Rogue's Challenge (19 page)

He jerked his head to the side. “Damn, you Amelia, be quick about it!"

"I'm going as fast as I can,” Amelia grumbled.

Ian turned back to Jenny and pressed his face close to hers, their hands locked between them. “'Tis almost over,” he said softly, and kissed her whitened knuckles.

Her head began to shake, her lips quivering with what he could only deem as the need to scream, but she held it in. This was no frail female. He had been sorely mistaken in ever thinking such a thing.

"Tell me—tell me how the combustion engine functions,” Ian said, grasping at anything to occupy her mind. And his.

Two tears slipped from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. He brushed one away from the edge of her mouth with the tip of his thumb.

"And these things called airplanes. Tell me how such a thing is capable of leaving the ground. Does it flap a pair of mighty mechanical wings? Or mayhap birds strapped to its belly give it flight.” All of which was utter nonsense, but he was at a loss as to how to distract her.

Tight creases formed at the corners of her mouth as a short pain filled chuckle escaped her lips.

"Nay?” he said with a forced smile, his eyes filling as he looked into hers. ‘Twould not do to weep before her, his heart would surely be known.

She lifted her trembling hand and stroked his cheek. “Thank you."

He blinked away his pain, his throat tight, and said, “Anything for a lady.” How he ached to kiss her, to crawl into the bed alongside her and hold her in his arms, keeping her safe and warm. But he had failed to keep her safe. The guilt would stay with him for the rest of his days.

"The worst is over, Jen,” Amelia said.

Elspeth took the bloody gauze from Amelia's fingers as she finished her work. His stomach roiled at the sight. Although never a man to be sick from such a thing, knowing it was his sweet Jen's blood made him ill.

Swallowing the bile rising in his throat, he asked, “Will you have to stitch the wound?” He prayed she would not, for that was more painful than the cleansing.

Tuck shook her head. “No, not a gunshot wound. It's best to keep it bandaged so air can get to it. She's going to ache for a couple of weeks, but she'll be back on her feet before then. Knowing Jenny, we'll have to fight to keep her in bed,” she said with a chuckle.

"Like someone else I know,” Jenny said, the strength in her voice returning. The news eased some of the tension from Ian's shoulders, but his heart would not recover so quickly.

"Ian,” Colin said, pulling his gaze from the women as they wrapped Jenny's lovely leg, now clear of any evidence that she'd been hurt, save for the bandage. “We've a need tae speak."

"Aye,” he said with a weighty sigh. He pressed a kiss to Jenny's hand and relished the sweet smile she bestowed on him. One that did not last for long.

"Don't you dare go looking for Vernon,” she said, her voice holding no evidence of her previous pain.

Ian paused in the doorway. “You, my dear lady, concentrate on getting well. I shall do what must be done."

"Colin, don't let him do it! And don't you go after him either. Tuck, tell them,” she demanded.

Ian cast a glance at Amelia, her mouth puckered and one brow arched. “You'd better not go anywhere.” She shot him a look. “Not until we've talked."

"Dammit, Tuck! Colin, she needs to be in bed. This stress—"

"You calm down or I'll put you out,” Amelia said, pointing her finger at Jenny. “Elspeth, I'm counting on you to keep her in bed.” She turned to Ian and Colin. “And you two wait for me or I'll follow your butts through the main gates."

Colin growled low. “Doona order me about, woman. You should be abed, as the lass says."

He crossed the room in two strides and scooped Amelia up. Ian cleared the chuckle from his throat at Amelia's response, not something a lady would utter.

"Meet me in the solar,” Colin said as he marched past Ian.

He nodded and cast one last glance at Jenny. “All will be well, little one. Rest."

"Ian,” she called after him, but his step never wavered.

The stranger wanted to take her away or harm her more severely. Ian could not let him succeed. ‘Twould be hard enough on his weary soul when Jenny chose to return home of her own accord. He refused to let anyone interfere with the little time they had together. But more importantly, the vermin had brought Jenny great pain, had scarred her fair skin. Vernon Cox would pay.

Colin joined him in the solar with William and his father in a matter of moments. Colin's gaze darted to his father, a subtle reminder that they must watch their words, as the Laird and William knew nothing of the time portal. Only Elspeth, outside of the four of them knew of its existence.

Laird MacLean lifted his head from the perusal of the flames, his features sour. “Tell me what happened. From the beginning, lad,” he demanded.

Ian told of the events, including the man's first attempts to grab Jenny, and how she suspected his presence had to do with her father.

"We should send word tae the lass's sire,” the Laird said.

Colin and Ian exchanged uneasy glances. Ian considered attempting to explain Maxwell's disinterest in his daughter, but thought better of it. “I shall see to it,” Ian said.

"William, double the guards at the gate. Colin, lad, I know ye be wantin’ tae stay with yer wife, but yer trackin’ skills are needed.” The old man motioned toward Ian. “You and Colin search the isle for the coward. I'll no’ have another person harmed on MacLean soil."

"On the morrow, Da,” Colin said with a firm nod. “He is likely on foot and will be some time afore he arrives. I doona wish tae track him from Tobor Morar."

"Aye,” Ian said, his head aching. He wanted to find the bloody sod and rip him apart, but knew Colin was correct. They had a much better chance of catching the cur closer to the castle than half way across the island. And God forbid, they should miss him in passing, leaving Jenny vulnerable.

William and Laird MacLean left the solar. William to tend to the night guards, and the Laird to his bed.

Colin placed a hand on Ian's shoulder. “She will be safe, my friend. Trust me,” he said, leading Ian down the hall. “Now go rest, for we have much tae do in the morn. There is a rat to be caught and severely dealt with,” he said, his mouth turned up in an evil smile.

Ian nodded wearily. His body, his mind, his very soul ached with the impotence of failure. Paying no heed to his direction, he found himself standing at the foot of Jenny's bed watching her sleep. He would not fail her again.

The need to feel her soft form pressed to his, safe and warm, overpowered him. With the silence of a cat, he stripped away his clothes then slid beneath the covers to lie by her side. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed his face against her neck, her silky hair his pillow, her sweet scent his breath.

"Your feet are cold,” she murmured.

He grinned and pressed a kiss to her shoulder where her night rail gaped exposing her fair skin. “Forgive me,” he whispered. “I did not mean to wake you."

"I'm glad you came. I was worried about you.” She stifled a yawn.

He held in his chuckle. “Were you now?” It warmed his heart that she cared for him, wanted his presence.

"I thought you'd go chasing after Vernon in the dark. We don't know what other weapons he may have brought with him."

"I shall deal with him soon enough. But I doubt he has naught but the one firearm."

She rubbed her cheek against his head. “A good bit of deduction or a wild guess?"

"Deduction, and you well know it.” He lifted his head and peered into her sleepy eyes lit by the flickering firelight. “He would have thought you to be but one small woman who would cause him little trouble,” he said, brushing a long strand of hair from her cheek, all the more amazed by her beauty.

Smiling, she said, “He doesn't know me very well, does he?"

"Nay, he does not.” He brushed his lips across hers, holding himself back. She was injured and fatigued. He could not make love to her as he wished, but he would hold her for as long as he could. “Now sleep."

"You're going to leave before morning, aren't you?"

He pressed a kiss to her frown. “Aye. You are a lady and I will not harm you unnecessarily."

She sighed and let her lids drift closed as he stroked her cheek. “I'll take what I can get then, and quit complaining. Even if you do have cold feet."

He smiled at her sleepy comment and in but a few breaths she was asleep.

"Pleasant dreams, my love,” he whispered, and nestled in beside her, content with her in his arms.

If only their time was not so short. Naught but a handful of months remained before she would take her leave of him. He prayed selfishly that she would stay, although he knew ‘twould ne'er be. This was not her time, and he knew that although she enjoyed the sights, the experience, she would not wish to stay.

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The following morning, Colin and Ian gathered in the main hall with a full garrison at the ready. Small units were to take turns searching MacLean land. Ian led one group while Colin went in another direction with the second. Neither man wished to venture too far from the castle and the women, fearing for their safety, but they had little choice if they wished to catch the fiend. But a week of searching passed with no results.

Colin and Ian met in the solar, their failure heavy on their shoulders.

"'Tis as if the maggot has vanished,” Colin grumbled as he paced before the fire.

"He could've left the island,” the Laird said.

Ian shook his head. “Nay, not without Jenny. He has a need of her."

"Ah yes, the lass. ‘Tis a pity we know no’ what the man wants with her."

"Aye, Da. But Jenny doesna ken his reasoning,” Colin said.

"And if Jenny cannot fathom his motives, we shall surely have no luck in divining the answer either,” Ian said with a weighty sigh.

Fiona appeared. “Master Southernland, Tuck wishes tae see ye,” she said, then dashed from the room. Her pending marriage to Michael but a month away had her flitting about the castle like a drunken butterfly.

"Now, I wonder what my wife would be wantin’ with you,” Colin said, stroking his chin, a taunting grin on his face.

Ian ignored him as he left the solar, not missing the Scot's chuckle. Although he'd managed to leave Jenny's bed before sunup each morn, he felt certain all in sundry knew where he'd been spending his nights. Although they'd only shared some heated kisses and a small bit of touching, he relished holding her while she slept. ‘Twas a small bit of comfort for his weary soul.

He made his way to Amelia's chamber, knowing he was about to be sorely interrogated.

"You wished to see me, dear heart?” he asked, strolling into her chamber as if there was naught wrong with the world. Or his heart.

"Tell me what's going on with you and Jenny,” she demanded.

"Nothing of any concern."

"You don't lie and you really suck at evasion, Ian. Spit it out, or you'll be the first to get diaper duty."

He chuckled and took her hand. “You are a treasure, my sweet. But I shall not burden you with my troubles."

"Don't make me hurt you."

He laughed, knowing full well there was sincerity at the heart of her threat. She would make him pay later after the babes had come, of that he had no doubt.

"Look, I've got no problem with you two hanging out,” she said. “But I have a feeling there's more going on. And it's not all good."

"Aye,” he admitted, his heart heavy. “I seem to have an uncanny knack for choosing the wrong women to care for. Present company excluded."

"Why is she the wrong woman? Can't you handle her having all those brains?"

"Nay! I rather like the way she thinks.” And how he managed to win many an argument by kissing her. “'Twould be a dreadful bore to have a woman that possessed no sense,” he said, reining in his thoughts.

"Then what's the problem?"

With a sigh, he raked his fingers through his hair and paced to the window. He may as well tell her, she was his friend and perhaps she could soothe his heart somewhat, although he feared ‘twas a lost cause. “She knows not of my status."

"You're gonna have to throw me a rope, here Ian. I'm not following."

He took a steadying breath, and turned to face her. “Do you know why I chose to ride with Colin for so many years, ne'er choosing a wife?"

She shook her head, her brow furrowed beneath her red curls.

"My mother was a lady of noble birth. She trusted my father, believed his words when he told her he loved her and would marry her. She was heartbroken when he did not.” ‘Twas why he ne'er lied, for a single falsehood could steal the very life from a person.

He turned back to the window and stared out at the dreary day, feeling it deep in his soul. “A weary sadness was forever in her eyes,” he said softly. He blinked away the unhappy memory. “My mother's family had turned her out long before. So when she died my father felt obligated to recognize me as there was no one to take me in.” He sniffed. “Recognized, as if that made a difference."

He glanced at Amelia then back to the window, not wanting to see the pity in her eyes. “I have no prospects, no title, and am a bastard son of a baron. No woman of any rank—no lady of gentle breeding will have me as her husband. ‘Tis why I am certain Jenny will ne'er see me as anything more than what I am. A temporary diversion in her life. And I, for one, cannot blame her."

A sharp painful tugging of his ear had him bellowing. “Ow! What in bloody hell—” he twisted from Amelia's grasp.

"Ian Southernland, if I wasn't carrying this baby baggage I'd lay you out flat!” She stood, her hands fisted at her wide waist, her green eyes blazing. “Of all the stupidest men ... I thought Colin had his moments, but this one!” She paced before him spouting various vile things about men in general, but mostly about him.

"What goes on here?” Colin burst into the room, his face contorted with concern.

Amelia glared at Ian, then turned a sweet smile to her husband. “Nothing, we were talking. And...” she said, getting back in bed, “I'm not going to get up again. I promise. Now scram."