Highland Games Through Time

by Nancy Lee Badger

  Kirk growled.

  She slid farther away on the wagon’s bench.

  “Eat this before ye faint. I would have ye hale and hearty.” He held out a chunk of bread.

  “Have me?” she squeaked.

  “It would not do to present ye at Ruadh with pale cheeks and a growling stomach.”

  “Present me? To the owners of the castle?” Haven bit into the dry bread, instantly missing the water skin she’d left with her pony.

  “Aye. Until then, I want ye safe. By my side,” he whispered. A glint sparkled in his eyes, but he didn’t smile.

  “I appreciate the thought, but I’ll be fine. I thought I’d stay with Reid.”

  “Nay.”

  Reid muttered something then jumped from the wagon, leaving her alone with a growling Highlander. A shiver turned quickly to molten flame at his command. His body vibrated with power, and an undercurrent of something else. Desire? Rage?

  The bread forgotten, she chewed on her lower lip to keep from spouting words sure to enflame the situation. The burn of a blush on her cheekbones festered while her mind worked its way around memories of the entire afternoon. Had Gavina spread rumors? Did Kirk put stock in gossip?

  Or, had he seen me kiss Reid?

  Irritation gathered inside her. She crossed both arms over her chest and swung her gaze to the rump of the workhorse. At Kirk’s continued silence, Haven turned back to face him and said, “What do you want from me?”

  His brows arched. “I will not watch ye flirt with a child.”

  “You can’t be serious. Reid and I talked about our families. He’s a trustworthy friend who keeps no secrets from me, unlike you.”

  “My secrets are mine and mine, alone. Ye are my responsibility until I find another.”

  “Another what?”

  “Another warrior to watch over ye.” His eyes flashed, as if challenging her as to what else he referred to.

  “Reid is doing a wonderful job, and—”

  “The boy is injured. He cannot protect ye from mercenaries. Remember them?”

  “Of course. They keep me from enjoying a good night’s sleep.”

  “I thought I…” Kirk blushed. The man’s cheeks, as chiseled as a chunk of stone, reddened.

  He must be remembering how we spent the night.

  “Those savages want yer body as well as revenge. We killed their men. If I was them, I would still be on our trail.”

  His words meant to scare her into staying. So he could take their intimacy to the next step, maybe? That was silly. He’d had ample opportunity to make love to her before now. He often acted as if the thought of getting closer to her angered him. He’d been a puzzle since they’d met.

  “Thanks, but I won’t be a burden or a one-night stand.”

  His eyebrows shot up.

  He probably doesn’t understand twenty-first century terminology. I’ll enlighten him.

  “What I mean is, I will not be your mistress.”

  “And this is the reason ye want to leave me?” he whispered.

  Mounted on his large warhorse, a shadow passed over his face. How could eyes so blue darken nearly to black? His fading scar added to his ferociousness, but nothing could disguise his blatant masculinity. She wished he would stop talking, pull her off the wagon, and gather her in his arms. Her gaze slid to his groin and her cheeks burned anew. He was aroused.

  His eyes widened as if he’d guessed her thoughts.

  “I don’t want to leave you, Kirk, but you and I are like fire and gasoline.”

  “Gaso what?”

  “Never mind. You and your men have kept me safe, dry, and fed.” Her stomach growled at the mention of food.

  “To blazes with my clansmen.”

  His growl made her snap all her attention to his mouth. He leaned from the saddle as if to kiss her.

  Hot damn!

  His hands snatched her from the bench and whisked her onto his lap. Heat radiated from him, through her clothing and all the way to her core. His breathing grew rapid and the bulge below his wide leather belt pressed into her bottom.

  “I’m grateful to you, of course, but I need to get home. You need to get to the castle. Am I right?” She pointed toward the distant hills, the direction they’d traveled for days. Kirk didn’t answer. His scent mingled with the aromas of pine and leather, tempting her to lean forward and kiss him. Before she knew it, she’d leaned into his chest, but she held her face inches from his.

  He leaped to the ground, set her on her feet, and released her with such force she flew back against the wagon.

  Reid’s head popped up from the other side of the workhorse he’d been busy unhitching. Other heads swiveled in their direction. Sensing his control had snapped, Haven stepped toward him and shoved Kirk’s chest, hard.

  He stepped back. Raw emotions passed over his face; desire, regret, embarrassment.

  He’s as easy to read as an open book.

  She heard murmurs and then footsteps. Kirk ignored everyone but her and grabbed her bare arms.

  Zap! Kirk’s face disappeared as a foggy visage floated up. A great stone structure, a beautiful blonde woman atop a wall, and Kirk lying naked on a bed, came into view. Then a horrible gush of blood erupted, filling her hallucination and racking her body with tremors. When she realized Kirk was shaking her, and it had been only a vision, she groaned with relief. Nodding her head, she caught his next whispered words.

  “Why could we not have met two months past?” He released her then stomped away. Gavina, by the far side of the hastily built main campfire, blocked his path. Kirk said something, and Gavina laughed. Had he invited her to warm his bed?

  Haven shivered at her premonition of death. Reid and a few others walked up to her and inquired if their chief had injured her. Murmuring a few words to allay their fears, she replayed Kirk’s words in her head.

  Why in the world would two months make a difference?

  * * *

  After Kirk had released Haven, he left her by the wagon then growled when a stiff breeze rustled through the trees, carrying her intoxicating scent. Bent on kissing her senseless, Kirk had pulled her into his lap. He had tried to ignore Gavina’s scandalous words, yet he himself witnessed the kiss Haven pressed to Reid’s cheek.

  His shoulders shook with anger-fueled tremors. The urge to take her against the wagon in broad daylight stunned him. Kirk welcomed the intrusion of his men that caused him to walk away. And when the saucy Gavina blocked his path, he was tempted to invite her to share his bed. Need pulsed through him, until she spouted more lies. He had laughed and walked away.

  The journey to Castle Ruadh neared completion. Camped close to a village, his men deserved to enjoy tonight. He would not set guards around the camp until after they enjoyed their supper. Neither his sentinels nor his trailing scouts had spotted any mercenaries over the past two days.

  Kirk’s body ached. He had pulled her off the wagon and into his lap. The sensation of her curved bottom pressing into his hard length dissipated when she refused his protection and the offer of another warrior. Kirk rubbed his chest as he walked. Her words hurt.

  God’s teeth.

  The yearning clutching his aching chest, and the omnipresent need to touch Lady Haven, increased each day. Each hour. To continue his attentions would be the death of him.

  And my clan.

  Kirk recalled her insistence for privacy. He walked over to a group of warriors and ordered them to pitch her tent far from others, near the edge of the forest. Absolute quiet blanketed the camp except for the crackle of the fire pit and the mumble of men at work. Their mounts were bedded in a stable close to their camp, but Kirk felt strange.

  Unhinged.

  In shadow, he turned and watched her from a distance. Reid and several warriors talked to her while she rubbed her back. Had he caused an injury when he unceremoniously shoved her against the wagon? He worried his bottom lip and ran fingers through his hair.

  God’s teeth, I am nothing but a barbari
c brute.

  Kirk tossed twigs into the campfire as he watched Reid lead her to her tent. She kissed the boy’s cheek, again. As darkness fell on the camp, Haven wandered back and forth near her tent. One warrior began to sing a mournful tune while some ate a meager meal. Others divided into couples to share the night.

  Happy endings are not in my future.

  Kirk strode off to set the watch. Something stopped him. Tonight would be their last chance to talk. Tonight would be his last opportunity to smell her fragrant skin and slide his fingers through her silky, black hair. He ought to explain about the treaty, the betrothal. He must tell her that Lady Fia meant nothing to him.

  He bent down and picked up a dead log. The strain on his back and the heat of the flames jolted him with sensations other than lust. He tossed the dry wood on the fire and brushed dirt from his hands. Sparks flew high into the night sky to light his way to his quarry.

  She would accept his sacrifice and understand, or curse his soul to the devil. But, before he covered the distance between them, Gavina once more blocked his way.

  CHAPTER 19

  Haven heaved a sigh of frustration. Kirk had headed her way until Gavina blocked his path. Again. The woman’s charms were on display for all to see, and had stopped Kirk mid step.

  What a surprise.

  In the far reaches of her heart, she knew Kirk wanted to finish what he’d started. She rubbed her back. He’d slammed her against the wagon, and she worried he’d planned to beat her.

  Or, kiss her. All thoughts of either had melted away when the disturbing vision appeared. A beautiful woman, a castle, and Kirk covered in blood. All her nightmare needed now was the creep in the black hooded robe.

  “Devil’s own luck,” Haven muttered. She crossed her arms, and hugged them to her chest. Kirk kept something important from her. Fighting back tears, Haven spun away from the sight of Kirk and Gavina with their heads bent together, and stomped toward the forest.

  “Until I learn the truth, there’s no happy ending in my future.”

  “There will be no happy ending for ye. Or him. Ever,” a deep voice whispered.

  A flash of steel settled beneath her chin. An arm clamped around her chest. A sudden chill raced along Haven’s skin.

  Before she could scream, the sharp blade pressed against her neck and a gloved hand clamped over her mouth. She bumped backward into a rock-hard chest. Whoever stood behind her threw a bag or cloak over her head. Held tight in a man’s arms, she felt helpless.

  “I’ve come back to play.”

  She recognized the threat and the voice. Haven swallowed her fear. The Mackenzie had found them. As he dragged her from camp, she knew she was in big trouble. Gavina had captured Kirk’s attention, so he hadn’t witnessed her abduction. No one had.

  It’s up to me to save my own ass.

  Haven dug in her heels, pulled with all her might, and yanked Mackenzie off-balance. The burn of a blade slicing across her throat made her freeze. Warm blood trickled down her chilled skin. The smell of damp wool and her blood made her nauseated. Heart-stopping fear replaced her attempted bravado as he maneuvered her through the trees.

  Blinded by the hood, she tripped on a root and nearly toppled to her knees. Branches grabbed at her bodice. Prickly bushes tugged at her hem. He yanked her upright each time she tripped. The man’s fingers clawed her waist and inched up toward her breast as he forced her farther and farther from safety.

  * * *

  Marcas Mackenzie had watched the black-haired beauty for some time. She paced back and forth at the edge of his enemy’s camp. When she ventured near his hiding spot among the trees, he made his move.

  And Kirk never saw me steal his prize.

  Grabbing Kirkwall Gunn’s whore, while in close proximity to Lady Fia’s home, sent a thrill racing down his spine. A triumphant smile pulled at his dry lips soon to be quenched with a toast to his single-handed victory.

  With one arm locked around her waist, he tugged the wench deeper into the quiet shadows of the forest. He’d been locked in a heated debate with another comely wench.

  Even with his spy in Kirk’s camp, Mackenzie had opted to conduct the kidnapping in person. Soon, if God willed it, Lady Fia’s betrothed would lie dead and his men would celebrate. Kirk deserved to die. He had slaughtered many of his warriors, leaving him but a handful to accompany him to Castle Ruadh.

  Such hatred for the Gunn laird made his fingers ache to slice the woman’s throat. It would make no sense to leave her alive to tell tales, especially after he killed Kirkwall Gunn. Yet, thoughts of Lady Fia rose, enflaming his lust while cooling his rage. She would not be happy if he harmed an innocent woman.

  “Ye put me in a quandary, lass. Killing ye would hurt Kirk, but my beloved might not approve. God’s teeth! She has turned my life upside down.”

  “Why don’t you go be with her?” his captive murmured beneath her covering.

  “Quiet. I am thinking.”

  “About time.”

  Her surly comeback quickened his steps and tightened his grip. “Ye thought to leave me far behind, wench. We have followed ye since I buried the men yer lover murdered.”

  “My what?” Her muffled surprise came through clear as day.

  “Ye heard me. I saw ye kissing him beside the river and in the woods. I heard moans of pleasure from yer tent.”

  She wrenched sideways, but he held her tight. Lifting her over a downed log, he listened to a slew of what might have been curses. Hard to tell.

  “Quiet. I will not have yer lover aware his prize has left the nest until the trap is set.”

  “A trap? Please don’t hurt him. I hardly know the guy. I met him the day I stumbled into your camp and—”

  “The day ye ran from me? The day my warriors died?”

  “I was lost and he came to my aid. Instead of offering to help a stranded woman, you threatened me. Your men chased me. They shot arrows at me!”

  “And they missed. Under my orders, I might add. I wanted no harm to come to ye, my sweet. Ye appeared in our midst as a tasty morsel for men too long denied a fine meal. Then that murderous bastard galloped to yer rescue.” He clasped her waist tighter and continued to pull her through the trees. She struggled more, but could not wriggle out of his embrace.

  “Kirk and his men saved me, but I don’t know them. I accepted their hospitality. I swear. We planned to separate and go our own way once we got to Castle Ruadh.”

  “Neither Kirk, his warriors, or his wagons will get close to Castle Ruadh. This I have sworn. Since the laird took a shine to ye, now ye become the bait. My informant has been quite clear on this.”

  “Informant? There’s a spy in Kirk’s camp? Who would work for scum like you?”

  * * *

  Haven bit her tongue to keep from uttering more words to incite her kidnapper. And who in Kirk’s camp was a spy?

  “Many a man or woman can be bought for a few coins.” Mackenzie paused. “Or other favors.”

  She read his meaning, loud and clear. The man oozed sexual charisma.

  “Though my beloved lies trapped behind the gates of Castle Ruadh, I have faith we shall be together, soon.” When he pulled the hood off, Haven gulped mouthfuls of fresh air. She pushed away from his chest accompanied by a ripping noise. Cool air nipped at the bare skin of her breasts. He’d torn her dress.

  She shrieked.

  “Quiet, or die where ye stand.” He pulled her into his chest and slapped a gloved hand across her mouth, then smiled.

  Fear quieted her momentarily.

  “Ignore that order. Scream all ye want, woman. Kirk’s camp is far behind. Thick trees thwart any sounds. My warriors await, and have no idea I bring them a treat. Please, scream. Fuel their lust.”

  “You bastard,” she said, then sobbed. Haven yanked her clothing, attempting to cover her nakedness. Her mind swam as she thought of a way out of this mess.

  He chuckled. “Yer lover will come for ye once the trap is set. The wedding between Lady
Fia and that bastard will not take place and then she shall be mine.”

  “I don’t understand. Whose wedding?”

  His laugh jerked her off balance. When he loosened his grip, she struggled to keep from stumbling to her knees. The fragrant scent of pine, mixed with smoke, told her they’d arrived at Mackenzie’s camp.

  Haven wiped away hot tears with the back of her hand. Enough moonlight peeked through the trees to highlight her captor’s profile. With his lips curled into a sinister sneer, he dragged her farther and farther from the man she loved.

  I love Kirk. Damnation.

  She’d traveled through time, fallen in love, and now might die. Or, worse.

  When his grasp around her wrist tightened, she dug her heels into the ground. He’d put his knife away and she felt confident she could break his grip, lift her skirts, and run. As she pulled, she remembered his statement about a woman named Fia marrying…

  “Oh, no. She’s marrying Kirk?” Before he answered, she knew the truth. Kirkwall and the treasure were on their way to meet his bride. She’d ignored the signs. He’d kept the truth from her. He’d almost made love to her, while on his way to be married. As if her kidnapper’s dirk had stabbed her heart, pain flooded her chest and Haven fought for breath.

  How could I have been so naïve?

  Kirk had never professed his love, but he had pursued her as if she was the only woman in his world. His tantalizing caresses, sweet words, and intoxicating kisses convinced her she was falling in love.

  Romantic pangs instantly turned to rage. Haven dug her fingernails into both palms, stumbled, then yanked against her kidnapper’s hold.

  I have to get free, find Kirk, and kill him.

  How could he do this to her? Again, she’d lost her heart to a jerk. A sudden sinking feeling came to an abrupt end when she imagined Kirk’s face. He had never forced her to love him. Actually, he’d held back from full intimacy. She’d felt the evidence of his arousal, often, yet he stopped at kissing and touching.

  Haven turned her thoughts to her current predicament. Mackenzie had snatched her from camp with ease. Would anyone care? Or, would they think she’d decided to leave early? After Kirk’s less than gentle actions beside the wagon, in full view of so many people, who would blame her? She’d bet ten-to-one odds everyone knew the big secret at Castle Ruadh. “Except stupid little me.”