The Highlander’s Hellion

by Eliza Knight

  “Aye. Ye have the full support of the MacCullochs.”

  “We’ll beat them this time once and for all.”

  “With relish.”

  Magnus regarded him with an expression Roderick couldn’t quite decipher. “I canna thank ye enough for what ye did for Greer. How did ye find her?”

  Roderick grew somber. “In an odd way, we have Ina to thank for that. I retrieved some livestock the Rosses stole in a raid, and after, I went down to the beach to think, as I do after every battle. A massive dog barreled toward me and then ran back toward something rolling in the surf. It was Lady Greer.” He could still see her lying there. So still. So blue. “She wasna breathing, so I helped her get the water out of her lungs. Then I carried her back to Gleann Mórinnse to get her warmed and fed.”

  He waited for the Sutherland to ask just how he’d gotten her warm, but the man said nothing, nodding and rubbing at his chin instead.

  “I could have lost her,” the older warrior murmured. “Lost her because I pushed her into a tight corner where she doesna belong.”

  Roderick didn’t know what to say, and he was fairly certain the laird’s words weren’t meant for him anyway.

  “Daughters are both the hardest work and the most pleasurable,” Magnus said with a subtle shake of his head. “I hope someday ye’re blessed enough to know this.”

  An uncomfortable tightness filled Roderick’s chest. How was he supposed to protect a daughter, a treasured child, when he hadn’t been able to protect his own family?

  “I ken what ye’re thinking.” Magnus stared at Roderick with an intensity that left him unnerved.

  It was on the tip of his tongue to challenge the older warrior, how could he possibly know what Roderick was thinking? But he kept his mouth shut, waiting. Listening.

  “I lost my parents at a young age,” he said. “Had to raise my brothers and sister on my own. There is a guilt that comes with loss, is there nae? And I can see ye harbor guilt like I did.”

  Roderick swallowed against the tightness in his throat. He was a grown man for goodness sake. Why did he feel like he had the control of an adolescent over his emotions? But it didn’t matter. Whenever anyone spoke of Jessica, the same thing happened. A cloud of guilt. The pain of loss.

  Magnus pressed his hand to Roderick’s shoulder. “I ken ye’ve the support of your clan, and a brother that’d give his life for ye, but know this, son, we are allies, and if ye’re in need of something, ye need only ask.” He gave a mirthful grin. “And I’m nae only saying this because my daughter nearly killed ye.” The smile lines flattened into a serious countenance. “But I am saying it because ye saved her life.” The man glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the cloister, though they couldn’t see Greer from where they stood. “She is my heart. Of all our children, I think she takes the most after me. I’d be lost without her.”

  Lost without her. Wasn’t that exactly how Roderick felt at the idea of leaving her behind?

  “Despite the past,” Roderick said pointedly, “I’d not have walked away from her on the beach.”

  “Ye’re a good man. The Highlands are a tough place, and there are plenty of others who would have done so.”

  “And suffered the wrath of God, country, and the Sutherlands for it.”

  “God, aye, for who would have known besides Him?” Magnus’s eyes drooped for a moment before the fleeting mien of sadness left him.

  Greer’s father spoke the truth. Roderick could have walked away from the beach, let her drift back out to sea to sink below its depths, but he’d not done that. He couldn’t. Even knowing who she was, letting her die had never been an option. For despite their history, the lass had somehow managed to dig a hole in his cold chest and camp out there for years. There wasn’t a day that had gone by where he hadn’t thought of her.

  Magnus squeezed his shoulder again, his grip firm and reassuring. “I suppose I’ll be parting with her soon enough though, albeit through marriage and not death. At least I can hope.”

  Marriage?

  Of course Greer was going to get married. In fact, she might already be betrothed. It wasn’t as if Roderick had asked. Hell, there could be another man out there who might come to call Roderick out when he found out about their kiss and attempt to run him through with a sword. He wouldn’t be surprised, for he’d do the very same thing. He’d hate to take that man’s life.

  Through a tightening in his jaw, he managed to say, “He’s a lucky man.”

  Magnus raised a brow and studied Roderick’s face intently again, not giving away his own thoughts and leaving Roderick to guess a hundred different things.

  The older warrior grunted. “Aye, he is.”

  Bloody hell! Magnus Sutherland had all but confirmed that Greer was betrothed. Lost to him forever. The tightness in his throat returned with a vengeance, and an ache filled his chest as though a boulder had fallen from a cliff and flattened him at the bottom.

  It wasn’t until that moment, when he realized that Greer belonged to somebody else, that he realized just how much he’d wanted her to belong with him. Beside him for life. Kissing her every night, and waking up to that spirited smile every morning. A life with Greer would never be dull, and yet when times were tough, he knew he could count on her.

  The struggles he’d been dealing with these past few days suddenly seemed so menial. He realized he didn’t actually care about all the things he’d worried about as long as Greer was by his side. They could conquer the world together.

  But, nay, he would not be doing the conquering with her. There was someone else who would. Ballocks. He was gutted. What was this? Why was he so torn up?

  Because he cared for her. More than he wanted to admit.

  Magnus didn’t seem to notice the crushing blow he’d just dealt. “As for Ina Ross and her band of bullies, dinna fash, Roderick. Together, we’ll take care of it.”

  Roderick mustered through his discontent. “Aye, I’m with ye. All the MacCullochs are. The Highlands have been a place of peace these last few years, even longer from the likes of Ina Ross.”

  “’Twas her that caused your cousin to suffer, too, aye?” Magnus asked.

  Roderick nodded. “Aye, but Emilia is verra happily wed now.”

  “A bairn now, too, aye?”

  “More than one, I believe. We went to the lad’s christening last year.”

  Magnus grinned. “Daughters are your heart, but sons carry on your legacy.”

  “I should think daughters carry a legacy, too, no? Did ye nae just say that Greer favors your spirit most?”

  Magnus glanced at him, a nostalgic smile on his lips. “Aye, ye’re right.”

  Pounding Roderick on the back, he steered him out of the nave and back toward their party. It was time they got back on the road, before their enemies caught up—if it wasn’t too late already.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Something had changed, and Greer wasn’t sure what it was, but it was very evident in the way Roderick was treating her. He spoke only in clipped tones, and while they’d ridden together the last few days, today when they were readying the horses, he brought her mare out and handed the reins over to her father with only a nod in greeting.

  Of course, she’d not expected to continue riding with him now that her father was present. For some reason it felt…wicked. And perhaps that was because every time she’d been so close to him, there had been an intimacy there that she wanted to savor. Every time he’d put his arm around her waist, she’d imagined the way he’d held her when he kissed her senseless.

  Aye, perhaps it was a good thing she was riding her own mount. But at least he could have pulled her aside to tell her why. Or at the very least, he could have managed more than a nod. For heaven’s sake, they’d been sleeping curled up in each other’s arms for days, he’d saved her life, and now he was acting as though they were virtual strangers.

  She mounted on her own and rode beside her father, and when they stopped to rest the horses, she sat
with her brother Liam. It was not of her own choosing. She would have happily tried to have a conversation with Roderick, but any time she drew near, even if only to ask how his leg was, he abruptly turned away from her. It was damn vexing.

  By the time they stopped to sup and make camp near the Conon River, it was so incredibly evident he was avoiding her that even her brother noticed, which only managed to increase her mortification. Had Grim only been using her? Was she simply another conquest? If she’d continued to pursue their kisses, would he have dumped her off at Sutherland sans her maidenhood?

  “Still mad at ye for the spear, I see.” Liam shouldered her, which caused her to tip over from where she sat on a log. He caught her at the last minute. “Jumpy, lass.”

  Greer frowned and popped a foraged berry into her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully, watching Roderick across the camp. He leaned against a tree, his arms crossed over his broad chest as he spoke with deep concentration to her father. Even in her irritation, she admired his striking features, his height, the muscles of his calves, the way the light caught the red in his chestnut hair.

  Chewing a berry into pulp, she swallowed hard, trying to sound like she didn’t care when she spoke. She shrugged disinterestedly. “I had not thought it before, but I suppose he is.”

  “Did he ignore ye the whole of your journey? I bet that drove ye mad.” Liam wiggled his brows.

  Och, how she would like to pluck every hair from her teasing brother’s wagging eyebrows in that moment.

  Greer lifted her chin and said quite seriously, “In fact, quite the opposite.”

  Liam straightened, his eyebrows still raised but no longer moving. “Has he taken liberties?”

  Greer almost choked on a berry. This was not something she wanted to discuss with her brother. And she supposed the two of them would have differing opinions on the definition of taken liberties, for she’d freely given the liberties he’d accepted. And was a kiss really taking liberties? To her it had always seemed as though taking liberties was much more than that. A greater sin. An assault. Most maiden lassies would have thought themselves wanton for even allowing a man to cup their cheek and gaze into their eyes, whereas Greer had readily accepted it and practically begged for more.

  Liam’s shoulder bumped against hers. “Greer?”

  The note of exasperation in his tone did not go unnoticed by her, and given her brother would feel the need to protect her and her reputation if she told him the truth, she snorted. “Nay, of course not. He’s a warrior, not a rogue.”

  To this, her brother simply raised a skeptical brow—and how he got them any higher, she had no idea. She’d never seen anyone with eyes and brows as expressive, and irritating, as his. “Not a rogue? All men our age are rogues.”

  Greer groaned on the inside, trying her best not to stomp her foot. “Well, I shall have ye know that while I was at his castle, I didna see any of his maids or servants or clanswomen tossing themselves at his feet begging for another night in his bed, nor did I ever feel as though I’d wake to find him fumbling beneath my skirts.” Though I did wake to find myself naked beside him the first morning, and our limbs tangled every morning thereafter. That, she kept to herself.

  A low rumble left her brother’s throat that was half-laugh, half-growl. “Greer!”

  “Dinna act the modest lad now, Liam, ye’re the one who brought it up, and while I may be your wee sister, I am not so naïve as all that. Virgin I may be, but stupid, I am nae.”

  Laughter danced in her brother’s eyes. “Being stupid and being ladylike are two different things. I know I’ve heard our lady mother say the same thing to ye.”

  “Ye think a lady canna talk about fumbling beneath skirts? Ha! Do ye wish your bride to be flat as a skewered fish on your wedding night and for the rest of your life thereafter?”

  Liam covered his face with his hand in disbelief. “I canna believe ye just said that.”

  Greer shrugged. Why hold back now? “Ye’ve known me all your life. When have I been known to not speak what was on my mind?”

  “Never,” he groaned. “And now I can see exactly why Grim wouldna have attempted to take liberties with ye.”

  Greer’s mouth fell open in offense. “And why is that? Ye think because I speak my mind, and plainly so, that he wouldna wish to tangle with me?”

  “Good God, if mother heard us speaking right now…” Liam fell with exaggerated motion backward.

  Greer took the opportunity to punch him softly in his belly. “Mother is not here. ’Tis ye and I, and ye’re my big brother. I should feel safe to speak my mind with ye.”

  Liam rolled his head toward her. “Ye’re safe, trust me. But I’m nae so sure about any man ye may align yourself to.” He braced himself for another playful blow, but she refused to give him the satisfaction.

  “Men…” She popped another berry into her mouth and chewed. “Did ye hear about the great feast Da is planning?”

  “Aye.” Liam sat up and stole a berry from her pile.

  “I’m to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Like a sheep.”

  “Ye’re no sheep.”

  “Fine, like cattle then.”

  “Not as docile as that, either, Sister. Besides, I dinna think ’twill ye being auctioned off; rather the other way around.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Why not choose Grim, then?” He nudged his chin in the direction of the man in question. “Ye’ve spent more time with him than any other, plus, ye know he’ll not kill ye.”

  Greer tossed her head back and laughed.

  “Ye laugh, but I’m serious.” Indeed, her brother’s face was quite grave. “I worry about that.”

  That only made Greer laugh all the more. “Why? Ye think Da would allow me to wed a man who might kill me?”

  “Nay, but I think ye’ve enough…spirit, that it may warrant such an outcome.”

  Greer pushed her brother’s shoulder and tossed a berry at his face, which he caught in his mouth with a wink. “Ye’re a maggot.”

  Liam chuckled. “Well, this maggot says ’tis a good match, wee sister.”

  She glanced over toward Roderick again, feeling an achy pang of longing in her chest. At that moment, he glanced her way, and her stomach dropped somewhere on the ground beneath her when his blue eyes locked on hers. How did he have the power with one gaze to make her tingle all over? The corner of her mouth lifted in a smile, but then he turned away without so much as a twitch of his lips.

  A dejected sigh escaped her. “He doesna want me. He canna even look at me or sit near me.”

  “’Haps he doesna know that he wants ye. Men are idiots. Trust me, I’m one of them.”

  Greer wanted to say that she knew her statement to be fact, because Roderick had basically told her such. He’d kissed her only once and then told her that such could not happen again. And as soon as her father had arrived, he’d thrust her off and ignored her. If the man wanted her, wouldn’t he at least make an effort to show it? She might be naïve in the ways of courtship, but she wasn’t naïve when it came to people’s emotions toward each other.

  “I’m quite certain he knows exactly what he wants, and that isna me.”

  “Then he’s a fool,” Liam said. “Oh, and I brought ye something.” He leapt up from his spot, marched over toward his horse, and riffled through his saddlebag. When he returned, he had something wrapped in a cloth package. “From Mama.”

  Greer took the extended package and carefully unwrapped it to find a hunk of her favorite cheese and four mushroom pasties. The crust was crumbly at the edges and soft in the center, just the way Greer liked it.

  “Oh, my… This is bliss.” She closed her eyes as she bit into the buttery crust, the delicious, savory sauce a reprieve from her diet of bannock and berries.

  “I thought ye’d be happy about that, even if ’tis a few days old.”

  “A few days, a week, the flavor is still incredible. How will I survive without Mama’s cooking?”

  “Ye’ll h
ave to learn.”

  Greer stuck out her tongue. “Ye recall what happened the last time I tried to cook, do ye nae?”

  Liam started to laugh again so hard that Greer was tempted to throw something at him to get him to stop, but the only thing in her hands was her food, and she wasn’t wasting that.

  “What are the two of ye laughing about?”

  Greer glanced up to see that her father and Roderick were standing before them, and she’d not even seen them approach.

  “This donkey,” she said, hooking her thumb over her shoulder toward her brother, “is having a grand old time at my expense.”

  “Da, do ye remember when Greer thought it a good idea to try and make Mama a birthday supper?” Liam could barely get the words out he was laughing so hard.

  Magnus chuckled. “Och, aye, but that was not a pretty sight.”

  Greer’s face started to heat, and she flicked an embarrassed glance toward Roderick. “It wasna as bad as the two of ye make it out to be.”

  Magnus sat down and indicated for Roderick to join them. He was again staring at her, but there was an iciness in his glittering blue gaze. What could he possibly be upset with her about?

  “Tell the story,” Magnus goaded his son. “I’m certain MacCulloch would be happy to know he’s not the only one of Greer’s victims.”

  “Da, nay!” Greer sent her brother a frosty glare. “Dinna say a word.”

  Now Magnus was chuckling, and when she glanced once more at Roderick, the glitter in his eyes had hardened. “Do tell, Lady Greer.”

  No one else seemed to notice the coolness in his tone, but she did. After having spent so many days with him, and having spoken to him on an intimate level, she could now tell the difference in his moods easily. Besides, there was a big difference between the heated tension she’d been wading through for days versus this aloof and stony man who’d taken over her Grim.

  Och, her Grim? In no uncertain terms, he’d made it very clear he was not hers.

  Greer shoved a large bite of pasty into her mouth and chewed. She started to talk around the large mouthful of food, so the words were purposefully muffled, but Liam and her father both protested.