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Romance in the misty Highlands...

FREE NOVEL: Stealing the Highland Bride

A feud that lead to love, a love wounded by war...

Rhona was supposed to give birth to her first child with her husband by her side. When the noble Laird Iain Cameron is brutally killed by the sinister Murdoch Mackintosh, Rhona and her clan find themselves at his mercy. Filled with desire for her, Murdoch makes her his wife and claims her child as his own.

Stewart Mackintosh was forbidden to fall in love with his brother's wife. All he ever wanted, was for his clan to thrive and peace to be restored. Now he is losing himself to a woman he shouldn't desire. But to be with her, Stewart must make the ultimate sacrifice to save Rhona and the bloodline of Clan Cameron.

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Kenna Kendrick

The English Beauty and the Highland Beast – Extended Epilogue

 

Even a character, a scene, or anything. You could say no if nothing bothered you.
Even a character, a scene, or anything that you enjoyed.

Three weeks later,
Castle Ardtun

Had there ever been such an exquisite sunrise? The sky was pink, and gold shot through with slivers of purple like a glorious canopy stretching over Castle Ardtun. Bathed in the golden light, Edina stood on the battlements, breathing in the fresh, salty air from the sea.

As the church demanded, the banns had been proclaimed three Sundays ago, and today was her wedding day. Tonight, she’d lay with Errol, and wake with him in the morning for the first time.

This was the day that only a few short weeks ago, she’d believed would be forever denied her. Her heart sang with happiness. At long last Errol MacKinnon would make her his wife.

Fear of her father’s barbarism no longer hung over her like a giant shadow. Her sisters were safe within the castle, embraced by the MacKinnons. As was she.

Ivy, Hannah, and the twins immediately took Skye and Margaret under their wings, showing them around the castle. Even though her sisters were still timidly finding their way amongst such a merry and rowdy family, now and again her heart lifted at the sound of their laughter. Her sisters were getting along so well with Hannah, probably because their age was almost the same. Along with her new sisters, Ivy and Hannah, Skye and Margaret would be her bridesmaids today.

After taking one more look at the glowing sky and breathing in the pure air, she turned, and with a light heart, retraced her steps to her chamber.

She found Joan fretting there with her break-fast, a bowl of honeyed porridge, boiled eggs, fried fish and freshly baked manchet.

She bobbed a curtsy when Edina entered, a brilliant smile splitting her face.

“Ye hardly need me tae urge ye tae eat milady. Today is a long day, and ye’ll need tae keep yer strength up.”

Ever since their triumphant return from Wemyss, Joan had waited on her anxiously, determined to ensure that she slept well enough and kept her appetite. She’d nursed Edina after she’d been brought from the infirmary and still insisted on treating her as if she were a most delicate flower needing special attention.

Edina laughed. “I thank ye, Joan. Ye’ve looked after me well. But today my happiness kens nae boundaries. I’ll wed my love, eat my fill, and dance together at the feast.”

Joan left her, nodding in approval.

Today’s preparations were much the same as those for the handfasting that had never taken place. Hannah and Ivy dressed her in a beautiful pale blue silk gown and braided her hair as they had before. But today, there was no dark secret weighing down her heart, no tears, no fear of betrayal. Her love new her. And he loved her still.

“Ye look like a princess of the fae,” Hannah exclaimed. “Ye’re sae beautiful, Edina. My brother is, indeed, a lucky man,” she sighed. “I look forward tae the day when I’ll find my true love.”

Edina smiled. “Hannah, that day will come soon. I can only wish ye tae be as happy as I am today.”

Ivy smiled at her. “And I pray for ye and Errol tae find that same happiness every day of yer life as I have with Blaine.”

Just then, the door flew open, and Ivy’s twins came sliding into the room, closely followed by Margaret and Skye, who were both dressed in newly tailored kirtles and tunics, their hair streaming with ribbons and flowers. However, they looked flushed, probably running after the babes.

Margaret looked in awe at her older sister. “Ye look beautiful, Edina.”

Edina twirled, and her long skirt flew out in a circle around her.

They all laughed, and young Skye clapped her hands delightedly. “I love our new life here,” she said solemnly. “And I love all my new sisters.”

The path to the chapel was lined with villagers, and when Edina appeared on the steps to the keep, a loud cheer went up. The entire village would join in the feasting and celebration after the wedding.

By the time Edina arrived at the huge oaken chapel doors, Errol, according to custom, was already waiting with the priest at the altar and the wedding guests were all seated. She took a steady breath, straightened her shoulders and held her chin high as the doors opened. Then, walking behind Ivy, Hannah, and her two sisters, she stepped into the flower-strewn chapel to the lilting strains of the beautiful Scottish harp, the clarsach.

Walking slowly down the aisle, breathing in the perfumed air, her heart beating a joyous rhythm against her ribs, Edina was aware of a sea of smiling faces turning toward her.

But she only had eyes for Errol.

He stood proudly beside the priest, clad in his laced shirt and great kilt, his tartan across his shoulder, his precious broadsword in a scabbard by his side, his blonde hair combed and trimmed, his brown eyes sparkling. His face lit up in a joyous smile as she walked toward him.

They stood side by side, never faltering, as the priest delivered the long mass in Latin. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, came the vows.

“…DO ye, Errol MacKinnon, take this woman tae be yer lawful, wedded wife?”

Errol’s voice rang out loud and clear through the chapel. “I do.”

Edina’s heart swelled with pride and joy as she pledged herself.

The priest bound their hands together in a strip of MacKinnon tartan and tied the knot, which tightened as they pulled their hands apart.

“Bound for life,” he said, beaming, as he presented Errol MacKinnon and his lady to the assembled guests as man and wife.

Once outside, they were met with wild cheering from the villagers and a bombardment of flower petals.
The sun shone brightly, warming them as they walked the short distance to the keep, accompanied by bagpipes and cheers.

The Great Hall was bursting. There were twice as many guests for the wedding as had been in attendance for the ill-fated handfasting and Errol’s welcome home celebration. Today all the Clan chiefs had brought their ladies, each of whom was outdoing the other for the finery of their gowns and jewelry.

Errol strolled with Edina among the guests, introducing his new bride to the loyal clansmen and their wives. She was pleased to recognize Laird Finlay MacPhee and Lady Kellina. Alongside them was their son, Lachlan, now happily recovered from the injuries he’d received during the battle with Sir Michael’s troops.

The Great Hall shone with the light of a thousand candles and resounded to the light-hearted music of strolling musicians.

As Edina and Errol took their places at the center of the flower-bedecked high table, they were flanked on their right by Blaine and Ivy and their left by Hannah, Gillebride, Margaret and Skye. Further along the table, Edina caught sight of Lyall McPherson. He was still pale and far too thin, but there was color in his cheeks as he raised a tankard of ale with another man wearing the MacKinnon tartan.

Like Edina and her sisters, it seemed Lyall was finding a welcoming home among the MacKinnon Clan.

The twins were seated with other bairns at a special table under the watchful eyes of Muriel and the other nursemaids.

She and Errol led their guests in the first reel of the night. Before long, the Great Hall was filled with flute, bodrhán and lute music amid cheers and wild cries as the guests joined in for a joyous ceilidh dance.

Quite out of breath, she and Errol returned to the table, and yet another serving of the feast. Blaine approached, also breathless from dancing, and poured himself and Errol over another tankard of ale. He leaned in, keeping his voice almost inaudible, but Edina heard the word “Taveon,” and her ears immediately picked up.

“In Inverness?” Errol queried.

“Yes, he was spotted there, and reports came back to my scouts. My men are heading there now.”

Edina wished she’d not been reminded of Taveon on this, of all days, but she was relieved to hear it appeared he was still in the Highlands and had not reached the English with his secrets. She could only hope he never would.

The hours wore on, and at the stroke of midnight, Ivy took Edina’s arm. “It’s time for the newly wedded couple tae take their leave. The barn is ready for ye. The animals have been herded out, and all the rats chased away.”

“Well, as delighted I am that I’ll nae be sleeping this night with a sheep or a cow, but is it clean?” Edina said, the hint of a frown appearing on her brow. It was a wedding custom that the noble bride and groom should spend their wedding night in a lowly barn, to indicate to the villagers that they, too, had humble beginnings in their married life and would never rise above them. Ivy and Blaine didn’t do it. However, Errol seemed to like the idea.

Ivy chuckled. “Aye, ‘tis clean and sweet-scented with lavender and roses. Ye’ve a comfortable bed awaiting ye, wi’ quilts and pillows. It’s a good enough place for the Laird’s brother tae be wi’ his new lady.”

Errol, who had been listening to this exchange, leaned in, grinning, to take Edina’s hand in his. “At last, the time I’ve been longing for has come, lass.”

Edina felt her cheeks heat. This night had been in her thoughts for so long. She could hardly wait to be alone with her husband and discover the secrets of lovemaking that she’d ached for.
As the couple stood to take their leave, a great cheer went up from the assembled guests.

****

Errol pushed open the door of the old barn. The shabby timber building was lit with lanterns hung from the beams; the floor was covered with mats constructed from rushes. A freshly laid flower-strewn carpet led from the doorway to the great four-poster bed, hung with velvet drapes that had been erected at the center of the barn.

Edina sighed. Apart from a few quick kisses here and there, she’d only had minutes alone with Errol since the night they had liberated her sisters and Errol McPherson from Castle MacDuff. They’d both been longing for this moment.

“My wife,” he said and bent to kiss her. He took her mouth in a long, precious union with his, their lips and tongues relishing the taste and feel of each other. Edina knew she would treasure the memory of this first kiss of their married life forever.

They pulled apart, gasping for breath, and he hoisted her into his arms.

He strode across to the bed and lowered her gently onto the piled-up pillows and quilts where she lay, gazing up at him. Her chest heaving, catching her breath, her body stirred in delighted anticipation of what was to come.

He pulled the drapes around the four sides of the bed, excluding the rest of the world from this, their little private world of pleasure.

After laying his broadsword on the floor, Errol undid the belt holding his scabbard and let it drop to the rush mat beside the bed. Then he pulled the tartan cloth from his shoulder and unwound the length that had formed his great kilt until all he had on was his long shirt.

Edina gazed rapturously at him as he pulled the shirt over his head and stood naked before her. Her eyes roamed over his well-muscled shoulders and traveled down his broad chest to his navel and the dark arrow of hair below it.

His manhood stood erect and proud, and she gasped at the sheer size of it. How could something so big possibly enter her body? She could only take his word that lassies were made to take in such a hard, enormous rod.

Errol took his time with Edina. First, he lifted her silk dress by the hem over her shoulders and head. Then he untied the laces of her chemise and peeled it off, leaving her breasts bare.

She heard him gasp as his finger brushed her puckered nipple, and she moved against his hand, aching for his touch. But he moved on, slowly untying the strings of her petticoat and slipping it down her legs, leaving her as naked as he was.

Twisting against him, Edina could scarcely wait to feel his bare skin against hers.

But he wasn’t done.

While she lay beside him, her eagerness for him growing by the second, he began taking the pins out of her hair. He tenderly unraveled each one of the many woven braids comprising her coiffure and spread the golden strands upon her pillow about her head.

He gazed at her up and down, studying her with eyes like burning coals.

“I cannae wait, Errol,” she gasped, groaning, reaching her hand to touch his thigh.

“I’m feasting my eyes,” he answered. “This is my delectable wedding banquet.” He flashed her a grin. “I’m starving for it, but I want tae take pleasure in the luscious sight before I take my fill.”

She laughed. “And when ye’re done with eyeing yer meal? What then?”

“I’ll taste ye first,” he said, bending to touch her lips with his tongue. She opened her mouth to him, finally relishing his feel.

“And after ye’ve tasted?” she asked when the lack of air ended the kiss.

His chest heaved. “Why, more tasting,” he said huskily, lowering his mouth to her breast he cupped in his hand, sucking her pink nipple.

She cried out his name, “MacKinnon,” as the wild sensations flowed from her breasts to the place between her legs that ached for him. She eagerly wriggled her hips against his hardness, wanting to hear him moan.

He kissed her again, and she writhed against him, the ache between her legs needing relief. She pulled his hand down to her core.

“Touch me, Errol. Please.”

His fingers found the space between her slippery, moist folds and he stroked her slowly, igniting the fire into an inferno. Her hips moved against his exploring hand as it met her inner opening. She gasped as he gently pushed two of his fingers inside her.

He groaned. “My God, Edina, ye’re so wet, so ready for me. Is this what ye’re wanting?” He moved his fingers deeper inside her and then slowly withdrew.

“Errol, please,” she cried. “Dinnae stop. I’ll die if ye do.”

He thrust his fingers inside her again and again, his thumb circling her swollen bud. All the while, he kept his mouth on her nipple, sucking hard.

“I cannae stand it,” she cried out, bucking against his hand as waves of pleasure built to their peak. Her entire body bucked and thrashed, consumed by the exquisitely intense sensations.

“My God, MacKinnon.” Edina brushed her fingers over his hardness as the last tiny waves washed over her. “I’ve waited for this night for sae long, but I still dinnae ken how it feels tae have that part of ye inside me.”

****

“And are ye ready now, tae find out how it feels?”

“Aye,” she said.

Errol took his erection in his hand, and Edina rolled on her back, eyes closed, legs bent, and he guessed from the tension in her jaw that she was expecting it to hurt.

She was dripping, so wet he could slide his tip in with no resistance. Then she raised her hips to meet him, and he slipped further inside.

He eased himself onto his elbows, desperately restraining the urge to plunge himself deep inside her. More than his own pleasure, he wanted this to be good for her.

He looked into the depths of her eyes.

“Dinnae wait another minute, MacKinnon. Come inside me now.”

Waiting, poised, he felt her tightening around him. And finally, he allowed himself to thrust the full length of himself inside her velvet sheath.

She moaned, her hips rising to meet his rhythm, and he was lost in sensation, taken higher than he’d ever been before.

This overarching need for her was all there was. The world disappeared, and the taste, scent and feel of Edina consumed him.

She moaned, her hips reaching for his. As he thrust harder, she met him stroke for luscious stroke until he felt her tightening around him, pulsating deep inside, calling his name as she came under him with a wild, exultant scream.

He could restrain himself no longer.

“Edina,” he cried out, thrusting hard. Then, as he grunted and moaned, he felt the tide of desire wash over him, drowning him in wave after wave of violent, earth-shattering pleasure.

Afterward, they lay silently, slipping in and out of a dreaming sleep, stirring to touch the other briefly before being claimed by their dreams again.

He woke to find Edina stroking his cheek and whispering in his ear.

“At last, I ken…” she breathed, “…the joy of being a woman with my man.”

Errol seized her, wrapping his arms around her in a mighty embrace.

Edina gave him a dreamy smile. “I ken what it is tae be in heaven.”

He grinned at her, smoothing her hair from her forehead. “Aye, lass,” he said. “So do I.”

The End.

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If you want to know what lies ahead in our story, you may want to get the sequel…


Marrying a Highland Outlaw

Desperate to protect his family, Taveon MacDonnell embraces the role of a traitor. When tasked with abducting a lass for ransom, his world changes as he discovers a darker plan—she’ll be forced into marriage against her will. Unable to stand by and watch this happen, Taveon’s heart becomes entangled with the spirited and brave Hannah MacKinnon’s, as he faces a heart-wrenching struggle between love and duty. Because saving her means to face his family’s downfall…

The English Beauty and the Highland Beast (Preview)

Prologue

Stirling Castle, Scotland, Autumn 1304

Errol MacKinnon took a deep breath, grateful for the brief respite from the fighting. He was exhausted, his arms aching from wielding his heavy broad sword since their first attack on the English at dawn. But the Scots were winning; the English were no match for them, and the battle was finally coming to its bloody end. He pictured those filthy English pigs fleeing with their tails between their legs.

The day was warm, and sweat ran down his furrowed brow. Errol pushed his fair hair back, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, straightened his war tunic, and refastened the tartan at his waist. His clothes were soiled and stained, but staying clean was inconsequential. He preferred to stay alive.

Beside him, Gillebride, his brother’s advisor, had lowered his sword, granting him a sideways grin. The two had been fighting back-to-back since the fighting began at first light.

“Aye, lad,” Gilly glanced at the symbols tattooed on Errol’s sword arm, each representing an enemy he’d killed in battle. “I reckon ye’ll need a few more of those before the day’s done.”

Errol laughed. “A hundred or more.”

“Ye wish,” Gilly said, chuckling. “But, maybe, six today.”

Errol nodded. “It’s been three long years of fighting; I’ve lost count of all those who’ve fallen.” He gestured to the marks on his arm, growing wistful. “But what I wouldnae give to see Mull again.”

“Aye. She’s a bonny island….” Gilly’s words caught in his throat as the enemy’s shouts interrupted their brief reprieve. Six or seven English soldiers appeared on the crest before them, swords raised, faces distorted with blood lust.

“Jesus!” Errol exclaimed, hauling up his sword to ward off the blow from the first. It was a swift, uneven struggle, but within minutes, Errol’s sword had claimed yet another tattoo for his arm. Moments later, he caught a savage blow as the second man advanced too quickly behind the first. He went down on one knee, his tunic ripped by a wild slash to his chest.

Gillebride was beside him, wielding his blade ferociously, trying to ward off the subsequent rain of blows that followed the first. Errol could feel the strength draining from his body as blood poured from the wound over his heart.

One man raised his bow, aiming directly at Gilly. “Down!” Errol yelled while the man was drawing his bowstring.

He flung himself across his friend to protect him from the arrow without thinking and with his last strength. He felt a searing pain in his right shoulder when he heard the ‘ping’ as the soldier released the arrow. He’d taken the hit for Gilly.

He stumbled to his knees, making one last attempt to regain his feet. Wrenching the arrow free, he felt the blood gush from the deep wound. His sword arm hung lifelessly by his side.

He fell back, exhausted and weak from the blood loss. The last thing he heard before all the world went black was Gilly calling his name, cut short by his old friend’s heart-rending screams.

****

Errol couldn’t gauge how long he’d been unconscious. The jolting of the cart and the pain in his shoulder and chest brought him around. His mouth felt cracked and parched, and he gave his one good arm for a draft of water. But there was faint hope of that.

He was bound tight, crammed in with another group of imprisoned Scots, some with wounds that looked far worse than his.

“What in hell is this?” he mumbled to the man beside him whose head was bleeding slightly from a wound above his forehead.

“It’s the bloody English. They’ve captured all of us, and we’re on the way to Perth. There’s naught but a cold, dark dungeon in store for the likes of us.” The man looked him over, his eyes lingering on Errol’s shoulder wound and the gaping wound on his chest. “Yer fighting days are done with, lad. Ye’d better pray to the Lord to take ye quick before the rats get to ye.”

His tone as he spoke was almost gleeful, but Errol listened in horror, scanning the bloodied, wearied faces among the men, praying for a glimpse of Gilly. But he was not among them.

“Ye are searching for someone?” the man asked.

“Aye, my companion-in-arms. We’ve been together since the first day of the fighting three years ago. He’s been with me since we left our home on the Isle of Mull.”

The man nodded. “Aye. That’s a sad loss for ye, lad. But perhaps they left yer friend there, mistaking him for the dead. Mayhap ye’ll find him again one day.”

Errol nodded gloomily. With Gilly beside him, he’d always felt safe, watched over. He groaned. He’d known Gillebride MacThomas, that big, warm-hearted bearded bear of a man, all his life. Relied on him, listened to his wisdom, trusted him. When Errol had joined the fight against the English to return the crown of Scotland to its rightful King, The Bruce, Gilly had insisted on coming with him, even though he was nigh on thirty-five years old. Now Errol was alone, and he didn’t like the feeling at all. Now he had only his wits to bide him. His family would think him dead, and there’d be no one to come looking for him.

Would his eyes ever see the shores of his beloved Mull again?

“Goodbye, old friend,” he muttered, fingering the silver cross on the chain at his neck. “If I dinnae see ye again in this mortal realm, may we meet in heaven or hell.”

****

Half a year later. MacDuff Castle, Fife.

Edina Wemyss hated having to go to the dungeon. She hated the cold, dank walls and the water seeping down the stones. She hated the smell of piss and filthy unwashed bodies. She hated the rats who terrified her with their endless squeaking and scurrying and the way they soiled the place, making things even worse.

But above all, she hated seeing the imprisoned men. It seemed so wrong for her father, Michael, to have imprisoned these brave Scottish warriors for no other reason than they were defending their beloved Scotland as they should be, just as her English-loving father should have been doing himself.

But today, she was fulfilling her duty as the serving girl her father insisted she pretends to be, taking these poor men some stale bread and cheese on a trencher board. In her heart, she mocked her father for his distrust of the serving girls, imagining them all spies, but she was glad of the disguise. She couldn’t help fearing what these proud Highlanders would think of her—or what they might do to her—if they realized she was the daughter of the man responsible for their cruel, unjust punishment.

“Got something nice for me under those skirts of yers?” Jeered one guard as she passed. They thought it a fine sport to mock her and make lewd remarks whenever she came by.

Another of the guards muttered under his breath, and the three of them gave a raucous, bawdy laugh.

Edina’s cheeks burned. She straightened her shoulders, hiding her fear.

“I’ve naught fer ye, even if ye were the last three men on God’s green earth,” she snapped, marching past them, nose in the air.

Their laughter faded.

After distributing the last supper, she came to the cell she was always drawn to.

She held up her lantern, lighting the tall figure leaning casually against the wall. “Good day to ye, Errol MacKinnon,” she said, licking her suddenly dry lips.

She was relieved that there was a secure barrier between them. Errol was a big, broad-shouldered fellow with many tattoos up and down his arms, each representing a killing. Despite this, he had always spoken gently to her, and something about his size and good looks made her teeth clench. She had no idea why, but whenever she was near him, a kind of thrumming began in her heart, and her pulse quickened. It was similar to fear, but not quite.

And today, at the sound of his deep, gravelly voice, that mysterious pulse beat started up again. She felt his eyes on her, and just like that, it was hard to breathe.

He gave a soft laugh. “Och, lass,” he said. “This is the part of the day I look forward to.”

“Aye,” she said, lifting the lantern higher, glancing at his cellmate, Lyall, who was lying in the corner, saying nothing. “I’m thinking all of ye men look forward to yer supper.”

He shook his head. “That’s nae my meaning, lass.”

“Och?” She looked puzzled. “What dae ye mean, then, Mr. MacKinnon?”

“It’s yer pretty face I’m looking to see that makes me forget the long months I’ve been here since they brought me from Perth.”

She knew he was referring to his relocation from the prison at Perth once his wounds were half-healed, along with a few other men. Someone had called them “special prisoners,” but that was a laugh. If this was special treatment, heaven help the poor men still languishing in that hellhole in Perth.

His teasing words roused that strange feeling in her belly again and caused the heat to rise in her cheeks.

After she left the trencher, Edina turned to go. Lyall’s dispirited, sunken expression moved her heart. And Errol, despite his well-made features, had dark circles beneath his blue eyes, and, for all his cheeky teasing, he had the air of an exhausted man who had almost given up on hope.

It was so wrong to keep them imprisoned here.

She swept past the guards who, for once, kept their lustful thoughts to themselves and ascended the stairs leading her back to the Great Hall.

As she emerged from the stairwell and closed the heavy timber door behind her, she was surprised to see her sister, Margaret, walking across the slate floor toward her.

She smiled, pleased to see her younger sister’s sweet face, but there was no answering smile. She couldn’t help but note the girl’s red-rimmed eyes and the teardrops clinging to her long lashes. Margaret was frowning, clutching her sleeves around her wrists as if she must hold them there at all costs.

Edina reached a hand to brush a lock of wispy, fair hair behind her sister’s ear. “What is wrong, Little Bird?” she said, keeping her voice low.

Biting her lip, Margaret shook her head, her hands crossed before her, clutching her sleeves to her wrists. “Nothing,” she whispered. “Father wished me to pass on his message. Ye are to go to his study without delay.”

It was clear as daylight that there was something very wrong. Had her father broken his word and was mistreating her sisters?

“Please,” she gently took hold of Margaret’s arm, “show me what it is ye’re hiding.”

The younger girl reluctantly released her grip on the sleeves, turning them back to reveal a pattern of dark, purplish marks on her wrists and arms, wincing when Edina touched her skin lightly.

Edina’s blood flashed to a boiling point. Her father had not kept the bargain he’d made with her. He had agreed to restrain his violence toward her sisters if she cooperated and did his bidding. These brutish marks, like the painful bruises he’d left many times on her own body, were all the proof she needed of his betrayal.

She sighed, long and hard. “Ah, Little Bird. I’ll make an arnica poultice for ye after I’ve spoken with Father. Ye’ll find the yellow flowers growing in the garden beside the wall. Bring them to me; it will help ye heal,” Edina leaned over, dropped a kiss on her sister’s head, and reluctantly trudged to meet with her father.

Her father’s room was large, with one window high on the outside wall where a little light entered, an array of candles providing most of the light. The stone walls were hung with colorful tapestries from Germany, depicting hunting scenes, dogs, men on horses, stags at bay, and courtly scenes of princes and ladies with long flowing tresses and troubadours with their lutes.

A fire flamed in the grate, filling the air with the rich, earthy smell of peat, making this room the only warm place in the castle.

Edina’s father, Michael Wemyss, was seated by the fire and rose to face her as she walked in. Beside him was his advisor Colban, a big-bellied man Edina despised for his fawning ways, hanging on her father’s every word.

She slammed the heavy door behind her, earning a hate-filled glance from her father.

“Why are there bruises on Margaret’s arms?” she demanded loudly, her chest heaving with repressed fury. “Ye said ye’d leave her and Skylar be if I did yer bidding. I’ve done what ye told me to Father, but ye’ve nae stayed true to yer vow.”

Ignoring her question, Michael bade her stand before him. “Och, Edina. Ye’ve been a thorn in my side all these years. Ye’re a wee cow, just like yer mother,” he laughed. “But, at long last, ye do something worthy.” He pushed his face close to hers, twisting his mouth in a sneer.

Edina took a pace back. She’d heard his lament more times than she cared to count, how being a father to three worthless daughters was the heaviest burden he’d been forced to bear in his entire life. As far as he was concerned, his daughters were a curse laid upon him by a cruel god. Good for nothing except a possible advantageous marriage.

She tilted her head, waiting to hear how she would finally be useful to him, wanting to tell him that he was unworthy. Instead, she held her tongue, knowing that if she uttered a word now, it would only enrage him.

“You’ll be my instrument to bring ruin to the entire MacKinnon Clan. We need them out of the picture,” he said, smiling. Colban dipped his head in agreement.

Edina sucked in a breath. What her father was asking was impossible. It was one thing to run his errands and another going against the Scottish Clans, fighting for the cause. It was madness! She shook her head.

“Never, Father. Ye’re asking too much of me. I willnae agree to such a thing.”

He looked at her and laughed softly. “’Tis funny ye think ye have any choice in the matter.”

She straightened, meeting his gaze, her head high. “I’ll nae do your bidding on this errand, Father.”

He smirked, shaking his head. “And if ye want a guarantee yer sisters willnae be bearing any more marks, ye’ll do as ye’re told.” Edina felt her belly twisting. This was as bold a threat as he’d ever made. Do his bidding, betray the men she’d been caring for, or her sisters would suffer at his hands.

Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her weep, and she blinked them away.

“I cannae deny ye if my refusal puts my sisters at risk.” Defeated, she lowered her gaze to the floor, waiting with a heavy shadow on her heart to hear exactly how she would destroy Clan MacKinnon.

Chapter One

“Ye’re to free the MacKinnon lad. Let him think ye’re for him, and ye’ve the means to help him escape. Once ye’re clear of the dungeon and he’s setting out for the Isle of Mull, ye’ll go with him. Make him believe ye must flee from here. I leave this to ye. When ye’re safely at Castle Ardtun, Mackinnon’s home, there’s a man held captive there who must be set free. That’s also up to ye.”

Edina gritted her teeth. She was reeling, struggling to take in what her father was demanding.

“And this man, this captive of the MacKinnon Clan? Who is he?”

“Name of Taveon MacDonnell, a scout for the English. They’ll pay me handsomely for his return.”

“And how are ye connected to this traitorous scout? Are ye working for the English? Are ye a traitor to Scotland?”

Michael snorted, his eyes flashing fire. “Dinnae ask questions, Missy. Ye’ve nae right.”

Edina tried not to wince as he hauled his hand back and laid a fierce slap across her cheek.

“Mayhap that’ll teach ye to keep yer mouth shut.”

He turned to Colban beside him, who was nodding approvingly. “Those damn MacKinnons caught up with MacDonnell when he was going to the Lowlands. They’ve been holding him prisoner ever since. He possesses information that will turn the tide for the English. He kens just what the Highland Clans were planning.”

Edina groaned.” What ye’re asking, Father, is more than I can stand. Ye’re telling me to betray my country, as ye’ve already done.”

“Then our wee deal is out, Edina, and yer sisters will meet yer fate sooner than ye wanted.”

She managed to keep her head high, but it was no use. He’d won. She knew all too well that his leverage over her would force her to do as he commanded. If she protested or dared to defy him, her two younger sisters would be the ones to suffer in her stead.

And she could never knowingly allow that.

Eleven years ago, when their mother, Elspaith, fled from their father’s brutal ways, Edina was only ten, Margaret was eight, and Skye was only five. Edina had been to them what her mother had never managed to be; their protector. She’d struggled to keep them safe from their father, taking blows that left her body and soul scarred. All to protect the two wee girls.

She made one last appeal to Michael.

“Ye’ve already taken almost all I must give, and now ye’re demanding the only things I am left with. My honor and my integrity.” She spat the words at him, not afraid of the blows she knew would be coming. “But mind this. If ye lay a finger on those girls, I’ll reveal yer treachery. This Taveon MacDonnell will be telling all he kens to the wrong ears, and it will be on yer head.”

He raised his hand again, laying a hard slap against her face, rocking her back on her heels. She cried out and raised her hand to her stinging cheek.

“Go,” he commanded. “Get out of my sight. Ye’ll be told when ye’re to escape. Ready yourself. Prepare a bundle of clothing; make it look like ye’ve hastily put it together. Ye’ll be leaving in nae over two days’ time.”

Edina nodded wearily.

“Ye’ll need to keep your wits about ye lass,” her father added. “I’ll nae be giving away the secret to the soldiers so, if they come in pursuit, ye and the Mackinnon will be on yer own.”

Edina turned slowly and walked through the door without saying anything. Once in her bedchamber, she let the tears she’d been holding in flow in a seemingly never-ending torrent. Drying her eyes, she was now confronted with the reality of her situation. She’d be leaving everything she’d ever known in two days. She was abandoning her sisters, whose safety depended on her now more than ever.

Staring out of the tiny slit in the thick stone walls that doubled as a window, Edina glimpsed the outside world. All she could make out through her weary, tear-filled eyes was a landscape blanketed with snow, dotted here and there, with leafless trees standing like gaunt skeletons pointing at the never-ending gray sky.

****

Stretched on his hard pallet, staring into the blackness, Errol MacKinnon was almost ready to succumb to despair. Lyall McPherson, the friend he’d met when the cart first transported them from Stirling, was snoring fast asleep. As the months rolled on, Errol had become certain that, by now, his older brother Blaine and the rest of his family would have given him up for dead. He knew that, by now, his two nieces, Blain’s daughters, would have forgotten what he looked like, but his longing to see them all again kept hope alive.

Nights were the worst when his thoughts looped back over his life, and he questioned every decision and choice he’d ever made. His heart ached at the thought that, by being captured, he’d let his brother down. Yet again.

Plagued by too many “what ifs,” he rolled on his side, closing his eyes, trying to transport himself in his dreams to a kinder place.

He was dozing, halfway to sleep, when he was jolted awake by the sound of light footsteps coming his way.

“Lyall,” he whispered into the darkness. But his cellmate’s snoring continued unabated. He’d fallen asleep almost instantly after eagerly consuming the unaccustomed pot of ale they’d been granted with their supper tonight, too much on his practically empty stomach.

Errol sat up. Those scurrying footsteps were hauntingly familiar. Did he imagine it, or was it the serving girl who came each night with their food? Was his longing playing tricks on him, making him believe the only source of lightness and beauty in this godforsaken place was with him again? Had he finally taken leave of his senses?

He froze, ears straining. No. He wasn’t dreaming. Someone was here. But why? If it was the girl, what in hell was she doing here at night?

After rising quietly, he stumbled to the front of his cell. Hearing a rustling close by, he peered into the blackness, able to make out the indeterminate shape of a figure standing close by and a hand squeezed between the bars holding something. Almost sightless, he groped along the bars until his hands finally contacted the bunched-up fabric. All at once he understood. Someone was attempting to push a bundle of clothing into his cell.

He grabbed the fabric and pulled the clothes through into the cell. “What in hell…?”

A soft voice beside him whispered, “Hush, Errol. It’s Edina.”

It is her. So, I finally learned her name is Edina—a pretty name for a pretty lass.

“Edina, lass. What are ye doing here? And what are these clothes ye’ve given me? Do ye wish me to undress for ye?”

He heard her gasp and pictured those soft cheeks of hers turning pink.

“Errol, this isnae the time for yer wicked jokes.”

“Och, and why would that be so?” he teased. “Ye come to my cell in the dead of night with a fresh change of clothes. What am I to think?”

“Shush yer thoughts. Ye must put on the clothes I’ve brought. I’ve come to release ye from yer cell. But we must hurry. Make haste. It won’t do for ye to be abroad in yer prisoner’s clothes. Besides, ye’d soon freeze. It’s a braw night, and ye’ll need to keep yersel’ warm.”

He registered the tension building in her voice and guessed she was frightened half to death.

“But why…? he began, his heart hammering against his ribcage.

Escape.

Since he awoke in the jolting cart as they made their way north from Stirling to Perth all those months ago, he had dreamed of such a moment.

“Nae now,” she muttered, “I’ll tell ye all once we’re away from this place.”

“I’ll nae leave my friend, Lyall,” he said. “Although he’s sleeping mighty sound at the moment.”

“We must leave him. I darenae take more than one of ye along with me.”

“But he is my friend. We’ve shared hardships. I cannae leave him.”

“Dinnae utter another word. I hear someone coming.” She pressed a soft finger against his lips, and his senses responded instantly, his pulse thrumming. This was the first gentle touch he’d felt since he farewelled his family back on Mull, going on for four years ago.

The outer door creaked loudly open, followed by the ominous sounds of men clattering down the stairs.

“It’s the guards,” Edina whispered, quietly inserting the key to unlock his cell. She opened it and slipped inside, melting into the darkness beside him.

They stood together in silence, hardly daring to breathe, while the two guards paced along the row between the cells holding their lanterns high. Edina shuffled closer behind Errol, clinging to his waist, keeping well out of sight. He smiled to himself at the feel of her soft body pressed so tight against him.

All was quiet, and the two guards retraced their steps, satisfied that nothing in the dungeons was out of place. They continued up the stairs and out the door. The sound of the key turning in the lock came loud and clear, and darkness once again cloaked the cells.

“For God’s sake. They’ve locked it,” Errol said. “We’re trapped.”

“Nae, dinnae fash,” Edina replied. “I have another set of keys that will let us go on our way. The guards must have seen the door open at the top of the stairs and come to check. We’ll not see them again. They’ll be gone for the night.” She thrust the bundle of clothes into his hand. “Ye must hurry.”

He went to take the clothing but was startled by a terrified squeak from Edina.

“Lassie,” he said, fearful she’d been hurt. “What ails ye?”

She danced from foot to foot, groaning, “My God, do something, Errol. Please.”

“What the…?”

“Something crawled on my foot. It’s a rat. I’m sure of it.”

Errol couldn’t contain a chuckle. “We share our cell with legions of rats,” he said, making her squeak again, more loudly this time. “I cannae believe ye’re more scared of a wee mouse than ye were of the guards. After all, no rat has ever threatened me with a sword.”
She flung her arms around his neck. “Oh, Errol, I cannae bide rats. They make me sick to my stomach.”

He grabbed her, lifting her off the floor in his powerful embrace, laughing softly. “I’ll keep ye safe from those monster rats, lassie, but ye must hush or ye’ll wake the others.”

She moaned, clinging to him even more tightly. “Is it still there?”

He made a show of peering through the darkness. The sound of the rat’s scrabbling had stopped, and all seemed clean.

“Aye, lass. He’s returned to his wee family through the hole in the wall.” He lowered her to the floor, still trembling. “Now, if we’re to leave this place, ye’d best let me change my clothes.”

Even though it was pitch black in the cell, he sensed her modestly turning her back as he yanked the soiled prison shirt over his head. His clothes stank, and he wished he’d been able to splash some water on himself to clean up a little before changing into the freshly laundered clothes.

He put on the breeches she’d given him. They were a little baggy around the waist, and he realized he was much thinner than he had been when they first brought him there. But what else could he expect after months of eating nothing but gruel, stale bread, and the occasional lump of cheese?

He reached for the next garment, a shirt, noting with surprise the feel of fine linen against his skin. Next, he donned the woolen tunic and fastened the belt around his waist, hoping it would keep those loose trews from falling off. He knotted a scarf at his neck. “I’m done, ye can open yer eyes now and, ye’ll nae be offended by my nakedness.”

He heard a tiny hitch of breath in Edina’s throat at his words. He pictured that pretty flush of pink in her cheeks blooming because of his teasing. She reached up and fastened a voluminous woolen cloak around him. “Ye’ll need this to keep the cold away.”

He bent, putting his feet into his boots.

“And what of Lyall? Have ye a bundle for him too?”

“We must leave him, Errol,” she said firmly.

“I cannae do that, Miss. He is my friend. I’ll nae abandon my friend.”

“Nae. It’s dangerous enough for one prisoner to make their way out of the cells at MacDuff castle. But two attempting to escape would be sure to bring the guards. One man can slip quietly into the shadows, making nae more sound than that wee mouse, but two men are twice as loud.”

“Nae. Lyall’s a soldier. He kens how to make himself invisible and move with stealth.”

“Oh, Errol,” she wailed quietly. “I ken ye want him to come with us, but truthfully, he willnae wake till morning.”

“What are ye saying?”

“Do ye recall the pot of ale I brought ye this evening?”

He huffed, his heart sinking. “Of course, I recall. It was the first ale to pass our lips since Stirling. I’ll nae forget that. Lyall was asleep only minutes after he’d downed it.”

“That was because I placed a sleeping draft in Lyall’s pot. I wanted to ensure he’d stay asleep when I came to free ye.”

Errol exhaled a long breath, waiting to let this discovery sink in. “Och. I understand. Ye decided Lyall must be the one to stay, and I must be the one to go.” He seized her arm, “But lassie, ye must tell me why ye chose me to be the one to set free.”

She paused and pried his fingers from her arm. “Nae. This is nae time for questions, Errol. We must be on our way. We’ve a long way to travel before daybreak when they discover ye’ve gone and send the soldiers after ye.”

His shoulders slumped. For whatever reason she may have had, the serving girl had released him. One thing was certain; if he dallied any longer, he was jeopardizing his escape. His heart ached at the thought of leaving his friend, but he vowed that once he’d found his way back to Mull and safety, he’d return to this place and grant Lyall McPherson his freedom.”

Without speaking another word, Edina turned the key in the cell door, and swung it open. The two of them crept into the darkness and felt their way to the stairs.

Once they’d fumbled their way to the top of the stairs, she unlocked the door, and they found themselves in the deserted Great Hall. With a finger to her lips, she signaled to Errol to follow as she made her way across the hall and along a passage. Eventually, the long corridor took them to a small door at the rear of the castle.

“This is the door the servants use. The guards rarely patrol it.”

They stepped through the doorway, finally taking their first steps to freedom. Errol rejoiced inwardly at the sharp sting of the icy air and the feel of a fresh breeze on his face. He scarcely had time to fill his lungs with the blessed, sweet, clear air before he heard running footsteps behind them.

He swiveled. Two guards rapidly closed in on them, drawing their swords as they ran.

Before they dashed to safety, the first man let loose with a hoarse cry.

 

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Not at all Likely Extremely Likely

A Highlander Bound By Oath – Extended Epilogue

 

Even a character, a scene, or anything. You could say no if nothing bothered you.

A few months later…

Charlotte was exhausted and excited. Today had been an eventful day, and it still wasn’t over. She smiled as she looked at her husband. It filled her with excitement that she could now call him that. Charlotte had been so nervous about the ceremony, scared that she might do something wrong, but Margaret quickly reassured her that everything would go smoothly. True to her promise, the ceremony had gone by in a blur, and Charlotte had been too focused on Owen to let her nerves get the best of her.

The hand-fasting ceremony had been one of her favorite parts of the wedding. As she moved around in a circle with her hands tied to his, Charlotte felt like she had been given the opportunity to start anew and create for herself the life she had always wanted to have. The other thing she had loved was the vows. She could not contain herself when Owen spoke his. Her eyes watered as he promised to love her and cherish her because she knew he meant it. Throughout the time they had known each other, he had proven to her over and over, the reason she could trust that he meant every word of his vows, and when it was her turn to speak her vows, she said it with all sincerity and truth because she meant it.

Charlotte was happy. His family had cheered them on when they said their vows and whistled when they kissed. Charlotte was glad that she met them. She could not have wished for a better family. She was happy that she could now call them her family as well. The past months before the wedding had been wonderful. Charlotte had spent the time getting to know every member of the Elliott family. Her mother-in-law had been so welcoming.

After they had returned from the battle at William’s, Charlotte had locked herself away to weep for the family that she had lost. With the death of her uncle, she believed she owed it to herself to let out the grief that she had bottled up. Charlotte had refused to let anyone in, not even Owen, but when his mom knocked, she had been forced to let her in.

It was the best decision Charlotte could have made. Her mother-in-law had wrapped her hands around her as she told her it was all right to cry. To mourn.

“I ken that ye have been through a lot, and I ken that I can nae replace yer maither. Nor me family can nae replace the one ye have lost. But I hope ye ken that we will always be here for ye if ye let us be. Ye are part of us now and we take care of our own.”

Charlotte had cleaned her eyes and looked up at the woman. Unlike the others she had spoken to before she ran off, she had interacted with the reserved woman only in passing. Yet here she was, treating her as if they were friends. Charlotte choked back a sob. Her uncle had tried, but in the end, he had failed to take everything away from her. She had a place with these wonderful people who were strangers to her only a few days ago.

“Thank you. I do not know how to repay you for the kindness you and your family have shown me,” she said, but her mother-in-law shushed her and smiled before rising to her feet.

“Ye dae nae have tae thank me. It is like I said earlier, ye are one of us now. I will leave ye alone now, but when ye feel like ye can join us, please dae. I am sure me son misses ye already and will only spend the time paving until he wears a hole into the ground.” She winked at her before she left the room, closing the door behind her.

Charlotte felt hands wrap around her from behind, and her smile blossomed when she looked back to see Isla. She had come to love the woman as much as she loved her own mother, and she knew that Isla loved her just as much. She had ensured that Charlotte knew that every day, both with her words and her action.

“Ye are now officially part of us, although ye have been one of us for a while now. How dae ye feel?” she asked her suddenly.

“I am happier than I have ever been,” Charlotte beamed, and she knew she meant all of it. She hugged her mother-in-law just as Owen came up to them.

Their wedding feast was filled with laughter and happiness. Charlotte danced with Rory and Margaret before she was carried off on Owen’s shoulders amidst the hoots and loud whistles. Embarrassed, her face went completely red, but she allowed herself to be carried off.

It was their first night as a married couple. Charlotte was quite nervous. After Owen asked her to marry him, he informed her that he wanted to do things the right way and that for him to do that, they would have to abstain from intimate practices while he courted her. Charlotte had been a little disappointed, but also quite excited. It was the first time she was going to be courted the right way, as opposed to the terrible experiences she’d had before. In the days that had followed, Owen had brought her flowers and asked her to accompany him on evening strolls around town. They went for picnics and even a swim in the lake at the back of their property. They followed the proper rules of engagement with a chaperone, and Charlotte felt pride and love for their new beginning.

Charlotte had not known how much she would enjoy the process, and she was glad that Owen had chosen to court her. The tension between them had been thick enough to cut through with a knife, but they had settled for the occasional kisses, never allowing themselves to go past that. Charlotte had counted the days until she could be in his arms again, the way she had been the night before the incident. She wanted to experience the intimacy she’d shared with him that night. She could still remember how gentle he had been with her and the whispered words in her ear that had made her feel safe and happy, content to be with him in that moment.

Charlotte giggled when Owen kissed her, and suddenly her hand came up to cover her mouth in shock. She had never been the sort to giggle. It was such a strange sound, but she did not much mind it. She was happy, that much she knew, and he was happy also, that much she cared about.

“Where’s your mind at? Why did you suddenly go quiet on me?” Owen asked her. Charlotte debated whether to tell him as he climbed the stairs with her still on his shoulders.

“I was thinking about how perfect the last few months have been,” she said. She bit her lip before adding, “I was also thinking about being with you again.”

Charlotte blushed when Owen chuckled. He opened the door to their room and gently placed her on her feet.

“Feel this,” He took her hand and traced a path down his body from his chest to the waistband of his trousers and a little lower until she was cupping him in her hands. Charlotte gasped in shock and he held her there, squeezing tightly before he let go.

“Trust me, love, ye are nae the only one who has been thinking about it. It is all I have been able tae think about since the minute we agreed tae nae be intimate,” he said, looking pained. Charlotte laughed suddenly. She knew he wanted to be with her, but she had not known how much until she saw his expression. Her face morphed into confusion when he suddenly looked serious. She noticed he seemed to look at something near and Charlotte froze in worry.

“What is it?” she asked worriedly. She turned around, but he shook his head at her.

“Nay, dae nae move, me love. Ye have got a spider on ye.” Charlotte froze for a second as his words registered in her mind before quickly removing her clothes. She could not get it off her quick enough. Charlotte flung pieces of fabric around as she jumped up and down in fear, her mind returning to the spider that had climbed into her dress in the monastery.

“Get it off! Oh, please get it off, Owen,” she screamed, still taking off her clothes. She continued to undress until she was naked before him, jumping as she shook her hair to make sure that it had not tangled itself in her hair. Her hair had grown slightly longer since her uncle cut it, though it was still a long way off from what it had once been, but she found she did not much mind it. Charlotte had begun to love her hair as it was, although she still intended to grow it out. Now, however, the strands tickling her neck felt like the legs of a spider, making her even more scared.

Charlotte stopped when she heard Owen laugh. She stopped and glared at him playfully when she realized there had been no spider.

“You need to stop doing this, Owen. If you wanted to get me out of my clothes so bad, then all you have to do is ask.” She watched his eyebrows shoot up and a grin form on his lips.

“Oh, is that so?” he teased. Charlotte’s heart raced as Owen slowly advanced toward her. He undid his shirt as he got closer and took it off, taking off the rest of his clothes until he was completely naked before her. “There. Now we are even.”

Owen wove his fingers into Charlotte’s hair and pulled her into him, kissing her deeply. She gasped when he pressed fully against her. She could feel the hardness of him. Owen pulled his lips from hers and took her by the hand, leading her to the bed. She felt the heat pool in her core when he groaned above her, his eyes closing as he sniffed her neck. “I love the smell of yer skin. It does things to me that ye can nae understand,” he murmured.

She quivered when he bit her neck, licking the sensitive bite mark. Charlotte wrapped her hands around him and pulled on his hair, kissing him hard on the lips. She moaned into his mouth and lifted herself until her breasts were pressed against his chest, making sure that her unspoken request was understood. She gasped when he lined himself with her center and pushed into her gently. Charlotte moaned softly when she felt the fullness of his sheath completely inside. Something about it made her feel whole, like they were meant to be.

She gasped and then moaned with pleasure when he began to move inside her with a rhythmic dance of their hips. Her hands wrapped around his hard bottom as she moved with him, chasing her pleasure. Charlotte could feel the tightening in her core increasing rapidly. His deep grunts filled her with excitement. Her legs shook when he thrust deep and slow inside her, grazing at a spot that sent sweet sensations racing through her body. Charlotte bit his shoulder when he did it repeatedly, the same feeling running through her body repeatedly. She moaned his name and tightened her grip around him. Her legs wrapped around his waist to better accommodate him. She let out a low-pitched scream when the pleasure overtook her, just as Owen jerked above her and collapsed on her.

Charlotte played with the short strands of hair at his nape, feeling complete. Her life had taken a turn for the better and she could not be more grateful.

The End.

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