Brenda Joyce, Terri Brisbin, Michelle Willingham

by Highlanders - The Warriorand the Rose; The Forbidden Highlander; Rescued by the Highland Warrior

  “We made our peace,” was all she could say. But with each mile they drew closer, her pulse quickened with fear.

  Melisandre looked doubtful. “What if the MacKinlochs refuse to let us stay? Where will we go?”

  “They won’t turn us away,” she assured her. “But even if they did, we could always appeal to the Baron of Locharr.”

  Celeste refused to consider failure. Dougal would be angry, but she would not let him go a second time. The true question was whether or not he would set aside his pride and forgive her.

  They continued riding until they reached the gates. Once they arrived, Lord Eiloch’s men departed, leaving them to stand there alone.

  To the guards, Celeste said, “I’ve brought a gift for Dougal MacKinloch.” They recognized her from the earlier visit and allowed her to enter. But once she and Melisandre were past the gates, she sensed a chill in the atmosphere. There were stares in her direction but no smiles.

  “They don’t seem happy to see us,” Melisandre whispered.

  Celeste dismounted and led the stallion forward. There were people tending sheep and others milling about. Though she greeted a few of them, none answered her.

  At the bottom of the stairs leading into the castle stood Nairna. The woman’s face was grave, her green eyes wary. Celeste suspected Dougal had told his family the very worst about her.

  “I came to uphold my part of the agreement,” she said to Nairna, holding out the horse. “I promised Dougal this stallion.”

  “He does not wish to see you,” the woman answered.

  She knew. Somehow Nairna had guessed what had happened between them. But Celeste hadn’t journeyed this far to give up.

  “Is he here?” she asked gently. “There is something he needs to know. I must speak with him.”

  “He is, but I will honor his wishes. You’ve brought the horse, and you can go back to Eiloch.” Nairna’s words were like frost, and her warning was clear: Hurt a MacKinloch man, and there is no place for you here.

  But they could not return to Eiloch. She had given up everything to come here, and there was no turning back. Celeste closed her hand over Melisandre’s and regarded Nairna. “I don’t know what he told you, but if I could just see him...“

  “He knows you are here. If he wants to see you, he will.” Nairna took the reins of the horse. “I’ll bring the stallion to him.”

  She made no offer of hospitality or a place to rest. Celeste stood frozen while the woman took the horse away. Melisandre dismounted from her own animal, wariness written all over her face. “I thought we would be living here.”

  “I suppose I was wrong.” Celeste could find no words to ease her sister’s fear, for her own worries were drowning her. They had a little food, but not much. It would be dark within hours, and they needed a place to sleep. It was half a day’s journey to Locharr, too far to reach the fortress by tonight.

  “I don’t know what you said or did,” her younger sister remarked, “but let me try.” Melisandre walked forward with her own horse, adding, “I’ll bring my horse to the stable and find out what I can. If you think it’s safe?”

  Celeste nodded. “No one will harm you. And in the meantime, I’ll see if I can find Dougal.” They split off, and she walked back toward his home. She could only pray that he was there and would agree to talk to her.

  She made it halfway before she saw Dougal walking forward. His hair was slightly longer, his face unshaven and rough. He wore trews and a saffron shirt, and two dirks were strapped to him—one within a leather belt, and she spied the hilt of another at his shoulder. His dark brown eyes stared past her, as if she wasn’t even there. Celeste held her ground, refusing to back down.

  “I brought you the stallion.”

  Dougal said nothing but continued walking forward. His fury was palpable, and she hurried forward to catch up to him.

  “Well, at the very least you should thank me. He’s an expensive horse.”

  Her words had the intended effect. He spun, his eyes blazing. “Thank you? For demanding that I be your escort and trying to steal a child from me, to pass off as your husband’s?”

  He moved in so fast, she lost her breath when he seized her shoulders. “I let no one use me, Lady Celeste. And if you think I want anything at all from you, you’re wrong.”

  “I left Eiloch and gave my husband’s brother everything,” she said quietly. “To come to you.”

  “There is no place for you here,” he countered. “Not after what you did.”

  Her own temper erupted at that. “And what did I do that was so wrong? I went to seek help for my sister in any way that I could. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t lay down your life for one of your brothers.”

  “It’s not the same.”

  “No, because you aren’t a woman. I came to you for help, and I offered you the payment you wanted. I kept my word.”

  “You used me.”

  She drew herself up to her full height, glaring at him. “I didn’t hear you saying no to me that night. You enjoyed every moment of it, and that’s what angers you most. Because you still want me, even after all that.”

  She rested her hand upon his throat and could feel his rapid pulse beneath her fingers. “It was my choice to lie with you that night. And I never stole anything from you. I returned and kept my promise, just as I said I would.”

  “I don’t want you, Celeste. I’ll accept the horse, but that’s all I want from you. You’re nothing to me.”

  He walked away, leaving her to stand there alone. Tears welled up inside her, and she turned away to let them fall. Better to release them now, where no one would see, than to be weak before her sister. Melisandre needed her to be strong. They had to gain shelter and somehow survive this.

  But she simply didn’t know how to break down the stony pride of a man who hated her.

  * * *

  “DO YOU WANT me to send her away?” Laren asked while Dougal examined the stallion Celeste had brought. “She traveled a long way to see you.” His brother’s wife kept her voice even, but he sensed the frustration in her. She was dying to ask him what had happened, but he would say nothing.

  Just remembering that night made him feel like a fool. Celeste had invited him into her bath, using her body and words to seduce him. He’d been such a fool, only too eager to touch her, to sheathe himself in her body and watch her crumble.

  Had she ever wanted him? Or had she merely schemed to conceive a child to protect herself from her husband’s brother? He didn’t know.

  After he’d left her, she’d gone back to Eiloch without a second thought. She’d returned with her enemy, leaving him to wonder if she was even alive.

  And now that he’d seen her again, he craved her even more. Seeing her here, with her golden-brown hair pinned beneath a veil, her blue gown clinging to a slender waist, made him want to drag her back home again.

  He loathed himself for the weakness.

  “Dougal?” Laren questioned again. “She brought her sister and wants to stay.” The woman moved forward to stand at his side. “But Nairna thinks she should go back.”

  She was leaving the decision up to him, but he knew what her wishes would be. “You don’t want to send them away.”

  Laren shook her head. “I spoke with Melisandre for a short while. She said that Celeste gave up all rights to her land, to return to you.”

  He said nothing, refusing to believe any of it.

  His brother’s wife touched his arm, asking gently, “Why do you fight your feelings for her? I can see in your face how much it hurt when she left.”

  “I knew she would leave me.” Every woman he’d ever known had left; why would Celeste be any different?

  “She came back,” Laren said. “And I think you should give her another chance. At least hear what she has to say.”

  “She gave me nothing but lies, Laren. Why would I want to hear more?”

  The young woman let out a sigh. “Stubbornness runs in MacKinloch blood.” She st
ood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Her sister can sleep with my girls this night.”

  “And what of Lady Eiloch?” he demanded, unable to stop himself from asking.

  “Where do you want me to send her?” Without waiting for a reply, Laren walked away.

  Dougal grimaced, for he knew he would find Celeste in his dwelling. The question was whether or not he’d have the willpower to turn her away. Or whether he should.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CELESTE STOOD WITHIN the fence boundaries while the stallion explored his new home. Dougal kept his mare, Ivory, separated, but the animal appeared nervous at the arrival of the new horse. In one hand, he held a carrot, intending to entice Titan with it. The stallion was fully aware of him, but showed more interest in grazing.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” Dougal warned Celeste. “He’s nervous already.”

  “I traveled with him all the way here,” she countered. Her blue eyes fixed upon him, and she added, “He’s the most stubborn creature I’ve ever met. He won’t listen to anything I say.”

  He thought he detected an undertone beneath her words. “Horses can sense when a rider is not in command.”

  “It doesn’t matter what I say or do. He’s made up his mind already.” She went to stand beside him, and crossed her arms. “He doesn’t understand that I only wanted to take care of him.”

  “Are we still talking about horses?” He risked a glance, and the glare in her eyes was unmistakable.

  “I gave up my land to keep a promise to you. And it seems I made the wrong choice, since you’re determined that I should not stay here.”

  “Laren is Lady of Glen Arrin. She’ll give you a place for the night until you can go.”

  “Is that what you want? For us to leave and never return?”

  “Yes.” He spoke without thinking, but the words held a note of falsehood. When he was around Celeste, he hardly knew himself anymore. He wanted her in his arms, her mouth upon his. He wanted to awaken beside her in the morning and fall asleep with her at night.

  She was his greatest weakness, and he didn’t want to trust her again. When he’d allowed himself to believe, for a moment, that she’d wanted him, he’d felt a sense of wholeness. As if there was someone who would stand by him, who needed him. When Lord Eiloch had offered the ugly truth, it had only confirmed what he’d feared—that she’d only wanted to use him.

  “Just a few days,” she murmured, lifting her face to his in a wordless plea. “If you cannot forgive me, then I’ll go.”

  He didn’t want to try again. For he sensed that if he took even a single step forward, he would end up in her bed once more. Celeste de Laurent was like a sorceress, binding him to her until there was nothing left of himself.

  She took his hand in hers. “We could go for a ride if you want. I could take Ivory and you could ride Titan.”

  “Ivory is still getting used to having a saddle,” he argued. “She’s not safe for you.”

  “Then I’ll see what I can do to tame that beast of a horse. I’ll ride Titan, if I must.” She sent him a slight smile. “We could race them.”

  “I’d win.” He pointed toward the stallion, who was still grazing. “Your mount is more interested in food.”

  “That could change, if he’s running alongside the female. He might try to chase her.” She straightened and offered, “I’ll make you a wager on it.”

  “And what do you want if you win?” Although he doubted if her stallion would obey her enough to win the race, he wondered what she would ask for.

  “I want to stay at Glen Arrin,” she said, “with my sister.”

  Already she was taking the stallion by the bridle, leading him away from the grass. She spoke to him in a firm tone, as if trying to convince the animal to win. Dougal went to retrieve Ivory, amused by the way she was chiding the stallion.

  “What do you want from me if you win?” she asked.

  He helped her saddle Titan again, then boosted her up. “You already know what I want.”

  Her face dimmed. “Don’t ask me to leave, Dougal.” The hurt look in her eyes made him feel like a bastard. But damn her, why should he let her stay? He had no desire to be tormented by her presence each day, reminded of the way she’d seduced him and cast him aside.

  Celeste dug her heels into the stallion and urged him out toward the open fields. Without even waiting for him, she started the race. Cheating, was she?

  He had to hurry to saddle Ivory and then catch up to her. Celeste had gained a strong lead, and as she took the stallion north, Dougal marveled at how well Titan ran.

  Ivory raced to catch up, and the mare began to close the distance. Although Titan was a fast stallion, Celeste wasn’t as skilled a rider. She was also racing toward the edge of another loch. Dougal followed her, and soon enough, their horses were side by side.

  He could pull ahead and win the race. But something held him back. Ivory, however, had other ideas, and began to force her way to the front. Celeste appeared dismayed and leaned forward, urging the horse even faster.

  But the stallion had grown winded and was already slowing down.

  “Come on!” she urged, but Ivory had pulled all the way ahead of them while Titan had slowed to a trot. When she tried again to move him forward, the horse reared up, sending her flying into the water.

  He’d won.

  Dougal wheeled the horse around and hurried back to where she’d been thrown. Celeste trudged through the waist-high water, glaring at the stallion. The animal nickered at her, and she was so angry, she flicked water at it. “You are welcome to him, for he’s a horrible creature.”

  Her hair was sodden from the water, her gown plastered to her body. Dougal couldn’t stop the laugh that rumbled from inside him. He dismounted, holding on to Ivory’s reins.

  “Don’t you dare laugh,” she warned. “I don’t know why I ever thought this was a good idea.”

  “I warned you.” His grin was so broad, she dipped her hands in the water and slung a wave at him. The water doused him in the face, dripping down his shirt, but he hardly cared as he laughed even harder. “Next time you need someone to tend you in the bath, I’ll send my horse.”

  “How can you stand there and laugh at me?” she demanded, sloshing through the water until she stood before him. “This isn’t at all funny.”

  Oh, but it was. He reached out for her veil and wrung it out. His shoulders shook as he did, but when he glanced back at Celeste, she was crying. Her face held a lifetime of misery, and she clutched her waist as if she was in pain.

  “Were you hurt?” he asked, letting go of Ivory’s reins. She’d struck the water, but had he been wrong? Had she hit her head? He hurried to her, not knowing if he should touch her or not.

  “It w-wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” she sobbed. “I thought when I returned that you’d be glad to see me. That you’d want your horse.”

  “I did want my horse.”‘

  “But you wanted to be rid of me,” she wept.

  He was so dumbfounded by her reaction, he raked a hand through his hair, wondering what to say. Before he could think of anything, she started pouring out her woes.

  “I don’t know why I ever thought I should return to you. It was awful at Eiloch, but at least I’d have a place to sleep at night.”

  “Until they tried to kill you,” he felt compelled to point out.

  Celeste leaned into his tunic, pressing her face against his heart. “You made me feel safe. And I don’t care what Lionel said to you—it wasn’t true. I never would have taken a child from you. At least...not without coming back.”

  Every word he’d been meaning to say froze within his throat. Was that the reason she’d returned? “You’re not having a child, are you?”

  “I don’t know. Perhaps not. Or maybe I am. But even if I was, you’d never want to see me again.” She wiped at her eyes and tried to step back.

  Before she could move away, he slid his arms around her waist and drew her in again.
“You’ll stay here until we know if there is a child.”

  She let out a slow breath. Her eyes were wet and red-rimmed. “Will you forgive me for what I did, Dougal?”

  He went motionless, realizing that she was not speaking only of the time during the past fortnight. She was talking of the choice she’d made, to wed Edmon de Laurent.

  Her face flushed, but she reached up to touch his cheek. “You have a terrible temper, and you’re as stubborn as that wretched stallion. But you’re the only man I want. And . . .” She mumbled something against his chest that he couldn’t quite believe.

  “And what?” He tipped her chin up, certain he’d misheard her. “Say it again.”

  “I never stopped loving you,” she whispered. “With every moment I spent at your side, I wanted another day. I couldn’t imagine being with any other man.”

  He searched her face to know if there was truth in her words. When she tried to pull away again, he held her fast. “You’re going to drive me to madness if I let you stay, aren’t you?”

  A hopeful smile touched her mouth. “I want to stay, Dougal. But only with you.”

  * * *

  HIS MOUTH CAME down upon hers, as if he’d needed the words. Celeste wound her arms around his neck, their tongues tangled together as he warmed her wet skin with his body. “You need dry clothes,” he said. “We’re going back.”

  “Or you could build a fire here,” she said. To convince him, she kissed him again, pulling his body as close as she dared. The need to be with him again, to feel his body against hers, was taking apart her inhibitions. His hands were moving over her, and despite the chill of her wet clothes, she was feeling warmer with his touch.

  “No. We’re returning to Glen Arrin,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “Because if I don’t, I’m going to lay you on the ground right here.” He lifted her onto Titan’s saddle, and then startled her by swinging up behind. He took Ivory’s reins and tied them to the saddle, walking the mare behind them.

  “Why did you do that?” she asked.

  He sent her a wicked smile. “So I could touch you during our ride.” Against her bottom, she felt the rise of his erection.