“MacDougal soldiers are proud!” he shouted. “Stand up straight. When ye wear our colors, ye are representing our people! Any who face ye, whether ye be helping someone on the side of the road or facing another in battle, will know that ye have sworn yerself to our clan.”
Those that were hunched over straightened. The youngest puffed out their chests and tried to look important. Theo stopped in front of the youngest and bent down. “What do ye want to be, lad?”
“A soldier!” he shouted with enthusiasm. There was some chuckling among his men.
“Whose soldier?”
“A MacSea...” He stopped suddenly and frowned. Peering down the line, he glanced at an older man. Theo turned his head in time to see one of the older lads mouth something to him. “A MacDougal soldier!”
“What is yer name, lad?”
“Cameron.”
“Cameron. That’s a strong name. And who is the lad talking to ye?”
“Me brother. His name is David.”
David was barely the age that Theo accepted. Maybe twelve or thirteen. They’d serve the soldiers for a few more years, watching and learning before he’d ever put a weapon in their hands.
Cameron was the youngest and far too young to be any use. “I think ye may need to grow a little more before ye can help us. Go home and come see me in a few years.”
Tears filled his eyes. “But if David is here, who will feed me?”
Bloody hell.
“Where is yer mum?”
“Dead, sir. Me father, too. The last invaders kilt them almost a year ago, but I amnae supposed to tell ye that. Ye wilnae tell on me, will ye? David will be unhappy.”
And just why would that need to be a secret? “David has been taking care of ye,” he mused. David was here because he needed a job. It would be easy for him to send them both home, but David’s need to lie piqued his curiosity. “Get back in line, lad.”
Standing, Theo walked down and pulled David from the line. “Ye have been taking care of yer little brother all by yerself.”
David’s eyes widened, and Theo could see that little mind working. Rather than lying, the boy chose to stay quiet and stare ahead.
Theo crossed his arms. “I have seen the people here. They come together as a community. Who has been helping ye?”
At first, David didn’t say a word.
“I am yer laird, lad. And if ye want to serve as my soldier, then ye wilnae lie to me.”
“Gemma helps me,” David whispered. “I have an uncle on MacSeaver land. He isnae a kind man. If he discovers that me mum and pop are gone, he will return and take us, so I havenae told too many people that they are gone. Unfortunately, my brother cannae keep a secret.”
Theo know better than anyone what it was like to grow up with a man who wasn’t very nice. Gritting his teeth, he reached up and squeezed the lad’s hand. The boy didn’t cry, but Theo could see the desperation in his eyes. “To get to ye, David, yer uncle would have to travel to MacDougal clans and take ye. I assure ye that I wilnae let that happen.”
The boy’s lips trembled. “Thank ye, Laird.”
Theo straightened. “Thomas, see that Cameron makes his way safely to Lady Gemma and ask that she look after him while his brother is on the training field.”
“No need,” a voice said tartly. Theo looked up in time to see Gemma marching across the field with an annoyed look on her face. “When Cameron didn’t come to me on time, I went looking for him. David, you are far too young to be training as a soldier. You will come with me now, as well.”
“No, Miss Gemma,” David said bravely. “I need to look after Cameron now, and I will do that as a solider.”
Gemma narrowed her eyes. “David, we have talked about this. I will look after the two of you until you are old enough. If you wish to work, there is plenty to do around my cottage; plenty for a strapping boy like yourself.”
“As it so happens, ye arenae David’s laird,” Theo said easily before the lad gave in to his tears. “I am, and I have need for him. As ye say, he isnae old enough to train as a soldier, but he is old enough to still be put to work.”
Gemma’s eyes widened just a little, and Theo had to grit his teeth. Did she really believe that he would put a sword in the hands of a young lad?
“This land is always under attack,” she said fiercely. “Even if you tell him not to, if he is around you, he will take up arms and fight.”
“I am here to protect this land, not just when ‘tis under siege but even before the threat reaches the shores. Ye have my promise, Lady Gemma, that David will be under my personal protection, as is every lad here.”
After a moment, she held out her hand. “Cameron,” she called out. “Come with me. I need someone to help carry my water for tonight’s stew.”
Cameron’s eyes brightened. “With biscuits?”
“If you eat your vegetables, then you can have an extra biscuit.”
The little boy took her hand and grinned at David. “I will save ye some, David.”
“Thank ye, Cameron. Ye be good for Lady Gemma.”
Gemma cleared her throat.
“I mean Miss Gemma,” he amended as he bowed his head.
The fiery lass looked straight into Theo’s eyes. “I will hold you to your promise, Laird. Even if I’m no longer here.”
She and young Cameron walked away, and Theo was suddenly curious.
Just where does she think she is going?
Cameron did indeed eat all the vegetables in his stew, even with an extra helping, and weaseled four biscuits out of Gemma. David ate twice as much. Gemma had no idea where the two children were putting all that food, but she’d made more than enough for them.
Night surrounded them with the bright flame of the bonfires to keep them warm and light the night. It was another dinner turned celebration, but Gemma was laying off the ale with the two lads to look after. Besides, she had other things on her mind that required her to stand her guard.
Across the fire, Graeme smiled at her invitingly, and her stomach clenched. Tucked in the pockets of her cloak was the letter she’d received that day.
The letter from Fletcher MacSeaver.
He’d remembered her after all.
“Miss Gemma, ye look angry,” Cameron said with a perplexed look on his face. “Everyone else is having fun.”
“I am enjoying myself, my sweet,” she said as she leaned down and kissed the top of his head. His parents were one of the ones who’d vowed to protect her when it became clear that Fletcher wasn’t coming back for her. When they were gone, she’d done everything she could to look after the boys, even after David begged her not to tell anyone for fear that his uncle would come for him.
They had little to fear. By now, everyone knew that the boys were orphans and helped raise them even as they pretended to believe David’s feeble excuses for why his parents weren’t around.
“Ye doonae look it.”
“The lad is right,” Theo said as he joined them. “Ye doonae look like ye are enjoying yerself at all.”
Wonderful. Just what she needed tonight. “Elaina,” she murmured to the older woman sitting next to her, “will ye look after Cameron and David tonight?”
“Oh, aye. ‘Twould be my pleasure.”
Turning back to the boys and Theo, she smiled at them. “I believe I am still feeling under the weather. If you will excuse me, I’ll return to my cottage.”
She’d barely made it halfway when the infuriating laird caught up to her.
“Go away.”
“Ye are always so sweet to me,” he said as he fell into step next to her. “If ye are feeling unwell, I want to see that ye get home all right.”
“I have spent a year here and never needed an escort to my home before,” she said tightly.
“That was before I was laird. Ye are one of mine now.”
Not for long.
“All I need from you is a promise that you will look after the boys,” Gemma muttered. “Now, go back to the
festivities.”
“First, I have a question. Young Cameron claims that ye have a letter in yer pocket that ye keep reading.”
Drafted boy. Can he keep no secret?
“That is not a question.”
“Who is the letter from?”
“None of your business.”
“What does the letter say?”
“Also none of your business.”
“Is it the reason that ye are in such a foul mood?”
“You are bloody irritating.” Her cottage was in sight. She just needed to get in and slam the door shut right in his face.
“I told ye that I would protect ye. If that letter has upset ye, then I wish to know why.”
“The letter says that ye are the most infuriating man who would ever cross my path. If you want to no longer upset me, you can go away, which is the first thing that I asked you to do.”
“Ye could trust me.”
Stopping short, she closed her eyes. “All right. I suppose that someone should know why I’m leaving.”
“Leaving? Just where the hell do ye think ye are going?”
“Somewhere that isn’t here.” Pulling out the letter, she handed it to him.
There was no point in watching his gaze move across the page. She’d read the letter so many times that she’d memorized it, but her heart still hammered in her chest at the sight of it.
“This doesn’t make any sense,” Theo said as he frowned.
Gemma wasn’t sure whether to feel insulted or not. “It doesn’t make any sense that a man would want to marry me?”
Rolling up the missive, he tucked it in his pocket and studied her. “No, that is not what I meant.”
“Then?”
“I thought Fletcher was too consumed with his past wife’s betrayal to want to marry again so soon,” Theo mused. “He’s made Graeme his heir, so he has no need for another one.”
“He still loves his women.” At the thought of her fate, she shuddered.
“But he doesnae need to wed a lass to get a lass.”
“Look, I honestly don’t care what Fletcher’s motives are. I just know that I have no plans to be Lady Fletcher MacSeaver, so I am leaving tonight, hopefully while Graeme is too deep in his cups to notice...although I would love to wrap my hands around his neck. He spoke pretty words of protecting me when all he wants is to drag me back to him.”
“Lass,” Theo said softly, “ye doonae have to flee to be rid of Fletcher MacSeaever. There is one thing ye can do to ensure it never happens.”
Annoyed that he’d kept the letter, she rolled her eyes. “Laird MacDougal, you do not have to force a woman into marrying you. I guarantee that any woman here would be happy to marry you. You just have to pick one.”
“I have, Lady Gemma.”
“I won’t be a pawn in your game. I know how you highlanders work. Steal what your enemies covet the most.”
“That isnae why I want ye. Gemma, my sweet, I chose ye before I even knew who ye were. There is none here that will do. I wed ye because I want ye. I wed ye because I want to protect ye.”
His words were so tempting. They started to pull at a part of her heart she thought she’d long forgotten. “I want to marry for love.”
Grasping her chin gently, he lifted her gaze to his. “Ye are not a young lass, Gemma. Ye have seen more of the world than ye should. Perhaps more of a man than ye want to admit. So look into my eyes, and tell me that ye doonae feel desire when ye see me.”
He thought she’d been with another man, and he still wanted to wed her. When she was younger, her father would never leave her alone for fear that she’d be like her wicked mother and ruin his chances of selling her.
All she wanted to do was run, to pack up her things and never look back. But in Theo’s gentle hold, she met his gaze and tried to deny the truth. Her stomach twisted, and she swallowed hard. He was a big man—as big as any brute she’d ever met—and she’d heard the stories of his deeds as his father’s son.
But in his eyes, she saw gentleness and the fierce need to protect.
Maybe, one day, she would see love.
“I do want you,” she whispered, “but desire is not enough for a marriage.”
His thumb stroked along her chin. “It’s more than most marriages have.”
He was right about that. “Running is still an option for me. Laird MacSeaver’s recourses are not strong enough to chase me too far.”
“Then run, Gemma. I will give ye money and lend ye someone to escort ye.”
“And you will marry another?”
“Aye. At some time, I will marry another, but none from Loch Moran.”
“What?” Furious, she jerked her head back and glared at him. “You made a promise!”
“I told them I would consider it, and I have. I made an offer, and it was refused.”
“But these people are counting on you!”
“And I wilnae let them down, but I can better things without marrying one of them.”
Maybe, but he would never have their trust, and if he didn’t have their trust, he would have a much harder time protecting them.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she hurried to her cottage. She needed to get away from him for just a moment to think. Her mind had been muddled with anger and fear ever since she’d gotten the letter.
She’d be lying to herself if her first thought hadn’t been to marry Theo, but she’d banished it just as quickly. She couldn’t marry one to avoid another. Her dreams were more prominent than that.
Cameron. David. Agnes. Harris. Were her dreams bigger than them?
“What is that overpowering scent?” Theo asked as he came up behind her.
Gemma didn’t even blink as she walked into the kitchen and took off her cloak. “Honeysuckle.”
“And why is it everywhere?”
Because it represented all the hopes of the people of Loch Moran—their unwavering desperation to believe in someone.
“Gemma?”
“It’s here because I am to be married,” she said finally.
“To MacSeaver?”
“No, you idiot. I am marrying you.”
Theo smirked. “Ye are the first lass that I have ever proposed to, but I imagine there is usually more romance involved in the answer.”
“Yes, well, I have a feeling there isn’t going to be much romance in this marriage.” She stared at him. “I would rather run, but Loch Moran has sheltered me, kept me safe, and given me a good home. I believe that you will protect them, but they never will unless you marry one of them. I owe them everything, and this does solve a problem of mine.”
“Gemma,” he murmured, “there is something that ye should know.”
“No.” Shaking her head, she held up her hand. “If we start talking about too many things, I won’t be able to focus. I’m going to bed, Theo. Arrange everything and let me know when to show up.”
“Ye are certain?”
“Yes, but Loch Moran is my home. Promise that I can visit it as often as I like.”
Gently, he bowed his head and kissed her forehead. “As my wife, I will do whatever it takes to make ye happy.”
It wasn’t much, but he’d made a point. It was more than some marriages had.
If only she could trust him.
6
Moments before his wedding, Theo brushed his fingers across Fletcher’s letter to Gemma.
“Ye seem unsettled for a man about to be wed,” Harris observed. Agnes had decided that if Gemma were to be wed, she would do it in the best gown Loch Moran had to offer. Unfortunately, Gemma was far too small for the gown, so at least three women were working on it to get it ready in time and had kicked Harris out of his own home.
The older man had spent most of the night stomping around and muttering about the absurdity of forcing a man out of his own home. Theo had no idea that Harris was even paying attention.
“Ye arenae having second thoughts, are ye? Gemma is our jewel. Ye will find no better here to
wed.”
“No second thoughts about her,” Theo said and pulled out the letter to show him. “Let me know what ye think of this.”
Harris took the letter and frowned. “I cannae read,” he said as he handed it back. “What is it? Are we to be invaded again?”
The man hadn’t even bothered to look at the letter, but then, a man who couldn’t read wouldn’t. Theo tried to find a speck of deceit in the man’s face, but he could find none. “’Twas not a letter to me but to Gemma from Fletcher MacSeaver. According to this, Graeme is here under false pretenses.”
Harris grunted. “So, he is to invade us?”
“Possibly, but this letter says he is to take Gemma back to wed Fletcher. Apparently Laird MacSeaver wants another bride.”
“‘Tis no surprise. Are ye angry that Gemma is only wedding ye to save herself?”
“The thing is, Fletcher has no need for another wife. He has already declared Graeme his heir, so now he is free to rut whatever lass he wants without a nagging wife,” Theo mused. “And Graeme would know better than to force a lass off these lands while I am here.”
Harris coughed and wiped his mouth. “So ye think Fletcher has lost his mind?”
Perhaps, but Theo doubted it. He folded the letter back up and slipped it into his pocket. “Just something that has been preoccupying my mind.”
“Well, stop. Ye are to wed a good lass, and ye should be thinking of that. Now, mind ye, we are all giving Gemma to ye today, but should ye hurt her, we will be rising up against ye and taking her away again.”
“Duly noted.” Glancing out the window, he realized that it was almost midday. “Come. Time to wed my bride.”
The whole of Loch Moran had ceased their duties for the wedding. With the exception of the guards on patrol, they had all gathered at the ramshackle of a building they called the church. The priest seemed to have one foot in the grave already. From what Theo had learned about Father Ian, Theo was surprised that he wasn’t all the way into the grave. He spent most of his days butting heads with the old witch, although she preferred to call herself a follower of the old ones.
Highlander’s Lesser Evil: A Scottish Medieval Historical Romance (Highlands' Deceptive Lovers Book 4) Page 4
