Highland Stone (6 page)

"Hi," Kara said when she caught up to Leelah.

Leelah regarded her curiously.

"I saw you walking and wondered if I might tag along. I'm restless. It must be this highland air." Kara gestured to the sky.

"Aye, the air 'tis good here."

"I know." Kara looked at the empty basket Leelah held. "So, where are you off to?"

"I have deliveries of herbs and cloth to make." Leelah turned toward the keep before saying, "Would ye like to come along?"

"Oh, yes," Kara replied. "Fresh air and a nice walk would be great."

"Ye rest while I gather my things. My
máthair
would frown should ye do too much."

"All right. I'll sit here on this rock and wait." Kara leaned back putting her palms flat and closed her eyes, allowing her skin to enjoy the warm caress of the sun's rays. She heard children laughing nearby and in the yard the ring of steel and horse bluster. From the stables came a lullaby sung in a clear tenor voice. Kara left her perch to peek inside. Cuilén, the middle brother, was brushing down a horse, calming the animal with his song. Funny the contradiction, to be soothing and gentle with animals, yet rage in a battle against men. She knew all the brothers had fought in battles over recent years by listening to various conversations.

Leelah returned with a now overflowing basket. "Come."

Unsure of what shape her ankle would be in after this excursion, but willing to risk it, Kara followed Leelah through the bailey and out of the gates. They traveled the same path Alaxandar had taken the night she'd met him, veering to the left toward a small village. In the distance, Kara saw several huts with straw roofs.

This would be the perfect time to ask some questions, but she had to be careful not to leave Leelah suspicious of her motives. "May I ask you something?"

"Aye."

"I know the MacLeod lands are vast, but how far does it go?"

"Sutherland be the closest clan. I couldna say how far. I have never ridden the length. Only the men travel the borders."

"What other clans have you met?"

"Ramsey came to us and he be a MacLaren. I know of the MacKenzie and Sutherland clans, but no others."

Kara nodded. Seemed rather limiting for women.

Leelah stopped at several cottages passing out her goodies. She introduced Kara to everyone, not that Kara would remember many of the names. It amazed her how a family of five survived in such a small place. The dwelling had three rooms with dirt floors and a thatched roof. She could see why they'd been called black cottages. Smoke clouded the rooms until the door swung open to provide a wave of fresh air. She'd never again complain about how cramped her house seemed or about the lumps in her mattress. It certainly beat the hell out of sleeping on a rug in front of the fire.

As the day waned, the journey through the glen became difficult for Kara. Her ankle pulsed with pain.

"Ye must sit."

"I'm fine." Kara lied.

"I have eyes, Kara." Leelah stopped, looked around and said, "Come, I know a place where ye kin rest."

Kara followed Leelah down a dirt path to a glade hidden in the forest. Rays of sunlight peeked through the surrounding fir trees casting a golden glow on a pool of crystal clear water. Thick healthy ferns showered by a small waterfall grew close by the rock formations at the pool's edge.

"How beautiful." Kara eased her weight down on the soft grass.

"I used to slip away and come here when I tired of the constant instructions given by me
màthair
or when I wanted solitude," Leelah said with a reverent sigh. "We kin cool our feet in the byrne."

For a short time neither of them spoke, happy in their own thoughts.

"So," Kara glanced at her companion. "Who is Ramsey? I don't believe I've met him."

"'Tis me betrothed, Ramsey is." Leelah smiled. "He has been away tending stock in other fields."

Kara bit her bottom lip. Leelah couldn't be more than nineteen and here she was to be married. Kara found it difficult to imagine being married so young. "And you never come here to hide from Ramsey?" Kara mused.

"Nay," Leelah answered, her smile widening. "Ramsey sneaks away with me." Her cheeks pinkened, and both women laughed.

Kara lay back on the sweet grass, her ankle in the cool water, setting aside her worries for a short time. The blissful calm was disrupted by the startled screeching of birds taking flight. A thunder of horses barreled past. There were screams and the sound of clanging swords. Kara jumped up, the pain in her ankle forgotten. Peeking through a small hole in the hedge, she saw women hiding underneath a couple of wagons. There were several contentious-looking men with gleaming swords drawn, on horseback attacking them. The guards on foot fought valiantly, managing to take down a few of the offenders.

Kara's heart was in her throat as she watched the scene play out like a movie. So enthralled in the ongoing battle, she didn't notice a tall, raven-haired woman step through the bush. Leelah turned toward the stranger with dirk drawn, ready to strike. The other woman screamed.

"Ilysse," Leelah snorted and released her. "I could have sliced ye open." She replaced the dirk in the sheath hanging at her waist.

Kara hadn't realized that Leelah carried a weapon. This revelation brought more anxiety for Kara because it emphasized how far out of her element she was.

"I dinna know what to do," the young woman said. "We be on our way to Dunvegan, and stopped to water the horses. Those men came out of nowhere.

Ilysse and Leelah moved closer to Kara and watched the raging battle. A tall hulk of a man from the caravan went down with a huge gash in his shoulder.

"Lachlann," the other woman screamed and ran into the fray.

"Wait," Kara yelled and bolted after her.

The woman dropped to her knees next to the fallen man. She ripped a piece of cloth from her clothing and pressed it against his shoulder, all the while arguing with him because he ordered her to hide.

An ugly soldier on a massive beast headed straight for them. Kara picked up a large branch and waved it at the horse. The horse reared and its unsuspecting rider flew off the back of the animal. The rider jumped up from the ground, and surged toward her with a raised sword. She gripped tight to the stick, ready to bash the guy's head, as a brigade of riders appeared on the hill. Alaxandar led the way.

The invaders turned tail and ran.

The MacLeod men rode past and continued the chase. Leelah seemed to be everywhere at once, helping the others reload the wagons to make room for the wounded. Luckily, no one died. Kara rode in the wagon back to Dunvegan.

"Thank you," the young woman said. "I be Ilysse MacKenzie."

"Kara Malone." She looked at the man whose shoulder had been sliced. "How is he?"

Ilysse smiled. "He has survived worse.

Kara wasn't sure if she considered that a relief. What would be worse?

"Cuilén will be glad to see ye," Leelah offered.

"Cuilén MacLeod?" Kara stuttered.

"Aye," Ilysse sighed. "Me father has negotiated with Cuilén and the chief. We are to be marrit."

"Negotiated?" Kara said. "You're not cattle." Both women looked at her. "Sorry, did I say that out loud?" Kara fiddled with the hem of her skirt. She had no right to criticize.
Don't get involved Kara. You have your own worries.

Upon their arrival, people appeared immediately to unload the wagon and tend the wounded. Katherine hugged Ilysse and ushered her in. Cuilén stood at the doorway gazing at the young woman but didn't approach. The look on his face showed his displeasure. Katherine checked over the injuries and began administering her salves and ordering hot water and clean rags. They were in greater need of Katherine's attention and Kara just wanted to scurry off to the room upstairs.

"I see ye managed to evade death again."

Kara's blood chilled. "Yes," she said, facing Jamie MacLeod. "Much to your disappointment."

The smile he had looked more like a leer. She hobbled past him toward the stairs and her chamber. Luckily, he hadn't followed. She closed her eyes and flopped on the bed.
I've lost my mind.

The people here still acted apprehensive around her, keeping a wide distance when they walked by. With the suspicions Jamie MacLeod spouted, and the murmured talk about her appearance, she'd decided to keep the stone with her at all times. If it truly provided protection and magical powers, she definitely wanted it close. Kara reached into her bra and pulled out the smooth piece. Part of her wanted to hurl it out the window, but the sensible part knew she had to see this through if she wanted to get home. Assuming she could get home.

Kara crawled up the bed to rest her head on the pillow and cried. The tears came hard. Everything caught up with her in a mad rush. If she couldn't gain the trust of these people, her life was in serious danger.

A loud knock stirred Kara from her nap. The crying jag had zapped her energy and she'd fallen asleep. Her visitor pounded again. "Coming," she said scrambling up.

Heaving open the door, which felt ten times heavier today, she found Alaxandar waiting, his sexy mouth in a tight line. Exotic blue eyes studied her face. It took all her concentration to suck air into her lungs and push it out again.

He touched her, stroked her hair, caressed her cheek. "Are ye hurt?" He traced the track of tears down her face.

"It's nothing." Kara moved into the room away from his touch. "I'll be fine."

"What were ye thinking to attack an armed Scotsman with a stick?"

His tone baited her temper. She frowned. "I thought to help keep those people from being murdered."

"With a stick?"

She limped toward Alaxandar. "Yeah, a stick. It's all I had."

He grabbed her arms and shook her. "He would have sliced ye in half had we not gotten word and come to stop them."

"Maybe, but we'll never know since you got there in time. Let me go."

He released her. She raised her chin, daring him to say something. When he didn't, she stalked away. She went to the wash basin to wet a rag and clean her face. Her nerves were on edge. In the makeshift mirror, she noticed her eyes were swollen and red.

"It be time for the meal. Are ye hungry?"

"I guess I am, a little." Kara ran her fingers through her tousled hair.

He approached quietly then adjusted her blouse on her shoulders. Running his hand down her back, his fingertips traced the outline of her undergarment.

She stilled. "What are you doing?"

His gaze met hers in the small looking glass. "I have never seen a thing such as this. What is it?"

The warmth of his touch seeped through the thin shirt. His smoldering eyes held her captive. Without thinking she said, "It's a bra. Women of my time wear them every day."

"Your time?" He stepped back, removing his hands, almost as though he was afraid to touch her.

Her eyes widened. Although she hadn't seen or heard Alaxandar partake in the conversations about how she came to be here, and her sudden appearance, that didn't mean he hadn't. If he didn't believe her to be a witch before, he would now. She'd opened her mouth without thinking and put her foot in it. "I'm starving. Did you say dinner was ready?" Kara headed straight out the door without glancing back.

Alaxandar strolled after her. "Ye may have changed the subject, Kara, but I dunna give up easily."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Ye will," he promised and scooped her into his arms to jog down the stairs.

He set Kara in the empty chair next to his then seated himself. While he loaded her plate, Kara took in the table arrangements at tonight's meal. Everyone dined in the great hall. Ilysse sat between Cuilén and her father, quietly watching Cuilén's every movement. Kara smiled. Poor girl, she's infatuated.
Kara wondered what it took to catch the eye of a MacLeod or did Ilysse need worry about such things? Perhaps all was arranged when Ilysse was but a wee babe.

The plate Alaxandar set before her overflowed with food.

"Ye said ye were…" Alaxandar paused with a whimsical look, "starving."

She glared at him. He toyed with her and she knew it, but she'd let information slip out earlier and would have to pay the price for the cover up. She needed to be careful in the future.

While taking dainty bites of her massive dinner, Kara listened to the men talk of clan matters and the attack on the caravan. Finally, her attentions settled on Alaxandar. He was tall, muscular and sculpted to perfection. Blessed with a handsome diamond-shaped face, as were all the MacLeod sons, Alaxandar had intense yet compelling eyes that could disarm a woman's defenses. He'd disarmed hers and that was dangerous.

Her gaze drifted across a sea of faces and landed on Jamie MacLeod. His green eyes always left her cold, his leering made her nervous. She averted her eyes and slouched back in her seat. If women don't go far from the castle, how could she return the stone? It's not like her ancestors would stroll up to the front gate.

Empty platters and cups lay haplessly on the tables with all their contents eaten except for Kara's, which was still more than half full. Alaxandar lifted pieces of food off her plate and ate them. She found that intimate in a way. In the distance, the quiet melody of a lute drifted across the hall over the burping and occasional laughter.

"'Tis good to eat hearty," Patrick said. "Ye never know when war will be upon us."

"Aye." Archibald nodded his agreement while rubbing his swollen belly, a belch escaping his lips.

Two other men Kara didn't know started arguing. One stood tipping his chair over. The other leaned forward with his hands braced on the table.

"Ye kin take 'em, Hagar," someone yelled.

The two opponents headed for the doors. The rest followed laughing and shoving each other. Kara looked to Drummond or Alaxandar believing one would stop them, but neither intervened.

"I wager Hagar will take Niall in the best o' three," Iain said with a grin.

Testosterone.
She couldn't believe how little men had changed through the centuries.