Authors: Amanda Anderson
SIX
Anne shivered as she sat in the dank morning mist. She was exhausted, but they couldn’t afford to stay in one place very long.
She looked to Aggie who held her tiny infant to her breast and tried to satisfy his hunger. Tears ran down her face as she looked to Allen who lay bleeding from a wound he had taken while scouting. Moira tended Allen, but the set of mouth was grim. John was by her side with his broadsword drawn. Anne wondered how she had ever seen him as anything but a fierce Scotsman.
Blood oozed down his face from a cut on his forehead and soot covered his face.
He had gone back to try to save the cottage and had almost been caught.
Now they sought refuge in the mountains and hoped against hope that help would come to them.
Skye wrapped an arm around Anne as she settled beside her babe in her arms. His chubby cheeks were pink and his eyes sparkled with health. He had no idea what was going on.
“Why is this happening?”
Skye looked uncomfortable. “I was a MacTurn by birth. There have been rumors for as long as I can remember. The MacTaggarts are at war, with themselves. Some will do anything it takes to make sure the alliance never happens.”
“But why attack us? Just to anger Malcom?”
Skye narrowed her eyes at Anne. “You really don’t know who you are do you? You really have had no idea this whole time.” She grinned and covered her laugh with her hand.
“I thought you were just trying to hide it. I thought you didn’t trust us.”
“What are you talking about?” Anne said as confusion swamped her.
“You are the reason this is all happening. You are the MacTaggart Malcom is bound to wed.”
“Why?” Malcom couldn’t hold the fierceness from blasting from him, but the boy did not flinch.
“They were looking for someone. A woman.” The boy said.
“What woman?” Malcom wanted to curse the tremor in his voice.
“The English woman.”
“Did they…” He couldn’t voice his fears. “Did they find her?”
“No. Everyone was able to get away. They were warned a few hours before. Riders were sent ahead as soon as we knew of their plans.”
“This doesn’t make any sense. Why would they attack us? We are allies. Who are ye boy and what else do ye know?”
“I am Arron MacTurn. The English woman is my cousin as is yer brother’s wife. I am here with Margaret MacTaggart, my aunt. We came to protect the lass, but we were too late. Aunt Margaret left me here while she and the others went to search for your people. She told me to bring you and that we should hurry if ye want to save yer clan.”
“Where did they go?” Malcom felt his blood run cold as he prepared for battle.
“Into the mountains. Aunt Margret hopes to reach them before they are found by the others. She said she knows a place.”
Malcom’s mind ran too fast to grasp a single thought. Everything swirled of thoughts of Anne. Was she hurt? Was she still living or had he lost her forever?
Fear gripped him as he prepared quickly and headed out in the direction Arron said they should go. He had to reach Anne. His mind wouldn’t let him accept losing her.
He rode hard as the sun burned away the morning mist. The scent of smoke lingered in his nostrils. Fear still curdled his stomach, but he had to push on.
“Malcom.”
The voice of his friend Rory came to him from the trees. Rory was young and a talented scout.
“Rory. What did you find?”
“This makes no sense Malcom. Why are the MacTaggarts hunting your family?”
“I don’t know Rory. What did you see?”
“The MacTurns are not far from here. I spoke to one of them and they are expecting us to join them as soon as we can. They are only a couple hours in that direction.”
He pointed in the direction he’d come from.
Malcom nodded and called his men into action. They joined the MacTurns as the light began to fail. Then he came face to face with the woman he had wanted to talk to for months.
Margret MacTagart.
SEVEN
Anne screamed as a fist twisted in her hair. She hadn’t been fast enough to escape. She was caught. She fought as she was turned to face her attacker, but it made no sense to her.
“Malcom?”
But there was no kindness in his eyes, only hatred.
A scream clawed its way up her throat as his sword descended toward her face.
“Anne.”
Her eyes flew open as a hand covered her mouth.
“Anne, be quiet now. It was just a dream.”
Anne opened her eyes and tried to convince her tired mind that she was really awake.
“Margret? Is that really you?”
Her nurse was dressed in shabby clothes and was filthy. She sported a bruise across her face and looked exhausted.
“Margret?”
“Yes dear child. I am here. I promised you I would come for you as soon as I could. I am sorry I could not keep you safe, but I have found you again and I will never let you go again.”
Anne sobbed into Margret’s familiar breast. “I thought I had lost you forever.”
Margret held her close for long moments. Then another voice met her ears.
“Anne?”
She gasped and looked up to find Malcom standing above her. He looked battle worn and tired and he was the most wonderful sight she had ever seen.
“Malcom.” She breathed and it must have been enough because she was lifted into his arms. His lips pressed against hers as if he were starving for her.
“My God Anne. I was afraid I would be too late. I would never have recovered.” He kissed her cheeks then her eyes. He pressed kissed all over her face until her heart felt as light as a bird.
Anne wrapped her arms around Malcom and leaned her head back and laughed as he continued to press kisses over her skin.
“How did you find us?” She laughed. “Malcom stop. Tell me how you found me.”
“Your mother knew you were not safe. She came to protect you, but it was too late. She had hoped Mother would bring you here.”
“My mother?” She asked.
Margret stood and took a deep breath. “Yes child. Me. I am your mother. Your father was Lochlan MacTurn. My uncle killed him soon after we married.”
Malcom wrapped a cloak around Anne’s shoulders and settled her near the fire.
“You see my dear child, I was promised to a powerful man in London. He was kind to me, but his father was cruel. Our marriage was meant to secure an alliance that would wipe out most of the clans in the highlands. My uncle was Laird. He felt it a great insult for me to go against his wishes. After my marriage I was not fit to marry the young lord. My uncle sought to kill me, but my father refused and in the struggle killed my uncle. My father was Laird of the MacTagart clan. War ravaged our lands. My father hated the English and refused the secret alliance with them.”
“I don’t understand? How did I end up in London?” Anne asked then.
After your birth my father decided to make a different alliance. You were promised to the MacGregor heir, to Malcom MacGregor.”
Anne gasped as her eyes met Malcom’s. He was hers. He had been hers since childhood. Her heart swelled, but she still had so many questions.
“So the young lord was father?”
“Yes. He had married a lovely young woman by then and they had no children at that time. I begged him for refuge and he allowed me to move in his home as your nurse and you were raised as his own child. We had not planned to stay so long, but the situation at home had darkened. There was arguing among those that had supported my uncle. Murder was a common thing in the castle. No one was safe. My father begged our caretaker to keep us safe. I wrote to Moira, but the situation with in the MacGregor clan was not much better. So we stayed.”
“That is why I was sent to Moira.”
“You were sent home.”
“Home.”
The word filled her heart until she feared it would burst. She was home.
EIGHT
Anne stood with Margaret and held on as she hugged her again. It didn’t seem they could be in arm’s reach without hugging anymore. She smiled at Anne as she straightened the gown she wore. Today she would unite three clans. Today she would stand and together she would bring the strength of the Highlands back to her people.
Margret smiled as the tiny mound showed proudly at her waistline. She hadn’t fussed or shamed Anne, she had simply hugged her and made assurances that everything would be fine. She had whispered than a babe is always a blessing, but this one would save a nation.
“Are you happy child?” She asked as she wiped a tear from her cheek.
“I am. I never thought to be happy again. I found my place.” Anne let a laugh bubble from her lips. “Who could have known it would be here?”
“I had hoped. I had prayed and hoped, but I had no idea how remarkable you really are. You are a wonder my dear child.”
“I love you mother. You taught me everything. I am so very happy to have you.”
Margret wiped her eyes again. “I love you too daughter. I had feared I would never get to be your mother.”
“You were always like a mother to me. I would have been lost without you.”
“You will never be without me again child, not ever. Now you will be the mother of the new Scotland. You will be the glue that binds a nation.”
Anne hadn’t known what she had meant until she’d started dressing her this morning. She’d looked out the window of her room in MacGregor castle to see dozens of banners flying. Clans from all over had come to witness the fruition of this alliance. With this marriage the three strongest clans would unite and together they would secure their nation and bring peace once and for all.
Malcom stood at the front of the little stone chapel and felt his jaw harden. He couldn’t show his weakness to all that had gathered to witness his union. Even though it was the desire of his heart, his nerves were fluttering in his stomach like a dragon.
Margret had denied him access to Anne other than at meals since they had returned to MacGregor Castle. He had raged, but she had only said he’d already taken too many liberties and would hear none of his arguments. It had been months since he had touched her perfect skin or tasted the sweetness of her. He was utterly starved for her and feared he would embarrass himself.
He thought of the many ponderings he’d had after leaving with Fiona. He had thought he might make Anne his mistress, but decided he could not dishonor her in such a way. He had vowed to have her and no other. He would damn his clan to ruin before he would agree to give up the woman who completed his soul.
Anne was his home.
His everything.
When he looked up again it was to see her walking slowly toward him. Her beautiful face glowed with beauty and with love. Malcom felt moisture gather in his eyes and did not care. Everything he had fought for was walking toward him. Everything he had ever hoped for was within his grasp.
He reached out his hand and she placed her tiny one in his palm and her felt the world shift under his feet.
John clapped him on the back with a laugh.
“Steady Laird. Don’t go fainting like a lass now.”
The congregation laughed, but he didn’t care. His life was beginning as if he had never taken a breath until this moment.
NINE
Anne lay in the dimness of the evening as she listened to Malcom’s deep and even breaths. He had made love to her slowly, pulling pleasure from her in torturously slow strokes. He had marveled at the changes in her body even as he lamented missing them from their start.
Something had changed in him since that morning so many months ago. Now he was kind to her and patient as well as slow to anger.
Anne almost felt like she’d married a stranger instead of the man that had haunted her dreams for months.
It had been a shock to learn that she had been promised to Malcom all along, almost from birth.
They had been destined for one another and what could have been a cold and loveless marriage was one filled with heat and passion and yes, if she admitted it, even love.
Anne shivered. The weather had turned bitter cold in the last few weeks. Anne was having a hard time adjusting to the weather. Malcom sighed and placed his large hand on her gently rounded belly. He seemed to need to reassure himself that she was still there from time to time and then he would drift off again, but this time his hand began to move lower.
“You seem to need warming again lass.” He said in his groggy voice.
“I think there are other ways to warm me. A blanket perhaps.” Anne giggled, but she didn’t want to stop his wandering hand. She loved the way he touched her, the way she felt like she belonged to him. Not the way his horse or his dog, but more like as his sword or a great treasure.
“I’m not certain I’ve claimed ye properly yet Wife.” He said in a husky tone that made Anne’s body pulse. “I think I should give it another try.”
“I’m sure another try wouldn’t be wasted.” She gasped as he found her center and stroked her gently. She would never deny him. She would never give him reason to seek his pleasure elsewhere.
“I want there to be no room for doubt.” He whispered as he leaned over her and captured one taught nipple between his lips. “No man will ever touch you but me. I mean it Anne.”
He looked up and met her heavy lidded gaze.
Anne moaned and threaded her fingers through his hair.
“I love you Malcom.” She whispered, unable to make the declaration aloud.
“Aye and I love ye as well lass.” He said as he lifted his head to look into her eyes. “I’ll not be without you again as long as I have breath in my body.”
Anne shuddered as he continued to touch her.
“No man will ever touch me but you. And you will never touch another woman.”
She didn’t look away from him. His lips curved as if he would argue, but instead he nodded once.
“I swear it Anne. I will never want another.” Then he lowered his head to her breast again.
All too soon she was panting, spent and boneless in his arms.
She closed her eyes and floated on the feeling of completeness until he spoke again. His fingers running across the scar Fiona had left on her arm.
“I am sorry for this Anne. ‘Tis my fault you bear this mark. I failed ye lass, can you ever forgive me?”
“I lived. “Tis alright. It was not your fault, was hers. You have my forgiveness if you need it.”
“Thank ye lass.”
“What of Fiona?” She tried to keep the jealousy out of her voice and hoped she’d succeeded.
“She is well.”
Anne’s eyes flew open and a frown tugged at her lips.
Malcom let out a great burst of laughter and kissed her nose.
He was beautiful when he laughed so Anne couldn’t react right away. She recovered fairly quickly when he didn’t offer explanation for his knowledge of his former lover.
“How is it that you know of Fiona’s wellbeing and hadn’t enquired about my own?”
Hurt burned hot inside her until she was sure smoke would fill the room. She shoved at his chest until he let her sit up.
“I found her a suitable husband love. Last I heard she was well.”
“Does she live close?”
“Are ye jealous love? Think I’ll be sneaking off for a little visit now and then?”
“Well, I am…” She gestured to her belly. “What about when I can’t...satisfy your needs?”
Malcom laughed a laugh that echoed through the room. He rolled to his back and pulled her to lay on his chest.
“You are my life Anne. I will never want another. When the time comes, I will show you other ways to satisfy my needs if I am unable to restrain my desires. I’ll not visit Fiona, but I’ll not lie to ye either. She is not far. She and her new husband live about a day’s ride north of here. Too far for a visit.”
He kissed her nose as his hand ran down to grip her arse and pull her astride his hips.
She gasped at the intimate position.
“What are you doing Malcom?”
“I plan to teach you many things love, starting tonight.”
She couldn’t protest as he positioned her to take him. She was soon filled with him, and he gripped her hips to help her find her rhythm.
“I never knew….”
“There is much you will learn Anne. Much.”
He loved her throughout the night. She found that she was grateful for giving herself to him so many months ago, for now they didn’t have to worry about her pain. They could love until they were sated and love again as soon as they recovered.
As the sun rose and lit the room in an ethereal glow he touched her again, but it was not passion that warmed his touch.
“I love you Anne and I thank God for ye lass.”
“I love you too Malcom, so much I cannot fathom it.”
“Are you ready to live this life with me? I cannot give you what you had in London.”
“London wasn’t home. You are my home, everything I will ever need is right here.”
“I’ll never let you go again.”
“I’ll never ask you to.”