Desired by a Highlander

by Donna Fletcher

  Willow woke alone, though she hadn’t slept alone. She had woken during the night to find herself snuggled against her husband. She had never felt as content as she had at that moment. She had been tempted to stir him awake with an intimate touch, but she had asked herself if that was what she wanted, to take advantage of their situation? It had been an easy decision. She wanted her husband to decide for himself if he wished to remain wed to her. She would not have passion decide their fate.

  There was much to be done today and with a long, easy stretch, she eased herself out of bed. She donned her garments, combed and plaited her hair, slipped her boots on, and left the bedchamber to see how Sara had fared the night and certain that was where she’d find her husband. Afterwards, she’d speak with James. She owed him that and she knew exactly where he’d be at this early hour… in his solar. It was a habit of his to go there in the morning upon rising and plan what needed to be done that day.

  Willow was surprised that her husband wasn’t with his grandmother when she entered the bedchamber, though more surprised to find James there and to see that he and Eleanor were asleep. He had placed his chair beside hers and her head rested on his shoulder while his head rested atop her head. It appeared James was more than smitten with Eleanor and obviously she felt the same.

  Willow hated to disturb them, but she had to see to Sara.

  “Eleanor,” she said softly and the young woman and James’s heads shot up.

  James quickly got to his feet and turned to face Willow. “We fell asleep.”

  “It was generous of you to keep Eleanor company,” Willow said.

  Eleanor’s cheeks blossomed red. “We were talking and must have grown tired.”

  Willow almost chuckled at the way they both attempted to explain what happened.

  “I must see to my chores,” Eleanor said, appearing eager to take her leave.

  “I as well,” James said, looking toward the door.

  “I am most grateful for your help… both your help,” Willow said.

  Eleanor gave a bob of her head as she hurried and left the room.

  James stopped halfway through the open door, casting a hasty glance after Eleanor before turning his attention to Willow.

  “When you are done here, a word, please, in my solar,” he said.

  “Aye,” she said a smile breaking free, watching James inching more and more out the door as he cast another glance toward the stairs. “I’ll be there soon.”

  “Good. Good, see you there,” he said and rushed off.

  Willow had been tempted to ask James if he had seen Slatter, but being she had found him and Eleanor asleep, she doubted he had seen her husband.

  She walked over to the bed and saw that Sara still slept. She placed a gentle hand to her brow and was relieved to find it normal to the touch. That the old woman didn’t stir worried her some. She would ask Eleanor and James how Sara had fared during the night.

  A young servant lass, Carna, appeared at the open door just as Willow was adding logs to the hearth. She knew all the servants’ names, not that there were that many to remember, most all were trustworthy and dependable. A few got into their cups too often, but James dealt with those.

  “I’ve been sent to help with whatever you need,” Carna said, hurrying over to help Willow with the logs.

  “I need you to sit with Sara and watch over her until I return. I need to know if she stirs much or remains still,” Willow explained.

  Carna nodded and once done with the hearth went to sit in the chair by the bed and keep watch.

  Willow hurried down the stairs and to the kitchen to have cook prepare the brew Sara would need when she woke or stirred. She was surprised and pleased to find Eleanor already there seeing to it.

  With that done, she made her way to James’s solar. She half expected to run into Snow, her sister an early riser, but then she recalled before going to see Sorrell that Snow had been taking the pup out in the morning for a walk, which was probably what she was doing now. She would find her later and talk with her in their mum’s solar, a place she and her sisters would gather to talk, laugh, and cry together. It was a place that brought them comfort and camaraderie.

  James had left the solar door open for her and she entered, closing it behind her.

  He pointed to the chairs by the hearth. “Hot cider awaits us on this cold day. Yesterday’s snow stopped, though I think it will fall again before the day ends.”

  They sat, both stretching their legs out toward the flames lapping at the logs in the fireplace.

  James finally spoke. “Tell me why you wed this scoundrel.”

  Her answer slipped out without thought. “I love him.” She smiled upon hearing herself admit it aloud. It felt good to say, to let someone know what her heart had been telling her. “And he’s not the scoundrel he professes to be.”

  “You are the most sensible woman I know, Willow. You can’t tell me that you believe his outrageous tale about a person who resembles him being responsible for all he’s accused of.”

  “I understand how you doubt that, and if I hadn’t seen the man with my own eyes, I would be skeptical myself.”

  “You saw this phantom man?” James asked anxiously.

  “I did and I would have sworn, if asked, that it was Slatter I saw.”

  “You saw the two at the same time?”

  “No, but where I saw the man and then saw Slatter,” —she shook her head— “he would not have been able to get to that place so fast.”

  “I would like to believe you, I truly would, and if you had seen them together, then there would be no denying it.”

  “I believe him,” Willow said, defending her husband.

  “I’m sure you do. He has a charming, though rather conniving tongue and can convince most anyone of anything. Do you truly want a husband you cannot trust?”

  “I trust my husband. He speaks the truth to me.”

  “Slatter doesn’t know how to speak the truth,” James said frustrated. “He lies to benefit himself and uses people until they are of no use to him, then walks away. Do you want to live each day wondering if it will be the last you will ever see of him?”

  “Let it be, James. Slatter is my husband and will remain my husband,” Willow said firmly.

  “But for how long?” James asked.

  “As long as she’ll have me.”

  Willow and James turned to see that Slatter had entered the room and had closed the door behind him.

  “I didn’t hear you knock or enter,” James said.

  “I heard my wife’s voice and since we don’t keep secrets from each other, I knew she wouldn’t mind me joining you both.” Slatter went to his wife and placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

  James looked to Slatter, then to Willow. “If this is what you want, Willow, I will not object, though I must admit it makes no sense to me and I fear you will regret it. However, there is the issue of his past deeds and my concern of the potential for future questionable deeds.”

  “So what you’re saying is that you want to make sure that I’m going to behave properly,” Slatter clarified.

  “The Clan Macardle is recovering from difficult times. I don’t want that recovery hampered in any way,” James explained.

  “Are you asking for my word that I will behave properly?” Slatter asked.

  “I would if I could trust your word.”

  “James,” Willow said in a scolding tone. “I will not have you speak with such disrespect to my husband.”

  “You would be the first to tell me that men earn respect. Do you truly believe your husband has earned respect after knowing what problems his lies have cost others and what he has cost the Clan Macardle? And please don’t tell me it was someone who resembled him who is responsible for it all. That is a poor excuse unless it can be explicitly proven.”

  “Then I suppose we’ll just have to prove it,” Willow said, standing. “But until then I will not have my husband disrespected, especial
ly in my own home.”

  James stood as well. “I gave your father my word that I would take care of his daughters and that is why I question this marriage. I don’t want to see you hurt or suffer any regret over a hasty decision.”

  “When have you ever known me to make a decision that I hadn’t thought out? Believe me when I tell you that I wanted this marriage.”

  “I believe that, Willow. What I question is the reason you married Slatter.”

  A knock at the door interrupted any response.

  “Sorry to disturb,” the servant said after entering, “but the Lord of Fire approaches.”

  “The devil has come to collect his due,” Slatter said with a laugh.

  Willow scowled at him, more from fear than annoyance, worried that Lord Tarass would demand Slatter be returned to him for punishment.

  James openly admonished him. “This is not funny. Lord Tarass is a formidable man. You would do well to beg his forgiveness.”

  Slatter’s joviality vanished in an instant. “I beg no man’s forgiveness and most certainly not the man who wrongfully imprisoned me.”

  “It would be best if neither of you were present when I meet with him,” James said.

  “No!” Slatter and Willow said in unison and Slatter took his wife’s hand.

  “We will face Lord Tarass together,” Willow said and felt her husband’s hand close tight around hers.

  The three went to the Great Hall to wait for Lord Tarass, James ordering food and drink brought to the table.

  “Let go of my arm, you idiot!”

  Willow’s mouth dropped open and James rolled his eyes and shook his head. Slatter smiled seeing it was Snow who called Lord Tarass an idiot.

  “What did you just say to me?” Tarass demanded.

  “You’re not only more blind than I am, you’re deaf as well,” Snow said and Thaw, cradled in the crook of her arm, agreed with several barks.

  “You walk blindly about the village and almost get run down by me, yet I’m the one who’s blind?” Tarass argued.

  Snow yanked her arm free of his grasp, though truth be told he let her go, his grip having been too firm to free herself when she had first tried.

  “You are when you carelessly ride through a village with no thought of anyone but yourself,” she accused, shaking a finger in his shadowy direction.

  Tarass grabbed her finger. “Not only does that annoying pup of yours need a leash, but so do you.”

  “A leash would be best served on you,” Snow said with a heavy scowl.

  Gasps were heard from those in the Great Hall, all except Slatter… he smiled.

  Tarass yanked her against him, the little pup snarling and snapping at him. Tarass paid him no heed. “Don’t ever, ever point a finger at me again and as far as a leash, if you were mine, I’d keep you on a short one.”

  Snow could make out the shadow of his face and she planted her own face close to his. “Then I thank the heavens that I’m not stuck with an idiot brute like you.” Thaw snarled in agreement.

  “Snow!” James called out in a reprimanding tone as he approached her.

  Tarass appeared ready to explode. “If you weren’t blind—”

  “What? What would you do to me?” Snow challenged.

  Tarass planted his nose against hers. “Trust me, you don’t want to find out.” He gave her a slight shove and stepped away from her.

  Slatter leaned down and whispered to his wife, “You Macardle woman certainly have courage.”

  Willow had been worried for Snow, fearing what Lord Tarass might do to her, but Slatter was right. Snow had gained much courage in her absence and she was proud of her sister. She was about to hurry over to her when her husband stopped her.

  “She can make her way to us, just let her know you’re here,” Slatter said.

  “Snow, over at our table,” Willow called out, realizing habit would have had her going to Snow.

  Snow made her way to Willow, leaving James to speak with Lord Tarass.

  “You need to deal more firmly with the Macardle sisters. First, you allow Sorrell to ruin the marriage arrangement made for her, then you let Snow, a blind woman, wander around without anyone looking after her or chastising her for being disrespectful, and now Willow arrives home with Slatter, my prisoner, now her husband. This will not do, James. Husband or not Slatter needs to pay for his crimes. I received a missive from Lord Ruddock before I learned of Slatter’s escape from my men, letting me know that he played a part in the devastation his family suffered. Slatter needs to pay and I intend to see that he does.”

  “My husband did nothing wrong,” Willow said, Tarass having spoken loud enough for all to hear.

  “You are a fool if you believe his lies that a man who resembled him is responsible for his dastardly deeds,” Tarass said.

  “But what if it is true and you condemn an innocent man?” Snow asked.

  Tarass shot Slatter a look. “You let women speak for you, Slatter?”

  Slatter grinned. “Intelligent, courageous women can speak for me anytime.”

  “You’ll not take my husband from me,” Willow said with a defiant toss of her head.

  “He will suffer the consequences of his crimes,” Tarass said as if declaring it already done.

  “Prove he committed the crimes,” Snow challenged.

  Willow reached out and squeezed her hand grateful for her sister’s support.

  “I leave this in your hands for now, James,” Tarass said. “Find out the truth and if Slatter isn’t responsible, then I care not about him, but if he is, I will see him punished. You have until the end of winter. If nothing has changed by then, he will be returned to me for punishment,” —he held up his hand when James went to protest— “and I have no doubt Lord Ruddock will agree with me on this.”

  “I have your word on that?” James asked.

  “You do,” Tarass said.

  James nodded, wearing his worry for all to see.

  The door burst open. “Lord Tarass! Lord Tarass! Rhodes is dead, a stab wound to the chest.”

  Chapter 15

  Willow gripped her husband’s hand tightly as she, James, and Tarass stood looking down at Rhodes. The warrior was dead, blood covering his chest from what looked to Willow to be two stab wounds. He lay inside the woods, not far from where Clan Macardle land met Clan MacLoon land.

  Fear ran through Willow. Her husband would be blamed for this. Too many had seen the animosity Rhodes and Slatter had for each other. And there were those who had heard Slatter threaten to kill Rhodes. This did not bode well for her husband at all and she did her best to calm her fears and think sensibly. Not an easy task with the fire she saw blazing in Tarass’s eyes. And when he turned his eyes on Slatter, Willow’s stomach twisted with such fear that she thought her legs would fail her.

  “Slatter killed him! He killed him!”

  They all turned to see Owen, another of Tarass’s warriors and one who rode with Rhodes, rushing toward them.

  Pain and fury mixed in the warrior’s dark eyes when his glance landed on Rhodes. He turned his anger on Slatter.

  “Slatter killed him,” Owen said, his curt remark leaving no room for doubt. “Rhodes told me that Slatter asked to meet with him at sunrise, that there was something of great importance he needed to tell him and only him. I wanted to go with him but he ordered me to remain at camp with the men.”

  Tarass turned heated eyes on Slatter. “You’ll hang for this.”

  Willow went to step in front of her husband, but he pushed her behind him. “Do you want the truth of what happened to Rhodes or would you hang an innocent man and let the one who took Rhodes’s life walk free?”

  “You lie, you coward,” Owen yelled. “You set a trap, lured him here, and killed him.”

  “I never asked to meet Rhodes, and watch who you call coward,” Slatter threatened with a snarl.

  “Liar,” Owen yelled and took quick steps toward Slatter.

  Slatter didn’t hesitate, his ha
nd went to the hilt of his dagger.

  Tarass’s hand shot out stopping Owen from taking another step toward Slatter. “You deserve to die.”

  “The one who did this deserves to die,” Slatter corrected.

  “You gave your word we’d have until the end of winter to prove Slatter innocent,” Willow reminded, stepping from behind her husband and wishing he had been beside her in bed when she woke this morning. Then no one could dispute his innocence.

  “My word I gave you concerned his other deeds, not killing one of my warriors,” Tarass argued.

  “This can easily be settled,” James said, stepping forward. “Dawn, the time of the meeting, would find Slatter in bed with his wife. Willow need only confirm that.”

  “His wife would lie for him,” Owen accused.

  “My wife does not lie,” Slatter said, defending her. “She would speak the truth and tell you she woke alone this morning.”

  Her husband was right. She wouldn’t have lied for him. There would be no reason, since she believed him innocent. Her husband knew her well, just as she did him. He didn’t do this, but would anyone but her believe him?

  “Where were you around sunrise?” James asked.

  Willow didn’t draw a breath waiting for her husband to answer.

  “With Snow,” Slatter said. “I met her in the Great Hall after having looked in on my grandmother.” He gave a nod to James. “I saw that you and Eleanor had fallen asleep in chairs beside each other and, so I left, not wanting to disturb you or my grandmother who slept peacefully.”

  Willow let a quiet breath out, knowing the truth of his explanation since she had come upon the same scene with James and Eleanor.

  “Snow was alone when I came upon her,” Tarass said.

  “I left her, knowing my wife probably had woken and would be seeing to my grandmother. The servant watching her told me that Willow was with James in his solar and I went there. Snow can confirm it for you.”

  “You will hide behind a blind woman?” Owen accused.

  Slatter turned harsh eyes on him. “Is it the truth you want or blame you seek for failing to protect your fellow warrior?”