His Highland Surprise (The Clan Sinclair Book 1)

by Celeste Barclay

  Ceit nodded.

  “Be careful. I canna lose ye when I’ve just found ye. I canna leave if ye arenae able to put up a fair fight. Take ma short sword.” She reached for her belt, but Tavish’s hand stopped her.

  “I would be reassured more kenning ye keep it. I am just going to scout.” He turned Whisky around. “Watch the opposite direction from where I go. If ye see aught at all, ride.”

  She pressed one blade to his hand and challenged him to refuse her. Tavish relented. Ceit nodded and scanned the horizon. Tavish crept forward to a rock that blocked him from anyone who might look in his direction. Whisky would be hard to spot thanks to where they stopped. He edged around the boulder as he tried to catch the sound of the other horse again. The sound echoed, he realized, and might have come from a different direction than it seemed. Tavish drifted until he saw the horse laying on its side. Its reins were tangled around its fetlocks. The horse jerked, trying to free itself, when it caught Tavish’s scent. He inched his way towards the desperate animal. Before he attempted to free the spooked gelding, he looked around to see where his owner might have ended up. In the valley beside their hill, a man’s body lay in an unnatural position with blood pooling around the top of his head.

  The man must have struck his head during his fall. That means there can only be four of them left.

  Tavish kept his hands out, palms up, as he approached the agitated horse. He let the animal sniff his hands and ran a soothing one from his forelock to his muzzle. When the horse did not nip or pull away, Tavish watched its face as he ran his hands around to disengage the reins from its legs. He took a few minutes because he did not trust the animal yet. Once the reins loosened, the horse clamored to its feet with no prompting or help from Tavish. It nodded its giant head and hooked its muzzle over Tavish’s shoulder as if to hug him. Tavish rubbed its neck and embraced the animal.

  Ye’re a right softy, arenae ye. Ye look fierce when yer eyes are rolling aboot, but ye’re naught more than an overgrown colt. Will ye let me check ye over?

  Tavish slid his hands along each of the horse’s legs and then over its flanks. When he found nothing wrong with the gelding, he went back to its head and picked up the reins. He stepped forward but was not sure if the horse would follow. He did not have to coerce the animal to go with him. They returned to Ceit who gave him a questioning look. Tavish shook his head as he mounted.

  “I didna see aught in any direction. Is it safe to continue back down? There can only be four men now.”

  Tavish nodded as he too kept an eye sweeping across all directions. They traveled for only a few minutes before there were voices and moans. They reined in but did not have to wait long for the words to carry to them.

  “Dougal already fell off his bluidy horse and cracked his skull. Now Peter’s bluidy well frozen solid. Dinna tell me the chit is worth dying for on some God forsaken pile of rocks. Ye dinna pay me enough for this. I should be tupping a wench right as we speak, but instead, I’m in the middle of bluidy nowhere with nay hint of whether the lass is even still among these wee mountains.”

  “And I amnae paying ye to speak. If ye would like to collect on any of it, ye’ll shut yer gob and move out. I amnae any more thrilled to be out here another moment, but we are, so we may as well keep looking for the bitch.”

  Ceit and Tavish overheard more grumbling and the creak of saddle leather. They waited a few moments before following parallel and a safe distance back.

  “I dinna see a bow with either of them.” Her mouth barely moved as the words passed through them.

  The horses seemed to understand the gravity of the situation and how precarious their safety was. They tread lightly and made little noise that would carry ahead of them. They remained upwind of their former pursuers and kept as much distance as possible while still knowing where the three men were. They traveled downhill for another half an hour before Ceit pulled Whisky to a stop. Tavish looked over at her, and she shook her head. She sensed something was not right. She had little time to work it out or warn Tavish before two men charged their mounts towards them. They were in a relatively open space, but not anywhere ideal to fight a battle or for Tavish to protect Ceit. They each brandished the dirks they had, but both realized their attempts at defense would likely be futile against swords. Tavish maneuvered his newly found horse between Ceit and the approaching men. He would do what he could to wait until they were close enough that a long sword would do them little good, and his short sword and dirk might be effective. He was relieved when he realized that his position would require the attackers to come forward single file if they hoped to overcome Tavish. The first man was close to striking distance when Tavish saw an opening. He was willing to give up one of his knives if it meant he stopped the man from coming any closer to Ceit. He pulled back his arm and flicked his wrist hard, sending the dagger into the man’s throat. Only seconds later another dagger wedged itself within a hair’s breadth of his. He could not afford to look back but nodded his head. He trusted Ceit would see his recognition. The second man was upon them as his horse nipped at Tavish’s new mount. Tavish turned perpendicular and pulled his feet loose from the stirrups. When the mercenary was close enough, Tavish leaned towards the man’s sword arm to force the man not to strike with the longer weapon in such close quarters. Tavish launched himself at the man and used the man’s oncoming momentum to force them both to the ground. The mercenary’s sword clattered out of reach. Ceit scrambled from her horse and ran for the sword as Tavish fought to bring his short sword down to the man’s throat. He bent the man’s limb back as he slashed his blade across the assailant’s throat. Blood gurgled from the man’s mouth. Tavish looked up and saw Ceit holding a sword that was far too long and heavy for her. He pulled her into his embrace and pried her fingers from the hilt, letting it drop to the ground.

  “Dinna look. Let us go.”

  Ceit only nodded, but her arms would not cooperate. They remained fastened around Tavish who surveyed the area for the third man, but no one appeared.

  “Wheesht, lass. It all came right. Let’s make our way to the castle. We can be done with this sorry business and on our way home before the sun sets tomorrow eve.”

  “I canna seem to let go. Tav, I need to hold ye for just a moment longer. I’m nae ready yet.”

  They needed to be away before the weather changed for the worse or more unknown enemies showed up, but he would not rush his wife’s need for solace. He shared in her relief that they were both safe, and the imminent threat no longer existed. The tears streamed from her eyes.

  “I canna overcome a horrible premonition that has no reasoning. I’ve seen ye fight, and I ken ye’re more than able to defend yerself. Defend me. But I canna get past the crushing weight that ye will be taken from me.”

  Her tears turned to sobs as she clung to him. There had been much that happened during the past two days, and she had shown little fear or even upset, but Tavish understood the totality of the situation caught up with her again. She may have defended herself more than once, even killing when needed, but she was not a warrior. She had not grown into an adult knowing her duty was to protect others through force. Watching men die had been disturbing for Tavish. He was violently ill after his first five skirmishes, so ill he feared he would disappoint his father and never become a warrior. He led her back to the horses and lifted her onto the saddle, so her legs hung to one side. He tried to block her view as he retrieved and cleaned the knives. He tied the spare horse’s reins to the rear rigging dee to give the animals room to walk with ease. Once he was ready, he mounted behind her and settled her in his lap. He tucked her head below his chin and enshrouded them in his plaid. He realized now that while riding apart eased the burden on Whisky, it left Ceit far too unprotected against the elements. He hunched his shoulders to cocoon her.

  “Dinna consider me weak. I amnae usually such a sieve.”

  “I have considered ye to be beautiful, to be an angry hornet, and to be intelligent, but I havena
e ever considered ye weak.”

  “I canna seem to control ma emotions when it comes to ye. I’m either irritated with ye, overcome with lust, or beside maself with worry. Ye bring out the worst in me.” She sniffled and tried to laugh but sounded more like she was choking.

  “Och, well then it’s a right good thing ye bring out the best in me. We balance each other.”

  Ceit nodded her head but did not loosen her grip.

  “How long until we return to the castle?”

  “Most of the rest of the day. I dinna want us out in the elements again, and I dinna have any coins for an inn. The best we might find is a hay loft, but I would rather have ye soaking in a warm bath then tucked in our bed.”

  “Our bed? I like that notion. What is yer chamber like at home?”

  “Our chamber is a bit sparse. I dinna spend much time in it except to sleep and bathe. Most of ma time is either in the lists or the Great Hall. There is a bed, an armoire that has naught in it so ready for ye, a few chests, and a chair with a small table for shaving. I have two windows which only ma parents’ chamber has too. Ma brothers’ and sister’s chambers only have one window. I was the favorite, ye ken.”

  Ceit laughed. When she shook her head, it seemed more like she nuzzled his chest. Tavish leaned his cheek across her crown.

  “Ceity,” It was the first time he used that name outside of making love. “I want ye to ken that there has never been another woman in ma chamber unless I am gone, and it’s a maid tidying up. The last woman in there, really, was Hagatha, and I recollect I was six summers when she stopped giving me a bath.”

  His confession came across as intimate as when they made love, and she liked the sound of the pet name.

  “Thank ye for telling me. I am sure I would have wondered, especially when I see yer bed. It makes me more confident that I will share a bed with only ye and nae the ghosts of women past.”

  “That is why the men of the laird’s family dinna bring women who arenae their wives to their chambers. It is a place reserved for only a wife and the sacred bond a mon exchanges with her.”

  “Do ye suppose yer family will like me?”

  “Och, the moment ye give me one of yer tongue lashes, they will all fall in love with ye. I told ye once before, if ma brothers werenae all besotted with their own wives, I would worry they would snatch ye. I’ve fought ma brothers over many things, but never a woman. I would hate to have to thrash one or all of them.”

  Ceit chuckled again and relaxed in his arms.

  “I would have ye meet ma family one day. Ma father isnae like either John Comyn. He does his best to serve what is left of our people. In many ways, he’s an earl in title only. There is little to govern, but he is a fair mon and a well-respected warrior. Ma sisters and brother are younger than I am, but I was vera close to them growing up. I suppose like ye and yer brothers and Mairghread. Ma mama hasnae always had vera good health, so I became chatelaine fairly young. She would advise me as she was able, and she always made time for me. I miss her wisdom every day.”

  Ceit leaned back to look up at Tavish, concern lowering her brow.

  “Does it bother ye when I speak of ma mama like that? I didna think before I spoke.”

  “Haud yer wheesht. I like hearing aboot yer family. I am relieved to ken ye have people who cared for ye and looked after ye. Ye were sorely mistreated during the few moons ye spent with the court, so it eases ma mind to ken it has nae always been like this. Ceity, I dinna begrudge ye a good relationship with yer mother. I would sneak into ma parents’ chamber when she was poorly and climb onto the bed next to her. I was already training in the lists by then, but she would wrap me in her arms and listen as I told her aboot ma day, or what one of ma siblings did to irritate me, or how I got back at them. And I ken I wasna the only one to do that. We each credited ourselves as sneaky and Mama’s favorite to spend such special time with her. I have the best of memories of ma mama, and I learned over the years to keep the sad ones from the end locked away.”

  “Tavish, I was serious when I promised nae to take unnecessary risks. I understand now why ye are so protective of me, and I must admit that I’ve come to like it. I like kenning I dinna have to fight every battle alone or even enter the fight. Ye give me a sense of security in a way that only a mon offers a woman. I would do aught to make ma arms be like the home that yers are.”

  “Ye already have, mo sheillean beag.”

  They rode in silence the rest of the way through the hills and across the meadow. The rest of the day stretched out before them with brief conversations and long periods of companionable silence. They stopped several times to water the horses and to ease their need for one another. Tavish was aware of the time ticking away and the daylight spent in afternoon delight, but neither of them was willing to rush. They savored each time their bodies came together. Tavish worried Ceit would be too sore from being on the horse as well as being new to love making, but she was persistent in reassuring him the only thing that would be sore would be his bollocks if he did not make love to her.

  The sun hung low in the sky when the roofs of Sterling’s buildings came into view. Tavish nudged the horses into a gallop when the city gate became visible. They were almost across the glen that bordered the town when riders raced towards them. They wore breeks and doublets, so Tavish intuited they were not a welcoming party. He pulled Ceit astride and gave her the reins while he reached back to untie the other horse. He threw the reins over its head and turned back to take the reins. Once again, they were fleeing for their lives, and yet their destination was within reach. Tavish pushed Whisky as hard as he dared, but the band of mercenaries were creeping closer and outnumbered them ten to one. It looked like a small army compared to the pair of them. Tavish searched for anywhere to make a defensive stand when a war whoop he recognized as that of the Sutherlands bellowed from a hoard of riders. He watched as his uncle and his men along with several other plaids poured out of the city walls. It did not take long for Hamish and the men to meet Tavish and fan out behind them. The mercenaries approached, but once they realized there was no possible way to defeat the three score men who had their swords and targes drawn, they beat a hasty retreat.

  Tavish slowed Whisky to a stop and waited for his uncle and the other lairds to join them.

  “Lady Cathryn,” Hamish nodded to her but barked at Tavish, “What the hell happened to ye? How did ye get so separated from the rest of us. I thought ye would meet us soon after we departed Closeburn.”

  “Five of them followed us, and when our paths crossed, they chased us into the hills. It was too dark to look for ye, so we had to make camp for the night. We were fortunate and found a small cave. We left this morning. We kenned two died before we got vera far, and then two more died along the way. I suppose one of them must have alerted the larger group.”

  “And what of ye, lass? How do ye fair?”

  “Quite well, thank ye.”

  “Well?” Hamish looked between Ceit and Tavish.

  “Aye. Tavish took good care of me, and I am no worse for wear.”

  Tavish growled when several men snickered. He stood in his stirrups and swept a glare at the crowd of warriors.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Naught,” he bit out.

  “Tav?”

  Tavish looked down at her and shook his head.

  “They took what ye said with a double meaning,” he leaned close to her ear, “as in I wore ye out fucking ye.”

  Ceit did not even flinch at his message or his words. She turned to Hamish and spoke with aplomb.

  “I would have ma husband take me to our chamber to tend to him.”

  Tavish was unable to see her saucy smile, but the men did and hooted with mirth. He tried to lean around her to see her face, but she studiously kept it turned away.

  “Wife,” he rumbled.

  “Husband?”

  “I adore ye.”

  “I ken,” she looked over her shoulder and bussed his lips. “I a
dore ye too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ceit and Tavish rode through the castle gates with a full war band as their escorts. Both were quiet as they made their return because neither was sure what to expect. Uncertainty ran through them both when they considered the king’s reaction and then settling into married life.

  They entered the castle, and Lady Sutherland greeted them in the passageway that led to the private chambers. At last, Tavish had an opportunity to reintroduce Ceit properly as his wife.

  “Lady Cathryn, it delights us to have ye join our extended family. Ye shall be just the influence ma young nephew needs.” Hamish smiled smugly at Tavish.

  “Hamish, leave the lad be. He’s had a rough go of it, and I am sure he and his wife would like to retire and refresh themselves before being presented to the king. In other words, dinna be an ogre.”

  Amelia giggled like a lass when her husband leaned over and whispered in her ear. He dropped a kiss on her cheek before looking back at Tavish.

  “I would have a word with ye though, and Lady Cathryn, perhaps ye might tell ma wife aboot Isla.”

  Ceit looked between the men and saw Tavish’s mystified face. She decided it was only mildly better knowing he was not keeping something from her. The two men stepped away, and Ceit was left standing with Lady Sutherland. Neither woman had a chance to speak before the clacking of shoe heels on the hard flooring distracted them. There was a swish of skirts and a blur of color as someone launched themselves at Tavish. Taken off guard, Tavish staggered back as he caught the woman who wound her arms around his neck. His hands reached for the woman’s arms to unlock the binding appendages.

  “Oh, my love. How I worried when I was told what befell you. You must have been so relieved to return to the castle and more civilized people. I’ve missed you so. You did not see me before you disappeared. I was quite put out, but now I’ve been informed of the travesty you suffered, I forgive you.”

  “Lady Gordon, I am more than well. Thank you. In fact, I’m better than just well. I would have you--”