Highland Escape (18 page)

“Ye
must
tell me.”

Anna ignored her plea, refusing to meet her gaze. “Whatever do you mean?” she drawled lazily, her voice as innocent as she could muster. With a squeal of indignation, Nessa launched herself at Anna, catching her off guard and tumbling them both to the bed.

The absurdity of her behavior sent Anna into peals of uncontrolled laughter. Unable to resist, Nessa followed suit, and they found themselves entwined in a fit of uncontained hysterics. Once their mirth faded, Anna rolled to her feet and resumed dressing for bed.

“Tell me.” The whining in Nessa’s voice threatened to start the giggles again.

“Tell you what, Nessa?”

Impatient, Nessa huffed, rattling off a string of questions. “Are ye courting? Do ye love him? Does this mean ye shall stay forever? Are ye planning to marry? When will I become an aunt?”

Anna plopped onto the bed, stunned by the directness of Nessa’s questions. She still searched to find her bearings, not sort things out for her nosey adopted sister. Love? She wasn’t sure what love was. At least not between a man and woman. Mairi said love needed passion, trust, respect and caring to form. They had all of these, so perhaps love would develop. It was too new to her, too early in their relationship to claim love. As for the rest, she couldn’t think that far ahead. Turning at last to Nessa’s eager face, Anna answered carefully.

“Yes, we are courting. He asked today, so you haven’t missed anything. ’Tis too soon to speak of love, but I do care for your brother. There is something powerful between us. As for the rest, only time will tell.”

Clasping her hands to either side of Anna’s face, Nessa gave her an elated smile. “We shall truly be sisters! It has been my dearest wish.” Unable to contain her joy, Nessa crawled under the bedclothes with Anna, extolling the virtues of love until they both fell asleep.

* * *

The next few days flew swiftly by. Each morning she trained with Duncan in both armed and unarmed combat. He readily saw the logic behind each technique they covered and regularly praised her abilities. Often, their sparring led to heated embraces and kisses. She relished them as much as the fighting, perhaps more.

Duncan’s prediction she’d won over clan MacGregor proved accurate. Setting bones, stitching cuts, tending burns, soothing fevers, and treating a number of other maladies kept Anna busy for several hours most afternoons.

The laird grudgingly allowed Nessa to assist Anna on most cases, after Anna suggested the future wife of a laird, skilled in healing the sick and wounded, would be quite valued. Not in the least put off by the sight of blood, Nessa showed signs of a true gift, and her kind, gentle nature put people at ease.

The gratitude of the people whom Anna assisted warmed her heart. She’d turned down a pig, sacks of grain, and some vegetables she didn’t recognize as payment for services. Duncan explained to everyone that the laird provided for her, and in turn her services were part of his care for them. She’d never received compensation before for doing what she viewed as Christian charity, and felt uncomfortable doing so now.

In spite of the laird’s words, she noticed her favorite things continued to crop up anonymously. The jam she enjoyed so much at breakfast always seemed to be on the table. Loaves of the dark, sweet bread with nuts and berries she favored was regularly served. A never-ending supply of lavender soap appeared for her bath. Two thicker tunics and a new pair of deerskin breeches found their way into her possession. Anna never knew who was responsible for these things, but her heart filled each time she saw them.

The laird set boundaries on the types of cases Nessa attended. Again, Anna was surprised by the lack of protest the girl offered. It also made her feel guilty she wasn’t as obedient a daughter as Nessa. Watching father and daughter together made Anna grasp the depth of love her own father had possessed to allow his only daughter to pursue the unconventional interests she did.

Isla attended also. She and Nessa kept a running log of treatments, tracking details for each case. Anna used this opportunity to teach the girls Latin, English and mathematics. They kept various remedies cataloged in another book.

Though Nessa shied from any use of acupuncture, Isla allowed Anna to treat her, as she experienced difficult pain the week leading up to her monthly courses. This, along with an herbal tea, eased her suffering considerably.

Two days after Isla’s first session, Anna received requests from a number of women in the village for the same tea. A few even allowed acupuncture. While she had envisioned healing more grievous wounds and illnesses, she experienced satisfaction knowing she brought comfort to other women.

Anna cherished her time at the stables working with the horses. She found joy in training the unruly young steeds to take the bit and saddle and prepare the already-trained horses for the demands of combat. Working there proved the perfect way to end a day, though she always came to the evening meal smelling of horses.

Duncan placed a MacGregor plaide on her bed. On top lay a
sgian dubh
with the MacGregor crest. The lion’s head with crown was a powerful symbol, as was the slogan; “
’S Rioghal Mo Dhream,
Royal is my race.” Touched deeply by the gesture, Anna smiled through tears.

Duncan escorted her to the seat next to him at the table that evening. So close they frequently brushed hands, arms and legs, each random touch sent a jolt of awareness through her. It was a delicious torture to sit close to him yet not get carried away. This arrangement allowed them to enjoy both mealtime and the company of family, while being acutely mindful of each other. Family? At some point, she realized indeed the MacGregors had become like family.

Chapter 14

Anna met Duncan at the stables to depart for Graham Village at first light. Two large carts loaded with crates of produce, casks of mead and whisky, jars of honey, bundles of woven goods, sacks of grain and other goods were packed and ready. In addition, four horses they had trained stood tied to the back of the wagon, intended for sale. Two men on horseback and two in each wagon accompanied them. One man in each wagon drove, while the other wielded a large crossbow.

“’Twill take a day to reach the MacFarlane lands, then another to Graham territory. The main village is a half-day ride from their border,” Duncan explained.

He nodded toward the plaide she had draped around her shoulders. “It suits ye.”

“Aye, ’tis growing on me,” she answered in her best burr. His smile lit his whole face, and her heart stirred to know she brought him happiness. Wrapped in the same tartan he always wore created a tangible connection between them, making her feel as though she belonged.

She considered what it would be like to belong to him and he to her. Simply thinking about their kisses and caresses produced a warm, tingling sensation deep inside. She considered what it would be like to share his bed, to bear his children. Such thoughts had once brought a sense of dread and fear, but the thought of being tied to Duncan in such a way fostered a sense of longing.

The beautiful, lush green of the Highlands had definitely gotten into her blood, even if her blood hadn’t thickened enough to fully embrace them yet. She fingered the soft wool about her shoulders, grateful for its warmth. “Duncan, why do we need eight swords to protect two wagons? Are we not traveling through ally territories?”

“Aye, we are. Even though we stick to friendly lands, bandits sometimes waylay unprotected travelers.”

She shrugged. Their numbers afforded an opportunity to get to know some of his men better. However, it did reduce opportunities to be alone with him. Probably for the best, as she found it a challenge to ignore him riding just a few feet away, while she needed to concentrate on staying watchful.

The first day’s journey proved uneventful. The men set up camp near a stream while Duncan and Anna hunted for the evening meal. A brace of hares and three grouses later, they headed back to camp, lingering as they took advantage of their time alone before rejoining the men. A mournful whine interrupted their kiss. Pulling out of Duncan’s arms, Anna listened for it again.

“Did you hear that?”

“Aye, but ’twas so faint, I am not sure from where it came.”

They waited for the cry to repeat. The whine came again. They followed the sound to a rock overhang and a small cave. In the cave lay a litter of wolf pups. All were dead save one. The pup opened its mouth and keened again. Anna scanned the area for signs of an adult wolf. None were about.

“What has happened to the mother?” she wondered.

“She must have been killed. She wouldnae leave her pups to die were she alive.”

Cooing soothingly to the remaining pup, Anna scooped him up, holding him to her. He nestled into her tunic and whimpered. Her heart twisted, as she knew the pain and helplessness of losing family. Reaching for Duncan’s water skin, she poured a few drops into the pup’s mouth and he lapped greedily. She wrapped him in her tunic.

“Ye mean to keep him, then?” Duncan arched a brow.

“Let us see if he survives, but yes, I think so.” She glanced at the ball of fur huddled in her arms and smiled.

Duncan frowned. “I admire yer charity, but how can we keep a wolf around our horses and livestock?”

“If he grows up in the stables with the other dogs, why would he become a problem? I shall train him and he can hunt with me.”

He looked at her skeptically. Anna tilted her head in challenge.

“I have trained dogs before to track and hunt. Why should he be any different?”

“Ye think ye can train away his wolf instincts?”

She wasn’t sure, but relished the challenge. “If his nature wins over training and causes harm, I will kill him myself. Agreed?”

Duncan’s lips quirked. “I have seen the effect ye have on me, horses and others. I look forward to seeing if ye can charm the wolf as easily.”

As they returned to the fire, curiosity rose among the men regarding the newest member of the party.

“Lady Anna, what have ye found?” Liam asked.

“We found a wolf’s den. The litter had been deserted. ’Tis the only survivor. I thought some goat’s milk butter would be a good start.”

Rory, Liam’s younger brother, hopped up and searched for it in the cart.

“Aye, ’tis a good idea. We might see if he’ll take a wee bit o’ meat also, though he may be too young.”

Scooping some of the butter into a bowl, Anna put it and the pup on the ground and sat next to him. He sniffed the bowl once, then lapped at the butter hungrily. He licked the bowl clean, then stumbled back to her and curled up on her lap.

“He is smart for such a wee one. He already kens who his mistress is.” Liam smiled and winked at her. “Have ye thought of a name fer him?”

“Trean, since he was the strongest of his litter.”

“Aye, strong. ’Tis a good name,” Liam replied. “Let us see if he is strong enough to last the next couple o’ days.”

Anna stroked the pup’s ears and back as he dozed. He rolled over in her lap, offering his bulging tummy for petting. She glanced at Duncan and smiled as she obliged Trean’s silent request. The pup gave a whimper of pleasure at her touch. Duncan rolled his eyes.

“Seems the charming has begun.” Anna grinned broadly.

Duncan chuckled and shook his head.

Malcolm and Iain, two of the warriors who rode with them, dressed and skewered the game on a spit. When it was ready, she roused Trean and offered him some of the bird. He ate a small amount, then licked the grease off her fingers.

The men took turns on watch in two-hour shifts. Duncan took the first shift. Anna lay awake watching the stars, Trean cuddled next to her, waiting until he returned. Though his bedroll lay a few feet from hers, she felt his presence like the heat rolling from an oven.

She marveled at the changes he’d inspired in her. Never before had she dreamed of anything like this. The approval in his eyes when he saw her wrapped in the plaide he’d given her warmed her more than the blanket ever would. Sleeping only a short distance from him under the stars made her want to close the space, to lie in his arms. Only the presence of his men kept her from doing so. The look on his face in the glow of the fire told her he desired the same and more.

They broke camp before dawn. Trean
rode with Anna, perched on the front of her saddle, content to ride. He was more active when they stopped, and his increase in appetite gave her hope he would survive.

By the end of the second day, they stopped on the edge of Graham lands to camp. Sitting with the men gave her the opportunity to ask questions about their families and backgrounds. Liam told stories of Duncan as a boy, and the trouble he caused, along with Malcolm, Iain, Donnan and others. There were more than a few tales of Duncan and a lad called Colin MacKay who had fostered with the MacGregors for a few years. It sounded like Colin did his best to get Duncan into trouble, while Duncan attempted to keep Colin reined in.

Liam belched and leaned forward, gaining attention. “I remember when Callum…”

The mood changed immediately. He cleared his throat, shot an uncomfortable look at Duncan, then swiftly moved on to other stories. Though puzzled with the reaction to Callum’s name, Anna enjoyed hearing them laughing so easily once the awkward moment passed.