Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes (25 page)

Conan barked a laugh. “Nay. Oh, Fearchar tried to find out. The villagers would have ye believe she was taken by the fae or perhaps stowed away on some ship. The fewer people who knew where she actually had gone, the better. We believed she was safe.”

Gordon continued, “Then yer da sent the messenger asking if Grace was who she said she was. ’Twas, Fearchar he spoke to, Laird Morrison was away. Naturally, once Fearchar knew where to find her, he told the messenger she was lying and sent him on his way. Then he cooked up the story about her being married and losing her mind before sending us to fetch her.”

“But ye knew it was all lies,” accused Bram.

“Aye, but there are men in the clan who will do anything Fearchar asks, hoping to court his favor when he becomes laird. Those three among them,” Conan said, gesturing at Roddy, Kenneth, and Derek. “He can always find spineless men to do his bidding. Others pray he never becomes laird. We reckoned the only way to keep her safe was to go with them.”

“We assumed that yer father wouldn’t believe Roddy’s story, at least not without checking a few facts. We expected to have the chance to tell him the truth, thus ensuring Grace would be protected.”

“But he did believe it,” said Bram, feeling no small bit of shame.

“Not only did he believe it, he seemed relieved, almost happy,” said Gordon. “We couldn’t leave her under those circumstances. We went along with Roddy, knowing we would have to find a way to hide her again before we reached Lewis.”

Things were beginning to make more sense, but Bram was growing impatient. “Clearly ye have done that, and I thank ye. But I will see to her safety now.”

Conan shook his head. “Why should I believe ye? How do I know ye aren’t just another laird’s son who thinks he owns the world and everything in it? What is she to ye?”

“What is she to me? She’s a Sutherland and who are ye to ask that?”

Conan pierced him with a stare. “I’m the man who knows where she is and I owe it to her father to see she is well cared for.”

Bram wondered what Tristan had to do with this, but he didn’t want to waste more time. “She is our clanswoman. No one will ever question that again. She is loved.”

“Clearly,” said Gordon, sarcasm dripping from his words. “She was so well loved that only one man came to her aid and he was beaten down. Lady Sutherland made an attempt but yer da silenced her as well. The other Sutherlands who saw Grace being dragged away—forced to leave her beloved daughter—made the sign of the cross and turned their backs.”

Hearing those words caused his heart to ache. “My father, their laird, believed the lies, so his people did too. They know the truth now,” said Bram. “She will be welcomed again.”

Conan instantly turned angry. “That’s not good enough! Yer da couldn’t have been happier to get rid of her. And I don’t care if he was their laird, yer people, who ye say
loved
her, didn’t turn a hand to help. Ye need to convince me that something like this can never happen again, or the devil’s fingers will freeze off before ye lays eyes on her again.”

His vehemence took Bram by surprise. He looked to Ian for help.

Ian shook his head. “Ye have to handle this one, Brother. He has me believing we’re the villains here.”

Bram sighed, what could he say? The man was right. His father had worked to turn people against her. Deep down, he wasn’t sure that it could never happen again. Unless he defied his father, broke his promise to wait a month, and married her immediately.

He looked Conan directly in the eyes and said, “I love her. With all of my heart, I love her. I can’t live without her. I will marry her if she will have me. I will protect and cherish both Grace and Kristen as long as I live.”

“Those are nice words, lad, but ye are Laird Sutherland’s heir. Ye would have us believe he’d let ye marry a fisherman’s daughter?” asked Gordon.

“I will marry her anyway. If he doesn’t like it, so be it. I’ll become a fisherman if I have to and leave the running of the clan to Ian. Ye’re right. I fell in love with Grace and that is why my father did everything in his power to separate us. I swear to ye, I won’t allow it to happen again. I believe she loves me too but if she doesn’t I will see her safe and well protected no matter what.”

Derek groaned and began to stir.

Gordon looked at Conan. “Should we believe him?”

“I’d rather hear it from Grace, but there’s no time. Aye, I’ll believe him.” Turning back to Bram, Conan said, “but if I ever learn ye have failed in yer vow, I will make ye pay.” Then he leaned forward and said under his breath, said, “There is a merchant named Dugald whose shop is on the main square. Ye’ll find Grace there.”

“Thank ye,” said Bram.

“Leave this lot to us and get her away from Durness,” said Gordon.

Bram glanced at Roddy. He itched to finish the job.

Conan arched an eyebrow at him. “Ye’d like to finish him off, would ye? I don’t blame ye, but Fearchar will do worse than ye ever could. After all, Grace escaped on his watch.”

“Aye,” said Augie who had been raptly silent until then. “But how?”

Conan shrugged. “Like the villagers said, it must have been the fae.”

Mary and Dugald immediately began fussing over Grace and her injured feet. Mary insisted that Dugald carry Grace upstairs.

“I’ll see ye’re nice and comfy tucked up in bed.”

“Nay Mary, really, I can walk and I don’t need to lie abed.” Grace suppressed a smile at Dugald’s look of relief. He wasn’t exactly in his prime, and the stairs to the living quarters were narrow.

Mary harrumphed but acquiesced. “But ye must let me fix ye something to break yer fast, while ye tell us what has happened.”

Grace agreed and launched into her story. She started from the moment the laird had summoned her. As Grace told them the story, she could hardly believe it had barely been three days since the Morrisons had taken her, three days since she had seen Kristen. It felt like a lifetime. When she finished, Mary and Dugald were both visibly upset.

Dugald paced angrily. “How could Laird Sutherland have done that to ye? He didn’t question anything?”

Grace shook her head. “Nay, but he had his reasons.”

Mary looked affronted. “What possible reason could he have had? Anyone who sees ye with Kristen, even for just a few minutes, has to know she’s yers. That should have been enough to know the Morrisons lied. Was he blind?”

Grace sighed. They needed to know the truth. “He didn’t question anything because he wanted it to be true. He wanted me gone.”

“But why?” asked Mary. “Ye would be an asset to any clan. Ye are very skilled and a hard worker. Ye weren’t with us a day before I knew that.”

“None of that mattered to him,” said Grace.

“The devil take him then,” swore Dugald. “What could matter more than that?”

“His son and the alliance he had planned. Ye see, his son Bram and I became friends. I knew better. I knew I should have steered clear of him. But he was kind, and I enjoyed the time we spent together. Kristen liked him and he was so very gentle with her. I thought we could just be friends. I didn’t expect more, but…”

“Oh, lass, ye fell for him, and he broke yer heart,” moaned Mary.

Grace shook her head. “’Twas really more that. We fell for each other and I broke his heart.” She told them the rest of the story, including all of Laird Sutherland’s attempts to keep them apart.

Dugald’s ire seemed to rise with each new detail of the story. “Laird Sutherland threatened ye because he couldn’t control his own son? The bastard. Ye should have come back to us then.”

Grace nodded. “I thought about it and believe me, I wanted to. Michael was willing to bring me. My grandmother wouldn’t agree to come and I hated that.”

“Why didn’t he bring ye then?” asked Dugald.

“He seemed to think the laird had changed his mind about forcing me to marry. I expect the laird knew his problem was about to be solved by the Morrisons.”

“Poor lass. But it’s over and ye’ll stay with us now. We’ll help ye get Kristen back,” said Mary.

“I’m still worried about Fearchar, especially since his henchmen know I must be hiding here in Durness. And I worry about what that means for ye. It would kill me if he hurt ye to get at me, but I just don’t see another choice right now.”

“Never ye mind about that,” said Dugald. “Ye aren’t going back to Sutherlands. As soon as we have proof, we’ll bring Kristen here. Ye never have to see them again. I expect when yer granny hears what the laird did, she will be happy enough to come here too.”

Grace hoped so. The look of doubt from her grandmother may have hurt worse than anything else. She didn’t want to lose her grandmother after having just found her, but in truth she didn’t want to go back. She didn’t care if she never laid eyes on a Sutherland again. But even as she told herself that, she knew it was a lie. Michael was a good man and had come to her aid. But truthfully, her heart ached knowing that she would never see Bram again.

Dugald patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Grace. It will all be put to rights. I’m going to open the shop now. The sun is well up, I expect it is past prime.”

*

Bram and his men collected their weapons and left the inn. He gave a curt order for them to saddle up; he wanted to leave immediately. After tearing across the Highlands for two days, he had almost found Grace and he had one goal, to take her home.

Ian wore an oddly smug expression as he adjusted his mount’s tack. Bram tried to ignore it only to glance at Donal who wore the same expression.

“What?” Bram demanded.

Donal shrugged. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Keep it that way,” said Bram. “Ye too.” He glared at Ian.

Ian laughed. “Since when do I pay attention to ye? I’m just glad ye’ll be back to yer normal broodiness and not the absolutely foul temper ye have had for days. But of course that wasn’t because ye loved her.”

“He enjoyed her company,” offered Donal. “At least that’s what he told me.”

“Aye, that was it,” said Ian.

Bram scowled. “Ye were right. Is that what ye want to hear? I couldn’t bear the thought of living my life without her.”

His brother grinned broadly. “That’s good for a start.”

“Well don’t be too sure my foul temper is over. After all that has happened, it may be Michael she loves anyway.”

“Nay,” said Ian. “I’m fairly certain it’s ye.”

Bram mounted Goliath. “We still have to find her and take her home. Let’s go.”

They rode the short distance to the center of the village. Bram called to a small lad who was trying to pull a contrary goat through the square. “Lad, which shop is Dugald’s?”

Looking in awe of the mounted warriors, the lad pointed to a large two story building.

“Thank ye,” Bram said, tossing him a copper. The lad’s eyes grew wide and his face split into a grin.

“Wait here,” he said to his men and dismounted, handing Goliath’s reins to Ian.

He entered the shop, nodding to the proprietor.

“Good morning, sir. Can I help ye?” the man asked.

“Are ye Dugald?”

“Aye.” The man tensed. “Who’s asking?”

“I’m Bram Sutherland and I understand one of my clanswomen has taken refuge here with ye.”

“I don’t know what yer talking about. There are no Sutherlands here.”

“Please, I know Grace is here. I have come to take her home.”

“I told ye there are no Sutherlands here. I’ll ask ye to leave now.”

Bram was growing frustrated. “I can’t thank ye enough for taking her in, but her grandmother and her daughter need her. I need her. Let me take her home.”

The man narrowed his eyes. “Bram Sutherland ye say? I know who ye are and I know what yer father did. Clearly he didn’t care about her or her kin. If ye’re saying ye believe that she is Grace Breive, and I assure ye, she is, then I will go with ye and bring her daughter back to her. This is her home now.”

Bram never imagined he would encounter this. “Please, let me just speak with her.”

A door opened from the back of the shop and a matronly woman stepped through. She cocked her head to one side. “Who is this?”

“Bram Sutherland,” Dugald answered, his scorn evident.

“What do ye want here?” she asked.

“He says he’s come to take Grace home.”

“Has he? Well, young man, that lass doesn’t need more heartache. Do ye know what yer father did to her?”

“I do and I’m sorry. That is why I came after her. Please, I have been so worried. Let me see her.”

The woman pursed her lips and considered him for a moment. “Before I let ye anywhere near her, I want yer word ye won’t force her to go with ye or if she chooses to go, make her stay after she has her wee lass back.”

“I swear to ye. I won’t force her to do anything. Just let me see her.”

“Fine. Come with me.”

He followed her through the rear door and down a small corridor into a bright kitchen. Grace sat at the table peeling apples. She looked up at him and gave a little gasp of shock. Then her eyes filled with such hurt that it scalded him.

“Ah, Grace, I told ye to leave that for me. This scoundrel has asked to speak with ye, pet. Will I send him packing?”

“Nay,” she whispered.

“Grace,” Bram’s voice broke with emotion. What had the bastard done to her? Her face had yellowing bruises on it, her wrists were abraded, and her hands scraped. He was across the kitchen and had her in his arms in three strides. She threw her arms around him, buried her face in his léine and burst into tears.

“Ah, Grace, my love, wheesht. Please don’t cry.” He held her close, kissing the top of her head until she regained control.

“How did ye know I was here?” she asked once she had stopped crying.

“We encountered the Morrisons at the inn this morning. Eventually, Conan told me.”

He was content to hold her in his arms, but before he was ready to let her go, she released him. She took a step back, hastily wiping the tears from her face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Nay, Grace. I’ve longed to hold ye in my arms.” He stepped towards her, cupping her her face in his hands. “I feared I’d lost ye.”

She looked away, taking another step backwards. Her chin quivered and tears welled in her eyes again. “But ye have.”

“Don’t say that. Please, don’t say that. Da was wrong. He knows that now.”

She turned her back to him, stiffening. “Aye, he was wrong to believe them but I’ll warrant nothing else has changed.”

“But it will. Let me take ye home now.”

“Nay, Bram. That isn’t my home. I’ll go with ye, but only if ye swear to me that I can have my daughter back and leave. I don’t belong there.”

“Of course ye belong there. Grace, I love ye. Ye are the heart of my heart.” He reached out and tugged on one arm, until she turned to face him. The look of anguish in her eyes gutted him.

She shook her head. “Nay, Bram, ye cannot love me.
Ye must not
.”

“Grace, I have loved ye nearly since the first moment I met ye. I have never stopped loving ye. I know my father threatened ye in some way but it was ye who lied about not loving me.”

“I did not lie. I have never lied to ye.”

Bram’s heart fell. “Then ye only wanted to be Lady Sutherland and ye do love Michael?”

“I did want to be Lady Sutherland. Not because I care about the title, but because I wanted with all my heart to be yer wife and I had hoped yer father wouldn’t banish ye because I didn’t want ye to suffer the kind of rift my family had. So yes, I wanted to be Lady Sutherland, but I never said I loved Michael. Michael is a good friend—my only friend it seems—but I don’t love him.”

“Ye said ye did. I said if ye had waited a little longer, ye could have been Lady Sutherland, but ye said ye fell in love.”

“I did, but not with Michael. I fell in love with ye, Bram. But yer father never intended to let us marry. He asked ye for a month to give him time to convince ye not to marry me. When that didn’t work he told me I had to break it off. He threatened me with a forced marriage. He said he would never allow ye to marry me and that if I truly loved ye, it would be kinder to turn ye against me so ye could marry Annice.

“Bram, I truly love ye. I love ye more than I believed possible. I never thought I would love anyone again but I think I finally understand the depth of the love my parents shared. I didn’t want to push ye away. I didn’t want to hurt ye.”

Bram’s heart soared at those words. “Oh, my love, I knew Da was behind it. I just didn’t know what threat he made. But that doesn’t matter anymore. I love ye with all my heart.”

“Nay, it does matter, Bram. Ye are still the laird’s son. We aren’t allowed to love each other. We can’t be together.”

“Aye, we can. Grace, I want ye to be my wife.”

“Bram, stop. That can never happen. Ye know that.”

“Nay, Grace, I don’t.”

“Well, it’s high time ye learned then,” she said bitterly. “Just as I have to learn not to love ye.” Her voice broke with a sob. “Yer da has his own plans. I can’t bear the pain of losing ye. I can’t see ye wed someone else, and I cannot risk what he will do if we marry against his wishes. I won’t. I have lost too much.”

“I know ye have, Grace.” He gathered her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest. Her tears were spent but the pain still flowed off of her in waves. He wanted more than anything to take it away—for her to believe him. He would marry her, but if he insisted now, if he pushed her, he might push her away. It was enough that she was willing to come with him to get Kristen. He would convince her of his love on the way or die trying.

*

The moment Grace had looked up and saw Bram standing behind Mary, her heart leapt. He had come for her. Even though she hurt him and pushed him away, he hadn’t believed the Morrisons’ lies. For three days she had fought to stay in control. She refused to give in or to let anyone see how terrified she really was. But when Bram wrapped her in his arms all of the pain and fear she had reined in for days came bubbling up.

He was warm and strong and in his arms she was safe. This was where she wanted to stay forever. But the little voice inside her, the voice that had kept her strong and refused to let her give in to despair, reminded her that Bram Sutherland could never be hers. She had given in to the comfort he offered in the moment, but she could not let that happen again. She had no doubt that he wanted to marry her—just as much as she longed to be his wife. That didn’t change the facts. He was destined to marry another and if she did marry him, Laird Sutherland would kill her. The more she let herself love him now, the more losing him would hurt.