened his grip on Colin, Gillis and Ewan using their bodies to keep him from moving away. His eyes focused ahead, Angus forced himself not to look at his son, already knowing what he’d see.

Nodding to his brothers as they reached their wagons, Angus guided Colin ahead, detouring toward an outcropping of rocks, then let go of his arm.

“You will not go near the MacGregor’s camp again, do you understand?”

Colin’s tormented face nearly brought Angus to his knees, but he wouldn’t relent. Colin’s life might depend on him agreeing to let Sarah go.

“Colin, did you hear me, lad?”

Swallowing the bitterness he felt, Colin nodded before fastening a determined look on Angus. “I will stay away from her…for now. But I will never let Sarah go. One day, she will be mine, Da. I swear before God she will.”

In a somber mood, the MacLarens entered Fort Hall the following morning. The events of the night before had affected all of them, and besides Colin, perhaps none more than the oldest MacLaren. They spoke little of it, yet all had experienced the same youthful love, accepting it as part of what their ancestors called the MacLaren curse. When MacLaren men found love, they gave their heart for life. It had happened to their father, then to Angus, Gillis, Ewan, and Ian. Although they’d joked about it over the years, acknowledging it to be more a fairy tale than fate, it appeared there’d be no changing the MacLaren legacy.

“I need to see her once more, Da. I can’t let her go without saying goodbye.”

Angus knew this conversation would come. He’d spoken to Kyla about it, already deciding what would be done. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small object, wrapped in almost threadbare material, and handed it to Colin.

His brows knitting together, Colin looked down on it in confusion. “What is it?” He let Angus slip it into his hand.

“It belonged to my ma, your gram. When she died, her wish was that this go to the oldest MacLaren grandson, then passed on to his wife. It is yours, Colin. You can choose the lass you give it to.”

Colin’s hands shook as he let the object slide from the fabric. His gaze shot to Angus, then back down to the most beautiful brooch he’d ever seen. Made of silver, the oval brooch, open in the center, had crosshatched hand engraving on the face, three Citrine stones on the top were set in an ornate silver wing, with one stone set on the bottom. He held it in his palm, already envisioning Sarah wearing it.

“My da gave it to her when they married,” Angus continued. “Be warned. When you give it, your heart will go with it.”

“It’s already hers, Da. There’ll be no other wife for me.”

Angus clasped his shoulder. “Then we’ll find a way for you to see Sarah before we leave.”

Getting Colin and Sarah alone had been easier than anyone thought. The MacGregor men had left in the early evening for a round of drinking, leaving the women and children alone. Stumbling into camp before midnight, each collapsed, falling into a deep, undisturbed sleep.

“Now, Sarah, while everyone is asleep. There will be no one to catch you together.” Geneen tugged at her sister’s arm. “He’s waiting for you next to the general store.” She pointed up the street.

Seeing Colin’s lean form, Sarah broke away and ran to him, hurling herself into his arms.

“Ach, lassie, it’s a wonder I caught you.” Colin chuckled, burying his face in her hair, breathing in her unique scent, wanting to make it last so he’d never forget it. Squeezing his eyes tight on the thought, he pulled back, offering her a warm smile. “I love you, Sarah. I’ll never let you go.”

“But, Colin…”

He lifted a finger to her lips. “Shush now, lassie. You must believe. When we’re older, I’ll come for you, claim you as my wife, and bring you home. Will you leave with me when that happens?”

Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “Aye, Colin. I’ll wait forever for you.”

“And marry me?”

“Aye, no other.”

Sliding his hand into a pocket, he pulled out the brooch. “This belonged to my gram. Now, it’s yours. It’s my promise to you, Sarah. Do not misunderstand. We are betrothed as surely as any two people can be. I will come for you as soon as I can and we’ll marry. Never doubt it for a minute.” He took her hand in his, laying the brooch in her palm.

She clutched it to her heart, her body shaking. “Take me with you, Colin. Please. Don’t leave me.” Tears streamed down her face as her eyes implored him not to go.

It took all the strength within him not to grab her hand and run. “We cannot be together now, lassie, but we will be one day. I swear it to you. Just don’t forget me, Sarah.”

Her eyes blazed in confusion. “Forget you, Colin MacLaren? Not as long as I have a breath left in me.” She tried her best to smile.

He held her as long as he could before letting his arms drop and stepping back.

“Go now, Sarah, before you’re missed. Know this. I’ll never love another.”

“Nor will I, Colin.” Gripping the brooch tight in her hand, she reached up to place one last kiss on his lips, then turned and ran. Taking one more glance behind her, she climbed into the wagon and disappeared.

When Colin woke the next morning, the MacGregor wagons were gone, leaving a deep, open wound in his heart. Setting his jaw, he steeled himself for the promise he made. He’d build a life in California with his family, then travel north to find her. No matter how long it took, he’d never give up. It was as he said. He’d never let her go and never love another.

Chapter Three

Conviction, California, 1864

Five years later…

“One more, Colin,” Quinn urged, lifting his hand to order another round of whiskey. The two of them had ridden into town with Blaine and Brodie to celebrate Colin’s twenty-third birthday. All the MacLarens would celebrate tomorrow at their normal Sunday meal, but tonight, the young men were dedicated to losing themselves in whiskey, mischief, and women.

“Look there, Colin. Your birthday present is walking down the stairs.” Quinn nodded toward a curvy lass with deep red hair and full, pouty lips. “It appears Gwen is coming this way.” Slapping Colin on the back, he winked at Brodie and Blaine. The three had already paid her to help him celebrate in style. The question they all shared was would he accept.

Colin grinned, knowing he’d not partake of his present from Quinn and Brodie. They knew he had his mind on only one woman, and it wasn’t Gwen.

“Good evening, boys.” She looped a hand through Colin’s arm, leaning close.

“Evenin’, Gwen. You look quite charming tonight.” Colin brushed a kiss across her temple, breathing in the thick perfume she preferred, perhaps from the bottle he’d given her at Christmas. He’d been with one woman for just one night. He, Quinn, and Brodie had celebrated his nineteenth birthday in this same saloon, which ended with him in Gwen’s bed upstairs—courtesy of his cousins.

“Ach, you MacLarens. You think your good looks and charm are all you need to coax a woman into bed,” she chuckled.

“Not so, Gwen. We aren’t eejits, although you may think so some nights. It also takes a fair amount of coin to get what we want.” Colin pulled her to him. A few years before, she’d come from the old country, following her lover from New York to San Francisco. After he died in a bar fight, she traveled east to the town of Conviction, looking for a fresh start.

Older than Colin by a few years, she’d taken a liking to him, understanding when he confessed his inexperience with women. He’d been drinking with his cousins most of the night. Still, he’d been sober enough to know what he wanted—to learn what he needed to make it good for Sarah when he went for her. Gwen agreed. In return, he’d always been a gentleman. Although they’d been together just the one night, she always smiled when she thought of it. He’d been so serious in his determination to learn. No passion, no emotion. It had been a teacher and student relationship—nothing more.

“Quinn and the boys tell me you’re celebrating tonight. Another birthday, is it?”

“Aye. I’m twenty-three.” He gave her a meaningful smile. Only Gwen and those with him tonight knew the true significance of this day. By the end of the following week, the entire MacLaren clan would know. Tonight, however, was about celebrating. “A drink for Gwen,” he shouted over the noise at the bar, taking the full glass the bartender handed him.

Most nights the cousins played cards, sang along to tunes from the tinny piano, and relaxed. After six days of hard work on Circle M Ranch, all they wanted could be found in Buckie’s Castle, the only saloon in Conviction.