Highland Angels Page 7

  “Ye have been ill and have not regained yer strength yet. Ye need to eat.”

  “Perhaps my appetite would be better if I were not sitting in the midst of the MacLeods,” she hissed.

  “We’ve had this discussion and it’s over. Eat!”

  She took a sip of ale from her goblet and ignored him.

  “Anna! I said ye must eat something!” he snapped.

  “And I said I have eaten all that I want!” she snapped back.

  Beyond frustrated Andrew threatened, “Shall I bind ye to that chair and force ye to eat?”

  “So I am a prisoner?”

  “No Anna! Ye’re not, but I am worried about yer health and ye must eat.”

  “If that’s yer concern, perhaps ye should just let me go—”

  “Don’t dare say it. By all that’s holy, Anna MacKay, ye would try the patience of a saint.”

  “Well I guess I had better watch myself, because I doubt that ye or any other MacLeod could be accused of sainthood,” she said scathingly. Suddenly she realized that Mairi and David had grown quiet and were watching the argument with wide-eyed horror.

  Andrew, quick to exploit the situation, said, “Davy, I am trying to convince Anna that she needs to eat a bit more so she can get better soon, but I’m having trouble. She doesn’t want to be here in the great hall with us. Perhaps ye can try. Yer angel needs to eat.”

  “Anna, don’t ye like us?” David asked sadly.

  Anna glared at Andrew for a moment and was rewarded with his smug smile. She turned to David and said “Of course I like ye, Davy. I’m just not very hungry.”

  “Well Da says ye need to eat, so here try some rabbit; it’s my favorite,” he said pushing a dish of braised rabbit towards her.

  Not wanting to hurt him she took a piece and nibbled on it.

  “Do ye like it,” he asked with an expectant smile.

  “Aye, Davy, it is very tasty.”

  “Good,” said Andrew, adding, “Now Davy ye make sure she eats it all,” with an I-won-again smile on his face.

  Anna ate the rabbit Davy had given her, remained quiet until the meal was over, and then fled to her chamber. The day had been long and frustrating, and sparring with Andrew over supper exhausted her.

  She sat in her darkened room, looking out the window, waiting for the stillness of night to envelop the keep. She dozed briefly but before long awoke to the patter of rain on the window. God, are ye conspiring against me too? Attempting to escape in the cold rain would have her soaked and frozen within minutes. She knew better than to do something that foolish. She would have to wait another day. Dejectedly she crawled into bed and went to sleep.

  Chapter 6

  The following day, the Sutherland messenger arrived at Curacridhe with Laird MacKay’s response.

  “Well lads, he has accepted my request for a meeting.”

  “Did ye doubt it?” Andrew asked.

  “Nay, but I’d be mad as hell if I were him. We should increase patrols near our border.”

  “Why did ye set the meeting so far out? He’s got nothing to do for a week but stew,” observed Graham.

  “Anna is still weak. I want to make sure she is completely recovered before the meeting.”

  Andrew snorted, “If her temper is any measure of her health, she is well on the road to recovery.”

  His father scowled at them both. “Need I remind ye, she nearly died? Just over a fortnight ago she received Last Rites. The weather has been blustery and if she took a chill, I would never forgive myself. Furthermore, if Eoin sees her from a distance looking anything but hearty, trouble could start before I have the chance to talk to him. Considering all of this, it is not unreasonable to wait another week. But the fact is, it won’t hurt Eoin to stew a bit either. Lads, going into a meeting like this, it is imperative that ye control as much as possible so ye maintain the upper hand. Anything ye do to make yer opponent bend to yer will gives ye an advantage. If Eoin had suggested an earlier date I probably would have agreed. But he didn’t. It tells me he is desperate and didn’t want to take a risk that I’d pull out altogether. He’ll do whatever it takes to see to his sister’s wellbeing. And that is exactly where we want him.”

  Ignoring him Graham asked, “Are ye going to tell her, Da?”

  “About the pending meeting? Aye. But I have no intention of telling her about the betrothal…or that she won’t be going home.”

  “I should hope not,” agreed Andrew.

  “I understand about the betrothal, but Da, it will break her heart if she can’t go home. Can ye not let her go for a while? Get Eoin to sign the betrothals and agree to bring her back for the wedding?”

  “Are ye jesting, Graham?” asked Andrew. “If the situation were reversed, would ye honor a betrothal like that for Mairi, or once we had her back, would ye seek to crush MacKay?”

  “I see yer point.” Graham sighed. “But when she finds out, she won’t see it. No more than she’ll understand the reason for it all in the first place.”

  Dougal smiled confidently. “When she sees this is the only way to achieve a lasting peace for her children, she’ll understand.”

  Graham shook his head. “We can hope, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

  ~ * ~

  The evening meal was nearly ready and Andrew stood by the hearth, steeling himself to battle once again with his soon-to-be-betrothed. He must have looked grim because when Graham approached he said, “What has ye so troubled, or should I ask?”

  “A wee, stubborn, sharp-tongued MacKay lass. Why is everything with her a battle?”

  “It is all bluster, Andrew. She’s afraid.”

  “God’s teeth, what is she afraid of?”

  “Da. Ye. Me. All of us.”

  “I know her first few hours here were bad, but since then she has been treated with care. No one is unkind to her. She has no reason to be afraid anymore.”

  “I know ye believe that and it seems perfectly logical. Ye and Da are always logical but because of that ye miss a few things.”

  “What have I missed? She has no reason to fear us. I have told her that over and over.”

  “She isn’t afraid of being mistreated. Andrew, we are MacLeods, her clan’s worst enemy, we won’t let her return home and I suspect she fears that we never will. Not an ungrounded fear as ye are well aware. She is like a cornered animal, terrified, growling, and trying to appear formidable, yet all the while searching desperately for an escape. If ye think it’s bad now, wait until she learns that we aren’t letting her go home.” Graham shook his head as if imagining the eventuality. “What do ye think Ena would do if the MacKay held her, even if he were kind to her?”

  “Make his life a living hell,” Andrew said dryly, but he couldn’t keep from grinning.

  Graham laughed. “That she would. Truthfully, I suspect she would be much worse than Anna and Mairi combined.”

  “Ye’re probably right in that.” Andrew sighed in frustration, “After Joan died, I never planned to wed again and now I am forced to marry a wee fire-spitting devil who hates me. I just wish we could end this feud some other way. She deserves a husband who can love her.”

  “She might think she hates ye now, but give her time; she has a gentle heart. Ye’ve seen her with Davy.”

  “True, Davy loves her. At least she’ll have that, and Davy will have her.”

  “And why do ye think ye can’t love her? Ye care for her already.”

  “Aye, I care for her. I owe her everything. Losing Davy would have…dear God, I can’t even think about it. But Graham, I loved Joan with all my heart. Part of me died with her. I can’t love anyone like that again. I don’t even want to.”

  Graham’s expression suddenly turned hard, “Ye’re right, Andrew. Ye owe Anna everything and she deserves a husband who can love her. I don’t care if ye want to or not. Try. Or, for the love of God, hide the fact that ye don’t.”

  Andrew was both taken aback and angered by Graham’s words. “Brother, ye have no
idea what it feels like to love someone as I did and then to lose them. Pardon me if I don’t take advice from ye on this subject. Please excuse me. I have to go fetch our unwilling guest for supper.”

  He turned and strode toward the tower stairs. How could he forget Joan and try to love the angry, scared, lass upstairs simply because she saved Davy? He would marry her if he had to in order to bring peace between their clans. He would care for her and protect her, but love her? He couldn’t do that.

  When he reached her door, he tried to quiet his anger before knocking. She was difficult enough to deal with when he was calm. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door and listened for a response. As he expected, there was none. He opened the door and saw her sitting sideways on the window seat, hugging her knees to her chest and staring out the window. “May I come in?”

  “Well, there’s a first, ye normally just walk in uninvited.”

  “Anna, may I come in?” he asked again, his frustration clearly reflected in his voice.

  “Aye. I don’t suppose I could stop ye anyway.”

  She stared at him warily from the window seat and he just watched her for a moment. God’s breath, she really was a beautiful woman. Her hair shimmered in the firelight like a dark copper veil around her shoulders. The color had returned to her cheeks and her eyes were a lovely green and gold, even though they glittered with anger. “Why are ye so determined to stay angry with me?” he asked.

  “Because ye are so determined to keep me here.”

  “Anna, I’m sorry ye’re unhappy, but can I ask ye something?” She shrugged her shoulders and, taking it as assent, he went on. “Knowing everything ye know now, if ye could change what ye did that day and be safely tucked away at Naomh-dùn right now, would ye?”

  She looked surprised for a moment, but immediately answered, “And let Davy drown in the loch? Nay, of course not.”

  “Do ye believe what ye told him, that sometimes God makes sure people are in the right place to help when angels can’t be?”

  “Aye. I suppose I do.”

  “Then is it possible ye’re still meant to be here?”

  “Why would God punish me like that?” She said plaintively.

  Andrew laughed, “Maybe he is punishing us?” She frowned, but he went on “Or maybe, he put ye here to learn the MacLeods are not the source of all evil, and for us to learn the same is true for the MacKays.”

  She looked away, but didn’t say anything.

  Andrew went on, “I’ve already told ye the MacLeods respect ye for what ye did for Davy.”

  “But that is the only reason. The fact is, I’m still a MacKay and ye hate the rest of us. Do ye know what it feels like to be surrounded by people who would as soon k—kill my family as look at them?” Her voice caught. In that instant he knew Graham had been right—at least about her being afraid and feeling cornered.

  “Anna, what ye did allowed us to put our hatred of one MacKay aside and to see ye as the compassionate, courageous lass ye are. Don’t ye think it’s possible our attitude towards other MacKays might change as we learn more about ye?”

  “I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible.”

  “Is it also possible yer attitude about us might change as ye get to know us too? How can that be a bad thing for either clan? That’s why I want ye to take yer meals with us in the great hall.”

  She didn’t answer immediately, but turned her head to look out the window into the darkness.

  “Anna, will ye please join us for the evening meal?”

  “I’d rather not.”

  “But will ye?”

  Still not meeting his eyes, she asked, “If I say no, w-will ye carry me down over yer shoulder?”

  “Nay, angel, if ye aren’t willing to join us, I’ll have yer meal sent up.”

  He saw her body relax and he thought he had lost, but after a moment she nodded, “I’ll join ye.”

  He smiled broadly, offering her his hand. When she took it he said, “Anna MacKay, ye’re a brave lass.”

  ~ * ~

  During the meal, Andrew paid closer attention to Anna than he ever had before. Aye, she was frightened. She remained tense and never made eye contact with anyone except David and Mairi. No wonder she had fought so hard to avoid dining in the great hall. She firmly believed she was surrounded by enemies.

  When his father spoke to her near the end of the meal, it was in the unusually gentle voice he had used towards her in the past. Andrew realized it was the same voice he used when trying to calm a spooked horse. “Anna, I have some good news for ye.”

  Anna looked up. “Really?”

  “We will be meeting yer brother at the strait in a week’s time, on the feast of St. Joseph.”

  “So I am going home?” The hopefulness in her tone caused Andrew’s heart to ache.

  “Yer brother and I have some things to discuss.

  “But, I’ll be able to go home.”

  “I’m sure we will come to an agreement.”

  Anna smiled. It was something he had seen far too little of and it lit her face. “Thank ye, Laird.”

  “Anna’s leaving?” asked David, his brow furrowed.

  Anna turned to him, caressing his cheek “Not for a while yet. I’ll be here another sennight.”

  “But ye’ll come back for a visit?”

  Anna looked as if she didn’t know how to answer.

  Andrew stepped in. “Davy, let’s not worry about that now. Ye still have quite a lot of time to spend with yer angel.”

  David didn’t look convinced but he answered, “All right, Da.”

  Chapter 7

  The laird’s news thrilled Anna. She was going home in a week. The strain that she had felt from her first moments at Curacridhe finally lifted. She spent as much time as possible with David. She loved him and she knew he would miss her. She avoided answering his questions about when she would return for a visit. She had no intention of ever returning. Still, she knew Davy wouldn’t be able to understand that. Every time he raised the subject, she redirected his attention. After she was gone, she believed he would eventually stop asking.

  Anna would miss Mairi as well, however it was much more difficult to divert Mairi’s attention when she discussed her plans for Anna to return. Anna didn’t want to hurt either of them, but once she was on MacKay land again, she would agree to marry whomever Eoin wished, as long as her betrothed agreed to live at Naomh-dùn.

  The week flew by. The evening before the feast of St. Joseph, the skies turned leaden as clouds thickened and the wind began to whip. A storm was brewing. As darkness fell, Anna stood looking out the window of her chamber. She was worried. What if it was pouring rain in the morning? Would they take her to her brother anyway? The MacLeods were terribly over-protective and she feared they wouldn’t. They might worry that she would catch a chill. She didn’t think she could bear it if they didn’t let her go home tomorrow.

  There was a knock at her door and she called, “Enter,” without turning to see who it was.

  “I’ve come to escort ye downstairs for the evening meal,” said Andrew.

  She glanced over her shoulder at him. Her anxiety must have shown in her expression.

  Andrew frowned. “Anna, what has ye bothered?”

  “Nothing.”

  He arched a brow at her and smiled. “Ye don’t lie well—for a MacKay that is,” he teased.

  She gave him a small smile but turned to look out the window again.

  His voice took on a more serious tone. “Anna, please tell me what’s upsetting ye.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him.

  There was really no avoiding it and she would rather know the answer than continue to worry. She sighed. “The weather seems to be turning. It looks as if a heavy rain is coming.”

  “Aye it does. Why does that have ye concerned?”

  “I was just wondering…” she hated how small and vulnerable her voice sounded. “I was just wondering whether, if it is still raining tomorrow�
�well, will ye still take me to my brother?”

  “Anna, the arrangements are made. Nothing will keep Da from meeting with yer brother tomorrow.”

  She frowned. “Ye didn’t answer my question. Yer Da can meet with my brother whether I am there or not.”

  “Don’t worry, angel, everything will be fine.”

  “Stop it. I have sidestepped Davy and Mairi’s questions about when I’m coming back all week. I can recognize when someone is avoiding an answer.”

  “Why have ye avoided that question? Would ye choose never to see them again?”

  Anna stared at him in disbelief. “I’m a MacKay. The only reason I’m here is because ye’ve kept me prisoner. Nay, Andrew, once I cross that strait tomorrow I will never venture near MacLeod land again. Which brings me back to the question ye haven’t answered, but I guess that in itself is telling. Ye won’t take me with ye tomorrow if the weather’s bad.”

  “Anna, be reasonable. Ye’ve been terribly ill. I think this storm will pass by morning but ye’re right, we will not risk yer health if it doesn’t. Nevertheless, I swear to ye, everything will be resolved with yer brother tomorrow.”

  That was no consolation. She turned to stare out the window at the brewing storm for a moment.

  Finally Andrew said, “Worrying about it will not change the weather, angel. Come and have yer evening meal. In the morning we’ll decide what’s to be done.”

  He was right. She nodded. “Aye, I won’t worry about it now.”

  ~ * ~

  To Anna’s dismay, a light rain was still falling at daybreak but it tapered off to a mist as the sun rose. When it had stopped altogether by terce, Anna gave in to her excitement. It wouldn’t be long now.

  Mairi and Davy knocked on her door before long. She called to them to come in. Anna’s heart lurched a bit. Mairi looked as if she had been crying.

  “Oh, Mairi, please be happy for me.”

  “But I don’t want ye to go. I’ll miss ye so much.”

  Davy said, “I keep telling her we’ll see ye when ye visit us. Ye will visit us soon, right? Maybe ye can come at Easter.”

  “We’ll see, pet.”

  Mairi sniffed. “I told Andrew I’d help ye get ready to go.” She glanced around the room. “Have ye packed yer things?”