Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander (6 page)

Chapter 7

Angus Innes pulled his horse up
in front of The Stagg Inn. He ordered his men to dismount.

Erland walked close to Angus.
“What did the innkeeper’s messenger say?”

“His horse and belongings are
still here. He is missing.”

Shaking his head, Erland let his
face fold into a frown. “I dinna like it.”

“Nor do I. ‘Tis too close to the
Blackburn lands. I suspect foul play.”

“Surely they wouldna be foolish
enough to hurt Ian.”

“If they have, they will pay the
price,” Angus told him.

Angus and ten of his men walked
into the inn. The innkeeper saw him and hurried over. “Laird Innes, I’m so glad
you’re here. I didna ken what to do.”

“You notified me. ‘Tis enough.
Tell me what you know of Ian.”

“Let us sit. My girl will bring
some libation and I’ll tell you all.”

Angus nodded his agreement and
the innkeeper led them to a quiet alcove away from the noisy men who enjoyed a
pint of ale at the bar. Taking a seat, Angus looked the innkeeper up and down.
He was a small man, round and soft, unlike any of the Innes clansmen that
gathered at the table. They dwarfed the man with their sheer size. “Well?”

“He came three days ago in the
evening. We were crowded, but he had reserved my best room.” The innkeeper motioned
to a table near the fireplace. “He sat over there. One of my girls saw him in
conversation with a young woman. She dressed as a tavern maid, but she doesna
work for me. I have only three and none of them served him.”

“A young woman?”

“Always said the fairer sex would
be his undoing,” Erland growled.

Angus ignored the remark although
he agreed with it. Ian knew exactly how to charm the ladies, but couldn’t seem
to find one he saw fit to marry. “What did she look like?”

“Young, red-blond hair, and a low-cut
dress, or so they said.”

With a grunt, Angus grabbed the
innkeeper’s shirt and pulled him closer. “Tell me more about the girl.”

The man trembled. “I didna see
her myself. As I said, ‘twas a busy evenin’.”

“What else?”

The man shrugged. “Mattie said she
saw him headed to his room with the girl.”

Angus rolled his eyes. “Out to
dip his wick?”

“So it appeared to them, Milord.
They noticed because any of them would’ve eagerly done his biddin’. They were
jealous ‘twas someone else who got his attention.”

“God’s blood! Dinna embellish
this tale, just tell me. Was he seen again after that?”

“He came barreling down the
stairs a bit later checking his stock.”

“What?”

“You ken. He rubbed his tarse as
he came down the stairs. I saw him. Thought he had a good tumble and was back
for another ale.”

Erland shook his head. “So he
took the lass in his room. She may have nothin’ to do with his disappearance.”

“Or everything,” Angus said. “How
long did he stay above stairs?”

“Not long, but long enough,” the
innkeeper replied. “My girls laughed about him bein’ quick.”

“I doubt he had her,” Angus said
to his men. “We all ken how Ian likes to take his time with the ladies.”

“Aye, so,” Erland agreed. “And
them grateful for every minute he lingers.”

“Not this one.” Angus turned to
the innkeeper. “Who else came in the tavern that night? Any Blackburns?”

“Only one, Milord, Keith
Blackburn. He didna wear his colors, but ‘twas Keith. He left before Ian came
down from above stairs.”

“To lie in wait with whatever
trap the Blackburns had set,” Angus commented. His men nodded their agreement.
“Where did Ian go when he came downstairs?”

“He walked out the door, Milord.
I didna see him after that, but his horse is still in the barn.”

“I’d like to see his room and
check the barn.”

“Follow me.” The man rose and led
Angus and his men up the stairs to a spacious chamber.

Angus spotted a white cap on the
floor. Leaning down, he picked it up and pulled a few strands of red-gold hair
from it. “Pretty color,” he commented. “A trap well set, no doubt.”

“Aye, so,” Erland agreed.

Moving around the room, the men
searched for anything else that seemed out of place. They found nothing.

“Show us the barn,” Angus
ordered. The innkeeper led them back down the stairs and around behind the inn.

A tiny girl came out of the barn
when they entered. Angus knelt before the small child. “Good day,” he said.

“Good day, Milord,” she replied.

It amazed Angus the girl did not
blanch when confronted by a warrior his size. “Who might you be?”

The innkeeper cut in. “She’s the
stableman’s daughter. Her mother is dead. She sometimes sleeps in the tack room
while her father works. He wilna leave her alone in their cottage.”

“What is your name?” Angus asked,
ignoring the innkeeper’s attempt to get him past the child.

“Mary, Milord. My name is Mary.”

Angus smiled at her. She reminded
him a bit of Jared and Asilinn’s daughter Mariel. “I have a granddaughter about
your age,” Angus told her.

“I should like to meet her,” the
girl said.

“You may one day. Mary, several
nights ago were you sleeping in the tack room?”

“Aye, so, Milord. ‘Twas quite
busy and my father was workin’ late.”

“In the barn?”

“Nay, Milord, they were busy in
the inn so he worked in the kitchen. After I finished my chores, I went off to
sleep in the tack room.”

“Did you hear or see anything
unusual?”

She twisted her lips in a
thoughtful expression. “Aye.”

“Please, tell me what happened.”

She looked at the innkeeper. He
nodded his approval and she began her tale. “A man came into the barn. I feared
him at first, but he helped me finish my chores and sent me off to the tack
room. He said I should stay there until my father came for me and not make a
sound.”

“What did this man look like?”

“Tall and older… he had a bushy,
red beard and wild hair.”

“Damn, ‘twas Keith,” Erland
muttered.

Angus ignored him. “Tell me,
Mary, what happened next?”

“A beautiful lady with long,
shining, red-gold hair came runnin’ into the barn. I came to the slats to look
because the man who helped me with my chores cursed when he saw her.”

“Why did he curse?”

“He cursed and told her to cover
herself.”

“Was she naked?”

“Nay, Milord. Her dress fell down
off her shoulder and it showed one of her breasties.”

Angus smiled at his small
companion. “Then what happened?”

“She told him to hide in the
carriage bay and be silent.”

“And?”

“The pretty lady kept walking to
the door then goin’ back to the carriage bay as if she expected someone to come
in the door.” Mary shrugged. “Nothin’ happened for awhile. I curled up with my
blanket and tried to go to sleep.”

“Is that all you saw?”

“Nay, Milord. I dozed for a bit.
Later I had a feelin’ like someone watched me, so I got up and looked out the
slats.”

“What did you see?”

“A handsome man with golden hair
moved through the back of the barn goin’ towards the carriage bay.” She looked
at Angus. “He resembled you, Milord… a little. He didna have yer full beard,
but he most certainly had yer blue eyes.”

“Ian.” Angus sighed. “Then what?”

“He went around the corner into
the carriage bay. I couldna see them any longer. He spoke to the woman.”

“What did he say?”

“I am not sure, Milord. They
spoke. There was somethin’ about bein’ her first and did she really want it in
the barn.”

“Good Lord!” Erland gasped. “I
fear to ask the child more.”

“Be still,” Angus said. He turned
back to Mary. “What happened next?”

“I heard a cry, and then the
clash of metal. It sounded like someone fightin’. That went on a bit, and then
it was quiet. Later I heard a thud. The lady shrieked and said ‘I dinna want
him dead.’ I heard some noises. I think they loaded him into a wagon and headed
out.”

The innkeeper stormed forward and
jerked the girl roughly by the arm, moving to slap her across the face. Angus
shoved the man back and punched him hard. He fell to the ground rubbing his
jaw. “Why do you attack this child?”

“She should’ve told me this that
night, Milord. We might have been able to save your son.”

“She is but a child… and a
neglected one at that.”

“My father does not neglect me,
Milord.” Mary interrupted. “He does all he can to keep me safe since my mother
died. ‘Tis just there is no one to watch over me when he works.”

Angus ran his hand over her dark
hair. “Aye, so, little one, are you all right?”

“Aye, Milord,” she said. “His
hand hardly had a chance to brush my face before you stopped him. I am truly
grateful, Milord, for you benevolence.”

“Perchance I could invite your
father to come to Cairngorm Castle in my service. We would be sure you had
someone to watch over you when he works.” Angus smiled at her. “What would you
think of that?”

“’Twould be wonderful, Milord.”

“Can you show me which bay they
were in?”

Mary took his hand and led him to
the area. Angus spied something shiny in the nearby haystack. Running forward,
he withdrew Ian’s sword from pile. “God’s blood! There is no doubt. This is the
very sword I had forged for him.” Angus turned to his men. “Gather his
belongings and get his horse ready to travel. Erland, speak to her father about
coming to Cairngorm. Then we ride for Duntaigh Castle. I’m going to pay the
Blackburns a visit.”

Chapter 8

Katie had barely slept the night
before. She tossed all night trying to decide whether to involve Keith further
in her treacherous plan. In the morning, she tutored Tessa and Jamie in reading
and writing. By late afternoon, her fear took over and she went looking for
Keith. Katie’s initial search had proved futile. Deciding to try the stable,
she walked outside and made her way through the windy courtyard.

The sun hid behind gray scattered
clouds and an occasional gust of the ever-moving Highland air blew her hair.
Soon the large stone barn loomed ahead. Her father’s stables were extensive. He
had some of the best stock in Highlands. As she entered the barn, the smell of
fresh cut hay teased her nostrils. The horses stirred as she went by each stall.
Their large, shiny eyes gazed out at her. Katie stopped short when she got to
the empty stall where Keith’s horse should be. She spied her father’s stable
master at the far end of the barn. “Elam, I need Keith. Where is he?” she
asked. “His horse is gone.”

The stableman shrugged. “I dinna
ken what he is about, Milady. He left early this morning. Keith said Rannoch
sent him on a mission. He wasna sure when he would return.”

Now what? Keith already warned
her some of the men seemed pleased with Rannoch’s rule. She didn’t know whom
else she could trust. Immediately her brother and sisters came to mind. Jamie
would come to her aid, but he was very young and she feared what Rannoch would
do to him if things went awry. If Ian spoke the truth, Jamie might already be
marked for death.

Brianna blushed scarlet every
time Rannoch looked her way. Katie feared Brianna’s feelings would make her
disbelieve the true story, and little Tessa was just a child.

Drawing a deep breath, Katie
decided to ask Rannoch when he expected Keith to return. Perchance she could
glean some information from him. First, she would see her father. Sorcha’s
comments gave Katie hope he might be able to tell her something despite his
infirmity.

She made her way out of the
bailey and headed back to the manse. Katie reached her father’s chamber and
paused at the door. Every time she entered, she pictured it in happier days.
Nothing moved or changed in the chamber since her mother’s death eight years
ago. Katie thought her father acted as if he expected his wife to walk back in
and once again join him in their quiet, nicely-appointed suite. The one
exception was Sorcha’s medicine corner. Now that Katie knew what poisons were
concocted there, the very thought of it turned her stomach. She’d like to smash
all the vials, but such action would reveal her knowledge of Rannoch and
Sorcha’s plot.

Drawing a deep breath, she walked
in. The smell of Sorcha’s poison potions hovered in the room. Was the stench
yet another way the Irish healer kept Brian Blackburn separated from the world?
Her father lay alone and unattended. He did not move or show any sign he knew
she visited. Katie sent a prayer heavenward and crossed herself. Memories of
happier times assailed her when her gaze flew to her mother’s loom. As a young
girl, she spent hours trying to learn the art of intricate stitchery. It became
a useless endeavor. Katie did not share Lady Katherine Blackburn’s talent for
needlework. It did not stop her mother from being endlessly patient in her
attempt to impart the skill.

A moan drew her attention to the
bed. Moving closer, she looked down at her father. His still body pulled at her
heart strings. A stand near the bed held a basin of water and a cloth. Sorcha
must have just left. Taking up the cool, wet rag, she wiped it against his
brow. “I need you, Da,” she whispered. “Please try to open your eyes.”

For awhile she thought him
unaware to her presence. As she continued to speak to him in soft tones, she
could see him begin to stir. Ever hopeful, she kept up her efforts until he
rewarded her with a flutter of his eyelids.

“Da, can you hear me?” He opened
his eyes. Now what? “Can you blink?” Katie watched his eyelids go closed and
reopen. Hugging him, she tried to control her excitement. With one quick glance
around the room to assure they were alone, she began. “I think Rannoch and
Sorcha have poisoned you. Blink once if you agree, twice if you do not.” Her
father blinked one time. Katie could not suppress a sob. It was the first time
she talked with him in any way since he became so ill. “I overheard them.” Her
father gave out a snort of sorts. Brian Blackburn knew of the tiny chamber with
the spy hole into Rannoch’s room.

Trying to soothe him, she stroked
his arm. “I am always careful. It became necessary,” she assured him. As his
eyes lost some of the fire she had lit, she inhaled sharply. “They fear you
will die from the poison before Rannoch can put his plan in action. I heard
them plot to cut back the dose. I pray this will help your condition, but you
must not let them know if you start to get better. Perchance they will continue
cutting back if you dinna let them see improvement. Can you do that?”

Her father blinked once. She
nodded at him. “Good, ‘tis so wonderful to be assured you understand.”

His eyes searched hers. Even
totally immobile he knew there was more she should tell. “Aye, so. There is
something else. We need Keith’s help, but Rannoch sent Keith from the keep. I
canna get his help until he returns.” Wiping away the tears that flowed down
her cheeks, she hugged her father again. “Can you endure a bit longer? ‘Tis
only until I can find someone to aid me.”

Her father blinked a single time.
She closed her own eyes in a grateful prayer. “I will find a way out of this,”
she promised him.

For a brief moment, she
entertained the possibility of telling her father about her captive then
dismissed it as something that would only worry him more. His mind still worked
inside his helpless body. She could tell by the way that he looked at her now.

Katie needed him to fight through
this treachery until she could stop Rannoch’s evil plan. She would save him.
Years of what her father called her hard-headedness taught her if you persisted
long enough, you would succeed no matter what barriers stood in your way.
Hadn’t she brought order to the family after the untimely death of her mother?
Devastated by the loss, her father lost his way for a time. Katie rallied the
family until they found the will to continue living.

She wiped his brow again. “I must
go and see what can be done to undo this foul plot.” He blinked his agreement.
“Be strong until I can find a way to free you from their evil clutches.” A
single tear streaked down his cheek. She smiled at him. “Dinna fear, you always
told me I was the strong one, remember?”

Again, he agreed in the only way
he could. Brushing a soft kiss on his forehead, she left his chamber in search
of Rannoch.

An abiding chill fell on Duntaigh
Castle ever since her father became ill. Now knowing Rannoch was the cause, she
had to face him, face him, and give him no suggestion she had discovered his
secret plot. Her stomach lurched as a brief vision of the episode between
Rannoch and Sorcha leapt into her mind. She would do anything required to save
her family, if only she had a plan.

It came to her then. Ian Innes
would give her advice if he thought it would aid his cause. She had not seen
Draco all day. Perchance the time was right to see what insight she could gain
from her captive.

Katie should have been back by
now. Ian strained at his chains. He’d spent hours trying to loosen the
shackles. Nothing worked. If his captor didn’t set him free, he would stay
chained to the wall. He needed some tool to try and pry loose the lock. Sighing
in disgust, he watched the last flicker of the lantern that lit his cell.

Pitched into darkness, he dreamed
about his captor, the sweet taste of her lips, and her creamy skin. He became a
man possessed. What the hell had Katie Blackburn done to him to scorch her
image across his brain so indelibly? A combination of things Ian decided. He
admired her bravery to hatch such a wild plan and carry it out with so little
help. Beautiful and headstrong, she bewitched him every time he saw her. Those
sea-green eyes lit when she challenged him. Again, the mere thought of her inflamed
him.

What if Rannoch interfered with
her return to the dungeon? Ian could starve in this hell hole or worse. He
could hear the rats shuffling in the distance. The darkness made them braver.
Despite his surroundings, Ian found a sleep full of sea-green eyes and red-gold
hair.

The sudden rattle of the key in
the lock woke Ian with a start. Katie stood before him carrying a lantern and
another sack of food. That didn’t bode well. If she intended to free him, it
would not be necessary to feed him in this hell hole. He rose and faced her
letting his gaze feast on her soft curves in the dim light. Her light blue
shift made her look angelic in the candlelight.

“Milady, I see you have come
back.”

“I would speak with you while you
eat,” she petitioned. “I listened to what you said earlier and I have things to
discuss with you.”

He moved as close as his chains
would allow. She brushed past him and began setting forth a meal of roast lamb
and fresh bread on the table. Ian sat down across from her watching her discomfort
in the dim light.

“If you would like to discuss my
release, I would be happy to talk,” he began. “Sadly, I dinna think that is why
you have come.”

Her face colored, but she held
her head high. “Please eat while I gather my courage.”

The aroma of the lamb filled his
nostrils bringing back the memory of the night she served him lamb stew in the
tavern. He began eating, waiting patiently for her to tell him what troubled
her. When he finished the plate and mopped up the juices with his bread, he sat
back and looked at her. “What is it, Katie? Has your father taken a turn for
the worse?”

“Nay, Milord, he improves
slightly.”

“So I was wrong about the
poisoning?”

She shook her head negatively.
“You were right.”

“How do you ken?”

“I spied on Rannoch and Sorcha.”

Ian pounded his fist on the
table. She jumped. “Are you daft? If they caught you they would kill you!”

“I am thankful you are concerned
about my well being, Milord, but from what I heard I am more valuable to them
alive.”

“Please tell me more. How did you
overhear them without endangering yourself?”

“There is a spy hole in the small
room off Rannoch’s chamber. I watched them and listened to what they said.”

“Sorcha was in his chamber.”
Katie’s face grew pale and she swallowed hard.

“What did you see, Katie?”

“He took her. He had her bound to
a table near the fire and he….”

“They are lovers.”

“Aye.”

“You watched?”

“Dinna make it sound like
something it was not. As soon as I saw what they were doing, I turned away and
waited for them to finish.”

Ian drew a deep breath. “Had you
ever seen the like before?”

“Nay, Milord,” she said quickly.
“When they finished, they spoke of the potion Sorcha is giving my father. He
told her to cut back on the amount so that my father would not die before…
before….”

“Before what?”

“Before he could get our king’s
permission to take me for his wife.”

“Zounds! He seeks to marry you
and kill your father.”

“So it would seem, Milord.”

“You need to release me so I can
get you and your family to safety.”

“What can one man do against so
many?”

“I canna believe your father’s
clansmen would support Rannoch if they knew what he is about. He would be left
with twenty or so of his kinsmen.”

“Rannoch is a dangerous man. He
sent Keith somewhere. There is no one I can trust.”

“I canna help you unless you free
me.” He reached his hand across the table and took hers. “Katie, I dinna want
anything to happen to you. In better days, your father and mine were friends.
Let me help you.”

She licked her lips then pulled
her hand away and stood. “I will think on it, Milord.”

Ian stood and tested the distance
his chains would let him travel. She was just out of reach. “Can you do one
thing for me?”

“What is that, Milord?”

He smiled. “Considering our
relationship, could call just call me Ian?” He saw her faint, fleeting smile
and grinned. “You expected me to ask for something else.”

She nodded. “Aye, Ian. Given your
propensity for rude behavior, I thought you might ask for….”

“A kiss,” he said.

She rolled her eyes. “Or more.”

“I would love to kiss you. I
dream of the kisses we already shared.” Katie shifted and drew a ragged breath.
“Milady, do you think of them as well.”

“Rude, arrogant man! Why would I
dream of the likes of you?” She took a step forward and hit him in the chest.

Ian grabbed her and pulled her
close, pressing her hard against his body. Grabbing her hair, he forced her to
look up into his eyes. “Because you feel alive beneath my touch,” he accused.
Not giving her time to deny it, he captured her lips with his repeatedly until
she succumbed to his tender assault and began to answer his every move. Ian
groaned as her tongue slipped into his mouth, exploring him the way he explored
her. He lifted her and pressed her loins against his growing arousal. She
gasped as he broke off the kiss and planted hot caresses down her neck. Katie
began to struggle against him.