A Gentle Feuding (16 page)

S
oon after Jamie left her, two men escorted Sheena to a chamber near Jamie’s. She didn’t object, for she wouldn’t have slept at all with the door to the tower room broken. Her new room didn’t have an inside lock, but it wasn’t locked from the outside, either. The two men didn’t go away. They were there all night, and the next morning, they followed her to the hall. They were there to guard her. They stuck to her for two days. On the third day, as she sat at the table with Jamie and Colen, eating porridge and cream, she began worrying about Jamie’s attitude. He was too calm. Indifferent. Aye, indifferent described him perfectly. Where before he hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her, now he never looked her way. Could she hope it was over, that he had given up? Or was he keeping her in suspense? If he had some plan, what was he waiting for?

The man who ran into the hall before the meal
was finished received everyone’s attention. Visibly upset, he stopped at the laird’s table, a look of utter disbelief on his face.

“A word, Sir Jamie. Quickly!”

“You may speak freely, Alwyn,” Jamie sighed. “You are always making too much of minor incidents.”

“You’re no’ going to believe it, Sir Jamie,” Alwyn gasped. “But I swear every male Fergusson alive is outside our gate.”

Sheena blanched, swallowing quickly before she choked. Her eyes riveted on Alwyn. Her kin, here? All of them outside the castle? But she was inside! They would attack, not knowing she was there!

“So this is how you settle it, Jamie. ’Tis a bit underhanded, if you ask me.” Colen’s disapproving voice broke through Sheena’s panic. His meaning was not quite clear until she looked at Jamie. He was smiling at her, such a self-satisfied smile.

Sheena gasped. There being no point in pretending any longer, she said simply, “How long have you known?”

“No’ long, m’dear,” Jamie said. “I had a visitor while you were sojourning with Jameson. Alasdair MacDonough—I believe you know him? He had much to say about the betrayal of his bride-to-be.”

“But you had never seen…how could you know?” Sheena demanded.

“We can discuss that later.” Jamie’s smile deepened as he got up from the table. “Right now, I
dinna want to keep your father waiting.” He signaled to her guards and ordered sharply, “Take the lady to her chamber and see she stays there. She’s no’ to leave it for any reason, you ken?”

Her arms were gripped, gently but firmly, yet she couldn’t just let them lead her away. All manner of horrible visions flashed through her mind…her kin slain, her father, her brother….

“Jamie!” she cried, stopping him as he turned to leave. “You must tell me what you plan. Please!”

His expression softened, and his fingers brushed her cheek. “Do you know that’s the first time you have used my name without formality.”

“Jamie! Please!”

“Dinna fash yourself, lass,” he said gently. “I didna send for your father to kill him.”

“You sent for him?”

“Did I no’ say we would be wed soon?” he grinned.

He left her then. Suddenly it was all clear. He had not changed his mind, he had only been waiting, waiting for the one person who could force her to marry him—her father.

Jamie leaned over the parapet, getting the best view of all the horses at his gate, some burdened with two, even three men. It did indeed look as if every male Fergusson alive was at Castle Kinnion. Jamie was amused. His message to Dugald had been clear enough, stating that he was in possession of the
jewel of Tower Esk. If the old man could afford to ransom her, he was to come alone to Castle Kinnion.

He certainly was not alone! But then, the only plaids Jamie could see were Fergusson plaids. No other clan was involved—yet. Of course, that was not to say the MacAfee, MacGuire, and Sibbald clans weren’t on their way. But Jamie doubted it. If he had thought it would come to bloodshed, he would never have sent the message.

Jamie saw Dugald moving to the fore, his son beside him. He was glad the boy was there. If Sheena wanted to disobey her father, the lad could help persuade her not to.

“James MacKinnion!”

“I’m here, old man,” Jamie called down, leaning over the battlements so Dugald could see him. “So we meet again. I must say I like this meeting better than our last encounter.”

Dugald glared up at him, and Jamie chuckled. Then Colen spoke from behind him. “So you’ve met him ’afore. How?”

“Dinna ask me questions now, lad. I’ve my life to settle here.”

“And I hope she makes it a miserable life indeed!” Colen rasped bitterly.

“Och, now, I didna expect you to be a poor loser, Colen,” Jamie replied, still talking over his shoulder. “You knew I meant to have her. You gave no objections then.”

“I thought you would be leaving it up to her. I
didna think you would be bringing outside influences into it. You’re forcing her, and that’s the truth.”

“To marry me, lad. That’s what this is about,” Jamie explained. “Marriage, no’ handfasting.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Colen’s face, then he turned and walked away. Jamie sighed. Colen had managed to prick his conscience, and he was very near to having second thoughts. But, well, Sheena felt something for him, he was sure of it. That wasn’t something a man could be mistaken about. If he weren’t sure, he would never have done this. Nor would he have pursued her against such terrible odds. He regretted his brother’s disappointment, but he was not going to let that deter him from having what he wanted.

“So, Sir Dugald,” he called down, “will you come inside, so we dinna have to be shouting at each other all day?”

“And have you take me prisoner, as well?”

“I have the only prisoner I want,” Jamie replied. “She’s worth more to me than you are, I vow it.”

“And who’s to say this is no’ a trap, MacKinnion?” Dugald called up.

“I am. Come now, man. I could kill you now if that was my intention.”

More than a dozen weapons poked over the wall at Jamie’s signal, demonstrating the truth of his words. He gave another signal, and the gate opened. He was no longer asking Dugald to come inside. He was leaving the older man no choice.

“I’m coming with you,” Niall said to his father.

“And let him have at his mercy all that is dear to me? Nay. You will stay outside his walls.”

“’Tis my sister he has in there!” Niall said angrily.

“And I’ll be getting her back!” Dugald growled. “Dinna argue. Och, but you’re getting as bad as Sheena. Disrespect, ’tis what’s wrong with both of you.”

Dugald rode through the gate, anger giving him courage to enter the enemy camp. Jamie had already left the wall and was waiting in the courtyard. Dugald rode to him and dismounted. There were no retainers nearby. If he had wanted to, Dugald might have drawn his sword. But that wouldn’t have been honorable.

“Come into the hall,” Jamie offered. “A tankard of ale will make bargaining easier.”

Dugald followed Jamie, and still no retainers came near them. The two lairds sat at the laird’s table, Dugald beginning to think he might not have walked into a trap after all.

“I must welcome you, your first time here,” Jamie said congenially after the ale was served and they were alone again.

“I never thought to set foot in this castle,” Dugald replied gruffly.

“You wasted no time getting here, however.”

“Did you think I would?” Dugald’s eyes narrowed. “How much, MacKinnion?”

Jamie sat back and looked thoughtful. “I can
safely say you canna meet the price I would set for her.”

“So this was a trap!” The old man rose, furious. “No less than I could expect from a MacKinnion!”

“Sit down, Sir Dugald, and hear me out. ’Tis your daughter’s honor you are bargaining for.”

Red-faced, Dugald took his seat. “I want to see Sheena.”

“You will, after we have settled her future.”

“
We?
How dare—?”

“Come now, Fergusson. Were you no’ determined to settle
my
future when you had me as your prisoner? The situation is only reversed.
You
didna ask for ransom. The condition for my freedom was to marry one of your daughters.”

“So what is it you want now, MacKinnion?”

“I want Sheena,” Jamie said simply.

Dugald’s face turned redder, and his eyes blazed. “You canna have her!”

“Ah, well, but you see I
do
have her,” Jamie said calmly.

Dugald seemed to crumble. It was true. He looked away. “Did you…have you…harmed her?”

“She’s no been harmed or dishonored here, Sir Dugald. If she’s no’ a maiden, it wasna my doing.”

“My Sheena isna like that!”

“
That
is in need of debating,” Jamie replied coldly. “She has been away from you for some time. You canna know how she has conducted herself during that time.”

“You say so, yet you still want her?”

“I do.”

“Why have you brought me here?” Dugald demanded abruptly. “You already have Sheena at your mercy. Was this to torment me? Will you be telling me now all the things you’ll do to make her suffer?”

Jamie chuckled. “You’ll have to forgive me, Sir Dugald. I suppose I have been a bit vindictive in no’ telling you ’afore now that I want Sheena for my wife.”

It took a moment to sink in. “Your wife?” Dugald sat back, stunned. “But you said you’d no’ marry one of my daughters.”

“I know what I said.” Jamie cut him off. “But you didna offer me this daughter.”

“Because I wanted a special man for her, someone I could be sure wouldn’t mistreat her.”

“And you thought I would? You surprise me, Fergusson. I may have been your enemy from the day I was born, but I am still a man who can appreciate a beautiful woman. Your daughter is more than beautiful. Mistreat her? I want only to make her happy.”

Dugald stared hard at Jamie, trying desperately to see the truth.

“Does she want to marry you?”

“She doesna.”

“Then how can you make her happy?”

“Her objection is that we are enemies. Of course, if we are wed, that will no longer be the case. Will it?”

“Of course not,” Dugald agreed.

“Too, she does fear me a bit. But that is only natural after all the exaggerated tales she has heard of me. She will get over her fears quickly enough. I’ll give her no cause to fear me.”

“So I’m here to
order
her to marry you?”

“Ask, order, plead, whatever it takes to obtain her compliance. Remember, ’twas you who wanted the alliance between us, an end to our feud. You’ll have it through Sheena.”

“And if she doesna agree?”

“I know you’ve raised a stubborn daughter. Sir Dugald. But I mean to have her,
and I will
, one way or another. I am a determined man. The lass will never leave this castle except as my wife. That is a promise I make you. You can relay it to her if she balks.”

N
iall sat by the fire, across from Jamie. After Dugald and Jamie had talked, the whole clan had been offered the warmth of the hall, and food. Niall knew what the agreement between his father and Sir Jamie was, for his father had come downstairs blustering over Sheena’s stubbornness awhile before. But one look at Jamie and he had gone back upstairs to try again.

Niall was not surprised that The MacKinnion wanted to marry Sheena. He wondered if Sheena knew that James MacKinnion had seen her in the glen, or that trying to find her again had got Jamie captured.

Watching the Highlander, Niall almost laughed. He was as nervous as any bridegroom, worrying over what was happening in the part of the castle where Sheena was staying, and throwing tantrums. He hadn’t spoken one word to Niall, didn’t seem
even to know he was there, but instead kept his eyes turned to the end of the hall where Dugald had disappeared. It was just as well. Niall wasn’t eager to speak to Jamie. He was still in awe of the large man.

“’Tis well our father never lived to see our hall overflowing with Fergussons.”

Jamie turned and looked at Colen coolly. “If you’ve come to argue more with me, I’d rather no’ be hearing it.”

“No’ to argue, Jamie. But I canna contain my curiosity. Has it been settled?”

“Her father is still with her.”

“And who is this?” Colen asked.

Jamie noticed Niall then, and smiled at him. “Sheena’s brother, Niall,” he said to Colen. To Niall he said, “And this is my brother, Colen.”

Niall’s light blue eyes were huge. “Och, you’re as big as he is!”

Colen laughed. “So I am—almost. And did he tell you we were both wanting your sister?” He kept his voice light.

Niall looked from one brother to the other. “But you’re younger than she is,” he blurted innocently, not realizing what a sore subject it was.

“So I’ve been told—one too many times,” Colen replied curtly.

“You mean you’d no’ mind dancing to her tune? My sister has a knack for getting her way, you know. Even our father canna contend with her when her temper’s up.” Jamie chuckled, and Niall said
firmly, “I wouldna laugh, MacKinnion. You’ll no’ have an easy time of it.”

Jamie grunted, making Colen laugh. “I suppose I should be grateful I’ve lost her to you, brother. I think I’d prefer a wife I can handle.”

Jamie lingered his cheek, remembering the slap. Sheena was indeed a lass to contend with. But she could be tamed. He had no doubt about that.

They went on, the three of them, swapping stories about the girl, until Colen left to visit Daphne. His sister had been in bed, ill, since her arrival.

“I’ll be telling Daphne the news, if Aunt Lydia hasna already done so. ’Tis all she can talk about, how happy she is Sheena’s a Fergusson,” Colen said in parting. Then he suddenly added solemnly, “Just never hurt her, Jamie. ’Tis all I ask.” He turned away abruptly.

Jamie stared after his brother, a frown creasing his brow. “Sweet Mary, my own brother thinks me a brute,” he muttered.

Niall heard him. “Then you really havena touched her? I mean…?”

“I hate to disappoint you, lad, but I’m no’ the ravisher of women you assume I am.”

“The impression you gave when last we met was no’ encouraging. You did say—”

“You’ve no’ need to remind me,” Jamie interrupted. “But I was angry then, Niall, with you and with your father. The truth is, your father never offered me Sheena. But if you hadna thought so, then
you would never have let me go. So I let you think he had.”

“Sheena wouldna be here now if she hadn’t been banished,” Niall continued thoughtfully. “She had a great fear of you, James MacKinnion. Does she still? Is that why my father is taking so long?”

“She did fear me, I’ll no’ deny it. But what she feared was my learning who she was. Even knowing how much I wanted her, she thought I’d do her harm if I discovered she was a Fergusson. Today she learned it made no difference to me. I’d never harm her. She knows that, deep in her heart, but she’s too stubborn to admit it.”

“What are you saying, MacKinnion?”

“That I believe she feels the same about me as I do about her.”

Sheena burst into tears the moment her father left her room. Not five minutes later, Niall was knocking on her door, ready to continue where her father had left off. What was she to do, when the two people she cared the most for were insisting she marry The MacKinnion?

Her father hadn’t been kind about it. “The feud will be over,” he had said. “Our kin will be safe.”

As if the fate of them all were in her hands. He had made it sound as terrible as he could.

“You want us all to die?” he had stormed. “He says you’ll no’ leave this place unless you’re his wife. Can I go home, knowing that? Nay, ’twill
mean war now, the bloodiest war yet. Is that what you’re wanting? Are you that selfish, Sheena, lass?”

How he had heaped on the recriminations! He had thundered, and he had threatened. His last words had been, “You’ll do it!”

And then Niall. She was so happy to see him, but he ruined their reunion. “You’ll have to be marrying him, you know. And ’tis lucky you are, I’m thinking.”

Lucky! Could no one see her point of view? “What of the raids, the killings?” she finally demanded, furious with her brother, her father, all of them. “What of his first wife, who died rather than be married to him? And what of love? He’s no’ spoken of love.”

“And if he did speak of it?” her brother asked quietly.

Sheena never answered. She didn’t know why she had mentioned it at all. Grasping at straws was what she was doing, reaching out desperately. But whenever she reached out, she found herself clutching at nothing. Was there no help for her? Had they taken everything away?