The Laird's Future Bride (20 page)

She turned to them. “I’m sure he can. May he have some treats? He got Bran and I here safe.”

The laird nodded. “Aye. Tell him to follow Dan.” He pointed to a small round man.

“Did you hear that, Midnight? Follow that man and you will get your treats. Rest, I will be back for you and I’m sure we can leave soon.”

“Laird Fergusson, what is going on?” a loud voice boomed from behind Holly.

Holly turned to see a man around the same age as Duncan and only slightly smaller. His hair was raven-black, and his eyes looked almost as dark as his hair.

“Laird McCoy, this is Lady Holly, she brought home me son, Bran.” Adam’s father turned to her. “Why did ye defy yer Laird?” As he said this, an older woman close to Magan’s age came out with a woman not much younger than Holly. Bran ran to the older woman, and both had tears running down their faces.

Holly knew she’d done the right thing. She looked at the woman. “He is too young to be in the dungeons. Where I come from, he’s still a baby. He shouldn’t be away from his mother. I couldn’t condone Bran staying another night in the dark, dreary place.” Holly walked closer to the woman. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get James and his cousin out too. I had to be quick, and Bran would be less missed.”

The woman let go of Bran and came down to her. Holly could see she was younger than Holly first assumed. She had hair that was so blond it looked almost white. Her eyes were misted, and tears fell as she pulled her into her embrace.

“Thank ye.”

“James said he loved you.”

The woman hugged Holly tight, then pulled away. “I’m Lady Roselyn Fergusson, and up there with Bran is me daughter, Heather. Come, ye must be hungry after yer ride.”

Holly’s stomach rumbled. “Yes, I am. Thank you.” Ignoring the men who stood gaping at the scene, she walked up the stairs and into the keep.

This keep was smaller than Duncan’s, but just as busy. Lady Roselyn took her to the head table and together they sat and talked about mundane things.

Duncan was going to kill his wife. Not only had she taken one of his prisoners, she’d gone off on that bloody beast of hers by herself. He’d awoken to the bed empty and banging on his door. He’d opened it and Greggor came in, telling him that Midnight and his wife had ridden off. He’d known as soon as Greggor told him what Holly had done. He’d prayed she hadn’t, but when he went down to the dungeons with a torch, he could see that she’d taken the boy. He’d roared so loudly the young lads in the cell whimpered.

What surprised him was when his father found him, all he did was chuckle. “She beat yer mother from doing it. I stopped her though. Ye need to keep a closer eye on yer wife, son.” His dad chuckled again. “I was nay sure about the lass at first. I thought it would be too rough for her to be in this time but after this, I think she’ll be fine.” His dad had patted him on the back. “Ye're the laird now. Good luck!” he laughed and walked away.

Duncan now sat on his horse with the Fergusson laird’s son tied up on the horse with him, and ten men following him to catch his wife. If he didn’t catch her before she made it to the Fergussons’, Duncan would trade the son for her.

“Ye won’t hurt Lady Holly, will ye?” the lad asked.

Duncan was furious with Holly, but he kenned he could never hurt her. He grunted as a response. He would probably want to strangle the life out of her, but he kenned he couldn’t live without her. Duncan was terrified that something had happened to her. She hadn’t ridden the horse much, and not on such a long distance. If anything did happen to her, he would never forgive himself for his mother bringing her to this time. Duncan didn’t want to think of anything happening to her, he’d rather have the anger than the worry.

“She’ll come back. I know me ma. She would nay let da keep her. I told her to say I promised he had to let her go.”

“Ye're a fool, lad, if ye think that is all I’m worried about. She is a lone, very bonny woman on a stallion. Ye must ken about the ruffians that are about.”

The lad went quiet in his arms for a moment, then straightened. “I give ye me word that I won’t escape. Give me a horse and I‘ll keep up with ye. When we get close to me home, ye can take me again as yer prisoner to barter for if ye need. I promise ye I’ll cooperate. We must hurry to make sure Lady Holly is safe.”

His darn wife made every male in love with her. Duncan kenned the boy would do as he said, by the tone in his voice when he spoke of his wife. Sighing, he nodded to Greggor. “Aye, ye can have a horse, but as soon as we reach Fergusson land ye will be back on me horse. Ye're still me prisoner.”

Holly had eaten breakfast and tidied herself up, and was now eager to leave. The stares from the men, Adam and Laird McCoy in particular, made Holly uneasy. It was getting late, and Holly had a long ride back to the MacLeod castle.

Turning on her charm, Holly smiled at Lady Roselyn and her daughter, Heather, and stood. “Thank you so much for the lovely food and letting me freshen up, but I must be on my way now.”

Laird Fergusson stood. “Ye canna go, lass.”

Straightening her shoulders, she glared at the laird. “Yes, I can. Thank you for your hospitality.” She took a step only to be blocked by Adam, who had a huge grin on his face.

“Laird MacLeod has me son and me men. I will exchange ye for them.”

“You have got to be shitting me.” Holly couldn’t believe what the man was saying. “You would keep me after I defied my husband and brought your son back?”

“Aye. I ken ye're valuable. A bonny wife like ye, he will nay want to give up. I’ve heard he lets ye lead him around by the co—” Laird Fergusson’s eyes shone.

“Robert. Ye say any more, and you’ll be sleeping somewhere else tonight.”

Holly grinned at Roselyn as she glared at her husband.

“Ye need to stay out of this, wife. This is men’s business. I handle feuds.”

At the mention of ‘men’s business’ Holly’s anger rose, and she snarled, “What is this feud even over anyway?”

“Me husband’s great, great, grandfather’s bride was stolen by a MacLeod, and he wed her,” Roselyn said, as she came closer to Holly and away from her husband.

“You’re joking, right? They are still fighting over something that happened that long ago? Was the woman happy?”

“Aye, they are still fighting. Aye, the lady dinna want to come back to her betrothed.” Roselyn came and stood closer to her like she was taking Holly’s side.

“Did your husband’s great, great, grandfather find a bride?”

“Aye, and he loved her.”

Okay, Holly had had enough of men, and especially of men feuding over nothing. Holly had no idea why they were still arguing if everything had worked out. Turning to Adam, who was still in her way, she growled, “If you don’t move, you will regret it.” She wasn’t staying and being kept prisoner after she’d done the right thing. Pulling the knives from her hair, she aimed one at Adam, who had a smug smirk on his face. “Argh, I’m sick of men and their arrogance. Men’s business. What a load of crap.” She stepped closer, gathered up her dress, and brought her leg up and kicked Adam. He grunted, and she pushed past him, slashing his hands as he tried to grab her. “I’m going. This feud is stupid. You and my husband are idiots. I always thought the guys from school were stupid and immature, but you men take the cake. Everything worked out, for Christ’s sake. Your great, great, grandfather loved his wife. What more do you want?” Holly put a push behind that question, pleased she could feel her power.

Lady Roselyn laughed behind Holly as she moved through the people to the front door and walked out. The sight that greeted her had her backing up. Upon a horse was Duncan with young James in front of him with a knife at his throat. Duncan looked beyond furious. His face matched his fiery red hair. His eyes narrowed on her as she backed up. She would have hit the doors if they hadn’t opened.

“Where are ye going, wife?” The menace in his voice had her shivering, and not entirely in fear.

“I was just coming home to you. I won’t be coming near you though, while you’re pointing that knife at James’s neck.”

There was giggling and chuckling behind her.

“God help me, wife, if ye dinna come down the steps to me now, ye’ll regret it.”

“Let go of James, and I will come to you. I’m not going to have anything else to do with this idiotic feud though. You are all fools to fight over something that ended for the better.”

“Laird MacLeod, I would appreciate if you release me son.” Roselyn came up beside Holly and held her hand. “I agree with Lady Holly. This feud should have ended long ago. I will nay have me children hurt over it.”

Holly could hear Duncan growling from where she was. Slowly, he released James and placed him on the ground. “Come to me now, wife.”

Holly knew he wasn’t going to last much longer without blowing a fuse. Letting go of Lady Roselyn’s hand, she walked to Duncan, who leaned down and gathered her up. Holly could feel his trembling body against her own. His hands patted her down like he was checking if she was all right before they rested on her waist. Duncan’s lips brushed her neck, and he whispered as he nipped her delicate flesh. “Dinna do that to me, ever again. I swear, woman, ye will be the death of me.” He hugged her tighter to him.

“Ye have ye hands full with that one, MacLeod.” Laird Fergusson stared at her. Holly had completely forgotten for a moment where she was, thanks to Duncan’s touches and woodsy smell surrounding her.

Duncan gave a loud sigh behind her. “I ken. She dinna give ye too much trouble, did she?”

Ha, trouble
, Holly elbowed Duncan, but he caught it and brought her hand up and kissed it.

“Well, if ye dinna call her kicking me son, turning me wife against me, beguiling all me men, even me guests, and telling me I’m an idiot and stupid, ‘trouble’ then nay, she dinna give me trouble. Ye need to keep a tighter leash on her.”

Duncan groaned, but Holly snarled at the smiling laird. How dare he say that Holly needed a leash, and to think she had been on her best behavior until he wouldn’t let her leave.

“I’d like to ken how she can get that beast of a horse to obey her,” Laird Fergusson added.

Holly felt Duncan relax a little behind her. “Ye have just ruined a perfectly good feud,” Duncan whispered in her ear before he dismounted.

Holly couldn’t help smiling. She’d done something useful. She’d stopped a feud.

The feud with the Fergussons was at an end, and his little wife had brought that about. Heather and Lady Roselyn were even coming in a couple of days for a visit to the keep. Cameron McCoy had left, growling about not marrying a woman who was friends with a MacLeod.

He stood, ready to go home after finishing eating the evening meal with the Fergussons. Duncan could see his wife was exhausted, she was slumped in her seat and barely keeping her eyes open.

“Let’s go, wife. We have a long ride home.” Holly stood, and Duncan watched as she fell to the ground. Instantly, he was beside her, gathering her into his arms, and yelling for someone to help her.

Lady Roselyn came up beside him. “Follow me.” Duncan followed Lady Roselyn with his precious bundle in his arms. They went up the stairs and into a chamber. “Place Lady Holly on the bed.”

When Duncan gently laid Holly on the bed, she groaned, and he could feel his heart beat again. He would swear it had stopped beating when Holly had collapsed.