The Highlander Series

by Maya Banks

  “Will you work through the winter, Laird?” she asked as they rode down the incline toward the bridge that led over the loch and into the courtyard of the keep.

  Ewan didn’t respond. His attention was focused ahead, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. It was as though he was looking for someone.

  As they neared the bridge, Keeley could see inside the stone wall. Warriors gathered, concern etched on their faces. Behind them, women and children also gathered, silent and waiting.

  When they rode into the courtyard, Ewan frowned, and he let out a great sigh. Keeley followed his gaze to where a visibly pregnant woman hurried past the warriors standing at attention. Another man followed closely on her heels, his expression haggard.

  “Ewan!” the woman cried. “What has happened to Alaric?”

  Ewan dismounted just as the woman reached the litter. “Mairin, you were instructed to remain inside the keep. Not only is it cold out here, it isn’t safe.”

  Mairin raised her gaze to Ewan and frowned just as ferociously as he was scowling at her. “You must bring him inside so we can tend to him. He doesn’t look well!”

  “I’ve brought along someone who will care for him,” Ewan soothed.

  Mairin turned sharply to survey the riders who were slowly dismounting around Keeley. Then Mairin’s gaze rested on Keeley and her eyebrows went up in surprise. Her eyes narrowed and a thoughtful frown spread across her face.

  “Is she qualified to tend to Alaric’s injuries?”

  At that, Keeley’s back went up and she struggled to free herself from Gannon’s hold. He lifted her down and as soon as her feet were planted on the ground, she faced Mairin with an indignant huff.

  “I’ll have you know I’m sought out regularly for my healing abilities. Furthermore, I had no desire to come with Laird McCabe. I wasn’t given a choice! Am I qualified? Certainly. But the question that should be posed is whether I’m willing to tend to Alaric’s wounds.”

  Mairin blinked and her mouth fell open. Her brows drew together in confusion just before she rounded on her husband who was glaring holes through Keeley.

  “Ewan? Is this true? You abducted this woman?”

  Ewan’s lips twisted in a snarl. He pointed at Keeley and advanced. Keeley clamped her legs together to keep her knees from knocking. She wouldn’t show fear even if she was terrified to her toes.

  “You will address Lady McCabe with respect. You have two choices. You can accept your fate or you can die. And if you ever show my wife such blatant disrespect again, you’ll regret it. I have no time for petulance. My brother’s life is hanging in the balance. You will tend to him and you’ll not begrudge your duty. Are we clear?”

  Keeley’s lips tightened into a line and she bit her tongue to prevent herself from saying what she really wanted. Instead she issued a short nod.

  Mairin glanced between Keeley and her husband, clearly befuddled. “Ewan, you can’t just abduct this woman. What of her home? Her family? Surely there’s another way.”

  Ewan placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder, but Keeley didn’t miss the gentleness in his gesture. Why, his face even softened. He truly did love her.

  Keeley wanted to sigh but held it in.

  “While we stand here arguing, Alaric worsens. Go and hurry. Have his chamber prepared so my men might carry him in. Keeley will have need of supplies. Make sure the women give her what she needs for Alaric’s care. She’ll also have need of a chamber. Give her the one next to Alaric so that she will be close at all times.”

  There was clear exasperation in his voice, but his expression completely belied it.

  Mairin tossed one last look Keeley’s way, and her eyes darkened with regret. Keeley could swear there was an unspoken apology in her gaze. Then Mairin turned and hurried into the keep, shouting for Maddie.

  As soon as his wife was gone, Ewan rounded on Keeley, his expression black.

  “You will obey me without question, and you will do everything in your power to aid both Alaric and my lady wife when her time is here.”

  Keeley swallowed and nodded.

  Ewan turned his back dismissively on her and motioned for his men to carry Alaric inside the keep. For a moment she stood there dumbly, unsure of what she was supposed to do.

  Gannon nudged her elbow and gestured for her to follow the men inside. He remained just a step behind her all the way up the winding, narrow staircase. He pulled her back to stand outside the chamber door until the men who’d carried Alaric filed back out. Then Gannon ushered her forward.

  Mairin and another older woman stood by the fire that blazed in the hearth. The room was still chilled so the fire had just been laid. Ewan stood by Alaric’s bed and he motioned impatiently for Keeley.

  “Give an accounting of what supplies you need to Maddie. See to his wound and make sure the stitches haven’t torn.”

  She bit her tongue again, tempted to snap back at him that she knew well how to do her duty without him instructing her. Instead she gave a crisp nod and shoved past him to where Alaric lay.

  She cupped her palm over his forehead, heartened by the fact he didn’t feel quite as hot as he did earlier. Of course being exposed to the much cooler air outside had probably done the deed, and now that he was within the warmer confines of his chamber, she had to concern herself with his fever worsening.

  “Will he recover?” Mairin asked fearfully.

  Keeley turned to the laird’s wife. “Aye. I’ll not have it any other way.”

  The woman beside Mairin raised her brows. “You’re young to be so arrogant, lass.”

  “Arrogant?” Keeley was honestly surprised by the other woman’s assessment. “I’ve never considered myself arrogant. Not when other’s lives depend on me. I find what I do very humbling. I fear all the time that I’ll be unable to provide the care that is needed. But I’m stubborn—not arrogant. I refuse to allow someone to suffer if ’tis within my power to prevent it.”

  Mairin smiled and closed the distance between them. She grasped Keeley’s hands and squeezed. “Whether ’tis arrogance or confidence, I care naught. I only care that when I look at you, I see such determination in your eyes that I know you’ll not allow Alaric to die. For that I thank you, mistress. You’ll have my undying gratitude if you set Alaric to rights.”

  Keeley’s cheeks warmed at the other woman’s praise. “Please. Do call me Keeley.”

  “And you must call me Mairin.”

  Keeley shook her head. “Oh nay, my lady. It wouldn’t do. And your laird wouldn’t like it one bit.”

  Mairin chuckled. “Ewan’s bark is much worse than his bite. He can be gruff and growly, but he truly is a fair man.”

  Keeley arched one brow at the other woman.

  Mairin flushed. “What he did was reprehensible. I can’t imagine what he was thinking. Perhaps concern for Alaric blinded him to all else.”

  “I imagine his concern for you had something to do with it,” Keeley said dryly.

  “Me?”

  Keeley’s gaze dropped to Mairin’s swollen belly. “He intends that I remain to deliver your babe.”

  “Oh dear,” Mairin murmured. “The man is addled. He cannot go about abducting people because he fears for my safety. ’Tis madness.”

  Keeley smiled. “ ’Tis a good husband who worries for his wife. I find after meeting you, I don’t have an aversion to remaining for the winter to see your child safely born.”

  “You’ve a kind heart, Keeley,” Maddie interjected. “We have need of a good healer. Lorna passed on some weeks ago and the laird, while skilled with a needle, has no knowledge of herbs and poultices. He has no experience with childbirth either.”

  Keeley’s eyebrows went up again. “The laird has been acting as your healer?”

  “He stitched my wound when an arrow struck me,” Mairin said. “He did a fine job.”

  “Tell us what you need,” Maddie urged. “I’ll make sure you have it as soon as possible.”

  Keeley thought a moment as
she surveyed the sleeping warrior. She’d need a whole host of herbs and roots, but she preferred to find those herself. She didn’t trust others to recognize the plants she used.

  Instead she asked Maddie for water and bandages and broth so Alaric would have some sustenance. It was important for him to keep up his strength. A weakened man didn’t fight off illness as well as a strong and fit warrior.

  She instructed the older woman on what she wanted done for Alaric in her absence.

  “But where are you going?” Mairin asked with a frown.

  “I must go forage for the roots and herbs I need for my medicines. If I don’t go now, I’ll have to wait until the morrow and that might be too late.”

  “Ewan won’t like that,” Mairin murmured. “He’s very firm on going outside the walls of the keep.”

  “If he wants his brother to survive, he won’t make a fuss.”

  Maddie grinned. “ ’Twould seem our laird may have met his match in you, Keeley.”

  “Still, it would be better if you were to have an escort,” Mairin said. “I’d go with you myself—’tis God’s truth I’d welcome a walk and some fresh air—but Ewan would never let me hear the end of it.”

  “You aren’t allowed even a wee walk outside the keep?” Keeley asked incredulously.

  Mairin sighed. “ ’Tis not the sentence you think it is. Ewan isn’t overbearing. He’s worried, and with good reason. We have many enemies, and until I deliver this babe safe and sound, I am a target.”

  When Keeley continued to stare at her in puzzlement, Mairin let out a long breath. “ ’Tis a long story. Perhaps I’ll tell you all about it tonight as we tend to Alaric.”

  “Oh nay, my lady. ’Tis not your duty to stay awake with Alaric. He’ll be just fine in my care. A woman in your condition needs all the rest she can get.”

  “Still, I’ll sit with you awhile. If nothing more, it will be a way to pass the time. I won’t sleep for worrying over Alaric anyway.”

  Keeley smiled. “Very well then. Now if I may, I must be off before I lose good light.”

  “Maddie, see to the supplies and do as Keeley instructed. I’m going to walk her down to the courtyard and ask Gannon and Cormac to accompany her on her search. Ewan won’t allow anything less, I’m sure.”

  Maddie chuckled. “You know our laird well, my lady.”

  Maddie turned and hurried out of the room. Keeley brushed her hand over Alaric’s forehead one last time before she followed Mairin from the chamber.

  As Keeley expected, the laird argued only as long as it took her to inform him that if she didn’t gather the things she needed, his brother would suffer. Grudgingly he sent three of his men with her, though none looked pleased with the chore.

  “They never like looking after women,” Mairin whispered next to Keeley. “I am the bane of their existence, for they are assigned regularly to me.”

  Keeley grinned. “I heard a lot about you during our journey.”

  Mairin scowled. “ ’Twas disloyal of them to speak behind my back.”

  “They didn’t speak as much as they hinted,” Keeley corrected. “And Gannon refused to answer a direct question. He said ’twas disloyal.”

  Mairin laughed outright, earning her suspicious frowns from the men.

  “Come, mistress,” Gannon said in resignation. “Let us hasten to the forest so we can return quickly.”

  “No need to act as though a death sentence is being carried out,” Keeley muttered.

  Mairin laughed softly. “I’ll wait for you in Alaric’s chambers, Keeley. In the meantime I’ll make sure he is comfortable and that your instructions are carried out.”

  Keeley nodded and fell into step behind the group of warriors assigned to watch over her. Despite her initial irritation at the idea that she couldn’t simply leave the keep alone, it gave her a tiny thrill that she was considered important enough to warrant the watch of three highly trained warriors.

  She’d never felt safer than she did right now with three such brawny men surrounding her as they walked beyond the stone skirt and toward the patch of trees in the distance.

  Perhaps coming to McCabe keep wasn’t the inconvenience she’d first thought. The laird’s wife wasn’t at all what she’d expected, and despite the circumstances of Keeley’s arrival, she was being treated well.

  It was entirely possible that she could grow to like life here. After all, it wasn’t as though she had a clan to return to.

  She pursed her lips and shook her head. No sense putting the cart before the horse. She was entirely too fanciful for her own good. The laird hadn’t brought her here out of the goodness of his heart. He had no desire to make her feel at home or make her feel a valued member of his clan. He wanted her skills. Nothing more. It would behoove her to remember that. When she no longer served a purpose, she might well find herself turned out.

  The one thing she’d learned in life was that family was a fickle concept. There was no loyalty. If she couldn’t expect such a thing from her own clan, how could she expect it from complete strangers?

  She nodded grimly to herself. Aye, she needed to pull her head from the clouds and view her mission with more objectivity.

  She was a captive. Nothing more. To forget such was to open herself up for more disappointment.

  CHAPTER 8

  By the time Keeley returned to the keep, the sun had already slipped beyond the horizon and cold permeated her bones. She was weary and aching from all the bending and kneeling, but she’d been successful beyond her expectations. The McCabes had an excellent stock of plants and roots, and now her skirt was full as she trudged toward the door.

  She shivered and curled her fingers a little tighter into the material of her dress as she clutched the ends so the tiny shoots didn’t fall. Her hands were numb with cold and her teeth had long since stopped chattering. She could barely feel her chin.

  She stumbled going up the steps and Cormac caught her elbow to steady her. She mumbled her thanks and continued on, welcoming the warmer air of the interior.

  “ ’Tis growing colder,” Gannon said. “It looks like snow this night.”

  “It’s looked like snow for two days,” Cormac argued.

  “Aye, he’s right. It will snow before the morn,” Keeley said as she mounted the stairs to Alaric’s chamber.

  “Thank goodness our stores are full,” Gannon said. “We look to be in for a long winter. It will be nice to not worry where our next meal will come from.”

  Keeley paused on the stairs and glanced behind her to where Gannon stood. “What happened here? The keep is in disrepair and you speak of hard times.”

  Gannon grimaced. “I spoke out of turn. ’Tis not something I should have spoken freely about. I was merely thinking aloud. My laird would not be pleased that my tongue got away from me.”

  Keeley shrugged. “ ’Tis not as if I asked you for battle secrets. I would think I’m entitled to know what I’ve been thrust upon.”

  “ ’Tis of no consequence,” Cormac offered from below Gannon. “All is well now that the laird has married Lady McCabe. Our clan thrives again thanks to her. We are blessed to have her.”

  Keeley smiled at the obvious affection in his voice. Mairin McCabe was a most fortunate woman for she was dearly loved by not only her husband but her clan as well.

  “Is there a reason you dally on the stairs when my brother is sore in need of aid?” Caelen snapped from above.

  She turned and cast a baleful look in his direction. “Is there a reason for your surly disposition? I’ve spent the last hours searching your forest for all manner of herbs. I’m tired. I’m hungry. I’ve not slept in days. And yet even I have more manners than you. Think you there is something amiss about that?”

  Caelen blinked and then scowled, not that she expected any less. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then quickly snapped it shut. Smart man. He didn’t intimidate her, and she’d not let him get away with his rudeness. ’Twas true. She was exhausted to her core and
the last thing she needed was him hovering over her, criticizing her every move.

  She pushed by him once she reached the top of the stairs and leveled a scowl at him that was every bit as impressive as his. She entered Alaric’s chamber and shut it firmly behind her.

  “Keeley, you’re back!” Mairin exclaimed from Alaric’s bedside.

  Keeley glanced over to see Mairin carefully bathing Alaric’s forehead while Maddie stood to the side. The fire had been stoked and wood added, and Keeley immediately went to stand in front of it, soaking in every bit of the heat she could.

  “Here, lass, let me take your findings. Do you have any special instructions or can I leave them all together?” Maddie asked as she came over to help Keeley.

  Keeley glanced down at the pile in her gathered skirts. “Aye, you can leave it all together. I’ll sort it out after I can feel my hands again. I’ll need a bowl or two and something to grind the leaves and roots with.”

  “You heard the lass,” Maddie said to Gannon who stood in the doorway. “Go fetch her bowls and a mortar and pestle.”

  Gannon looked extremely disgruntled to be ordered about by a woman, but he turned to do her bidding although not before allowing his displeasure to cross his face.

  Mairin frowned in Keeley’s direction. “Keeley, are you certain you are up for caring for Alaric this night? You look exhausted, and you’re shaking with cold.”

  Keeley offered a faint smile. “I’ll be warm in no time. If you have food to spare, I’d be most grateful for something to eat.”

  “I’ll go fetch something from Gertie,” Maddie said.

  As Maddie left the chamber, she met Gannon on his way back in with the items Keeley had requested. Keeley carefully deposited the herbs into one of the bowls and straightened her skirts. Now that her hands were free, she turned and held them out to the fire, wincing when feeling began to race through her veins again.

  “You have need of proper clothing if you are to stay here,” Gannon said gruffly. “I’ll speak to the laird about it straight away.”