The Savage Highlander

by Heather McCollum

  “Lady Worthington,” she called, her face pale.

  Scarlet rushed toward her as one of the three Menzies men lifted Cici down. Scarlet recognized him as one of the older warriors who had left Finlay’s feast early in the night. She exhaled as she realized that none of them were the man involved in the scene she’d witnessed.

  Cici ran to her, squeezing Scarlet’s hands in her gloved ones. “I thought we were all going to die,” she said, her words rushed and loud. “Such yelling and cursing.”

  Scarlet looked to where Aiden dismounted his white horse. He strode to the Menzies, who unloaded Cici’s satchels. They spoke, though Scarlet couldn’t hear them over Cici’s continuing diatribe.

  “Finlay sent me and my maids flying above to gather what I could. He only gave me minutes to pack. Surely, I’ve left crucial things behind. What am I to do?” she wailed.

  “We will find you anything you are lacking,” Scarlet said, her gaze still on Aiden as he spoke with the older Menzies warrior. The man nodded and reached forward for Aiden to grasp his forearm as if they’d reached an agreement.

  “Threw me out,” Cici said. “My own brother threw me out and barred the door. Said the Campbells wanted me and the sheep.” Her hand pressed against her full bosom. “I feared for my innocence.” Her gaze slid over to Aiden. “But then I saw it was your man.”

  “Aiden Campbell is not my man,” Scarlet whispered.

  Cici’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, I figured from the way ye danced.”

  Scarlet turned to watch the Menzies ride back out while several Campbells rounded up the sheep. Kerrick yelled orders to the Campbells while Aiden sent one man to run down the road toward Killin. “Aiden went to Castle Menzies this morning?” Scarlet murmured.

  “He arrived just after dawn,” Cici said. “Edgar, my father’s old guard, yanked Finlay from his bed.”

  “What did Aiden do?” she asked, watching him stride toward them. He wore furs strapped over his legs under his kilt and a wool cloak that parted to show his bleached white tunic. His great sword hung in a scabbard strapped to his side. He looked like a warrior of legends, powerful and lethal, his mouth set in firm lines of anger. And this was hours later. How must he have looked to Finlay this dawn? Scarlet hoped that the arse-worm had pissed himself.

  Aiden stopped before them. “Chief Menzies sends his apologies,” Aiden said to Scarlet. “He sends the sheep at no cost to ye. He will pay the school for his sister’s boarding and education.”

  Scarlet’s mouth pinched into a tight circle as she glanced first at the bleating sheep and then Cici before moving back to Aiden’s hard stare. “What did you say to him?”

  Alana—her dogs running from around the side of the keep to chase after the sheep—Izzy, Molly, and even Cat had come out of the keep, drawing close. Aiden’s gaze flickered to them and Cici. “I would not bore ye with the details, but he sends his best wishes for a long life and great success for your school.”

  Scarlet looked at the small crowd of women. “Molly, you and Alana please take Lady Cici inside to warm herself and break her fast. We will find her a room.”

  “Yes, milady,” Molly said, stepping forward, Alana with her. “I have the next room ready for a student,” Molly said.

  Alana looped her arm through Cici’s and pulled her around. “Ye are in a safe, warm spot here at Finlarig,” Alana said. “I mean to say, the Highland Roses School.”

  The others followed them inside. Wind whipped about the bailey as Kerrick yelled at the unhelpful puppies, one of them barking at the peahens. “I’ve sent for others to get the roof thatching up on the corral by tonight,” Aiden said.

  “What did you say to Finlay?” Scarlet asked, stepping closer to him, as it was hard to hear over the barking, bleating, and yelling.

  Aiden breathed in deeply, releasing a puff of white with his exhale. He met her gaze. “’Tis not important.” He leaned forward, his eyes pinning her with a stare. Lips pulled back, he spoke mostly through his teeth. “What is important is that he will never touch ye again.”

  A chill ran down through Scarlet at the hint of death in Aiden’s features. She swallowed hard. “And the sheep and Cici?”

  “A suggestion that Finlay Menzies took immediately upon my offer,” Aiden said.

  “Your offer?”

  “Aye, to not lose his ballocks this morning. His father’s old council, Edgar Menzies, rather agreed with my bargain after I told him what his young laird had been about. Seems it was Edgar’s daughter who had come home in the wee hours of the morning the night of your attack.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “He’ll be taking a greater role in the leadership of the Menzies clan.”

  “You had no way of knowing that when you left during the dark to reach them,” Scarlet said, imagining the scene that likely unfolded at dawn. Anger flared up inside her, and she narrowed her eyes. “Alone, with only your fury and sword to protect you if he and his clan wanted a fight.”

  Aiden’s face relaxed, one of his eyebrows rising. “Lady Scarlet?”

  “What?” The single word came like a hard clap, but it didn’t even make him blink.

  “I had no idea,” he said, “that ye would worry over me.”

  She snorted, crossing her own arms. “I doubt that would have made you choose a different course of action.”

  “Ye are quite intelligent,” he said, dropping his arms to stride past her for the keep.

  She hurried behind him, tugging at her skirts so she could keep up. “You could have started a war, and I will not be the start of a war.”

  Aiden turned on his heel, and she pulled up short so as not to run into him on the steps. He bent slightly to meet her stare. “Finlay Menzies started a war the moment he misled ye through your bedchamber door, Scarlet. Nothing that comes of this is on ye.” He stood straight, turning back to finish climbing. “As it is, the little coward was only too happy to give you his sheep and his sister, not that it makes up for his actions.”

  “And we are not at war with the Menzies?” she asked as they strode through the entryway into the great hall.

  “The Menzies? No,” Aiden said, and nodded to Molly as she handed him a full tankard. He looked at Scarlet over the rim. “But Finlay Menzies knows that he won’t survive long if he dares to even glance your way.”

  Scarlet stared at Aiden. She was torn between gratefulness for his rage on her behalf and irritation because Aiden had risked so much when she’d been foolish to begin with.

  Cici chewed on a tart near the flame-filled hearth. “Oh, my brother will never go near Lady Worthington again,” she said, her gaze meeting Scarlet’s, a smile on her face. “Took him the rest of the night and the next day before he could walk upright after ye felled him.”

  “What did he do?” Cat asked, her eyes pinching as if she was formulating her own plans for revenge.

  Scarlet exhaled, hoping her cheeks wouldn’t turn red. “’Tis a story I’d rather not retell, but he was crass, and I thought I would be raped, so I used what I’d been taught in our self-defense class to knee him in the ballocks.”

  “Hard enough to make him fall?” Alana asked, her eyes wide.

  “Hard enough to make him puke the rest of the night,” Aiden said, taking one of the tarts himself. “’Tis something ye all should learn.”

  “I was fortunate to catch him by surprise, and he was drunk,” Scarlet said. She smoothed her hair to one side. “We will not always be fortunate, and we must prepare to defend ourselves if needed.” Scarlet looked to Cici. “I’m glad you’ve joined us. I’ve worried that you were left there.”

  Cici huffed loudly. “Finlay’s always been a lecherous beast, but he’s turned horrendous since Papa died, having his parties and drinking. I had to hide half the time I was home. ’Twas why I’d traveled to Inverness to visit with a cousin. I suppose it was good that he threw me out, though I was quite shocked.” She smiled sweetly at Aiden, dimples appearing in both of her full cheeks. “Aiden Campbell rescued me. He
is my hero.”

  The woman obviously felt some sweetness toward Aiden. Scarlet looked at him, suppressing the slight tightening of her stomach. Aiden’s brows were low over eyes that were a little too wide to show anger. It was more like panic, or the closest she’d ever see to panic in the fierce man’s eyes. The overly dramatic woman must not be his taste.

  Scarlet glanced at the entryway, where her two students, Fiona and Martha, were pulling off their capes. “We must adjourn to the library for our book lessons.” She turned her gaze to Aiden. “But before midday, Hero Aiden…” Aiden’s gaze snapped to her, his panicked look dissolving into severe irritation. “And Sir Kerrick will teach us all how to fell a villain with a kick to the ballocks.”

  She didn’t bother to hide her smile. “You and Kerrick may want to see if the blacksmith has any chain mail that you can wrap around yourselves.” Her gaze dipped slightly to the front of his kilt. “I wouldn’t want to make you vomit all day.”

  Cici stood out of her chair. “Kneeing ballocks? Lo. What type of school is The Highland Roses School, exactly?”

  Chapter Eight

  Her arse was the most perfect thing he’d ever seen. Aiden stood next to Kerrick in the school’s self-defense gymnasium, their arms crossed, legs braced. Aiden heard Kerrick inhale through his teeth as they watched Scarlet show Cici how the woolen trousers she wore allowed her to kick, knee, and touch her toes without the burden of skirts. It was the touching of her toes that stopped Aiden’s breath and made Kerrick cough into his fist.

  “A gentleman would avert his eyes,” Aiden murmured to Kerrick.

  “I don’t see ye looking away,” Kerrick said, frowning at him.

  “I’ve never been known as a gentleman,” Aiden said, stepping out from the wall.

  “And they keep your legs warm if you wear them under your skirts,” Scarlet said. “But the wool is so warm, you can go without the skirts.”

  “Lady Scarlet,” Kerrick said, coming up next to Aiden. “I don’t think your sister would approve of everyone wearing…” He threw his hand out toward her trousers. “’Tis indecent.”

  Scarlet’s hands came down on her hips as she turned toward Kerrick, her frown fierce. “I’ve noticed that you call me Lady Scarlet whenever you think I’m doing something wrong.”

  Kerrick’s brows lowered, and he glanced at Aiden, but Aiden just shrugged. “Ye do.”

  “And,” Scarlet continued, “you seemed to have no problem with Evelyn wearing hers while training. What has suddenly made you so straitlaced? Was Evelyn’s backside more acceptable than mine?” She threw her arm out to the other lasses. “Or theirs?”

  Nine sets of eyes turned on Kerrick, frowns all around. “I…” he began and stopped, his face red. Kerrick swallowed. “Your backside is quite acceptable, Scarlet,” he said. “Carry on.”

  She gave him a tight smile and turned back to the ladies. “Kirstin and Alana have volunteered to sew pairs for each of us.” Izzy raised her hand high in the air. “Yes, and Izzy volunteered, too,” Scarlet said with a genuine smile.

  “I think black wool will look more…acceptable,” Kirstin said, using Kerrick’s word.

  “Mo chreach,” Kerrick swore under his breath.

  Kirstin glanced at him and then back at Scarlet. “Less likely to see anything through a light coloring of wool.”

  Bloody hell. Did Scarlet own any light-colored trousers? Aiden certainly didn’t want anyone seeing through a pair of trousers she wore.

  “Black is best for hiding in the woods at night,” Cat said, nodding her approval.

  “And we will all have the same,” Kirstin continued.

  “We could embroider a rose on the waistband,” Alana said. “Make them pretty.”

  Scarlet nodded. “Excellent idea. We can each embroider our own as a lesson.” She glanced at Kerrick. “Even Lady Evelyn would approve of that. But if any of you feel uncomfortable wearing the trousers, even if it is just inside for training, you can continue to wear your proper skirts. Though, do consider wearing them underneath to stay warm this winter.”

  “I might need several pairs,” Cat said, apparently planning to wear them more often than in the school. She’d been coming to the self-defense classes regularly now. Perhaps she was sleeping in Izzy’s room and had brought her animals.

  Cici laughed lightly, shaking her head. “I will try them, but all this,” she moved her hands around her full hips, “might be just too much woman for even our proper instructors to handle.”

  Scarlet smiled, her gaze flashing to Aiden. He kept his face neutral, and she turned back to her students. “Very well. We will work on the trousers to help our three seamstresses get started, and later this week, we will embroider them. But today Aiden and Kerrick will be teaching another lesson in throwing our attackers off balance with the goal of thrusting our knees into their ballocks.”

  Aiden paired up the students with Kerrick opposite Cici, her wide eyes gazing up at him as he wrapped his arms around from behind. Aiden walked along the row. “Just simulate the punches and kicks on each other, unless you’re paired with one of us. At some point I want ye all to have a chance to feel what it’s like to actually punch or kick someone. Without that, ye will hesitate in a real situation.”

  Cici flashed Kerrick a smile, her dimples tilted up toward him. “I would not want to hurt ye.”

  “We are both wearing chain mail under our kilts,” Aiden said and walked close to Kirstin and Scarlet. “Scarlet, show us what ye did to get away from Finlay.”

  She nodded once, then pretended to stomp her heel onto Kirstin’s toes. “Watch, everyone,” Aiden said. “She places her hands on his arm, ready to push away as soon as she delivers the stomp, turns, and shoots her knee up. She braces herself for the knee up by grasping the man’s shoulders.” He nodded at Scarlet as she performed her move and looked down the line. “Now the rest of you try it.”

  “’Tis difficult to knee up under heavy skirts,” Cici said.

  Cat snorted slightly. “A reason I wear very light skirts that I can tie. Easier to climb up into trees if needed.”

  “I pulled my skirt up and to the side with one hand while I grasped his shoulder with the other,” Scarlet said.

  “Make certain to use your thigh muscle to thrust upward,” Aiden said, pointing to Scarlet’s raised leg. Och, but she had magnificent legs. Long and powerful, and the trousers stretched snuggly along them. He cleared his throat and looked away, frowning at Kerrick, who seemed fascinated with her legs as well. “Our thighs are strong and often forgotten in battle. A good warrior remembers to use her strengths.”

  “Her?” Fiona asked. “Are we to become those Amazon warriors, then?” She giggled. “I thought Cat was teasing.”

  “Aye,” Martha chimed in. “Why must we become warriors?” She looked at Aiden as if he were the one to dictate the class curriculum. He gestured to Scarlet.

  Scarlet gave a nod. “Good question, Martha.” She stood with her legs braced, arms crossed over the small white shirt she wore. She already looked like a warrior, a bonny one with a long dark braid lying over her shoulder. “Because every single man we encounter could attack us, and we, as women of the Highland Roses School, will not allow him to win.”

  “Every man?” Kerrick asked, brows drawn. “Not sure I agree with that.”

  Scarlet looked down her nose at him. “You’re not a woman.”

  Kerrick looked to Aiden for help. Aiden let one eyebrow rise. “She said ‘could attack,’ and she’s correct.” Aiden’s jaw tightened with anger as he thought of Scarlet having to defend herself, not only against Finlay, but apparently against a much bigger foe. “There are plenty of bastards in the world who would attack a weaker person. Women are at a terrible disadvantage, and if she has no one to protect her, she needs to learn to protect herself.”

  Scarlet stared at him, the edges of her lips curving slightly up, yet she kept the rest of her face firm. Slowly she turned back to Martha. “As a student here, you will l
earn the basics, but only you can decide if you want to be fully equipped to save yourself if it is needed.”

  Cat stepped forward. “Izzy and I will learn everything we can. We have no one left to protect us.”

  Alana nodded, determination touching her features. “I want to be a warrior, too. I won’t allow anyone to throw me back into a burning castle,” she said, referring to the horror she’d faced months ago before the school started.

  “Well, I certainly don’t have a man with strength and integrity left to watch out for me,” Cici said, her hands landing on her hips. She nodded to Aiden. “So be sure to don your chain mail, as I’ll be kicking for real.”

  “Aye,” Kirstin called, her fists clenched. “I won’t be made to feel helpless and afraid.”

  Martha nodded, as did Fiona. “We will be the Highland Rose Warriors,” she said.

  “Highland Rose Warriors,” Scarlet said with seriousness, as if she was trying out the name. She smiled, but her eyes were hard as she looked at Aiden. “Villains best watch out for our thorns.”

  …

  “Pointed and sharp,” Scarlet said, nodding to the long, twisted steel hair stick that Craig examined. The ill-tempered old warrior with a shock of unkempt white hair was the blacksmith for Killin. “It should be sculpted in a twist to be at least six inches long, preferably eight, with a knife-like point on the end. The pommel should be smooth so someone wielding it won’t harm themselves. Perhaps with something that looks like a rose.”

  Craig stared at her for several heartbeats, but she didn’t blink. “Ye are wanting a dagger then, not a hairpin,” Craig said, holding the twisted stick up in the air to squint at it.

  “Call it what you will,” Scarlet said. “But each lady at the Highland Roses School will use one to secure her coiled hair. I, therefore, will call it a hair stick or hair spike.”