Claimed By A Charmer (The Pith Trilogy) (11 page)

*****

Douglas couldn’t believe Gil had
thrown the dagger. His soldier had never shown such talent before, and he’d
thought Gil more knowledgeable on other matters. He and Gil had become friends
when his father sent Gil for training. Douglas knew how Gil felt about being
sent away, he’d experienced the same rejection at almost the same age. He
supposed his training tactics were paying off and Gil was finally becoming the
soldier his father had hoped he’d become.

Everyone settled down after the
excitement. Douglas watched Isabel from where he sat and thought about their
kiss. If those men hadn’t intruded, who knows what might have happened? Another
minute or two, he would have lost the battle. He felt guilty. She was Candace’s
friend and he had no right to interfere. He would be a gentleman even if it
killed him.

“Have you been listening?” Brendan
nudged him. “I said it’s cold, give her my plaid. It’ll keep her warm.” He
handed him a MacKinnon plaid, motioning for him to cover her.

Douglas shook his head, throwing
the plaid back.

Brendan laughed. “A telltale sign,
Douglas.” He walked to Isabel, and covered her, himself.

Douglas seared his back with his
eyes. When Brendan returned to his side, he baited him further. “You’ve another
difficult day on the morrow, Laird Kerr. Best get some rest.”

“Faigh muin, shut up, Brendan. Just
keep your mouth quiet,” Douglas said between his teeth.

Brendan threw up his hands in
surrender. He knew he’d pushed Douglas to the brink of his temper.

“What did I say? You’re awfully
testy lately.”

Douglas picked up a small rock and
threw it at him. It struck his chest, making Brendan grunt at the blow. He
shrugged his shoulders and lay down to rest. Damn, Brendan MacKinnon. Douglas
couldn’t hurt the barbarian. Though, he’d been fortunate to have him as a
friend and not an enemy.

The peacefulness of the darkened
forest eased Douglas’ tension. He concentrated on the sounds of the forest, but
kept thinking about Isabel. Was she attracted to his cousin? She held Brendan
rather boldly. He didn’t like the fact that Brendan was interested in her
either. He admitted after a few minutes of reflection that he wanted her to
like him, only him. Hell.

During the night, Douglas continued
to watch her sleep. Isabel awoke, and must have been cold, because she looked
around for more coverings. She shimmed toward him, moving next to him, and
stole a foot of his plaid. Her body felt cold next to his, but he wouldn’t
complain. His body’s warmth must have soothed her, because she closed her eyes
and was lulled back to sleep. He watched her settle next to him, and his blood
simmered. He could feel his erection intensifying. Honest to God, he couldn’t
take much more. He tried to think of anything but the woman lying next to him. Closing
his eyes, he thought about the frigid loch near his home.

He awoke the next morning with his
face cradled beside her neck, his mouth wide open against her soft skin. His
leg and arm covered her body. He opened his eyes to find her bonny face close
to his. Her dark lashes were closed, and she breathed faintly. He snuggled
contentedly against her curvy body, and he wondered how he’d come into such a
position. Desire immediately swamped him. He gently removed his arm and leg.

Douglas stormed off to the stream
hoping to ebb his body’s cravings before anyone awoke. Aye, a cold dip in the
stream should do it, though he never partook in bathing in such frigid water. It
was the only way to rid the heat inside his body. He closed his eyes, and let
the cold water drown his desire.

Isabel awoke and felt oddly warm,
considering the night had been so cold. She found an extra plaid over her and
assumed one of the men must have covered her. She limped toward the horses,
hoping that Douglas would notice, but he only grouched at them to get a move
on. His attention seemed focused on his horse, and he didn’t notice Gil waving
to her. She waited to see whom she’d ride with, and fortunately, she’d been
given a choice. She decided to ride with Gil. He didn’t seem to mind, and
patted his lap when she approached.

Douglas all but sneered at them,
while telling them to hurry and mount their horses. Gil seemed to find Douglas’
testy mood comical, and his grin showed that he resisted the urge to laugh at
his laird.

They rode on Kerr land, and the men
relaxed their watch. Isabel found their mood much lighter, and she chatted with
Gil.

“Are you married, Gil?”

“Me? Nay, Milady. Are ye?”

Neither she, nor Gil, noticed
Douglas slowing his horse. He turned and awaited her response.

“Nay, I’m not married and I’m not
looking for a husband. Not right now.”

“What about your father? Will he
settle a contract for ye?”

She laughed. “‘Tis highly doubtful.
Are there many available men in the Highlands?”

“As many available as anywhere, but
you’re a bonny lass, and could have any man ye want.” His eyes moved
deliberately to Douglas.

“You’re a gentleman for saying so.”
She snorted. “What about him?” She pointed forward. “Is Brendan married?”

Douglas frowned, but she didn’t
believe it was directed at her conversation with Gil, and thought he focused
his attention on the forest.

“Brendan’s not married. No lassie
would consider it. He be too stern for the lassies, not marriageable material
from all accounts.”

“I don’t find him stern at all. He’s
a warrior. Aren’t all warriors akin, stern?”

“I suppose,” Gil chortled his
answer.

“What about Laird Kerr? Has he
taken a wife?”

“Nay, not yet, mayhap soon.”

“Is there a woman he’s interested
in?” She couldn’t help asking, and prayed the answer was no, but her hopes were
dashed when he replied.

“Aye, there is.”

Both Douglas and Brendan looked at
Gil, but she was facing the other way and hadn’t seen them.

“Who is she?” Isabel became
dejected.

Gil grinned while pondering his
answer. “The most bonny lass a man could want.”

Douglas grew disgusted with the
absurd talk, and nudged his horse ahead of them.

“Oh,” Isabel said forlornly. “She
is a very lucky lady.”

“Aye, she is. Here, Milady, take
it,” Gil whispered.

Isabel didn’t know if she should
take the dagger.

“Your secret is safe, Milady.”

He shoved the handle into her hand,
and she tucked it inside her cloak. When she looked at him again, he smiled. She
grew still and left Gil alone.

Disheartened at hearing Douglas was
involved with someone, she realized how hopeless it was. She wouldn’t gain his
acceptance after all. Though she’d angered him at their first meeting, she had
hoped he’d forgotten about it. He hadn’t mentioned it the entire trek. She also
hoped that by using her skills in deluding him to thinking she’d become a
gentle maiden, she would win him over to accepting her.

Now she wasn’t so sure it would
work. He had a lady already, probably a sweet-tempered lady unlike her. Although,
he had kissed her and showed interest. Why had he done that? Should she be
angered that he had? At least he was attracted to her, she mused. Still, she
had to keep up the farce. When could she let her hair down? She detested it
being bound, and couldn’t wait until she didn’t have to worry over it. She
usually didn’t pay attention to such matters as hair and dress. There were many
things that bothered her about the pretense. Mostly, watching her tongue. She’d
almost slipped a few times during the journey. Almost.

Isabel usually spoke her mind,
since no one ever told her not to. She became vivacious because she hadn’t a
nursemaid, or any other lady to attend to her, who would have curbed her manly
practices or outspokenness. She felt saddened at never knowing her mother or
her name. Her father was cruel-hearted not to tell her. Nate told her that he
didn’t know their mother’s name either. She couldn’t very well ask Nigel. He
would laugh in her face.

Her future seemed bleak without the
thought of Douglas being part of it, but she would be satisfied in knowing that
she didn’t have to contend with her family. When she reached the Kerr keep,
she’d ask Candace how she could remain there. At least until Nate came for her,
which could very well take years. Her father wasn’t likely to die soon and with
Nigel at the helm of their fortune, he’d destroy their home and hearth. It was
up to her to make a life for herself and now it seemed her dreams were dashed. She
sighed miserably.

The procession stopped, and Isabel
looked up. She hadn’t paid attention, and felt Gil move off his horse. “Why are
we stopping?”

Gil lifted her from the horse. “You
look tired. Douglas asked if you needed to stop, but you didn’t answer. He’s
concerned that we’re riding too hard.”

Isabel walked around the camp while
the men tended the horses. She hadn’t heard a word Douglas said to her. Had she
been so thoroughly trapped in her reflections? She looked up to see him leaving
the camp.

“I know what I’ll do.” With a
determined step, she left the camp. She walked a good distance, through the
mangled trees of the forest. The walk exerted her and she slowed then stopped
beside a contorted oak. Noises in forest reclaimed her focus. She hadn’t
thought there were wild animals about, and hadn’t considered it when she’d
devised her plan. She worried then, and took out the dagger from inside her
cloak as a precaution.

She’d been gone for some time;
surely they wondered where she went. Isabel hoped Douglas would search for her,
and it would make her appear ladylike, if she were in distress. For the love of
God, what had she been thinking? She pulled away from the tree, and decided to
return.

When she reached camp, they were
gone. There was no sign that they had been there.

“Douglas, Brendan, Gil.” Silence. A
fluttering of bird’s wings, and a cry from a hawk, startled her. She turned and
searched the forest.
Don’t panic
, she reasoned. They had to be looking
for her, and would return to this spot. She walked to a birch tree, and settled
herself at the base of the trunk. After several minutes, she felt tired, but
resisted closing her eyes. A rustling under a bush caught her ear. She listened
carefully and rose. If there was a wild animal there, she’d be prepared. Another
sound, horse’s hooves stomped the ground. They would arrive momentarily, she
kept telling herself.

A huge beast charged from under a
bush, coming full speed at her. Backing against the tree, she gripped the
dagger tightly. No, no, she couldn’t do that. They would know she’d killed it,
and used a dagger.
Be reasonable
, she told herself,
if you don’t kill
it—it will kill you
. The beast’s tusks looked sharp, and its dark angry
eyes set on her. Oh, drat, she would have to kill it.

She scrunched her eyes closed and
waited. Her heart thumped madly in her ears. The sound of her heartbeat and the
stomping of the charging animal seemed in unison. The beast closed in, and she
could smell its foul odor. Surely she’d be dead within minutes if she didn’t
strike it with the dagger. She gripped it, getting ready to take aim, when the
beast suddenly fell at her feet. Gasping, she looked down at it. A dagger stuck
from its neck. The beast screeched, shaking a few times, until it stilled. She
couldn’t take her eyes from its ugly form.

Isabel did the only thing she could
think of. Sneakily, she tucked the dagger inside her cloak, and fell to the
forest floor.

“Did Milady faint?” she heard Gil
ask.

Through the slit of her eyes, she
saw Douglas dismount near her. She closed her eyes, and felt him lift her. His
warmth soothed her.

“Brendan, tie up the boar, we’ll
take it home,” Douglas said. She felt him position her on his horse, and he
jumped up then repositioned her. “I’m taking her to the spring. I’ll be back in
a few minutes.” He tugged on the reins, galloping away.

Isabel feigned her faint, and she
tried not to move. He rode briskly for several minutes before stopping. He
lifted her in his arms, and carried her to the spring. Her heart thumped
slowly, being held so tenderly by him. She wouldn’t let it end by waking from
her pretend faint. Douglas sat next to the water, holding her upon his lap.

“Isabel, what am I going to do with
you? I can’t seem to resist ye,” he whispered against her face. She felt his
warm breath tickle her cheek.

She lay lethargically in his arms,
listening to his words, and to the sound of falling water. Content to be held
by the man she loved, she never wanted it to end. Wind whispered its breeze
with scents of pine, heather, and earth. Isabel vowed to remember everything
about the magical moment. She wanted to open her eyes, stare into his, and
pretend that he loved her in return. She’d give her life for one more kiss, and
to hear him declare such fondness. He’d always be her dream—the man she would
love until the day she died. At that moment her soul bound to his forever.

“Isabel, open your eyes. Damn it,
now,” Douglas demanded. “You will be all right. I command it.”

His arrogance caused her to open
her eyes. Laughter bubbled inside her, but it quickly faded when she realized
how close her face was to his. Close enough to kiss him. She got her wish, and
was able to stare into his lovely brown eyes. She remained silent.

“Are ye hurt, lass?”

She shook her head.

“You scared the devil out of me. I
thought the beast would spear you alive. You’re sure you’re well and unharmed?”

Nodding, she smiled at the touching
way he moved his hand over her cheek.

“Lass, are you ever going to
speak?”

She lowered her eyes, unexpectedly
feeling shy. That emotion wasn’t something she was familiar with, and it
unsettled her. “Aye.”

He leaned forward, and scooped
water into his hand, then rubbed her face. “You’ve a dirty face, lass. There,
mayhap ye needed water to wake ye.”

Isabel sucked in her breath at the
way he washed her face, as if she were a child being reprimanded by her father.
She giggled, finding it humorous.

He lifted her from his lap and
stood. Isabel’s heart sank. Oh, well, it was time to move on, she supposed. She
finally saw where they were, and threw her arms in the air, and spun around
beneath the canopy of the last falling leaves. She walked to the water’s edge, splashing
water in her hands, and viewed the landscape.

Douglas laughed behind her. “What
are you doing?”

She continued to spin around,
wallowing in the sunshine, her hands feeling the crisp air. “I’ve never seen
such a place in my entire life. The waterfall is lovely. ’Tis so beautiful
here.”

“Aye, it is. And so are you.”

“Thank you, Laird Kerr. What a kind
thing to say.”

“I’m being truthful, lass.”

Isabel blushed. She knelt beside
the bank, scooping handfuls of clear pristine water. He knelt next to her, and
she felt his gaze.

“Your reaction to my land pleases
me. I haven’t taken the time to notice its beauty in a long time. Thank you for
reminding me.”

She smiled, waving her hand over
the view. “How can you not notice this?”

“I’m sometimes busy with … which
reminds me, once we get home, you won’t see me too often. I’m oft away from the
holding for long periods of time.”

“I see, and you’re telling me this
because …”

Douglas frowned. “I don’t know why
I’m telling you this, but if you should need me, have Cedric find me, he always
knows where I am.” He ran his hand through his hair, and seemed agitated.

“Thank you, I suppose. Who is
Cedric?”

“My commander-in-arms, he’s in
charge when I’m gone. Come, we must go.”

He helped her from her position by
the water, and they mounted his horse. They rode along silently, each in their
own reflection. Brendan and Gil awaited them at the clearing. When they reached
them, Douglas handed her back to Gil. She felt saddened that he didn’t want her
to ride with him.

“Laird Kerr, will we arrive soon? I
can’t wait to see Candace.”

He nodded, not saying anything
more. She supposed he wanted to be left to his thoughts. Isabel couldn’t stop
thinking about the beauty of his land and how charming he was. Her plan had
worked, except for the boar that charged her. She felt as though she mattered
to him, given his reaction at the waterfall. Then why did he keep his distance?