The Highlander's Forbidden Bride (19 page)

C
arissa rode beside Ronan, while Alyce and Lachlan rode in front. A fur-lined cloak and hood, along with fur-lined boots, a wool skirt and blouse did much to keep her warm against the bitter cold.

“I’ve waited long enough,” Ronan said. “Tell me what my brother had to say.”

Carissa hesitated. Things had been going so well, and while she would love to be Ronan’s wife, she didn’t want to suggest it to him. She much preferred he’d ask her on his own. And yet Cavan had asked the question. Dare she?

“You hesitate,” he said, concerned. “What’s wrong? Did my brother upset you?”

“No,” she said quickly, not wanting him to assume the worst. “Cavan has been very pleasant with me.”

“I truly believe he has grown to like you”—he laughed—“though I wonder if it has something to do with your delicious cooking.”

“It’s possible,” she said, though she knew it was because she had shared the intimacies of her life
with him that caused him to see her in a different light.

Ronan smiled and reached his hand out to her. She took hold of it, and though it was warm, it sent shivers racing up her arm and throughout her body. It was always that way with him. All he had to do was touch her, and she wanted him.

“
We’re
home now. It isn’t only me who has come home; it is I and the woman I love who are finally home.”

She had never thought she’d have a true home, and she let him know how much it meant to her. “You could have given me no greater gift than the gift of being welcome in your home.”

“It is just the beginning of the gifts I will give to you,” he said, squeezing her hand. “And we will have a lavish wedding with clans coming from far and wide to honor our special day.”

Her heart quickened and her breath caught and she glared wide-eyed at him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, alarmed. “Don’t you feel well?”

“You wish to wed me?” she asked, as if not believing her own question.

It was his turn to look startled. “Of course I do—” He stopped suddenly and shook his head. “I should have approached our getting wed differently. This is neither the time nor the place to discuss the matter. Instead, let us talk about what Cavan had to say.”

Carissa laughed.

“My brother was humorous?”

“No,” she said, trying to stop from chuckling, “it’s just that Cavan wanted to know if you had asked me to marry you yet.”

They both smiled and continued holding hands as they rode along.

Ronan went in search of his mother, Septimus having told him she had recently returned with Hagen and they were warming themselves by one of three campfires.

Septimus took Alyce and Lachlan to see Evan and Piper, and Carissa went off alone with Dykar. She informed him that Cavan now knew of Cregan, but following his advice, though she was aware it was more an edict, she had yet to tell Ronan.

“I could see where Ronan would be upset if he knew Cregan was coming for you,” Dykar said.

“Have you found out why yet?” she asked.

Dykar shook his head. “His man has been vocal in his reasons for leaving Cregan’s crew, too vocal, but he remains tight-lipped when it comes to important information. He foolishly thinks we believe that he wishes to join our group.”

“Perhaps he simply bides his time until Cregan arrives.”

“Either way, I believe he knows much more than he says,” Dykar said.

“How long before Cregan arrives?”

“A small contingent of his men should be here soon enough,” Dykar said.

“He sends an advance group?” Carissa asked curiously. “I wonder why?”

“I’ve wondered the same myself.”

“I don’t like this,” Carissa said. “I need to discuss this with Cavan, and, like it or not, Ronan needs to know about this.”

“I agree.”

“Keep the men on battle alert,” Carissa said. “Have the scouts reported any unusual movement in the area?”

“Nothing of note.”

“I want to speak with Evan and Piper,” Carissa ordered. “They see things others don’t.”

Dykar nodded and went to find them.

Ronan spotted his mother sitting next to Hagen in front of the campfire. Her smile was wide and she practically beamed with joy. He was pleased to see her so happy. His brothers had told him how much she had grieved for their father. He was glad to see that she would always love his father, but also that she found happiness for herself with a good, trustworthy man.

She jumped with a cry when she spotted him and ran to him. He caught her in his arms and hugged her tight, just as she had done so many times to him when he was a lad.

“I have news I want to share with you and Carissa,” Addie said. “It will make Carissa so happy.”

“Tell me,” Ronan said,

Addie shook her head.

“No, the news is for Carissa, and she should hear it along with you.”

“I’ll go get her,” Ronan volunteered.

“Let me,” Addie urged. “I’ve spent little time with her.”

“But you won’t tell her anything without me, will you?”

“I promise,” Addie said. “I will tell all when I have you two together.”

Ronan nodded as his mother hurried off, then he turned and sat next to Hagen on the thick fallen tree by the campfire.

Hagen shook his head. “I’m not saying a thing.”

“Just give me a hint,” Ronan cajoled.

“Your mother remembered who Carissa reminded her of.”

“Who?” Ronan asked anxiously.

“Would you break a promise to the woman you love and intend to marry?” Hagen asked.

“You got me on that one—” Ronan glared at Hagen. “You intend to marry my mother?”

“I do,” Hagen said firmly. “I love her, and I will have her as my wife if she agrees.”

Ronan grinned. “You do realize that you’re going to have to speak to Cavan first. And then there’s Artair and Lachlan. Now if you were to share just a bit of information with me, I might be able to ease the way for you since you have no worry from me. It’s obvious that my mother loves you and that you love her, so I have no problem with the union. Besides,” Ronan said with a slap on Hagen’s back, “I know you’re a good man.”

“I appreciate the offer, truly I do,” Hagen said, “but I gave your mother my word, and I will not go
back on it. And your brothers don’t frighten me.”

Ronan rubbed his chin. “I was afraid of that. There isn’t much you fear.”

“Only losing your mother,” Hagen said.

“I’m pleased and proud to welcome you to our family,” Ronan said.

Hagen smiled. “Thank you, Ronan. I appreciate that.”

Ronan held his hands out to the campfire to warm. “Now that we’re going to be family, at least tell me where you and mother went.”

Hagen shook his head.

“Do you need help?” Addie asked, as she approached a thin-faced man leaning against a large boulder. He looked to be in pain.

“My stomach,” he said, his hand pressed against it. “Must be something I ate.”

When she reached him he leaned on her, draping his arm around her shoulder.

“I can fix you a brew that might help,” Addie offered.

“You’re already helping,” the man said, leaning his face close to hers and placing the tip of his dirk to her stomach. “Keep quiet and keep walking.”

Addie did as told.

Carissa saw Addie approach with the man leaning on her. She didn’t walk forward to meet them. Instead, she studied them, since the man didn’t look familiar to her. She had made certain to know
the faces of her men, not that they knew her. She had always watched her troops from a safe distance and trusted only those she knew she could.

Something wasn’t right with Addie, she could see it and she placed her hand on the dirk at her waist. She cursed the fact that she had chosen to remain removed from the men while waiting to speak with Evan and Piper. While she could see some of her men, they were too far to take note of her, and even if they did, nothing would seem amiss.

“Take that dirk out slowly and drop it nice and easy to the ground,” the man ordered. “Or I’ll cut this woman good.”

“Then I’ll be of no help to you,” Addie said.

“I’m not stupid,” the man whispered harshly. “I’ll cut you to hurt you, not to kill you.”

“Enough,” Carissa said softly though anxiously when his hand looked ready to stick Addie in the gut just to prove his point. After she dropped her dirk, she asked, “What do you want?”

“For you to come with me,” he said.

“Let her go and—”

“I give the orders,” the man said. “You’re both going with me. Now move.”

Carissa didn’t argue. She would do as she was told until a chance presented itself; and then…the man would find a knife at his gut.

Unfortunately, that chance never materialized, and the situation worsened rapidly. The man never let go of Addie, so there was always the threat of
his hurting her, which would make an escape even more difficult, for there was no way Carissa would leave Addie behind.

They were soon joined by three other men, garbed in monks’ clothing. It didn’t take Carissa long to realize that they were no monks but rather experienced scouts, who knew how to cover their trail. She only hoped that Evan and Piper were more knowledgeable.

Carissa knew Dykar had sentinels posted around the camp, alerting him to anyone’s approach, but she had no doubt that the so-called monks had seen to removing that obstacle. And with the sentinels not being changed for another few hours, Dykar would not know immediately of their absence. Not that they wouldn’t be missed soon, but not soon enough for a good head start.

They soon met up with three more men, and these had horses.

“Let her go,” Carissa said in such a commanding tone that the men looked startled. “Cregan wants me. Let her go, and I will go with you.”

The thin-faced man laughed. “You’ll go with us anyway.” He poked Addie in the stomach with the tip of his dirk. “She’ll make sure you obey.”

Carissa walked up to the man so fast he had no time to react. “Cut her, hurt her in any way, and I’ll make sure you die a slow, agonizing death.” Before he could respond, she continued with bravado. “And if you doubt me, know who I am, Carissa, daughter of Mordrac the
merciless.
”

The man quickly moved his dirk away from
Addie and ordered everyone on their horses. Carissa was glad that they intended for her and Addie to share a horse. It would give them time to discuss their situation though they were ordered not to speak.

Whispers would do, since she made certain to ride behind Addie and warned her to say nothing, respond only with a slight nod or turn of her head.

While they rode single file, Carissa whispered to Addie, telling her all about Cregan and that Cavan was aware of the situation. No doubt they would be rescued; but, not wanting to take a chance, they would need to do what they could to procure their escape.

Addie agreed.

Carissa explained that the sooner they tried to escape, the better, since they would probably meet up with more of Cregan’s men, which would make an escape even more difficult. And, since Addie was familiar with the area, it would behoove them to do it immediately.

Both women were excellent riders; they knew their chance was now. Carissa held on tight to Addie. Addie gave the horse a kick, and both women started screaming, upsetting the other horses and startling the men so badly they didn’t know what to do, which gave the two women time to make their escape.

“What do you mean Carissa and my mother can’t be found?” Ronan demanded of Dykar.

“We don’t have time to explain it all,” Septimus said. “We need to find their trail and follow.”

“They wouldn’t leave the camp,” Ronan argued.

“My brother’s right,” Lachlan said, Alyce standing beside him.

“They didn’t,” Septimus said. “They were abducted.”

Ronan felt his heart pound mercilessly in his chest, and it took him a moment to speak. “What do you mean? Who would abduct them?”

Dykar gave him a quick explanation about Cregan, finishing with, “Carissa was going to speak with Cavan right away and see that you were informed about the situation.”

“We need to leave now,” Septimus said.

Lachlan agreed fast enough.

Hagen stood beside Septimus. “We can’t let them get too far from us.”

While Ronan agreed, there were also other things to consider, and though he wished Cavan hadn’t kept this from him, there was no time to waste being angry at him.

“Lachlan, you and Alyce return to the keep and tell Cavan. He will have our warriors ready in no time. Dykar, Septimus, Hagen, and I will take some men and find and follow the trail.”

“Evan and Piper are already on it,” Septimus said. “If they can’t pick up the trail, no one can.”

“We’ll leave men along the way so you know where to follow,” Ronan said.

Lachlan nodded and stepped up to his brother.
He put his hand out and their hands locked on the other’s arm.

“See mother and Carissa safe,” Lachlan said.

“You have my word on it,” Ronan said.

Lachlan and Alyce rode off, and Ronan joined the other men.

There was no way he would lose the woman he loved now that he had just found her, and there was no chance he would allow any harm to befall his mother.

This Cregan would pay for abducting the two women who meant the most to him. He might look a Highlander, wearing his clan plaid, but at the moment he felt more a barbarian, ready to kill without thought or reason. And he would do just that to save the ones he loved.

C
arissa and Addie put as much distance between them and the men as possible, but two riders slowed the horse down, and the men caught up with them in no time. Not that she and Addie gave up. They maneuvered their way through the men until the thin-faced one called Sully struck out, hitting Addie and knocking her off the horse. Carissa went with her, having no intention of leaving Addie alone to face Sully’s anger.

When he jumped off his horse and rushed toward the women, Carissa scrambled to her feet as Addie confirmed she was all right and stood protectively in front of the woman, her feet braced, her head high, and her hands fisted in front of her.

“Touch her, and I’ll kill you,” Carissa said through gritted teeth.

Sully wisely halted and glared at her. “Try that again, and I will kill her.”

Carissa marched right up to the man and rapped him in the chest. “Do that, and I’ll see that Cregan doesn’t get what he wants.”

“What do you mean?”

Carissa snatched the dirk so fast from the scabbard at Sully’s waist that he had no time to respond, especially when she placed the blade at her throat.

“Do Addie harm in any way, and you’ll not have me to hand over to Cregan.”

Sully quickly tried to take the dirk from her, but he could not budge her hand, and he paled.

Carissa was wise in the ways of men like him and knew he did not pale simply because she threatened to take her life. He paled because he feared something more than her threat.

“Tell him, Cregan,” she called out. “Tell him I will do it, and he will have failed you.”

“I knew you would grow to be your father’s daughter,” the deep voice boomed.

Carissa threw the dirk to the ground, the point sticking deep into the soil. Then she turned and looked upon the man she had not seen in some time.

He sat astride his stallion. He was sizeable in girth and height, with thick black hair braided at each side and falling past his shoulders. He was not a man of good features, with a nose that had been broken in several spots and scars that ran down one cheek and his neck. He had thick hands that she remembered recoiling from.

She had just turned fifteen, and he had run his hand up the sleeve of her dress in a way that had disturbed her, grinning in a way that had turned her stomach.

And his words that day, she had pushed from her mind. “One day, Carissa, you will be mine.”

“Let the woman be,” Cregan ordered.

Carissa leaned down and helped Addie to stand. Her chin was darkening from Sully’s blow.

Carissa turned to Cregan. “She stays with me.”

He laughed. “You don’t trust me.”

“Not the least,” she said bluntly, “though I also don’t believe you a fool. If you kill the mother of the laird of the clan Sinclare, they will hunt you until their dying day.”

“True enough,” he agreed, “which is why she will be released soon enough. After all, it is only you I want.”

“You can’t have me. I am promised to another.”

Cregan laughed again. “I think not. Your father promised you to me.”

“Then why didn’t you come for me sooner?”

“You were not easy to find,” he admitted. “It took the man who claimed to love you two years finally to track you down. I have no love for you, only the desire to mate with a woman born of Mordrac. And watching you handle my man, I can see that you are your father’s daughter.”

“I am not like my father,” Carissa argued.

“You are more like him than you know,” Cregan said. “Now it is time for us to leave.”

“You need Addie no more, let her go,” Carissa demanded.

“In time,” Cregan said. “And, while I admire your courage, do not think to dictate to me, for I will teach you your place fast enough.”

Carissa laughed in his face. “If you truly believe me Mordrac’s daughter, then you know that is not possible.”

“Mount,” Cregan shouted. “We leave now.”

Carissa helped Addie onto the horse.

“You won’t ride with her,” Cregan said.

She ignored him and mounted behind Addie.

Sully marched over to her and reached out to grab her. She kicked him hard in the chest with her booted foot and sent him sprawling to the ground.

“Have you learned nothing from dealing with her?” Cregan asked, shaking his head at the man.

Sully looked from Cregan to Carissa as if at a loss as to how to handle the situation.

“I ride with Addie,” Carissa said. “It will be no other way.”

“I could force—”

Carissa never let Cregan finish. “Do you truly wish to try?”

“As I’ve said.” Cregan smiled. “You are your father’s daughter.”

Ronan never saw anyone traverse the terrain with such familiarity as Piper. Though Evan was an excellent scout and tracker, Piper was beyond excellent. Evan agreed, and said so with evident pride in the woman he loved.

She stood only about four inches over five feet and had a thatch of wild red hair pinned haphazardly to the top of her head though several strands didn’t always remain secure, and she was slim and
wiry. And her face always had a smudge of dirt somewhere on it that Evan took delight in removing for her. They were a perfect pair.

He was a good four inches taller than she and his long, pale brown hair forever appeared unkempt, though his face bore no signs of dirt. His brown eyes lit with love every time he looked upon Piper, as hers did when she looked upon him.

Watching them made Ronan fear all the more for Carissa’s safety though he knew she was far more capable of taking care of herself than his mother. Not that his mother wouldn’t try, it was just that Carissa had more experience in so many ways.

She would certainly show her abductors not an ounce of fear, and she would do whatever it took to escape. He knew without a shred of doubt that she would protect his mother, even with her life, and that frightened him. Not that he wished to trade his mother’s life for Carissa’s. He wanted them both alive. It was just that Carissa took chances others would not and, if she did, she might forfeit her life in an attempt to free them.

“They found the trail, though it won’t be an easy one to follow,” Dykar advised, riding up beside him. “It seems that someone is good at covering their tracks.”

“But we will be able to follow it?” Ronan asked concerned.

“It’s a challenge that Piper doesn’t intend to lose,” Dykar said, shaking his head. “That woman knows the woods as if they birthed her.”

“Thank the lord for that,” Ronan said.

“I know you’re worried about Rissa, but she can take care of herself.”

“That’s what worries me,” Ronan admitted.

“Don’t let it,” Dykar said. “I have seen her extract herself from situations I thought impossible.”

“There’s always that one time…”

Dykar nodded. “That one time was you. No matter how hard she tried to free you, you kept coming back. And I believed that she hoped you would.”

“I don’t give up easily.”

“For her, I’m glad you didn’t,” Dykar said. “Rissa needs and deserves someone to truly love her, someone to finally free her of Mordrac.”

“I would have thought her freed once her father died, but now, knowing how he treated her, I understand what you mean.”

Septimus joined them. “We have a good trail, and Piper and Evan move ahead to keep us on the right one.”

“Then let’s not waste another moment,” Ronan said, and followed the two men.

Carissa knew that the farther away from her men and Sinclare land they traveled, the more difficult a rescue would be. She did believe that Cregan wouldn’t harm Addie. It made no sense for him to do that; after all, she was leverage in his game.

“Do you really think he’ll come for you?” Cregan asked, pulling his horse up alongside her. “Or will he come for his mother and surrender you for her?”

Addie laughed. “You don’t know my son. He will see us both released, or you will die.”

“Shut up, old woman,” he snapped.

Addie ignored him. “Then there’s Hagen to deal with. He’ll rip you limb from limb for taking me.”

It was Carissa’s turn to laugh. “She’s right about that. I’ve seen what happens when he’s enraged, which isn’t often, but when it does.” She shook her head. “Not a pretty sight.”

“A worthy opponent, since my rage is much like your father’s, Carissa,” Cregan said. “And I’m sure you recall his.”

How could she forget it? Mordrac had been an uncontrollable madman when enraged. No one could speak to him, let alone speak reason to him. One warrior who’d tried lost his life quickly enough. After that, no one spoke when Mordrac flew into a rage, and all scattered, none wanting to become a target of his fury.

She had learned to avoid him at those times, and if she couldn’t, she had learned how to agree with him unless it meant someone’s life, then she spoke up—often suffering the consequences.

“Your silence and obvious deep thought tells me you recall,” Cregan said.

“A madman is often hard to forget,” Carissa said.

“Your father was no madman,” Cregan said. “He was a brave and powerful warrior.”

“He was a fool,” Carissa argued, “as are you for taking on the Sinclares.”

“She’s right about that,” Addie agreed.

“I have no intentions of taking on the Sinclares,” Cregan said. “You were promised to me, documents were signed, and I have the right to take you.”

“I have given myself to another,” Carissa said, hoping once he heard that he would not want her any longer, but he simply smiled.

“It matters not,” he said with a shrug. “What I want is children born of you and me, children of Mordrac’s bloodline. And I will have it.” He rode off.

Once he rode away, Addie whispered, “Do you think he would let you go if he discovered you weren’t Mordrac’s daughter?”

Ronan was hunched on the ground, studying the tracks and shaking his head. “How many men and horses do you think were here?”

“Several horses and three more men,” Piper said.

“I don’t know how we failed to detect their presence,” Dykar said, to show his annoyance.

“You couldn’t have,” Piper said. “We had to have seen them but for some reason thought them no threat, and—” She paused and turned to glare wide-eyed at Evan.

“Monks,” he said before she could. “We spotted three monks, and they seemed no threat.” He looked to Dykar. “I told you about them.”

Dykar chastised himself. “I am a fool.”

“It matters not,” Ronan said. “What concerns me more is that Cregan may very well have split his men up purposely.”

“Which means they’ll all come together, and we do not know how many we will face,” Dykar said.

“Leave a man here,” Ronan ordered, “and make certain he advises Cavan of this matter. We continue on.”

“That’s a good idea,” Carissa whispered. “If I can get Cregan to believe I am not truly Mordrac’s daughter, he would not want me any longer. But it would have to be a believable tale.”

“Why don’t you tell him that your father captured your mother in a raid on a village?” Addie asked.

“It has been whispered that is what happened though my father saw it differently. Strange as it may seem, I think that my father believed my mother loved him. But somewhere he must have realized the truth, for he often commented that hate endured while love never lasted.”

“Love endures,” Addie said softly. “I can attest to that, as I am sure you can.”

“I have loved Ronan from the moment I laid eyes on him, and never has my love for him weakened or faded throughout this whole ordeal.”

“Such an enduring love usually brings suffering and a good touch to add to the story. Convince Cregan that your mother had such a love for your true father,” Addie said.

“I have often wondered if my mother loved my father.”

“According to the story, she loved your true father beyond all reason, as you do Ronan,” Addie said, adding to the tale. “She and your father knew each other since they were young and were inseparable. Where you found one, you would find another, and it seemed only natural that the two would be together forever.”

“What a lovely story,” Carissa said. “And it truly sounds believable.”

“That it does,” Addie said, “but I must finish it. You must use names to make it more convincing. Cormack, your father, and Shona, your mother, wed, and they were happy. She got with child after a short time and they both looked forward to the birth and hoped for many more.”

“Now comes the suffering,” Carissa said sadly.

“Yes, it does,” Addie agreed. “Their village was ravaged by barbarians.”

“My father,” Carissa whispered.

“No, my dear, remember that your father is Cormack. Mordrac is nothing more than the barbarian who brought suffering upon your family. He killed your true father and took your mother for his own.”

“And she never let Mordrac know she was with child,” Carissa said, adding her own touch to the tale.

“That’s right,” Addie said. “She wanted to secure her unborn child’s future, and by making the mighty Mordrac believe the child his, she had that chance.”

“But she couldn’t live without my true father’s love, and she perished from a broken heart,” Carissa said, ending the sad tale.

“Would you not do the same?” Addie asked.

Carissa thought on it, knowing that her situation mimicked that of the tale. Only she knew the circumstances of the child left behind, for she had lived through them. And she could very well find herself in the same situation. Soon she would know if she carried Ronan’s child and that, if no escape was made or rescue accomplished, then she would live the tale herself.

“While my love for Ronan is beyond measure,” Carissa said, “I could not nor would I leave my child with Cregan, for that would be a fate more cruel than its death.”

“Perhaps, then,” Addie said softly, “you are stronger than your mother.”

“Circumstances made me strong.”

“Then, in a sad way, your mother gave you the strength to survive,” Addie said.

“I would have preferred that my mother remained with me.”

“Loving someone from the time you were very young and having him die in your arms is a tragedy that not only breaks the heart but tortures the soul.”

Carissa closed her eyes for a moment, imagining how she would feel if Ronan lay in her arms dying, but then he would have died if she had not struggled to keep him alive and safe from her father. She could not imagine the excruciating pain and
helplessness she would suffer if Ronan lay dying in her arms with nothing she could do to save him.