Tess and the Highlander

by May McGoldrick

  Still, though, there was something in Colin’s look that caught Alexander’s attention. It was either his tumble into the sea or his time on the island, but something had changed Colin. Or perhaps someone, he realized.

  “I thought you were going below to change into a less ragged shirt.”

  “I went. I changed. I came back. But still you stand here looking like a beggar eyeing a free supper.”

  “Am I, brother?”

  “Aye. The drool on your chin gives you away.”

  “You’re probably right.” Alexander gave a small shrug. “But see for yourself. The sea is finally smooth. A fair wind fills the sails. The course is set and all is well. I even have the dubious good fortune of being able to return my wee brother to Benmore Castle in one piece. But on top of all that, I have the bonny face of a young woman to gaze on right here on the deck of my ship. Why should I want to move?”

  “To give her some rest from your lecherous looks! Can’t you see the poor creature is nervous about all of this?”

  “She looks quite well to m…”

  “Never mind how she looks!” Colin snapped. “I’m telling you that Tess is plenty nervous about people looking at her…particularly pox-ridden, bow-legged old sea rovers like you. And since stepping on board, she’s not had a minute’s rest from your bloody staring.”

  “I don’t know. She looks perfectly comfortable to me.” Alexander smiled. “And I’ll have you know, I am not pox-ridden. I’m as careful a man as a maid will find anywhere.”

  “I’m so relieved to hear it…you bloody goat,” Colin retorted.

  Alexander slapped his younger brother on the back. “You, on the other hand, appear totally shaken.” The ship’s master lowered his voice. “Now tell me, you aren’t already smitten by this lass, are you?”

  “I’m telling you nothing. But I will say I was the first person to find her there since the old caretakers’ deaths. Tess considers me…well, a friend.”

  “And I can certainly see that you have acted as a trusted friend should.”

  Colin was eyeing Alexander suspiciously, obviously unsure of whether the older brother was teasing him or not. Despite Colin’s roguish reputation with women, it was already clear to Alexander that his brother’s relationship with Tess was far different than any he’d been witness to before. There was a fierce protectiveness toward this young woman that was immediately obvious to everyone on board. Indeed, there had been no comments at all by the men regarding the days—and nights—that the two had spent alone on the Isle of May.

  Tess’s soft laughter at something that the ship’s mate had said reached the two brothers’ ears. Looking about him, Alexander realized that most of his men’s attention was focused on her. From Colin’s scowling face, it was obvious that he was seeing the same thing.

  “You cannot blame them. The lass really is quite pleasing to look at,” he said casually, wondering how long it would be before a brawl broke out. “And I’m thinking she doesn’t even realize what a bonny creature she is…which make her all the more special, to my thinking.”

  As the ship dove into an extraordinarily deep trough between a pair of large waves, a shudder could be felt in the ship. Alexander watched as the ship’s mate steadied the young woman by touching her elbow. The threat of murder on Colin’s face almost made the older brother laugh, but he suppressed his mirth.

  “Slow yourself down a wee bit,” the older brother suggested placidly. “You’ve still a long road to travel before the lass is safely settled with her clan or with her mother, as Lady Evelyn chooses. You cannot allow yourself to get so riled over something as simple as who’s looking at her, when there are far graver matters still ahead.”

  “Aye, and don’t I know it! Tess thinks that the only challenge facing her is in getting ready to meet her mother. What she doesn’t realize is that she should be more concerned with warding off the attentions of all the men that’ll surely be pursuing her. I mean, she is not even considering the fact that as the heir to Ravenie Castle, she now has wealth to go with her blasted looks! Why, that alone will be drawing the wolves to her.”

  “Wolves, you say?” Alexander tried to hide his amusement.

  “Aye…wolves,” Colin repeated. “She is inexperienced in the ways of men, Alex. She knows nothing of men’s lecherous nature. She could easily fall prey to the charms of any of them, and…”

  “Did she fall prey to yours?”

  Colin’s head snapped at Alexander’s direction. “Of course not. But I…I didn’t pursue…and I…” He bristled. “’Twas a matter of honor!”

  “Let me assure you,” the older brother said confidently. “If she managed to survive Colin Macpherson’s charm during your time together, then I should say she is well prepared to ward off any other wolves. In fact, with you acting as her guard dog, I shouldn’t think any of us would dare to come within a league of the lass.”

  CHAPTER 9

  Eleven years had passed, but Tess discovered that she hadn’t forgotten how to ride a horse.

  Nonetheless, the long hours they spent on horseback the day they left the ship were a bit much. Having left the great sailing vessel in the narrow bay at the mouth of the Spey River, the dozen riders had worked their way down the winding river valley. On both sides, but more and more to the south as they rode, the gray green mountains of the Highlands rose jaggedly above them. The air was clear and cold, but by late afternoon, Tess was beginning to wonder if she would ever be able to walk again.

  She knew it was her own fault that the Macpherson men had made so few stops. They asked often enough if she’d like to rest. Since she didn’t complain or say she wanted to, they obviously were ones to take her at her word. And so they pressed on.

  At one point, the valley—Speyside, Colin called it—stretched out like a long, broad trencher between round-topped gray mountains to the north and rising forestland of fragrant, red limbed pines to the south. The sparkling River Spey itself wound like a jeweled serpent along the wide floor of the valley. Tess’s breath caught in her chest at the beauty of the scene. Farms and pastures adorned the hills and many crofters came out of their cottages—children and dogs around them—shouting their welcome to the passing riders.

  As the sun kissed the western hills in its descent, Benmore Castle came into sight. At the crest of a hill, Colin touched her arm and pointed to the great castle perched atop a mound overlooking the river. Groves of tall pines rose on the north side of the edifice at some distance, and drawbridges crossed a number of ditches and moats that protectively encircled the high stone walls. To the left, a stone bridge spanned the river on seven arches. She gazed for a moment at the tidy village of wood and stone buildings that sat comfortably along to the south bank of the Spey.

  A few moments later they rode through the arched entry and into Benmore Castle. Tess slowed her horse and fell behind the others.

  Suddenly images rushed through her mind of another time. Another castle. Images of a child looking back from another arched entryway at night. Darts of flame shooting from windows. Men and women screaming and running in every direction. The girl crying and wanting to run back to the keep, but strong hands hold her back. Tess reined in her horse as she felt the grief rising in her chest.

  “Are you coming?”

  She blinked and saw Colin on his horse beside her. She looked down at his outstretched hand. She reached out and took it.

  “I…I was back in time. For a moment, it felt like ‘twas yesterday.” She let out a shaky breath. “The visions. The nightmares. I was in another castle. And ’twas nothing like this one. There is peace here. There, chaos reigned and…” She became flustered, embarrassed even to have made the comparison.

  “You are safe here, Tess.”

  “I know. I know. I am sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

  He shook his head. “After so many years away, ‘tis only natural that a certain smell, a look, a shadow should bring back memories of what you once knew.” His thumb softly caressed
the back of her hand. “’Twill get better, Tess. Trust your heart and your judgment. You have the strength to see this through.”

  Colin’s words of confidence touched her deeply. She took a deep breath and let his assurance flow over her. She trusted him as she had never trusted anyone.

  “How did you become so wise at so young an age?” she asked.

  “And is that all that you find interesting in me? My wisdom?”

  Tess smiled shyly at the suggestive gleam in his blue eyes. She didn’t try to fight the feelings that he brought out in her with a single word or a look or the mere touch of his hand. What was right and wrong was no longer muddled for her. She could no longer fight her attraction and her growing affection. She quickly realized, though, that there were others waiting for them. Blushing, she snatched her hand away and nudged her horse forward.

  As they rode into the courtyard, Tess paused at the movement and the colors of men and women scurrying about to their tasks. The close was ringed with buildings huddled beneath the curtain walls. All around her people bustled about, obviously happy and safe and content.

  Her gaze traveled upward. On the wall of a great building across the close, a large stone medallion displayed the Macpherson family crest. Her eyes were drawn to the lion at the top of the shield.

  She stole a glance at Colin riding beside her and couldn’t help but say her thoughts aloud. “I see the resemblance,” she whispered. “Blond, blue eyes, majestic, untamed, fierce...”

  “And hungry!” His low growl made Tess blush again as she quickly looked away.

  To calm herself, Tess surveyed the entire interior of the castle courtyard. With its three towers, Benmore Castle was far more impressive than she could have imagined.

  Colin was reading her face. “From the outside, it has the look of a fortress. But inside—you’ll see for yourself—Benmore has many comforts.”

  Tess heard the pride in Colin’s voice. She longed for that sense of belonging that had always been lacking in her own life.

  Sitting astride her horse, though—here in the heart of the Highlands—Tess promised herself that it would not be like that anymore. She would face the nightmares. She would discover her past, and she would belong.

  A group of people were gathered by a stone stairwell leading up to a large doorway. She saw Alexander already there, and a moment later Colin joined them, as well. A stunningly beautiful redheaded woman embraced him, and a tall, distinguished looking man with graying hair enveloped both Colin and the woman in his powerful arms.

  “It does not matter how old, or tall, or broad we become, our parents have no reserve in showing their affection.”

  “’Tis a privilege to witness it.” Tess looked down into the smiling face of the man who had spoken the words. He was standing beside her horse, ready to help her down.

  “I am James Macpherson, mistress. Younger than Alexander by two years and older than that whelp Colin by four, but smarter than both of them and able to whip the two of them together.” His smile was contagious.

  “I am Theresa Catherine Lindsay.” She had never said those words before, and the sound of them fell so strangely upon her own ears. It took great effort to say them without breaking into tears. She accepted the Highlander’s help and dismounted. “Thank you.”

  “And you prefer to be called Tess. I know.” He gently pulled her arm into the crook of his arm. “In fact, I don’t believe there is much that I haven’t been able to learn about you.”

  She tried to gauge the seriousness of his words. James was taller than his brothers and very different in his looks. The second son’s coloring was fairer than the other two. Even at this distance, Tess could see that he took after their mother. His long dark red hair, loosely tied, tumbled over his shoulders and down his back. His gray, piercing eyes sparkled with intelligence and wit.

  “And how is it that you know so much about me when I have just arrived this moment? Or perhaps I should ask why it is that you should bother yourself.”

  “Alexander sent word ahead.”

  “Of course.”

  “And we learned that Colin was, unfortunately, still alive.”

  Tess stared at him.

  “Aye. And though it might be too soon to tell you this—having just met—I fear I am duty bound to tell you what a mistake you made on the Isle of May in saving that pup’s life.”

  She withdrew her hand from the man’s arm and looked hard at him.

  “I wanted to know more about you. I wished to know your motivation for fishing him out of the sea. Now, from the wee bits and pieces that I was able to learn, I surmised that you are selfless and have great courage. I myself judge these to be heroic qualities, and that brings us to your mistake in not allowing Colin to drown. You see, Tess, if heroic is what you were after, then you should have tried to save something worthwhile…a motherless seal pup, or a seabird with a broken wing. Instead, you have succeeded in ruining our delicately laid plans.”

  “Your plans?” she managed to get out.

  He crossed his arms over his broad chest and gave her a curt nod. “Don’t you realize that Alexander actually had Colin thrown overboard? And what a disappointment ‘twas for all of us…”

  Tess stifled her gasp and jumped back as a body suddenly struck James in the shoulder. The huge man only moved aside a couple of steps, though, and Tess was shocked to see Colin standing where his brother had been, taking her hand and scowling over his shoulder at the grinning James.

  “My sincerest apologies for having left you alone with this chattering ape, Tess.” He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “I hope he hasn’t troubled you with his flapping tongue.”

  “Your timing, brother, is as bad as ever.” James appeared on her other side and managed to tuck her free hand into his arm. “Tess and I were just discussing the merits of drowning you versus throwing you from the tower.”

  Colin ignored his brother and spoke directly to Tess. “The problem with the jug head beside you is that he can never forgive me for being so much younger…and yet so much smarter and better looking.”

  “My problem with you is that…”

  “Will you two villains release this poor lass so she might be properly introduced to our parents?”

  They all turned to Alexander, who was scowling fiercely at his two younger brothers. Tess instantly became aware of the watchful eyes and curious glances of the circle of people around them. She freed her hands from both men’s arms.

  “I will make the introduction,” Colin asserted possessively, taking her hand again.

  As the two walked side by side, Tess felt a weight drag her down with every step. She wanted so badly to make a good impression on Colin’s parents. But all of her insecurities bubbled to the surface at once. She had already learned that Lady Fiona Macpherson was half sister to the late king himself. In her entire life, Tess would not meet anyone with nobler blood flowing in her veins. And she had already learned that the father, Alec Macpherson, was one of the most powerful of the great Highland lairds.

  Tess’s blood ran cold at the thought of how lacking she was in sophistication and charm. And how horrible she must look in the worn leather cloak that old Garth had left to her! She was just a plain and simple crofter who had lived most of her life on an isolated rock in the middle of the sea.

  By the time they had reached the stairway, Tess’s insides were as taut as knotted rawhide. Colin’s mother was standing quietly beside her husband, the long red hair loosely braided and cascading down her back in glorious waves. Her gray eyes had the same shade as her second son’s. The Macpherson laird was an older and more distinguished version of Alexander and Colin, but taller even than James.

  “Welcome to Benmore Castle, Tess.”

  The laird’s voice was deep and resonant. She extracted her arm from Colin’s and curtsied politely.

  “Thank you for having me here, m’lord…m’lady,” she whispered softly, her head bowed. “I am dreadfully sorry to inconvenience yo
u all in this way.”

  Lady Fiona reached out and took hold of Tess’s chin, gently raising her face and smiling cordially.

  “There is no need to apologize, child,” she said softly. “We are delighted to have you here. We were so eager to meet you.”

  Far or near, Lady Fiona was the most striking woman Tess had ever laid eyes on. And then, looking into her face, she saw the warmth in those gray eyes and knew that all would be well between them.

  “At last!” the laird said, drawing Tess’s attention. “Finally I get a chance to thank this water faerie properly for saving our son’s life!”

  “I did no such thing, m’lord. I mean, ’tis not like that I didn’t intend to save his life, but he was fine…well, without me. I just don’t deserve any gratitude….”

  “Nor blame either, I suppose?” At James’s comment from the behind, everyone broke out in laughter.

  “Smart woman, I’d say, not taking any responsibility for him.” Alexander’s comment drew another laugh from the men.

  “Don’t you pay any attention to them!” Lady Fiona scowled at the rowdy group around them.

  “I shan’t, m’lady. No amount of banter could hide the affection that exists between them.”

  Her comment drew howls of protest from the three men, but it obviously pleased the mother. Tess realized that sometime during this introduction, she had totally lost her nervousness.

  Lady Fiona wrapped an affectionate arm around Tess’s shoulder and turned her toward the door. “Why don’t you come in with me and let the men have your things brought in.”

  Tess couldn’t stop the blush from spreading on her face. “I am afraid I have nothing else. A woman doesn’t need a very large wardrobe when she lives alone on an island.”

  Her hostess didn’t seem bothered by this at all. “I understand completely, my dear. And I think I can be of some assistance to you with that.”