Highlander's Revenge (Highlanders 0f The McCall Clan Book 3)

by Barbara Bard

  “That was my Da, but ye dae him honor by remembering him. I can only hope that I live up tae his example,” Alastar said. “I come here with grave news. War is brewing. Lord Flynn is determined tae see an end tae us.”

  “That fool,” Blair said, clenching his fist. “We beat his forces once, dinnae he know we can dae it again?!”

  “That was his son. This is his father. The same man who led the English forces in the last war. He seeks vengeance for his son, and he wishes tae see his daughter return,” he said, turning his eyes towards Catherine.

  A hand shot to her mouth. Then she composed herself.

  “If I can avert this war then I must return home,” she said. “I feared this was coming.” Declan began to protest, but before it could go any further Alastar spoke up again.

  “I dinnae think that would help. He's out for blood, and he will nae stop until he gets his fill.” He turned back to Blair. “I came tae ye tae warn ye, sae that ye should summon ye forces tae fight him. He is on the march as we speak. We came as quickly as we could.”

  Blair leaned over as Drew whispered something in his ear. Blair nodded, and then leaned forward to address Alastar.

  “I think we should have some words. Women, will ye mind leaving us? Ye should show Rebecca where she can stay,” Blair said, his gaze fixed on Alastar.

  Chapter 28

  Rebecca found being in this Highland kingdom brought forth a mixture of emotions. The castle was foreboding, the hall noisy. The Highlanders themselves were glaring and brooding, at least outside. She had remained quiet while addressing the McCalls as she found the prospect of being in this place daunting, although she was glad to see a friendly face in Catherine again. In truth, she was glad that she was dismissed with the other women as she wasn't sure how comfortable she should feel. There was still a sense of danger from the Highlanders. While she felt safe around Alastar, years of hearing how dangerous Highlanders were had taken its toll on her, so she welcomed the company of the English girls.

  They left with tittering laughter.

  “I don't know how you can let him speak to you like that,” Catherine said. Rosemary waved a hand in the air.

  “You know Blair, some habits die hard. At least he asked us this time rather than demanding,” Rosemary said.

  “I'm Sarah,” Sarah said, introducing herself and the others properly to Rebecca, who felt as though she was intruding on this group.

  “Is this another one who has fallen under the spell of a Highlander?” Rosemary asked.

  Rebecca blushed.

  “Don't feel a need to be ashamed. We have all left our native land to come here and be with them,” Sarah said. “What made you leave England?”

  “I fear that was my fault. I must apologize to you Rebecca. I did not mean to place you in such a precarious position. I wish I could have done more to help you, but I needed to get Declan away before he was killed, and I could not stay,” Catherine said.

  “I understand, and I do not blame you for any of this. But it was difficult after you left. Your father was furious with you and Declan. He questioned us all to see if we had heard anything, and then he grew even more angry when he learned that Alastar had escaped. He declared war on the Highlanders and was not going to rest until he brought them to justice,” Rebecca said.

  “My father has a very strong sense of what is right and wrong. I do pity him. For all his evil he is still my father, and I wish I could make him see sense,” Catherine said.

  Hearing her words, Rebecca wondered if she should tell Catherine the entire truth about what had happened with Athelred but decided that ultimately Catherine should not know that side of her father.

  “At least you will be able to raise your son honorably,” Sarah said, placing a hand on Catherine's shoulder.

  “Son?!” Rebecca exclaimed with delight. She looked at Catherine, who was beaming, and now Rebecca saw how she glowed.

  “It is true. Declan. I learned recently that we are with child. It makes the prospect of war even more frightening, and yet I find that I cannot blame my father for this. If it were not for him or my brother, I would never have met Declan.”

  “It is intriguing how we have all been linked together by this man, your family,” Rosemary said, and proceeded to tell the story of how she and the others arrived here. Rebecca knew most of the details, but it was good to hear it again. “In many ways I bear the responsibility for you all being here, and for starting this entire chain of events. If I had simply married the younger Lord Flynn none of this would have happened.”

  “You shouldn't have put yourself through that misery for the sake of the rest of us. Nobody could have foreseen what happened. We each made our choices, and it was our choices that led us here,” Sarah said. Catherine nodded firmly. Rosemary seemed a little calmer after that.

  “Tell me of your life in the Highlands,” Rebecca asked, for this is what she was most anxious to hear.

  The other girls glanced at each other, and at first Rebecca thought she had said something wrong.

  “It was more difficult for some of us to adjust than others, but it is rewarding. Life is harder than what we are used to, but we all work hard, and we reap the rewards. At first, like others, I believed the Highlanders were brutal people with no laws and no honor, but I see now that they were just lies told to us by our parents,” Rosemary said.

  “They are honest and just, and we are happier here than we would have been at home, as I'm sure you will be with Alastar,” Sarah said.

  “We shall see,” Rebecca said uneasily.

  “What is wrong? The way you spoke earlier it seemed as though the two of you share feelings for each other,” Catherine said.

  “We do, very special feelings, but I fear that Alastar sees his destiny elsewhere,” Rebecca said.

  “Where else could he see his destiny than with a pretty girl?” Catherine said, smiling sweetly at Rebecca.

  “It is to do with his father. He was a hero called the Blue Thistle, and now Alastar feels it is his duty to carry on the legacy. He has already suggested once that I return to the safety of England after this is over, and I fear he will do so again. He seems to only see one path for himself,” Rebecca said.

  “Then it is your job to show him another path. One thing these Highlanders have in common is a thick skull. They are blind to the possibilities of their life, and they often think they have to do things that they do not really need to do. We have all suffered with that, and it is just part of the price of being with a Highlander,” Rosemary said. The other two girls nodded. Rebecca felt relieved that it was something they all shared.

  “Sometimes they can take their time coming around, but they always see sense eventually,” Catherine said, and they all tittered with laughter.

  “I am just worried about this war. I do not want people to die,” Rebecca said.

  “I have seen war close up. It is not something I wish to see again,” Sarah said meekly. Her eyes were haunted, and they said much that her mouth did not. Rebecca wished she could talk to her about what she had seen, for she wanted to prepare herself, but she thought it inappropriate.

  “I fear that Declan will want to fight. He should stay at home. He has more to think of now than his duty to the Highlands,” Catherine said.

  “None of our men will turn their backs on war or defending their people. They will be out there, fighting for their honor, fighting for their land, is that not one of the reasons why we fell in love with them in the first place?” Rosemary asked.

  Sarah nodded firmly. “It is unfair of us to ask them to go against their nature, as much as it pains us sometimes.”

  “But what can we do?” Rebecca asked. “There must surely be more we can do than sit around.”

  Rosemary gave her a wry smile. “There is plenty we can do, but it is not on the battlefield. However, if you wish to fight, I'm sure Blair will provide you with a sword.”

  Rebecca looked aghast. “I do not wish to fight!” she said.
<
br />   “I don't think any of us are prepared for that, although there are some warrior women in the clan,” Sarah said.

  “I am in no shape to fight,” Catherine admitted, raising her eyebrows at the group. “Still, it is a shame that things have come to this. I have half a mind to go and meet my father and to try to convince him to end this course of action.”

  “I fear that you would only be placing yourself in danger. Once he has you near, he will not let you go,” Rebecca said.

  “I know. It is hard when your family turns out to be your enemy, especially with one as dear as a father. I have lost so much, and now I am losing him too...” she looked extremely sorrowful, but then seemed to straighten herself. “But I am building a family of my own,” she added firmly. Sarah reached across and placed a hand on Catherine's. The two of them seemed closer.

  If they were one family then Rosemary would have been the older sister, and Catherine and Sarah would have been like twins. Where Rebecca fit in she was not sure yet, but she was determined to try and make this her home, for she wanted to stay with Alastar.

  The longer she remained in the Highlands the more she was certain that she did not want to return to England. Her place was here, by Alastar's side.

  “May I ask you something?” Rebecca said. The other ladies nodded. “How much influence do you hold over your husbands, and would you be able to do me a small favor?”

  The girls looked intrigued and asked for more details. Rebecca leaned forward and spoke in hushed, conspiratorial whispers, hoping that she would be able to sway things for herself and Alastar to have a bright future.

  Chapter 29

  After the women had left, Blair handed Alastar a huge mug of ale and slapped him on the back.

  “I see ye tae hae seen the sweetness of an English rose,” the leader of the McCall’s said. Drew and Declan gave him knowing smiles.

  “She is a sweet lass, and she hae proven herself tae be a strong, brave girl, worthy of these Highlands,” Alastar replied.

  “Ye know, our Da used tae tell tales of the Blue Thistle in the war. Said that ye Da was a one-man army,” Drew said.

  “He was, but he gave up the fighting when he hae me. Later, my Ma died, and he took up the life again, teaching me everything he knew. Until one day we were captured by Lord Flynn in a raid on a village. He killed my Da, then took me for prisoner,” Alastar said.

  “Aye, Declan told us of ye tale. Ye hae suffered much at the hands of the English,” Blair said.

  “As hae we all. The shadow of war comes over us again. Is there nae way tae avoid it?” Drew asked.

  “Not with Lord Flynn in his current state of mind. He wants tae lead his army of death across the land, and he will nae stop until we are all dead,” Alastar said.

  “Then let him come. We will beat him back again. We are the McCalls, and nothing can stand against us!” Declan said enthusiastically.

  “Easy boy,” Blair said in his deep, rumbling baritone, “ye must temper ye excitement. Ye hae more tae worry about than the Highlands now. Ye want ye kin tae know their father. I've half a mind tae order ye tae stay back if I thought ye would listen tae me,” Blair said. Drew's face turned into a smile.

  “Ye know the truth cousin,” Declan said.

  “I hae a plan that can spare all our lives,” Alastar said. Blair gestured for him to continue. “I will gae behind enemy lines and confront Lord Flynn. I shall take his life, and without him the war effort will crumble. There will be naeone tae lead them intae battle, and there will be naeone tae call them tae war. They will flee without a fight. And all it will take is the death of one man,” Alastar said.

  “And are ye certain that ye can kill him? What if ye are slain. We will hae tae lose a fine warrior,” Drew said.

  “I will nae fail. I hae a score tae settle with him, and I have foreseen his death every night ever since he killed my Da,” Alastar said through gritted teeth. Blair and Declan glanced at each other.

  “I am nae sure that I can let ye gae. How are ye gonnae make it past the English army tae Lord Flynn? If he kens ye as well as ye say, surely he will be expecting ye?” Blair said.

  “Ye misunderstand me. I respect ye Blair, and I came here tae warn ye sae ye can prepare the other clans and defend our land. But I am nae here tae ask for permission. I am gonnae meet Lord Flynn, and if ye want tae stop me ye can try, but ye will nae succeed,” Alastar said gravely.

  Blair looked thoughtful. It had been a long time since Alastar had spoken to a man that was due such respect, and he hoped that he was once again proving to be a good example to his father. Blair sat back in his chair and rubbed his jowls.

  “I cannae tell ye what ye can and cannae dae. Ye are ye own man, but I would ask ye tae reconsider. Ye can fight with us,” Blair said.

  “I cannae. The Blue Thistle fights alone,” Alastar said, and that was the end of the matter.

  “As ye wish,” Blair said. He turned to Declan and told him to send word to the other clans. The night will soon be filled with fire and ash, and the sounds of dead men will ring out for the gods to hear. Blair and Drew were in deep discussion about future plans, which gave Declan the opportunity to sidle up to Alastar and have a private conversation with him.

  “I ken ye would come back! I kent it!” Declan said excitedly.

  “I owe ye a great deal Declan. Without ye I would hae been rotting in that prison,” Alastar said.

  “I'm glad you're alive. Did you kill any English?”

  “Oh aye. They sent a patrol after ye, but I saw tae it that they would never reach ye. I almost killed Lord Flynn when he was attacking the wee lass Rebecca, but he managed tae escape. I shall nae let him escape again,” Alastar said.

  “I ken ye want tae gae after him, and it is a brave thing ye are daeing, but ye dinnae have tae. Ye can fight alongside us as brothers.” As Declan said this he clasped Alastar's forearm. Alastar felt a deep regret that he had to decline the invitation, but it was important for him to fight alone, just like his father.

  “I thank ye for ye kind words, but ye must ken I hae tae dae this myself.”

  “Then let me come with ye. I can help,” Declan said.

  “Ye hae more things tae worry about now boy. Ye must think of ye family, and ye wee bairn that is waiting tae meet ye,” Alastar said.

  “And ye hae much tae worry about as well,” Declan said.

  “Ye mean Rebecca?”

  “Aye.”

  “She is a fine lass, but she cannae be a part of this life. She deserves tae be happy.”

  “And what if she wants tae be happy with ye?” Declan asked. Alastar gave him a sad smile.

  “Then she is a fool,” he said.

  “Ye cannae mean that.”

  “How can a lass be happy with me? Ye are different. Ye hae this castle, this family, ye hae days ahead of ye. I only hae misery behind me, and before me...well, this is nae life for a lass like her. She needs a man tae love her, nae one who gaes around the woods fighting evil,” Alastar said.

  “How dae ye know, hae ye asked her?” Declan challenged.

  “Well, I...”

  “Alastar, if there is one thing ye should ken about these English lasses it is that they like tae make their own decisions. They are nae as weak as ye think. Rebecca, I'm sure kens what she wants from life, and if ye truly care about her then ye will let her make that decision for herself.”

  “When did ye get this wise?” Alastar asked, smiling warmly. Declan laughed. His hair had grown longer since Alastar had last seen him, and it drooped over his face. Declan swept it back in one smooth motion.

  “It must be that I am becoming a Da,” he said.

  “Ye will make a great one,” Alastar said. “Ye hae been through more than most men ye age, and I am sure it will stand ye in good stead.”

  “It hae. I hae been spending more time with my Da since I hae been back, and we hae been a close family. Being imprisoned made me realize how important these things were in life. I would hae thoug
ht ye would hae seen the same.”

  “I dae, but I also know that I hae nae family. It was taken from me, and I hae tae make the man responsible pay.”

  “And then?”

  Alastar looked at Declan, taken aback by the question, as though he hadn't really thought that far ahead.

  “I dinnae.”

  “Then there is naething keeping ye from living a life with the lass. I saw the way she looked at ye, and I see the way ye eyes light up when ye speak of her. Dinnae stop yerself from being happy,” Declan said.

  “We shall see what happens after I come back from facing Lord Flynn,” Alastar said, his face set in grim determination. Declan looked back at his cousins and then at Alastar.