Capturing The Reluctant Highlander (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 3)

by Kenna Kendrick

  But what if there was not? He loved her, to be sure, more than life itself, and certainly more than any mission he needed to accomplish, but he wasn’t sure about her, after all that had happened. He had explained last night about Dougal’s attempt to poison her mind against him, but it was true that he had lied about his past. He couldn’t hide from that. He brushed his beard nervously as he awaited her arrival. William and Marianne had left him alone in the room to speak to Ruth on his own, and William had left with a wink and a smirk, which made Troy all the more nervous.

  He thanked God that Lord Browne wasn’t there as well to try and upset his attempt at calm. He heard soft footsteps in the corridor connected to the main hall, and he swallowed, his heart beating faster. She would soon be here. His mouth went dry. What could he say to her now in the light of day? It had all seemed so easy yesterday in the rain after finding the cross. But, now, it was as if they were different people and as if they were strangers.

  Ruth appeared, peering around the corner until her eyes fell upon him. She moved into the room slowly, her eyes not leaving his. She wore a pale green bodice and skirt, with long white sleeves, and her hair was down and glistening. Her pink lips seemed even pinker, and she looked healthy and sweet, her cheeks coloring slightly at the sight of him. She had beautiful long dark lashes that Troy had always admired but had never told her. She paused, keeping her distance, not wishing to come any further. “Mr. Ferguson,” she said softly.

  He decided to respond in kind. “Miss Browne.” He held out his arm. “I had hoped ye might accompany me on a walk.”

  Ruth hesitated, biting her lip in thought. Troy looked away, knowing what that view would do to him if he lingered on it. She would have to forgive him first before he gave any more thought to that. She moved forward and grabbed onto his arm. “Certainly.” His heart gave a leap. They left the room and moved towards the familiar hill that overlooked the sea. The sun was warm, but the breeze was cool and refreshing.

  Birds cried in the trees and overhead as they flew over such a beautiful view. Ruth watched them enviously. How wonderfully freeing it would be to be a bird, and to take wing whenever you pleased with naught to put you in danger and naught to think about.

  Troy and Ruth were silent at first, simply moving along in the soft grass, Ruth clutching onto his arm, feeling the warmth from his body. They soon arrived at the top of the hill, and looked out at the sea, gray and green in the afternoon light. Ruth pulled her arm out of his hold and lifted a hand to her eyes to look out over the prospect. Troy started, “Are ye well, Ruth?” He said her name softly and tenderly, and it did not go without notice.

  She nodded with a quick glance at him. “I am well and rested, thank you. And you?” She was afraid to look too long in his direction, for when she first spotted him in the hall of the house, her heart had yearned for him. She fell into his green eyes and saw his lips, wishing they could touch hers again. But for now, it had been enough to hold onto his arm as they walked.

  “I am well in body, but my heart aches, Ruth.”

  She looked down, feeling that annoying quickening of her heart. “Oh?” she said quietly, feeling shy.

  Troy moved ever so slightly closer, and Ruth could feel his nearness even though she kept her eyes to the sea. “Aye.”

  They paused for a moment more until Troy suddenly huffed. “Bloody Hell, I abhor my hesitancy!” He touched her shoulders and turned her around, looking deeply into her eyes and then down to her lips. He kissed her, knowing full well that she might push him away if she so desired, and she did tense for a moment in surprise. But then she sunk into his arms, placing her hands on his face, and opening her mouth to his kiss, sighing.

  Troy pulled her waist closer, trapping her body against his, never wanting to let her go again. It was the most passionate kiss they had yet shared, there atop the grassy hills in Brechin, and Troy did not want to be swayed by his growing need. Not just yet. Once he pulled away, he was breathless and placed his hands on her face. “Ruth Browne, my heart aches for ye. I love ye more than I can rightly say. All I can do is beg yer forgiveness and ask ye…”

  He paused and then quickly kissed her once again. “Ask ye tae be my wife. Spend this life with me, wild Ruth, and we can do and go wherever ye’d like. I will not tie ye down or stop ye from whatever it is ye wish tae learn or do. But, please, my heart longs and aches for ye. I am in misery without ye.”

  He stopped, still breathing hard. He had rushed through the speech; his self-control having left him for a moment. After a few beats, he saw a grin come over Ruth’s face. “So, I must be quite bewitching then, am I?”

  Troy smiled in return, drawing her close to him once again. “Aye, bewitching. Ye have bewitched me, ye elfin maiden.”

  She sighed with pleasure. “I suppose even an elfin maiden can agree to such a marriage. One that makes her heart light and her joy complete. With someone who sets her free.” She smiled as she saw Troy’s face. “I love you too, Troy Ferguson. I have always loved you, even when you ignored me for a while. Look at you now, a besotted bridegroom,” she said playfully, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  Troy fought back. “Twas tae avoid the way ye made me feel! I couldnae control it, and so I thought it best tae stay away. Ye drove me wild. Ye knew that.”

  “Well that is what a wild woman is wont to do, I suppose.” They laughed together, and then turned, hand-in-hand, to stare at the sea. “I would love to marry you, Mr. Ferguson. Although I don’t think I’ll be a very good minister’s wife.” She scrunched her nose up at the idea.

  Troy laughed, feeling triumphant. “Well I dinnae think I’d like tae do that any longer. I was hoping ye’d be interested in playing a captain’s wife?”

  Ruth turned; eyes wide with delight. “Yes, yes, and yes!” she cried as she jumped into Troy’s arms, her eyes filling with tears.

  Troy held her, laughing, and then once she came down again, he pulled a cloth bag out of his coat. “I had hoped ye would join me on my first adventure.” He unwrapped it to reveal the cross.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  “You got it back! However, did you do that?” Ruth touched it gingerly, amazed anew at its beauty in the afternoon sun.

  Dougal must have dropped it after yer carriage accident. I found it there, and that was when I scared ye off yer horse. Again. How did that accident come about by the way?”

  Ruth spoke quickly, eager to hear more about the cross. “We slipped in the rain, and the lantern inside fell, causing the whole carriage to burst into flames. Thank God for the rain, or else we might not have survived. But tell me about the cross. Won’t Dougal come back for it once again? And the truth, if you please.”

  Troy sighed guiltily but looked up to see an entertained Ruth. “Minx,” he said. “Dinnae look at me like that or else I shall take ye here on the grass and anyone could see.”

  Ruth held up her arms. “I am an engaged woman, Mr. Ferguson. You may take me anywhere you please.” She smirked, the corners of her mouth turned up in that endearing way of hers, which drove Troy to distraction.

  He coughed, ignoring the way his breeches tightened. “I thought ye wanted tae hear about the cross?”

  “Oh yes, of course.” Ruth smiled, knowingly, and moved closer to the cross once more.

  “Ye saw Dougal’s cronies run that night. Nae, I dinnae think he will return as he has naught. William and I gave the innkeeper a warning tae tell him when he awoke. If he returns to Brechin, he will receive a Highland welcome, and not the merry kind.”

  Ruth felt relieved.

  Troy continued. “As for the history of the cross...It was part of a coastal raid we did on the isle of Skye. There were many English soldiers there in port, and English citizens as well. We took what they had, and one of the most valuable things we found was a jeweled cross in a church near the sea. The old English priest came out to dissuade me from taking it, and while the others would have run him through for his insolence, I spared him, and left the island.
It was my most prized possession, but soon after, is when I left the crew, taking the cross with me. I have always wished to return it to its original place.”

  Ruth smiled, taking in the story. “I am sorry that Dougal stole it from you. I am sorry that I ever believed him. Truly.”

  Troy saw the apology in her face and knew that he had to ask her one thing. “So ye did not tell Dougal where it was? How could you have known, if you did?”

  His voice was soft and inquiring, not accusatory. Ruth colored. “No, but I fear I might have. I was so angry at your supposed betrayal. I told Dougal I knew where it was,” she paused embarrassed. “Because I once went into your rooms and saw it there.”

  “You went into my rooms?”

  “Yes. I knew you were hiding something from me, from all of us, and I was desperate to know what it was. I was so frustrated by your distant, taunting, behavior. I am sorry.”

  Troy chuckled. “Och, yes, I was a bit frustrating wasnae I? I forgive ye, Ruth, wholeheartedly.” He had one more question. “And...ye didnae know anything about yer father’s plan tae engage ye in London?”

  She laughed. “Ha! Not at all, I can assure you. My father and I have never seen eye to eye, and I would certainly not agree to any of his forced plans.”

  “Your father told me that ye wished to regain yer place in London society, and so ye’d secretly known about the engagement and were just using me for sport.”

  Ruth laughed again, this time more bitterly. “It seems my father has no end to his desire to ruin his daughters’ lives and happiness. No, I care not for society, as you should well know.”

  “Aye. It did seem a bit strange tae me when he said it, but I was broken. I wasn’t sure how ye felt about me, and I had just spoken tae Dougal, and I felt I had no choice but tae believe.”

  She nodded. “In the future, we must avoid being such idiots.”

  Troy laughed. “Aye, I’ll do my best, lass. But I cannae make any promises.”

  “Just marry me. That’s promise enough, for now.” Ruth winked at him, and Troy’s heart was full. He leaned down to kiss her once more.

  “Bewitching, indeed,” he whispered against her lips. But she pulled back quickly. “Did you return the horse to the stable boy?”

  Troy rolled his eyes, knowing she secretly enjoyed torturing him. “Aye, lass, we did. Will you kiss me now?”

  Ruth smiled. “Now, what kind of enchantress would I be if I made it too easy?”

  Troy sighed but smiled. He would not have Ruth any other way.

  * * *

  Dougal awoke to find a grim man staring down at him. He was well-dressed but looked down sourly at Dougal’s face. He moved to wake, but felt a pounding in his head, and he placed a hand over his eyes, only to find that his hand had swollen, and he yelped with pain.

  “And who are ye?” he asked gruffly, attempting to stand and balance himself. The man-made no move to assist him. Most of the inn’s main room had cleared as it was early in the morning, but the innkeeper stood nearby.

  “I was awoken by a messenger from the innkeeper tae come and fetch ye, lad. I am the local magistrate.”

  Dougal groaned and stood unsteadily. “Aye? And what do ye want with me? Can’t ye see I’ve just awoken?”

  The magistrate nodded. “Aye. ‘Tis yer bill that I’m here about. The innkeeper says that those who were with ye left, and ye fell down drunk. Even when he searched yer person, there was no money tae be found. ‘Tis a large debt that ye’ve created, along with the mess of a burned carriage ye left nearby.”

  Dougal’s mind was still fuzzy from the evening before, but he remembered that he had been with two men and with Ruth. He remembered the carriage accident, walking to the inn with the horses, and then drinking.

  He was to go upstairs, but then…Dougal winced with pain as he remembered. Troy Ferguson had entered, pressing the point of his sword in his throat, threatening to kill him, and that was the last thing he remembered.

  “I have money. I have a most valuable treasure, ye bloody idiot! He felt around his coat and waistcoat but could find only empty pockets. His heart beat faster, and he felt more desperately in his clothes. “The cross!” he whispered to himself.

  “Aye?” The magistrate strained to hear, but Dougal ignored him. He swallowed slowly. Did Hawkins or Darin take it? Or did Troy? Ruth? It could have been anyone. Anyone in the inn. Bloody idiot, he said to himself. Darin and Hawkins must have at least taken the money he had upon his person before they fled. Then he remembered the horses.

  “The horses! Ye may take the horses as payment for my debts.”

  The magistrate grinned slyly. “Aye, that could do, but the horses are not to be found. Apparently, two men came and took them last night. The stable boy could do nothing.”

  Dougal’s stomach sank. All is plans, all of his achievements, gone in an instant. Everything finished. Troy had won out overall, and with Ruth in his arms. But, perhaps, he did not have the cross? Dougal tried to comfort himself with that thought. Perhaps Troy had still been harmed in some tiny way?

  The magistrate motioned to two men who stood in the doorway. “Come, lad, ye will need tae come with me. Ye will need tae pay off yer debt in gaol. We cannae have travelers coming through, taking food and drink from the inns along the way, and leaving a carriage tae be hauled off at the expense of the inn.”

  The men held onto Dougal gruffly and began to pull him towards the door. Dougal felt surprised, shocked, and anguished, but then it all bubbled up to a boiling rage. He set his chin in anger and defiance as he left the inn. Whoever had taken the cross had taken everything from him again. His whole goal had been to seek revenge against Troy and start anew with power and wealth. But now, he was a nothing. A nothing to be scraped off an inn floor and placed in prison. He could leave everything behind and forget the past for it had brought him nothing but pain. His vengeance had been sweet but brief. But he would not forget. While he wasted away his days repaying his debts, and for as long as it took, he would remember.

  * * *

  A short while later, Troy and Ruth returned to the house to share their news with William and Marianne, who were both full of happiness for them. William called for cups of ale and wine to be brought to them.

  “Tae the future Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson. Slainte!” He grinned. “Oh, Amelia will be very sour indeed tae have missed such a moment.” He chuckled, and Marianne slapped his arm.

  “A matchmaker does like to have their moment, although I could tell her it was you who brought it about?”

  William recovered quickly. “Nae, nae, nae, lass. Anything but that!” Ruth laughed at William’s expression, and Marianne felt a happiness she hadn’t in a long while. Ruth was finally at peace, and with their father gone, they could finally be a happy, fulfilled family once more.

  “Marianne, where has father gone?” Ruth asked tentatively, hoping her answer wouldn’t be that he was to return soon.

  Marianne sighed. “I do not want to ruin the happiness of the occasion. But he was hardly remorseful for what had occurred. He only thought about himself and the injury that we caused him, Ruth, when we left. He seems unbendable. I asked him to leave. I gave him money, and he left. But he did say something you would find interesting. He did say that he meant no bodily harm to come to you, Ruth. That scared him most of all when he found out Dougal had double-crossed him, and you had left with him.” Marianne clutched onto Ruth’s surprised hands. “There is hope for him yet, I believe.”

  Ruth smiled. “Marianne Browne, I am proud of you. I am glad you asked him to leave if he had no wish to make reparations and be a family once more. Now, you can focus on your own new family.”

  Marianne smiled at the two of them. “And your new family will come soon, I hope.”

  Ruth shook her head and looked up at Troy with a smile. “I do not hope that, sister. We have too many adventures to complete just now.”

  Marianne’s face changed. “No, you’re not leaving again, are you?”

/>   Ruth placed a hand on Marianne’s shoulder. “Do not worry. I shall tell you when I am to leave and to what destination.”

  William burst into laughter, and the others followed suit.

  Epilogue

  A week later, Ruth and Troy found themselves aboard a beautiful white ship, creaking yet strong. She bore the name The Enchantress, which Ruth thought rather romantic for a boat in English waters, but Troy thought it was incredibly appropriate.