Highland Lies (The Band of Cousins Book 4)

by Keira Montclair

  The man who’d been standing at the head of the boat yelled, “You foolish bitch. I don’t care how much I’d get for you. You’re going overboard.”

  Three men lunged at her. She kicked and screamed, fighting them off, but one man got her in a chokehold. She bit him, breaking free, and one of his companions croaked, “Can you not control a wee bitch? Is she too tough for you?”

  A large wave hit them, catapulting two of them over the side, saving her and giving her enough leeway to lurch toward the front of the boat. Clinging to the side, she stepped over the young lasses who were still restrained and asleep. When she reached the end, she realized Euphemie was the last girl in the row.

  She had awakened and sat up with a shocked expression on her face. The gag in her mouth prevented her from speaking, but she motioned for Rose to remove it.

  She debated the merits of doing something nice for the lass who’d been so cruel, but no one deserved to be sold like an object. Not even Euphemie. Rose tugged on the cloth and tossed it over the side, then continued on her way.

  “Rose!” Euphemie called to her.

  Rose grabbed the side of the boat to steady herself and turned around to face the other girl.

  “You can hear and talk,” the girl said, stating the obvious. Then she paused and said, “Why are you being kind to me?”

  Rose realized that it was time for her to start speaking to everyone. “Because I’m not like you at all.” She turned her back and continued on to the edge of the boat.

  “I’m sorry, Rose,” Euphemie hollered. “I was wrong about you.”

  Rose ignored her, unsure of whether or not to believe her, but it didn’t matter. She had to find a way to safety and that was her focus.

  She reached the end of the boat and could go no farther. Staring into the depths of the water, she briefly thought about jumping over, but the man she thought was the captain grabbed her from behind and wrapped his hands around her throat in a choke-hold. Gasping for air, she scratched and kicked, but she was losing the battle. Her vision dimmed as he increased his pressure on her windpipe.

  To her surprise, a giant shape loomed over the side of the boat and lunged directly at the captain, knocking him off his feet.

  Roddy Grant had arrived.

  He fought like a man possessed, his fists striking anyone near him and making quick work of the few remaining men. Then he turned to Rose, a smile on his face.

  Had she ever seen anything so wonderful in her life?

  Another wave caught them and sent her flying into his arms. He clutched her to him and whispered, “You can talk.”

  And so she told him the most important thought in her mind, just in case her ability to speak suddenly disappeared.

  She smiled and said, “I love you, Roddy Grant.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Roddy helped Rose into the boat Braden and Connor had located and rowed over. The rain had slowed to a light drizzle by then.

  “Daniel and Uncle Brodie found a larger boat in the caves,” Connor said. “They’re on their way to assist with the others. Will said he’d find a third boat.”

  “Good. I dropped the anchor and dumped the few dead bodies over the side. A few of the villains are trying their best to swim to shore, but they were headed away from us. Most of the lasses are still asleep from some concoction they were given. A couple of men are still alive, but we tied them up, hoping Maggie and Will would be able to glean some information from them.”

  Braden glanced at the rocking galley ship. There was no movement inside. “Good, because I don’t think we can hold more than you two. I don’t want to weigh this small boat down any more. I’ll not risk capsizing it in these waves. We’ll take you back, then bring a larger crew to row this one back to shore.”

  Roddy sat in the middle and wrapped his arms around Rose, settling her on his lap.

  As they shoved back toward shore, Connor and Braden rowing, Connor said, “I wanted to bring a dry plaid, but couldn’t locate one.”

  Peering up into Roddy’s gaze, Rose said, “I’m warm enough.”

  “Lass, you found your voice,” Braden said. “We heard it carry across the water. Well done. Never seen Roddy act without thinking like that.”

  Connor said, “Aye, you lost all those fears in a hurry, did you not, cousin? You dove into a sea loch rolling from the storm, not giving a care about being struck by lightning.”

  Roddy glanced over the waves they battled to get back to shore, just then noticing the size of the crests and the way the water continued to batter their small boat. He glanced at Braden in front of him. “The water was a wee bit rough, but ’twas not that bad.” The fear of dying had descended on him as they found their way down the treacherous path to the shoreline, but it had left him and never returned.

  Braden muttered, “Never seen my sire pace so much. Said your sire would kill him for allowing you in that water.”

  Roddy couldn’t help but chuckle, for he knew nothing would have stopped him. “He wouldn’t have been able to convince me to wait. I was driven by the sound of a wee voice across the water.”

  “Wee voice?” Connor said, clucking his tongue. “That was a strong voice, not a wee one.”

  Once they were close to shore, another voice carried to them. “Rose? Are you hale? Rose. Tell me ’tis true you can speak.” Constance stood at the edge of the rocks, watching for them. Her body nearly shook with sobs.

  “Constance, I feel the best I ever have. Cease your worry,” Rose shouted, a rippling wave of applause following her declaration.

  When they reached shore, Daniel and Will came over to assist them, but they were shoved aside by Rose’s dear friend, who reached for her as soon as Roddy lifted her over the side. Constance grabbed her in a bear hug and cried all over her shoulder. “I’m glad ’twas raining so you’re already wet.” She paused to swipe at her tears. “Say something else. Please?”

  Rose said, “You are the best friend I could ever have asked for.”

  “Oh, Rose,” Constance squealed and hugged her friend again. “You’re soaked. We can go dry off in the hut. Maggie went inside your castle and found some dry clothes for both of us.”

  Constance led her up the path to the hut at the top of the cliffs, people gathered all around it.

  Roddy couldn’t be any prouder of his cousins and how they’d pulled together to accomplish something so important.

  “How many, Roddy?”

  “That’s eight more you’ve saved, Maggie.”

  “We’ve saved.”

  A harsh voice carried over to them. “There she is. There’s my dear daughter. She’ll tell you how I had naught to do with this. She cannot speak, but she can hear. Just ask her questions and she’ll tell you.” She held her bound hands up for all to see. “She was there. She’s a witness. Untie me so I can hug my sweet girl. Father Seward tried to kill me. Kill me! ’Twas self-defense.”

  Roddy spun around and stared at her wretched mother. How he wished to pick the woman up and throw her down the path, letting her bounce her way down across the gravel, but this was Rose’s chance to finally speak with her mother. He would not take it away from her. “We meet again. Rose, if I were you, I’d ignore her and walk away. She’s not worth your effort.”

  Rose gripped his hand tightly, fury crossing her face. “Oh, but you’re wrong about that. She is worth my effort.”

  ***

  Rose had been so happy to see Roddy that she hadn’t given a thought to what she would do when she saw her mother again. Numerous ideas bounced around in her mind, but one in particular seemed to win her over.

  She strolled over to her mother as silence descended over the group. “Nay, Mama. You did kill Father Seward, and you also killed my dear father. You frightened me so much at the age of twelve that I didn’t speak for five years. No longer. I now know you for who you are.” Rose turned toward Maggie and Will. “This woman pushed my sire off a cliff five years ago, and she just killed Father Seward. She belongs in pr
ison.”

  Her mother’s only response was to start laughing. The sound of the woman’s laughter grated on Rose’s nerves—a wicked sound, one she wished she could slap out of her—but she didn’t wish to dirty her hands on the woman. Lady MacDole was so vile and devious that she would no longer allow her to have any power over her. Even the power of hate.

  Rose shook her head. “You are not worth my effort. I want naught to do with you.” Roddy’s hand settled on the small of her back, and his other hand squeezed her hip in support.

  Her mother’s head tipped back with another wild cackle, only this time, the laughter came to an abrupt halt. She screamed, bringing her face back up in a flash, an expression of sheer horror on her face. She spat and spat and squealed, finally shouting, “Harold, kill that foul bird! Look what he did to me.”

  She stared up to the sky just as a long-eared owl swooped down and landed another dropping on one side of her mother’s face.

  The entire group erupted into laughter as the owl swooped down at the foul woman again, causing her to duck and swing reflexively at the bird. “Harold, Harold. Stop this beast. Daughter, you better put a stop to this or I’ll…I’ll…”

  Rose strode over and stuffed a filthy piece of tarp into her mother’s mouth. “Close your mouth, or I’ll cut your tongue out.”

  Then she strode over to the entrance to her castle.

  She never looked back.

  ***

  Roddy followed Rose into her castle, but to his surprise, she led him through the cellars and out onto the cliffs. They stood there overlooking the water, which he’d quickly realized was her favorite place.

  He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, whispering in her ear, “What are you thinking, my love?”

  She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, stepping up on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss on the lips. Pulling back slightly, she said, “I’m thinking how much I love you, Roddy Grant. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me through all of this.” Tears misted in her eyes.

  “If you love me half as much as I love you, then mayhap you’ll consider marrying me,” he whispered.

  Rose stared at him, her jaw slack.

  “Umm, that cannot be good, Rose. Is that a nay?”

  She continued to stare, though this time he noticed the wetness gathering in the corners of her eyes.

  “Please do not cry. I love you with all my heart. We can live wherever you like. I’ll love and protect you forever. You’ll never have to worry about anyone hurting you again.” He kissed her lips again. “Because I’ll always be there.” He paused for a moment, then added, “If you need to think on it, I can wait a day or two for your answer. You’ve been through so much in the last fortnight.” Hell, but his heart had slowly crept up to his throat as he waited for her answer. He had no idea what she was thinking.

  “Aye, Roddy,” she whispered. Then she tightened her grip around his neck and leaped into his arms. “Naught would make me happier.”

  “Rose, you scared the hell out of me. I thought you were about to refuse me.” She broke into the widest grin he’d ever seen on her beautiful face. “Och, you are so beautiful, lass.”

  “I was afraid you’d change your mind.” She paused, then added, “I’ll admit, I’m afraid I won’t belong anywhere but here. I fear I’ll not know how other people live. Constance taught me so much. Are you willing to be patient?”

  “Without a doubt. You’ve lived in hell for too long. Did you not know that Clan Grant is its own slice of heaven? A wee bit cold in the winter, but you’ll love my clan, if you’ll come for a short time. But we can return here if you’d like. ’Tis yours by right.”

  “Nay.” She spun around and stared out over the sea. “I do not wish to live here, but I did wish to come here one last time. My sire’s memory will always be in my heart where it belongs.”

  She breathed deeply and turned back toward the loch to enjoy the beauty of her overlook one last time. The air blew her dark hair away from her face. “I have many fond memories of my sire here, but the other memories are so horrific, I don’t know if I could handle it. I wish to be far away from anything that reminds me of my mother. Do you think me weak?”

  “Weak? Hellfire, nay. I don’t know many people who would have endured such treatment and kept a sound mind. All the lies. The abuse. She was your mother. Your mother! You are probably the strongest person I know. Do not ever let yourself think that again.”

  “Thank you.” She turned back to him again, their hands still intertwined. “You helped me through it.”

  Roddy glanced off into the sky and tipped his head upward. “Someone is here to see you.”

  She spun around and gazed at her dear owl.

  Roddy said, “I don’t know if you believe in spirits and such, but I do. I forgot to tell you that your owl followed me down the loch toward the Abbey of Angels. ’Tis why we came back so quickly. That owl could have saved your life.”

  She dropped Roddy’s hand and stepped over to the creature as it landed on the rocky ledge behind her. “Hello. You were quite naughty back there, but Mama deserved every bit of what you gave her. I know exactly why you did it.”

  The owl rotated its head to the right, then back at her again.

  “Do not pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. You did it for me, too. You wanted me to feel as though I didn’t need to strike her. You knew if I struck her, I’d live with that for the rest of my life. Despite it all, she was my mother.” She blinked several times and touched the talon of one foot. “It worked. That bothered Mama more than any blow I could have delivered. Her heart is one of stone. Many thanks. I have no guilt.” She lifted her gaze to the sky.

  “I’m so sorry all of that happened to Papa. I so would have loved to have him in in my life forever. I had no memory of the day Mama had caused his death.” She stepped closer to the owl, still staring at it. “I know not if you’re my sire’s spirit or if he sent you, but I’ll give you a message to take to him, because I want him to understand. I know this may upset you, but I don’t wish to live here any longer. Mama hurt me too much. I want to get as far away as possible.” The bird stared at her with big eyes, suddenly looking more orange than gold. Roddy could swear it had understood every word—and that her father had heard her as well. As if receiving a message from on high, the owl lifted one of his talons and waved it—go on, it might have said—before he dropped it back onto the ledge. Then he leaned forward and set his beak on her shoulder.

  “Thank you. I hope you’ll follow me to Grant land.”

  The owl leaned back, stared at her, and tipped his head. Then he spread his wings and soared into the sky.

  Connor called up to them from the caves. “Roddy!”

  Since they stood at the highest point of the cliffs above the caves, they had to move closer to hear what he had to say. “Will and Maggie are meeting a magistrate with Rose’s mother and her steward to see what other information they can glean from them. The men on the boats are being taken along, also. Rose, do you have anything else you wish to say to her before she goes?”

  “Nay, I’ve said all I have to say. Thank you.”

  “Constance is going back to the abbey to gather her things,” Connor added. “Daniel, Gavin, and Gregor are escorting her. Is there anything you want from there?” Connor climbed up to meet them so they wouldn’t have to shout to be heard. He whistled. “’Tis quite a view from up here.”

  “Nay, I don’t need anything. Constance will bring me my few personal effects. My thanks.” She leaned against Roddy, still unable to believe they would get married.

  Roddy said, “And the others?”

  “My guess is it will take about an hour to get the other lasses back to the abbey. Uncle Brodie, Braden, and I will bring them there once they’re ready. Rose, are you staying here?”

  She shook her head, wrapping her arms around Roddy’s waist. “Nay, Roddy has asked me to marry him, and I have accepted. I’ll be re
ady to leave shortly. Mayhap an hour? I’d like to change out of these wet clothes.”

  Connor clasped Roddy’s shoulders and said to both, “Congratulations! Then can you meet us at the abbey in mayhap two hours?”

  “Aye, I’ll have everything together by then.”

  “If you have too much, we can split it up into several saddle bags. We have plenty of horses. Shall we leave you one?”

  Rose shook her head. “Many of my belongings are at the abbey. We’ll be fine.”

  Connor waved and strode back through the caves to the castle.

  After he left, Roddy said, “Shall we gather your things?”

  “Aye, but also I wish for us to become a married couple.”

  He took a step closer, running the back of his fingers down one cheek. “Rose, do you understand what it is that married couples do? Do you know how bairns are made?”

  Rose blushed the deepest shade of pink he’d ever seen. He was going to have to be extremely gentle with his wee lovebird.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Rose could feel the blush cover her entire body, but she would not allow her uncertainty to change anything. She loved this man with all her heart, and she wished to be joined with him. Being in his arms was the most pleasing experience she’d ever had.

  “Constance explained it to me. While I don’t understand it all, I trust you completely, Roddy. Aye, I want this. I want you, and I’d prefer for us to lie together here for the first time. I believe we’ll find it empty. My mother and Harold have been taken away. Who is left?”

  Roddy took a deep breath and said, “We shall check to be certain when we go inside. I understand your reasoning, but if we do this, I would like for us to marry quickly at the abbey. I’ll not risk your reputation by waiting. My honor as a Grant warrior won’t allow it.”