Highland Stone (21 page)

He scowled at that.

"Be careful. If he sees you and I talking, he will likely kill you."

"Aye, he wouldna like it."

She lifted her skirt and ran as fast as she dared down the steps. At the bottom of the stairway she saw Iain and Carrick. They were discussing something about wagons and loading supplies.

"Hello." She smiled at them. "What's all this about?"

"We be getting the wagons ready for the trip to Dunvegan."

"Dunvegan?"

"Aye," Carrick replied. "We be making the trip on the morrow."

"Tomorrow?" She frowned.

Iain nodded. "Alaxandar and Cuilén have gone to ready the horses and the wagons. The ceremony willna be far off and we be needing to get back."

The men walked away and Kara put her hand on the wall, hoping to hold her body erect even though her knees threatened to give out. "Tomorrow," she whispered.

Since she had run out of options, Kara decided to see if she could help Eleyne. Venturing off in the direction of the kitchen to find her friend, she heard more voices in the great hall. She started to enter then noticed the two figures standing close together, Carrick and Eleyne.

"What mean ye disaster may strike?" Eleyne said.

"'Tis true, I fear this willna turn out well." Carrick turned from her.

Eleyne rested her hand on his shoulder. "We willna accept this."

"Ye speak of choices, Eleyne. Without the stone, the clan suffers hardships. Rhianna doomed us all when she left, though I blame her not. The blame lays with Conar MacKay's ruthless soul."

With both hands, Eleyne shoved Carrick's back so he fell forward on the hearth.

"By St. Ninian's tomb, are ye trying to burn me?" He jumped up and swatted at the embers smoking on his shirt.

Turning angry eyes on him she said, "Be ye chief of the MacKay clan?"

"Ye know I be chief." He scowled.

"Then quit this doomsday blathering."

A devilish grin curled his lips. "Ye know, I think this union will be right proper, for the two o' us deserve each other."

Eleyne put balled hands on her hips and that ever stubborn chin lifted a notch. "Our battles be not done, MacKay."

He moved in closer. "I look forward to the battles, Eleyne, but much more do I look to what comes after."

Kara turned away from the scene with a smile. Definitely a good union there. Now to figure out her problem. The only way to make everything right was to find the stone and return it to Carrick thereby assuaging her grandmother's restless spirit and saving her clan from a future of mishaps which would surely be blamed on Glynnis.

Stacks of barrels and crates took up a portion of the yard along with flags of wine and chickens. Two goats were tethered to one of the posts. People were drifting in and out of the buildings carrying bundles that they added to the pile of goods, or took into the keep. Around the corner, men deep in laughter caught Kara's attention so she headed that way. The sound was inviting. There'd been an absence of happiness since she'd been here. Rounding the side of the building, she ran into something hard and immovable before falling back on her ass.

Shaking her head she looked up to see she'd found Alaxandar at last. "Great, another bruise on my backside."

The men laughed at her.

"Help me up you big brute." Kara held her hands out to him.

"Me pardons, milady." He reached down, taking her hands and hauling her to stand.

Kara rubbed her butt where she knew the bruise would be forming and glanced sideways at him.

Alaxandar bent down so his lips were close to her ear. "I be happy to have a look at your injury this eve."

Her face grew hot with the rising blush. "I'm sure you would, MacLeod, but I can manage just the same."

"As you wish." He bowed and the men followed him to the stables.

She'd forgotten what she'd come here for. Alaxandar made her forget a lot of things. She wandered to the bake house where she hoped to get something to eat. It was going to be a long day.

The day was spent loading wagons and making preparations for the return to Dunvegan, but the night was filled making love.

"Alaxandar?" Kara said as she slid her hand down his torso to his belly button.

"Aye?"

"How long will it take us to get to Dunvegan?"

"Two days at least, if we dunna have to stop overly much."

"Two days."

"Aye."

"Will we be taking the same road that Eleyne and I were brought here on?"

He opened his eyes. "We will. Why so many questions? Are ye not glad to be going back?"

She moved away slightly. "Yes and no."

He frowned. "Why?"

Kara sat up. "Because there they think I'm a witch." She glowered at him. "You yourself have said as much."

He too sat up. "In jest, Kara. Not for true."

"Nevertheless," she huffed. "Your clansmen are wary of me and it gives me the heebie-jeebies."

He scowled. "What be heebie-jeebies?"

How best to describe that? "It's like a million ants crawling all over your skin." The look on his face told her she still hadn't made him understand. "Never mind. Let's just say they make me nervous."

Grabbing her arm and coaxing her down to lay next to him, he said, "Dunna fuss. Nothing will happen to ye. I willna allow it."

"You're not always around," she mumbled.

"Go to sleep, Kara."

She closed her eyes and pretended she could sleep, but a small burst of excitement erupted. If they were to travel the same road, at least she could look for the stone.

She sighed. Who was she kidding?

It would be a long shot to see something that size while passing by in a wagon. Still, a long shot was better than none at all.

****

Kara busied herself helping the women load the last of the supplies on the wagons and tied everything down for the trip. Her side twinged occasionally.

Many would travel to Dunvegan for the ceremony, leaving only a handful behind to tend the needs of Strathnaver. A hum of anticipation came from the MacKays. It had been a long road for them under Conar MacKay's rule. His greed overshadowed the welfare of the people and showed in the weary faces of those who traveled to Dunvegan. Eleyne had told her the MacKay women were anxious to have men and babes again. Sorrow and anguish filled too many days at the MacKay stronghold.

Iain and Carrick spoke to those clansmen who would stay behind while Alaxandar made sure the horses were teamed, hitched, and ready to go. Jamie appeared every now and again, but kept his distance from both her and Alaxandar. She knew she would have to talk to the MacLeod chief. She didn't want Jamie exiled from the clan. How would that affect the future of the MacLeods? She couldn't let it happen.

The journey was long and slow with so many. Alaxandar rode ahead to scout a place for them to stay the night. Kara scanned every inch of ground while traveling. By the time they stopped, stars danced in the dark sky. The wagons formed a circle in the meadow where they camped. Four separate fires were started and the women prepared food while the men made camp and tended the horses.

Several men disappeared into the forest, guards most likely. Mist-covered moors brought flashbacks of old horror films and nights spent huddling under the covers, jumping at the slightest noise. Moonlight shone on the fog casting an eerie glow and creatures of the night began their music.

"So why did ye go to England for schooling? By all that's holy, Carrick, you walked into the enemy camp." Iain said.

"Aye, 'twas Conar's idea. He wanted me schooled in the ways of the English to help in the next military altercation with the Sassenach King."

"How did you manage to get in, being Scottish?" Kara asked.

"Me
máthair
's clan helped me. They had contacts in England."

Alaxandar said, "I be hearing the Black Prince 'tis itching for a piece o' France."

"Aye, willna be long afore England pushes forth against our allies."

"Willna be long afore the King decides to come here again." Iain shook his head then took a long drink of ale.

The group was silent until Eleyne threw a rock at Iain's head.

"Bloody hell, Eleyne," Iain raged and lunged toward her. He grabbed her arm, tugging her toward him, making as though he would turn her over his knee.

"Careful there,
bráthair
. 'Tis me future wife ye be manhandling." Carrick smiled.

"She not be your wife yet, MacKay, but she be me sister, giving me the right."

Carrick held for a moment. "I concede your point. Go ahead."

"Carrick!" Eleyne yelled then broke into a bout of giggles as Iain proceeded to tickle her.

"Has she always been a hard-headed, stubborn lass?" Carrick asked Alaxandar.

"Aye." He leaned back against a log. "One time she put a snake in Iain's bed."

Kara gasped and Carrick threw his head back and laughed.

Eleyne sat up and shoved Iain over. "That be only after he cut the strap on me saddle. It came off and me with it."

They all laughed.

"'Twas not funny. Me arse hurt for a week."

"Eleyne," Alaxandar scowled.

Her innocent eyes turned to her older brother. "It did."

"Come here, little flower, and let me comfort ye." Carrick's wicked smile said otherwise.

Eleyne snorted, but her eyes held promise. "I be no fool, MacKay."

Kara couldn't silence the overwhelming need inside to learn something, anything about her grandmother. "What about your sister, Carrick?"

His mood turned solemn. "Bright as the sun and hard-headed. She thought nothing of standing toe-to-toe with Conar MacKay, even though he backhanded her for it."

"She was a strong woman," Kara said.

"Aye and foolish." He sighed. "I wish I had been here when the chief tried to sell her to Ross. Mayhap I could have saved her."

"Or not," Kara replied. She smiled. "Something tells me she did okay for herself."

"I hope so."

Kara leaned against Alaxandar's side, finding it hard to keep her eyes open. Sleep had been a stranger of late. When she wasn't making love to Alaxandar, she'd been searching for the stone or helping prepare to leave.

If she did get back to her time,
how would she explain her disappearance off a perfectly good airplane without a parachute? Dealing with the authorities would be the least of her worries. For the first time in a long time, she didn't know what to do next.

"Come," Alaxandar said. "Me needs get ye to bed." He looked at Iain. "Wake me in two hours to stand guard."

He carried her to the tent that had been raised for them. Gently, he laid her on a soft pallet and pulled a cover on before spooning and wrapping a heavy arm around her waist.

Small wisps of breath rushed across her face and his scent swirled about her. He splayed his open hand across her stomach. Even now, she could carry his baby.

Kara's throat tightened.

* * * *

Upon arrival at the MacLeod keep, Kara saw the banns which had been posted for Carrick and Eleyne's wedding. Katherine rushed out the doors to greet them. Eleyne jumped from the wagon and ran to Katherine. Kara smiled at the reunion of mother and daughter.

Alaxandar helped her down and her hostess came forward. "Kara, how do you feel?"

"Much better, thank you." She glanced at Alaxandar. "I was well cared for."

He bowed and hurried to help with unloading.

Turning back to Katherine she asked, "How are the arrangements going for the wedding?"

Katherine ushered her toward the doors. "I was ready to hurl Drummond from the highest wall when he told me he would turn Eleyne over to the enemy."

Kara grinned at that statement. She could well imagine Katherine's shock and the fight that ensued over Eleyne's welfare.

"A little later, Drummond explained that a bond had already been forged." She sighed. "Eleyne says she will be fine, but I wonder."

Kara patted Katherine's arm. "They circled and prodded each other with words. I felt the charge between them immediately." She cast her gaze toward the young chief who stood instructing his men where to make camp. "Carrick is a learned man and not like his father by any means. He'll do what's best for his people." She smiled. "I think he'll do what it takes to make her happy."

"Conar MacKay was a horrible man," Katherine whispered.

Kara could only imagine what he'd really been like. From the little dealings she'd had with him, she knew he could be ruthless and heartless. That horrible man was her great-grandfather. From the tales that Glynnis had told, Kara knew things could have been worse.

She helped where needed, and chatted with the clanswomen about the kidnapping. It caused much excitement at the MacLeod keep. This would be her life now, she was certain of it. Losing the stone pretty much sealed her fate, guaranteeing she'd never make it back to her time.

At twilight, Kara heard a clatter. She dabbed her face with a wet cloth, combed her hair and stepped into the hallway. Men were carrying furniture and trunks into one of the other chambers. Those must be Carrick's temporary quarters. Venturing out into the mild evening, she saw lit torches and numerous tents outside the gates to house the rest of the MacKays.

Her stomach growled. You'd think nerves would steal her appetite, and when she first arrived, they had. She guessed even her body was adjusting to her situation in a more permanent way.

She strolled toward the castle. All the inhabitants were busy doing one thing or another. Since it was after the meal, she helped herself to bits of meat, fruit, and bread. She grabbed a cup and a flask. Finding a quiet corner, Kara sat down on the floor, out of the way, and ate.

A tall shadow darkened the spot. She looked up to find Jamie smiling. That was a sight she had not really seen since she arrived. He glanced around then knelt before her.

"How fare ye, Kara?"

"Fine, thank you."

"I be glad o' that." He hesitated. "I wanted to speak with ye about what happened."

"You don't—"

"MacLeods are a proud lot. The raids, your appearance, and Alaxandar's interest in ye, riled me. I got lost in me cups and did what I shouldna have done. I knew Alaxandar wanted ye."