Highland Harmony: Avelina and Drew (Clan Grant Series Book 8) (18 page)

Drew glanced up as a golden butterfly flew past him and then turned and landed on his arm. If he had not known any better, he would have sworn the butterfly was smiling at him.

Surely, he must be going daft.

Chapter Twenty

Lachlan backhanded the fool standing in front of him.

“But I seen her, Burnes. ‘Tis the beauty of all the Scots and she’s here in the Highlands. I want her. I can steal her at night and have my taste of her without anyone being the wiser.” The fool grabbed his crotch with emphasis. “If’n you want her, I’ll bring her back to ye.”

“Horse’s arse. She’s mine, and if any of you touch her, I’ll cut off your bollocks.”

Lachlan wanted to spit at the thought of any of these louse-laden dolts touching his Avelina Ramsay. He wanted her with a fury now. They’d been talking about her for days, betting what she would look like unclothed. He hocked up a pile of spit and flung it off to the side. He’d learned quite a bit from his new men, taking on many of their characteristics. Men would respect and fear him someday. He was practicing the new Lachlan, one with no mother and in charge of himself.

He’d gone to the Lowlands and found both Scotsmen and Englishmen willing to follow him for coin. His promise to have them all back home within a fortnight had helped, but they were lazy and needed to be pushed.

After much deliberation, he had decided the Ramsay lass was likely the one who had taken the sapphire sword. She was the one who’d had access. Of course, he knew Menzie might have stolen it after beating him, but his plan allowed for either possibility.

Lachlan pulled his pet mouse out of his sporran, fed it a piece of cheese and set him on his lap. He’d named his pet Willy.

“Wee Willy, what think you? Do you think the lass has the sword or Menzie? If you sit on the one side of my lap, ‘twill mean the lass. If you sit on the other, ‘twill mean Menzie.” He gave the rodent a little shove from behind and it ran in a circle before finally settling on one side of his lap, leaning on its hind legs and wiggling his nose up at Lachlan. “Och, mayhap you have the right of it. Menzie must have stolen it. That whoreson never liked me.”

If Menzie had the sword, it would be easy to get it from him—he wanted Avelina as much as Lachlan did. All he would need to do was hold a knife to her throat to get what he wanted from Menzie. He had to get the sword back, he just had to.

That was why he kept his good luck charm, Willy. Wee Willy could answer questions for him that no one else could. He fed him another piece of cheese, and the mouse squeaked at him. “I know, Willy. My sire does love me, ‘twas all my mother. He proved himself to me at the end.” A wide grin crossed his face, and he broke into laughter. “She won’t be bothering me anymore, will she?” He snorted and then quieted, listening to his men talk in undertones.

“Do you think he killed his own mother?”

“Don’t know if he did or did not, but he is daft. He talks to his pet mouse.”

“Mayhap we should leave.”

“Nay, he’s got a lot of coin. I’ve seen it, and I want my share. We’ll get ours within a fortnight. What else have we got to do?”

“Aye. I agree. Just hope he’s not daft enough to get us all killed.”

“He swings a mighty sword, and the fool is tough besides. Look at all the scars on him. Appears he’s been beaten enough times. I’d wager he can take whatever he gets handed, unless ‘tis a sword in his belly.”

“That means naught.”

“What about the fact that he has another fifty guards waiting for us on the other side of Cameron land? His plan is to squeeze them from both sides.”

“That does make me feel a wee bit better. That’s close to a hundred guards.”

Lachlan smiled as he tucked his pet back into his sporran. “Willy, I’m taking your advice and going after Drew Menzie to set things right. I’ll have the sword and my queen, all in less than a moon,” he muttered. “Then naught will be able to touch me. Ever.”

***

Lina glanced up at the moon just as an owl hooted nearby, startling her. She pulled the plaid tighter around her shoulders. They were on the way back to Ramsay land, but they had only been on the road less than a day. Not long ago, Aedan had sent Neil off into the forest with a few guards, though she knew not why. They’d settled near a waterfall for the night. Neil and the others had returned to the group after they finished their dinner of roasted rabbit. Now Neil and Aedan were huddled off to the side of the clearing, talking with their heads together. She’d heard Neil use Lachlan’s name, and she needed to know what they were saying.

Jennie sat across from her on a nearby log.

“Jennie, I’m going to tend to my needs. Do you need aught?”

Jennie shook her head, absorbed in her own thoughts or so it appeared. Lina thought this was a good time to sneak through the forest closer to Aedan and Neil without raising suspicion.

She hadn’t told anyone—nor did she plan to—but her intention was to find Lachlan Burnes, wherever he was hidden, and return the sapphire sword to him. Fear drove her forward, and she was convinced it was her only option to protect her family. She would go ahead with her plan whether Erena approved or not.

Her family would not suffer any more harm if there was aught she could do about it.

Aye, she loved Drew Menzie, and she almost believed he loved her, but he had made it clear to her that he was still not certain he could marry. There was no time to wait. She had to act before it was too late.

She did not need the sapphire sword any more than she needed to be a chosen one. She would just go back to being plain, dull Avelina Ramsay. She slowed her steps to listen to the men and their conversation.

“What did you discover?” Aedan asked Neil.

“He’s got guards with him, mayhap around thirty. I overheard his guards discussing two things.”

“Aye?” Aedan leaned in toward his second in command.

“One is he’s after the sapphire sword.”

“No surprise there. We suspected he would come after it sooner rather than later. And the other?”

“They think he’s daft. Word is he’s killed his own mother and he talks to a mouse.”

Aedan paced in a slow circle, chewing on mint leaves. “That bothers me. I knew Lachlan was different, but I hadn’t realized his mind had deteriorated that much. We need to be verra aware of what he’s doing. How far away are they?”

“Less than an hour away, and they are headed in the opposite direction.”

Aedan’s eyes went wide. “Toward my land?”

“Aye. He thinks Menzie has the sword.”

Lina’s heartbeat sped up. This was all her fault. She had stolen the sword, and Drew would pay for something she had done. She chewed on her lower lip and turned away from them, trying to plan the best course of action.

After much deliberation, she decided that perhaps Erena was watching out for her—and approved of her plan—because Neil’s information provided her with a perfect opportunity. She would wait until everyone bedded down and then follow the path back toward Cameron land. After she left the sword in Lachlan’s camp, she would return without Aedan or Neil realizing she had even left.

She moved back to speak to Jennie. “Where are you and Aedan settling?”

Jennie pointed to a spot a short distance away at the top of a small hill. “Aedan wants to watch the stars together before we sleep.”

“I’m jealous,” Lina admitted. “Do you think I’ll ever share the same with someone?”

“Aye, similar, but most lads do not love the stars like Aedan does. Mayhap your husband will have another interest. Alex and Maddie like to swim together, and Caralyn and Robbie both like to fish. Who knows what your love will share with you?”

Lina sat down and fussed over the pebbles on the ground. “I think I must forget Drew.”

“Mayhap. At least you are more comfortable talking to lads now.”

“Aye, some. I still get upset sometimes, but I have improved. I can actually speak to Boyd now.”

Jennie chuckled and reached over to tuck a loose tendril of Lina’s behind her ear. “Lina, your time will come. But I do not think ‘tis time to forget Drew. You do not need the other lads, only Drew Menzie.”

Aedan came over and held his hand out to Jennie. “Are you ready to star-gaze with me, love?”

Jennie took her husband’s hand and stood up beside him. After she brushed her gown off, she turned back to Lina. “You’ll be all right?”

“Aye,” Lina smiled. “I’m verra tired. Do not worry about me.”

Aedan said, “If you need aught, just holler. I will not be far, and Neil and the rest of the guards will be right there.”

Lina took her time to verify where all the men were. She was quite sure she could do this without anyone discovering what she was about. She smiled and waved at Jennie. “Go on. Enjoy your husband and the stars.”

Wrapping up tight in her plaid, she feigned sleep for a couple of hours. When all was quiet, she crept to the other side of the clearing and slipped into the woods as if seeing to her needs. After checking her pockets to make sure she had the sword, Lina headed out in search of Lachlan.

A few hours and several blisters later, Lina came upon a group of horses and listened intently. All was quiet except for loud snores from a few of the men. Padding softly around the camp, she did her best to find Lachlan, and as soon as she did, she sneaked over to him and dropped the sword as close to him as she could. With a sigh of relief, she turned around and headed back out of the camp. The stale aromas of whisky, urine, and ale made her nostrils flare, but she hoped the libations were imbibed enough to keep the men fast asleep.

Leaving camp, she thought about taking a horse, but decided it would be stealing, so decided against it. She trudged along through the forest, ignoring her blisters the best she could when she came upon a lone horse munching grass by itself.

She searched the area for the owner, but found no one. Finding a nearby log to mount, she took a slow canter until she dared to move to a gallop, thanking the saints above for offering this gift to help her return quickly.

Just when she thought she was safe, she heard a wild shout behind her. Slowing enough to glance over her shoulder, she groaned and kneed her horse at the same time.

Lachlan Burnes was not far behind her.

***

Drew woke up to shouts outside the gates. He was wide awake in a matter of seconds since he and Boyd had chosen to sleep under a tree inside the bailey. Puzzled by the shouts, he rushed toward the portcullis just as Neil flew into the bailey.

“What is it? Has something happened?”

“Aye. Lina’s missing.”

His gut clenched and he closed his eyes and said a quick prayer. “How long?”

“We think since the middle of the night. Jennie thinks she was trying to find Lachlan Burnes so she could return the sapphire sword.”

“And where the hell would she find him?”

“Aedan and I discovered they were headed here looking for the sword. He thinks you have it. Lina must have overheard their conversation and gone after him. He sent me back to see if I saw aught along the way, or if I could catch Lachlan. He’s not been here?”

“Nay.” Drew headed toward the stables for his horse. He’d have to move fast if she was half a night ahead of him. He stopped for a moment and barked back at Neil. “Where’s Aedan?”

“Aedan continued on toward Ramsay land with Jennie. He plans to return with Logan and any other guards Quade can spare. He also sent word to the Grant. Lachlan had twenty or thirty warriors with him.”

“Then I’ll go after her.” He mounted his horse and turned toward the gate. Boyd, who’d hurriedly prepared his own horse, was right beside him.

“Menzie,” Neil shouted after him. “Take some guards. Burnes has gone daft apparently. There’s no telling what he might do.”

“You will remain here?”

“Aye, I have instructions to protect the Cameron keep.”

“God’s teeth, this is not good. Lachlan was only a halfwit to start, and he has no morals. The thought of Lina in his hands scares the hell out of me.”

“And there’s one more problem.”

“Aye?”

“My men tell me Burnes has another fifty guards waiting for his instructions not far from here.”

“Hellfire. I hope the Grant sends men. We’ll need them.”

***

Laird Alex Grant led his guards across the valley. When they made it to the other side, he held his hands up to signal for those in the front to wait for the rest to gather. They all knew this was the toughest area to traverse in all of the Highlands. Trekking down this next mountain was slow going. Rocks and pebbles and steep drops that could catch the horses’ hooves threatened to slow their progress. But at least it wasn’t winter.

This was a rare journey for them, one they had never made before as a family, which was why Alex was taking such care. He had two hundred guards with him, but he needed them all. His dear wife, Maddie, rode in a cart behind them with Celestina and the Grant bairns.

After receiving the message about his sister Brenna’s loss, he’d made the decision they would go as a family to offer their support to the Ramsays. Most of his clan had traveled out of the Highlands at some time or another except for Maddie, and she had asked him if he would take her to see dear Brenna.

The entire world knew he was unable to turn his wife down. He still adored her as much as the day they’d married, nay, even more. He glanced over his shoulder at the cart. There she sat with their youngest, Eliza, in her lap, next to Celestina, who was cuddling her newest daughter, Catriona, on her lap. Maddie had been telling the little ones stories, but she had stopped short.