Mist Warrior (50 page)
****
Branan, Duguald and the other members of the clan greeted Liam warmly. Although Jamie had said
,
several times
,
Liam’s
messages were not overly urgent, Branan remained concerned over what could be all fired important to send a man all the way from Scotland.
Liam handed him a scroll case and Branan pulled out several sheets of parchment.
“
Come, laddie,
”
Duguald said to Liam.
“
Join us at the fire and allow Branan to brood over these missives as a good laird should.
”
Branan strode upstairs to his solar and closed the door. Catriona's message remained on his desk unread. As soon as Jamie arrived with word of Liam, Branan had sent him back to Brackenburgh
first thing in the morning,
to fetch him with all haste. It was now
barely dawn
.
He sat in his chair and moved a candle closer, glancing at the pages. The first was from the seneschal he had left in charge of clan. Branan scanned the letter, noting it was simply a report of the clan's production and asking permission to plow a field which had lain fallow for over a year. It also mentioned that they had an extravagant offer for the foal of Branan's best mare
.
She
was due to deliver in early summer. Branan could not help but chuckle, the foal hadn't even hit the ground yet
,
and was already demanding a huge price.
Branan set the missive aside, resolving to answer it later, but also pleased that things did seem well.
The second letter was from his chatelaine, noting their wool production and asking for money to purchase more expensive
,
but finer dyes they could not make. Branan nodded to himself, although costly, the reputation of their weaving would recoup the price quickly. He paused then frowned, now that Catriona governed the Courcy holdings, perhaps he could purchase better dyes at a cheaper price than what they could find at the best markets of Edinburgh.
He set the second letter aside and looked to the third.
The laird of Clan Campbell proposed that Branan strengthen their alliance by marriage to his daughter. He sighed, the laird would not be happy to learn Branan was now handfasted to an Englishwoman.
Branan opened Catriona's letter
,
but winced when he read about the latest gambit Strickland had tried. He continued through the letter, noting her mention of sending the supplies he needed. Most were readily available
,
but a couple would take time.
Her letter then moved to a more personal nature. Branan's eyes widened at the real
ization. For the first time, Catriona
gave hint to her feelings. The more he read, the more quickly he gathered that
she was weary and disheartened–
and missing him t {mis>The laierribly.
Finally! Finally
,
he knew she needed him.
But that though
t brought Branan
no joy. If Catriona's stubbornness slipped
,
what pain did she truly suffer?
Surely
,
there was something he could do to bolster her spirits
,
but appearing in the great hall again was out of the question. Only his constant raids against Strickland
,
kept the bastard
from attacking Brackenburgh, Branan
did not wish to tempt fate. But her letter sounded so dejected, so unlike his fiery Catriona
,
that he grew concerned.
Then he spotted a smaller parchment under her missive. He scowled and picked it up. This was from Edmund.
Laird MacTavish,
I must take it upon myself to inform you of our beloved lady. She struggles daily with the powers that rise against her. I fear even her courageous heart has been overtaxed. She faces our enemy alone
,
although I do my best to help her. I am growing concerned for her health as she is now plagued with constant headaches. Even one as strong as my lady needs to find refuge on occasion.
Your humble servant,
Edmund
Branan rubbed his eyes, his concern growing into worry. Edmund spoke truly. Catriona needed refuge, a brief time of peace. Yet
,
it was too dangerous to bring her here. The departure of the lady of Brackenburgh would be witnessed by Strickland's spies. That was why he sent only Jamie to her. Because of the Courcy holdings, many people of various nationalities entered Brackenburgh's gates without note of the spies. Jamie could walk without remark, a trader bearing missives to a household which survived on trade....
Branan blinked, then a slow smile tugged his lips upward.
****
Catrio
na collapsed into bed, exhausted,
but unable to sleep. Jamie was overdue. Although she was never quite
certain when he would arrive, Jamie
had stayed up late, hoping Jamie would appear, mayhap at the postern
,
but she had been disappointed.
She sighed, her head aching again. It wasn't Jamie she wanted to see
,
but the letter he would deliver to her. Even with just words on vellum, she heard Branan's soft brogue speaking as she read. The letters helped pierce the walls of loneliness around her.
And Catriona
finally had to admit she was terribly lonely. She hated staying at Brackenburgh with nothing to distract her. The memories of her wedding night remained terrifyingly real. Many times she had nightmares about the attack
,
but it was Branan they slew, not Richard.
She shivered and pulled Branan's brat over her, inhaling deeply. But the wool only held a faint memory of his scent.
Catriona
squeezed her eyes closed. Had he forever vanished into the mist? Tears burned and leaked onto her pillow. She felt as if she fell into a pit of despair and could not get out. The harder she fought, the faster she sank.
The door rattled and Catriona’s
heart lurched, chasing away her thoughts. She listened carefully
,
but heard nothing more. Probably one of the man
y
drafts moving through th
e stairwell
.
Catriona
sighed, not wanting to return to the morose path her thoughts continued to travel.
The door rattled again and her heart fair jumped to her throat. That was definitely not a draft.
Her hand dove under her pillow where she kep
t a wickedly sharp stiletto. Catriona
sat up slightly and opened the bed curtains, peeking through. The fire in the hearth was small
,
but it continued to cast a dim glow. She wasn't sure if the door actually moved
,
or the flickering flames j
ust made it appear that way. Catriona’s
heart slammed against her ribs, her palms suddenly sweaty. She clutched the hilt of the stiletto. She had bolted the latch, she was certain of it.
Hadn't she?< {>Ha bolted/font>
Terror rose
as the memory of swords clashing through the hall assailed her ears. Strickland's bastard had gained entrance to Brackenburgh once.
The door creaked and Catriona flew out of bed, holding the dagger in front of her. Trapped. How could she escape?
Slowly, the door opened, revealing a dark cut of blackness. A giant form moved silently, heavily cloaked
,
with the cowl pulled low over his face.
Death's specter now came for her.
Catriona
opened her mouth to scream
,
but no sound emerged.
The figure abruptly froze.
“
I dinna mean to frighten ye, lass,
”
a deep voice whispered.
She
blinked in confusion, trying to think through her terror.
Slowly
,
a hand pulled the cowl down and the firelight fell on the graceful planes of his face. Rich black hair shimmered in glossy waves.
“
Branan?
”
she gasped, her body suddenly shaking. The stiletto slipped from her numb fingers and landed on the rug with a muffled sound.
Catriona
threw herself
i
into
Branan's chest.
His powerful arms wrapped around her and he lifted her from her feet, burying his face in her hair
“Forgive me, lass
”
he whispered, his lips brushing her ear.
“
I'm sorry I gave ye such a fright.
”
Her arms tightened around him and she breathed a ragged sigh.
Branan moved enough to rid himself of his cloak, letting it slide into a heap on the floor. He li
fted her into his arms and carried her
to a large chair before the hearth.
Branan
sat and pulled her into his lap { in="Garam, keeping her tucked firmly against him, his hand gently stroked her hair. He spoke soothingly, whispered words she didn't understand
,
but didn't care. It was enough to hear his wonderfully deep voice and feel his strong body against hers.
She looked up at him and
caressed his elegant cheek. Catriona
couldn't resist a smile when she realized he was freshly shaved.
“
Forgive me,
”
Branan
whispered.
“
Ye are near spent with all of this. It was my wish only to surprise ye, not frighten ye to death.
”
“
Branan, be silent and kiss me.
”
He flashed her a bright, wicked grin that sent her pulse racing. With a fingertip, he
traced a line from her cheek to her jaw
.
Branan’s
gaze locked on
Catriona’
s, holding her frozen for an endless moment. Her heart rattled in her chest, the feral desire she saw sent heat rushing through her body. He stared down at her, his eyes moving over her face as if drinking in the sight before him.
Catriona
admired the clean lines of his face, his
well-shaped
and very kissable lips. She loved the elegant sweep of his eyebrows, and when he looked at her, his dark lashes lowered slightly, seeming to accent the green of his eyes and the passion reflected in them. She was amazed at him, always before
Branan
kissed her, he held her gaze for a long moment, as if waiting for the perfect instant, as if trying to drive her mad with anticipation. And when she could stand it no longer, he tilted her chin up and proceeded to kiss her senseless.
