“Ye’ve been with my father?”
“Aye, left Dunrobin Castle two weeks ago in search of ye, with his blessing, of course.”
Helen couldna believe it. Her effort to share her deepest feelings in that missive had been wasted. Her sire was as heartless as Laird Munroe, only concerned with his own selfish needs, not her happiness. “I willna marry ye—I am already married to Jamie MacKay.”
“Ye’d better be lying, lass. For I willna allow anyone to make a fool of me, not like yer father allowed ye to do to him.”
She shrugged free of the soldier holding on to her, fisting her hands at her sides, suddenly cold and tired. “Ye canna undo what has already been done. I took vows before God. I am Jamie’s wife.”
Baran Munroe cursed her life and infidelity. “Ye are a worthless whore.” He backhanded her so hard she fell down.
Pride gave her the strength to stand up again. She raised her chin defiantly, tears stinging her eyes. She looked for Kuresh, regretting how she had treated him earlier. He was on his knees, his hands tied behind his back. If he died, she would never forgive herself. “What do ye want?”
“Justice,” Baran said through gritted teeth.
“If ye free that man, I will go with ye back to Dunrobin Castle.”
The laird let out a terrifying laugh. “Ye’re not going home, Helen. I will take ye back to the isles with me and keep ye as my mistress. And if ye give me a son, I might let ye live.”
She knew the laird wasna making an empty threat. In his eyes, she had dishonored him in the worst way, for a betrothal was as binding as a marriage in the Highlands.
“Yer sire was right about one thing,” the laird said.
“Aye?”
“Ye are a rare beauty, worth sparing to fook every night.” He caressed her cheek, and Helen spit in his face.
It earned her a punch in the stomach. She fell to her knees in pain, struggling to inhale, fighting against the dizzying darkness that threatened to overtake her.
Just as she was about to give up, three arrows landed in the snow in front of her. “Jamie!” she screamed, desperate to see him, frantic to be in his strong arms again.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jamie flew out of the saddle, his warriors beside him. They swarmed Laird Munroe’s men. “MacAoidh,” Jamie cried out, identifying himself as a MacKay. The clan motto followed. “Bi tren…” Be true, be valiant. And he was, cutting down four enemies as he fought to get close to Helen.
He had witnessed Munroe punching her in the stomach and heard his vile words. He swore the man wouldna live another day. But as he reached his wife, Jamie had no choice but to stand down, for the cowardly Munroe had Helen in front of him with a blade held to her neck.
“Take another step,” Baran warned, “and I’ll slit her throat.”
“Is this the kind of man ye want to be? A coward, shielding yerself with a helpless lass?”
“I doona care what any of ye think of me,” Baran hissed. “I intend to leave here with Helen. She is my rightful bride. Spoiled or not, I will have her.”
Fury uncoiled inside Jamie. If he could just get a clear shot, he had a throwing dirk hidden under his sleeve. And he had deadly aim. Everything he loved flashed before his eyes, his wedding night, Ramsey, Alex and Keely and their twins, his home, his people … but it would all end if Helen left him or died. She gave him a reason to live, to strive to be a better man, to love God, to breathe … Helen of the Highlands … his passionate, wild lass. And though he dinna know what she was doing outside in the middle of the night, he could easily guess, for there was fury in her eyes.
She had tried to find him.
“Make peace with yer maker,” Jamie warned the laird. “For tonight, ye die.” He revealed the blade, raised his arm, and nearly let it go, but something blunt and heavy hit him in the back of the head and he fell to his knees.
“Nay. Jamie!” Helen screamed.
He could hear her, but couldna see clearly.
“Ye are the one who is going to die, Jamie MacKay. I’ve heard of ye, red-haired devil,” Laird Munroe said.
Jamie lifted his head and gazed toward Helen. That’s when he saw Kuresh’s scimitar slice through the laird’s worthless neck. His head rolled onto the snow in front of Helen and she fainted.
Mustering all his strength, Jamie crawled to her, reaching for her limp body. He managed to touch the fingertips of her right hand before everything went dark.
*
Jamie had been unconscious for two days, and Helen had never left his bedside. Miran brought her food and water, but how could she eat or sleep when her husband had suffered such a dangerous blow to the back of his head.
“Please, Lady Helen,” Miran pleaded, “go to the solar and rest. I will sit with him.”
“Nay. Tis my fault he got hurt, and I willna move until I am sure he will live.”
“The healer said he will awaken, and that if he was meant to die, he would have already succumbed to his injury. He is young and strong and deeply in love.”
Guilty tears filled Helen’s eyes. She dinna even recognize herself anymore. Two months ago, she would never have put somebody else’s life in jeopardy, but over the last day, she had endangered her husband, Kuresh, and all the warriors who served the MacKays. She deserved to be punished, banished, possibly even divorced. Jamie deserved a better wife, one who wouldna disobey him.
“None of the women are angry with ye, Lady Helen,” Miran told her. “They admire yer bravery, and so do I. If I had a husband, I would have fought for him, too, whether he liked it or not.”
Helen wiped the tears from her eyes. “Ye are just being kind.”
“Nay. I am no liar. What if Laird Munroe and his men had attacked the house? Killed more people? Gotten their filthy hands on Ramsey or some of the other children? By leaving here, ye protected yer clan.”
“I did?”
“Aye.”
Helen resumed her place in the chair next to the bed, gazing at her husband longingly. “Please wake up, my love.”
Miran brought her a cup of water and she took a couple of sips.
“Thank ye,” she said. “Now leave us, I will rest my eyes for a bit.”
Miran curtsied and left the chamber.
Yawning, Helen laid her head on the mattress beside Jamie’s arm. She said a silent prayer before she started to fade.
“Helen?”
Jamie! “I am here,” she said, opening her eyes and sitting up.
“W-what am I doing in bed?” he asked.
“Thank God ye are awake.” She raised his hand to her lips and kissed it over and over again. “Do ye remember anything?” The healer had said he might suffer some memory loss.
“I remember everything!” he growled, throwing the furs off and trying to stand.
“Nay,” she cried. “Doona get out of bed yet. Let me get the healer…”
“I can handle the pain in my skull, Helen.” He refused to listen and staggered to his feet, his eyes surprisingly clear. “Where are my clothes? My weapon belt?”
He was naked and glorious, ever the warrior.
“In the trunk. Yer weapon belt is hanging by the door.”
“Get my tartan and a fresh shirt.”
She rushed to do his bidding and helped him get dressed. “Please, Jamie. What are ye going to do?”
“Kill every fooking Munroe left alive.”
“No more killing,” she said with conviction, standing in front of him. “Laird Munroe has paid the ultimate price for his sins. And so have a dozen of his men. The rest are locked in the cells.”
“Then I will ride to Dunrobin Castle and beat yer bloody sire into submission, for he did this, I know he did.”
Helen stared at the floor. She dinna want to believe it, but Laird Munroe had been with the earl before he rode to Sands Airgid. “Laird Munroe mentioned my father, Jamie. But I canna say with certainty that my sire would send him to kill ye.”
“Maybe not directly, but he d
inna stop Munroe from coming. And someone told him ye were here. And when I find the culprit, he will die.”
“If my father is guilty, I will be the first to condemn him, to never speak to him again.”
Jamie cupped her cheek. “I love ye, Helen. And I never want to feel the way I did when I saw ye with that dirk at yer throat. If anything would have happened to ye, I would have died.” He winced in pain.
“Jamie—come back to bed.”
“I willna lie-abed like some old, weak woman. I want to see Kuresh. And I want answers from ye. Ye will accompany me belowstairs.”
Dragging her feet like a chastised lass, Helen followed her husband to the great hall. Kuresh and the other captains occupied the high table, and the lower tables were filled with men and women and children. When they saw Jamie and Helen, all went quiet.
Kuresh stood up. “You are a sight for sore eyes.”
Jamie smiled. “And ye make my eyes sore.”
His friend and right hand chuckled. “The blow to your head did not improve your attitude.”
“Nay, I’m in a foul mood and have the worst headache.” He addressed one of the maids. “Fetch me some ale and food.” Jamie turned to Helen and took her hand. “All will be well, sweet wife.”
After eating and drinking a cup of much-needed wine, Helen waited to see what Jamie would do. As a new laird, she understood he must make an example of anyone who disobeyed him, including her. And with the number of people in the hall, he must demonstrate his leadership even more, for whatever he did, word would spread quickly.
“Kuresh,” Jamie said.
“Laird?”
“Can ye tell me what ye and my wife were doing beyond these walls the night we were attacked?”
Once again, a hush fell over the hall, everyone listening.
“I did as you asked, Laird Jamie, secured the perimeter and guarded the doors myself.”
“How did Helen get outside?”
Kuresh gazed at Helen, then back at Jamie. “I failed to convince her to wait for you.”
“Is this true, Helen?”
She wouldna let Kuresh take the blame. “Nay. When Kuresh tried to block the way, I struck him.”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed. “Ye struck my captain?”
She lowered her head, ashamed of what she had done, but not for the reason she had done it. “I ordered him to get out of my way after he threatened to carry me abovestairs. Nothing was going to get between ye and me, Jamie. I couldna wait helplessly while ye were out there looking for Laird Munroe.”
“But we dinna know who it was yet.”
“In my heart I knew.”
“How?”
“I know my father.”
“What if it had been an army?”
“Then I would have gladly died with ye.”
The women in the crowd gasped.
“Ye foolish, brave lass,” he said, shaking his head. “What am I to do with ye? Ye canna strike a captain and not expect to be punished. And ye canna get away with defying yer husband, for what if every woman dishonored her father or husband and did as she wanted?”
She risked looking at Kuresh, thinking he would never want to speak to her again. But to her surprise, he nodded at her, showing his support. Had he truly forgiven her foolishness?
“I have another question,” Jamie addressed his captains. “Why are so many people gathered in the great hall at this hour?”
“Many wished to wait to see if you would live, milord,” Kuresh said. “The others came to see our guest.”
“Guest? Who?”
Even Helen scanned the lower tables for a new face.
“Me,” a male voice said from the far side of the hall, near the kitchens.
Helen turned and nearly fell out of her chair at the sight of her eldest brother, Collin.
“And who are ye?” Jamie stood.
“Collin Sutherland.”
Jamie immediately drew his sword. “Ye dare darken my hall?”
Collin seemed unaffected by Jamie’s anger. “I am on a mission of peace for the earl.”
Kuresh leaned close to Jamie and whispered something in his ear that Helen couldna hear.
Jamie nodded and sheathed his weapon. “There is nothing yer sire could possibly say that would make me believe he desired peace with the MacKays.”
“I dinna say all MacKays, Laird Jamie. Only ye.”
Helen started to say something, but Jamie silenced her with a wave of his hand.
“Did the earl send Laird Munroe here?”
“Not directly.”
“Doona speak in riddles.”
“He made a fair wager with the laird.”
Jamie’s brows arched. “A wager?”
“If Laird Munroe returned to Dunrobin Castle with my sister unharmed, then my sire would have blessed their union. From the day Helen disappeared, my father knew where she had gone. Lady Keely was highly favored by my family.”
“Especially by yer lowly, bastard brother, Struan.”
Collin chuckled. “He was young and overly ambitious. Ye would find him a changed man if ye met him today.”
“A dog on a leash can appear docile, until it is freed.”
“Aye. But I wouldna lie.”
“And what did the earl stand to gain if Laird Munroe failed?”
“This…” Collin produced a scroll from under his tunic. “Read the contract. As for the second missive, it is for Helen.”
Kuresh retrieved the parchment and gave it to Jamie. Helen watched as he unrolled the documents, reading every word slowly.
“This isna a contract about a wager!” Jamie said, gazing at Collin.
“Nay, but it is the betrothal contract my sire approved between Helen and Munroe.”
“The contract was never legitimate, for yer sister never signed it.”
Collin chuckled. “What woman ever signs her marriage contract? Even the queen wasna afforded such a privilege.”
Jamie snorted. “The law is meant to protect the people.”
“When it doesna inconvenience the nobility, as ye will soon learn as a laird.”
“How does this have anything to do with me and yer sister, my beloved wife?”
“Ye asked what the earl stood to gain from his wager. The same thing he had to gain if Munroe married Helen and died an untimely death.”
Jamie looked at the contract again. “Ships!”
“Aye, many ships. My father never intended for Laird Munroe to keep Helen—he wanted him dead. And by sending him to the McKays, the earl knew he would die.”
“Ye used us and endangered yer own sister to gain ships?”
“My father is a wealthy man because he takes chances, Laird MacKay. Helen is unharmed, and she is yer wife. Because the earl is a fair man, he asked me to give ye this.” Collin tossed a leather bag to Jamie.
Jamie caught it and dumped the contents out on the high table. “Gold.”
“A small fortune,” Collin said. “In truth, I followed Laird Munroe here in case ye failed to kill him. My men are only a few miles away. I’ve been waiting for ye to wake up for two days. The missive meant for my sister contains a secret blessing for her marriage to ye. Although the earl canna openly acknowledge yer union because Helen disobeyed him, there is a chance at reconciliation someday. Until then, this gold is meant as her dowry. Additionally, her belongings have been packed and will be delivered soon.”
“We share a common enemy now,” Jamie said.
“Who?”
“Duncan Munroe will seek vengeance on me and yer father for killing his uncle.”
“Nay,” Collin said. “Duncan Munroe is a coward and owes us his life, for he is now laird.” Collin dinna wait for Jamie to dismiss him; he turned away and started for the doors.
“Collin!” Helen couldna stay quiet any longer. She ran to her brother, and Collin opened his arms.
“Helen,” he soothed. “Live well, sister. Who would have believed ye to be the one to remind our sire what true love re
ally is?” He kissed her cheeks, took another long look at her, then walked out of the hall.
Chapter Twenty-Six
His beautiful wife couldna hold back her tears, so Jamie went to her, scooped her into his arms, and carried her abovestairs. She had suffered enough. Though she had been wrong for disobeying his orders, her motivation had come from the heart. For that, he loved her even more, if that was possible.
They curled up on the bed together, Helen holding the missive from her father.
“Will ye read it now?” Jamie asked.
“Nay, I am not ready.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I doona know.”
“What if the words ye’ve been waiting to hear from yer da all yer life are contained in the missive?”
She gazed at him, tears still fresh in her eyes. “Why did Collin leave? I doona understand.”
Jamie wished he had the answer. “Perhaps he will come back after he has fulfilled yer sire’s wishes. Collin doesna strike me as the kind of man who would forget his only sister. I saw the love in his eyes, Helen, heard what he told ye about ye being the one to remind yer father what true love really is.”
She sniffled. “I doona know if I can forgive the earl for using me to gain ships. Or my brother for going along with it.”
Jamie hugged her. “The earl is a selfish man, he gambled with yer life. I canna respect a man who doesna think of his family first. Yet, he let ye stay with me. As for the gold, what would ye have me do with it?”
“Tis yers.”
“Nay. I doona want the earl’s gold. How much blood did he spill to get it?”
Helen sat up. “Could we use it to help the poorest crofters? To make improvements to their cottages? To buy them warmer clothes and shoes?”
Jamie smiled at her enthusiasm and kindness. “Not to purchase silk gowns and slippers for ye? Perhaps a new mare? Rich furnishings?”
Helen slapped his chest playfully. “If the earl is sending my things, I will have everything I need, Jamie. Even if I dinna, I want to share our happiness and good fortune with our people.”
“Say the last part again.”
“Our people?”
“Aye. Ye’re a MacKay now, lass. And I like hearing ye say our people.”
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