Stifling a yawn, Effie ran a finger over the back of the squirrel now sitting on the horn of the saddle. The cute little thing had taken a liking to her for some reason.
“Reid likes ye,” she heard Aidan say from behind her.
“Well, I like him, too,” she said, not turning her head to talk. If she did, her face would be pressed up against Aidan’s and she’d want to kiss him again. “So, tell me aboot yer dream stone,” she said.
“What’s there to tell?”
“Have ye had it long?”
“Why do ye keep askin’ me aboot it?”
She froze. “I’m jest tryin’ te make conversation.” She hoped he didn’t suspect what she was up to.
“I’d rather talk aboot yer family instead,” he said.
“I told ye . . . I have no family.” She truly wished to avoid this conversation. “Me faither died in battle and me mathair died givin’ birth to me sister.”
“So ye have a sister? What is her name?”
Damn, she didn’t mean to tell him that. She had to be more careful. “Her name is Coira. But she . . . died,” she lied. “When the English attacked our camp.”
“I’m so sorry. I didna realize. I ken how hard this must be fer ye. If I can do anythin’ te help ye ease the pain –”
“I dinna want te talk aboot it.” Why did he have to be so nice? No one had ever been so nice to her in her entire life, and now that she found someone, she knew it wouldn’t last. As soon as she did her dirty deed, Aidan would hate her forever.
They rode in silence for awhile, then she started wondering about him.
“Do ye have siblings?” she asked.
“I do,” he said. “Me sister’s name is Kyla. She is aboot yer age I’d guess.”
“Is she married or have bairns?”
“Nay. She lives with the clan.”
“I see. Are yer parents still alive?”
“Nay. I lost them both when I was very young.”
“In a battle?” she asked, curiously.
“Me faither died when he was thrown from a horse ten years ago, and me mathair died from fever when Kyla was only six. I am verra protective o’ me wee sister and dinna like her bein’ with any laddie.”
“I am sorry fer yer loss as well,” she said, “but Kyla is old enough te be married and have several bairns by now. Ye need te let loose with her, Aidan.”
“I dinna ken. She will always be me wee sister, and I promised me mathair I’d watch o’er her.”
Effie wanted to tell him that she and her sister were in a very similar situation. But she didn’t. She didn’t want him to know much about her, and nothing at all about her sister. It would only make things worse in the end.
“How old are ye, lass?”
“I am twenty summers . . . tomorrow,” Effie answered.
“Tomorrow is yer birthday?”
“It is. But it no longer matters, as I have nothin’ te celebrate.”
“I’ll make certain ye do,” he said with promise to his voice.
“Nay, really. I dinna want anythin’ done fer me. I dinna deserve it.”
“How can ye say thet, Effie? Ye have lost yer whole family and e’erythin’ to the English. I am goin’ te make it up te ye. Especially since this will be yer first birthday without yer sister. I ken it’ll be hard since ye’ve lost her just recently, but I will do me best te try te fill thet empty spot in yer heart.”
She should have told him right then and there that her sister was still alive, but she couldn’t. Lord Ralston’s threat kept echoing in her brain. If she told anyone about her sister in the cage, the man would kill poor Coira. She couldn’t take the chance. She had to keep it a secret for now, especially since she was so close to giving the bloody English what they wanted. Though it pained her to have to deceive Aidan and the MacKeefes, as well as turn traitor to her own country, she would do whatever it took to save her sister’s life. Even if it meant gaining the trust and then deceiving a man who had been nothing but kind to her. Still, she’d never find someone like Aidan again in her life, and it pained her to be in this position.
He said he wanted to fill that empty spot in her heart, but little did he know that he already had.
AIDAN
CHAPTER SEVEN
As soon as they got back to the MacKeefe camp, Renard and Niall came running out to join them. The MacKeefe camp had grown in the last few years, and now they had not only the cottage for the chieftain and his family, but also the hospice, as well as a dining cottage they used mostly in the winter, and nearly a dozen other cottages dotting the land that were for the other inhabitants. They were made of stone and had thatched roofs. There was a stable as well as a weaver’s hut, and also a building that housed the homing pigeons that were kept by Wren for her brother, Madoc, who resided in Devonshire.
“Ye’re back so soon?” asked Niall. The boy was the nephew of their chieftain, Storm MacKeefe, and was ten and six years of age. He wasn’t very tall, but had a huge personality to make up for it.
“We are,” he said, feeling Effie stir in his arms, as she’d fallen asleep for the last hour and he’d held her tightly as they rode, to ensure she didn’t fall from the horse.
“Who is she?” asked Renard, Storm’s red-haired son who was two years older than Niall. He took the reins of the horse as Aidan dismounted. Onyx and Ian rode up right behind him, their horses loaded down with goods they’d either traded for or purchased at the fair.
“She is his dream angel,” mumbled Ian, but it was loud enough for Aidan to hear.
“Dinna start thet again, Ian or we’ll get into another rumble,” warned Aidan.
“What’s a dream angel?” asked Niall, going to Onyx’s horse and helping him untie the travel bags.
“She’s a lassie Aidan saw in a dream, by usin’ the Stone o’ Destiny,” Onyx explained.
“Should ye be sayin’ thet aloud?” Renard looked cautiously toward Effie as he went to help Ian unload his horse as well.
“He already told her aboot the stone, so there’s no need te keep it a secret.” Onyx threw a travel bag over his shoulder.
“I’d love to see this Stone o’ Destiny,” said Effie, as Aidan helped her from the horse.
“I’ll show it te ye,” said Niall, coming to her and smiling. “Me name is Niall, and me friend’s name is Renard.”
“I’m Effie, and pleased te meet ye,” she said with a smile. “Niall, I’d love to take ye up on yer offer te see the stone.”
“No’ now,” grumbled Aidan, starting to feel irritated that she kept asking about the stone. He was also starting to get an uneasy feeling in his gut and hoped Onyx and Ian weren’t right about her. If she were deceiving him, he’d never forgive himself for opening his mouth and telling her about it to begin with.
“Renard, ye and Niall take care o’ the horses and supplies, and then ye are free te go join the others at the fair,” Aidan told him.
“But Da willna like if we leave our post of guarding the stone.” Renard shook his head.
“We’ll take care o’ thet now,” he told him. “Ye two go and have some fun.”
“Aye,” said Onyx. “Mayhap if ye’re lucky ye can find a dream angel at the fair as well.”
“Jest dinna bring her home if she has a tail,” Ian called out.
They all started laughing, and Aidan decided he needed to get away from them all right now. He stormed away, but Effie followed.
“Where are ye goin’?” she asked.
“Anywhere away from them.” He headed up the hill where the clan’s long-haired sheep were grazing in the fields of green grass. His squirrel followed him on the ground.
“So who exactly are those two fine laddies I jest met?” asked Effie.
“They are the chieftain’s son and nephew,” he said.
“Where is e’erybody else?” She looked around the deserted camp.
“There are all at the fair in Glasgow. They willna be back until the fair is o’er.”
�
��What a shame. I would have loved te meet yer clan.”
He settled himself atop a hill, and Reid climbed onto his lap. He ran his hand over the squirrel’s fur as he spoke.
“Ye sound as if ye dinna plan on bein’ here long, lass. I thought ye said ye had no home, so where do ye plan on goin’?”
“Oh, I didna mean it thet way. I jest meant thet . . . thet I am happy fer yer hospitality but dinna want te overstay me welcome.”
“Ye are welcome te stay with the MacKeefes as long as ye like.” His squirrel left his lap, and he reached out and pulled Effie towards him. She laughed and settled on the ground next to him. He then fell backwards onto the soft grass and looked up to the blue sky. She lay down next to him and did the same.
“Who are ye, Effie?”
“What do ye mean?”
He turned to look at her and drank in her beauty. He loved her smile. Her green eyes lit up like the early morning sun splashing across the rolling green mountains, and her whole face shone with life. The sunrays bounced off her bright red locks, almost seeming to make her hair glow. She intrigued him more than any lassie he’d ever met. He wanted to get to know this mysterious woman, and his heart ached for the losses she’d encountered lately.
He decided he’d be her family now that she had none. He would protect her and ask Storm when he returned if she could join the MacKeefe clan. He could give her a family again, and wanted to do that more than anything. He was sure that’s what his dream meant. That she needed him. Needed his protection. And he would do just that because she was special. The Stone of Destiny showed her to him, so he knew that they were destined to be together.
“When I see ye smile like thet, Effie, it makes me want te reach out and kiss ye.”
“Then why dinna ye do it?” she asked.
“Ye’re sayin’ ye want me to?” He never expected this after the cold reception he’d received from her last night.
“Do I have te ask?”
“But ye made it so clear last night at the loch thet ye didna want me in any shape or form.”
“I was angry at the time, Aidan MacKeefe. And distracted. Ye and ye’re friends had no’ only given away our dinner, but were standin’ there naked. It’s no’ e’ery day a lassie is surrounded by three naked, handsome men.”
“Ye think we’re handsome?” he asked. “So who do ye think is the most desirable out o’ the three o’ us, since ye’ve seen us scuddy and all?” he asked, holding his breath and waiting for her answer.
She pushed up to her elbow, reaching over and kissing him. Her long hair encompassed them, making a private tent around them as they shared their intimate moment.
Her lips were so soft and tasted like sweet nectar, and her skin was smooth and milky white. When she pulled back, she smiled again, and he saw the clouds above reflecting in her eyes. Freckles trailed across her nose and down to her cheeks, making her seem so young and innocent. He reached out and ran a finger over her freckles. Then he reached up and kissed them, trying to do it one at a time.
“Ye are so silly, Aidan MacKeefe,” she said with a giggle.
“So, what is yer answer, me bonnie cailin? Who out o’ me and me friends do ye find most desirable? After all, ye’ve seen us without clothes, so there is nothin’ we can hide from ye.”
“Ye’ve all seen me scuddy as well.”
“I dinna like thet fact.”
“I kent ye didna like it, by the way ye blocked me naked body from the eyes o’ yer friends. I must say thet I didna even notice the others, as me eyes were fastened only on ye. If ye haveta ask who I desire, then ye really dinna ken lassies at all.”
With that, she rolled over atop him and covered his body with hers. He wrapped his arms around her, and they kissed again. He found himself warming quickly, and his manhood hardened beneath her. She noticed, and daringly reached down and ran her fingers over the bulge beneath his clothes.
“Ye keep doin’ thet, me angel, and I will be the one tryin’ te defile ye, and no’ the English.
“And I wouldna stop ye, Aidan.”
“Ye wouldna?” This was too good to be true. He reached down and caressed one of her breasts as they shared another kiss. Then he rolled her off of him and straddled one leg over her. His hand was under her skirt, and he daringly slipped it upward, feeling her firm leg. She raised her leg, giving him access to explore more, and he probably would have if he hadn’t heard the squeaking of his squirrel from lower down the hill. He pulled back quickly and sat up.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, sitting up next to him.
“I hear Reid. He is in trouble.”
“Ye mean yer squirrel? Now?” He could tell by her voice that she wanted to continue what they were doing. He did as well, but it would have to wait.
He looked across the grass and spotted Reid at the top of the hill – in the mouth of Onyx’s pet wildcat.
“Nay!” he screamed, jumping to his feet. The wildcat looked up and then darted down the hill toward camp and Aidan ran after it, with Effie following.
“Ian . . . Dagger,” he called to alert his friends at camp. They looked up and saw what was happening. “The damn cat is goin’ te kill Reid!”
His friends rushed toward the animals too, but Tawpie, Onyx’s wildcat, made a turn and headed back up the hill – and stopped when a wolfhound met her head on. The hound snarled at the wildcat and showed its teeth, and Tawpie dropped the squirrel to the ground. The wildcat’s fur stood on end, and she showed her sharp teeth as well.
“Look, it’s thet wolfhound that almost attacked me last night,” shouted Effie.
“I’ll protect ye.” Aidan pulled his dagger from his belt and rushed forward, but before he could make it there, Ian ran up the hill and threw himself atop the hound, bringing it to the ground. He wrestled it with his bare hands. Onyx rushed over and picked up the squirrel, and the cat slinked away towards camp.
“Use yer dagger,” called out Aidan, rushing to join his friends. “The thing is possessed.”
“Nay, I dinna want te hurt it,” Ian called back, rolling over and over on the ground with the wolfhound in his hands. The animal snarled and tried to bite him, but eventually gave up in a whimper. It lay there under Ian’s hold, and slowly he released the animal. It just looked up to him with wide eyes and Ian carefully reached out and ran a hand over its head.
“What are ye doin’?” asked Aidan, coming to his side. “Thet thing is dangerous.”
“Nay,” Ian said stubbornly, sitting down next to it. The animal got up quickly, looked at them with wide eyes and hurried away with a slight limp over the hills.
“Reid!” said Aidan, collecting the squirrel from Onyx. It was bleeding and barely moving. “Yer damned cat almost killed me squirrel,” he shouted.
“But it didna,” said Onyx.
“Only becooz the wolfhound saved it,” added Ian.
“Ye shoulda killed thet feral thing yesterday.” Aidan felt furious at this whole situation. “Now it followed us te camp and we have more problems.”
“Nay,” said Ian. “It is already injured and I was tryin’ te help. The hound is all alone. I feel sad fer it. I think it’s only tryin’ te attack becooz it’s scared. And mayhap Onyx’s cat shoulda killed yer squirrel instead.”
“Me cat didna mean any harm,” said Onyx in his pet’s defense.
“Stop yer bickerin’ ye dunderheids and give me the squirrel.” Effie stood with her arms outstretched, waiting for Aidan to hand over his pet.
“He’s almost deid,” said Aidan sadly.
“I can see thet,” she said, pulling it from his hands. “If ye three fools keep up yer bickerin’ it’s goin’ te be deid afore we can help it.”
“Do ye ken how te heal animals?” asked Aidan.
“I told ye, I am a gypsy. I ken a lot o’ things ye have no idea aboot. Now there are some herbs and things I’m goin’ te need, and I need ye three to get them fer me. Aidan, get some hot water and rags, and Onyx, ye start a fire and cook some f
ood, as I’m famished. Ian, I’ll tell ye where the herbs are and what they look like, and ye make sure te keep thet hound away from here. And if I see that wildcat anywhere near this squirrel again, I swear I’ll be servin’ it roasted on a spit fer our next meal. Now do ye all understand what ye’re te do? If we’re goin’ te save this poor animal’s life we need te move quickly.”
“She took off at a good clip down the hill toward the cottages with the nearly lifeless, bloody squirrel in her hands, not bothering to wait for an answer.
Aidan and his friends just stood there with their mouths open and stared at each other.
“What jest happened?” asked Ian.
“Get a move on it,” she shouted over her shoulder, “we don’t have all day.”
“Did she jest really tell us what te do?” asked Aidan.
“I think she did,” said Ian, shaking his head in disbelief.
“And I thought me bairned wife was moody and demandin’. Aidan, ye got yerself a live one there.” Onyx scratched the back of his neck and watched Effie rushing down the hill.
“I guess so,” Aidan said.
“What’re ye goin’ te do aboot it?” asked Ian.
“Reid’s life is in danger,” Aidan replied. “Do we really have a choice? Ye heard her, now let’s get movin’.”
AIDAN
CHAPTER EIGHT
Effie woke the next morning, taking a moment to realize where she was. She looked around and found herself lying on a pallet in a darkened cottage. A small table with a few chairs were across the room as well as several other pallets, and some personal belongings such as trunks and clothing. There was a firepit in the center of the room but with no fire, as it was summer. Above it, there was a thatched roof that came to a v, with holes in the sides at the top to let out smoke, but yet keep the hut protected so that rain would not enter.
She felt something on her chest, and looked down to see Aidan’s squirrel curled up atop her. She’d spent all night holding it outside by the fire, applying her poultices and herbs, and trying to save its life.
She couldn’t have done it without the help of the three madmen, and had almost laughed at the way those three big, strong men were jumping at her command, and running around collecting the things she needed. She knew now that they all had a side to them that wasn’t as harsh as they sometimes let on.
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