Highland Heart

by Ruth Ryan Langan

  With great tenderness, he touched a hand to her throat and felt the

  feeble pulse. Alive. She was alive He expelled a long, unsteady hiss

  of breath and drew her into his arms. At his touch she stirred. Her

  lids fluttered, then opened.

  Through the haze of pain she struggled to evade his hands.

  He gathered her close t his heart and whispered, "Nay, my lady. It is

  Jamie MacDonald. You are safe now."

  "The man..."

  "Lies dead."

  "You killed him?"

  "Nay, my lady. I could not reach you in time."

  "Then who... ?"

  "Wolf." As if from a distance she heard the heavy panting of the hound

  as it stood guard over the lifeless body of her attacker.

  From the direction of the stables, Justin MacLeod hurried forward

  carrying a torch. He stared in disbelief at the scene that greeted

  him.

  "My lord. What has happened here?"

  "It would seem we have an intruder on the island." Jamie's eyes

  glittered with smoldering hatred.

  "Do you recognize this man, Justin?"

  The boatman strode toward the body, then halted when Wolf growled, low

  and deep in his throat. Glancing at Jamie he whispered, "Do I dare to

  go closer, my lord?"

  "Aye." To the animal Jamie called, "Wolf."

  The hound dropped to the ground, all the while watching the man who

  approached. When Justin was close enough to see the body, he lifted

  the torch and stared for long minutes, then turned to Jamie.

  "I have never seen the man before, my lord. Do you think he followed

  me here?"

  "It would appear so. Or mayhap he knew of the queen's plans and has

  been waiting for an opportunity to attack. See to the body, Justin."

  "Aye, my lord. And the animal?"

  "He has comported himself admirably, Justin. He saved the lady's

  life.

  See that a good portion of game is left in a clearing for him each day.

  "

  "Aye, my lord." Justin smiled.

  "It will be done." With great tenderness Jamie lifted Lindsey in his

  arms and carded her to the castle. As he did, the hound watched from

  his position beside the body of the stranger. When the castle doors

  closed behind them, Wolf stood, then slowly walked away toward the safe

  cover of the forest.

  Inside the castle, Genevieve and Fergus Macnab cowered behind closed

  doors. The primitive shrieks that had awakened them had filled them

  with terror. Now, as Jamie approached carrying his burden, Fergus

  threw wide the doors to admit him.

  "My lord." Mistress Macnab's voice trembled.

  "What has happened?"

  "Lady Lindsey has been hurt. Bring hot water to bathe her wounds and

  clean linen to bind them."

  "Aye, my lord."

  As Jamie climbed the stairs, the two scrambled to pre pare the

  necessary items. A few minutes later, when they entered Lindsey's

  sleeping chamber, they found her lying in her bed, with Jamie kneeling

  beside her.

  "Shall I bathe her wounds, my lord?"

  "Nay." Jamie took the basin of water from Mistress Macnab's hands and

  bent to the task

  When the two continued to stand and watch, Jamie said abruptly, "Place

  the linens on the table mistress, and leave US."

  The old woman was about to protest when her husband placed a hand on

  her arm and shook his head. He had seen the look in Jamie MacDonald's

  eyes. It would not be wise to argue with him while he was consumed

  with such blazing passion.

  Without a word the two servants crept from the room.

  Jamie was not even aware that they had taken their leave. He was aware

  of. but one thing. Lindsey was alive. And if he had to tie her to

  her bed, he would keep her safe from further harm.

  Chapter Sixteen

  "Mistress Macnab just told me the news." With a look of concern the

  queen rushed into Lindsey's sleeping chamber, followed by her dour

  husband, who for once seemed as animated as his wife.

  "Has she awakened yet?"

  "Aye." In deference to his monarch, Jamie scrambled from the chair

  beside Lindsey's bed and got to his feet.

  "Sit, my friend." Mary came around the bed and touched a hand to his

  shoulder. Taking a long look at him she added, "You look more like the

  victim of an attack than the lass."

  At that Jamie managed to grin.

  "It is that bad?" "Aye."

  He ran a hand over the stubble on his chin. His eyes felt as if sand

  had been rubbed into them.

  "She put in a fearful night."

  "Does she know where she is?"

  "At times. At other times she fights her demons."

  "Mistress Macnab complains that you will not allow her to aid you."

  "She is needed elsewhere. Lindsey is my responsibility."

  Mary turned her gaze fully upon him. Her tone was so I low it seemed

  almost reverent.

  "So that is the way of it? I (i

  "Aye." He stared at the figure lying so still in the bed. A look of

  tenderness softened all his features.

  "And I had to nearly lose her before I would admit it."

  "I hope she is worthy of such feelings." The queen squeezed his hand

  before turning toward the door.

  "I will instruct Mistress Macnab to see that all your meals are brought

  to you here."

  "Thank you, Majesty."

  She gave him a wan smile.

  "Nay. I thank you, Jamie MacDonald. For restoring my faith in man."

  When the door closed behind Mary and Lord Darnley, Jamie sank

  gratefully into the chair. Within minutes he was dozing.

  Lindsey felt the bile rise up in her throat as the unknown terror

  seized her once more. She saw the hooded man, so tall, so menacing,

  moving toward her. In his hand was a sword. She stared in horrified

  fascination as the blade caught and reflected the light of the sconces

  that adorned the walls of the fortress.

  "You must not" -her voice was little more than a whisper "---do

  this."

  The man laughed, a cruel, chilling laugh, and strode closer.

  She did not scream, for he had already, warned her that no servants

  would come to her defense. They were his servants, after all, and he

  was her father's avowed enemy.

  "I will not have to kill Douglas Gordon," came the man's booming

  voice.

  "The knowledge of what I have done to his beloved little las will be

  revenge enough. Such knowledge will eat at his soul until he loses the

  will to live. And I will have won the sweetest victory of all. I will

  have destroyed the noble Douglas Gordon. Without his leader ship, his

  fertile lands will be mine. And his people will be my slaves. Now,

  lass, come here to me."

  Lindsey continued to stare at the glittering blade, her young mind in

  turmoil. If she allowed this monster to do what he threatened, his

  words would be prophetic. It would surely break her father's heart.

  What would it be like to die? She was too young to even imagine such a

  thing. But this she knew, despite her youth, despite her innocence.

  She must choose death over dishonor. Her father's bitterest enemy,

&nb
sp; Neville Sinclair, must not be allowed to sully her.

  "I have been patient long enough," he said through gritted teeth.

  "Come here, child."

  "Nay."

  Lindsey turned and began to run from him. But there was nowhere to

  run, nowhere to hide. The doors to his chamber were barred. In a

  state of panic she ran to the balcony, then skidded to an abrupt

  halt.

  Trapped. She was trapped. She turned. Neville Sinclair stood barring

  her way. The only escape now was death.

  Without hesitation she climbed onto the wide ledge that ringed the

  balcony. For as far as the eye could see, there were the green,

  rolling hills of Sinclai land. Directly below the balcony was a

  courtyard where several horses were tethered. It was such a long way

  down.

  Out of the corner of her eye Lindsey saw the man racing across the

  balcony toward her. She inched her way to the very edge of the

  ledge.

  There would be no second chance. If he caught her, he was strong

  enough to drag her back.

  She was suddenly seized with a feeling of peace. She : had chosen the

  right path. She was certain of it.

  Without a word she leaned forward and felt herself falling through

  space. Above her the man's voice was a cry of rage at the child who

  had denied him his chance for vengeance. Below her the courtyard

  loomed, the animals shifting nervously as she fell.

  She awoke to the sound of a voice weeping. Her voice. She was bathed

  in sweat. Strong arms cradled her against a solid wall of chest. For

  long minutes she clung to the gentle giant who held and comforted

  her.

  Safe. Though she knew not why, she felt safe with Jamie MacDonald.

  Slowly the fear drained from her. Jamie could feel her gradually relax

  against him as the tension was released.

  "It was all a terrible dream," she said aloud, her voice trembling.

  Jamie had heard too much to be fooled. The terrors she had relived in

  her mind had been too real.

  "Have you had this dream often, my lady?"

  "Aye. For many years."

  "Do you wish to talk about it?"

  She shivered and he drew her closer and pressed his lips to her

  temple.

  "How much did I reveal?"

  "Enough." He chose his words carefully.

  "Enough to know that you were a very brave lass."

  He felt the shudders that racked her.

  "I was but a child. Still, the fear of that time lingers. And so many

  things seem to cause the memory to flood my mind." "I think you must

  exorcise this horror from your memory. Perhaps, by talking about it,

  the bad dreams will end."

  Lindsey wrapped her arms around him, holding on as if she would fall.

  With her lips against his throat she whispered, "I have never spoken of

  it."

  "Not even to your family?"

  "Only once to my father and mother. We madea pact to never speak of it

  again. My mother warned me that my father could not bear the pain' of

  that awful time."

  She grew silent and clung to him.

  Jamie realized it was up to him to open the floodgates, else the moment

  would pass and she would lock her fears away again.

  "I have surmised most of it, Lindsey. You were abducted by your

  father's enemy."

  "Aye. Neville Sinclair."

  She shivered again as she mentioned his name, and Jamie heard the way

  her voice shook.

  "He carried me off to his castle and took me to his chambers. There he

  told me what he intended to do to me."

  "How old were you?"

  "Eight years," she said softly.

  "Not old enough to understand everything, but old enough to know that

  his intentions were evil."

  She began to cry, softly now, as the memories returned.

  "But you thwarted him."

  "Aye. I chose to jump to my death rather than submit." He gathered

  her closer.

  "And you thwarted even death."

  "Aye." He could hear the tears in her voice.

  "My father and his clan arrived in time to see me leap from the

  balcony. Father was certain I would die. He said his heart stopped.

  But though I suffered painful injuries, I lived."

  "That is why you sometimes limp."

  She nodded and wiped the tears, but they started afresh.

  "I shattered my leg. It mended, but imperfectly. Each time I limped,

  I would see the pain in my father's eyes, and so I had to learn to walk

  in such a way that my father would not suffer." Now Jamie understood

  why Douglas Gordon kept his daughter so close.

  And he understood Lindsey's determination to return to her

  overprotective father, despite the dangers and difficulties of such an

  undertaking.

  "My father's suffering was greater than mine," she said simply, "for I

  was young, and my wounds healed quickly.

  "But the wounds in my father's heart have never healed."

  "You taught yourself to walk without a limp in order to spare your

  father any further suffering."

  "Aye. It was not easy, but it was necessary. It required great

  discipline."

  "What an amazing woman you are."

  Lindsey pushed herself away to stare at him. Tears still filled her

  eyes.

  "I am a coward. Did you not see? I still fight this man in my dreams.

  And I still weep like a child whenever I am reminded of that time."

  "Aye, my fiery little Lindsey. You do indeed fight your demons. But

  at least you fight; you do not surrender to the fear. And as for your

  weeping..." He lifted her face and touched his thumbs to the corners

  of her eyes.

  "It is not only children who cry, my lady. If anything should happen

  to you, I would be racked with tears."

  He brushed his lips over each of her eyelids. It was the sweetest of

  kisses, and she felt her heart leap to her throat.

  This rough, terrifying giant, known throughout her land as heartless,

  caused her to feel things no other man ever had. Or would.

  "Now," he whispered against her temple, "you must rest and heal your

  mind as well as your body."

  "You will not leave me?"

  "Nay, my lady. You will never again be alone."

  He pressed her down against the pillows and drew the linens snugly

  around her. She caught his hand and pressed a kiss to it, and he felt

  the flare of heat.

  "You will lie here beside me, my lord?"

  "Nay, my lady." He thought of the desire he felt each time he touched

  her. It would not be at. all safe to lie beside her.

  "I will remain here in your chambers and see that you are not alone."

  "The dream will come again. I know it. And I am so weary of the

  fight. Please, my lord. Lie beside me." How could he refuse?

  "Aye, my lady."

  He drew her into the circle of his arms and closed his eyes. If indeed

  there was a heaven, he had already found it.

  Lindsey awoke with a start. As her lids lifted she could make out the

  image of a haggard, unshaven Jamie beside her. They were lying in each

  other's arms, in a most intimate embrace.

  Feeling suddenly ashamed, she struggled to
push herself free of his

  grasp. His arms tightened around her.

  "Are you awake?" she whispered.

  "Nay," came his whispered reply.

  "I must be dreaming. Else how can you explain how we happen to be

  sleeping together?"

  Heat stained her cheeks.

  "Where am I, my lord? Where have you taken me?"

  "To your sleeping chamber." Seeing the cloud of con fusion still in

  her eyes he added with a smile, "In Loch- leven, my lady."

  "Aye. Lochleven." Then the terror returned. She sat up, pushing a

  tangle of hair from her eyes.

  "The man with the sword..."

  "Is dead, my lady." Jamie sat up beside her.

  "You killed him?"

  "Nay. It was Wolf who came to your rescue first."

  "Wolf." Lindsey struggled to remember.

  "The sound. It was like a scream, but yet it was like nothing I had

  ever heard."

  "I was screaming," Jamie explained.

  "Screaming to distract the stranger. But the sound of Wolf's howl may

  have drowned out any other sound."

  "Who was the man?"

  Jamie shook his head.

  "No one seems to know. Can you tell me what he revealed to you?"

  Lindsey thought a moment.

  "He said it was a shame I had chosen that night to ride."

  "So you were not his intended victim?"

  "Nay. I just happened to cross his path."

  "Did he say anything else?"

  Lindsey struggled to recall everything that had been said. At length

  she shook her head.

  "I wish I could recall any thing of value. But I cannot."

  "It matters not, my lady. The most important thing of all is that you

  are safe."

  "Thanks to you." For the first time she noticed that he was

  shirtless.

  His naked torso rippled with muscles. She found herself staring at the

  mat of hair that covered his chest and tapered to the waist of his

  breeches.

  "And Wolf." Seeing the direction of her gaze, his voice warmed.

  "Do not forget Wolf."

  "Aye." She felt herself blushing and tore her gaze away. But as she

  lifted her head she found herself staring at his lips. How close they

  were. How inviting.

  "I shall have to see that Wolf is well rewarded for his bravery."

  Jamie wondered if she had any idea how tempting she looked in the

  delicately embroidered gown that Mistress Macnab had provided. Though

  it covered her modestly, he was well aware of the perfect body beneath

  the pristine covering.

  "Justin MacLeod assures me that the hound eats better than the

  queen."

  "He has seen him?"

  "Aye. I ordered him to take fresh game to the clearing near the

  loch."

  "When I am stronger I will take the food myself. And Wolf will eat

  from my hands."

  Jamie laughed.

  "You think, because he saved your life, he will now be your pet?"

  "It is not a pet I want. It is a friend who will answer my call when I

  need him and sit by my side when I am lonely."

  He brustied a lock of hair from her cheek. His hand lingered over the

  softness of her skin. She saw the way his eyes darkened as he stared

  hungrily at her lips.

  "I think what you ascribe to Wolf should be the task of a lover, my

  lady."

  She knew that he was going to kiss her. And she knew that if he did,

  she Would be lost in the wonder of his kisses, She decided that it was

  time to test her strength. The strength she needed to resist all the

  strange new feelings that swamped her each time Jamie looked at her