Highland Rake (26 page)

He would never forget the way she had faced him down when he rode out to capture her. Or took him to task about his way with women. She had accepted his sister's friendship, the ghost that she was, and had even asked Seana to ride with her to Braniff Castle. Even though he couldn't interact with his sister, he was pleased Alana could and was providing her with friendship that both the women seemed to need.

He didn't care if others saw him as not wanting to leave the lass's side as though he was tied to her by some invisible bond. He truly enjoyed her company, especially when she rode with him, tucked in his arms, settling in his lap, just where she belonged.

Dougald believed Alana to be in some danger and he worried if it had to do with the marriage arrangement between her and MacDonald or if whoever had sent her away had been concerned about someone harming her within the castle walls. Someone who was kin. Someone who could be riding with them now.

But Cameron insisted that he ride alongside him instead. "Come. I wish to speak with you."

Dougald gave Alana one last regretful look. She smiled at him as if she understood her uncle wouldn't be dissuaded, then Dougald dipped his head to her in a farewell and rode ahead while she stayed with the two maids. Niall and Gunnolf moved alongside the women, flanking them, protecting them if need be.

Dougald knew the lasses were in good hands, but he still preferred to ride with his wife. He joined Cameron and didn't say a word, just waited for the older man to say his peace. He looked out onto the moors covered with heather and moss, cotton grass, bracken and crowberry dotted with clusters of edible black berries, while the mountains in the distance were snow-capped already. A wisp of mist floating over a blue loch reflected on the water.

Finally, Cameron glanced at him. "My brother and I didna always get along."

Dougald was surprised to hear Cameron speak of something so personal, although he and his own brothers fought a time or two so it wasn’t something he was entirely surprised to hear.

"We didna see eye to eye concerning my niece’s marriage."

"To MacIverson?" Dougald asked.

"Aye."

Cameron didn’t say anything further and Dougald wanted to ask why, but held his tongue to allow the man to come out with it on his own if he was going to.

Cameron stared straight ahead, then said, "We were both stubborn."

"Aye." This time when Cameron didn’t say anything further, Dougald said, "You are a leader of men, as was your brother, both strong in your own right. 'Twould be more than unusual had you no' disagreed on some things."

"Aye."

"My brothers and I have fought a few times."

Cameron still didn't say what was on his mind.

Dougald cleared his throat. "James, being the oldest, was in charge. We knew he would be laird when Da died, but that didna mean we agreed with everything he said."

"Aye, like with me and my brother."

"Aye." Dougald felt the urge to shake whatever the Cameron wished to say out of him! "One time, my brother wanted me to wed a lass who he believed would be good for the clan. The woman and I didna suit. She was too dour for me. James couldna see my side of it. I finally left to find a bride on my own. I was unsuccessful."

"I couldna say why I didna believe Alana should wed MacIverson. No' to my brother. I am no' sure he would have believed me. He was set on her marrying the chief."

"He is dead now, is he no'?"

"Aye."

The rumors had spread that MacIverson had been seeing a lass in the dead of winter, fell from a cliff, and died. He never took men with him, as he didn't wish his people to know who he was seeing. Had the man slipped off the cliff on his own? Or had someone given him a shove? Someone who believed MacIverson had murdered the Cameron chief?

"Why were you against the marriage?" Dougald finally asked, knowing James had already asked him as he said he had, but that Cameron wouldn't tell him the reason.

"You truly care for my niece?" Cameron asked, avoiding answering Dougald's question.

Thinking it obvious, Dougald was surprised to hear Cameron ask him. Then again, mayhap her uncle believed Dougald's mind was filled with lust for the lass, but that wasn't all that consumed his thoughts for now.

"Aye, I do," Dougald admitted without reservation.

"She is a bonny lass," Cameron agreed.

For some reason, the Cameron's words bothered Dougald. Aye, she was a beautiful woman, but she was much more than that. "She has quite a tongue," Dougald said, loving that about Alana as much as anything.

"Oh?" Cameron said, his eyes growing round.

"Aye," Dougald said. "She speaks her mind when she disagrees with others. And with…me."

"Oh," Cameron said. He seemed uncertain as to how to address the issue satisfactorily. Did her uncle think to give advice on how to handle the lady?

Dougald had no need of anyone's advice where Alana was concerned. They suited each other fine to his way of thinking. "I enjoy that she does. I love that she does. 'Tis refreshing and quite honestly, she reminds me of James's wife. I admire her greatly. I wouldna have wanted a wife who couldna speak her mind."

"I see." Cameron visibly relaxed in his saddle.

"She is beautiful, both inside and out," Dougald continued. "She concerns herself with healing the sick…"

"Even when someone feigns being sick when they are not," Cameron said, his face darkening.

"You mean Odara?" Dougald asked.

"Aye." Cameron rubbed his whiskered chin, then turned to Dougald, his brow deeply furrowed. "I shouldna ask such a thing of you or any other man who might have wed my niece, but I have to know—did the two of you suit?"

Dougald couldn't help grinning. He tried to wipe the smile off his face because he knew Cameron was concerned and quite serious about the matter or he wouldn't have asked. Still, he had a devil of a time controlling his smile. He couldn't be happier with his lady-wife.

"Aye, Laird Cameron. We have well consummated the marriage." He didn't intend to say any more than that, but he could see her uncle was still worried. Dougald finally said, "She is a delight and I will not stray from the marriage bed, if that is what you are concerned about. I vow this on my grandmother's grave."

He couldn't do such on his father's grave as he'd had many mistresses, to everyone's consternation. Mayhap Cameron thought Dougald would be like his da. But he had always vowed when he took a wife, he would never seek another woman's bed, not like his da who had distressed his good mother so.

"We will see."

Dougald nodded. He would prove to her uncle he would not dally with any other lass.

"You really dinna mind that she sees…what she ought not?" Cameron asked.

Dougald shook his head. "She's gifted. Mayhap 'tis because of her desire to heal those who are sick. Those who have not found their way still seek her comfort? I dinna know, but 'tis no' a problem for me. And I will take any man—or woman—to task who gives her a difficult time over the matter."

"Aye, that is good. Did you know her da showed her the way home, she said? Though she knew which berries and mushrooms and other plants she could eat, she didna know how to reach the castle. Some say she has a guardian angel who watches over her."

"Mayhap."

"But you trust her da took her home?"

"Do you no’ believe so?" Dougald asked, surprised. Surely her uncle had not doubted the lass.

Cameron took a deep breath. "Over the years I have tried hard not to imagine what it must be like for her. She attempts to hide from me that she speaks to people who no longer live."

"At your behest."

"Aye. But we have all seen her talking to people who are no' there." Cameron paused, taking a deep, settling breath. "I didna know her brother was visiting her."

Dougald considered that for a moment. "Mayhap…if he should be able to recall anything that had happened before his death that might point to wrongdoing as far as the trouble he found himself in and shares this with Alana…"

"
That
we must keep secret. It would not be prudent for the word to get out that she might learn the truth of it."

"Aye," Dougald said. That only added to his concern over Alana's safety. "I rather like her brother. He's protective of Alana."

Cameron studied him for a moment.

Dougald realized her uncle must think he could see her brother as well. "I have no' seen him."

Cameron frowned. "He canna help her."

"Nay, but I think his presence is comforting to Alana to an extent."
When he wasn't scaring her out of her wits.
Dougald had to admit Connell had advised Alana not to touch Dougald when they supped together alone in the tavern room. So her brother had protected her then. It didn't make a whole lot of difference in the end as Dougald and the lass were now wed. Which had him thinking back to the bed and what he would be doing with her now if they could have stayed at the tavern tonight.

"Because you understand her strange ways and dinna seem to mind them, I have to admit I am relieved," Cameron said.

"You have no worry concerning me and how I feel about Alana's gift. She is safe with me."

"'Tis good to hear. I wasna certain how Hoel MacDonald would feel about her had he known."

Dougald had worried about that himself. On the other hand the thought that either his brother or cousin would marry the lass had him grinding his back teeth. The lady had been his the moment he saw her sitting so fae-like on top of the hill.

***

Later that night, Dougald helped Alana down from her horse as camp was made.

Looking worried and stiff from the long day's ride, she asked him, "What do you think happened to Gilleasbuig?"

That
was
what she was concerned about. "He might have been whipped or just sent away from the clan. I have no' seen him unless he is staying clear of us and spreading his discontent among those at the fringes of the group. I didna ask your uncle. 'Tis his clan to guide and his decision to make." When she still appeared troubled, he said, "You are no' worried about him giving you difficulty, are you, lass? We will keep an eye on you always, my cousin and friend, the lads, and the men I brought with me."

"Aye, I know, Dougald. I just wish I knew what happened to him. I have looked, but have seen no sign of him. I dinna know how many traveled with my uncle, and everyone is so spread out, I canna tell how many are still with him."

"Twenty-one came with your uncle. James's advisor, Eanruig, counted them when they first arrived. But like you said, they are so spread out, 'tis hard to tell how many are still with us if no' all of them."

With help from his cousin and Gunnolf, Dougald and the others quickly set up a tent for the lasses. He wished he could be with Alana for the night. Of all the times Dougald had traveled with his men with nary a lass in sight, he had never been bothered by it. But this eve? He couldn't stand being away from Alana. The woman had thoroughly bewitched him.

Cameron motioned to Dougald to join him at the campfire after seeing where Dougald's attention was focused. They talked for a while about clan business, his military advisor, Bran, joining them and then when Dougald could beg off, he finally did.

Even though he could not sleep with Alana in the tent, Dougald curled up in his plaid nearby. He didn't care what anyone thought of his behavior either. He'd heard the taunts from the Cameron men and had seen the good-natured smiles from both Gunnolf and his cousin and his own men, knowing just what he wanted to do.

A couple of his men were posted on guard duty. The others settled down nearby. Gunnolf and Niall laid out their plaids close by. As did the two lads, Tavis and Callum, who had stayed near the ladies all day as if they were their personal guards.

Finally, Dougald closed his eyes, wondering just how receptive the Cameron's people would be to his living among them. Certainly, the Cameron's men he had dealt with already had not been all that welcoming.

Most of all, he wondered if someone would make an attempt on his life next if they didn't want him ruling the clan.

The night air damp and chilly, Alana wrapped herself in her husband's spare plaid, feeling comforted by the smell of Dougald—of the leather of his saddle and the fresh pine fragrance, even though she would have preferred his body wrapped around hers, warming her in the tent. Worn out from the long day's journey, Mary and Katerina, the maids accompanying her, had already fallen asleep.

Seana joined her in the tent and Alana whispered, "There are extra furs you may use." Even though it seemed odd that a spirit would need such a thing.

Seana laid down on a fur near Alana. Dougald's sister had ridden with Connell on Spirit all day, because he had said that Seana would give anyone a chill if she had ridden with anyone else. She had reluctantly agreed. Then they'd argued nearly nonstop the whole day, but Alana had been careful not to say a word to them with so many staying so close to her. She'd desperately wanted to scold her brother and tell him to hold his tongue a time or two. And Seana, too, but her brother should have been man enough to allow some of Seana's insults to slip by.