Lily (The Highland Clan Book 3) (17 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Kyle grabbed his head as soon as he awakened, and the first thing he discovered was sticky, wet blood all over his head and his face.

Lily.

He pushed himself to a sitting position. “Kyle,” a familiar voice said. Only then did he realize that Gwyneth was beside him. “Kyle,” she repeated, “Logan has taken several guards and gone after her. I’m sure they’ll find her. Now tell me what you remember.”

He rubbed his face, clearing the blood away as best he could, wiping much of it on his sleeve as he cursed himself for having failed Lily yet again. “I was about to go after Lily and Molly when I turned my head to see two men bearing down on me. I tried to pull my sword in time, but they struck me in the head before my hand could reach the hilt. Are they both gone?”

“Lily is gone, but we found Molly a ways from here. She was knocked out like you were, and does not remember aught that happened. She’s frightened and worried for her cousin, but she’ll be fine. The evidence points to four men on horseback. They must have taken care of you before they went after Lily and Molly.”

“Where the hell were our guards? What were they doing?”

“Some were hunting, and two were knocked out, hit in the head as you were.”

Kyle stood up, weaving a bit, but managed to right himself and head toward his horse. “I must go after them. Logan needs my help.”

Sorcha stepped in front of him and held up fingers. “How many do you see?”

“Three, and I also see a lass I’ll be forced to knock out of the way if she does not move.”

“Kyle,” Gwyneth said. “You’re not thinking straight. She only has two fingers up. You could do more harm than good chasing after them when you’re likely to fall off your horse.”

“I do not care. ‘Tis my fault. I allowed the lasses to talk me into keeping a wider distance for their foolish privacy. Now look what’s happened. I must go after Lily. How many on horseback?” He made it to his horse and mounted, though it took him a while to straighten up. Hellfire, it must have been a huge rock that hit him.

Gwyneth followed him. “I told Logan you’d be behind him. He kept Molly with him in case she remembers something that will assist them in their investigation. Take two more guards with you. We’ve also sent a messenger home requesting more guards. We think there are four horses.” Gwyneth whistled and two more men approached them through the trees. “Mount up,” she ordered them. “You’re going with him. They headed north.”

But Kyle could not wait. He flicked the reins of his horse, heading north. The guards would have to catch up to him. His head felt like ten lads were inside his head pounding tiny hammers in an attempt to get out, but he would not let that stop him.

He had to find his Lily. He could not lose her.

He would be lost without his love.

***

When Lily finally awakened, she stared at her surroundings in bafflement. She was on a soft bed, buried under a pile of furs, in a cottage that was well cared for and clean.

Where in hell had he taken her?

She sat up, intent on searching the small room for any clues, only to fall back down on the bed. Her head had started pounding furiously the moment she moved. Now she remembered. She’d been hit in the back of the head.

Where was Molly?

Where was Kyle?

What had he done to them?

A face appeared in the doorway of the small chamber. “Good, you are awake. How is your head? I am sorry, but I had to knock you out so you would not yell. Please forgive me.”

Cormag Buchan moved toward her, and she held her hand up to stop him. “Keep away from me, Cormag. I want naught to do with you.” She moved her legs to the side of the bed, planning to get down, but he was at her side in a moment.

“But I love you, Lily. I fell in love with you when we came to your land. I’ve never seen a lass as kind and beautiful as you are. But you ignored me the entire time we were there. I had to get you for myself. Do not be afraid of me. You will fall in love with me in time. I am sure of it.”

Lily froze. Now she recognized his voice. “You? ‘Twas you who followed me? Even back on Ramsay land?” Her heartbeat sped up as she realized the implications of what he was saying.

He’d been planning this for a long, long time.

Was he telling the truth? Had she ignored him? She thought back to the time he’d been at Ramsay land, when Davina had come with her sire. There was a time when she’d been in the hall during the festivities, and she’d caught Cormag staring at her. He had never spoken to her, so she understood why she’d never recognized his voice, but had it started back then?

He’d been there in the stable when she’d been caring for Sunshine, and when she’d been talking to her mother once. Then she’d noticed him by the hearth staring at her. Every time she saw him, he’d turned away.

Why hadn’t she thought of him before? Because he wasn’t the first lad to stare at her.

“Where are Kyle and Molly?”

“I do not want Molly. Forgive me, but I needed to knock out Kyle and Molly and two of your guards. My men, unfortunately for you, enjoy striking people daft. ‘Tis one of their specialties. I hired them for that reason. They’ll be fine when they awaken. If you’d just agreed to come with me when I approached you near your keep, none of this would have happened. I would not have been forced to steal you away and hurt the others. Why did you not wish to come with me?”

“Cormag, I do not want you. I love another. Please set me free, and I’ll not tell anyone what you’ve done.” Climbing down from the bed, she bent over to place her boots on her feet, sending a shooting pain through her head. “Ahhh…I do not care if it hurts. I must leave now.”

He stood in front of her and took both of her hands in his. “I’m sorry, Lily. But you’re not going anywhere. You’re going to be my wife, and we’ll live here happily for the rest of our lives, many bairns surrounding us. I’ve taken great care to fill this cottage with everything you could possibly want: soft linens, warm furs, a big hearth for winter, and many tapestries on the wall. Look at all the wood I have chopped to keep you warm.” He pointed to a chest that hulked to one side of the bed. “I even had beautiful gowns and night rails made for you. You’ll learn. We’ll be happy forever.”

Lily’s gaze narrowed at him, wondering what had happened to addle him so. “I’ll not be marrying you, Cormag Buchan. I belong to Kyle Maule, and I’m leaving now.” She attempted to shove him aside, but he was too big for her tiny frame.

Instead, he shoved her back on the bed and climbed on top of her, holding himself up on his elbows as he gazed into her eyes. “You did not hear me. I love you, and you’ll learn to love me in return. Kyle made a big mistake, and now you’ll be mine.”

Lily did her best not to cry.

“My love, why did you cut your hair? ‘Twas the most beautiful hair of all. I was verra upset when I noticed you’d shorn your locks.”

“Then let me go. I like my hair short.”

“Nay, your hair will grow back. I can wait.” He leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “You’re mine forever.”

***

Kyle didn’t have to go far before he came upon Logan and Molly. “Is Molly all right?”

Logan had Molly on his horse. “I sent my guards ahead. Molly’s not feeling well, and her memories haven’t returned to her. I'm going to leave her with Gwyneth, but ride on, and I’ll catch up with you.”

Kyle urged his horse on, but Molly yelled out to him at the last instant. “Kyle, I do recall something.”

He stopped and turned to look at her. “What is it?”

“Cormag. I’m sure it was Cormag Buchan’s voice I heard just before I was hit in the head.”

Kyle would kill the bastard.

***

Lily had thought hard before deciding on her best course of action. She would pretend to accept him. It would be far easier to deal with Cormag if he trusted her. And indeed, she had convinced him to give her some space by claiming she needed to sleep because of her headache. He’d left her alone in the chamber and closed the door behind him.

She pinched her cheeks and straightened her gown before she walked over to the door, only to find it locked from the outside.

“Cormag, I’m hungry. May I come out to find something to eat?” She felt like spewing all over her boots, but she used her sweetest voice and plastered her best smile on her face. With any luck, she would be able to hold it in until she could aim her vomit on his boots instead of her own.

She heard the bolt being lifted and folded her hands in front of her in an effort to look more innocent. As soon as she saw his face peeking around the door, she said, “Good eve to you, Cormag. May I please be allowed out to eat something?”

Cormag stood back, watching her warily as he opened the door wider. “Will you promise not to run?”

“Aye, I promise. ‘Struth is I’m much too tired to run tonight. This has been an exhausting journey for me, and I wish to sleep well into the morn. But I must put an end to the rumbling in my belly first.”

Cormag took a step back to allow her to exit the chamber. She moved into the main chamber. There was a large hearth at one end with two chairs and a small table in front of it. There were many cooking utensils about, including several knives. There were dried flowers in vases and embroidered cushions on the chairs.

Striding toward one of the chairs in front of the hearth, she made a point of taking in everything around her. “My, but this is lovely, Cormag. Whose cottage is this?” She sat in the chair and folded her hands in her lap.

Still frowning, he moved to the pot hanging on the hearth to dish a bowl of stew for her, then set it on the table next to her. “I’ve arranged everything, Lily. I’ve been fixing this ever since I left the Ramsay land. I knew you loved me then, as I love you. Though ‘twas a challenge to get away from my sire to make it all fitting for you. Do you like it?”

“You did a fine job. ‘Tis most comfortable here. May I eat now?”

Cormag nodded as he filled a second bowl for himself. “Aye. ‘Tis boar stew. I cooked it special for you. There are no grains in it as I know you cannot eat them. I was verra careful.”

Lily took a bite and fought to keep from spewing the ill-tasting concoction across the room. Forcing herself to swallow, she reminded herself that she would need her strength to escape this daft man.

She ate every bit of the foul stew, then stood, stretching her arms above her head and yawning. “May I return to bed, please? I am verra tired. I need my rest. My mama always told me I need to sleep more than most.”

Cormag fussed over her, taking her bowl to the basin before helping her to the next chamber as if she were an invalid. “Lily, I’ll get you the nice night rail. You may wear it tonight.” He ran to the chest and pulled out the skimpy garment, setting it on the bed.

So far everything had gone according to Lily’s plan. There was only one problem—she knew she’d have to do the unthinkable.

Cormag nodded to her, his cheeks going pink, and then left the room and bolted the door behind him. Aye, there was only one way she could free herself from him. At least it was dark already. She donned the night rail, but left her gown close by so she could put it over the thin shift later. She found a small sack and hid it under the bed, then climbed into bed, getting her night rail situated under the furs.

Dear Lord, please help me get through this
.

After waiting a few moments, she sighed for strength and then yelled out to her captor, “Cormag, ‘tis cold in here. Will you not warm me?”

She could hear him fumbling with the wooden bolt on the other side of the door. When he stepped inside, he stared at Lily with wide eyes. “You would like me to keep you warm?”

“Aye, but my head does hurt from the blow you delivered earlier, so I hope you would not take advantage of a lass in pain.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him, then cast her gaze down at her hands folded in her lap.

Cormag came in, tripping over his own feet before he yanked his boots off and tossed them into one of the corners. “Lily, my sweet Lily. I’ll do whatever you ask. I just want to hold you in my arms.”

She settled back against the pillow. “You know I’m shy, Cormag. Please put the tallow out and come warm me.” She closed her eyes, waiting and praying he would do as she asked.

When he climbed in next to her, she did her best not to gag. The lad needed a bath. She closed her eyes and thought of Kyle, the love of her life, how his scent was so pleasing to her. How she hoped he was out there searching for her. She turned away from Cormag as he snuggled up to her, but he honored one of her requests—he did not touch her inappropriately. This was necessary, she reminded herself. He had to think he could trust her. Though it sickened her to touch him, she even patted the hand he wrapped about her middle.

Much later, after several spells of Cormag coughing and reaching for her, he finally fell asleep. His light snores were quite rhythmic. Each time he moved in his sleep, she managed to sneak a little further away from him. He let out a loud snore and rolled onto his back, so she hopped out of bed. Standing still at the side, she held her breath and waited.

After a few minutes passed without him moving, she donned the gown over the night rail, grabbed her boots and the sack under the bed and tiptoed into the main chamber, thankful he hadn’t closed the door to the bed chamber. Closing it behind her, she barred the door. She put on her boots and mantle, grabbed two knives from the table along with a hunk of cooked meat and two oatcakes, and sneaked out the front door.