Highlander’s Venomous Snake: A Scottish Medieval Historical Romance (Beasts Of The Highlands Book 7)

by Alisa Adams

  “Ye are fast,” Ceena said with approval as she put her dagger away and grinned at him.

  “Ceena!” another sister called out. She was definitely the oldest. “Ina!” The oldest quickly added before Ina could open her mouth again.

  “Aye, Godet,” Ceena and Ina answered in unison with a grin at each other.

  Caden grinned and tossed her dagger back to her. He looked behind them at the massive Clydesdales. “Do you ride those draft horses?” he asked.

  “Aye,” Ceena answered. “Why?” she asked as she put the dagger he had tossed to her back in her corset belt.

  The silver trimming around the waist in the leather was actually the hilts of numerous small daggers, Caden realized.

  “Have ye never seen a big horse being ridden before?” Ceena challenged him with another grin.

  Caden let out a short laugh and nodded. He pointed off to the side of the beach where Iris was now placidly grazing the grass. “I ride Iris,” he said and watched as they looked over at the giant draft mule.

  Ceena’s brows raised as she glanced at the mule and back to Caden. “Another draft with a flower name like our drafts!” she said. “But she’s a mule!” she said excitedly.

  There came a chorus of squeals from Ina, Godet, Ceena, and Flori. They ran over to Iris and were all over the mule, cooing over her and petting her, lifting her huge feet and touching her big, long ears. Iris was loving all the attention.

  Caden turned to Cat with a question on his lips.

  “They love horses, and now mules too, apparently,” Cat whispered. “Dinnae tell me brother Wolf the mule’s name. His horse is named Hell,” she said with a grin as she pointed to the scarred, mottled brown warhorse. “Steil’s horse is named Ben Nevis.” She turned to look over her shoulder at a tall, black Frisian stallion. “He is named after the mountain. Beiste’s horse is the white stallion Victorious, over there.” She nodded to a magnificent, powerful-looking stallion. “Gordon’s horse is Glashtin, the mythical water horse of children’s nightmares—”

  Caden held his hand up to stop her. He grunted and arched his brow.

  “I understand,” he said with a short laugh. “And I also will not be telling the Ross sisters that I did not name her Iris, or that she is actually Aggie’s,” he said as he looked over at Iris and the Ross sisters. “The one named Ceena may try to kill me again.”

  Keir and Kaithria came down the beach just then. Kaithria called out happily to Cat. She was holding the hand of another woman who was followed by a dark auburn-haired, tall warrior.

  “Neely!” Cat exclaimed as she ran to hug her friend.

  Neely laughed and ran to Cat and hugged her tightly. “Did I hear ye got married today?” she asked excitedly.

  “Aye, I did Neely! I am so happy. This is Caden Zahrah Keith!” she said as she tugged Caden over to meet another friend of hers.

  Neely looked at him and then smiled and gave him a big hug as well. “Welcome to the family. It is a rather large, extended family if you havenae already realized that.” She grabbed the hand of the man behind her. “This is me husband, Greysteil McKinnon. Steil, this is Caden Zahrah Keith, Kaithria’s brother and Cat’s new husband!” Neely explained. “If ever ye need whiskey let us know. He has a distillery called Highlanders Park, north of Caithness. ’Tis the very best, well, except for perhaps Gordon MacDonell’s!”

  Steil reached out and clasped Caden’s arm. “I heard there is trouble,” he said without bothering with small pleasantries.

  Wolf walked over with his wife, Swan, by his side. The large wolfhound stayed close on her other side.

  The Ross sisters and Lady Gillis joined them.

  Caden raised his eyebrows as behind the Ross sisters came four huge Highlanders to add to the ones already in front of him. Wolf, Kier, and Steil looked like men that had led and won many battles. The men behind the Ross sisters looked like they had conquered anyone that came their way. All four wore black and navy kilts over their thick, muscular legs.

  Wolf jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Caden Zarah Keith, meet Laird Gordon MacDonell, leader of the Black Watch Army and husband to Lady Godet Ross of the Ross sisters.”

  He smiled and looked over at a tall, muscular warrior with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “The pretty boy next to him is the most lethal assassin in all the Highlands—Lord Tristan MacDonell. The frightening woman who put her dagger in yer chin is his wife, Ceena. She is Laird of Fionnagal Castle.”

  Wolf watched for a shocked reaction from Caden to Ceena being a laird but was disappointed when he got none. Caden simply grinned and nodded at her. Wolf grunted and continued on.

  “The silent, blond giant is Lord Louglin Buchanan MacDonell of Castle Bardowie. His wife is Lady Flori Ross, the only Ross sister that probably will not kill ye.”

  Wolf grinned wryly and jerked his thumb over his other shoulder.

  “That big Highlander with all the wild hair is Beiste. Also known as the Beast. Dinnae let his looks fool ye. He is George Beisteson De Beaumont, Duke of Beaumont and Brandon and husband to the tiny one named Lady Ina; another Ross sister ye’ve already met. The one who likes to tell the long, dramatic tales.” He smiled. “My seven children adore her stories.”

  Wolf gave Caden a look that said, yes I have seven children. He puffed up his chest and brought the red-haired woman to his side. He wrapped his arm tightly around her waist.

  “This is Lady Swan MacKay, my wife and mother to my children. That giant wolf dog beside her is Beans. Be careful what ye feed him or ye will see why he got his name. And dinnae mind me wife if she starts singing. She does that when she gets nervous or frightened, but she can fight as well as any of them!” he said proudly.

  Swan leaned up and kissed him on the cheek and the rough-looking warrior actually blushed.

  Caden looked at them all. He saw Aunt Hexy and Aunt Agnes smiling proudly.

  “Keir and Wolf got your messages and sent for the others,” Agnes said to Caden as Aunt Hexy nodded and winked.

  Caden swallowed as Cat wrapped an arm around his waist and stared up at him.

  “These are my family,” she whispered up to him. “Family is not always those that are born under the same roof as you, Caden. Friends become family, and these are now your family too,” she said quietly.

  Caden closed his eyes. He opened them and looked at the group of people standing in front of him. The rain had finally stopped and he could see them clearly now. He swallowed tightly. He had only known a brutal father. The love and loyalty between these people was something he had never experienced. Their acceptance of him humbled him, and filled him at the same time.

  “I am humbled that you all came to help us,” Caden said in a low, hoarse voice.

  Wolf spoke up. “Kaithria and Gillis told us that a Sinclair has been poisoning my sister. Tell us the details. Did I hear someone say you dove off a cliff into the sea on a draft mule?”

  16

  Caden was filling Wolf in on all that had happened at Sanside. Steil McKinnon, Keir Maxwell Gunn, Gordon MacDonell, his brother Tristan MacDonell, Beiste DeBeaumont, and Loughlin Buchanan MacDonell were all gathered around. Their arms were across their chests or planted on their hips as they listened silently. A grunt, a snarl, or growl could be heard now and then as Caden told them what had happened with the poisoning and with the Sinclairs.

  Neely happened to look over at the group of men gathered to listen to Caden.

  “Have ye ever seen such a magnificent sight?” Neely said to no one in particular.

  The ladies all stopped what they were doing and turned to see that she was looking at the group of their men. All standing together looking formidable. All in kilts with muscular legs, tall leather boots, sleeves rolled up to show brawny arms. Wide shoulders that strained at their shirts. Some had long hair, some had short. Some had beards, some did not.

  The women sighed as one.

  Ceena smiled. “Ladies, I believe we are the luckiest women alive
,” she said softly, but her eyes were on her husband, Tristan, who was standing there twirling a knife through his fingers as he listened to Caden.

  Godet sighed. “Aye. Those are the finest men in all the Highlands.” She looked at her husband, Gordon, with a soft, satisfied smile.

  “All of Scotland,” Ina added dreamily. “The most handsome, the largest muscles, the tallest,” she sighed as she studied her Beiste.

  “The smartest, most patient, and the best father,” Swan added with a sigh as she looked at Wolf, who was listening intently to Caden with his legs braced and his strong arms across his chest.

  “The kindest, most considerate,” Kaithria said quietly in her husky voice as she stilled and just stared at Keir. They had not been married that long and each time she saw him, lightning went through her body.

  “Kind and patient, and definitely the most handsome and the strongest,” Cat whispered with a blush as she watched Caden.

  “Oh my, ladies,” Flori said. “Ye have me staring at Loughlin. If he sees me looking at him like this he’ll come and carry me away to…” She blushed brightly. “Well, you know!”

  The girls all laughed, which caught the men’s attention. They turned as one to look at their wives. Some smiled, some grinned wickedly, a few arched their eyebrows or gave a crooked smile. Loughlin started to leave the group but Gordon caught him and dragged him back as the other men laughed in their deep voices.

  “Ladies, there is something to be said for going to university and getting educated,” Gillis said with an irritated huff of her breath. “I will be getting my veterinary license, you will see!”

  There was a chorus of encouragement and comments of how proud they all were of Gillis. But they inevitably turned back to look at their men.

  Caden had eyes only for his brand-new wife, Catriona, until Wolf knocked him on the shoulder to get his attention.

  Caden grunted and then shook his head to regain his thoughts. He gave Catriona one last wicked grin before he turned back to the men.

  He told Wolf that the man called Richerd Redhed, the apparent healer as well as the leader of the Sinclairs, was actually Richerd Sinclair. He told them that Richerd had poisoned Cat before at MacKay Castle, while Wolf had been away fighting for the king. This made Wolf lose his normally calm, stony exterior. He became enraged and it took his friend Keir to calm him down.

  While Keir was calming Wolf down, Steil and Gordon happened to look back toward the horse paddocks at a noise. The women were all rushing to mount their horses.

  Gordon turned back to the other men. “The women have their weapons and are getting their horses ready,” he said calmly.

  Tristan looked over his shoulder. Ceena had two swords strapped over her back with their handles over each shoulder so she could grab left-handed or right-handed. She was getting her draft mare, Whins, ready.

  Steil saw Neely getting her beloved horse Mentieth saddled. Steil watched as the horse pulled on his wife’s light brown hair. Steil shook his head. The horse was aptly nicknamed Teeth. The horse was always clamping its teeth on something. He was very grateful for Teeth, for the horse had saved his wife’s life and his as well. He had to admit he was jealous of his wife’s affections for Teeth. She doted on the old black warhorse. Steil grinned. Neely had her favorite club strapped over her back. She used to use a golf club as her only weapon, but Steil had taken up the new game of golf and had taken possession of her club. Now she favored a more heavy piece of wood that she had found that had a large burl knot on one end.

  Loughlin grunted. “They see something,” he said quietly.

  Caden spun to look at the women. “They see the Sinclairs coming,” he said quickly as he started to rush towards Catriona. She had a large claymore sword, the one that she had threatened to kill him with. She was on Eckle and Gillis was on Old Inch with her targe shield in one hand.

  Before he could get to Cat he felt hands on his arms.

  “Wait, Caden Zahrah,” Wolf said quietly as he held him and looked past the women towards the tree line.

  “How many?” Tristan asked calmly as he too studied the woods while holding Caden’s arm.

  “I count ten, perhaps eleven, plus the redhead at their lead,” Keir said nonchalantly as he rubbed his thumb over the dimple in his chin. His eyes went back to scanning the woods after a quick glance at Kaithria. She was sitting on Dummernech.

  “Mounted?” Gordon asked curtly.

  “Nay, no horses. All are on foot,” Steil replied as he watched the woods.

  “Weapons?” Beiste asked as his eyes went to his small wife on Myrtle, her giant draft horse.

  Tristan’s eyes narrowed on the group of men in the tree line. “Hard to tell but at least three have pistols that I can see.”

  Wolf studied the men who stood in the shadows of the woods. “I see swords. No bows.”

  Loughlin grunted. “No bows, aye.”

  Wolf looked up at the quiet, giant blond man beside him. He was not used to looking up at any man. This man was huge. “I am glad you agree with me,” he said.

  Gordon looked over at Wolf and laughed. Loughlin had an impression on all he met.

  Loughlin looked down at Wolf without any expression. He nodded his head. “You are the Wolf. Your word is truth.”

  Wolf cocked his head at him. “You are correct.”

  Loughlin grunted. “I dinnae want my Flori facing archers.”

  This time it was Wolf who grunted in agreement. He looked over at the mother of his seven children. Swan was on her young Frisian mare Peigi. Peigi was dancing sideways, feeling her rider’s excitement...or her nerves. He could hear Swan singing softly and rapidly.

  He looked up at the tree line above the shore of the bay where they were. The men had started moving slowly out of the trees, advancing down the grassy hill.

  Suddenly Neely, Kaithria, and Cat joined in, singing along with Swan. The Ross sisters looked at the girls with a startled expression on their faces. Then they too started singing.

  “The Sinclairs! They are on the move,” Wolf growled.

  Caden started to run towards the women. But he was quickly blocked by the enormous Loughlin, as well as Gordon and Keir, who grabbed his arm.

  “Hold, my brother,” Keir said quietly.

  Wolf came up to him as he tried to pull his arm free from Keir. He put his hand on Caden’s shoulder.

  “The women are ready for what comes. Have faith in yer wife,” Wolf said in a calm voice.

  Caden wrestled free from Wolf and Keir. “Nay! She has been sick. She and that horse just dove off a cliff and swam through the sea. They are exhausted!” he said with rage in his deep voice.

  “Watch,” Gordon said in a low voice.

  “Twelve men against nine women?” Caden thundered with fear for Catriona in his heart.

  “They can manage twelve easily,” Wolf said confidently. “We are out of sight down here on the beach. So far the Sinclairs are unaware we are here, ready to help if needed. But if you interfere, you give us away and you will be telling yer new wife that you do not believe in her abilities,” Wolf said firmly. “My word is truth.”

  The other men grunted in agreement, but each man had a sharp eye on his wife.

  Caden turned back to the women. They were all mounted and had surrounded Cat on her horse. The giant Clydesdales dwarfed the black warhorses. But the black horses had their chests out and their necks arched high as they trotted impressively in place.

  Catriona kept trying to ride to the head, but each time she was cut off by one of the other women on their horse. They are indeed protecting her, Caden thought. He still did not like it.

  Gordon said gruffly to the men beside him, “The first thing they need to do is take out those men with the pistols.”

  “Aye,” Keir answered. “I know my Kaithria can do it. Or I trust Gillis can do it with her targe shield.”

  “True, she is terrifyingly fast with it,” Caden said in his low voice. “She could take a man’s head
off if she wanted to.” But his eyes were only on Catriona. She was at the back of the group, and not having it. Neither was Eckle. He was bouncing up and down off of his front hooves.

  “Ceena can use her daggers to take out the other two with pistols,” Tristan said as he watched his wife with pride.

  “So can Ina,” Beiste said firmly.

  They looked at each other and smiled. “They do not have a chance against our wives.” Beiste grinned as he stood there with his arms across his chest, watching.

  “Aye, it would be almost unfair if we helped. Those poor scunners are done for and they dinnae know it yet,” Keir said as he watched with interest. Kaithria had her Lochaber ax ready. He could hear her clear, beautiful voice as she sang along with the other women as they advanced towards the men.

  “Godet is taking the lead,” Gordon murmured as he watched his wife maneuver her giant Clydesdale stallion, Bluebell, to the front. She was saying something quietly to the other women that he could not hear.

  Tristan bunched his fists at his sides as he watched his wife with sharp eyes. “Ceena has three daggers ready to take out those pistols,” he said in a quiet growl.

  Beiste watched as his petite wife did the same. “Ina has hers ready as well. They will not miss between the two of them.”

  Keir stroked his chin. “Kaithria is talking to Godet. She will not want the women to start this. She will defend, but she will not instigate a fight.”

  Caden grunted. “Aye, we were taught by our mother, Zahrah, that we dinnae start a fight, we end it.”

  Wolf growled low in his throat. “Aye, we do not want a clan war with the Sinclairs. But they have to eliminate those pistols…” Wolf went and brought his horse, Hell, forward and jumped on his back. “If they fire even one bullet they are dead men!”

  “They willnae have the chance, MacKay,” Keir grunted calmly.

  The men all began to grumble as they got their horses ready.

  Gordon jumped up on his muscular warhorse Glashtin while Beiste mounted Victorious. Steil immediately lunged up onto Ben Nevis, who pranced in place. His long neck was arched like an angry black swan, ready to charge into battle.