Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander (18 page)

Chapter 23

The key rattled in the door and
it sprung open. Katie took a deep breath. Sorcha stood in the doorway. Katie
needed to eat, so she would follow Jamie’s advice. When Sorcha walked closer,
Katie turned to face her. Surprise showed on the Red Witch’s face.

“You are getting better,” she
said sitting on the bench beside Katie and looking deep into her eyes. “Do you
ken who I am?”

Katie nodded.

“Do you ken where you are?”

“Aye,” Katie said, trying hard to
convey a hesitance she did not feel.

Sorcha gave her a brief hug and
Katie fought the bile that rose in her throat at the woman’s touch. Leaning
back, Sorcha took Katie’s chin in her hand and checked her eyes. “You are back
with us, but you have suffered a great loss and seen things no innocent should
have to witness.” Sorcha smiled. “But then you are not entirely innocent, are
you? Rannoch tells me you knew Ian Innes well before you ran off with him.”
Sorcha patted Katie’s belly. “Perchance Ian’s seed is not lost forever. You
should eat. I have some stew in the other chamber. Let me fix you a plate.”

“I am hungry,” Katie murmured in
a quavering voice.

“Good, that is an excellent sign
of your recovery.” Sorcha rose. “I will fix your food and be right back.”

The Red Witch was true to her
word. In no time, she returned with a bread bowl of hot venison stew and a
steaming cup of murky broth. She pulled a small table over in front of Katie’s
bench, placed the bowl on it, and then sat in a nearby chair watching her eat.

The aroma enticed Katie to dig
in. She had not eaten anything since the massacre. Now her hunger overtook her
stubbornness. She tore off some of the bread and dipped it into the hot stew
savoring every bite.

After Katie devoured most of her
meal, Sorcha sighed. “You havena drunk any of my elixir,” she said. “It is
infused with herbs that will nourish and sustain you, especially if you carry
his child.”

Katie lost the fight to keep her
temper in check. She stood and walked over to Sorcha, glaring down at her. “You
poisoned my father. Why would I take any of your potions? Did you think I dinna
ken what you were doing? I hid and watched as Rannoch took you. I heard the two
of you discuss the poisoning. What reason do I have to ever trust you?”

Sorcha smiled. “So you have not
been as ill as you pretended to be and you have been a little spy about the
castle.” She met Katie’s anger without faltering. “I pick and choose who to
help and who to destroy. It is necessary for my survival.”

“And you chose to kill my father
to help Rannoch with his devious plan.”

“Your father is not dead, is he?
I gave him a careful dose and my intent was never to kill him.”

“I dinna believe you.”

Sorcha got up from the chair and
walked over to the table. She picked up the cup intended for Katie, drank it,
and then slapped it down hard. “There is nothing in this brew to harm you. I
saved your lover from castration in the dungeon. I find Ian interesting. I
thought him a good choice for your husband, certainly better than Rannoch.” She
dropped her gaze to the floor. “Alas, I couldna save him or any of the Innes
clansmen from Rannoch’s wrath.”

“Whose side are you on?” Katie’s
whole body flushed with heat. “You play God! You make my father an invalid so
your sick and twisted lover can take his castle and lands. You claim to have
saved Ian from maiming. How do I ken anything you say is true?” But Katie did
know. She witnessed Sorcha saving Ian from certain gelding at the hands of
Rannoch. How could this woman play both sides of this dangerous game?

“Unfortunately Ian wilna be able
to confirm the truth of what I have told you.” She hung her head. “It is such a
shame. He was a magnificent creature, strong and powerful.” She looked Katie in
the eye. “I am sure he must have been a good lover to entice you to give him
all.”

Katie could feel her face color.
The glow Sorcha’s words brought made her feel the fire of Ian moving inside
her. How could this be? She took a seat to keep her legs from quivering as her
body writhed. It was as if her lover even now took her.

Raising an eyebrow, Sorcha came
close. “I am impressed. Your memories of Ian are so strong they make you come
by the very thought joining with him.”

Breathless, Katie glared at the
woman hovering over her. “Aye, perchance these vivid feelings will keep me warm
on the cold, dark nights that are to follow.”

“I am sorry you have lost him,”
Sorcha said, “but he would want you to go on. I will do all I can to help you.”

“I dinna want your help. You have
done enough to my family!”

With a sigh of resignation,
Sorcha once again took a seat beside Katie. “So Jamie told you.”

Every nerve ending in Katie’s
body flew to attention. “Told me what?”

“I initiated him to the ways of
the bed chamber and showed what to do with a woman. He discovered his manhood
with me.”

Shrieking, Katie grabbed Sorcha
by the hair and threw her off the bench, kicking her soundly in the ribs once
she tumbled to the floor. As Sorcha rolled away holding her midsection, Katie
heard a noise behind her. She turned to see Rannoch towering above her. He
slapped her so hard she fell on the floor beside the Red Witch, who now
scrambled into a sitting position.

“I see you are back to your
feisty self, Katie,” he said as he offered Sorcha his hand and pulled her to
her feet. “Are you all right?” he asked.

Sorcha nodded. “’Twas not her
fault. I inflamed her by telling her of my night with Jamie.”

“Is this what broke her from her
trance?”

“Nay, Milord, she started to come
out of it with the help of my medicine and then I couldna resist taunting her.”

“It seems this has brought her
fully back to the real world.” He looked at Katie then at Sorcha. “Leave us. I
would speak with Katie alone.”

“Milord, I could be of help if
you let me stay.”

Rannoch’s eyes turned bright.
“You will help me later, for now, leave us.”

Sorcha nodded her assent and left
the chamber closing the door on her way out.

The sound echoed through Katie.
She stood alone with him. Would he rape her now that Ian was dead? Getting to
her feet, she brushed off her dress. “What did you want to talk about, Milord?”
she asked with more confidence than she felt.

He walked in a slow circle around
her examining her from every angle then finally stopped in front of her and
gazed down into her eyes. “Sorcha is not the only one who has been busy with
your family,” he said with a slow smile. He reached over and dabbed a small
drop of blood from Katie’s lip. “My anger made me strike you harder than I
intended. I didna not mean to cause you to bleed.” He paused then ran his hand
down her body. “Speaking of blood, have had your monthly flow since you were
with Ian Innes?”

“Nay, Milord,“ she answered
quickly. “I pray that I carry his child so his seed wilna be lost forever.”

He frowned. “We will give it a
little time and see. In the meantime, I will wed Brianna.”

“What? She is a child.”

“Katie, Brianna is only two years
younger than you. She is ripe. Trust me. I ken exactly how ripe she is.”

Katie flew at him pounding his
chest with her fists. It was as if he did not feel her blows. Finally, she left
off sobbing. “What did you do to my sister?”

“I proposed to her then led her
to drink from the well of desire so that she would be anxious to become my
wife. Already we prepare for the ceremony.” He put his finger under her chin
and made her look into his eyes. “Brianna canna wait to be mine. I all but took
her this very day.”

“You are a monster,” Katie
shrieked. “Take me in her stead. Dinna ruin her life with your perversion. I am
already dead without Ian.”

“Exactly, my dear, I dinna want a
lifeless wife beneath me. I want the fire and enthusiasm of one who desires my
attention.” He stared at Katie, his eyes cold and foreboding. “That doesna mean
that I wilna sample what you have to offer as well as soon as I am assured you
dinna carry Ian’s child.”

“And if I do?”

“I will use the child against the
remaining Innes clan. They survive the loss of their leader and his heir. What
would they concede to get Ian’s child back? I can only wonder.”

At that moment, there was a light
rap at the door. “Milord, Draco is back and begs to speak with you.”

Rannoch pulled the door open and
stared at Sorcha. “Where is he?”

“He awaits you in the great hall,
Milord.”

“This better be important.”He
looked back at Katie and then turned to Sorcha. “Keep her under lock and key.
If she escapes, it will be your head.”

“I understand, Milord.”

He grinned and glanced back at
Katie again. “Perchance you should leave her guarded by another this evening
and go to visit Jamie again.

Katie flew toward the door. Her
hands met only solid oak as he slammed it in her face. Pounding it repeatedly,
she slowly slumped to the floor in tears.

Draco stood gazing into the fire
when Rannoch entered the great hall. “It better be important. I was so enjoying
my visit with Katie Blackburn.”

Turning to face him, Draco
frowned. “I ken when ‘tis of import, Milord. I had the kitchen maid bring us
some refreshment for our discussion. ” He motioned to a pitcher of ale and two
cups sitting on the nearby table.

“Well?”

“The Dragon of Dunbocan killed the
men you left to see to our dead. He and his troops rode out from the inn in the
direction of Dunbocan Castle. No doubt, he rallies an army to bring to our door
in vengeance for those slain. Laird Innes was his father-in-law, Ian his
brother by marriage. He wilna let this rest and he has many powerful friends.”

“Including Robert the Bruce,”
Rannoch said slowly. “The MacLean and Innes clans heed his call to arms, so he
supports them in all things.

“Did you think your actions would
go unchallenged?”

“Nay, Draco, but I thought I had
more time before it occurred. Old Angus must have sent riders to gather other
clans in their defense. He always was a smart old goat.” Rannoch poured himself
a heft draught of ale and offered one to Draco.

“And now we drink and ponder?
Milord, I rode as fast as I could to get you this news.”

Taking a seat, Rannoch motioned
Draco into a chair beside him. “There are missives I sent you are not aware of.
Before we went after the Innes clan, I sent word to Robert that Katie, in her
misguided actions, had captured Ian and held him in Duntaigh Castle dungeon. I
told him Ian broke free and raped her as a punishment, then took her with him
when he escaped to use at will. I spun a tale of abuse and tragedy. I explained
this compelled me to go and retrieve her by whatever means necessary. This will
at the very least give Robert pause in offering his support.”

Draco relaxed back in his seat
with a shallow laugh. “But, Milord, there are others who will join the MacLean
against us.”

“I said missives, Draco. I sent
similar messages to all I thought might join him against us.” Rannoch smiled.
“I even told Robert that in light of this, I planned to marry Brianna so I
could better carry out my duties as ward of Duntaigh Castle and protect Brian’s
heirs from harm.”

“You foresaw all of this?”

“I prepared for anything that
might arise.”

“Some wilna believe your tale.”

“Perchance, but if Katie carries
Ian’s child this might be the proof they need. Ian is not here to tell a
different tale nor is his kin.” He slid his cup over for Draco to refill it.
Draco obliged with a grin. “For the first time, I find myself hoping the little
chit did get herself pregnant.”

“What if she is not? Will you
take her yourself until you sow your seed?”

“Nay, Draco. If Robert came now
and asked her, she would tell him Ian took her virginity. I could spin a tale
of how he made her think ‘twas her idea because of her innocence.” He sighed
and drank deep. “Now I must move my wedding preparations along. If I am aligned
with the Blackburns by marriage, ‘twill be harder for Robert to make a judgment
against me.”

“What is the wedding date,
Milord?”

“Brianna wishes to be married on
the same day her father and mother were wed. She thinks this will bring us
luck. That is only five days from now. I will bend to her wishes because I
dinna think the MacLean can rally his troops and attack that quickly. ‘Tis
practically two days ride from here and he will need time to prepare now that
he has seen the carnage.”

“The girl is willing?”

“Aye, I gave her a taste of what
was to come. When girls are young and innocent, they are easy to handle. Look
at what Ian did to Katie. Sorcha gave me some enticement to add to her wine.
Brianna had never been touched, but drunk on Sorcha’s potion she developed an appetite
for the way I made her feel. I am eager to quench her thirst for more.
Perchance I will stir those fires in the next few days to assure her eagerness
to get to the altar.”