Belonging to a Highlander

by K. M. Patterson

  Catriona stopped to rub at her friend's arms. They had come as far as the great hall, and Catriona urged her to sit in one of the chairs arranged before a brazier a few feet away. Once they had sat, Catriona looked on Tamsin with sympathy.

  "I'm so sorry, but nay. There has been no word."

  Tamsin nodded, but her eyes turned to her hands in her lap. "I left Glengarry in all haste and turned back south. I reached Perth some days later."

  "Perth?" Catriona asked with surprise. "Were you then to Scone? Seeking an audience with the king?"

  Tamsin shook her head, her eyes still transfixed on her lap. "The mon I brought with me is Tobin McGrady, and I kenned he might be in Perth."

  "Your brother's friend?"

  "Aye." She sniffed back tears. "Tobin accepted the task of seeing me safely here when I told him what you had done and what had happened to my brother. He kenned of your husband. Tobin is like Hugh." She paused, leveled her stare with Catriona's, and dropped her voice to a whisper. "Tobin is a mercenary for the crown. A spy."

  Catriona sat a little straighter and blinked. "Was your brother…"

  "Nay, he was no spy. Tobin lived with my family for some time, which is where they met and became friends. News of my brother's death grieved him." She wiped away another tear. "Tobin is the reason I needed to be sent away to the abbey." She made a face and blushed shyly.

  Catriona's eyes rounded. "Oh. You never told me that."

  Tamsin reached over and squeezed Catriona's hand. "'Twasn’t so wrong, what we did. An innocent kiss." She straightened and touched her lips lightly before her hand fell back into her lap. "It never could have been. We were only twelve, still children.”

  Catriona glanced across the hall where Hugh and Tobin sat by the hearth. "He is young and handsome, and you will need to wed someone soon. For protection, the same as I had to. Mayhap you have brought the perfect suitor along with you?" Catriona lifted a brow suggestively.

  Tamsin shook her head. "Tobin is too free and wild. He would never settle down to be a laird of all things," she said with a roll of her eyes. "He's no even of good birth." She paused with a cringe and squeezed her eyes shut. "I am sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded."

  Catriona waved her off. "'Tis all right. By now I've acquired some tough skin." She shrugged.

  Tamsin sat up straighter. "Tobin's position with the king must remain a secret for obvious reasons. He is only here to assure my protection for a time and then he shall be gone. He shall disappear as usual."

  "You wrote to him when we were at the abbey. I remember now. The two of you kept up a steady correspondence. Are you sure he wouldn’t make a good husband, even if offered such a wonderful lass as yourself? I do recall a certain … fascination." She offered a girlish smile.

  Tamsin laughed. "If I am sure of anything, 'tis exactly that. Now, I desire to hear more aboot your marriage and this Hugh McCross. Tobin told me an assortment of tales." Laughter entered her eyes. "Dangerous tales," she amended on a giggle. "And tales of an insatiable mon with a reputation among the lasses."

  Catriona sighed hard and rolled her eyes. "Oh, you no have any idea."

  ****

  Catriona happily led her friend into the hall for the feast Gertie had prepared to welcome Tamsin. She found she was very pleased to show off Hugh to her friend as a proud wife should be.

  As they sat at the dais, she noted the way Tobin regarded Tamsin and briefly wondered if her friend could be wrong.

  "I trust Lady McLaren has been settled in?" Hugh asked casually.

  "Aye. I saw a chamber readied for her, and Tobin shall be situated—"

  "In the village," Hugh interrupted.

  Catriona cast him a confused look before looking over her shoulder to see if either Tobin or Tamsin had heard. They didn’t appear to, so she leaned closer to Hugh. "Why ever would I send him to the village for a bed when we have plenty here? And he is her sworn protector."

  "And who shall protect the lass from him?" Hugh leaned in to whisper. "Any fool can tell the mon is smitten with her."

  Catriona snorted. "So? 'Twas you who said she needed to wed quickly. Who else better? He is—"

  "A mercenary." Hugh cut her off again, his eyes leaving his wife and he straightened in his seat at Alaric's quick approach. "I ken who—or rather what—he is, sweet."

  Catriona's face fell in confusion as she, too, watched Alaric approaching, a determined stride carrying him all the way to the dais steps. "Need I remind you that I have fallen in love with a mercenary?" Catriona asked quickly, before Alaric reached them.

  Hugh's head shot to her, but before he could speak, Alaric did.

  "There is something you must see," Alaric said. He glanced uneasily at Tamsin and her protector.

  Tobin stood from the table, his eyes hard on Alaric. "If the matter involves the lass, I'll be accompanying you as weel."

  Alaric glanced to Hugh, then leaned in to whisper something in his ear.

  Hugh stood with alarm and motioned Tobin to join them.

  "I am sorry," Hugh said to Catriona. "This is a matter to be seen to at once. You and our guest shall have to dine withoot us this night." He quickly tipped his head to Tamsin in a bow before hurrying to lead the way.

  Catriona and Tamsin watched in silence as the men disappeared.

  "What in heaven?" Tamsin asked. "What do you think it could be?"

  Catriona turned to her friend with a furrowed brow. "I do'na ken." Her attention snagged on two servants carrying up a large platter, and Catriona's eyes fell to the contents.

  She screamed and stood from her seat so suddenly she toppled her chair.

  Tamsin rushed to stand, reaching for Catriona to steady her.

  "What is wrong?" she asked with concern, and then looked at the platter. "'Tis only roast goose."

  Catriona tore from her friend and started around the table.

  She was furious.

  "Where is Rowena?" she demanded.

  The servants set the large platter down at the center of the table and looked amongst themselves, startled.

  "I've no seen her, milady," one called to her.

  "She has overstepped this time," Catriona said aloud, more to herself, as she fled the dais and marched toward the kitchens. Once there, she came into the crowded, hot room with such a maddened look that everyone paused in their tasks. "You killed Claude," she accused angrily, to no one in particular.

  Bess, standing at the back of the kitchen, gasped and covered her mouth with a hand.

  Catriona glanced among the other women, in search of Rowena. Hugh had sent her to the village to find work over a se’nnight ago, and she had not seen the other woman since. She was certain the wench was here though. She sensed her hand behind the slaying of Claude.

  "Milady?" Gertie came forward with a soothing hand, reaching for her mistress. "Who is Claude?"

  Catriona blinked in a moment of confusion.

  "The goose. He was my—" She stopped short before saying friend. She didn’t wish them to think her addled. "Garden pet. Where is Rowena?"

  Gertie's neck stiffened, and she arched a concerned brow. "Milady, the gander was on the worktable when I came to the kitchens this morn. I thought 'twas the laird's desire I prepare roast goose for the evening meal." She swept a hand back indicating the other servants working there. "No one here killed the wee beastie."

  Catriona stiffened. "He was killed this morning?" Before Tamsin had even arrived. Her eyes locked on Gertie, but the woman showed no indication that she knew in the slightest what she was talking about.

  "'Tis only a gander, milady," Gertie said soothingly. "He has served his purpose for a fine meal."

  Catriona knocked the woman's hand aside and backed away.

  "Catriona," Tamsin called as she rushed past her toward the stairs, toward her chamber. "Catriona, wait."

  She reached her rooms and threw open the door. She felt confused, alone and afraid. Was this another attempt to frighten her? And to what purpose?<
br />
  She drew in a sharp breath. Yes, Claude was only a fat, awkward gander. She was silly to be so upset by an animal's death, but the hidden malice upset her over anything else. Claude hadn’t only been prepared for a meal. He had been selected and butchered to torment her.

  "Someone did this a'purpose," she said when she heard Tamsin come in behind her and close the door.

  Catriona turned with her hands to her stomach, tears brimming her eyes.

  Tamsin crooned a soft sound and came to her with outstretched arms to coddle her. "I do'na understand what has upset you."

  Catriona turned for the bed, to sit on the edge. Tamsin followed.

  Together they sat, and Catriona began to tell her of the first time in her garden when she found Claude tangled in vines and continued to tell her of his silly antics.

  Tamsin smoothed Catriona's hair back from her face. The two sat quietly with only pops from the brazier meeting their ears.

  "He was only a gander," Tamsin said kindly.

  "I ken, but I became fond of his presence in my garden." She picked agitatedly at the cuff of her sleeve. "My garden that was likewise destroyed by a vengeful hand."

  "Stop that now." Tamsin rubbed Catriona's back. "You’ve been like a little sister to me for years. You were always kind to the wee beasties at the abbey. I seem to remember an incident when I was twelve and you were ten. We had just arrived within weeks of one another. You were there first, and I found you feeding a mouse pieces of your breakfast under the cloth of one of the refectory tables." She laughed. "I do'na ken how you ever tamed that mouse to your hand, but you did."

  Catriona stifled a laugh. "Sister Helen was so angry with me for taking on a mouse as a pet that she beat me with a stick when she found oot."

  "And then you were so sad because your mouse friend disappeared, but you had me then, as you do now, for a shoulder to cry on. Some wee beasties are no meant to be pets or to bear names. They're no meant to be befriended because they are wild and are just meant to be." Tamsin shrugged and shook her head at the same time, then leveled a sincere stare on Catriona.

  Catriona sucked in a shaky breath and rubbed her palms on her gown. "You are right. I am being rather silly over this. Mayhap Claude—" She stopped herself. "Nay, the gander's death was simply the last straw that became too much. So much has happened here. I'm beginning to be afraid. First the arrow, then my fall." She sat a little straighter and turned to her friend before dropping her stare to her wrist where she touched the scar there. "I've no told Hugh of this, but one night I came to my chambers only to find that someone had purposefully doused the torches along the corridor." Tears filled her eyes. "And now this. So few kenned I cared anything for that goose. And of the persons at McCross Keep at the time of the torches being doused, only thirteen men could possibly ken my fear of the dark or of flames."

  Tamsin rubbed her arm and then took her hand, removing Catriona's fingers from the scar to hold her friend's hand comfortingly. "Or mayhap whoever did this only got lucky with a simple tactic. I do'na think any of Jamie's men would try to harm you. To what purpose?"

  Catriona shook her head, but just then the chamber door quietly opened and Hugh stuck his head in.

  "I've heard there was a commotion in the hall over a goose."

  Catriona's cheeks heated a degree.

  Tamsin stood. "I shall leave you in your husband's capable hands and retire. 'Twas a long journey here and an exciting day."

  Catriona stood, too, and walked with Tamsin to the door, bidding her a good night, but stopped before she met her husband.

  When her friend exited, Catriona folded into his arms.

  "Who is doing this to me?" she asked on a whisper.

  Hugh shushed her and held her tightly. "Mayhap this was nothing at all. Claude, I believe you called him, was only a goose. He was'na a pet."

  "'Tis exactly what Tamsin said."

  "Do you wish for a pet, lass?" Hugh asked, straightening and cupping her face. "I'll get you whatever pet you wish. Another goose?" he asked, a teasing tone in his voice.

  "No now." She sighed. "What happened to draw you away so suddenly?"

  Hugh sighed, too. "I must go to McLaren lands at first light."

  "What?" Catriona asked with surprise. "Why?"

  "I do'na wish to worry your friend when she has only just arrived, but her father is under siege. My men are readying themselves as we speak."

  Catriona leveled her stare on him. "You are going to fight," she said, more for clarity to herself than as a question. She glanced briefly over Hugh's shoulder then back to him. "You may be harmed." She shook her head at him.

  Hugh made a sound of amusement. "Lass, 'tis what I do. Do'na be afraid." He dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "I would'na go, except the McLaren rider came begging of my aid. He barely slipped away from the siege as it was. He claimed they only have a dozen men left to them, and we may yet be too late."

  Catriona sucked in a gasp. "This is terrible news. How do I tell Tamsin?"

  Hugh shook his head. "Do'na tell her, no yet."

  "I can'na keep such a thing a secret."

  Hugh pulled her close. "Never you mind all that. You shall figure oot what to say when the time comes."

  His strong arms encased her in warmth, and Catriona breathed in his scent. The thought hit her then, that she may not feel him alive in her arms again after this night. There was a very real possibility this strong, virile warrior of hers could be killed in the fight against McAlison.

  She drew back without leaving his arms to look at him. "Hugh, I'm afraid for you."

  "Do'na be. All I need you to do now is tell me more aboot this mercenary you claim to be in love with."

  He startled her, but then she blushed. "I suppose I did claim that, didn’t I?"

  Hugh smiled. "Say it again, lass."

  "I love you," she said, testing out the words lightly.

  Aside from her parents and Jamie, she had never said those words to another soul. So much time had passed since she had said them last anyway, but saying I love you didn’t feel foreign or misplaced when she spoke it to Hugh. The words seemed real and powerful. Her love for him swelled in her breast, and she pulled him tighter to kiss him. "I love you," she said again, against his lips.

  Hugh lifted her in his arms and held her to him.

  "Do'na misbehave whilst I am away or there shall be hell to pay when I return."

  "I promise."

  Hugh set her back down and reached up to smooth a hand over her hair again. "I love you, too, lass." His brow furrowed, and he looked at her with such sincerity. "More than you could ken."

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Hugh reined in his horse and simultaneously held up a fist to command his men to stop. He stared at the McLaren Keep in the distance, and he lowered his fist to the pommel of his saddle.

  He could see the unsuspecting McAlisons in the stretch of land separating him from the McLaren's foe. They were a score in number, those he could see, a slow moving throng of half-starved men spread over a vast field. They had been at their siege long enough now that surely complacency and demoralization had set in.

  The cold of this day was nothing compared to the time he had spent traveling this winter whilst likely McAlison's men had been entertained in their own warm homes. 'Twas their turn to suffer a little.

  His glower tightened.

  In the distance, he could see his last standing debt soon to be wiped clean.

  But not with the blood of McLaren.

  Oh, nay.

  With McAlison blood.

  In this instance, he now saw there was more than one way to clear a debt.

  "What do you wish us to do?" Tobin McGrady asked urgently at his side. "They are weakest in their camp. 'Tis where their injured lie. Shall we wait for the cover of darkness and slaughter those unsuspecting men first?"

  Hugh looked to the younger man as Alaric joined them.

  Alaric snorted. "And put ourselves at a disadvantage by annou
ncing our arrival? Lad, we've no the time to wait for darkness or anything else. McLaren will fall long before then if we no get to him now." He turned his attention to Hugh, ignoring Tobin's furious glare. "I rode round their flanks and to the other side of McLaren Keep. 'Tis butted against a cliff so these walls we see here…" He paused, looking onward. "Is all McLaren has between him and the enemy."

  "The majority of their men are most like positioned at the flanks of the siege on the keep oot of our sight and we canna ken their numbers," Hugh said, shifting in his saddle. "Their primary forces will be at the frontlines."

  "But they have so few men in the camp," Tobin argued.

  "More are there, oot of sight, to be sure," Alaric said.

  A loud crash and splintering of wood in the distance caught their ears.

  "And the walls are sure to fall soon. Hugh we must move at once," Alaric said. "There's no a moment to waste."

  "We shall divide our troops and pinch them at their flanks," Hugh said.

  "Double envelopment." Alaric turned his mount. "I shall inform the men."

  "Half with me, the others with you and Tobin."

  Tobin looked furious for a moment, a disagreement on his tongue, but one sharp look from Hugh and the other man silently turned his mount to follow Alaric.

  ****

  Catriona stared out the open window, a wistful look in her eye, her chin propped on a fist and her arm lodged against the windowsill. She looked down into the courtyard where supplies were being unloaded from three separate carts. Timber, plants, soil, and other necessaries for the keep.

  It wasn’t fair that Hugh was not here. How could she thank him properly if he wasn’t there to receive her gratitude? He had been gone a full se’nnight now.

  A se’nnight!

  She sighed forlornly.

  "I'm sorry," Tamsin said at her back.

  Catriona glanced behind at her friend where the other woman sat reading scripture. "'Tis no your fault McAlison is a spineless blackguard."

  Tamsin smiled and chuckled before glancing back to her reading. "'Tisn't yours either and no Hugh's."

  Catriona turned fully to her friend. They had spent many of the days since Tamsin's arrival in her chamber as they were now, she forbidden from leaving the keep, Tamsin too fearful to do so.