Highlander's Bride (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 1) (28 page)

Alexander rushed past his steward and ran to
Katherine's room.

Her maid stood outside the entrance, wringing her
hands.  "Oh, Laird MacGregor, I heard the wee kitten crying. Then
something sounded like it fell. Now the animal cries all the louder. I canna
get the door open and yer lady doesna answer."

A feeling of unease prickled along his skin.
Alexander grabbed a pike from where it hung on the corridor wall. "Stand
aside!"

Stepping back, he rammed it into the door. The
impact nearly jarred his shoulder from its socket. Ignoring the pain, he
repeated the movement again and again. The door splintered leaving an opening
large enough for him to force his hand through and dislodge the bar.

He flung the door open and rushed into the
chamber. "Katherine!" His voice echoed across the stillness of the
room, mocking his concern. Nothing but emptiness met his gaze.

A slight noise caught his attention. He whirled
around and hurried over to the hearth.

 The small kitten lay partially pinned by a large
pile of belongings. Its dark eyes stared up at him from beneath the corner of a
small wooden chest. His wife's jewelry lay scattered about the floor.

Alexander knelt and pulled the animal loose from
its prison. He quickly surveyed the rest of the room. Naught else was
disturbed. But where was Katherine? As the kitten nuzzled in the crook of his
arm, he strode over to her bed.

The linen sheets and wool blanket lay flat and
smooth across its surface. No indentation marred the fullness of the pillow.
Alexander reached out and gently touched it, seeking her warmth, her fragrance.
The pillow was cold. Without her presence, the room felt as lifeless as the
pale moonlight shining through the window. He hurried to it and looked out but
saw no one in the bailey. God, where could she be?

As he cast his gaze about, the kitten squirmed in
his arms. "Och, laddie, I would give much if you could tell me where she
is." He gently rubbed the kitten's head.  "I vow I'll find her and
bring her back to us."

Striding quickly toward the doorway, he handed the
kitten to the maid who stood silent and wide-eyed, just inside the room.
"Lass, see that the wee lad is fed and cared for until Lady MacGregor
returns." His voice turned gruff as he faced his steward. "Lewis,
call out the men! My wife is not here. Tell them we ride as soon as the horses
are saddled!"

As the steward hurried to do his bidding, he
turned his gaze back to his wife's room. The foreboding silence chilled him
like a winter's blast. He hadn't been this cold since he'd been ill and wracked
with fever. Katherine had pulled him through it with her healing touch and her
love. He knew it as surely as he drew breath. And, just as surely, he knew that
without her, he would never be whole again.

Chapter Twenty

Thick Highland mist rolled in, enveloping
everything in its path. It created a chill, eerie silence broken only by the
creak of the wain's large wooden wheels and the ox's hooves thudding dully over
the leaf-covered forest floor. Katherine shifted once again beside the tinker
on the hard plank seat of the wagon.

He squinted into the distance and growled.
"Damn mist. I canna see the path. We will have to stop and wait fer it to
lift."

She shot a nervous glance about her. How long had
it been since she'd left? Would someone have discovered her absence by now?
Sweet Mary, Alexander and his men might be thundering toward them at this
moment to take her back. She fought to control the tremor in her voice. "Surely
you know the way well enough from your travels that we can keep going. What of
wild animals or highwaymen? 'Tis not safe to stop here in the open like
this."

The tinker turned his gaze on her, and his
expression changed. For a long moment, he simply looked at her with a slight
smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Dinna fash, my fine lady. I
have traveled this way oft enough to ken the mist willna last o'er long. When
it clears, we will continue. Until then, if ye grow cold… ye can always warm
yerself against me."

Something in his voice caused a prickle of unease.
What had she done? She knew nothing of this man. Had she traded her safe but
lonely existence for something worse? The chill of the night air mixed with the
thick mist sent a shiver coursing along her spine. "No. I am fine."
She drew her cloak tight and tried to ease her discomfort by sliding to the far
end of the wagon's seat. As the minutes eked by, she felt her eyelids grow
heavy. The turmoil of leaving had left her exhausted and wanting.

She must not think of Alexander. There was no hope
for her if she did not empty her heart and mind of him. Aye, somehow she must
find a way to do so. Wearily, she closed her eyes.

**

The sway and bump of the wain woke her. Katherine
rubbed her eyes and looked around. It was hard to tell how long they had been
stopped. The mist had cleared and they were on their way once again. Away from
Castle Ironwood. Away from Alexander.

Eventually, they left the protective forest canopy
behind and made their way slowly across an open moor. An occasional sparkle of
starlight shone amidst the clouds as they sailed across the heavens. 

She darted a wary glance at the silent tinker
beside her. She hadn't meant to give in to weariness, but sleep had overcome
her before she realized it. Sweet Mary be praised, he'd left her untouched
while she slept. When she stretched, her sore muscles echoed the ache in her
heart. She bit her lip and forced her thoughts toward the future. As soon as
they arrived at a port, she would find an inn where she could sleep
comfortably. After a good rest and a hot meal, she would feel better. Aye, her
body would, but what of her heart?

As dawn began to light the sky, the tinker turned
the wain off the beaten path toward a thick grove of trees ahead of them. Soon
after entering the thicket, he pulled to a halt and waited as if he expected
someone. 

The silence surrounding them was broken by the
sound of a snapping twig. A slim, cloaked figure stepped from the shadows and
approached. After reaching them, the person threw back the hood of the cloak,
revealing a woman's sly smiling face. Katherine gasped. "Fiona.
What—"

The girl flicked a glance at her and then turned
to face the tinker. "So, I see ye found the prize ye sought. I told ye she
was the one. Nay other woman in this glen speaks French but her. Now, I want my
payment as ye agreed."

"Aye," the tinker replied. "Ye were
right in tellin' me where to look fer her. She came along as trustin' as a
bairn. Here, steady the reins, whilst I fetch yer payment."

Katherine froze. What was happening? Sweet Mary,
had she been deceived again? But why? The tinker didn't know her, had no reason
to wish her harm. But what of the woman who stood before her? She claimed to be
Alexander's lover. No! He had vowed it wasn't so. Aye, and hadn't he also vowed
to honor and protect her then left her to face their wedding night alone?

Fiona leaned forward and grasped the reins. The
tinker smiled and bent down toward the wain floor. Silently and smooth as
quicksilver, he slipped a dirk from his boot, straightened, and thrust it into
the woman's chest. She let out a short cry of surprise and slid against the
wain, the reins trailing from her fingers.

 Katherine screamed and reached for Fiona, but
couldn't catch her. She stared in horror as the woman fell to the ground in a
crumpled heap, a dark stain quickly spreading across her clothing. Dear God,
she must find a way to stop the bleeding. Frantic, she slid to the end of the
seat to climb down.

The tinker, still grasping the bloody knife,
grabbed her arm and yanked her back toward him. His wiry fingers bit cruelly
into her flesh. "Now, my fine lady, ye will do exactly as I say, or meet
the same fate. Dinna mind the bitch. She is past yer help."

He jerked his head toward a small hut half hidden
by the trees. "Climb down and walk o'er to that crofter's hut. Someone
waits there to see ye. He has paid me well to bring ye to him and I dinna wish
to displease him."

Absolute terror welled up inside Katherine. In
frantic silence, she fought against the panic that threatened to paralyze her.
She trembled as the light of dawn wavered and merged with the tinker's face,
leaving her light-headed. Jerking her frightened gaze from him, she looked once
more at Fiona lying silent and motionless on the ground. Heaven help her, she
could do nothing for the woman. She forced herself to breathe and swung her
legs over the side of the wain.

Her dizziness increased, and her trembling hands
slipped on the wood, making it difficult to climb down. The moment her feet
touched the ground, the tinker was beside her, pushing her forward. She
stumbled and he jerked viciously on her arm. "Keep movin'," he
growled and held the bloody knife to her side.

Her feet turned to lead. It took every ounce of
strength she had to remain upright and continue walking. With each faltering
step, she prayed silently. Please, no. Help me. Whether her thoughts were meant
for God or Alexander she couldn't be sure. A slight rain started to fall and
she shivered as she stumbled closer to the hut.

The tinker tightened his grip on her arm and
shoved her forward.

Desperately, she shot a swift glance around her.

He shook his head. "'Tis naught here to help
ye, wench. Keep movin'."

She was alone. The total isolation of the area
added to her terror. If she couldn't get away, would she suffer the same fate
as Fiona? Or would it be worse?

 Suddenly, the tinker pushed her across the open
threshold of the hut then stood in the doorway, blocking it.

She stumbled, righted herself, and stood frozen in
the sudden gloom. After the dawn's brilliance, her eyes struggled to adjust to
the dimness of the interior. Could she find a way to escape?

The darkness temporarily hid the inside of the
building. She heard the scratch of a flint being struck as a small lantern was
lit. Its faint glow threw the room into a myriad of light and shadows.

A lone stranger sat at a crude table, motionless
and silent. As if he was waiting. His visage showed the passage of time. A few
strands of gray mingled in his golden hair and fine wrinkles gathered at the
corners of his thin lips. He was slim, not as broad shouldered as Alexander,
yet the cruel glint in his icy blue gaze held her frozen in fear.

The man's tight smile showed no warmth. "So,
finally we meet
ma petit fille
. You have the look of your mother. That
is unfortunate, for it only reminds me of her disloyalty. But I will soon
settle that debt." He motioned to her. "Come closer girl and curtsy…
to your father."

Katherine looked into his face past his tight-lipped
smile, to the evil glint in his eyes. Then the darkness closed in around her
and she knew nothing more.

**

The undulant rhythm rocking back and forth brought
Katherine back to consciousness. Even though she opened her eyes slowly, the
room swirled and dipped in front of her. She closed her eyes, gripped the edge
of the bed beneath her and drew a slow, deep breath. Ah. That was better.

Gradually, she peered out between her lashes. No,
she was not that light-headed. The room was moving.

The creak of wooden timbers and sounds of waves
splashing against a hull echoed dizzily in her ears. She was on a ship. But how
had she gotten there? Wearily, she rubbed her temples. Her head and body ached.
She must move, find a way out. Forcing herself to sit up, she scanned the room.
She was alone. But where, and why?

A simple wooden bench and small worn sea chest sat
along the opposite wall beneath a small porthole window, the only source of
light and fresh air in the room. Muffled voices drifted through a closed door at
the far end of the ship's small cabin.

Gingerly, she swung her legs over the side of the
bed and stood. She held tight to the rough headboard until the sickening
sensation left her. It took an eternity before she could stand on her own. The
floor rose and fell beneath her as she inched her way along the wall, to the
room's only entrance. Nearing it, she leaned back for support and listened.
There had been voices, but now all was silent. As she waited, the door opened.

Cold blue eyes met her gaze. "It is not
polite to eavesdrop on another's conversation,
ma fille
. I see your
mother was lax in your schooling of proper etiquette. I shall have to remedy
that. I was too gentle with her. I will not make that mistake again."

Katherine clutched the wall. "What do you
want? How did I get here?"

The tinker walked up and held the door open wider
as the older man, dressed in satin and brocade, sauntered into the ship's
modest cabin. Walking over to the simple bench, he pulled out a fine lace
handkerchief from a wide embroidered cuff. He dusted the seat before he sat
down, crossing one leg over the other.

He nodded to the tinker. The man entered, closed
the door behind him and leaned against it. Katherine fought the urge to run for
the entrance, knowing she would never get past him. She threw a worried glance
back at the richly dressed Frenchman. Drawing a deep breath, she asked again,
"What do you want with me?"

The man took his time and then answered in French.
He studied her while he toyed absently with his handkerchief, pulling it over
and over through his long be-ringed fingers. Neither he nor the tinker made any
move to aid her as she leaned quivering against the cabin wall for support.
"Do you not know
ma fille
? I am
Duc
Phillipe Ja Bier, your
father."

Fear threatened to swallow her in darkness again.
She gasped for breath. "No!"

The man's cold voice continued as if she hadn't
spoken. "You are on board a ship headed for France. Jules, here, has been
looking for you and your mother for some time now. When he traced your
whereabouts to Scotland and contacted me, I came to personally escort you back
to France where you belong."

His words echoed her mother's story. She shivered
as they rippled across her skin with the icy touch of winter.

The duke shrugged nonchalantly, as if her distress
was of no concern. "Your mother foolishly thought to keep you from me when
she left. She should have known no one ever takes anything from me." He
let out a short sigh of apparent displeasure. "For years, it did not
matter what had become of you and your mother. But now, I find I have need of
you." Ja Bier looked over to the tinker. "You were correct. She
understands French quite well."

"
Oui
,
Monsieur
."

Turning back to Katherine with a tight-lipped
smile, he said, "Jules spoke your barbaric tongue very convincingly, did
he not? Ah, at least your foolish mother had the good sense to teach you to
speak French as well. We could hardly communicate in a civil manner if we had
to use only English and that other so called language you speak."

Duke Ja Bier yawned behind his lace handkerchief
as if the situation bored him. "Getting you under my control has proved a
tiresome task. I had you traced to some castle belonging to that Scot dog,
Gordon. I was quite displeased to find you had left a few days ahead of my
arrival and to be wed to some Highland Scot barbarian, no less. It took some
time to find a person who knew the family and who was willing to aid me in
securing you."

He shook his head and continued. "I always
knew your foolish mother had no sense, but it seems she also lacks all pride
concerning herself and her daughter. I was aghast when I heard you had been
given to a Scot. What a waste of perfectly good female flesh. Ah, well. I will
remedy that, soon enough."

Katherine could only lean against the wall and
watch as a repulsive grin settled on his lips. Shock robbed her of speech.

"By the way, whatever did you do to that sly
girl, Fiona?  She delighted in helping me find you and assist in your, uh,
shall we say, return to France. It was she who sent the message, telling you to
go to that other castle, iron trees, was it? Oh, no matter. Then she set up the
meeting between some of my hired agents and your escort. Unfortunately, the
meeting did not prove successful. I had to send Jules in to bring you to
me."

The totally unconcerned tone of his voice hit
Katherine like the splash from an icy mountain burn. Adrenaline surged through
her veins. "Meeting? You mean bloody murder by ambush! One man was killed
and another badly wounded from that attack! Who are these scum you paid to
attack us on our journey? I will see they are repaid for such treachery."

"Ah,
ma fille
, do not stir yourself
over the matter. The peasants on whom you would seek retribution have already
been dealt with. The ruffians who were to bring you to me were unable to
accomplish their task so they were disposed of. The girl, Fiona, was very
helpful in securing their aid. She could be most persuasive it seems with the
local male riff raff, eh, Jules? You did enjoy watching that did you not? Yes…
it was entertaining. She was quite, shall we say, cooperative."