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Authors: On Highland Hill

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BOOK: Kara Griffin - Gunn Guardsmen
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“I’ve been thinking. This woman is too sweet to put in the hands of Alexander. I know too well what he’s capable of. He’d put her in harm’s way that I vow, seeing as what he did to my sweet Bree. Nay, I won’t be party to his deeds.”

“So you want to take her to Gunn land, Laird?” Colm asked.

“Aye, I do. We’ll take her home with us. I saw the way Domhnall looked at her when we supped with him. He was none too pleased with the lady, but his look was one of longing and there was something else in that look. I believe she was in danger if we left her there as well. What has she gotten herself into?”

Kenneth didn’t like the mention of danger. Elisa was a delicate lady who couldn’t hurt a fly. Why would Domhnall want to hurt her? He wasn’t usually one to question his laird, but questions needed to be asked.

“Why is she in danger? Do you deem she knows where this parchment is? Mayhap that is what Domhnall wants of her too.” Kenneth sat up and stretched his legs in front of him, now interested in the discussion.

“Mayhap Domhnall suspects Alexander is looking for it and has questioned the lady. She’s the only person alive who can attest to its location.” Grey bunched his tartan and lay back, resting his head.

They grew quiet and settled down for the night.

Grey peered across the grass at her. “She needs protection of the Gunn clan and the only way I can ensure her safety is to wed her to one of you.”

Each of the guard sat straight up and stared in disbelief at what their laird had said. Only the sound of noisy crickets and late summer insects could be heard. Several unspoken moments went by.

“Laird, none of us can wed. Our lives are dedicated to you, you know that. We took an oath when you became laird.” Sean nodded to the others. “It is what we’ve trained for our entire lives.”

“Aye, we vowed you come first and the clan, but if the lady’s safety is in question then we cannot abide by that vow,” James said. “None of us ever planned to marry. Besides, Grey, no lass could out cook your wife. I wonder what Bree cooked this night.”

“I will wed her, Laird,” Colm said outright.

“Nay, Colm, you are too young to take a wife. Sean is the oldest and should have first choice,” Grey said. “We’ll decide this by age and rank. What say you, Sean?”

“Och but Kenneth is the eldest, Laird. He should be the one forced to wed her,” Sean said, disgruntled. He didn’t appear too happy with Grey’s declaration and sat with his sword in his lap, plucking the blade. That habit drove Kenneth mad, because Sean usually kept it up until his fingers bled.

Kenneth swallowed hard before objecting. “Nay, I’m not a Gunn, though I wish I was. I’m not part of this sacrifice.” He could have laughed at the use of the word sacrifice because he believed none of them considered it such. Each of his friends would gladly wed the woman despite their open balks or objections.

“Verily, what Kenneth says is true. He is not a Gunn. He’s a McInnish. Are you finally admitting that, Kenneth?” Grey asked pointedly.

Kenneth’s throat grew thick. The last thing he’d ever want to admit was being a McInnish. He wasn’t destined to be laird of his clan, his brother was. And because of Greer’s death the McInnish clan would have to bear the consequence of being leaderless.

“Nay, I don’t own to that. Since I am a McInnish as you said, Laird, the honor should not be mine.” Kenneth’s stomach flinched. Deep down he wouldn’t confess that he liked the lady and would be honored to be her husband.

“Then Sean will wed her. That is settled. Now I’ll just have to figure out a way to tell her.”

The men, unhappy with Grey’s decision continued to bicker about it for a few more minutes before settling down. Sean was nonplused about it too and openly objected to Grey’s decision. It wasn’t like him to do so and with a glare from Grey, Sean retreated and became amiable.

“I suppose she’ll do. Any woman’s as good as the next.” Sean guffawed and leaned on his side glaring at him.

Kenneth wanted to blacken his other eye for that remark. Though he knew Sean said such nonsense to raise his ire, he wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. He lay back on his tartan and watched the sweet lethargic woman who had no idea what fate had been set for her.

CHAPTER SIX

 

 

Elisa opened her eyes and noted the darkened sky above. She’d never been so cold. Her teeth chattered and she couldn’t stop trembling. Coldness permeated her body and chilled her to the bone. She had no conception of where she was. Beside a tree, she lay and looked up, seeing the moon which shown brightly through the leaves. A stitch of pain jabbed her side and her head slightly throbbed.

As her eyes adjusted, she glanced around and recognized the men of the Gunn clan. She realized she was alone with them. Why would they take her away from the village? Should she be worried for her safety? A panic twisted her stomach and her breath rose with each question.

Elisa pulled the fabric she lay upon around her to ward off the chill.

She tried to be quiet so they wouldn’t be roused. Before she’d act, she needed to consider this plight. If she had any sense, she’d be running. But she wasn’t sure if she needed to flee or even where to flee to. What if they didn’t intend to hurt her? What if they’d saved her?

“Finally you’re awake. You worried us.”

She jumped at the sound of a voice. Glancing at the light-haired man, Kenneth, she shied away. His speech was like a soothing caress, though deep with a burr. Elisa didn’t know why he affected her and she wasn’t sure if it was fright or apprehension at being around him. He watched her with his dark, dreamy eyes. That alone made her panic more frenzied. Her legs shook and she wasn’t sure if it was because of the chilliness of the night or because of him being so close.

Elisa held back the scream that threated to escape for she knew she was in a dangerous situation. They could easily accost her, have their way with her, and even kill her. There was no way to protect against such warriors. Then she reasoned they hadn’t hurt her. She seemed fine and didn’t really hurt anywhere except for the slight throb in her head. If they wanted to harm her they would have done so and much more already.

She reached the edges of the covering and pulled it tightly around her, hoping it lent a bit of security. Pressing her fingers against her temples, she tried to rid the ache and overwhelming fear that had come upon her. Leaning against her bent knees, she took a deep breath, her heart easing.

“Elisa, rest easy. We mean you no harm.” Kenneth moved closer and tried to calm her with the offer of another tartan.

With shaky hands, she accepted the cover from him and wrapped it around her shoulders. “T-thank you. I’m freezing to death. What happened? Why have y-you taken m-me? Where are we?”

She noticed Kenneth wore a shirt beneath the tartan he’d given her. The light-colored material tightened across his chest and made his arms seem even bigger. Why she gaped at him, she didn’t know. He was too handsome to look away. An awkward silenced passed between them.

Their leader awoke and sat next to Kenneth. Their stares engulfed her and warmed her for a second or two. The absurdity at being with them sent her nerves to fray. Elisa chewed her lower lip and avoided eye-contact. She swore she’d be well if she didn’t have to look at them, but Kenneth drew her eyes when he spoke to her.

“I’m sorry we took you from your home.” His eyes peered at her.

The leader leaned forward. “We feared you were in danger.”

She looked at the leader and nodded slightly, knowing what he spoke to be true. Had they realized what Domhnall was going to do? Had Domhnall spoken of it with them? Of what connection did they have to the matter? Questions began plaguing her, but she was hesitant to ask them.

“I wish to be honest with you, lass, I was approached by our king to retrieve you and take you to him. Do you know why Alexander would want to speak with you?”

She shook her head, and drew her knees closer to her body. “The king sent for me?”

At the mention of the king, she thought she’d been rescued. She hoped so and eased, feeling safe at their admission. Elisa released her knees and sat up, trying to relax her stiff muscles by rubbing her legs. She was sore and her head hurt. A thumping lingered and she thought she’d lose what little there was in her stomach. Then she remembered she hadn’t eaten for some time and the threat of that happening didn’t seem plausible.

“I’m Grey Gunn, Laird of Gunn clan. We weren’t introduced at mac Raghnaill’s keep. These are my guardsmen: Kenneth, Sean, Colm, and James.” He waved a hand at each man as he announced them and she inclined her head. Except for Kenneth and the laird, the others rolled to their sides and seemed to be going to sleep. “You are Elisa MacQuarrie, are you not?”

“Aye, I’m Elisa of clan MacQuarrie.”

Kenneth moved closer and rubbed her back, making her more nervous than she had been. His hand warmed everywhere he touched. Still her teeth chattered and she couldn’t get warm. Mayhap his large body would afford some heat, so she shuffled a little closer. She felt small sitting next to him and yet his strength was oddly comforting. He set his arm around her shoulder, enveloping her with his warmth. She didn’t mind his forwardness as cold as she was.

“I knew your father, Robert. My father was very good friends with him and our clans were allies. I was saddened by his loss,” Laird Gunn said.

Elisa drew in a slow gasp. “His loss? My father is … dead?”

Laird Gunn lowered his gaze and then glanced to Kenneth.

“Aye, I’m sorry. We thought you knew.”

She shook her head, despondent at learning her dear father died. Heat rose behind her eyes and burning tears threatened to fall. Elisa suppressed the urge to cry. “What of my family?”

“Your family was killed some years back, your mother, brother, and sister taken too. All killed during the raid. You disappeared. None knew when you went. It was believed you ran away.” Kenneth continued to smooth his hand over her back.

Elisa wept. She cried heart-ravaged sorrow and didn’t care if the warriors watched her. Her parents were dead? Her brother, Robby, and her sister, Mauri … were all dead? She didn’t want to believe it. Yet, in her heart she realized it could be true. They never came to visit and had not even sent her away with well wishes. No missives ever reached her. All those years, she’d thought they hadn’t cared, or even worse, no longer loved her. As her sobs came under control, she sniffled away the heartache. She didn’t know what to say as shock tensed her soul.

“I’m sorry you had to learn of it this way,” Kenneth said.

“It can’t be true. They can’t be dead.”

He continued to hold her awkwardly. “I’m sorry to say they are. Did you run away, lass?”

Elisa wiped her eyes and tried to calm. But the news was far more disheartening than she ever imagined. Her chest shuddered and she couldn’t stop shaking. “I cannot believe it is so. Nay, I did not run away.”

“What happened then? How did you end up with Domhnall?” Kenneth took her hands in his and rubbed them, warming her cold fingers.

“I remember that day vividly. It was the day he took me, Domhnall. I was on my way home from the stream and I heard him call out. When I reached the gate, it was closed and I couldn’t get inside the walls. So I started to run down the hill toward the woods to hide. He frightened me because I barely knew him.”

“You were not there in your father’s keep when they came?”

“Nay, I was returning … from the nearby stream. I heard him coming after me but I couldn’t outrun him. Domhnall caught me and took me to the village. He told me my father gave me as a bride.”

“What a goddamned liar!” Kenneth said.

Elisa pulled her hands free of his. “I didn’t know if it was true, and I had no way to ask my father.”

“Did Domhnall wed you?” Laird Gunn asked.

“Nay, he did not. He kept me in the village and every now and then he’d come to check on me. He’d ask me questions about my sister. It was she he wanted to marry, but Mauri promised herself to Alexander. My sister and I grew distant. She didn’t confide in me.” Elisa wanted to cry again.

She wanted to bawl her eyes out at speaking of her family and what had happened to them. In all the years, she never let her heart’s dejection escape, but held it deep inside her. She never wanted to admit her family would be so unkind as to send her off with a man she hardly knew and without at least telling her themselves. Guilt at all the years she’d blamed them now stiffened her shoulders and made her want to climb into a hole. They hadn’t forgotten her and certainly hadn’t given her to Domhnall.

“Domhnall was interested in your sister? Our king asked me to retrieve you so he could ask you about a parchment that Domhnall had. He believes your sister took it before her death. Do you know of it?”

She shook her head at Laird Gunn. “Nay, nay. Domhnall kept asking me that too. I know of no parchment. Mauri would never have confided in me if she had taken it. Why does your king want it?”

“It proves Domhnall’s involvement against the king of Norway. Our king wants to use it to barter the western lands,” Kenneth explained.

“I know nothing of it.” Elisa wanted to shout her dismay. The deaths of her family and her life ruined because of a piece of parchment and land? Now she really wanted to cry or scream with pure anger. Domhnall never spoke to her of the land or of the Norway king. She knew she should fear him, but never realized what an evil man he was. Aye, he was a banshee who prayed on the innocent.

Laird Gunn moved closer and he spoke low, “Elisa, you are going to have to trust me if I’m to keep you safe. Both Alexander and Domhnall want that parchment and they will do anything to possess it. Even kill for it. I must have your promise to do what I tell you. I only do so to protect you.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I can only protect you from them if you are part of my clan. They cannot get to you if you’re under my clan’s protection. We have ways of hiding people …”

“I see,” she said. But Elisa didn’t really understand what that meant. Did he want her to become a Gunn follower? She peered at Kenneth who looked cross. He didn’t appear to like what Laird Gunn was saying either. “You want me to become a Gunn?”

BOOK: Kara Griffin - Gunn Guardsmen
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