Highland Rake (37 page)

Seana furrowed her brows at him. "Why were you no' watching out for your sister? This Landon friend of yours is dead. You should have been looking out for Alana."

"He
isna
a friend of mine." Connell glanced over his shoulder.

Alana couldn't see if Landon was there or not. "What did you fight about, Connell? Did he know who killed our da and the others?"

"I was angry that he had left you behind. He wasna supposed to do so! Da would have had his head for it. But I wanted to know why he told Da that I had stolen the bread.
He
was the one who told me the family needed it. Then he waited for me to steal it before he reported that I was sneaking out to take it to the family before we broke our fast that morn."

She frowned. "And?"

"He…he said he knew the men were going to have a confrontation during the hunt. But he only thought the men would talk to Da. He didna want me there. He was afraid I would be killed if a fight ensued."

Alana stared at her brother, her lips parted, speechless.

Dougald rubbed her arm, looking anxious as he watched her closely. "What is he saying, lass? What does Connell know?"

She couldn't answer Dougald. She had to know more about what had gone on that day.

"If he…knew Da and the others were going to be attacked, he was in on it. How…why…?" She couldn't even form the rest of the words as she tried to think back to that day. Landon had acted hesitant to leave her, yet he also seemed to want to help the others. Had he had a change of heart when he heard the cries from their men as they were being butchered?

"He said he thought the men would talk, but Da wouldna hear of it," her brother said.

"Landon lies!" she said, as the grief at having lost her da and all the rest of the men washed over her.

"Aye, that was what I told him," Connell said.

Alana folded her arms, her brow furrowed. "I want to speak with him."

Dougald helped her up from her seated position on the ground. As she looked for Landon, she didn't see him at first. "Landon! Show yourself."

Then he was there, as real as life. His mouth curved down, his blue eyes looking at her, he lowered his gaze to the forest floor as if he couldn't stand to see the recrimination in hers.

"Who killed our people?" More than anything, she had to know who had done the horrible deed.

"MacIverson's men," Landon said. "He said you were a witch. That you could…" Landon motioned with his sword at her. "…speak with the dead. Like this."

"I dinna understand." Tears streaked down her cheeks, and she brushed them angrily away. She didn't want Landon to see her in distress, to show weakness, when she wished only to show strength. "Why did he no' just say he didna want to go through with the marriage contract?"

"Your da wouldna agree. He wanted an alliance with their clan. He didna know MacIverson believed you to be a witch."

"Why did he want to marry me in the first place?"

Landon licked his lips and wouldn't look at her.

"Landon, why?"

"He was seeing someone else. He wanted to continue to see her. She said if he married you, she could."

"Who?"

Landon shook his head.

"You dinna know?"

Landon wouldn't say. Either he didn't know, or he didn't want to reveal the truth.

"But…but the man in the woods said that MacIverson wanted me. That they were to take me to him."

"Nay, someone else. But I dinna know who."

She did not believe MacIverson and his men had any intention of talking with her da to change his mind. They had decided the sword was the only way to settle matters.

"I dinna understand. If he wanted to see this other woman, than why did he decide he no longer wanted me?"

"The woman's husband learned of her indiscretion and said he would kill her and him if he discovered she went to MacIverson again."

Alana's mouth hung agape, and then she swallowed hard. She thought frantically about what she needed to ask. Landon was already fading, as if his mission was to tell her the truth about what had happened, and then he'd be free from this world where he no longer belonged.

"Who is she?"

He shook his head, his gaze on hers now.

As much as she hated that he had not warned her da, she had to remember Landon had protected her brother. "You saved my brother's life."

"Aye," Landon said. "But when our men were set upon, I was torn. Protect you, or help them."

"And you got yourself killed."

"I didna deserve to live. Your da was furious with me for leaving you behind. But then one of the men trying to kill him was angry with me for leaving you. He shouted at me that I was supposed to stay with you and keep you from running. I thought your da would kill me instead for the traitor I was. He didna. I will never forget the look on his face—of condemnation and disbelief. He turned his back on me, but couldna know if I would shove my sword into him or no'.

"Still, he continued to fight the man in front of him as if he had no choice as the other man was older and more battle-trained, or your da didna think I would kill him. Our men were outnumbered. I knew if I fought the MacIverson men, I would die, too. But I also believed that my leaving you alone, and mayhap their worry I might turn on them in the future, meant I wasna going to live long either. I fought the man alongside your da. We killed him, but then I was attacked and the much bigger man struck me such a blow, I didna live."

Alana couldn't help the shudder that wracked her body. He had done wrong, but how many times over the years had she made wrong choices? Reckless decisions, thinking she knew best? Only his wrong decision caused men to lose their lives.

Landon took a deep breath, then frowned at Connell. "I save your life and this is how you end up anyway?" He waved his sword at Connell.

Connell glowered back at him. "You were a traitor to our people, to Da. If I could kill you to avenge him and the others now, I would."

Dougald had wrapped his arm around Alana's shoulders, though she could barely feel his warmth she was so cold and concentrating—trying to concentrate—on what to ask next.

But Landon spoke again. "Your da rode back for you, only he and his horse were already dead. I heard him shout for you to hide. I felt badly for you. You were so young. I was afraid of what they might do to you should they find you. But there was naught I could do about it then. Your da led you home. I couldna follow. I was stuck here. Everyone else left me. How long has it been? I canna believe you are a woman now full grown."

"Ten years," Alana said. "Who was the other man who wanted me, Landon?"

"I dinna know. I never knew. Just that the one didna want you, and he thought to turn you over to the other who did."

"MacDonald?" she asked. She was glad MacDonald and his sons were not hearing this.

Landon shook his head. "I dinna know." His voice was merely a whisper as his body was fading fast.

"Why did you turn on our people?"

"They said you were a witch. MacIverson would have drowned you. I couldna let that happen. The other man who wanted you knew, yet he would have kept you safe."

She thought again of how her da had come for her to help her find the way home. Tears welled up in her eyes again, and she swiped away more trailing down her cheeks.

"I couldna tell Connell." Landon looked in her brother's direction. "He believed, as everyone else did, that MacIverson wanted you. Only your uncle—he didna like the man and tried to convince your da to choose another."

"I chose another," Alana said, holding Dougald's arms around her.

Landon looked at Dougald. "A MacNeill?" He snorted. "What are our Highlands coming to?" He took a deep breath. "I am sorry, Alana, for leaving you alone in the woods. But if I had stayed with you, they would have found you."

"I understand," she said. She wanted to tell him she forgave him, as upset as she was still that he had not warned her da or the other men what was to happen. Mayhap her da would not have listened, but Landon should have made the attempt.

She didn't have time to tell Landon she forgave him, because he melted into nothingness right before her eyes. It was different than when her brother left her alone to come and bother her at some other time. The spirit brightened a little right before he or she vanished all together. She knew he was gone, and she hoped after all these years he would find peace.

She stood staring at the spot for what seemed an eternity. Everyone was quiet that stood nearby her. Off in the distance, she heard men shouting, probably trying to find the man who attempted to shoot her. Had the man tried to kill her to keep her from telling what she learned from Landon? How would anyone know she could learn the truth from a ghost? That a ghost was standing here talking to her? Unless Hoel heard him speaking with her and thought she might learn the truth. That the MacDonalds had been involved in her da's murder.

Connell said, "I am sorry, Alana, that I hadna known."

She shook her head. "None of us did. You had naught to do with it."

"I might have."

She frowned at him. "How would you have known? You wouldna have risked all our lives."

"Nay, earlier, when we visited MacIverson and Da was making the marriage contract up. Someone who was about my age jested that you were special. He kept on and on and I finally said you were."

"Connell," she whispered.

"Aye. I think the lad was trying to learn the truth about you. He acted as though your being different was a good thing. He must have told MacIverson."

She shook her head. "I saw a ghost girl the one time we visited. I didna speak to her, but MacIverson and his people were always watching me. Mayhap I led him to believe I was distracted by something when I shouldna have been. I am sure they knew something about me and were trying to prove they were correct."

Dougald rubbed her arm, and then realizing he was waiting to hear what was being said, she turned to him. "Landon said MacIverson's men did it."

"A MacIverson didna loose that arrow," Cameron said, rejoining the party, her uncle furious and red-faced.

"How do you know it wasna MacIverson or one of his men?" she asked, her heart pounding. She was afraid to hear who had.

"One of Dougald's men saw him. It was Gilleasbuig."

Her heart skipped a beat. And then she fumed. How many traitors were there among her people?

"I should have killed the mon, when I had the chance," Dougald growled, his arms wrapping securely around her again.

She felt chilled to the marrow of her bones. Her uncle had to decide Gilleasbuig's fate, but she knew if Dougald had any say in it, he'd kill him.

"They have caught him, my laird!" Bran shouted from the forest beyond.

She felt only a shadow of relief that they had him now. She didn't want to see what they would do to him. She only knew that she had to question him.

Dougald helped Alana mount, then they rode with the rest of his men to where they were holding Gilleasbuig. He was lying on his stomach, his black hair hiding his face as three arrows protruded from his back. His breathing was labored. Dougald helped Alana down, then they joined the men surrounding Gilleasbuig.

Before her uncle could question him, Alana said, "Why did you try to kill me?" She had it in mind that he wanted to silence her before she learned from the ghosts that he was involved.

He turned on his side and stared up at her. His blue eyes were glassy. "Nay ye, lass."

Did he think to win her uncle over if he lied? Angered that she'd saved his life and he repaid her by trying to take hers, but also infuriated that his arrow could have hit Dougald, she shook with outrage. "You aimed at me! Dinna tell me you saw a deer behind me and thought to hit it!"

Dougald slipped his arm around her shoulders in a comforting manner. Or mayhap he was worried she might use her dirk on the man to finish him off.

Gilleasbuig narrowed his eyes at Dougald. Her eyes widened. "You…you were trying to kill Dougald?"

"Ye had…" Gilleasbuig gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, then opened them. Pain reflected in them, like the time when she'd treated his sword wound. "…a marriage contract…with Hoel. Ye…belonged to…him."

"And MacIverson? Think you I didna belong with him, either?"

Gilleasbuig spat out blood and coughed. "Ye…saved…my…life, my lady," he managed with great difficulty to say. "He thought…ye a…witch. He would…have got ye…with child…and once the bairn was born…drowned ye."

She cringed when Gilleasbuig brought up the witch aspect in front of everyone here. She wished she could order everyone but Dougald away while she questioned the man. "So you helped the men who killed my da and our people?"

"I…didna. I…I dinna know…who did it."

She glanced at MacDonald. His face was strained. Was he worried Gilleasbuig might implicate him?

"The night in the tent. You came to kill me," she said.

"Nay, take ye to Hoel. Ye…" Gilleasbuig took a shuddering breath. "Ye belonged to him."