I can’t wait any longer. I chose to go with Duncun not only to save Lachlan and his men but because I thought it was my best chance to save my bairn. Waiting in this cave will surely kill us both.
She put the handle of her sgian dubh in her mouth and eased into the water, gingerly feeling around with her legs for any outcroppings of rocks she hadn’t spied as she entered. She waited through two sets of surges to get a feel for the waves’ strength. When the third outward surge began, she dove under the surface and kicked as hard as she could as she counted. Just before the movement shifted, she surfaced. She used her fingers to grip the rocks as best she could, but the strength of the rushing water pushed her back a couple of feet. She dove again as the tide sucked the water from the cave. She kicked even as the muscles in her legs rebelled against working in the freezing water.
You can’t give up. It’s not aboot you anymore. You have someone else to think aboot. Cairren reminded herself once again of the babe she suspected she carried. She would do anything she could to protect the life that might be growing within her womb.
It took Cairren four rounds of swimming with the current until she emerged from the mouth. She had to contend with the crashing waves and spray pushing her toward the jagged rocks. She found a rock she could wrap her legs around and clung to it, as she heaved and spat saltwater. She glanced around, trying to get her bearing. She could see where Duncan brought her down to the cave, but the high tide covered the pebbly beach. She wasn’t sure that even if she made it there that she could reach up to climb the rocks to the part of the path free of water. She considered turning her back to the waves and trying again to free her hands, but she knew the rope wouldn’t give now that it was wet. She would do better to save her energy.
Cairren looked across the cave’s mouth and tried to see if there was another path up the cliffside, but she couldn’t see anything. It would be hours before the tide went out, and she would freeze to death before then. She had no choice but to try to at least cling to the rocks along the shore where the beach had been, rather than remaining in the middle of the opening to the cave. She gripped her dirk between her teeth again and drew in a deep breath. She prayed she was strong enough not to be dragged back into the cave. She pushed away from the rocks, kicking and using her arms to pull her through the water. When her lungs couldn’t last any longer, she kicked to the surface. She’d traveled further than she expected, but the cliff still appeared elusive. She didn’t give herself time to think beyond drawing in another deep breath before diving under.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Padraig peered over the edge of the cliff at something dark floating in the water. He strained to see before it sank beneath the water. A few seconds later, it surfaced once again, closer to the shore. “By God, it’s Cairren!”
Padraig eased his way along the shale path as Cairren’s face came into focus. He knew when she spotted him because she kept her head above the surface despite the waves crashing into her. As she drew closer, he saw her mouth move, but the wind and waves drowned out the sound. He continued down the path with Lachlan, Henry, and Peter on his heels. When he reached the end of the trail before it disappeared under the water, he lay on his belly, waiting for Cairren to be close enough to lift her out of the water. She bobbed nearer until he heard her voice. Muffled, it was still the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.
“Padraig!” Cairren called. She kicked and used her arms under water to pull her along as she strained to keep her head above water. She’d considered rolling onto her back, but she wanted to see where she was going, not where she’d been. She wasn’t interested in cracking her head into the rocks. When she was where she thought the beach began, she tried to lower her legs and brush her feet against the ground. It was deeper than she expected, and her head dipped below the surface. She came up to the sound of Padraig’s panicked voice.
“Cairren!” Padraig screamed frantically. “Cairren!”
“I’m here! I thought it might be shallow enough to stand,” Cairren called back, but Padraig shook his head. “It won’t be. The tide makes it too deep. You’ll have to reach up to me. You might need to climb up the rocks until we can grab each other’s hand.”
“I can’t.” Cairren choked on a mouthful of water as she raised her hands in the air. “I can barely grip aught, let alone climb.”
Padraig couldn’t believe his eyes. His tiny wife had swum out of the cave and around the protruding cliff and rocks with her hands bound. He’d never been prouder than he was as he watched her continue to swim closer. He stood and pulled off his boots. He handed his sword to Lachlan before stripping off his plaid. “She’ll need it more than me.” Turning, he yelled out, “I’m coming down to get you, Cairren. I’ll get you out.”
“Nay! The surf is too rough, and I think there are rocks down here. You can’t jump.”
“Then I’ll ease my way in, but I’m coming to get you, Ren.”
Cairren smiled despite being half-frozen when she heard his pet name for her. Somehow it made things just a wee bit better. She drew as close to the rocks as she could and treaded water as Padraig eased his way into the surf before dropping the last couple of feet. He swam to her and pulled her into his arms.
“I’m going to kiss you breathless as soon as I get you on shore, Ren,” Padraig pledged.
“Aught if it will get me warm,” Cairren replied as her teeth chattered. With Padraig near her and rescue close by, she noticed the full force of the bitter cold.
“We’ll build a fire and get you warm. I promise. Climb onto my back and loop your arms over my head.”
Cairren followed his directions but giggled as his hands touched her bare calves then slid up her leg. “That tickles. But Padraig, I’m indecent. I cut my skirts short, so they wouldn’t suck me under. My legs are bare from knee down, and I have no shoes.”
“I wouldn’t care if you were naked if it means you’re safe. I’ll get you covered in my plaid sharpish.”
“Bah! I’d care if I was naked!”
Padraig marveled at Cairren, her sense of humor still plucky despite her condition. He looked up to the rocks as he reached them. “Get a fire going!”
“Padraig, you won’t be able to scale that with me on your back.” The cliff looked far higher above the water than it had at a distance. Even where Lachlan and the others stood waiting seemed too far.
“You’re my Ren. Just like the wee songbird. You’re naught more than a feather on my back. Hold on, little one.” Padraig found his first finger holds, his feet feeling for notches beneath the surface. When he was certain he could make his first move, he pushed with his legs, reaching for the next finger hold. He repeated the motion as Cairren clung to him. He knew she squeezed her eyes shut and tucked her head to not have to look. “We’re almost there, little one.”
They emerged from the water, and Cairren wanted to cry with relief. But when Padraig didn’t move, she opened her eyes. She looked around and then over Padraig’s head. She realized the problem immediately. There was nowhere within reach that Padraig’s fingers could grip.
“Hold my feet,” Lachlan instructed Peter and Henry as he laid on his belly. He hung Padraig’s plaid down the rock face. “Grab on, we’ll pull you up.”
Padraig grasped as high on the plaid as he could, twisting it around his wrist before grasping with the other hand. When Lachlan began pulling hand over hand, Padraig assisted the efforts by walking up the rocks. Cairren’s legs were locked around Padraig’s trim waist, her feet clasped together at the ankle. She did all that she could not to pull Padraig backwards. When they were within reach, Henry and Peter helped pull Cairren onto the path before tugging Padraig up.
“You’d do well to eat fewer meat pies,” Peter teased, but Padraig wasn’t listening. He’d already yanked his plaid from Lachlan and wrapped it around Cairren. Their mouths crashed together as relief and need swirled together, culminating in a searing kiss that left them breathless and clinging to one another. Padraig lifted C
airren into his arms and carried her to the fire the other men had already started. Padraig was relieved to see that the men had already hunted rabbits and were preparing them for the spit.
“Get the spare plaids from my pack,” Padraig instructed Henry. Padraig looked down at Cairren’s blue lips and the blue veins that showed in her eyelids. He needed to get her warm. When Henry handed him the two extra plaids, he carried Cairren among the horses and set her down. He spotted a knife in a nearby saddlebag and used it to cut the ties from Cairren’s wrists, upset by the rope burns on her skin. He whispered, trying to save her some embarrassment. “You need to take what’s left of your gown off, or you’ll freeze to death. I need to get you warm.”
“I need help. My fingers don’t want to do aught.” She turned her back to him, and he was tempted to slice through the laces, but he wasn’t sure if she would have to don the remnants of her gown again. He tugged them free and helped her ease the gown and her chemise off before he whipped off his leine. He swung two plaids around them and pulled her against his body.
“How’re you warm? How’s that even possible?” Cairren’s teeth chattered.
“I’m touching you. You heat my blood, little one.” Padraig kissed her again, his cock insistently pressing against their bellies. “What I wouldn’t give to be alone with you, Ren. I would worship every inch of you.”
“Just hold me for right now. I was so scared.”
“I’m sure you were, little one, but I have never been so proud of anyone. You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met.”
“Hardly. I’m not the one who’s ridden into battle.”
“But you have,” Padraig insisted. “Each time you stepped out of your chamber, our chamber, you were prepared to go into battle. I can’t imagine how you got out of the cave, but you did. You never cease to amaze me,” Padraig murmured the last sentence against her lips before they once more fused their mouths together. Holding the plaid fisted in one hand, Padraig used the other to explore Cairren’s body. Her hands roamed over his, leaving trails of fire wherever they touched. “They know I’m trying to get you warm, but can you stay quiet?”
Cairren nodded as she strained on her toes to reach Padraig’s mouth. He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around him once more. He slid into her sheath, and he struggled not to groan at how right it felt to bury himself inside his wife. His arm wrapped around her waist kept her pinned against his body as they moved together. When their pace didn’t satisfy either of them, he pulled the plaids so Cairren could grasp where the ends met. With both hands free, he grabbed her bottom and rocked into her. She laid her head on his shoulder, kissing his neck as he thrust over and over. When her release swept through her, she clenched her eyes and her jaw to keep from crying out. Padraig surged into her twice more before he stilled. They held one another, Cairren wrapped around him like a bear on a tree trunk. She never wanted to let him go, yet she knew she couldn’t stay with him. Coupling only reminded her that it wasn’t just her life she risked. She’d chosen what she thought was the safer option when she agreed to go with Duncan. She thought she was less likely to die from an arrow wound if she capitulated. She never imagined Duncan would try to drown her. She was more convinced than ever that her home could never be Foulis.
“Do you feel warmer?” Padraig grinned, and Cairren shot him a rueful smile. He continued to hold her as his hands rubbed more warmth into her. She was still chilled, but he was no longer fearful that she would succumb to hypothermia. When her lips no longer showed any hints of blue, they shuffled to his horse where he pulled out two spare leines. He helped her into one and couldn’t avoid laughing when the garment that hung to his knees trailed on the ground. “You look adorable,” Padraig chuckled.
“I look like a child playing dress up,” Cairren huffed, but she grinned.
“Come. Let’s get you by the fire and something to eat.”
“Do you have any whisky?” Cairren grinned even wider.
“Aye, you ken we do.” Padraig led Cairren out to the fire, the two plaids wrapped around her on top of the leine. Once she was settled with her fingers and toes pointed toward the blaze, Padraig pleated his plaid and put it back on. He came to sit beside her and passed her the whisky she asked for. The men hooted as she took a long draw and didn’t hiss or choke. She felt the warmth all the way to her feet and knew she’d had enough.
“Will we spend the night here?” Cairren whispered.
“Nay. Once you’ve eaten and are warm, we’ll return to Foulis.” Padraig watched Cairren’s reaction, but her eyes were guarded as she watched the rabbits roasting.
“Once I’ve eaten? You didn’t say we.”
“Aye. Both rabbits are for you. And before you protest and say you don’t need that much, yes, you did. You used much of your endurance in that icy water. You need your strength even if the ride isn’t that long.” Padraig saw she was still prepared to argue. “For me. Will you please do this for me?”
Cairren gazed into Padraig’s eyes and saw remorse and fear still shone in his deep brown eyes and the creases in his brow. He seemed to have aged in the few days they’d been apart. She felt guilty for the worry she’d caused, but she didn’t regret fleeing. She wasn’t eager to return to Foulis either.
“Must be we go back?” Cairren whispered. “I’m scared, Padraig. You can’t gainsay your father, and Duncan is obviously a danger to me. Did your father send Duncan after me?”
“I don’t know the answer to your second question, but we can go back. The clan council removed Father Mitchell and intends to send him back to the Mackintoshes. It disgusted them to discover what he’d done. The elders want you to return, and you have their vote of confidence. Many admitted, even Alistair who tried to elbow you on our wedding night, that they still see you as foreign, but it no longer scares them. They are willing to change. Those who you’ve tended appreciate your dedication. It was my mother and Father Mitchell, along with Myrna, who perpetuated the hatred. The clan didn’t dare speak against their lady and their priest. They followed where they were led. And I know I contributed to that, Ren. I’ve failed you time and again. Bluidy hell, I’ve said that time and again, but I want you to come home. The clan has pledged that it’s safe for you.”
Cairren wanted to believe Padraig. She wanted to make their marriage work because she believed she’d fallen in love with him, but she didn’t trust the Munros in the slightest, especially not after the future laird nearly drowned her. She looked at the ground and considered what she would say. She’d just coupled with Padraig, and the memory of their intimacy tempted her to give in, but as her stomach grumbled, she remembered that it was no longer just about her. She would buy herself some time.
“Very well. But I’m still scared, Padraig. Your father and Father Mitchell wanted to burn me alive. Your mother would have thrown the first spark. Your brother left me for dead. There’s no one left in your family who doesn’t want me gone.”
“I’m not leaving your side,” Padraig assured her.
“You can’t be tied to me day and night,” Cairren said as she shook her head.
“Let’s get through tonight, Ren, then we can make decisions.”
Cairren nodded, but she already knew what she would do. She felt like God smiled upon her when Padraig insisted that Lachlan and the Sutherland guards should accept Munro hospitality for the night. When Padraig slipped away for a moment of privacy, Lachlan approached Cairren.
“You still want to go to Stirling, don’t you? Probably even more than before.”
“I do. I don’t want to hurt Padraig. That was never my goal, but I can’t remain at Foulis. I know Padraig wants to hold out faith in his clan, but I have none.”
“My men and I will take you, but do you think Padraig will let you leave?”
“Aye, I do. Not without trying to convince me to stay, but I believe he wants what’s best for me. He has to know that remaining will never work.” Cairren watched the spot where she’d last seen Padraig. “I’l
l pack a satchel and be ready before dawn. I dislike it, but I may be sneaking out.”
“I figured as much. Do you want me to get him in his cups?”
At first Cairren shook her head; then she nodded, only to shake it once again as Lachlan chuckled. “Let me talk to him and see if I can reason with him. If he refuses, then helping him drown his sorrows might not be that bad.” Lachlan stepped away when Padraig appeared, smiling at Cairren as he went to check his horse.
“What was that aboot?” Cairren couldn’t miss the suspicion in Padraig’s voice.
“He just wanted to check on me. He was being kind.”
Padraig watched Lachlan over Cairren’s head. Something didn’t sit well with him, but he tried to convince himself that he was just being possessive of his beautiful wife. He reminded himself that he’d just reunited with her, and she’d given no indication that she wanted to be anywhere but with him. Once the fire was out, Padraig helped Cairren mount in front of him, and they rode for Foulis.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
When Cairren passed under the portcullis, she felt the same fear as she did the first time she entered the bailey. She looked around as people milled about and watched the riders dismount. She stayed close to Padraig’s side, and his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulder made her feel a little less anxious. She breathed easier when she noticed the stake and pyre no longer stood in the center of the bailey, and no one ran at her with a flaming torch. Cairren looked at the steps leading to the keep’s main doors. She recognized members of the clan council standing at some distance from Micheil and Mary. She didn’t see Duncan or Father Mitchell, and she had to admit relief when she didn’t see Myrna, who she half-expected to find waiting for Padraig. Padraig shared on the ride back that neither Duncan nor Myrna knew what Padraig discovered. Duncan hadn’t been in the bailey when Padraig argued with his parents and the priest. He’d still been with Myrna.
An Enemy at the Highland Court: An Enemies to Lovers Highlander Romance (The Highland Ladies Book 5) Page 27
