Her father shook his head. “Elspeth, ye’re confused. Ye’ve been away from home too long and it’s changing the way ye look at things. I will nae allow ye to go back with them.”
She stood from her chair and frowned. “I’m sorry, Da, but it’s nae up to ye. I came here to let ye ken the men are treating me fairly, and that I’m happy. I dinnae want ye to worry about me. Now, all ye have to do is raise the boys. Life in Castlebay is nae what I expected it to be, but it’s what I want.”
She knew he couldn’t possibly understand her reasons for wanting to go, but hopefully, it would at least give them some peace about her departure.
“Are ye in love with him?” her father asked through gritted teeth. “Is that what this is about?”
“I dinnae see how that’s relevant, but I very well might be.”
“How could ye fall in love with the man who took ye away from us?”
“Because there is so much more to him than that. Graeme’s an amazing person. I even think ye’d rather like him if the circumstances would ever allow ye to become familiar with each other.”
He collapsed into one of the chairs and sighed. “I cannae believe what I am hearing.”
“Da, please dinnae let yerself be sad. I want to enjoy this time with ye as much as I can.”
Their conversation drug on throughout the evening, Glen and Hamish both bombarding her with hugs and stories while Angus watched them from the kitchen. It was the first time in a long time that Elspeth truly believed they were going to thrive. They spent the evening listening to her stories about the adventures she’d been on with Graeme and the other pirates. She told them about Jack and how she’d removed the bullet from his gut on the Josefina and then sewed him up afterwards. She told them about Bess and the charming tavern in the middle of a pirate village. With every story, they became more and more entranced with what her world had now become.
Glen fell asleep with his head against her shoulder and she carried him to the bed to tuck him in beneath the covers. Angus was snoring softly as he slumped over in his chair and she wrapped a blanket around him to keep out the chill. With their da asleep, Elspeth lay down on the bed with Glen and Hamish. Hamish was the only one left awake, as he refused to miss a single moment with her before she disappeared.
He patted her gently on the cheek and said, “Please, dinnae leave us, Elspeth. We love ye.”
She kissed him on the forehead. “I’m sorry, Hamish, but I have to. It’s difficult to explain, but I ken my time with them is not yet done.”
It was quiet for a moment as she wrapped her arms around him and Hamish looked up curiously. “Are ye really in love with him?”
“Who, Graeme?”
Hamish nodded.
Elspeth smiled at him. “I’m nae sure. I think I am, that’s one of the reasons I have to go—I have to find out.”
“What about us?” her brother sobbed. “Dinnae ye love us, too? I thought we were a family and now ye’re leaving us again.”
Her heart ached as she listened to him cry, wiping the tears away from his cheek. “Oh, Hamish. Of course I love ye—that’s never going to change—but I’m torn between two loves now. One day ye’ll understand.”
Hamish nodded slightly and nuzzled his head against her shoulder.
“I’ll come back again,” she promised. “One day I’ll return and bring ye with me to Castlebay. That way ye can see it fer yerself. Would ye like that?”
He nodded.
Elspeth lifted her head off the pillow and reached up to find the clasp of her silver necklace. She worked the delicate latch and unhooked the chain from around her neck. Carefully, she pulled the necklace free and placed it in her brother’s hand.
“This is fer ye,” Elspeth told him. “Consider it a promise. Take care of it while I’m away and ken that I’ll come back fer ye as soon as possible.”
Hamish gazed down at the silver necklace in wonder and held it tight against his chest. “I’ll keep it safe, Elspeth.”
She kissed him on the forehead and closed her eyes as she laid back against the pillow. Elspeth didn’t want to miss a single moment with them, but exhaustion eventually took her, and she dozed off with a contented smile.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The crescent moon peeked out from behind a patch of clouds, illuminating the night sky as Graeme lay back gazing into the infinite darkness. He breathed out a tired sigh and repositioned his weight against the wooden bench. He could be celebrating with his men in the local tavern, but with their current cargo he thought it best to stay and guard the ship. It seemed reasonable, besides he didn’t feel much like celebrating anyway.
He brought the bottle of Portuguese wine to his lips and drank, savoring the thick brown drink as at lingered on his tongue.
Elspeth was gone. He watched her leave knowing she might never return. Even worse, he’d sent her away.
What could he have possibly been thinking?
Graeme already knew the answer—he was thinking she’d be safer living in Oban then sailing with a band of pirates. He was thinking about how seeing her family again would make Elspeth happy, and he wanted to see her smile. Graeme let her go because that’s what you do when you love someone—you do what’s best for them. The wine would never serve as a replacement, but it helped to drown his sorrows until something else distracted him. As long as they were docked there was little else to occupy his attention.
Wait…did I just realize I’m in love with her?
He shook his head and frowned, lifting the bottle for another sip. That wouldn’t do, there was no time for him to be feeling sorry for himself. It was best not to think about her—or the way she laughed…or the way she looked at him like he was more than just a man, and for the first time ever managed to challenge him as a true and honest equal.
Graeme sighed, glancing over at the men who’d stayed behind with him. They were all scattered across the ship. Bartholomew had wrapped his hand with a bit of cloth and was resting in the back. Alistair and a few others were enjoying their daily rations and singing a shanty from Kisimul, while Bruce and Seamus prepared to leave for the village tavern.
“Are ye coming with us, Captain?”
He turned at the sound of his crewman calling for his attention. “Nae, it’s better fer me to stay behind this time. Go and have a drink fer me. I’m nae much fer company tonight.”
Seamus shrugged and headed off down the dock with Bruce and Valan. Their footsteps creaked along the wooden pier as they disappeared around the corner and Alistair cleared his throat. “Maybe ye should go with them, Captain. It might be good fer ye to unwind a bit and ease yer mind.”
Graeme frowned at him. “What are ye implying?”
The quartermaster sat down on the bench and said, “I’m saying that it’s been a rough day, and it would be perfectly reasonable fer ye to seek refuge in the company of like-minded individuals. Mayhap, ye’d enjoy a game of cards…”
He snorted at the suggestion of anything being able to lift his spirits in light of their present circumstance. “Thank ye, Alistair, but I’d rather stay with the ship. I doubt there’s anything in the village that could interest me this eve.”
Except fer one.
Alistair’s expression softened when he cleared his throat. “It’s nae my business to pry, but I hate seeing ye distressed. We’ve always been able to speak freely to each other.”
“Aye…”
“Then I should tell ye I saw what happened earlier. I saw ye kissing Elspeth on the dock, and her running back to her father’s cottage. Ye sent her home. It was a noble gesture, and I doubt she’ll soon forget it. Ye put Elspeth’s needs ahead of yer own, and I’m proud of ye.”
Graeme turned away from him to gaze back out to the sea. “Was there something else ye needed?”
Alistair sighed, running his fingers through his mop of unruly red hair. “Nae, I’ll leave ye to yer peace.”
As he stood up to leave, Graeme called after him. “Alistair...”
“Ye really think I did the right thing?”
Alistair pursed his lips and said, “I think ye were right to give her a choice, but if she does come back—which I think she will—ye need to tell her how ye feel. Women like Elspeth are a rare jewel, they do nae cross yer path every day. If ye’re lucky enough to find one, ye hold onto her fer dear life and never let go.”
Graeme swallowed a lump rising in this throat. “What if she dinnae return?”
He smiled. “She will.”
Without another word, Alistair stood and headed off toward the tavern. Graeme exhaled through his nose and stared up at the stars, wondering if Alistair was right. Would she come back to him?
Right now, Elspeth would be with her family and there was no telling if that would change things. She may have forgotten about him already. Not forgotten, perhaps, but returned to the love of her brothers and da and lost all desire to sail. He was keenly aware of how much she hated leaving them in the first place and nothing that happened between them would have changed that.
That is how it should be, Graeme thought to himself. Family must come first.
Even so, he still allowed himself to hope. If he closed his eyes, Graeme could imagine the warmth of her body against him like the night he’d held her through the storm. He remembered the feel of her lips against his from the night they kissed—a moment he would never regret even if she was lost to him forever.
Ah, Elspeth...what have ye done to me?
***
The sun had not yet risen when Elspeth stirred, pulling herself from the grasp of her younger brothers. Glen and Hamish were curled up next to her on the pallet bed and snoring softy. Angus was still asleep in his chair with the woolen blanket fallen on the floor beside him. She smiled, looking down at the lads affectionately and leaned over to kiss them on the forehead. It was such a pleasant scene and she didn’t want to risk waking them. Elspeth didn’t even know when, or if, she’d have the chance to encounter it again.
She carefully slid out from beneath their warm embrace, trying to be as quiet as possible. If they woke, Elspeth knew Angus would try to talk her out of leaving and the boys would cry.
Glen stirred in his sleep as she stepped over to the door to put on her shoes. Hamish rolled over on the bed next to him with the silver locket in his hand. Her heart ached leaving them, without so much as a goodbye. She was leaving part of herself behind in the form of a silver locket, little by little letting go.
It was a choice. A choice that broke her heart, but a choice nonetheless.
Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes as she placed her hand on the door latch and said, “Goodbye Hamish. I’ll come back fer ye, I promise.”
Elspeth pushed the door open and strode outside before her confidence wavered. She padded down the hillside and then briskly strode toward the dock. The entire countryside was cloaked in shadow, with the faintest hint of the morning sun tinting the clouds. She worried that if she did not keep pace she’d change her mind and go running back to them. Every step toward the village harbor brought a thrill of excitement and she hurried to catch the crew before they left.
When she finally reached the pier, Graeme was sitting on a wooden barrel with his arms crossed in front of himself. The rest of his crew was loading clean water and supplies and they greeted her with a smile.
“Good morrow, Ellie,” Valan told her.
Graeme’s head whipped around, and he stared at her with shock. “Elspeth…” Their eyes met across the dock and a slow smile began to creep across his face. “Ye came back.”
Elspeth laughed as she took another step toward him. “I told ye I would.”
“What about yer family?”
“They ken that I’m happy with my decision, and that I’m safe. There’s nae much else I can do.”
“This is insanity,” he allowed. “I cannae let ye do this, it’s too dangerous.”
“I’ve made up my mind, Captain. Do ye nae longer want me on yer crew?”
Alistair chuckled as he watched the exchange take place. “There’s nae use arguing with her, Captain. Ellie seems determined. I suggest ye count yer blessings and shove off. We’ve got a ship full of English treasure, and the sooner we can get it to Kisimul the better.”
Graeme opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. After a moment, he strode across the wooden planks toward her and kissed Elspeth passionately on the lips. She stumbled back in surprise at first, and then melted into him. Elspeth trembled with delight at the feel of his arms surrounding her and kissed him back, knowing she’d made the correct decision. She didn’t care if any of the crew saw them, all she could think about was his lips and body pressed against her.
When he pulled away she bit into her smile and Graeme stared back at her in wonder. “Then I guess we should set sail. It’s a half day journey to Castlebay.”
Elspeth’s heart soared.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Castle Kisimul, 1547
Graeme swelled with pride when he saw Castle Kisimul rise out of the sea on the horizon. The great stone structure was a sign of security and strength. Waves crashed against the side of their boat as he stood on the bow of the ship, letting the wind rustle through his hair. He knew they’d barely escaped the last raid on the Mary Rose and was grateful to be returning home. Eight crates of gold and treasure were loaded in the center of their ship as a sign of their victory.
The oars slapped against the water as they grew nearer to the castle and had to navigate between the rocks. A horn announced their arrival when they came into range of Kisimul and the herald cried out, “Make way, the men have returned.”
Alistair steered the rudder toward the landing dock while the others either picked up their oars or gently maneuvered the ship onto position. Their birlinn came to a halt as they eased onto the landing dock and a handful of men jumped out to pull it from the water. The castle guard came walking out to greet them and Gregor addressed their captain with a nod.
“Graeme, ye’ve returned again. I am relieved to see ye’ve made it back safe.” His gaze drifted toward the crates of treasure on the deck and the man’s eyes grew large. “I see ye’ve brought back quite a haul. Good fortune has befallen ye.”
Graeme nodded as he stepped out onto the landing. “Aye, we have. I would be pleased to tell ye the story of our adventure, but that will have to wait fer another time. Is the laird available? I have some urgent business to attend with him.”
The guard nodded. “I believe he is in the keep. I’ll send word of yer request and bring him out to congratulate ye on yer success.”
Gregor turned on the heel of his foot to go and deliver the message, bringing the rest if the warriors with him. While they left, Graeme’s men began unloading the crates of gold onto the shore. Out of the corner of his eye, Graeme noticed Elspeth step ashore and help them with the cargo. She looked completely natural, as if she was meant to be one of them. A true MacNeil woman.
They had almost finished when Thomas came walking outside with an enormous smile.
“Graeme, my good lad. What is this treasure ye have brought me?”
The captain bowed to him out of respect and walked over so they could speak in private. “I have brought gold from an English treasure ship, the Mary Rose.”
“A treasure ship? Remarkable,” the laird announced. “Come, tell me of yer journey and how this came to pass.”
As they were talking, the crew continued unloading the rest of their haul. Thomas walked with him through the castle gate while Graeme told him about what happened. He explained the vulnerability of the Mary Rose and how they managed to intercept it, then about the war carrack and how the crew managed to escape.
Thomas listened to him, scratching his chin and nodded thoughtfully when the story unfolded. By the time he finished speaking, they were standing in the courtyard watching the crew bring the crates inside and load them unto the keep.
At
one point, Graeme’s eyes flickered up to find Lady Claire gazing out to the sea from the parapet walkway. She had on the blue and green tartan of their clan, and her silken black hair was braided back into a windswept bun. Normally, he wouldn’t have paid her any mind, but she looked so sad and lonely that his heart went out to her.
His smile faded slightly after seeing her and he continued walking and talking with the laird in confidence. The grounds were a bustle with commotion as Graeme’s crew unloaded their bounty. Every crate of gold the men brought inside became even more impressive and filled the coffers higher.
Thomas’ brow line puckered when Graeme finished recalling his tale of their success, saying, “How fortunate the events turned out this way. Who would have thought there was an escort fer the Mary Rose lurking only a few leagues away? The English queen is growing clever with her tricks.”
“Ye think it was a trap?”
Laird Thomas MacNeil nodded. “Without question. Queen Elizabeth has been growing tired of our continued raids fer quite some time and seeks to finish them once and fer all. It would nae surprise me if she laid a trap to discourage our attempts in the future. I’ll let the other captains ken so they take appropriate precautions.”
“Thank ye, my Laird. I agree.”
The chieftain sighed. “I’m glad that ye were able to escape. It would have broken my heart to lose ye as one of my captains. If the carrack had managed to sink ye I’m nae sure ye could ever be replaced. However, I am disappointed ye were nae able to retrieve the entire sum,” Thomas informed him. “Ye said there were twelve crates on board their ship.”
“Twelve that we saw,” Graeme corrected.
“Yet, I only count eight being carried in from yer haul.”
Taken by Graeme (The Pirates of Barra: Highland Raiders Book 1) Page 13
