Jake (The Highland Clan Book 4) (4 page)

The look in his sire’s eyes told him to run, but he stayed rooted to his spot, vowing to stand up to his father.

Jamie froze as his father rushed up to Jake and lifted him into the air. Squeezing Jake’s throat, he bellowed, “Repeat what you said, son!”

Jamie came to his brother’s defense. “Papa, we were trying to help them. Aye, we’d agreed to the plan at first, but when we saw the lasses had changed their minds, we tried to pull the other lads away from them.”

Alex did not move, still holding his son in the air, though Jake was now big enough that he had to use his other hand to keep him balanced. “Jamie, you are excused, return to the keep.”

“Papa, I’ll stay and help him. I want to.”

“Jamie, your laird ordered you to go to the keep.”

Robbie and Brodie brought a horse over and helped Jamie onto the horse. Jake had always been a little stronger physically than his brother, and he was so physically exhausted he could barely walk. They left the area with him.

Jake, red in the face, ground out, “I’ll do it. And I’ll hate you for the rest of my life.”

His father let him down and spun on his heel to go back to the keep.

Fortunately, the day was cloudy, and by mid-afternoon the rain came and drenched the sweat off his body, but the slippery rocks did not make his chore any easier. He could tell he had pushed himself too far because his thinking had become hazy. Uncle Robbie had brought him water on two occasions, but other than that he’d seen no one. Apparently, his sire had kept everyone at bay to prevent the chance of him being fed by onlookers who might have felt sorry for him.

Darkness fell and he continued on, finally noticing that the pile was dwindling. He could barely feel his legs moving, but they functioned on their own, dragging his body from one place to another, barely able to carry one rock at a time. He slipped several times in the mud, picking himself up before he continued. His father would not win this one. He’d show him how strong he was, that he could not beat him. He’d move every last stone.

When he had the last two stones in his hands, he slipped again. This time, he couldn’t get up. He lay face down in the mud and closed his eyes. A pair of arms picked him up and tossed him over a shoulder with an oomph from him. He knew it to be his sire.

“Foolish lad.”

“I did it, Papa.”

“I know you did. Stubborn lad. I hope you’ll remember it.”

“You needn’t have done it. I learned my lesson before moving all those rocks. But I wanted to prove to you how tough I am.”

His father snorted. “I had to come up with a way to make it sink into that thick skull of yours. When you’re older, your mother will never survive it if you attack a lass or disrespect one. How did you learn your lesson? What got through to you?”

“Mama’s eyes. I never want to see that look in Mama’s eyes again either. You could have asked. ‘Twas worse than moving the rocks. How can I ever make it up to her?”

***

Ever since that day, Jake had tried to make his mother proud to atone for his foolishness. Aye, he’d been young and stupid, but he should have known better. Ewan and Douglas and Roy were not lads to trust, and they’d received their own punishments by their own sires. He hadn’t been allowed near them again.

Now, all these years later, Jake squared his shoulders to speak to his sire. “I feared bringing Aline here would make Mama look like she did that day. Did I do wrong by bringing her to our keep? Should I have brought her to Loki’s instead?”

“Nay.” His father stood up from leaning on the stone wall and clasped his shoulder. “You did right, and you made both of us proud. After all these years, your mother is still healing, and helping other lasses who have been mistreated is a balm to her. She still has nightmares.”

“And how do you help her through it? What could you possibly do for her?”

“Hold her. She says ‘tis all she needs. I hold her until the tears stop, and sometimes a wee bit more.”

Jake nodded and gave his father a sheepish look. “I do not hate you anymore for making me move those rocks, Papa.”

His father smirked. “You did for a while, though I deserved it.”

“I do not know how a man could treat a woman so. But she told me something I could not believe. She said she wishes to go back as soon as she healed. How could that be?” He waited to see if his sire could give him any insight into this. He surely could not comprehend why she would consider returning to such a situation.

“She either loves the lad who beat her, or there’s someone else there she loves.”

Chapter Five

Aline opened her eyes to see the light-haired woman bustling about the chamber, fussing here and there. She followed her with only one eye open because the other hurt too much to move. Hew had fixed her good this time.

Though she would have to return to Castle Dubh—she had no choice—she knew it was probably best for her to stay here for a short while so she could heal. At least she would not have to look at Hew’s smug face.

“Oh, you are awake.” The lady came over to the side of the soft bed with a cup of water. “Would you like something to drink? Whenever I was beaten, the first thing I wanted was water. No matter how many times, it never changed.”

Aline nodded, running her tongue across dry, cracked lips coated in blood. Once she wetted her mouth, she whispered, “Who are you? I saw you earlier, but I do not recall your name.”

“My name is Madeline Grant or Maddie, I am the wife of the laird, Alexander Grant.” She set the cup on a side table and pulled a stool up next to the bed so she could sit.

“My lady, your husband beats you?” Aline saw no signs of a beating, only pale skin with a few fine lines on it, especially around her eyes—the kindest blue eyes she’d ever seen. They looked familiar to her, that blue color.

“Heavens, nay. Alex would never raise a hand to me. ‘Twas many moons ago when I still lived with my stepbrother. He often beat me into submission. My husband stole me away from him, that is, before we were married. He rescued me.”

“Your eyes are beautiful, they are…” Then she knew. The lad who had brought her here had the same blue eyes. His were not quite as kind as Madeline’s, but they were haunting in a way that drew her in. She hoped she would see him again.

“My thanks. My twin sons both have the same blue eyes, as does one of my daughters.”

“Your sons?”

“Aye, Jake is the lad who brought you home. His twin, Jamie, was with you. I do not know if you recall either of them. You were in bad condition when they brought you here.”

She shook her head, unable to remember anything about another son.

Madeline patted her arm. “Nay, ‘tis all right. Do you recall Jake, the man who carried you here?”

She stared at the ceiling, the wooden beams, as her eyes filled with tears. Aye, she remembered him, but Hew must have done more damage than usual this time. Her head hurt. Why could she not think properly? Closing her eyes, she tried to remember him, but blue eyes and dark hair were the only two things she could recall. His face, his features, all gone now. Oh Lord above, what had Hew done to her this time? How much longer could she continue on like this? Her breath hitched.

“Listen, do not fret.” Maddie took her hand, one of the few parts of her body that did not hurt, and squeezed it. “I often had the same trouble recalling details after I lost consciousness.”

“You did?”

Maddie leaned toward her, keeping ahold of her hand, and brushed her hair back. “Aye, but ‘twill get better. My husband’s sister says ‘tis from all the trauma on your head. Once the swelling goes down, once the bruises dissipate, you will remember.”

Aline squeezed her hand. “I do recall your son, just not enough.”

“The memories will return, mayhap when he comes to visit you. Do not worry.”

“I do not wish to forget. I wish to remember everything. Someday I will make the man who did this pay.”

“You do not need to see him again. We would welcome you to stay with our clan. I have found that people who are that cruel never change. It will eat away at them, and they will worsen as time passes. Have you been beaten before?”

Aline nodded, afraid to admit to the truth out loud.

“And is this the worst one you have ever experienced?”

“Aye, but it does not matter. I must return, I must.” She pushed against the linens, attempting to lift herself from the soft mattress, but she fell back down against the pillows, too weak to lift herself out of the bed.

“Shhhh. I know. There are people there whom you love, but first you must get better. You cannot return in the condition you are in. When you are ready, we will help you, I promise.”

She closed her eyes, afraid to even think of what Hew would do to the others if she returned with a line of Grant warriors. She did not know much about the Grants, but she did know they were the most feared in the land.

The door closed, she thought from Maddie leaving, so she was surprised to see Jake standing at the end of her bed when she opened her eyes.

“Greetings, Aline. Do you mind if I visit for a wee bit? When you tire, you can send me on my way.”

“Aye, if you promise not to ask me questions about how this happened or about where I live.” She wished to get to know him better, but couldn’t bear for anyone else to ask her about Hew.

“Agreed.” He pulled a stool over to the bed. “Do you mind if I sit?”

She shook her head, and he sat. This was the first time she could see all of him from the front—the rippling muscles, the broad chest, and the beautiful smile that shot straight to her heart. His skin was darkened from the sun, and she noticed he was rubbing his jaw with his knuckles, perhaps because he was nervous. Why would he be nervous around her?

Dropping her gaze, she waited to see what he would do next. She had not known many men in her life—her da, her younger brother, and Hew along with his two personal guards. Caution would serve her best here.

“You need not fear me,” he whispered.

“I do not fear you.”

He reached for her hand, and she jerked it away without thinking. “Are you sure you are not afraid of me?”

She saw the corners of his mouth curl up, and a special light sparked in his gaze, so she grinned and extended her hand back to him. “My apologies.”

He almost touched her, but then said, “Do you trust me not to hurt you? If so, place your hand in mine.”

She thought for a moment, wondering what he was about. Then she remembered how soothing it had felt when his mother had taken her hand, and she hesitantly placed her hand in his.

His grip was loose on her hand and he ran his thumb across the skin on the back in a soft caress. “Am I hurting you?”

“Nay,” she whispered, glancing up at him. She’d be content to allow him to hold her hand for a long time. His touch was mesmerizing in a way his mother’s hadn’t been, and warmth seeped through his skin to hers, heating her insides.

“So we’ll not speak about your past. Would you like to know more about my clan?”

“Aye,” She thought for a moment because there was something she had wondered about. If only she could find a way to get her mind functioning again. She sat up, pleased she had remembered. “The wee lad. He was with us, was he not?”

“Kenzie? Aye, he traveled with his sire, Loki.”

“But his sire does not look verra old.”

“I see your question. Loki adopted Kenzie. ‘Tis a long story, but I’ll tell it as quick as I can. Loki lived alone in a crate behind an inn in Ayr. My uncle Brodie spent quite a bit of time with him during the battle with the Norse, and he and my aunt Celestina adopted Loki after they returned to the Highlands.

“Not long ago, Loki returned to the place he used to live in Ayr. He found his crate and some other items still there, taken over by wee Kenzie. Once he finished the business he had there, he returned to Ayr with his sire and they brought Kenzie with them. Loki and his wife Bella adopted him.”

“What a lovely tale! He is a cute lad.” She rested her head back on the thick pillow.

“Aye, he is a scamp, but so was Loki. They are both clever thinkers. ‘Tis amazing how alike they are.”

She realized she had been staring in Jake’s eyes for a good long while, so she dropped her gaze, afraid she was staring too much. Jake was different, unlike any lad she had ever encountered.

“I would not have said this a few years ago, but I am proud of our clan. I hope you will consider joining us. You say you must return, and I will accept that, but mayhap someday you’ll be looking for a new home. You will always be welcome here. I hope you know that.”

She thought for a moment before answering. “I would love to someday. Your clan is different.”

“In what way?”

“Most everyone smiles. I have never seen that before.” She wished to say the warmth, but didn’t think that was quite appropriate. But there was a warmth between his clanmates that she’d never experienced before.

“Nay, I would guess people who work for the man who beat you would not be happy. You look tired. My thanks for allowing me to stay. Mayhap I’ll stop again to see how you fare.”

“I would like that.” She guessed that to be the most truthful statement she’d made in a while. Living with Hew Gordon had taught her how to lie. She did what she had to do.

Jake left, closing the door behind him. How she wished he would escort her back to Gordon land along with his guards, but she couldn’t ask for that. She knew Hew too well.

He’d kill them all before the Grants ever got past the gate.