Lily (The Highland Clan Book 3) (9 page)

Chapter Nine

Lily wiped the back of her hand across her mouth just as the world outside the stables erupted in chaos. She’d gone back inside to hide from all the lads, hoping Tilly would give her an idea on how to evade the line of lads waiting for her. “Just you wait until I see Maggie, Sorcha, and Molly again. Look what they’ve done to me.”

That sentence had barely left her mouth when a ruckus started up outside. She crept over to the door to peek out, just in time to see Kyle pick Henson up with a roar and toss him over in front of a nearby tree. He went after three more lads, punching and tossing his way through them before the rest of the lads realized that an enraged Kyle Maule was headed their way.

Some stayed to watch, but most took off. Lily headed out the door and started yelling at him. “Kyle, stop. You’ll hurt them and ‘tis not their fault.”

“Not their fault? Taking advantage of a foolish lass
is
their fault.” He hauled his fist back and punched a lad leaping at him. Two more were behind him.

Lily ducked and stepped back. “I’m not foolish. I knew what I wanted.”

A lad yelled, “Maule, go home. She’s no longer yours and she agreed to kiss us all.”

Lily’s hands went directly to her hips. “Fiddle on you. I did no such thing, Bryce. Do not be telling fibs about me. You have not spoken to me once.”

Cawley yelled from a spot in the back. “But you said you’d kiss any lad who wanted a kiss.”

Lily’s face dropped to stare at the ground. “Fiddle on you all and leave me be, please.”

Kyle jumped on Cawley. “I’ll knock your teeth out for saying such a thing about her.”

“She’s not yours, Maule. Leave us alone to have some fun,” another yelled.

Kyle punched the two lads who came at him next, then jumped another pair of warriors, pummeling them while he held them down on the ground. “The hell she isn’t. She’s been mine for a long time. You’ll all keep your hands off her or you’ll deal with me.” Two others attacked him, so he stood and hit both of them, one in the jaw and one in the belly. Hoisting a third into the air, he tossed him toward two others off to the side, felling them all. “Who else? Come on, foolish whoresons. I’ll beat the shite out of anyone who dares to touch her or who says aught bad about her.”

Molly, Maggie, and Sorcha ran up to Lily. “What happened?”

“Kyle found out,” Lily said. “And some friends you are. Why did you tell them I’d kiss anyone?”

Molly shook her head. “We did not say that. We only told Cawley and Henson.”

Sorcha nodded. “‘Struth.”

The bulk of the lads had moved off and Kyle stood there panting, his hands dripping blood that he wiped on his plaid. After he was sure the lads were gone, he turned to her. “Lily, are you hurt?”

Lily moved over to him. “Nay, Kyle, but why did you do that?”

Her cousins exchanged a look and took off toward the keep without another word.

Lily picked up Kyle’s bloodied hand and kissed his knuckle. “You should not have done that. I did say I would kiss one of them.”

He quirked his brow at her. “And did you enjoy it?”

Lily frowned. “I’ll not discuss it, but you turned me down. I need to think of others. I do not wish to spend my life alone.”

Kyle turned and wrapped his arms around her. “Och, Lily, you’ll not be alone. I’ve tried to talk to you, but you’re always mad. ‘Tis not you, but if I had you to come home to each night, I’d never work.”

She rested her head on his shoulder and said, “You broke my heart, Kyle Maule, and I do not know if it’ll ever be fixed.”

Kyle’s hands threaded through her hair. “You know my sire asked me to be a Ramsay warrior. And then I’d be leaving you, and how could I do that? Who would protect my wife if I had to go out and fight? If you were my wife, you’d distract me terribly and I’d be an awful second.”

A brusque voice shouted out. “Looks to me like she’s distracting you plenty when you’re not married. How could it be any worse?”

Lily lifted her head to see Uncle Logan leaning against a nearby tree. “Uncle, must you interrupt us?”

“Aye, someone needed to come out here. There are stories floating into the keep about one of our guards tearing limbs from half our guards in training. We need those lads.”

Kyle dropped his hands from Lily and said, “My apologies, my lord. Seems I’ve lost control again.”

“I’d say you have, Maule. Did you put an end to whatever was driving your fury?”

“Aye.” Kyle hung his head.

Logan walked over to Lily and held his arm out to her. “I’ll escort you back to the keep, lass.”

Lily turned to Kyle and said, “My thanks for always being my protector.”

Kyle gave her a sheepish look, rubbing his raw knuckles.

Logan grasped his shoulder and said, “I can promise you, ‘twill not get any better for you, lad, until you accept what you feel.”

***

Once again, Lily found herself sitting in front of her family in the solar. Her sire, her stepmother, Logan, Gwyneth, and Torrian were all gathered in the room, sitting and staring at her.

Her sire started, “I’d like an explanation for the events of last night, daughter. Your mama had many wounds to deal with this morn.”

Lily hung her head. “Forgive me, but I used poor judgement last night. I agreed to kiss another lad. The offer was misconstrued, several lads showed up at the stables, and Kyle found out about it.”

“How many did you agree to kiss, Lily?” Torrian asked.

Lily sat up straight, her hands grabbing the arms of the chair in which she sat. “I only agreed to kiss one. ‘Twas not my fault it was misinterpreted.”

“Our daughters had a hand in this, my laird,” Gwyneth added. “‘Twas not all Lily’s fault.”

“You know randy lads,” Logan said. “Once they hear something, it tends to get a bit twisted, and Kyle did not like it at all.”

“Aught else you’d like to add, daughter?” Quade asked as he folded his hands on his lap.

Lily didn’t like that move. That meant he was about to reveal some decision he’d made. What was his plan for her now? Did one kiss…or two…mean they would expect her to change her life again? Go on more healing expeditions with her mama or shoot more arrows? This was becoming too exhausting. She just wished to be left alone, to enjoy her pet and the creatures of the forest. She answered her sire, “Nay, naught else.”

“Good, then I’ve come to a decision. I’ve considered this for a while now, and discussed it with your mama. Due to present circumstances, I believe it is a sound decision.”

Lily leaned forward, afraid to learn what judgment was to be passed on her now.

“Uncle Logan and Aunt Gwyneth have decided to take Molly and Sorcha to Edinburgh. Each of the lasses have expressed an interest in working for the crown, so they will travel to court to observe it a bit more closely. I’m sending you with them.”

Lily could not believe her ears. “You’re sending me away?”

“Aye, I believe you need to get away from Ramsay land for a wee bit. We still do not know who attempted to kidnap you. This worries me, daughter. I’ll not have you at risk. If we send you away, we’ll be certain naught will happen to you. You’ll have much protection and you’ll wander less in an unknown location. I know you too well.”

“But I do not wish to go, Papa. I did not like it when we were there before.”

Aunt Gwyneth said, “Sorcha and Molly love to travel, and they’ll enjoy having you along. Do you not think it would be nice to get away for a wee bit?”

Lily shook her head. “Nay. I hated seeing the Buchans and all those daft people in the royal burgh. I like my home. Must I go? And what if that man who chased me in the meadow knows and follows me?”

“You’ll be leaving on the morrow, Lily,” Quade said. “You have nothing to fear from the stranger in the meadow. I’ll be sending you with your own guard, and he’ll be by your side at all times.”

“What?” Lily’s eyes misted. “There will be a lad with me wherever I go?”

“Aye, and do not look so defeated. You’ll be much safer that way. I’ll not risk your well-being, daughter, but my decision is made.”

“Who?” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she awaited her father’s response. She swiped at her tears, but they just kept coming. It was as if a supply of tears had built up inside her because she’d gone years without ever shedding one, and now they were always finding their way out, no matter how she tried to stop them. The inside of her head must be like a huge barrel overflowing with water, truly unstoppable. She tipped her head sideways, deciding she might as well give in and let them all pour out.

“Kyle is going to guard you.”

“What?” She stood up from her chair, uncertain she’d heard her father correctly. “Kyle? You’re sending Kyle with me?”

“Why do you look so unhappy? I thought my choice of guard would please you.”

“No one will protect your daughter better than Kyle,” Uncle Logan said, nodding. “You’ve made the right choice, Quade. The lad fought off ten lads by himself. No one will get past him.”

“Do you hear your uncle, Lily? ‘Tis why I chose him. He’ll protect you.”

“Oh, Papa. How could you do this to me?” Lily sat back down and put her head in her lap, sobbing. “He’ll hate me forever.”

Quade pointed to the door. “I’d like to talk to my daughter alone.”

The rest of her family shuffled out, but she scarcely even noticed. Kyle would hate her. Once everyone was gone, she lifted her head. “Can you not see, Papa? He’ll hate me. He values his job as second more than anything, and you’re pulling him away from Torrian to protect me.”

“Lily, his job as Torrian’s second is to do as he is ordered. Your brother suggested him, and I believe he made the right choice. Now, come over here please.”

She hurried over to her sire. “What is it, Papa? Why are you so upset with me?”

“I’m not upset with you.” He tugged her forward. “Come, sit on my lap like you used to.”

“Papa, I’m too big for this. I’m not your wee lassie anymore.”

“You will always be my wee lassie. Now come over here.” She peered at her father, recognizing the look he had when he was not about to budge from his decision.

“But I’ll hurt your knee,” she said with a sniffle.

“Nay, you will not. I’ve never seen my Lilykins with so many tears. Please sit with me.”

Lily stared at her father. She adored him, so she sat gingerly on his lap. “You must promise to tell me when I’m hurting your knee.”

“You’ll not hurt me. Now put your head on my shoulder like you used to do and tell me what’s troubling you so.”

She rested her head on his shoulder, taking in the familiar scent of her father that she knew so well. Suddenly memories of her childhood swept over her, of being so sick her sire had to carry her around. All those times before her stepmother had come along and healed her ran through her mind, of the love of her sire and her grandmother when she’d been so ill. She’d always rested her head on his shoulder, just like she was doing now, because she’d been too weak to hold it upright. Why, this had to be the most comforting spot in the world next to Tilly’s neck.

“Do you know what your stepmother said to me after she first met you?”

“Nay.” Her fingers settled on the edge of his plaid, brushing across the soft fabric just as she’d done when she was younger.

“She told me she’d never seen such a happy bairn, especially given how ill you were at the time. She said she’d never seen a child toss everything up, then turn to smile at her.”

“I did?” Lily whispered.

“Aye, you did. No matter how sick you were, you still smiled. Stole everyone’s heart in the keep, that you did, including Alex Grant’s. I just wish your mother could have seen all those smiles, but I believe she watches you from heaven. I see her spirit in you often.”

“Do you think so?”

“Aye. Your mother adored you, just like your mama does.”

She couldn’t stop her tears no matter how she tried. Would the barrel inside her never empty?

“Now, would you like to tell me what has made my smiling daughter so sad?” He kissed her forehead and waited for her answer.

She knew it would upset him, but she needed to know. “Papa, why did you ask Kyle about accepting a betrothal without asking me first?”

“Och, lass, even I make mistakes sometimes. Forgive me. I was surprised he turned me down, but once I thought about it, I realized I had mucked it up.”

“He broke my heart. ‘Struth is I love Kyle. I always have.”

“Have you ever shared that with him, Lily?”

“Nay.”

“Why not?”

“He’s not asked me.”

“Well, mayhap you should tell him.”

“But I do not wish to look the fool.”

“Lily, the lad loves you.”

“Nay, he does not. He does not wish to marry me.”

She could feel her father heave a sigh from deep in his chest. How she loved him. He had such a quiet strength, and he was almost always right.

“Do you not recall how things were with the two of you when you were still a wee one? Wherever Torrian and Kyle went, you were right behind them. As a matter of fact, I used to be nervous watching you follow them everywhere, afraid Growley would step on you by accident. But after observing the four of you together, I soon realized I had naught to worry about.”