April Holthaus - The MacKinnon Clan 01 (12 page)

“Here, drink yer whiskey, ye bastard,” Ewan said jokingly as he threw Rory’s flask into his chest. “I will take first watch.” Ewan stood up and walked over to the trees.

Knowing that tomorrow’s ride would be another challenging day, Rory decided to go into his tent and get some sleep. They would be riding through the muddy bogs and rock outcrops. Neither terrain was well-suited for horses but it would be the fastest route to take. He didn’t believe that the English or Stewart would dare take their men through there and put their horses at risk. Rory was familiar with the area so he knew all of the secret twists and turns to take and which to avoid.

Lying on his plaid, he tossed and turned, struggling to ease the guilt on his mind. But his guilt wasn’t only for feeling the blame of Angus’ death but for how his lack of judgment could have caused Annella her life. Annella should never have been that close to danger. He felt he was careless regardless of what Ewan said.

The next morning the rain set in making the ground even more muddy and uneven. The horses struggled as Rory pushed them forward through the rocky terrain. Cold and wet, Annella wrapped her cloak around her shoulders tighter and kept her head down so the rain would not hit her face. She trusted Finlay to take lead and follow the horses without her having to direct him.

After hours of riding, her body started taking its toll. Her thigh muscles ached from squeezing them tightly around Finlay’s large midsection and her rump began to feel numb. But worst of all, she couldn’t get the vision of Angus’ eyes out of her mind. It was as if in the last moments of his life, she saw into his soul. She felt blessed being the one to comfort him during the final breath before he left this mortal world.

His justice was resolved when Rory and his men slayed the outlaws in the woods. She felt pity that Angus’ death was caused by nothing more than the greed of men looking for a small bounty to fill their coffers.

Slowing his pace down, Rory came to ride by her side.

“How are ye doing, my lady?”

“I am feeling winded, my laird. But please dinna stop on my behalf.”

“Nay we should stop soon. There is a cavern ahead where we can stop and build us a fire to warm ourselves until the rain and drizzle passes. It’s just on the other side of this pass,” he said giving her a pleasant smile.

“Thank ye. That would be lovely.”

Once they were around the bend, Annella saw the cavern Rory mentioned. It looked very inviting and well out of the rain. She looked forward to waiting out the storm in front of a nice warm fire and to fill her grumbling belly.

Dismounting her horse with the others, she slipped inside and found a dry flat stone to sit on while the men went to gather dry wood for a fire.

“My lady, a large boulder is just over there. It may offer ye enough privacy if ye would like to get out of yer wet clothes and put on dry ones. The rain should be gone soon,” Rory said as he pointed in the direction of the boulder. 

“Thank ye, I would like that verra much.” Anxious to get out of her wet dress, she scampered over to where she set down her belongings, pulled out clean garments and went behind the large rock. She slipped into a new riding dress. Putting on the dry dress made her feel so much better, inside and out.

Walking over to sit by the fire, she combed out her hair in an attempt to dry it as best as she could. Filling the entryway of the cave stood Rory, glaring in her direction. She could smell the whiskey coming from him from across the room. She couldn’t decide if he drank it or bathed in it.

“Would ye like something to eat, my lady?” Rory offered holding out some cheese and dried meat as he sat down next to her.

“Thank ye,” she said holding her hand up to take the offering.

“My lady, I wanted to say to ye that I ken that ye have had a difficult time these last few weeks, and e’en though I am no’ good at talking to lasses about these matters, I want ye to ken that ye can talk to me if ye are bothered or feeling...well ye ken what I mean,” Rory struggled to say the right words, his head feeling clouded.

She put her hand on top of his and smiled. “Thank ye. But I am fine, truly. I will say that I was verra worried that something could have happened to ye back in the woods when we were attacked. Rory, before when I said that ye make me feel things that I dinna want to feel, well I…”

Before she could finish, Ewan jumped between them and excitingly declared, “My laird, my lady, the rain has stopped and a few of the men just spotted what appear to be the men who have been following us along the ridge of the mountain. I dinna believe they ken our whereabouts but I think we should leave immediately.”

Chapter 12

The Isle of Skye was just as beautiful as Annella dreamt it would be. The vibrant colors, the lovely smell of wildflowers, it was magical. The land was dominated by heather and fields of purple thistles. The rock outcrops stood out of the ground as if they were strategically placed and the mountain tops touched the heavens.

Running through the fields on the back of her horse, she saw off into the distance sheep grazing in the fields and could almost smell the salt of the ocean as they drew closer to the shore. With the fog and dark clouds gone, the sun shined brightly and Annella felt her spirit lift as the beams of light shined off her hair and dress in hues of golds and reds.

After two days of rough riding they were finally climbing the last rise that looked down upon the MacKinnon land. Anxious to see Rory’s vast dwelling below, Annella encouraged Finlay to ride faster. Passing Ewan and Rory she raced to the top of the hillside.

Looking down at the village and the dark castle in the distance made Annella tremble. The castle even from a distance looked towering and overwhelming. She swallowed hard. This was to be her new life when she married Rory. And this would be her new home. Feeling her nervousness, she clasped the reins tighter and bit down on her lower lip.

Aware of her apprehension, Rory rode up next to her side and reached out to hold her hand. She glanced over to him and saw his big smile. He was happy to be home. His smile comforted her.

“Come,” he said and rode down the hill in front of her.

Entering the village, Annella watched as villagers cheered for the safe return of their laird. Men, women and even small children waved as they passed by. She was impressed watching Rory call out to so many of them by name. Annella gathered by the warm greetings that the MacKinnon clan were very welcoming people. 

“Tonight we feast for the return of our laird and his upcoming marriage to Lady Annella MacCallum,” Ewan pronounced in a loud booming voice while the crowd applauded.

Before she turned her head back to the crowd, Annella felt all eyes upon her. Knowing that these people must be curious of her, she sat tall on her horse and bowed her head to them. She hoped that these people would come to accept her, an outsider.

In the corner of her eye, she saw an auld man and woman frantically scanning the men’s faces as they rode their horses through the village. Rory must have seen them too as he lowered his head trying not to look into their misty eyes.   

Dismounting his horse, he walked over to Ewan who had also dismounted. Together with Angus’ sword spread out across Rory’s hands, they walked over to face the distressed-looking couple. At the sight of the sword, the woman collapsed into the man’s arms weeping. The man took the sword with a loose grip and the tip of it fell and dug into the ground. “My boy,” he cried out and held his wife.

Annella’s eyes instantly filled with tears and her heart ached for them. Annella knew the couple was Angus’ parents the moment she saw them. She felt sympathy for their loss and pain. She slipped off her horse and walked over to the grieving couple.

“He was a good mon and fought bravely. Ye should be proud of him.” She heard Rory say to them as he placed his hand on the man’s shoulder.

Annella bent down to Angus’s mother and placed her hands over hers to console her.

“He was verra noble. I held him in my arms when he died. He spoke of bravery and honor. He saved my life and now my debt is owed to you, my lady.”

The auld woman looked up with teary eyes and seemed to take comfort in her words. The man nodded and picked his wife up off her knees to help her stand. With his arm wrapped around her thin waist, they turned away from the crowd and walked towards one of the small crofts. The crowd of people became silent with grief. Annella looked up at Rory and saw the sadness in his eyes.

Looking among the crowd, she saw a handsome man that resembled Rory in size and stature standing in the far back. His big shoulders and broad chest stood out from the group of people clustered around the horses. His arms were crossed in front of his chest and he gave Rory a most disturbing glare.

Hand in hand, Rory and Annella walked over to him.

“So, I see ye go off to war and come back wit a lass. A prize? Or did ye steal yerself a bride?” the man said with an awkward expression on his face.

“Hello, Bram. It is good to see ye too,” Rory said not letting go of Annella’s hand. “I would like to introduce ye to the future Lady MacKinnon, Lady Annella MacCallum. My lady, this is my younger brother Bram.”

“It is nice to meet ye,” she hesitantly said as she felt his lusting eyes upon her.

“My lady,” Bram replied as he bowed.

“Come, let’s get ye inside,” Rory said pulling her closer to him and heading towards the main entrance. “Ignore my brother. He is no’ used to seeing me wit a lass.”

“Have ye no’ had many women?” she naively asked.

“Aye, but ne’er have I brought any of them home. Usually it’s Bram flaunting the lasses around the keep. The mon can no’ keep his hands from lifting skirts. Already has two bastards living down here in the village. He is no’ wit either of the women but he is good wit the bairns,” Rory explained.

“Oh,” she responded in surprise and looked back over her shoulder towards Bram.

The great hall was immaculate. The high walls were covered in the most beautiful tapestries Annella had ever seen. The floor was covered in fresh smelling rushes. The wood was polished and all of the candles in the room were lit. And there were several kitchen attendants and servants throughout the castle. It was obvious that what Rory had said about Lady Kenna was true; that she took pride in making her castle very welcoming.

A young woman with dark black hair came up to greet them as they entered. “My laird, it is good to see that ye have safely returned. I have just prepared the meal for the nooning and will be serving it shortly. I have been told that we have a guest that will be joining ye,” the young woman said giving Annella a friendly smile.

“Elspeth, this is our future Lady of Dunakin, Lady Annella.”

The look on Elspeth’s face went flat and the color drained in her cheeks. Looking almost sickly, her eyes rolled back over to Annella. Feeling the intensity of her stare, Annella started to feel uneasy. Elspeth almost lost her footing when she quickly curtsied and spoke with a slight tremor, “My lady.” Quickly she turned around and headed back into the kitchen as fast as her feet could carry her.

Annella cast Rory a puzzling look. Rory responded, “Ne’er mind her.”

Knowing that there was a reason she acted so rudely, Annella wasn’t about to let him brush it off as if it never happened. “What are ye no’ telling me?”

Looking down at her, she could tell that he was not all too happy to discuss with her about Elspeth. Taking a deep breath he said, “I dinna want to keep this from ye as I am certain ye will find out anyhow. Elspeth and I were once lovers. But that was a long time ago and there is nothing between us now. She is a servant who has been working in the kitchens for three years. Ye have nothing to worry about.”

Lovers.
Like hell she was going to allow his old lover to live in the same household as them. “She obviously dinna like me,” she said crossing her arms.

“She does good work in the kitchens and kens what needs to be done around the keep, but I promise, if she causes ye any trouble I will have her gone.”

“Alright,” she agreed but wasn’t too happy about succumbing so easily. She would have to keep an eye on that harlot.

Sitting at the head of the table, Rory watched as people joined in for the festivity and merriment. Food and drinks were passed, stories were told by the men about the battle at Stirling and others danced around the room to the sound of the music the performers were playing. It was good to be home. He had announced to everyone that he and Annella would be joined by marriage in two days’ time to allow Father Gregory to journey north from Buchannan Abbey.

Looking at her now, Annella looked amazed. Rory was concerned about his clan’s behavior at first, as they can be rugged and not always well-mannered. But they too had impressed him. Annella seemed to look comfortable enough in her new surroundings as she spoke to some of the other women of the clan.

Leaning over to his brother, he quietly said under his breath, “Bram, ye and Ewan need to meet me in my solar. Dangers are afoot and we need to prepare the men.”

“Ye brought the war home wit ye, aye?” Bram said looking both bothered and amused.

“It’s a long story. One that needs to be discussed in private,” he whispered.

Swirling in his chair, Rory faced Annella. “I need to discuss our situation wit the men and my brother. I will meet ye in our chamber tonight. My mother will take ye there. I apologize that I can no’ show ye around properly but tomorrow I will give ye the tour.”

“Our chamber? But I thought I would have my own,” Annella interjected.

“My lady, we are to be husband and wife, ye will share my chamber. We will discuss this later.” He didn’t mean to sound so firm but there was no time to deliberate over it now.

Leaving the great hall, Rory was the last person to enter the library. Ewan, Bram and Colin all gathered around the desk waiting for him to enter.

“We apprised Bram of the situation,” Ewan said as Rory sat down.

“Good. To my calculations, I would estimate that they will reach MacKinnon lands by this time tomorrow. I am no’ sure if they are the English or that traitor Laird Stewart. According to Annella, he declares to lay claim to MacCallum lands and is rightfully her husband. He had no proof to back his claim nor was the marriage consummated. My guess is that he comes for the lass. But he will no’ be leaving here wit her.”