Highlander's Challenge (21 page)

They strolled into the solar without a care. He despised the warm glow filling Amelia's cheeks, yet Ian had not been the one to put it there.

Elspeth leapt from her chair. "Douglas, what are you doing out of bed?"

Grinning, he patted Amelia's hand resting in the crook of his arm. "I needed—" He looked to her, his weathered brow furrowed.

"A change of scenery," Amelia supplied with one of her small grins.

He nodded. "Aye, a change of scenery." She slipped from his grasp and guided him to a chair by the fire. Elspeth sat down beside him, her eyes overly bright.

"You still need a lot of rest, but a few minutes out of your room will probably do you some good," Amelia said.

"Aye, that it will. A man canna help but get well with such lovely lassies tae tend him," he said with a broad smile and a wink for Elspeth.

199

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

Ian snagged her hand and pulled her toward the chess table. "Come, my sweet. I challenged you to a game, remember?"

"Women dinnae play chess," Maighread said, gliding into the room.

Colin held in his groan as she made her way directly toward him. With a sigh, he took the cup she offered and sipped the whiskey, letting it release the tension from his body.

"Well this girl does," Amelia said. She rubbed her hands together greedily. "I plan to stomp you into the ground, hotshot. I hope you can take being beaten by a mere female." Ian chuckled. "Only by you, my sweet." Colin tossed back the remainder of his drink and slapped the cup down on a nearby table. Maighread rushed to fetch him more.

He'd been the one to demand she put on skirts, and now he sorely wished he had not. The soft swell of her breasts, visible to all, was as torturous as her long firm limbs encased in those bedeviling blue trews of hers.

He ran a hand down his face then sipped at his refilled cup while they began their game. Watching, feigning idle curiosity, he was stupefied to find her so skilled. Over the course of an hour or so, he settled in a chair nearby with Maighread buzzing around him. He barely took notice of her or his father's unusually quiet discussion with his aunt, as the game held him enthralled. He no longer cared if they noted his steady attention.

200

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

Ian chuckled, shaking his head. "I do believe you have just placed me in check."

The woman grinned. "Uh-uh. Checkmate." She was absolutely marvelous, Colin thought with a subtle shake of his head. Before him sat a woman who could read, knew ways in healing that had brought his father back to him, had the courage to take on a man twice her size, and could play damn good chess. He'd never met anyone like her, and knew he never would again.

"Congratulations, my sweet. You're a fine player," Ian said, taking her hand and kissing it.

"You're wounded and fatigued. 'Tis no wonder she beat you," Colin groused, knowing he spoke utter nonsense. But blast it! He couldn't stand the sight of Ian slobbering all over her hand, and her bestowing the slightest smile on the prancing peacock.

"Bosh," Ian said as he stood. "I find it fascinating that a woman could possess so many marvelous traits. Intelligence, agility, strength, and beauty. Quite the combination." Tuck's eyes flashed with a mix of humor and perhaps sorrow, but he couldn't be certain.

She cleared her throat. "Thank you." Shifting her gaze, her emotions expertly hidden, she focused on Colin. "Being a mere female, I suppose I couldn't possibly beat you," she said, one brow quirked.

Colin's gaze narrowed as he jumped up from his chair, shoved his friend out of the way, and sat opposite her at the table.

201

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

The silence returned to the room as their game began. Maighread slid up beside him, splaying her fingers across his shoulders and started to rub.

"Off with you, cousin," he grunted, his eyes intent on the board.

With a huff, she stormed across the room. No doubt to pout for a while before turning her disquieting smile on him again, but he could not think of her now. He faced a worthy opponent, one he was determined to beat. One he was beginning to admire more than he ever thought possible. His elbows on the table, his fists clasped at his chin, he observed her slender finger tap the top of her queen as she considered her next move.

He'd touched those hands. They were not soft nor were they weak, as some ladies he'd known. They were the hands of a woman who'd lived a hard life, and yet he wondered how they would feel against his skin. He absently noticed William stride through the room to his father's side.

"Colin, I've received a response," his father said. He grunted, his gaze still held fast to Amelia's hands, not listening as closely as he aught.

"MacKenzie has agreed."

His jaw clenched as the muscles stiffened at the back of his neck. Raising his head, he looked to his father.

"He has promised Aileen's hand," his sire said. "You will be wed as soon as may be. Then this reiving business will be done." He fingered the mark at his brow. "And no more friends will be lost," he muttered sorrowfully. 202

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

A coldness slipped over Colin as he turned his gaze from the stunned faces around him to his opponent. No one knew of his father's plans except him.

Maighread had dropped something while Elspeth had gasped softly. Ian continued coughing and sputtering on a sip of whiskey, but Amelia had fallen perfectly still. Her head bowed as she seemingly continued concentrating on her next move. He looked to her hand and noted a faint quiver and wondered if his upcoming nuptials disturbed her as much as they did him.

She lifted her hand from the piece, letting it hover for a moment then moved it across the board. "Checkmate," she said, breaking the odd stillness in the room. Ian applauded. "Well, done, my dear. Well, done."

"She cheated. 'Tis the only way she could've beaten him," Maighread fumed.

Lifting her head, Amelia met his gaze. Colin peered deeply into the emerald depths, searching and finding the bittersweet memory of kisses he'd had no right to take and the soulful yearning for more. His chest tightened, as did his throat.

"She did not cheat," Ian said.

Maighread marched across the room and placed a hand on Colin's shoulder. "Then he let her win." She patted him like a dog. "A gentleman, you are, Colin, tae throw the match." He swallowed hard, still ensnared by Amelia's steady gaze.

"Nay, she won fairly."

"Ah-ha! You see? She is most definitely a talented player," Ian said.

203

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

Maighread huffed. "I say she used witchcraft." Colin blocked out their continued arguing, his attention solely on Amelia. Perhaps she had bewitched him after all. Unable to bear her presence any longer, and recognizing the same desires in her eyes that he struggled with daily, Colin silently left the room. The puzzle of Amelia Tucker weighed heavily on his mind, and, he was afraid, his heart as well.

His cool departure left Tuck feeling sick inside. She pressed her hand to her quivering stomach.

"I shall not argue with you any longer, Maighread. The truth speaks for itself. Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I am greatly fatigued," Ian said with a bow.

"I'll walk with you, Ian. I'm worn thin meself," Douglas said. "Coming, Ellie?" He held out his arm and escorted her from the room.

Great. Even her quasi-date was running out on her, but he had a good excuse. He wasn't completely healed. MacLean, however, was another story entirely.

She couldn't help it if she bruised his pride. She refused to lose just to save face. Could she help it if she was a good player? If she were a man, he wouldn't want her to let him win. He'd be slapping her on the back and congratulating her on a great play. But nooo. She was a woman, and women didn't play chess, women didn't fight, women didn't have a brain! Silently fuming, Tuck slapped the pieces in their appropriate places on the board.

Her movements slowed considerably as the truth filtered to the surface. She wasn't mad because he walked out, she was 204

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

mad at herself for believing he'd want her. Too tall, too freckled, Amelia Tucker. What had passed between them across the chessboard was powerful, but he didn't want anything to do with it—with her.

"You canna have him," Maighread hissed. "Dinnae think that because you can make him look at you, that he is yours." She puffed up her chest and looked down her nose. "You're naught but a freak." She threw out her hand, scattering the chess pieces across the table and floor, then rushed from the room.

"What is that woman on?" Tuck muttered. Shaking her head, she cleaned up the game pieces. Loony or not, however, Maighread had a point. Colin was marrying Aileen somebody. Not her.

It was just as well. Her feet were cold wearing the dumb slippers, and the bodice was starting to bind and itch. In the morning she'd go back to wearing her own clothes. She was who she was, and if that wasn't good enough, too bad. Making her way to her room, she refused to credit the subtle slump of her shoulders to anything but fatigue. She slipped out of the dress and curled up in front of the fire in her shift. Bed didn't sound very appealing. She knew he'd be there in her dreams.

There was a soft knock at the door.

"Who is it?" she called, not really in the mood for company.

"'Tis Fiona."

205

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

With a sigh, she crossed to the door and let her in. Maybe a workout was what she needed. It was a damn sight better than thinking ... or dreaming.

"Did you hear the news?" Fiona said, as she danced through the doorway.

"What news?" She shuffled back to her chair and flopped down, not really giving a rat's ass about the latest scuttlebutt. Her smile ridiculously wide, Fiona said, "Colin is tae marry."

You'd think she was the one getting hitched. "Yeah, I heard. He's marrying the MacKenzie chick." Fiona perched on the edge of the chair opposite her. "'Tis said she is part fey," she whispered.
Naturally. Well, what did I expect?
MacLean was a virile, sexy Highlander, who was in line to be the next laird of the clan MacLean. Of course she'd be beautiful, and he'd have no problems whatsoever getting her to keep to her place. Independent, freckled female soldiers weren't his type. She wasn't anyone's type. Her father had drilled that into her head often enough.

Tuck rubbed her hip then wrapped her arms around herself, her gaze lost in the flickering flames as memories played out in her mind.

"What are you wearing?" her father had asked hotly, his words slurred.

"A-a dress. I have a date," she replied. He laughed harshly. "Who'd go out with a pitiful excuse of a girl like you?" He staggered closer and flicked one of her curls. "Don't know where you got that head of hair," he said 206

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

with a sneer. "God-awful to look at. Just like the rest of you. Worthless piece of—"

He tipped back the bottle, draining its contents. With a growl he threw it down, shattering it against the scarred wood flooring.

She sat perfectly still on the couch, terrified of what he'd do next. The more he drank, the meaner he became.

"Go get me another bottle," he shouted, waving toward the cabinet across the room.

"There isn't anymore." She'd poured most of it down the drain and hid the bottles in the garbage, hoping he would think he'd drank it all.

His hand flew out, striking her across the cheek. "You lying bitch! I said get me some more!"

She bit back her tears. "There isn't any!" He grabbed her by her hair and pulled her from the couch. Dragging her behind his stumbling feet, he crossed to the cabinet and tossed her to the floor. "Open it!" She quickly yanked open the doors so he could see there was nothing left. A frightening stillness engulfed the room. She peered up at him from beneath her damp lashes.

"What did you do with it?" he snarled. She didn't answer. He grabbed her up by the front of her dress, tearing it. When he shoved his face into hers, she gagged on his horrid breath.

"Where is it?" He shook her hard, over and over. "Where, damn it!"

"It's all gone," she cried.

207

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

With a roar, he shoved her across the room. She caught herself on the edge of the couch.

He waved his hand in the air as he swayed. "Get out of my sight."

"But my date—"

"Get out, so I don't have to look at your ugly face!" When she didn't move, he shoved her toward the hall. Her foot caught on the edge of the coffee table, and she fell on the broken bottle. The glass dug painfully into her chest and hip.

"I said, get out!"

Afraid he'd kick her and crack a rib, as he'd done before, she scrambled to her feet. Although her vision blurred with tears, she clearly saw the red stain blossoming like a flower across her chest and side. Her soft yellow dress grew damp and stuck to her skin.

She stumbled to the bathroom and carefully picked the glass from her breast and hip, nearly fainting from the intense pain. Pressing towels against her body to stop the bleeding, she grew dizzier with each passing second. The doorbell rang, or so she thought, she couldn't be sure, her head spun wildly, but she heard her father yelling at someone. She staggered into the small living room, clutching the towel to her breast while holding onto the meager array of furniture as she went.

"Hospital," she breathed.

She heard a gasp and a curse as she felt the floor come up to greet her, then total silence.

208

Highlander's Challenge

by Jo Barrett

Her date had saved her life, but he'd never asked her out again. No one did. But then he hadn't really asked her out in the first place. She practically blackmailed him into it with one major guilt trip after she helped him with his algebra. Why should now be any different? Ian was only being kind because she'd saved his life, and MacLean's kisses were nothing more than a way to control her, to put her in her place. She was still the ugly redheaded Amazon nobody wanted.