Balfour rolled to his knees, struggling to his feet.
“Are you okay?” Blair asked.
He squeezed her hand, then relaxed his hold. When he nodded, they all headed toward the gawking villagers. She coughed up a gallon of salt water, and fought the urge to collapse into the sand. Keegan rushed up and hugged her.
“I found yer ledgers,” he said. Tears sparkled behind his eyelids.
She had scared him again, and the small boy was trying hard to be brave. “Thank you, Keegan. They were the only important things on the boat.”
“Nay, mother! Captain, I meant to say. Ye and the crew were the important things, and ye nearly drowned.”
Coughing, Blair squeezed him to her chest. The damp shirt clung to her breasts and belly. She’d have to use him as a blanket, until they reached the village. She turned to Bill. “We might still reclaim the wool, if the sacks wash ashore. The other boats made it to beach okay?”
“Aye. The men are combing the surf for the skiff, oars, and cargo.”
Blair glanced toward the shore, where waves crashed and foamed. “The boat broke up in the surf, but any salvaged wood could be useful.”
“Head to the village, and get yerself some dry clothes.” Bill walked off, shouting orders, and giving Blair a chance to collect herself. She’d thank him later. With Keegan in her arms, she glanced around. Where was Balfour?
He was here a minute ago.
He’d saved her life. Blair fell to one knee, and held her son away. “Keegan, head to the village. Keep my ledgers safe, okay?”
The boy ran to where he had dropped the protected bundle, and headed toward where their cave lay hidden, behind a thick stand of rowan trees. Straightening, Blair inhaled fresh air without coughing, then glanced around for her savior.
At the tree line, Balfour was on his knees. Raven stood beside him, brandishing a gully knife, as Thomas tied Balfour’s hands behind his back.
Blair raced up the pebble-strewn beach, her waterlogged boots sloshing with each step. “Holy Moses! What do you think you’re doing?”
Thomas stepped back, bowed, then hurried off. Raven glared at Balfour, and ignored her. The prisoner was breathing heavily, and a reddish mark bloomed on the left side of his chest. “Did you kick him?”
“Aye. He had his hands all over ye.”
Blair shoved Raven back two feet, then punched the front of his shoulder. “Raven, I want you to listen to me! I won’t say this again.”
Her first mate glared down at her, but kept quiet. He must have read the anger-fueled determination in her eyes.
“Don’t touch him again. He just saved my life. Days ago, he saved Keegan’s life. If you don’t like him touching me, too bad! You have no claim on me, am I clear?”
Moments passed, but the man finally nodded. “My mistake, Captain.”
When Raven disappeared into the cave, without carrying any of the supplies, Blair sighed. Shaking off her anger, she bent over, and untied Balfour’s hands. “He’s an ass.”
“Then why do ye keep him around?”
Balfour’s question was a valid one. “He was my husband’s first mate. He was away from our village the day the English attacked.”
Blair shivered, as the images of dead bodies, and burning homes, wavered in front of her eyes.
“Lass?” Balfour whispered. He struggled to his feet, and stepped closer.
“I’m…okay. When I saw MacIan fall dead, I took charge. I led the survivors to this island, under cover of darkness.”
“And Raven?”
“When he caught up with our ship, I had already been voted Captain by popular demand.”
“That bit of news must have irritated him. Do ye no’ fear he will mutiny, and take yer place?”
“I fear he wants to marry me, and then take over everything.” She sighed. Putting her fears into words made her shudder. Did the ocean breeze, wafting over her damp clothing chill her, or the thought of Raven in her bed? When Balfour rested a warm palm on her shoulder, she jumped.
“Captain, ‘tis something ye must prepare to face. I, for one, wish ye no’ to marry a man like him. He would ne’er see to yer pleasure.” Balfour sent her a crooked grin, then headed to the shoreline, where Bill shouted orders. The crew grabbed their salvaged cargo, and carried it toward the cave. Balfour hefted two large sacks of potatoes onto his shoulders, then followed the others. Running ahead of the group, she prayed he would not deceive them.
I’d hate to have to kill him.
***
Shouldering his burden, Niall followed other crewmen into a cave. It lay hidden by a thick grove of vine-covered trees, of indiscernible variety. Once inside the long dark tunnel, he relaxed. Raven was somewhere ahead, not pointing a blade at his heart. The wind had died down, or it could not reach inside the cave. As he walked, steam hissed from crevices along one side of the tunnel, and the scent of mineral-rich moisture filled his nose.
When a familiar fragrance interceded, he hurried to catch up to the captain. Heat slammed him in the face, quickly drying his damp hair. He’d lost his sash, but not his eye-patch. Wet strands covered most of his face, helping hide his features.
Keeping his identity secret had merit. Many of the crew seemed to know the area around Wick very well. Since his bruised cheek and eye had nearly healed, someone might recognize him as Niall Sinclair. If they had spied him at times going in or out of the castle, or riding along the trails to Lana’s cottage, his troubles could only worsen.
Since Raven had relieved him of his borrowed boots, he trudged through the sandy soil that had turned into a muddy crust. The darkness lifted, as the end of the tunnel loomed. Niall paused to get his bearings, recalling the length of the tunnel to the beach. An escape plan required planning and cunning.
He shifted the heavy sacks into a more comfortable position, and resumed his march toward the mysterious town of New Lincoln, a town he had never heard of. He surmised that a town, situated on an island he did not recognize, would make an escape attempt difficult, at best. If he stole a skiff and sailed off in the wrong direction, he might end up anywhere. Or, nowhere.
The light intensified, and Niall strode out of the tunnel, into a sunny glen. Glancing around, he realized the forested hillocks rose in a ring around a lush, green valley. Several waterfalls trickled down the slopes, their bases hidden beneath the trees and heavy vegetation, others cascaded from rocky outcroppings. People, animals, and crops were everywhere he looked.
“Where am I?” Niall did not expect an answer, so he was not surprised when Bill ignored him and pointed to a growing pile of cargo, next to a barn. Niall tossed his burden off one shoulder, onto the pile. His ribs hurt where Raven had kicked him, but his other injuries had healed well.
“Welcome to New Lincoln.” Blair said, returning to his side.
Niall grinned. He felt foolish doing it, but giddiness took over. First, he felt relief that she had not drowned. Secondly, he felt filled with a purpose. They stood on dry land, and the need to escape was at hand, but not until he was assured of her safety. Raven was dangerous.
The smell of a cook fire made his stomach growl. When the scent of Blair’s familiar flowery fragrance replaced the aroma of cooking meat, another body part surged to life. He growled with annoyance. When Blair MacIan was near, lust rose, along with his eager cock, and he feared he was falling under the captain’s spell. The woman, whose words tripped from her tongue in an unusual accent, reminded him of women he had met at Castle Ruadh. If the stories whispered throughout the keep were true, she had traveled from the future.
Two of those women, Iona Mackenzie and Haven MacKay, spoke with accents that mimicked the captain’s odd speech. When he watched her closely, Blair MacIan’s actions were of a masculine nature. Her strength of character, and her leadership among the pirates was evident.
And her lips…
Growling again, Niall shook away lusty feelings. His immediate concern was to get off this island, return to Wick, find and overthrow his sire. His age
nda did not include any time for love. No room for anything, especially in his life. Not until his sire was dead or captured.
A vision arose, and he saw his destiny laid out in front of him; Blair, naked and pleasured, in his bed.
“Nay!” He doubted such a vision would come true, but the chance at a tiny shot of pleasure, now and then, was all he could hope for.
He must regroup with Gavin. They should not have argued. When bearing the news that their father had murdered their mother, the pain on his brother’s face was evident. Niall should not have bolted from the bailey, leaving Gavin to remain their clan’s laird, until such time as Angus Sinclair was captured.
As the rightful heir, Niall would be valuable to a band of pirates, which is why he must continue to hide his identity. Time was fleeting. Once the eye patch came off, someone might recognize him. Their clan was poor, thanks to their sire’s mercenaries, and the constant abuse of their food, livestock, and women. A ransom would never be paid for Niall’s release. Gavin needed his help, and soon, but how could he get word to him?
***
Gavin sighed, staring at the ceiling of his bedchamber, inside Castle Ruadh. He did not want to upset Jenny any further, but Lana was a woman of secrets. He had never bedded the wench, but Jenny seemed to think otherwise. Her face was pinched with either anger or jealousy, but he would have to explain everything later. Time was of the essence.
Lana smiled at Jenny, then glared at him. “I see I have interrupted yer fun, while yer brother suffers the wrath of pirates.”
“Pirates!” Jenny’s concern was heart-warming, but he needed information, not hysterics.
“Ye need to come with me, Gavin.” Lana headed out into the hall.
“He was just leaving,” Jenny said. Her jaw ticked, as if she gritted her teeth.
Ignoring her, he yelled to Lana. “Pirates? How can ye be sure?”
Lana paused, in the hall. “One of the captain’s men, William Barney, visits me when e’er his ship enters our waters. He goes by Barnacle Bill, and runs with the pirate, Blair MacIan. They made landfall, recently, and Bill came to visit me. He mentioned something about loading cargo, and said a golden-haired prisoner is on their ship. Says his name is Balfour Green, but my vision tells me ‘tis Niall.”
Jenny gasped. “Dear Lord! Gavin, I am so sorry.”
When Jenny wrapped her arms around him, and tears sparkled in her eyes, he relaxed. “Ye believe her?”
“I see auras, and Lana’s glows lemon-yellow with honesty, and a strength of direction. She really believes what she says. Who am I to scoff at premonitions? Don’t forget. The witch, Dorcas Swann, said, ‘Look beyond the shore, dark Highlander.’ We had no idea what she meant at the time, but now…”
“He could be at sea, on a pirate’s ship,” Gavin whispered.
Lana smiled, then turned and clasped Gavin’s hand. “Please, look for Bill. I love the man, I doono’ know why.” Lana flew down the stairs.
“Now I’m confused,” Jenny said, as she closed the door behind Lana. “Dorcas told me about Lana. She said Lana hoped to have Angus Sinclair as a father-by-marriage. I assumed she meant…”
“Me?” He chuckled. “Lana might accept me, if I was the true laird, but I thought she wanted Niall. Seems a pirate has stolen her heart, now. Did ye believe she wanted me? ‘Tis why ye wish no’ to stay here, in this time?”
“Well, I have a life back in New England. I would miss my friends, and my job. I love helping animals…”
Gavin swept her up in a kiss that was filled with as much passion as he could feel. Pulling back a scant inch from her beautiful face, he smiled. “I love ye. Please stay?”
CHAPTER 14
Raven coveted his captain, Niall realized. This worried him, every time the first mate glanced his way. Instead of spending time with pirates, Niall yearned to reunite with his men. Winter was on the horizon, which was another worry. Returning home soon was imperative.
I doono’ wish to fight the winter sea.
The men around him appeared eager to stay on the island throughout the coming winter. As they exited the cavern’s long tunnel, family members had rushed toward them. Gauging their numbers, Niall assumed they had delivered enough food and materials to last the villagers until spring.
He did not miss his home. Tulac castle was only a place where he grew up, but never a home. An ache formed in Niall’s chest. In truth, he missed his brother. He even missed Lana, a comely wench who had shared his bed. When Niall needed warmth and a woman’s touch, she was there, though Lana scared him at times. He pushed aside such dangerous sentimentality. His immediate plan, was to escape.
“A penny for your thoughts.”
Startled by the captain’s sweet voice, Niall dropped the sack of potatoes. Cursing Raven for taking his boots, his foot throbbed, reminding him that the sooner he severed his relationship to this band of cutthroats, the better.
“Hurry yerself along, Balfour. Our people are hungry.” Barnacle Bill slapped him on his arse, chuckling, and strode off toward the village.
Niall stopped hopping, and turned and faced Blair MacIan. His throat closed, and his pulse quickened. She was damp and bedraggled, but her raw beauty shone like the sun, even after her near-drowning. All he wanted was to kiss her smiling mouth. His groin tightened, and his palms grew sweaty. The urge to touch her was growing, along with his arousal.
Something witty came to mind. “I doono’ carry English gold in my pockets, but I would gladly share my thoughts with ye, captain. In a more private setting.”
Her eyes widened, and her furtive glances meant that too many of her people stood close by. She could not answer truthfully, in public. Since he wanted to slip away with her, to somewhere private, he walked closer.
“Where can we talk without others listening?”
Blair shrugged her shoulders in regret, which gave him hope. If she led him to a private cave, would she allow him to kiss her, or more?
“Let’s get you into some dry clothes,” she said, “I know I’ll feel better when I strip out of these…”
He smiled.
She blushed all the way from her cute little nose, to the valley between her damp shirt. When he imagined tearing the soggy clothing from her body with his teeth, all the blood in his head rushed straight to his groin.
If she noticed his aroused state beneath his baggy breeches, she was too polite to mention it. He could not turn his rampant erection away from her. It zeroed in on her womb with a yearning too strong to ignore.
“What I meant was, I’m cold. You must be, too.” Blair blinked up at him.
He was hot in every sense of the word, but to put her at ease made more sense, so he nodded. At least, until he could get her alone. If they retreated to a private cottage, he would strip her bare, cover her with his heated body, kiss her until she squirmed with pleasure, then force open her shapely legs. Finding momentary solace within her heat, would be a dream.
Unfulfilled, and tied in knots, he gazed down at her. “I am damp and…uncomfortable, but I am without other clothes. Yer men have shared several changes of clothing with me, for which I be grateful.”
“We’ll find you something. Come on.” Blair walked deeper into the vibrantly green valley. More trees, and cottages, came into view. People emerged from homes and barns. Sheep grazed, and chickens squawked.
Their village sat inside a small, circular valley, in the shadows of a bowl-shaped hillock, with no others means of egress, as far as he could see.
“Do you approve of our little hideaway? This is the crater of a long-dead volcano.”
“Volcano?” He had heard tales of mountains that breathed fire, but they were ancient Scottish stories. Myths and bedtime stories are born of factual events, so the captain could speak the truth.
Another point in her favor. Her knowledge was vast, unlike the women of his day. Could she truly be another time-traveler?
His sire had traveled to the future, intent on kidnapping or killing a woman o
f whom Gavin had grown fond. The man seemed bent on keeping his sons in check, by harming the women in their lives.
‘Tis another reason I remain unwed.
Blair stared up at Niall. What had she asked?
“Aye, ‘tis a lovely hideaway. I know we be north of where ye found me, but I doono’ recognize where we dropped anchor.
“You had best remember that. After your escape attempt, Raven suggested we slit your throat. Don’t make me regret telling him to leave you alone. Clear?”
Niall gulped, nodding his acknowledgment of the threat. If he were to escape, he would need someone to lend aid, to get him off this island and back to the mainland, to the south. Once he had gained his bearings, and after acquiring a fast sailing ship, or a strong Highland pony, he would reach his goal. Doing so, would make her hate him.
His well-trained men knew that if they found themselves separated after an attack, such as the one where he had fallen from the cliff, they were to rendezvous near the village near Castle Ruadh. Lana Sinclair’s cottage was near that village. She would render aid.
Mayhaps no’ to me, he thought, fingering the scar across his cheek. He shuddered, recalling her savage attack.
Bill returned, saying, “I need ye to help move the food to the cold house.” He pointed to a cleft in the rocky rim. Crude steps led down into deep shadows.
“Go with Bill. If you make yourself useful, Raven might change his mind about killing you.” Blair smiled.
Bill smiled wider, and pointed to a basket. “See, Capt’n. We salvaged some apples.”
“I love apples!” She clapped her hands in glee, then tried to hide her lovely assets by crossing her arms over her chest. The action did nothing to cool Niall’s lust, but Bill’s command to help made him move. Gathering a large basket of apples, he descended the stairs. Being so close to the sea, he was surprised to find the room at the bottom was cool and dry. Pallets topped with sacks of food, and barrels of what he assumed was ale or cider, ringed the small room. Had the pirates stored their gold down here? If he pocketed some coins, and another change of clothing, he could escape with the means to purchase transportation.
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