Claiming the Highlander

by Kinley MacGregor

The MacDouglas pushed himself up from the ground with a happy shout as he rushed to his wife, calling her name.

  Still shaking, Maggie smiled as the two of them embraced. It was a beautiful sight. The MacDouglas scooped his wife up in his arms and kissed her fiercely.

  Maggie shifted her gaze back to Braden. To her amazement, he didn’t run to Sin’s side.

  He came to hers.

  His eyes filled with concern, Braden held his hand out to her and helped her up from the ground. Then, to her utter disbelief, he wrapped his arms around her so tightly that she feared he would break her ribs.

  “Thank God,” he murmured repeatedly in her ear as he just held her close to him.

  It was then she understood the truth. Braden loved her. He truly, truly loved her. Even though he hadn’t said it, she could feel it in the tightness of his hold, hear it in the relief of his voice as he whispered her name.

  Tears gathered in her eyes as she wrapped her arms about his waist. This was so much more than she had ever hoped for. In all her foolish dreams, she had wanted this. And now…

  She felt like shouting, or flying, or singing, or doing something miraculous to celebrate the joy she felt.

  Braden let go of her and cupped her face in his hands, then he kissed her fiercely.

  Maggie felt her tears flow down her cheeks.

  “Fetch a healer!”

  The cry of alarm broke them apart, and it was only then Braden looked to where Sin had been standing.

  His brother had fallen.

  Ceana held Sin’s head in her lap as she called for help. The MacDouglas was kneeling by his side.

  Braden ran to Sin, with Maggie one step behind.

  Her heart pounding, terror filled her again as she looked down at Sin. He lay on his right side with his left arm bleeding and burned.

  “What happened?” Braden asked as he knelt down by Sin.

  “He saved me,” Ceana explained. “One minute I was just standing there, moving things around, then the fire started. I think I might have knocked the candle over, maybe I bumped it with one of the sacks. I’m not sure.”

  Tears flowed down her cheeks as Ceana looked from Robby to Braden, then down to Sin’s unconscious form. “I don’t know what happened. I tried to get out, but my hem was caught. I couldn’t move, and the fire was everywhere. I thought I was going to die, so I started screaming. The next thing I knew, Sin was there. He freed me, and just as we were leaving, a beam fell against him.”

  Her eyes wide, Ceana looked baffled by all that had happened. “He pushed the beam off and got us out. I thought he was fine,” she said breathlessly. “He said he was fine. He looked to be fine.”

  “He just collapsed on the ground,” Robby finished for her.

  The healer came forward out of the crowd and pushed them away as she examined Sin’s body.

  “We need to get him inside.”

  Robby ordered his men to help Sin gently to a bed.

  Braden watched helplessly as Sin was taken away. He glanced to Maggie and felt a horrendous tearing in his heart. Had he not been protecting her, he could have saved his brother.

  He had chosen her safety over that of his own blood.

  How could he have done such a thing?

  Why had he not run to Sin first? Sin was his brother. He was the one Braden was supposed to protect.

  Maggie reached out to touch him, but Braden shrugged her off. He didn’t want to feel her hand on his arm. Not now. Not until he could come to terms with the decision he had made. And the possible cost of his actions.

  “Braden?” she asked.

  “I need to see to Sin,” he said dismissively.

  Maggie frowned as Braden left her standing alone in the yard. Something wasn’t right. Braden had been so tender until he had seen Sin.

  What had happened?

  More discouraged than she had ever been before, she followed them inside.

  When she reached Sin’s room on the upper floor, Braden ordered her out.

  “Let me help,” she insisted.

  “You’ve done enough,” Braden said, his voice edged with an anger she didn’t understand.

  Her heart heavy, she turned and went below to check on Connor.

  An hour later, Braden stood to the side of the bed as the healer reached into her clay jug for a leech. As she moved toward Sin, Sin’s eyes snapped open, and he reached with his good arm to stop the old woman from placing the vile creature on his skin.

  “You put that disgusting thing on me, old woman, and I’ll cut your heart out.”

  “But you need to be—”

  “I’m bleeding quite enough, and I personally like the poison in my blood and have no wish for it to leave me,” Sin said tartly. “Braden, get her out of my sight.”

  Braden didn’t argue. He did as his brother asked, then returned to the bed.

  Sin’s face was pale, but Braden could see the fire of life burning brightly in Sin’s black eyes. Relief poured through him as Braden realized for the first time since his brother had fallen that Sin was no longer in any danger.

  “Where’s Maggie?” Sin asked.

  “She’s below.”

  Sin arched a brow at him. “Why is she below, alone?”

  Braden blatantly ignored the question. “I thought you were going to die.”

  Sin scoffed as he shifted in the bed, then cursed as he drew rigid in pain. Hissing, he stared at his burned arm and curled his lip. “It takes more than a little fire to kill me.”

  “That wasn’t a little fire.”

  Sin gave him a droll stare. “Trust me, brother, it was a little fire.”

  Unwilling to argue the matter, Braden shook his head. “I never should have left you.”

  Sin looked at him with a fierce frown. “What the devil are you talking about now?”

  “I should have made you come outside with me.”

  Sin’s look spoke loudly, Are you mad?

  “I’m not some wench in need of my baby brother to protect me, Braden. In case you haven’t noticed, I happen to be one of the most feared knights in England and the Holy Land. It’s not your banner that makes armies surrender on sight, but mine.”

  “Still, you are my blood.”

  That deep, probing stare of Sin’s delved into him. “This has nothing to do with me, does it?”

  “Of course it does,” Braden insisted. “You are my blood, and I was protecting Maggie while I should have been protecting you.”

  “Nay, little brother. A man protects those who need it most. Those who cannot protect themselves.”

  “But I chose her life over yours.”

  Sin cocked his head to one side. “Since both she and I are alive and well, I fail to follow your logic.”

  “You’re not well. You could have been killed.”

  Sin snorted. “I am merely singed. I assure you, I’ve suffered much worse than this. But what of Maggie? What happened to her?”

  Braden clenched and unclenched his jaw as he thought over that morning’s events. Over and over, he could see her on the ground as the MacDouglas plunged his sword down. The terror of the moment, and the fear in his heart for her life, were forever branded in his memory.

  “Her plan worked,” Braden whispered. “But when Robby saw the fire, he tried to kill her.”

  “And?”

  “I saved her.”

  “You risked your life for her?” Sin asked in disbelief.

  Braden nodded.

  Sin laughed. “I’ll be damned, little brother. You’ve finally succumbed to Cupid’s arrow.”

  “It’s not funny,” Braden snapped. “I am powerless against her.”

  Again that probing stare delved into him. “Are you?”

  “Aye,” Braden said with a sigh. “One look from her and I am completely undone. What if she asks me one day to forsake my blood? Where would that leave me?”

  “Wallowing in sweet bliss, I would imagine.”

  “You’re not funny.”

  All the
humor fled Sin’s face. “And neither are you. You know, Braden, I learned not to trust out of necessity. But you…”

  Sin didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to. Braden knew what his brother meant.

  Braden had never personally been betrayed. It was only by watching his brothers that he had learned the hardest of life’s lessons.

  “Do you think I can trust her?” Braden asked.

  “That I cannot answer. The only way to find that out is to try it and see.”

  “And if she’s not trustworthy?”

  Sin sighed and shook his head as if exasperated by him. “You’re stronger than Kieran. You’ll survive it. But I think, little brother, that you’re missing the real question. What if she is trustworthy?”

  “Then I’m a monkey’s arse.”

  Sin smiled. “We seem to keep coming back to that, don’t we?”

  Braden laughed. Sin was right. It was time for him to stop being shortsighted and to take a chance.

  All these years, he had been afraid. All the times he had thought himself so strong, when he was actually weak and too terrified to take a chance.

  But Maggie…

  She was worth it.

  Worth his life, worth his heart. Worth everything. And he wouldn’t let his stupid fears keep them apart another minute.

  Braden was going to find her, and then he was going to marry her.

  “Wish me luck.”

  Sin nodded. “Bon chance, mon frère.”

  Braden rushed from the room, needing to find Maggie.

  He took the stairs two at a time as he ran into the crowded hall to find her. There were probably three score people there, who were laughing and catching up on all the events that had happened over the past few weeks.

  Braden looked about, but nowhere did he see Maggie’s short russet hair or her laughing amber eyes.

  Where was she?

  Braden headed for the door.

  “Braden MacAllister!”

  The MacDouglas’s shout brought instant silence to the hall as Braden froze dead in his tracks.

  His entire body tense, Braden turned toward the laird, expecting the very worst.

  His face unreadable, Robby MacDouglas crossed the hall with his hands on his hips. The laird narrowed his gaze on Braden.

  Nothing and no one moved or made a sound as the two men sized each other up.

  When Robby reached for him, Braden took a step back, ready to brawl. Then, to his utter surprise, the man threw his arms about him in a brotherly hug. Robby clapped him hard between his shoulder blades.

  “I owe you and your brother, for the life of my wife and child. From this day forward, the MacDouglases will be allies to the MacAllisters.”

  Braden blinked in disbelief as loud shouts filled the hall, echoing off the stone walls.

  The man wasn’t trying to kill him? He could barely accept that reality.

  Robby clapped him hard on the shoulder once more and stepped back. “You’re a good lad, to brave my wrath and bring peace to our clans. You, truly, are a born negotiator.”

  It crossed Braden’s mind that the credit didn’t really belong to him. Maggie had done it. But now didn’t seem like the time to contradict the MacDouglas. Not when peace was so newly formed.

  “Thank you.”

  Robby nodded. “You’re probably looking for Maggie?”

  “Aye.”

  “She was outside earlier, headed toward the stable last I saw.”

  Braden went cold at the news.

  Nay, surely she wouldn’t…

  Oh, who was he fooling? ’Twas Maggie he was dealing with.

  Like as not she’d already left for home on her own. It was just the sort of thing she would do.

  Terrified, he left Robby and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. If she had done something so foolish as to head back to MacAllister lands on her own where those thieves could find her, he would kill her himself.

  His entire body quaking in fear, he threw open the door of the stable and nearly ran over a small child.

  “My pardon,” he said to the boy. “I’m looking for…”

  Braden’s voice trailed off as he looked to the lad and saw himself.

  Chapter 19

  Braden froze as reality crashed through him. He quickly calculated the last time he had been with a woman from the MacDouglas clan.

  It had been right around the time when the feud began. Maybe seven or eight years ago. Right about the same age as this boy. He winced.

  Maggie was going to kill him!

  His mind numb, all he could think of was the look on her face when she found out, and the kick to the groin she was sure to give him the instant she saw the lad.

  Oh, bother, he was in for it now.

  The child eyed him warily.

  “Hello,” Braden said, trying not to scare the child, while inside he was shaking in horror from what he knew he had done. “What’s your name?”

  “Connor,” the boy said. “Who are you?”

  Braden didn’t know what to answer.

  I’m your father just didn’t seem like the best way to introduce himself to the lad who, like as not, would hate his very soul.

  So, instead, Braden switched the topic. “Where are your parents?”

  The boy shrugged. “I don’t have any. Oh, wait!” he said, his eyes shining instantly. “I do have a mother now.” He placed his forefinger to his lips as if in deep thought and frowned. “But I can’t remember her name.”

  “You don’t know your mother’s name?”

  The boy scratched his nose. “My real mother was Fia, but she’s with the angels now. And this other woman is taking me home to live with her.”

  Fia. Braden searched his memory. The name was so familiar to him, but for his life, he couldn’t recall her. But the mere fact that he recalled the name as familiar said it all.

  Dear Lord, this really was his son. He was sure of it.

  He struggled to breathe as emotions swept through him: shame, happiness, guilt, terror. He ran the full gamut of human experience in the space of several heartbeats.

  “What of your father?” Braden asked tentatively.

  “I’m a bastard,” the boy said, his voice laced with anger. “Me father didn’t want me mother.”

  Braden winced as if the lad had struck him. “Maybe he did.”

  The boy shook his head. “Me mother said he loved other women, that he didn’t want just her.”

  Braden closed his eyes as the words tore through him. He had never meant for a child to suffer for his actions. Oh, God, how could he make it up to the little fellow?

  Somehow, he would. If it took the rest of his life, he would make sure this lad knew his father loved him, and that he would protect him.

  Suddenly Braden heard a familiar tune from outside. And in an instant he knew the sweet sound of Maggie’s voice.

  Braden went cold. This wasn’t good. Not good at all!

  He had to hide the lad! Quickly. There was no telling what Maggie might do if she saw him.

  Over and over, he recalled his mother’s reaction to Sin. The scorn on her face.

  He hadn’t been able to protect the lad before, but he would protect him now.

  He would explain it to Maggie once he’d arranged things so that the boy couldn’t be hurt by her reaction.

  “Connor,” Braden said, placing a gentle hand on his thin shoulder. “Would you like to play a game?”

  The boy’s face lit up. “Aye!”

  “This is called hiding. You find a place and stay there until I find you.”

  The boy looked skeptical.

  Braden nudged him toward the back of the stable. “Go on and hide. I’ll cover my eyes. Hurry.”

  The boy scampered off.

  Braden heard him climb the ladder to the loft at the same moment the door opened and Maggie entered.

  Braden swallowed as sweat beaded on his forehead.

  She carried a large basket in her hands as she looked abo
ut the stalls. She froze the instant she saw him.

  “Braden,” she said coldly. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  He swallowed as guilt and pain consumed him. He didn’t want to hurt her any more than he wanted to hurt Connor.

  Oh, but he had gotten himself into one fine mess. He just hoped he didn’t lose Maggie over this.

  “We need to talk,” he said simply.

  “Why?” she asked. “All has been said. I told you I would never ask anything of you. I meant it. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

  He caught her arm as she started past him. “I’m not about to let you go home on your own.”

  She looked at him as if he were daft. “Think you I’m mad? I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “Then what are you doing here?”

  “’Tis no concern of yours.” Then her eyes softened. She reached out and touched his arm. “I thought you needed to see to Sin.”

  “He’s conscious now, but I wanted to see you.”

  “Why?”

  Braden took the basket from her hands and set it on the ground. Taking her hand, he led her to the door.

  “Braden, I—”

  “Shhh,” he said, cutting her off. “I need to speak with you, alone.”

  She looked about the empty stable. “Are we not alone.”

  Braden glanced to the loft. He didn’t want to chance Connor hearing whatever reaction Maggie might have to him.

  “I would feel better if we were outside.”

  “Very well.”

  Braden led her just outside the door, to stand beside a large oak. “Maggie, I…” His voice trailed off.

  For the first time in his life, he didn’t know how to talk to her.

  Should he just blurt out, Maggie, I want to marry you, and while you’re considering that, let me tell you about my illegitimate son?

  Nay, that wouldn’t work.

  Maggie, I love you. Would you mind taking care of my…

  No wonder his father had withheld the news about Sin from his mother. This was a lot harder than he thought.

  Maggie knew he’d never been a saint, but thinking him a lewdster and being presented with the evidence of his indiscretions were two entirely different things.

  He just didn’t want to lose her.

  “Maggie,” he began, speaking her name slowly. “I have some things I need to tell you, and I’m rather sure I’m going to make a mess of this. But could you please give me time to stumble through it?”