Captured Heart

by Heather McCollum

  He gaze traveled to the small dark chasm still separating their bodies. Even though his words had been a statement, his eyes held the question.

  She assessed the little one’s health. Relief melted away the last of her trembling. “And without a care of what’s going on out here in the world,” she said.

  “You’re here late,” she said and instantly searched for illness in Caden’s body. Everything seemed normal, including the healthy erection hidden below the covers. She blushed. “You’re still in bed.”

  He ran his hand along her hair, pushing it back from her cheeks. “Yesterday we nearly lost each other.”

  She closed her eyes for a moment, the memories of their ordeal washing through her. When Caden’s lips brushed her forehead, she opened them again. “I wanted to be here when ye woke.”

  He kissed her leisurely but pulled back, a hint of merriment in his eyes. “And as much as I’d like to keep us here for another hour or two,” his gaze raked down Meg, causing her passion to surge, “we’re expected below.”

  And then to die with his words.

  Meg swallowed past the fear that sat in her throat. Had Colin, Alec, or Ewan spread the word of how Boswell died? “I…killed a man yesterday…with my magic. I…I am a w—”

  “Warrior,” Caden finished her sentence. “Ye defended yerself, our bairn.” His hand dipped beneath the covers to stroke her stomach. He halted over the dragonfly birthmark. “Ye used yer weapon to defend our clan, clan Munro, and clan Macleod.”

  He was being so understanding, but she had to make him recognize what had happened, what could happen again.

  “I can’t normally do that.” She glanced down as the smooth blanket and back up. “Boswell had a blood clot in his leg. I used my healing ability to break it up a little so it would flow through his blood. I knew it would clog his lungs and heart, and go in his brain.”

  Meg let out a slow breath and spoke in a whisper. “People will think that if I touch them…if I’m angry with them…that I could kill them.” She stared into Caden’s eyes. “What if I do, by accident? I could have killed Angus when I healed him and…”

  “Shhh.” He kissed her tenderly. “Rachel will help ye master yer gift.” He gave a brief shake of his head. “I am not afraid of yer touch,” he said placing her palm on his chest.

  “The others.”

  “Meg,” he said. “I have a sword. I carry it everywhere.” He indicated the sword in its scabbard on the chest beside the bed. “My weapon is lethal. Are ye afraid to touch me when I wear it?”

  “It’s not the same.”

  “Nay? The only difference between yer power and mine is that I’m trained on how to use it and how to not accidentally use it.” He ran his fingers through hers and folded them in his fist. “Rachel will work with ye until ye grow accustomed to using yer gift.”

  He held her against him as he rolled, pinning her into the soft tick. His brow furrowed and he cupped Meg’s head in both hands.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Yesterday I almost lost ye without telling ye…” His hand trailed away down the side of the bed. He pulled a thin strip of plaid from the edge and caught her hand in his own.

  “The priest may have bound us legally, but the ceremony was really to end the feud.”

  Meg held her breath, not sure what to say.

  “So today,” Caden said. “Today I pledge to ye, Meg…my life,” he wrapped the cloth around their joined hands, “my love,” he wound it a second time, “and my soul.” Three loops that held their hands tightly together.

  She couldn’t stop a little tear from slipping past her lashes.

  His breath brushed her lips as he neared. “’Tis true I captured ye, but och lass, ye captured me right back. Tha gaol agam ort. I love ye.”

  Meg melted inside. Currents of joy surrounded her heart and pushed up into her eyes. “And I pledge to you, Caden Macbain, my life, my love, and my soul.” She squeezed his hand still intertwined in the cloth. “I love you.”

  …

  Meg rested her hand on Caden’s arm as they descended the stairs, even though she would have rather clutched it. By now everyone would know what had transpired at the cave. A warrior, I am a warrior.

  She stalled on the steps. “Where is Gwyneth? Bess?”

  Caden glanced down at her. “Locked where they locked ye, in the dungeon.”

  She shivered, remembering the dank, dark place. They had tried to kill her, but the memory of the place haunted her.

  Caden touched her cheek. “They’ve been given basic needs, warmth, food, water. I’ll let them worry for a few days before dealing with them.”

  “I think it was Gwyneth’s plan. Bess seemed…scared, like she’d been convinced to act.”

  “I believe so, too. Gwyneth will be going to Edinburgh.”

  “Edinburgh?”

  “Aye, the good father has volunteered to journey there to give a true account of the Davidsons’ misdeeds in helping the English and their lies about me. Gwyneth will be tried for her part in this misadventure.”

  “What’s happening at the Davidsons?” she asked, even though Caden took another step down, pulling her with him.

  “They should be locked in battle over who will lead now that Gilbert is dead. And by the time they have their leadership in place, they’ll have to deal with King James and King Henry.” Caden brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them. “Ewan will be transporting Boswell’s untouched body to Henry with the letters and a full account of how Gilbert Davidson assisted him in trying to hide his treasonous ways.”

  A low murmur rumbled from the great hall as if it held a crowd. Without the sounds of minstrels playing, the rumble sounded like a mob. Meg swallowed hard and stopped just before they entered the room. Caden placed his hand on top of hers and squeezed. His love could protect her from their brutality, but it couldn’t protect her from their mistrust and hatred.

  His warm palm sat on her lower back, gently but firmly pushing her out of the dark corridor and into the mouth of the great hall.

  The room hushed.

  Jonet stood at the table with Kenneth and Ann. Meg couldn’t quite draw in a breath, but then Jonet turned to her and a huge smile broke the worry in her features.

  “Meg!” she yelled and flew across the room. She threw her arms around her and squeezed. “Ye saved me,” she whispered fervently in Meg’s ear. “Ye saved me.” She pulled back, tears and joy in her face. “Ye risked everything to save me and the clan.”

  A nervous laugh escaped Meg. “And you saved me from that gag. I’m so glad you made it home.”

  Jonet laughed despite her own tears. “I’ve never run so hard.”

  She glanced down at Jonet’s hand wrapped so tightly with her own. There was not even a hint of concern in the woman’s grip, only happiness and relief.

  She gazed out at a multitude of Macbain faces, eyes curious, stances waiting. Donald waved from the back of the room, a large grin across his thin face. They knew she killed a man, didn’t they?

  Caden propelled her over to the table where they’d sat at their wedding celebration. “Do they…Caden, do they know—?”

  “They know, love,” he said. “Can’t keep something as huge as ye saving us from Boswell a secret.”

  Father Daughtry talked with some Macbains near the fire. He beamed at her proudly and thumped his chest, making the wooden cross jump on the vestments, as if to confirm that he was fit and hardy again.

  Meg and Caden sat and everyone turned toward them. They waited, with only a hum of murmurs.

  Donald poked his head out into the entry and then Hugh strode in, carrying a sword held point high. Torchlight flickered along its shiny blade. Hamish, Sean, Eòin, and a line of Macbain warriors followed in two rows. Donald joined at one end, his sword high like the rest. Hugh halted before Caden and Meg.

  Caden stood while she just stared. His finger under her chin made her shut her gaping mouth as he helped her stand next to him.


  “Hugh Loman, Master Watchman, what are you about today?” Caden asked in Gaelic, but the calm flow of his blood and the relaxed state of his muscles told Meg that Caden wasn’t surprised by the show.

  “Hail Caden, the Macbain of Druim,” Hugh said in Gaelic, his voice booming in the still room. His eyes shifted to Meg. “Hail Meg, Lady of Druim,” he said in English.

  Meg bowed her head acknowledging the address. Hugh regarded at her with a serious expression. “We of Druim hail ye and pledge to ye.”

  At that, all the warriors in the two lines went down on one knee.

  Meg’s stomach sat in a tight ball as she held her breath.

  Hugh lowered his voice. “We were remiss in not swearing our fidelity to the new Lady of Druim, and so we do it now.” In unison they lowered their swords and their heads. “We, the warriors of Druim, pledge our lives to the protection of Lady Meg as we protect The Macbain and his people.”

  A cheer rose up in the room, filling the stone rafters with a glorious echo of acceptance.

  Meg’s breath shook as she inhaled. “Mòran taing. Many thanks,” she said as the cheers subsided and the warriors stood.

  “Lady Meg.” Hugh laid the shined blade of the sword across his stump. “We also gift ye with this fine blade.”

  Meg’s gaze ran across the lovely vines and flowers etched into the steel. The weapon was more slender and shorter than the swords the other warriors held. In the hilt sat a blue sapphire, as blue as the ball of light she could conjure.

  “If ye are able to defend us all from the English,” Hugh said, “ye deserve yer own sword.”

  A quick inhale escaped Meg’s lips as shock turned to joy. Hugh placed the amazingly light sword in her hands, and Donald raised his high.

  “To Warrior Meg, defender of Druim!” Donald yelled.

  “To Warrior Meg, defender of Clan Macbain!” Angus yelled.

  “To Warrior Meg, defender of Clan Macleod!” her father’s gruff voice boomed from the back of the room.

  “To Warrior Meg, defender of Clan Munro!” Aunt Rachel yelled from her place next to Uncle Alec, who raised his own sword in salute.

  “To Warrior Meg! Lady of Druim!” Hugh boomed as a cheer rose up like a cresting wave, stealing Meg’s breath.

  Caden’s lips were warm as they moved against the edge of Meg’s ear. “See, they love ye, too.”

  She turned her eyes to him and smiled. Caden took her sword and laid it carefully on the table, turned back to her, and pulled her into his arms. His lips settled over hers in a long leisurely kiss as the cheers swelled around them. Meg was engulfed with elation and acceptance.

  The last thought she had before she surrendered to Caden’s kiss rushed through her on a wave of joy. She was loved, loved for whom she actually was. She was truly blessed.

  Acknowledgments

  An immense thank you goes out to the members of Heart of Carolina Romance Writers. Virginia, Katharine, Deb, Claudia, Marcia, Sarra—thank you so much for your advice, support and friendship. You are giants among women (in a legendary way, not a size way)!

  Thank you also to Kevan Lyon, Libby Murphy, and Liz Pelletier. Without your amazing talent and expertise, this Highland adventure would still be hiding on my computer.

  Thank you, Mom, for drawing the herbs for Isabelle’s journal. You are the strongest, most talented woman I know. You will always be my real-life heroine.

  Thank you to my Dragonfly-Sisters who remind me constantly that I can write. To my children who put up with my “Not now, I’m writing” and “Hush, I’m trying to finish this scene.” To Julie, my beautiful friend and beta-reader, who catches all my eye-color mistakes and gives gentle criticism. To all my chemo-buddies and friends, who tell everyone to read my books. Thank you for being my biggest fans : ) To Donna, Dr. Lee, and Jenny M for saving my life so I could write this wonderful book. And to my own hero, Braden. I loved you before, but after this year, I love you a thousand times more. Thank you too for posing for my cover : )

  Since this page is about acknowledgments, I’d also like to call out a sneaky villain that stalks our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. Beware, Ovarian Cancer! I will not cower in the corner from you but will stare you down, laugh in your face, and arm women with the weapon of knowledge to use against you.

  Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

  Bloating that is persistent

  Eating less and feeling fuller

  Abdominal pain

  Trouble with your bladder

  Ovarian Cancer cannot be detected by a PAP Smear. Additional symptoms may include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation, menstrual irregularities.

  Together, we will “SHOUT against the Whisper” until every woman knows these symptoms.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Acknowledgments