Highland Troth (Highland Talents Book 3) (27 page)

He covered the comb with his other hand, since the sight of it seemed to disturb her. “Meg recalled yer husband might have gifted it to ye. But if ye dinna ken, he must no’ be the carver. The work is extraordinary. Do ye have any idea—”

“Meg is mistaken,” Annie broke in. “My da gave it to me mum, years ago. She never liked it and never wore it, and so when she passed, I kept it for a bit, but one day Meggie needed something to keep her hair out of her eyes, so I gave it to her.”

Given the tension in her voice, she hadn’t kept it for long, Jamie thought. “Ye are a good friend. And yer da?”

Annie pursed her lips. “Gone. At Flodden.”

“Ach. Yer husband, too, Meg said. Both parents? I’m sorry for that. Then ye dinna ken where yer da got it?”

“Nay, but he often left the keep with the auld laird, so it couldha been anywhere.”

“What did he do, yer da?”

“Ah, ye wouldna ken that, being a guest. He was the auld laird’s hunting master.”

Bile rose in Jamie’s throat. Hunting, indeed. He swallowed and nodded amiably. “Really? That must’ve been quite a responsibility, caring for the laird and his sons on a hunt.”

“Nay, the two oldest, God rest their souls, were skilled, though that didna save them when they fought for the king. The present laird was a lad then—his da kept him close.” Her hand flew up to cover her mouth, as if she’d said too much, then fluttered back to her lap. “Always ready to charge into battle, that one. So they said.”

“Well, thank ye, Annie. I suppose I’ll never ken who did the carving. I mean this one as a gift for a lady, of course, but one never kens when more gifts will be required.”

“I’m sorry I couldna help ye.”

“But ye did, Annie. Please, go back to yer work. I willna disturb ye any longer.”

On the face of it, Jamie thought as he left her, Annie had been a dead end, yet in her words he found a link that seemed plausible. He’d wager Annie knew more than she’d said, but he didn’t think he needed more. The auld laird’s hunting master likely got the comb from the auld laird. In fact, he might have been on hand that day, either as an observer or a participant in Netta’s torture and death. And Alasdair surely was there.
His da kept him close.
Alasdair had not killed Jamie’s sister. But what he’d seen that day had taught him what he’d done with the tavern whores in St. Andrews. He’d bet a cask of MacKyrie’s best whisky on that. It explained why he was so rough with Caitrin. Neither time nor age had softened his aggression or his impulsiveness. He was as violent now as he’d been in his youth—perhaps more so. Still ready to charge into battle. Jamie had the proof in his shirt.

****

He made his way back to his chamber without incident and gathered his belongings. They’d kept most of the travel gear with the horses, so Jamie had little to conceal on his person. In moments, he was out the door. But something nagged at him. Was Caitrin truly on her way to the stables? He’d better make certain. When he saw Kyle still at her door, he frowned as disquiet sent a chill down his back.

“Has Lady MacGregor come to speak to Caitrin yet?”

“Aye, she’s in there now.”

Jamie breathed a sigh of relief and rapped on the door, then opened it without waiting for leave to do so.

Madeleine tucked something into a pocket of Caitrin’s dress while Caitrin reached for her travel cloak. “We’re ready,” Madeleine said. “By now, Fletcher will be in the hall, waiting for me.”

“And where is MacGregor? It willna do for him to see us leaving.”

“My son is still busy admiring his new armaments. The blacksmith summoned him a while ago to meet with him and the blademaster. Between them, he’ll be entertained for an hour or more. We’ll be out of the gate before he kens we’re gone.”

“On our afternoon visit to the village.”

“Just so.”

Jamie cocked an eyebrow at Caitrin and she smiled. Good. “Let’s be on our way, then.”

“Malcolm and Nan will join us. I suggest yer men make their own way out, but quickly.”

“Indeed,” Jamie agreed as he opened the door and nodded to Kyle. “We are going. Get what ye can carry and make yer way quietly to the stables. Make sure all the other lads are out as well. Thank God Ewan is already on his way to the Aerie.”

“Aye.” Kyle led them to the stairs then left them to complete his errand.

Jamie kept one hand on the hilt of his dirk, but they all rode out of the keep without incident, the ladies chattering the whole way about the upcoming market day to divert suspicion. Madeleine had arranged the “outing” brilliantly. And riding would allow them to get away much faster than walking through the highland forest.

Jamie breathed a sigh of relief as they passed through the gates.

Madeleine led them through the village, pointing out the market preparations in a loud conversational tone, meant, Jamie was certain, to ensure their visit neither aroused more notice than usual, nor gave the villagers any useful information to later pass on to her son. When they turned a corner and were out of sight of the last of the villagers, Madeleine urged Caitrin and Malcolm on. “Uilleam and a few men loyal to me await ye in those trees,” she said, pointing to the forest beyond the edge of the village. “Go now. Jamie, stay with Fletcher and me until we get further along, then ye and Kyle can leave. I want Fletcher and I to be noticed a bit longer, then we’ll go, too.”

“Madeleine, ye impress me,” Jamie told her with a grin. “But do ye risk being detained?”

“Nay. Even if he finds out in time we’re all out here, he canna touch me without our people raising arms against him. And to be fair, this is as much Fletcher’s doing as mine.”

“Da, thank ye.” Caitrin laid a hand over her heart. “I didna think ye believed me.”

“Go on with ye, lass,” Fletcher answered.

Jamie noted a glimmer of a tear in his eye and forgave him everything. He’d been stubborn and blinded by his own goals, but in the end, Caitrin came first.

“I’ll see ye soon, daughter.”

“Ye’d better!” She turned to Nan. “Ye’ll be safe with my da and Lady Madeleine. I’ll see ye soon, too.” Then her gaze fell on Jamie “Ye will be right behind us, aye?”

“Of course. I willna lose ye now.” Caitrin’s brilliant smile lightened his heart and he reached across the space between their horses to grasp her hand. He no longer cared what Fletcher saw transpire between them. They would marry, and Fletcher knew it. Jamie released her hand.

Malcolm slapped her horse’s rump and sent her on her way. He saluted Madeleine briefly then caught up to Caitrin and rode with her into the trees.

Jamie fretted at the passing minutes as they idly rode around the village. Madeleine kept up her commentary. When they reached the other side, Madeleine nodded. He and Kyle prepared to ride into the forest, but not before Fletcher took him aside.

“I’m taking Madeleine back to Fletcher. She’s agreed to become my wife. And with his mother there, MacGregor willna dare retaliate. His clan willna stand for it. She’s too well regarded, despite her son.”

“I wish ye both well,” Jamie said, genuinely pleased by this turn of events. He shook Fletcher’s hand, and then he went to Madeleine and kissed her cheek. “Be safe.”

“We’ll help confuse the trail for my son and his men. He willna ken who went where.”

“Ye have thought of everything.” Jamie grinned and kicked his mount into motion. Kyle flanked him. He should be thrilled at the way their departure had turned out, but he still felt that tingle under his arm, in his ribs. Once they were out of earshot of anyone in the village, he told Kyle, “We’ve got to find them. I know where Uilleam is supposed to be taking Caitrin. But I dinna ken if he has other plans.”

Chapter Nineteen

Caitrin was safe enough with Uilleam, Malcolm, and the others, but she would have been much happier to have Jamie with her. They’d been riding for more than an hour, and the thick grove they traveled through kept her from seeing more than a few feet in any direction. Sunlight filtered weakly through the dense canopy above. She felt confined, boxed in, even more so than when MacGregor had locked her in her chamber for days at a time.

How would Jamie find her in this forest?

“Where are we going, Will?” She kept her voice low, not that it mattered. The trees swallowed up any sound she might make.

“To a friend of yer da’s,” he answered as quietly as she had. “A cousin, too.”

“On MacGregor land?” The prospect of riding all the way to Fletcher didn’t appeal to her, not without Jamie nearby, but it would take most of the day to get off Alasdair’s holding.

“Aye. Married across a generation ago. ’Tis no’ so far, now.”

Caitrin nodded and kept her attention on their route. She’d hoped to spot some familiar landmarks. But this did not seem to be the way they’d come from Fletcher. The trees were thicker than she remembered. Though by the time they’d approached MacGregor, she’d been tired and eager to get off the horse, so perhaps her recollection failed her.

She wondered if MacGregor yet realized she and the Lathans had left his stronghold. If so, men would be on their trail soon. Perhaps that was why Jamie and her father had not joined them before now. They’d gone another way, hoping to draw off pursuers. Aye, that had to be it. She relaxed slightly. They would meet at the cousin’s and go on from there.

At that moment, she became aware of the sound of horses, still distant, but converging with her group. “Will!” She kept her voice to a hiss, but he heard her and stopped, so the rest of their group did, too. Could it be Jamie? Or MacGregors, who would return her to the keep—and their laird? Both of those possibilities had the same effect. Caitrin’s heart pounded in her chest as they waited. Would the riders pass by, unaware of their presence?

Caitrin crushed the reins in her hand, fighting the urge to flee. She hated the helpless feeling that stole the breath from her body and the strength from her limbs. But Will and the others sat silently waiting. They appeared unworried. Of course, if the need arose, they could draw their longswords and fight. She could not defend herself against mounted attackers with only the small
sgian dubh
Madeleine gave her. If only she had a dirk.

Then the riders emerged from the trees off to the side of their group and she sucked in a breath. Jamie! Relief made her giddy. But Will signaled for silence and let Jamie and Kyle approach.

“Well met,” Jamie said, nodding to her escort. But his gaze lingered on Caitrin and her pulse beat faster again.

“Were ye followed?” Will’s question gave her pause.

“Nay. Fletcher and Lady Madeleine are making for Fletcher territory. They’ll leave a good trail for MacGregor’s men to find. ’Twill be up to us to see the Lady Caitrin safely on from here.”

Uilleam nodded. “We’d best be on our way. If Laird Fletcher’s ruse fails, MacGregors will scatter like hornets all through this forest.”

“Aye,” Jamie answered. “Take yer men and head roundabout into the far hills to confuse the trail even more. Caitrin will come with me…”

“But…” Uilleam attempted to interrupt.

Jamie held up a hand. “Nay. Ye ken I’m right. They’ll have realized who is gone and signs made by many riders will draw them off. I’ll cover our tracks and get us there before nightfall.”

“I dinna like leaving the lass with only ye for protection.”

“I’ll be fine, Will.” Caitrin’s words were out before she considered them. But truly, hadn’t she been thinking only moments ago she’d be much happier with Jamie? She had no doubt he could protect her. “Do as he says.”

Uilleam gave a curt nod of the sort one gave to his laird’s daughter with whom he disagreed, and kicked his horse into motion. Malcolm and the other men followed.

“Ye, too, Kyle,” Jamie added after they’d gone out of sight. “Stay on their trail. Find us if there’s trouble. Otherwise, just keep an eye on them.”

“Aye.” Kyle’s mount responded as he lifted the reins, and in moments, he, too, was lost from view in the trees.

“Ye do ken where we’re headed?”

He gave her a long, measuring look. “Aye, I do.”

“I’m glad, since I dinna.”

Jamie chuckled. “I kent that, too.”

“So, if something were to happen to ye, I’d be lost in these woods.”

That seemed to bring him up short. He stiffened then shook his head. “If ye keep going as ye were,” he said, gesturing forward, “ye’ll be there in an hour or so.”

“Another hour?” Caitrin bit her lip. “I could use a wee bit of privacy before we go on. Once we heard ye coming, the waiting to ken if it was MacGregor men come to return us to the keep near frightened me to death.”

Jamie nodded and dismounted, and then he helped her down from her mount. “Dinna go too far,” he ordered as he released her hand.

“I willna.” A memory of stumbling around in the dark, supposedly on the same errand, but in truth looking for Jamie, came back to her. The night the wildcat clawed her back. Jamie’s raised eyebrow told her he thought about the same thing.

Caitrin took care of her needs and returned to find Jamie lounging against a tree, arms crossed over his impressive chest, holding the reins of both horses. He looked so confident, so commanding, with control of two powerful beasts in the palm of one hand. Yet, the grin he gave her was pure temptation.

“The betrothal negotiation is over. And we’re alone,” he told her, invitation, rather than command, clear in his deep voice.

“And out from under the MacGregor’s roof.” Caitrin understood him instantly.

He straightened and looped the reins over a low-hanging branch, leaving the horses free to crop the tufts of grasses spearing through the forest loam. Caitrin met him halfway, her steps as slow and measured as his, as if they were both giving the other time to change their mind, to call a halt to what was so clearly on Jamie’s mind. And hers.

She made the first move, reaching up to tangle her fingers in his dark auburn hair, nearly black in the forest’s low light. Jamie did as she wished and bent his head to kiss her. The heat of his lips sent tingles coursing down her back, but then he wrapped her in his arms, chasing the chills away, replacing them with a low fire that spread along her nerve endings from her back to her fingertips and toes. Instantly, his scent and taste flooded her senses, and his soft groan of need vibrated against her breasts.