Evie was struggling in her grip, but it was no use. She was caught, and Isabella was like an animal in a trap. Her only guarantee was Evie, and as Hamish took another step towards her, the dagger flashed closer to Evie’s neck.
“Isabella, ye let her go. Yer quarrel is nae with her, ‘Tis with me,” Hamish said, but Isabella shook her head.
“No, Hamish. My quarrel is with anyone who would take you away from me. You stay back, or I shall cut her throat. You know I will,” Isabella said.
It was true. Hamish knew that Isabella would do as she threatened. There could be no reasoning with her, no stopping her if that was what she chose to do. He took a step back, as Isabella pulled Evie towards the hearth.
“Evie, ‘Tis all right, we are here now,” Fraser said, as he now took a step forward, but Isabella shook her head.
“Take one step more, Fraser Elliott, and I will do what my cousin should have done to Isla all those years ago. He should have had the both of you killed, but he was too blinded by her looks to see the treachery in her. If it were up to me, you would all be dead,” Isabella snarled.
But as she spoke those last words, she let out a cry. Evie had sunk her teeth into Isabella’s hand, causing her to drop the dagger and stagger back, almost falling into the fire. Evie rushed into Hamish’s arms, as Fraser, Rory, and Owen took hold of Isabella and dragged her up, kicking the dagger to one side and pulling her from the croft and out into the open air.
“Oh, Hamish, ye came for me, ye came for me,” were all the words which Evie could muster, and Hamish put his arms gently around her, holding her close and comforting her.
“Of course I came for ye, Evie. When ye didnae arrive at the castle, I set out to look for ye, ye didnae think I would abandon ye, did ye?” he said, kissing her on the forehead and then upon the lips.
“I … I didnae know, oh, Hamish,” Evie said, exhaustion seeming to overwhelm her.
“Come now, we need to get ye back to safety,” Hamish said, kissing her once more and then taking her by the hand and leading her outside.
There, Isabella was stood between Rory and Owen, who held her in a tight grip. Fraser Elliott was standing before her, and he turned to embraced Evie as Hamish stepped back.
“My dear daughter, how worried we were when ye left us. Ye were a fool, yer mother is distraught, and we have risked our lives this night to rescue ye,” he said, shaking his head, “but how relieved, too, we are to see ye safe. We feared the worst.”
“I … I am sorry, father. I didnae mean to cause ye such upset, I left because … because I love Hamish, and can ye nae see that he loves me too,” Evie said, turning to Hamish, who nodded.
“I have seen it, lass. I have seen it in him this night, but …” Fraser said, his words trailing off as he turned to look at Isabella, who was scowling.
“Isabella, this is yer doin’ and yers alone,” Hamish said, stepping towards her.
“And I would do it again. She is nothing but a harlot, you will be sorry when my family hears of this. All of you,” Isabella snarled, but Hamish shook his head.
“Isabella, ye are nothin’, but a wicked woman and I despise the very ground ye walk upon. What ye have done here this night proves that ye are worth nothin’ to me. I abhor ye, and I will be glad never to see ye again,” Hamish said.
“Ye will let her go then?” Fraser asked, and Hamish nodded.
“Aye, I will nae stoop to her level, nor allow myself to be corrupted by hatred or anger against her. ‘Tis she who must live her life in this pitiful way, bound up by her jealousy. ‘Tis my wish that she be let free, but with the assurance that if she troubles us again, then such revenge will be mine upon her and upon her family that there will nae be a single stone of the Musgrave castle left standin’ below the borders,” Hamish said, now standing before Isabella, facing her defiantly.
“You are pathetic, Hamish MacBryde. I do not know what I ever saw in you. You are welcome to the harlot, take her for all I care. But know this, today the alliance between my family and yours is broken, such that it can never be restored. You are alone in the world, and your enemies will soon press around. Then perhaps you will ask yourself the question whether she was worth it or not,” Isabella replied.
She drew herself up to her full height, shaking Rory and Owen’s hands from her arms and faced Hamish with such a look of hatred as he had never seen before.
“He is nae alone, Isabella Musgrave, nae after tonight,” Fraser Elliott said, stepping forward, “he may have made an enemy in ye and yer family, but he has gained a friend in mine and among all Scots loyal to our cause. We Elliotts will nae forget what yer cousin and his father did to us, and tonight I feared that history would repeat itself. If it were nae for Hamish MacBryde, then perhaps it would have done. But how fortunate that we have found a friend in him, and sent ye fleein’ back across the border.”
“Go now, Isabella. This is the end,” Hamish said, pointing along the track towards the border.
“This is only the beginning,” she snarled and hurried off along the track, not even looking behind her, as Evie came to put her arm around Hamish.
“Let us go from this accursed place,” she whispered, and Hamish nodded.
“Aye,” he replied, turning to Fraser, who nodded, “ nae far to the MacBryde castle, ye shall all have shelter there this night. Come, follow me.”
“Elliotts acceptin’ the hospitality of a MacBryde, now there is a story to be told,” Fraser said, turning to his sons, who smiled and nodded.
“But it seems that the Laird of the MacBrydes has proved himself in the eyes of us all,” Rory said, nodding to Hamish, who smiled in the moonlight.
“I am a man of my word, and I have always told ye that all I wish for is peace. Let tonight be the beginnin’ of that peace between us,” Hamish said, and taking Evie by the hand, he led them from the croft and up onto the moorlands.
A new era for us all, he thought to himself, the worries of that night now replaced by hope, the hope of better things to come.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Evie awoke to the sound of a door opening, and for a moment, she wondered where she was. But as she opened her eyes and rolled over, the events of the previous night came flooding back. She was in a bed in the MacBryde castle, and sunlight was streaming through the window. A fire burned in the hearth and the room felt snug and warm. She had several blankets over her and the curtains around the bed had been partially drawn.
As she sat up, Hamish appeared before her, quietly closing the door behind him and coming to sit next to her.
“I thought ye would never wake up,” he said, smiling at her and taking her hand.
“How … how long have I slept?” she asked, and he shook his head and laughed.
“Well, ye have missed yer breakfast and almost yer dinner,” he said, “but does nae matter. All that matters is that ye are safe, lass.”
She smiled at him, her fingers running along his hand, as their eyes met.
“Isabella will nae harm us anymore, will she?” Evie asked, her mind returning to the horrible events of the previous night.
But Hamish shook his head.
“She is gone, the Musgrave soldiers are gone, and yer father has welcomed the MacBrydes as friends, nae enemies,” he said, “the auld alliance between the MacBrydes and the Musgraves is ended, and a new alliance between us and ye has now come about. We are nay longer enemies, Evie,” and he laughed.
“Ye and I were never enemies, Hamish,” she said, as he leaned down to kiss her.
A shiver ran through her at his touch. How she had longed for him, and she felt guilty for even thinking that he might have abandoned her.
“I am sorry to have put ye through so much,” she said, but he shook his head and put his arms around her.
“Ye have nothin’ to be sorry for, I would dae it all again and more for ye. I love ye, Evie, and I hope that still, ye wish to be my wife,” he said, and Evie nodded.
“More than anythin’ in a
ll the world,” she said.
His hand lingered on hers, their lips meeting again, as he pulled himself closer to her. She let out a sigh, as he kissed her upon the neck, and she lay back upon the bed, his gentle touch upon her.
“I love ye so very much, Evie. I didnae know what love was until I met ye. I felt such passion for ye, I couldnae bear to be without ye,” he said, his hands now running down her nightgown, as she began to kiss him more passionately.
“I … I love ye too, Hamish. They were wrong about ye, they were all wrong about ye, but I knew that what we were doin’ was right,” she whispered.
“And does this feel right?” he asked, and she nodded.
“It feels just right,” she said, as his hands caressed her breasts and she let out a cry of delight.
With gentle passion, he pulled back her nightgown, taking her in his arms, and pulling his tunic off. She lay back upon the bed, unsure of what to expect, but her passions now aroused. He kissed her, his lips moving to her neck and down her body, sending a shiver running through her as she began to tense.
“ all right, Evie, I will show ye,” he whispered, gently.
At his words, she ran her hand through his hair as he encircled her breasts with his lips. She had never felt such sensations running through her, his hands and lips bringing her to such a state of arousal as to be almost intoxicating. She let out a sigh, for she had imagined this moment for so long, but known not what to expect.
“Oh … ‘Tis …” she began, but words failed her, as he rose and began to kiss her more passionately, his whole body now upon her, as his hands gently parted her legs, and he brought himself upon her.
The sensation caught her by surprise, and she was entirely unprepared for the surge of feeling which ran through her. For a moment, she wanted to push him back, but gently he eased himself further towards her, and with a gasp, she looked up at him as he smiled at her.
“I love ye, Evie, I will always love ye,” he said, his arms around her as he moved passionately upon her.
She could hardly speak, so intense was the feeling now running through her, a pain now lessening and becoming only a pleasure. She let out a cry of delight, moving further towards him. Their bodies now entwined as he made love to her, and every single sensation within her was aroused. With a shudder, he let out a cry, his lips finding Evie’s, as he rolled breathlessly to one side, pulling her on top of him and laughing.
“What is so funny?” she asked as he shook his head.
“Nothin’ but … oh, ‘Tis … ‘Tis the first time I have felt such a way for a woman, and all I want is more. Ye will marry, tell me ye will marry me?” he said, and now it was her turn to laugh.
“Ye silly man, of course, I shall marry ye, how many times must I tell ye that I shall marry ye? I love ye, Hamish MacBryde, and it seems now that even my father and brothers have accepted that fact,” she said.
“I think they have, and pray too that yer mother will also,” he said.
* * *
Evie returned to Kirklinton a few days later. She had made a good recovery after her ordeal, and Hamish accompanied her. She felt nervous at the thought of facing her mother for the first time, wondering what she would say.
“It will be all right, lass, she will see that ye are happy,” Hamish said, as they arrived at the gates of Kirklinton.
But Evie was not entirely convinced. Would her mother welcome her or scold her?
“Ye daenae know my mother,” she said, as Hamish slipped his arm around her.
I.
“So, the wanderer returns,” Sweeney said, as he emerged to greet them.
They had come by horseback, and the banners of the castle had been raised to welcome Evie home. She smiled at Sweeney, dismounting her horse and running to embrace him.
“I am glad to see ye, Sweeney, and thank ye again for comin’ to my rescue,” she said.
Her Godfather laughed.
“I would dae anythin’ for ye, lass, and if means an adventure alongside then all the better. Ye best be getting’ inside, yer mother will be eager to see ye,” Sweeney replied, nodding to Hamish, who followed behind.
The snow still lay thickly upon the borderlands, though the day was bright and crisp, the sun high in the sky above. Evie took hold of Hamish’s hand, and together they made their way into the keep.
The family was waiting to greet them in the Great Hall, and when Evie entered, her mother came running to her. She threw her arms about her, kissing her and admonishing her for the worry she had caused. But there was relief, not anger, in her face and tears rolled down her cheek as she led Evie to a seat by the fire.
“Oh, my darlin’ child, how pleased I am to have ye home and how well ye look, considerin’ yer ordeal,” her mother said, a smile now upon her face as the tears kept running down her cheeks.
“Well, mother, I have been well looked after,” Evie said, looking up at Hamish, who blushed.
“Ah, yes, Hamish MacBryde,” Evie’s mother said, turning to face Hamish, who bowed.
“I am at yer service, madam, and I assure ye that I have done all I can to take care of yer daughter,” he replied.
Isla glanced at Fraser, who nodded, and she sighed, shaking her head before looking back at Hamish.
“My husband has told me of everythin’ ye have done for our family. Ye have been a true friend to Evie and shown her nothin’ but kindness, even in the face of … well, our hostility towards ye. I am grateful to ye, Hamish, for rescuin’ Evie from a fate which … I can imagine all too well. Ye showed yerself to be far from the MacBryde I imagined ye to be,” Isla said, and Hamish nodded.
“Ye had every reason to hate me, madam, and I couldnae blame any of ye for yer distrust of me. But now, I ask that we put those differences aside and that I be permitted to marry yer daughter if it be her wish too,” Hamish said, and all eyes now fell on Evie.
“Of course it be my wish. ‘Tis all I wish for and all that my heart longs for, ye will say aye, please, mother?” Evie said, taking her mother’s hand and looking at her imploringly.
“How could I stand in yer way now, Evie,” her mother replied, smiling at her and embracing her.
Fraser Elliott now stepped forward, and he held out his hand to Hamish, who gladly took it. The two men now embraced, and it was as though a generation of conflict now came to an end in that one act of recognition and exchange.
“Let the old conflicts be at an end. Nay longer will the MacBrydes and the Elliotts be sworn enemies. But instead, let us pursue all that makes for peace and see our common enemy as those who would challenge that peace between our clans,” he said, turning to Rory and Owen, who nodded.
“. Ye are a good man, Hamish MacBryde, and ye shall make a good brother when ye and Evie are married,” Rory said, smiling.
“ my vow that we shall have peace, united against our enemies for the good of all Scots,” Hamish said, turning to each of them in turn, “but to ye, Evie, I pledge my heart and soul for the rest of our days together.”
Evie smiled, stepping forward and taking Hamish by the hand. She kissed him, and he put his arms around her, as her mother clasped her hands together, fresh tears running down her cheeks.
Just then, another figure stepped forward, and Evie looked up in surprise. It was Caitlin, her hands clasped meekly in front of her.
“Hello, Evie,” she said, and Evie nodded.
“ all right, Caitlin. I am nae angry with ye, well, a little perhaps, but nae so much as nae to forgive ye. I know why ye did what ye did. Ye were only tryin’ to protect me,” Evie said, and Caitlin smiled.
She ran to Evie, throwing her arms around her and kissing her on both cheeks.
“When I heard what had happened, I was so worried,” she said, “but it seems I was wrong about Hamish,” and she turned to the Laird and blushed.
“There was a lot we were all wrong about, Caitlin,” Evie’s mother said, “but all is well that ends well, and we have our Evie back and a new alliance too.”
/> “Come now, we must celebrate.” Fraser said, “have a barrel of whiskey tapped for the men, we must drink a toast.”
Epilogue
Evie and Hamish walked together on the moorlands by Kirklinton. It was a cloudless day, the winter sun sitting low in the sky overhead and the snowy landscape stretching endlessly out into the distance beyond. They walked hand in hand, taking the path towards the Armstrong castle, and the sight of their first meeting.
“There is much which lies ahead of us now, Evie,” Hamish said, as they came to the ridge and looked down at the castle below.
“But we shall face it together, as will our clans,” she replied.
A Highlander Born From Chaos (Highlanders 0f Kirklinton Book 2) Page 25
