Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander (7 page)

“I canna do this, Ian,” she
cried. “Please release me.”

With a sharp exhale, Ian let her
slip slowly down his body until she touched the floor. Katie seemed unsteady on
her feet so he held her up. “This mad attraction we have for one another is a
rare and beautiful thing. Dinna think denying it will make it go away.”

She pulled back from him and
straightened her dress. “Aye, so,” she admitted. Finding her composure, she
stepped away from him. “I will think about the things you have said and about
releasing you so you can aid my family.”

“Good,” Ian told her. “But I warn
you, Katie, dinna think too long. Rannoch’s plan is afoot and things could
change at any moment that would put you jeopardy.”

“You will have my answer when I
come tomorrow,” she promised as she fled the cell. As Katie locked the door,
their eyes met. “Ian, I am sorry for the terrible things I have done to you.”

He grinned. “Your sweet kisses
make it almost worth the pain of my imprisonment.”

She shook her head and walked off
down the hall muttering, “Impossible man.”

Ian laughed.

Chapter 9

Angus pushed the men as fast as
they could go. None complained. In the distance, he saw the massive stone walls
of Duntaigh Castle. It hung on a precipice that overlooked Rannoch Moor and
Loch Laiden, majestic and impenetrable. Many days fog off the loch obscured the
tallest spires, but not today. High above, the sun lit the gray, stone towers
with a wash of warm white. Angus felt the chill mist in air. The ever-moving
water sent a moist earthy smell over the valley. A steep, sloping trail wound
around the outcropping. It took a winding path to the main gate of the castle
situated high above the floor of the valley.

How would he get in? If he took
his men to the castle gate, he endangered their lives. He needed to take some
time to devise a plan to get all of them in and out safely.

Just then, a lone rider came down
the hilly trail before them. The man wore Blackburn colors. He pulled up his
horse a safe distance away when he saw Angus and the Innes riders.

“Laird Innes,” the man called. “I
am Keith Blackburn, of Duntaigh Castle.”

“Come closer, Keith,” Angus
entreated, smiling at his good fortune.

“Milord, I mean you and yours no
harm.”

Angus let out a belly laugh at
the thought. Did this lone man think he could best Angus and his men? “So happy
to hear that, Keith,” he replied. “Please, come closer so we can speak without
shouting.”

In response, Keith turned his
horse and raced back up the trail away from the Innes clansmen. They lit out
after Keith at full gallop. Angus saw Keith turn and look over his shoulder,
then veer off on a little used rocky trail. Branches and thick foliage swiped
the horses’ flanks as they thundered after their quarry.

“Dinna let him escape,” Angus
cried. His men responded with more speed on the treacherous trail. They were
catching him. Suddenly a gorge loomed ahead. Keith Blackburn whipped his horse,
but the steed turned sideways and balked at the deep chasm. As the horse
stopped short, Keith flew over the horse’s head and landed hard on the ground.

Angus drew up halting his men.
They dismounted and walked over to Keith, who lay sprawled on the ground.
“Secure him,” Angus ordered. One of the men retrieved a length of rope from his
saddle. They tied Keith.

“Erland, it appears Keith has had
a delay in his journey,” Angus said to his trusted companion.

“Aye, so, Milord,” Erland agreed.
The Innes men all laughed.

Angus walked over to his captive.
“Why do you run from me, Keith? Could it be you were at The Stagg Inn a few
nights past?” Standing over Keith, Angus grinned. “Dinna deny it. I ken you
were there. The innkeeper saw you even without your colors.”

Keith squirmed noncommittally.

“Dinna make me lose patience,”
Angus warned. “You were up to no good.” He kicked Keith in the ribs until he
groaned. “Admit it.”

“Aye, Milord,” he muttered. “I
was there.”

“Then you ken the whereabouts of
my son, Ian, you and your lovely female companion.”

Keith remained mute. Angus knelt
with his knee pressed hard in Keith’s chest, drew his dirk, and pressed the
sharp blade to Keith’s neck until he drew blood. “Who assisted you in this foul
deed?” Applying a little more pressure, Angus stared down at his captive. “Tell
me now. Who is the red-haired whore?”

“Katie is not a whore.” Keith
spat it out, and then gasped at his own error.

“Katie who?”

“She didna mean any harm,” Keith
said in a rush.

“By taking my son?” Angus
snorted. “I would ken her full name, or your life will be forfeit.”

“Katie Blackburn, Milord. The
lass is young and full of fire. She only sought to end the fighting.”

“Little Katie Blackburn is all
grown up and taking my kin. I canna believe it. How low has Laird Blackburn
sunk to send his own daughter to set a honey trap?”

“He didna send her.”

Angus could not hide his
surprise. “Did you hatch this plan? I think not. ‘Twas the girl, was it not?”

“She is young and headstrong. I
tried to dissuade her, Milord. She was set to do it with or without me. I
couldna let her go alone.”

“Does Ian live?”

The man nodded. “Aye, Milord. He
is unharmed, only held captive.”

Angus withdrew his dirk from
Keith’s neck and sheathed it. “If Blackburn does not ken, then you and Katie
snuck Ian into the keep. Is there a secret way in?”

Studying Keith, Angus awaited his
affirmation. “Aye,” Keith finally muttered.

“You have just given me a reason
to let you live. You will show us where Ian is or you will die.” The man on the
ground drew a ragged breath.

“I will show you, if you will
spare Katie,” Keith said. “’Twas not right what we did.”

“In case you didna notice, you
are not in a position to bargain.”

“Aye, so,” Keith agreed. “But
much hangs in the balance. How can I betray my clan?”

“I only seek to retrieve my son.
I plan no other attack.”

“And I am just to take your
word?”

“You dinna have much of a
choice.” Angus stood and dusted himself off. “How old is the lass? I thought
her just a child.”

“The years slip away from all of
us, Milord. Katie is all grown up.”

“Aye, so. Ian is a bit of a devil
with the ladies, but he doesna bother children. She must have at least looked
of the right age or he wouldna have been fooled by her.”

“’Tis so, Milord. “

Angus turned to his clansmen.
“Get Keith on his horse,” he ordered. Looking back, he met Keith’s gaze. “If
you betray us, you will be the first man I kill.”

Keith nodded his acceptance. “I
wilna betray you, Laird Innes. In the past you and Laird Blackburn were
friends.”

“Aye, I remember it well. Before
Katie’s mother came between us, we had many alliances.”

Unbidden the memory snaked
through Angus. He remembered the first time he saw Katherine Stuart. She
entered his castle on the arm of her father wearing a blue, velvet gown that
made her eyes sparkle with color. Her honey-red hair fell below her waist, and
her soft curves enticed him further.

She laughed at his feeble attempt
to introduce himself. “Milord, you act as if you have never seen a woman
before, but I ken full well you are a widower with children.”

“Forgive me, Lady Katherine. Your
beauty has me tongue-tied,” he managed.

“I am flattered, Milord. I am
told I resemble your late wife.”

“So, Angus, my daughter pleases
you,” Hugh Stuart interrupted. “I’ll get straight to the point. I desire a
match.”

Katherine’s face colored with a
blush. “Father, we’ve only just arrived.”

“These are men’s matters. It is
either Angus or Brian Blackburn, but I will see you wed before the month is
out.”

“Why the rush?” Angus asked.

“Supporters of the English throne
rally to defeat us. Joined by blood, we present a more formidable front.”

“Aye, so,” Angus agreed. “What
say you, Lady Katherine, will you be my wife?”

She paled, aghast at how easily
they decided her fate. “I… I… of course, Milord,” she stammered.

Hugh Stuart smiled. “My Katherine
always does as she is told,” he said smugly. “An asset in a wife, don’t you
agree?”

Angus hoped his doubt did not
show on his face. He would work on winning Lady Katherine Stuart’s heart.

Just before they spoke the vows,
Laird Brian Blackburn came for a visit. Angus knew the first time he saw them
together that Katherine Stuart’s path lay in a different direction. He released
her from her promise.

Katherine married Brian Blackburn
a scant month later. In a year, she gave birth to a daughter. The young woman
who captured Ian bore her mother’s name. He wondered if she was as beautiful as
her mother was. If so, he could understand Ian’s carelessness.

Chapter 10

“Milady, what are ya doin’? May I
be of help?” Maura gaped at Katie as she dug through her gowns.

She knew the woman meant well,
but at this moment, Katie much preferred to be alone. “I dinna need you,
Maura,” she said sweetly. “I just canna find my emerald green gown. Do you ken
what became of it?”

Maura’s eyes danced. “Have ya
checked Lady Brianna’s room? She’s had her eye on that dress for some time.”

Groaning, Katie selected a blue
gown. Maura came over and started lacing Katie up tight when she slipped it on.
The fitted garment hugged her curves and dipped low in the bodice to show the
swell of her breasts. Beaded with pearls, it shimmered when she walked.

“Who do ya dress for, Lady
Katherine?”

“Must you always call me by full
name every time you suspect some other reason for my actions? You ken I go by
Katie.”

“Aye, lass.” Looking Katie up and
down Maura shook her head. “Too beautiful fer yer own good. You’re the image of
yer mother.”

Putting her arm around the
servant, Katie smiled. “You still miss her, don’t you?”

“Aye. And you bein’ so like her,
I feel like she is reborn.”

“I’ll take that as a high
compliment. I ken you were her attendant from the day she came to marry my
father.”

Maura still assessed Katie. “Ya
play with fire if ya tempt Laird Rannoch. He watches ya all the time. Up to no
good that one.”

Letting out her breath in a huff,
Katie wagged her finger at Maura. “Dinna call him laird, he isna laird here. He
is only in charge for a brief time until father is well.”

The older woman shook her head.
“Are ya lookin’ close at yer father, lass? I canna believe he will last much
longer.”

Pulling herself as straight as
she could, Katie smoothed her dress. “Sorcha is changing his medicine. There is
still hope.”

“And ya go to entice Rannoch and
so he will bend to yer wishes?”

Katie started to speak then just
spluttered. “How do you always ken what I am about?”

“Ya dinna dress for any man
unless ya have a purpose, lass. Ya are much stronger than yer mother. She was
fine lady, but none of yer grit. So tell me, what are ya up to?”

“I need a favor from Rannoch. He
will be more persuaded if I look pleasing.”

Maura laughed. “’Truth be told, I
dinna think ‘tis possible fer ya not to look pleasin’.”

Rolling her eyes, Katie checked
her appearance one last time. She hoped he would be distracted and give her
more information than he intended. “Where is Rannoch?”

“In the great hall, Milady. I’ll
draw yer bath later and have it nice and warm fer ya.”

Katie smiled. “I shall need one
to wash off the residue of Rannoch.”

“Have a care.”

“I will,” she murmured as she
exited her chamber and headed toward the great hall of Duntaigh Castle.

Her thoughts flew to Ian. Had
Laird Innes started to search for his son yet? She had not ransomed her captive
or bargained for a cease of hostilities. What if Ian told the truth and Rannoch
started the skirmishes by stealing livestock and attacking villages? What would
be his motive? It struck her then that the Scottish king would be much more
likely to grant Rannoch’s petition to marry her in the midst of warring clans.
Was this, too, part of his plot? And now what did she do with Ian Innes?

Katie reached the door to the
massive chamber. As she went to enter, several servants came by her in a hurry.
“What is it?” Katie asked.

“Laird Rannoch asked us to
leave,” one said as they hurried by.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed
open the door and entered. The pungent smell of burning peat hit her in the
face. Brianna sat fawning over Rannoch at a table in the front of the huge,
two-story chamber. They were near the fire. He looked up startled when Katie
interrupted them. It appeared Rowan Rannoch was about to kiss her sister. When
he saw Katie, he stood with a quick, short bow.

Brianna pushed back in her chair
with a sharp exhale. She wore Katie’s emerald green gown, which somehow had
slipped off her shoulder.

“Lady Katherine,” Rannoch said
formally. “A pleasure to see you.”

“You ken I prefer Katie,” she
snapped.

“Aye, so,” Rannoch agreed with a
hint of amusement. “Lady Katie,” he corrected.

It occurred to Katie he thought
her jealous of her sister. How could Brianna be so stupid? The man was a
monster, but then Brianna didn’t know about Rannoch’s plot. Probably best she
interrupted them or who knows what foul thing might have occurred between her
smitten, spoiled sister and the man trying to kill their father and steal their
lands.

“Brianna, could you leave us
please?” Katie asked. Her sister’s face grew bright red. Brianna didn’t
challenge Katie’s authority in front of Rannoch. Standing, she flew past Katie
and headed for the door. “Brianna, dinna borrow my gown again without asking,”
Katie reprimanded.

The door to the chamber slammed
with a resounding echo. Returning her attention to Rannoch, Katie smiled
sweetly. “Milord, Brianna is smitten with you. I wilna have you take advantage
of her youth and innocence.” Launching a full on assault, Katie moved closer to
the man she now hated with a vengeance. “You tell me you wish to take me for
your wife and a day later I find you ready to deflower my sister in the great
hall of Duntaigh Castle. What am I to make of this, Milord? Perchance I need to
send my own missive to Robert the Bruce and request your replacement as our
ward.”

Rannoch’s eyes moved over her in
cunning assessment. “You didna care to hear about my plans yesterday. I thought
a more willing sister might best suit my purpose.”

“And what purpose is that,
Milord?” she asked.

“I already told you, Milady. I
seek to protect your family through a marriage that will ensure I rule until
your father recovers or Jamie is of an age to take over.”

“Aye, so you said. Apparently you
dinna care which sister.” She met his gaze. “Brianna is too young for such a
union.”

“She seems ripe to me,” he said
with a slow smile. “Your father protected all of you from the ways of the
world, kings and princesses promised and given at tender ages. Alliances made
in the marriage bed every day. If you are lucky, the arrangement pleases you.”
He moved closer to her. “If you are not, you suffer until you die.”

It seemed more like a threat than
a casual observation. “I am sure you are right, Milord,” she managed. Turning
from his heated perusal, she exhaled and tried to calm her pulse. He came up
close behind her. She felt his presence.

“What do you want, Lady
Katherine?” he asked.

Wheeling around, she lost her
temper. “I want to know where you sent Keith. I have need of him and I canna
find him.”

He stood his ground ogling her
with his dark gray eyes. “Another camping trip?”

“Nay, Milord, I just need to
speak with him.”

Reaching over, he ran his hand
lightly across her hair. Katie fought to keep from gagging. All she could see
in her mind’s eye were the disgusting things he did with Sorcha.

“Keith wilna be back for some
time. I sent him to speak with Laird Innes about the raids.”

“Alone? But, Milord, they may
kill him.”

“We will see.” He smiled and ran
his finger under her chin, forcing her to look up into his eyes. “This
displeases you.”

“Aye, so. I wouldna have us lose
someone of such loyalty on a fool’s errand.”

“He is loyal. I’ll give him that.
He wouldna tell me where the two of you really were.”

“Now you question my word,
Milord?”

“Aye, sweet Katie, because you
dinna lie very well.”

“I am not a liar.” Turning on her
heel, Katie headed for the door.

“You wilna escape me, Katie,” he
threatened. “I will have you and your besotted sister.”

Trying to control the tremor that
swept through her, she hurried into the hallway. She could hear Rannoch’s
footsteps behind her then he turned down the other passage vanishing into the
darkened corridor.

Katie made it back to her chamber
to find Brianna waiting. Her sister paced back and forth in front of the fire.
She turned on Katie as soon as she walked into the room.

“You dinna want him yourself. Why
do you care if he and I find a spark?” Brianna asked.

“He is not the man you think he
is. I saw him with Sorcha. They are lovers.”

“You lie.”

“’Tis not a lie. He petitioned
Robert the Bruce to marry me, but ‘twas not a request born of desire. ‘Twould
give him control of our lands. He doesna care about either of us, only about
securing his rights to Duntaigh Castle.”

“Perchance you err about which
sister he asked for,” Brianna said. “He shows interest in me and now you lie to
keep me from him.”

“You canna trust him, Brianna.”

“Rannoch helped us in our time of
need. Now you make him out to be the villain, but he is not. He’s strong and
brave. He defends us against our enemies. All men have lovers. That doesna mean
they dinna crave a wife of proper station.”

The fire in her sister’s eyes
when she spoke Rannoch’s name told the whole tale. Katie could not trust
Brianna with the knowledge of the poisoning, at least not yet. “You almost let
him take you in the great hall,” Katie accused.

Brianna opened her mouth to
protest then stopped short.

“Would you deny it? I saw the
look in your eye. You desired him.”

“So what if I did? He would make
me his wife.”

“Is that what he told you?”

“He didna tell me anything except
how beautiful I was. He wants me.”

“Any man would want you. You are
young and lovely, but you are very innocent. His ambition knows no bounds.”

“You dinna wish to marry him. Why
shouldn’t I have him?”

Katie grabbed Brianna. “When he
and Sorcha were together, he did things to her. He strapped her to a table.
Brianna, he hurt her. He did it on purpose.”

Brianna pushed Katie out of her
face. “You saw this?”

“Aye. I went to the chamber
beside his, the one with the spy hole. I saw it all.”

“Sorcha is just a whore. A wife
would be different.” Brianna glared at Katie.

“What passed between you in the
great hall?” Katie asked, almost afraid of what her sister would answer.

Brianna eyed Katie defiantly. “I
let him slip his fingers inside my dress. He stroked my breast.” Brianna closed
her eyes. “I enjoyed it. I wanted him to take me. He saw I was willing and sent
the servants out. I would have been his if you had come later.”

“I saved you. Even though, you
didna want to be saved.”

“I want to be his wife. I think
he would make a fine husband.”

“Brianna, he is evil.”

“I dinna believe it. Unless you
have proof, I intend to let him ken I am still willing to be his.” Pushing past
Katie, Brianna left the chamber. She slammed the door on her way out.

Katie drew a deep breath.
“Zounds,” she muttered. Should she have told Brianna about the poisoning? She
knew the answer. To do that might warn Rannoch because her sister desired him
above all else. Brianna played with fire. Until she saw Rannoch’s true colors,
Katie could not confide in her.

Footfalls in the passageway
brought Ian to attention. Had she come back to release him? He saw a dim light
coming toward him, but the face which presented itself at the door to his
prison was not the one he expected. A young girl in fine clothes stood staring
at him through the barred door. Her white-blond hair and blue-violet eyes made
her seem ghostly in the dim light. Was he imagining her?

“You are the one,” his apparition
said softly.

“Lass, what is your name?”

“I am Tessa, daughter of the
protector of Duntaigh Castle and Rannoch Moor, Laird Brian Blackburn.”

“Katie’s sister?”

“Aye, so. And you are Ian Innes.”
She smiled at him. “I saw you in my mind’s eye and had to come.” Tessa grabbed
the keys to his cell from the wall beyond the doorway.

“Mind’s eye?”

“‘Tis my view into the future,”
she responded.

Could this child have Asilinn’s
gift? Ian’s sister Asilinn had foresight through dreams and visions. It served
the family well over the years except when it almost got Asilinn burned at the
stake for witchcraft. “Are you going to free me, Tessa?”

“Aye, I have seen your role in
what is about to occur. I ken Rannoch and Sorcha are poisoning father. We need
your help.”

“Does Katie know you are here?”

“Nay, Milord. My predictions
upset my family. I have learned to keep them to myself more often than not.”
Tessa struggled with the lock to the outer door for a minute before she
succeeded in getting it open. She rushed forward and handed him the keys to his
manacles and leg irons, holding her torch high so he could see to unlock them.