Highland Angels Read online

  “That isn’t possible, brother. Ye know I was betrothed to Isobel Ross years ago.”

  “I am not marrying again,” declared Andrew.

  “And ye have the nerve to call yer sister defiant? Ye’ll marry if I say ye will, Andrew, and make no mistake.”

  “Eoin MacKay will never agree to it and Eve—er—Anna only wants to go home,” said Graham.

  “Eoin will have no choice in the matter and neither will Anna,” said Dougal confidently.

  Andrew was not ready to drop this. “Why would ye do this? I don’t want to be married, she surely doesn’t want to marry me and Eoin won’t want his sister married to a MacLeod.”

  His father looked at him intently. “Anna MacKay saved Davy’s life, not simply by being there and rescuing him from the loch, but by acting quickly to warm him and risking her own life in the process. When I thought she was a simple seamstress, the only way I could repay a fraction of our debt was to ensure she was safe and had as easy a life as possible.”

  “How has that changed? I agree she shouldn’t have to marry Fearchar Morrison, but that doesn’t mean she should become my wife.”

  “This has nothing to do with who she does or doesn’t wish to marry. The most valuable thing I can give Davy’s angel is peace between our clans. The night ye brought Anna here, when she fell ill, Isla said it wasn’t only our errors in judgment that had caused it but the decades of hate that both clans bred. She was right, lads. What happens if we allow it to continue? Maybe in twenty-five years Davy faces Anna’s son in battle and slays him. How have we repaid her selflessness then? The best thing I can do for her children and yers is to end this feud once and for all.”

  “Then end it. Why must we marry to do that?”

  “Ye know only a powerful tie between the clans will be enough to end this hostility permanently. Ye’re my heir and she is Laird MacKay’s sister. There is no tighter bond than a marriage between ye. Frankly, it’s a match I had already tried to make once. I offered Kentigern a betrothal between the two of ye over ten years ago, long before I ever considered Joan Sinclair. MacKay would have no part of it.”

  This news stunned Andrew. “Then why do ye think her brother will agree now?”

  “Because I have something with which to bargain that I didn’t have before—the lass herself. The only ransom I will accept is a signed betrothal.”

  Graham was equally astounded. “Ye would keep her here as a prisoner if her brother doesn’t agree?”

  “Aye, I would. I think the stakes warrant it. However, he’ll agree.”

  “Don’t ye think forcing him into this will anger him sufficiently to cause hard feelings?” asked Andrew silently thinking that ‘hard feelings’ was a gross understatement.

  “Aye it probably would, but I am prepared to offer something precious in return, which will also solve a problem ye were worried about.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Laird MacKay has two unmarried brothers. I’m going to offer a betrothal between one of them and Mairi.”

  Astonished, both Andrew and Graham stared at him, unable to speak.

  Finally Andrew shook his head. “I don’t know, Da. Mairi might single-handedly make the MacKays hate us more than they already do.”

  Chapter 5

  “Are ye really the MacKay’s sister?” asked Colin as he walked her to her chamber.

  “It didn’t take long for that news to spread.”

  “So ye are?”

  “Aye. I’m Anna MacKay.”

  “But ye saved Davy.”

  Anna wanted to say right about now she fervently wished she had run the other direction, but she couldn’t. It wasn’t true. “Aye.”

  “But ye are the MacKay’s sister.”

  “Colin, that’s been established,” she said irritably.

  “Well, I just mean, well everyone thought it was an amazing thing when they heard how a MacKay saved Davy. No one expected that, but now it turns out ye are the MacKay’s own sister. That’s just hard to believe.”

  “Colin, we are not monsters,” she snapped. “We are people, just like the MacLeods. We laugh and we cry and we show compassion and we make mistakes!”

  “I didn’t mean to upset ye,” he said solemnly.

  She softened, “I know. I’m sorry for snapping at ye. I’m tired, I’m alone among people who don’t like me simply because of my name.”

  “But we do like ye. Ye saved—”

  “I know, I saved Davy. But I’m still a MacKay and I don’t belong here. I want to…” Nay there was no point saying it. “Never mind.”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Can ye get me out of this keep?” He shook his head sadly. “Then nay, Colin, thank ye, there’s nothing ye can do. Good night.”

  She entered her chamber, shut the door and leaned against it for a moment. This would change everything. She had hoped, out of gratitude, the MacLeods would let her go as soon as Eoin convinced them Eve the Seamstress would not suffer for her actions. Clearly, that was unlikely now. She knew the MacLeod’s could demand a steep ransom because of who she was, regardless of the fact that she saved Davy. She needed to escape now more than ever.

  Maybe she could just walk out. She had been so ill, they surely wouldn’t expect it. She could slip out in the night and simply walk home. It would be a long cold trek but she knew she could do it. She remembered riding under a portcullis when Graham brought her here. No doubt it would be closed and guarded at night, but there might be another way out. She crossed to the window to see what options she might have.

  The curtain wall surrounding the keep was wide. Sentries were posted on the top every hundred paces or so. Perhaps if she could hide in the shadows and watch, she could make it up the stairs to the top of the wall without being seen. But she worried the wall was too high for her to drop down the other side without risking serious injury. If she knew what was on the other side of the wall, perhaps she could pick the best place to try. Tomorrow she would try to go outside and try to see more.

  ~ * ~

  The next morning the sun was bright but the wind was blustery and cold. She was already up, dressed and sitting on the window seat looking out when a young maid knocked and came in. “Good morning my lady, I’m Jesse.”

  “Hello Jesse, please just call me Anna.”

  “Isla is my grandmother and she said I was to help ye and make sure ye didn’t overdo.”

  Anna closed her eyes for a moment. “Thank ye Jesse, but it really isn’t necessary.”

  “But Gran said ye needed help and Laird MacLeod wanted ye to have a maid.”

  “I don’t need a maid.”

  Jesse looked crestfallen, “But Gran worries so about ye, and I wanted to help.”

  A MacLeod maid was about the last thing on earth she needed, but Anna didn’t want to disappoint the girl. She seemed to have her heart set on helping her grandmother. “I suppose ye could bring me something for breakfast, unless yer priest hasn’t said Mass yet, in which case I would like to go to Mass.”

  “Father Ninian says Mass a bit later on Sundays. I will check with Laird MacLeod to make sure it’s all right.”

  “Never mind—” but she was out the door before Anna could stop her.

  A few minutes later, there was another knock at her door and Andrew entered with her mantle over his arm. “Jesse said ye were feeling up to attending Mass. I would be happy to escort ye.”

  “I’m sorry she bothered ye. It isn’t necessary. I’ve changed my mind.”

  He held her mantle for her. “Anna, don’t be silly. Put on yer mantle and let me take ye to Mass.”

  There was no avoiding it now. Anna turned and let him put the mantle around her shoulders. She had hoped to get outside the keep without one of the MacLeod men at her elbow, but it couldn’t be helped. He walked with her downstairs and across the courtyard to the chapel. She had hoped maybe they didn’t have a chapel within the walls and would walk to the village. Still, it was better than nothing,
so she tried to take in as much as she could of the layout of the keep and the curtain wall.

  With her mind occupied by plans of escape, she barely listened until one of the readings caught her attention. Omnia possum in Eo qui me confortat, I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. She wrestled with St. Paul’s words. She wanted to believe it was a sign. A message telling her she could do anything, even escape, with the help of God. But a little voice inside her said, it isn’t license to do whatever ye wish, it just promises God’s help to cope with where ye find yerself.

  After much thought, she decided she needed to quiet that little voice. She did not want to cope with living among the MacLeods. She wanted to escape.

  When they left the chapel after Mass she tried to get Andrew to walk with her outside the walls. “It is a beautiful day, could we walk a bit?”

  “It is a blustery cold day and ye haven’t broken yer fast. If it warms up a bit later perhaps ye can take a short walk then.”

  It would do no good to argue with him now. Perhaps if she were compliant, he would let her go for a walk later. It was the only way she had a hope of seeing more of the grounds so she could learn enough to make a plan.

  ~ * ~

  The day did not warm up but she unsuccessfully tried to get Andrew to take her for a walk anyway. When that failed, she tried Graham, who also refused. In desperation, she tried Mairi who pouted and said, “Andrew told me that if ye asked me to take ye outside I was to say no. I’d take ye anyway, but Da said if I did he wouldn’t let me see ye at all. But, Anna, while I hate to admit it, they’re probably right. It is much too cold and windy today.”

  The day had been frustrating and by evening she just wanted to be alone. When Jesse arrived to help her get ready for the evening meal she sent her away.

  “It isn’t necessary. I’m tired and I don’t intend to eat in the great hall again.”

  “Are ye well? Shall I fetch Gran?”

  “Jesse, I’m fine. I just don’t want to go down to supper.”

  “But my lady—”

  “Please call me Anna.”

  “Anna, Laird MacLeod expects ye to be at the table.”

  “Jesse, please just let me be.”

  The maid left quietly and while Anna felt guilty for snapping at her, she was glad to be alone. She sat at the window seat, looking out over the courtyard. There was another knock and the door opened before she could answer. She spun her head around saying “Jesse please—” only it wasn’t Jesse, it was Andrew.

  “I’ve come to take ye down for supper.”

  “I’m not going.”

  “That’s what Jesse said, but it isn’t acceptable.”

  She gaped at him. “It isn’t acceptable? To whom?”

  “To my father. To me.”

  “Well, I’m sorry it isn’t acceptable to ye and Laird MacLeod but I’m tired.”

  “Ye weren’t too tired to try to get Graham and Mairi to take ye out for a walk today after I told ye nay.”

  “Well I’m tired now,” she snapped.

  “Then I suppose ye won’t be wanting to take a walk outside tomorrow either?”

  “That’s blackmail!”

  He simply arched an eyebrow at her.

  “Oh all right, I’ll go down to supper,” she said in frustration.

  She remained quiet throughout the meal. It was easy enough with Mairi and David chattering away. Still she couldn’t help feeling out of place. I don’t belong here.

  ~ * ~

  The Sutherland messenger arrived at Naomh-dùn with the third message from Laird MacLeod during the evening meal. After reading it Eoin put his head in his hands.

  “What’s happened?” asked Aidan anxiously.

  There was no longer any need to dissemble in the presence of the messenger so Eoin said, “They know who she is.”

  “How?” asked Tasgall.

  “Boyd Sutherland recognized her.” Eoin glared at the Sutherland messenger before adding, “Damn him.”

  “What ransom does Laird MacLeod ask? We’ll pay it.” Fiona, who held their wee son on her lap, kissed the lad and hugged him tighter.

  Eoin knew this whole ordeal had been extremely upsetting to her. She understood what it meant to be held for ransom. Unfortunately, he couldn’t put his wife’s fears to rest. “He hasn’t asked for a ransom yet. Now he wants a face to face meeting.”

  “When and where?” asked Marcas

  “By the strait between the lochs, at sext, on the Feast of St. Joseph.”

  “That’s eight days from now. Why so long?” asked Tasgall.

  “I don’t know, but he says it is not negotiable. He also says he will have Anna there and any attempt at ambush will get her killed.”

  Fiona looked horror struck.

  “What assurance do we have that he won’t ambush us?” asked Marcas.

  “None. In fact he demands that both Tasgall and Aidan attend as well.”

  “Does he think ye’re daft? If he’s planning an ambush, all three of ye could be killed.”

  “I agree, but that too is not negotiable. He says that if we all aren’t there, there will be no discussion and he won’t ever return Anna.”

  Fiona gasped. “Nay, poor Anna. Eoin, what will ye do?

  “The only thing I can do; meet the bastard at the strait in nine days with Aidan and Tasgall.”

  “And yer full garrison?” asked Marcas.

  “I can’t do that either. I doubt that it is, but this could be a scheme to leave Naomh-dùn vulnerable. I must leave it sufficiently well-guarded too.”

  ~ * ~

  Monday dawned fair and bright. Anna felt sure she would be able to get a better look at the outside of the keep and the curtain wall today. However, once again it didn’t happen. Laird MacLeod, Andrew and Graham had gone out with a hunting party. Donald was left in charge and he allowed her to go for a short walk in the courtyard, with Mairi and under his watchful eye, but she wasn’t able to see anything more than she had the previous morning. There was nothing for it. She would have to leave tonight and figure out how to get past any obstacles as she came to them. I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. Again, she hushed the voice that warned against this.

  She spent the day helping Mairi make a new dress, which of course thrilled Mairi.

  “I love having ye here, Anna! I’ve never had a sister. I mean, I do have a sister, but she is much older, older than Andrew even. She was married and gone before my mother got sick and died and I barely remember my mother.”

  “I’m sorry Mairi. I don’t remember my mother at all. She died when I was born.”

  “My mother wasn’t Da’s first wife. He was married to Arabella first. She was Ena’s, Andrew’s and Graham’s mother. I’m only their half-sister.”

  “I have a different mother than my oldest brother too, but just like yer brothers love ye, my brothers love me very much and I love them.”

  “Aye, I do love my brothers most of the time, but I still would like a sister here. I wish ye didn’t have to leave soon.”

  “Please don’t wish that for me, Mairi. I miss my home and family so very much.”

  Mairi frowned and after a moment said, “I’m sure Da will let ye go home soon, but maybe ye can come back and visit?”

  Good Lord, come back? Nay, as soon as she was back on MacKay land, she would never leave. “I don’t think so, pet.” At Mairi’s look of disappointment she added, “But we’ll see.”

  ~ * ~

  Talking about her family during the afternoon with Mairi reminded her of just how much she missed them. She knew she had to escape and get home before the MacLeod thought of some other reason to keep her. When Andrew knocked on her door that evening to take her to the evening meal, once again she declined. She wanted to rest for a while so she could make the long walk home.

  “Anna, I refuse to have this argument with ye every day. Ye will join us in the hall for meals. All meals.”

  “Why are ye forcing me to do this? I don’t wan
t to take my meals in the midst of the MacLeods, especially now they know who I really am. Would ye look forward to dining at my brother’s table?”

  “I would if I were an honored guest.”

  “I’m not an honored guest. I am a prisoner!”

  “Dammit Anna, ye’re not a prisoner. And don’t tell me that ye’ll thank me for my hospitality and bid me farewell. Can’t ye just put yer hatred aside and think of this as home for a while?”

  “Put my hatred aside?” She looked at him askance. “The MacLeods hate me every bit as much. Can’t ye just leave me be?”

  “The MacLeods do not hate ye, for the love of God, ye saved my son! This argument is over, Anna. We are going downstairs now.”

  “The argument is over because ye say it’s over? Nay, Andrew. I’m not going to eat among my enemies. Ye can’t make me.”

  He arched an eyebrow at her, picked her up and put her over his shoulder.

  Hammering on his back with her fists she demanded, “What are ye doing?”

  “Proving ye wrong. I can make ye.”

  “Put me down!” she yelled, kicking her feet.

  He barked “Stop it,” and popped her lightly on the backside. “If ye are going to act like a bairn, I’ll treat ye like one. Now ye have a choice to make. I can put ye down, and ye can walk to the great hall with me for supper, or I can carry ye down kicking and screaming like a petulant child. Which will it be?”

  Defeated, she sighed heavily and said, “Put me down.”

  She went downstairs with him but once again, she kept her eyes down, refusing to look any of the MacLeods in the eye. Just as he had done the last two evenings, Andrew sat her between himself and Davy, across from Mairi, who chattered happily throughout the meal about her new dress and Anna’s skill with a needle. Anna pointedly ignored Andrew and only spoke to anyone when asked a direct question. Even then her answers were short. It was rude and she knew it but she didn’t care. She seethed with anger at Andrew and by extension all of the MacLeods. Although she knew she should eat so she would have energy for the journey, she had very little appetite. To her chagrin Andrew noticed.

  “Ye need to eat, angel.”

  “I’m not hungry.”