The Banished Highlander

by Keira Montclair

  “Padraig, go back! Go for Aedan.”

  He managed to keep his feet underneath him, scrambling for anything to keep him upright.

  Juliana’s scream echoed through the night, a sound as tortured as anything he’d ever heard. He hurried toward her, stumbling over rocks and broken branches until he saw her lying on the ground with her head tipped back in a violent scream.

  Another flash of lightning illuminated a body in the dark aiming straight for her.

  Reaching Juliana moments before her attacker did, he shoved her behind him and unsheathed his weapon. Ailbeart Munro bellowed gutturally as he tried to strike him with his dagger, but Ruari drove his sword into the man’s belly, ending his life in an instant.

  He reached for Juliana and lifted her into his arms, tucking her close to his chest, screams continuing to rip from her chest as she clutched his wet tunic.

  “Hush, lass. I have you now. He’ll never bother you again.” He kissed her forehead, doing his best to force her gaze upon him.

  “Ruari, Ruari, Ruari…”

  “I have you. I’ll protect you forever.”

  “Ruari, the bones…there are bones everywhere…I tripped on them, touched them… Get me away from this ghastly place…

  Ruari glanced at his feet and turned in a circle. She was right.

  He stood in the middle of what appeared to be an unmarked graveyard.

  Leading Juliana around the hellish spot, he found an area that wasn’t so steep. Fortunately, the rain had let up slightly, allowing him to make his way up past the curtain wall back to where he’d left Aedan.

  Padraig reached him first. “She’s hale? Where’s Munro? They cannot find him.”

  “She’ll be fine,” he said, giving her a reassuring squeeze. She was still clutched to his chest. “Who is looking for Munro? He’s dead at the bottom of the hill. He tried to kill Juliana.”

  “Aedan. He took his men inside the gates once we left. He didn’t wish to wait apparently. He heard two guards say their laird had gone daft, so he took his men in. No one gave him too much of a fight. Bring Juliana inside.”

  “Have you found Neil?”

  “Aedan is looking for him. Follow me.”

  Juliana continued to cling to Ruari, clearly in shock, so he kept whispering to her in the hopes it would help her overcome the horrors they’d seen. “Sweetling, I love you. Do you remember we’re to marry soon?”

  She gave him a small nod, though she kept a death grip on the back of his neck.

  “Aye, I love you. He was going to force me to marry him,” she said with a shaking voice. “The man who killed my sister.”

  “Never mind that now. He’ll never bother you again. I’m taking you inside where ’tis warm.”

  The portcullis was open, and Aedan’s men had formed a line at the entrance, waiting to see if any other of Munro’s men dared to show up. Several of the men nodded to him as they passed. Others were restraining Munro men, taking their weapons and searching them.

  Ruari carried Juliana inside the great hall, bringing her straight to the hearth. He picked a chair and settled into it, cradling her on his lap. Aedan came to his side at once. “Munro?”

  “Dead. At the base of the hill behind the curtain wall.”

  “His men gave up quickly. They weren’t too loyal. I’ve already had several beg to join our clan. Anything else to report?”

  “Just that we found an unmarked graveyard in the back. Mighty suspicious. Did you find Neil?”

  “He was in the cellars. They’re bringing him up now. Once I know whether he’s hale, I’ll look into the matter of the graveyard.”

  The hall looked as if a battle had taken place, broken furniture covered the dirty rushes while the Cameron guards herded any men with injuries to the other end of the hall to be tended. The serving lasses were huddled in a corner crying, but the men were doing their best to calm them.

  A few moments passed, and Neil finally emerged into the hall. He approached the hearth and sat in one of the open chairs, Aedan behind him.

  “You are hale?” Ruari asked.

  The man appeared tired and beaten. Ruari had never seen him look older.

  He wiped the dirt from his face with his tunic. “I suppose I owe you both an apology.”

  “What you owe us is an explanation. What did Munro want with you?” Aedan asked, his hands on his hips as he stood over the man.

  Ruari didn’t often see Aedan as upset as he was at this moment.

  Neil held his hand up. “Water? Could I have a drink first? Then I’ll explain.”

  Aedan waved for one of his men to find Neil something to drink, then said, “If Ruari hadn’t followed you, we would have had no idea you and Juliana were here. Whatever you did, you put many lives at risk.”

  Juliana had finally calmed, and she snuggled against Ruari, her head on his shoulder. Her hand lightly rubbed his forearm, as if she were afraid he might disappear. He kissed her forehead and awaited Neil’s explanation.

  The older man grabbed the ale one of the guards had brought him, took a few long gulps, then finally spoke. “Aedan, I will bow out of my job as your second-in-command as I am no longer worthy of the position. Ruari will make a fine second.”

  “I’d already offered him the position, Neil. Finish the tale.”

  He pursed his lips, but he had enough sense not to object. “I fell in love with Juliana’s sister, Joan, when I helped escort her to Lochluin Abbey. We became friends, and she confided in me the real reason she was there.”

  Juliana’s sire came up behind them and said, “My daughter was carrying Munro’s bairn, but she refused to marry him. She said she hated him.” He fell into a nearby chair. “Juliana, I cannot apologize enough for my part in this. He promised to take care of her, and she was carrying their bairn…I had no idea how daft he was.”

  “Papa, did Joan have a son? I heard you talking with Munro through the door.”

  “Not that I’m aware of. Your mother told me she lost the bairn.”

  Neil hung his head, his elbows now on his knees.

  “Neil?” Aedan prompted.

  He sat up and closed his eyes. “I loved your sister, Juliana.”

  Dead silence.

  “I fell in love with her when I continued to visit with her. Your mother had talked the abbess into keeping her in hiding until she had the bairn. Then she would give it up to someone, but she couldn’t do it. When she held her daughter in her arms, she couldn’t give her up.”

  “She didn’t have a son?”

  Neil leaned his elbows onto his knees again. “She had a daughter, and only the abbess knows where she is hidden. The abbess and one guard who died not long ago. Munro found out I knew something, though I know not how. He thought I knew where his child was being kept, although he thought he had a son, not a daughter, and he attempted to beat it out of me.”

  Aedan said, “And you hid that secret all these years?”

  “Aye, because I promised her.”

  A look of guilt crossed Neil’s face, but it disappeared with a toss of his head. “At least I didn’t kill my own wife like your brother did.”

  Ruari went after Neil, grabbing him by the tunic and hauling his fist back to punch him, but Aedan stopped him.

  “What the hell does that mean, Neil? He was nowhere near his wife when she fell off her horse.”

  Ruari let go of him to allow him to speak freely.

  “If he hadn’t argued with her, it never would have happened,” Neil explained, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

  Aedan looked at his brother and said, “Now you can hit him.”

  “With pleasure.” He hit him hard enough to knock him down.

  And he couldn’t help but smile.

  ***

  When they finally arrived back on Cameron land, Ruari still hadn’t adjusted to all he’d heard. Nor did he expect Juliana had processed the revelation that she had a niece somewhere.

  He kissed her neck because she’d fallen a
sleep against him. “We’re almost there, love,” he whispered. “I’ll have you in decent clothes soon.”

  She’d gratefully accepted a gown from one of the serving lasses.

  But something niggled at him as they continued on toward a keep.

  “Aedan,” he called out to his brother next to him. “Do you smell smoke?”

  “Aye,” he said. They exchanged a look, then both brothers pushed their horses to go faster.

  The closer they came to Cameron land, the stronger the scent grew. When they drew close, they noticed a brigade of clan members passing buckets of water along in a line from a well toward the keep. Others ran back and forth in a less organized fashion, shouts of fear and anguish filling the air.

  Aedan dismounted so fast, Ruari barely saw him do it.

  “Jennie? Tara, Riley…Brin!”

  Jennie greeted him swiftly, explaining, “The children are all fine. No one was hurt.”

  “Where is the fire?” he asked, pushing past Jennie and taking her hand.

  Ruari followed him, holding Juliana’s hand. She’d awakened enough to dismount on her own and was walking on her own two feet. “Go,” she said, squeezing his hand. “I’ll wait here. The smoke…”

  The smoke was heavier than he’d ever seen from a keep fire. Stone didn’t burn easily.

  “How did it start, Jennie? Where?” Aedan bellowed, holding his shirt over his face as he drew closer to the smoke. “Is the fire out?”

  “Aye, your men put the fire out.” She turned into one of the huts. “Your mother, Aedan. She fell asleep and must have set a candle too close to the furs next to the hearth. We got her out, but she took in quite a bit of smoke. I brought her here so I could keep an eye on her.”

  She led the brothers to the bed where their mother lay, breathing heavily. “Aedan,” she said, reaching for her son. “Go back in. You must get…Ruari…my bairn…”

  “Mama, Ruari’s right here.” Aedan reached for him, pulling him closer.

  “Mama, I’m fine. I’m right here.” He knelt next to the bed so she could see his face.

  Her hand reached for his cheek, but to his surprise, she said, “Nay. Ruari is only ten. He’s just a lad. You must get him out.”

  “Here he is, Mama,” Aedan said. “He’s fine.” Something flashed in his eyes, and his gaze fell to Brin, who’d joined them in the hut. Leaning down to his son, Aedan whispered, “Just tell her you’re fine.”

  “I’m fine,” Brin said.

  “Mama. Say Mama.”

  Brin repeated. “I’m fine, Mama.”

  “Oh, thank the Lord above. Ruari, I was so worried about you. Now you must stop worrying that Aedan is the chieftain and you’re not.” Her eyes drifted closed.

  Jennie patted Brin’s back and said, “Well done. You can go back outside. Go to the stables away from the smoke, Brin.” He scampered away.

  Ruari glanced at his brother, stricken. “Now she’s lost her mind?”

  Jennie patted his wrist and said, “Her mind has been going for a long time, Ruari. She’s in and out. It depends on the day.”

  Ruari stared at his mother, trying his best to comprehend what this meant.

  “You didn’t notice?” Aedan asked.

  Ruari scratched his head, still staring at his mother lying asleep in the bed. “I knew she was confused at times, but I didn’t think she’d lost her mind completely.”

  “She’s considered you to be ten for quite a while,” Jennie said. “That often happens with older people. They revert back to their favorite times in their lives. When your father was still alive and you and Aedan were younger. She still loves you.” She walked out and said, “I’m going to see if anyone else needs me, Aedan.”

  Aedan looked at him thoughtfully. “You truly think she thought you less than me as a man?” he asked. “Hell nay. She considered you too young.” He grinned at him then, slapping him on the back.

  His mother awakened and said, “Ruari, where are you? Ruari, come sit with me.”

  “You always were her favorite,” Aedan continued, although it was said with no umbrage.

  Ruari sat on the stool next to the bed and reached for his mother’s hand. He didn’t say anything, afraid his deep voice would confuse her. He wanted her to think whatever she wished. Whatever gave her comfort.

  “That’s my lad.”

  She closed her eyes and fell back asleep.

  He stared at his dear mother, wondering why he’d been so blind to her condition. True, she sometimes spoke to him as if he were a wee lad, but he’d only known her to do so after dark. He’d told himself her mind wandered at night, when she was tired.

  “I’m so sorry, Mama,” leaning over to kiss her cheek. “I should have visited you more often.”

  He swiped at his eyes, still holding her hand to warm the cool appendage. “All this time, I thought you didn’t believe in me. I wrongly accused you of thinking Aedan was the better man. But to you, he was simply the older man.”

  He stared up at the ceiling, doing his best to stay the tears in his eyes.

  “Hell.”

  He sat there for a long time, staring at his mother’s sleeping face, wondering how he could have misunderstood her so.

  Then a sudden understanding hit him.

  “Because I wanted to.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Ruari lay in bed next to his new wife. He’d never thought it possible to be this happy. He’d told her so many times.

  They’d married quietly, though her sire had attended the wedding. He’d returned home immediately afterward, saying he needed to rest after all that had happened.

  Especially since they’d learned that the graveyard behind Munro Castle held the bones of Ailbeart’s three wives. His three dead wives—something her father had struggled to accept. Although it had taken Juliana some time to overcome the shock of that discovery, the happiness of the past fortnight had helped.

  Stirring in bed, she stretched her arms and then reached for him. “Will I ever tire of you, husband? Make love to me.”

  “Are you sure? You’re not sore from last night?”

  “Never.”

  Ruari kissed her tenderly, but she slipped her tongue into his mouth, and soon their tongues were dueling.

  He ended the kiss with a growl, bringing himself up on his elbows and settling over her. “Juliana, you drive me to a need I cannot control. I planned to make this tender and slow.”

  She laughed and took hold of him, bringing him to her entrance, teasing both of them. “Ruari, will I ever tire of this?”

  He whispered into her ear, “Take me inside you. Lead me home.” She spread her legs and guided him until he took over, thrusting inside of her with a moan, stopping for a moment to make sure she’d accepted him with ease.

  “More,” she whispered.

  He gave her what she wanted, picking up his rhythm until she matched him and they rocked the bed. When she was so slick he couldn’t take it anymore, he said, “I cannot last much longer, love. Are you close?”

  She spread her legs wide and answered him with a moan, her inner muscles contracting as she convulsed in pleasure, crying out his name. He careened off the edge with her.

  They lay in each other’s arms panting. He feathered her neck with tiny kisses simply because he was unable to speak.

  He rolled onto his back and tucked her in close, sighing with pleasure.

  “Ruari, do you know what saddens me?” she whispered, her hands playing with the coarse hairs on his chest.

  “Hmmm?”

  “That my sister never knew love the way it’s supposed to be.”

  If it hadn’t been for Juliana, he’d never have known either.

  ***

  Juliana squeezed Ruari’s hand as they approached Stonecroft Abbey. He helped her down from her horse and kissed her cheek.

  “Are you happy, wife?”

  “Verra.”

  “Good, because I’ve never been happier.”

  Ruari ha
d taken on his new duties as Aedan’s second, with Padraig as his assistant. They’d moved into the tower chamber, which the women of the clan had restored for them, and Ruari’s mother had been moved to a chamber off the great hall. It would be easier for everyone to keep an eye on her, for the doorway had been widened.

  Life was good.

  Juliana glanced at her husband, the man she adored. She recalled the conversation he’d had with Aedan about how it had taken him a fire and a thunderstorm and a sweet lass to finally find himself, but as far as she was concerned Padraig had the right of it.

  “You knew who you were when you told your brother Juliana was more important than being his second,” he’d said. “You didn’t need the fire to convince you of that.”

  She loved that he’d said that about her.

  They’d spoken with the abbess, who’d confirmed Juliana did indeed have a niece. Moreover, she’d met her.

  And so they’d come to Stonecroft Abbey on this cloudy day so that the abbess might bring them to Joan’s daughter. Before they stepped inside the front door, Juliana had an odd compulsion to walk around the abbey to the back, so she tugged on Ruari’s hand and led him that way without explaining why.

  He didn’t question what she was doing and she loved him for that, instead following her through a small garden and around a stone wall. The moment she stepped around the wall, she gasped. She lifted her gaze to his to see if he’d noticed.

  He whispered, “’Tis the exact scene in your tapestry.”

  She laughed, raising her hands up to the sun that had just peeked out of the clouds, showering both of them with its warm rays. There, across the meadow full of lavender, stood her niece.

  She was the missing piece in her needlework.

  The lass smiled and began heading their way, so Juliana dropped her husband’s hand and hurried to meet her.

  Her hands were shaking when the lassie came to stand in front of her.

  “I’m so glad you returned,” Anora said, rushing in to hug her. “We miss Sister Joan terribly. What will you do without her?”