Lily (The Highland Clan Book 3) (4 page)

Mary’s sire glanced at Lily and said, “Bless you, lassie. You are a true gift from God.”

He settled in a chair by the hearth, letting out a deep sigh as he leaned back and closed his eyes.

Lily had no idea how the man could consider her a gift from God.

He wouldn’t say so if he knew all the lies she’d told.

Chapter Four

Kyle stood in the doorway to the laird’s chamber, his palms sweating and his heart racing. Why had they called him in? Had he done something wrong? Would they fire him because he had failed in his duty to take care of Lily? Aye, he should have guessed she’d leave the castle grounds on her own again. She’d been too unsettled lately, too unpredictable. He’d have to talk to her again about being more careful.

As soon as Quade and Torrian ended their conversation and gave him their attention, he cleared his throat and said, “My lairds. You requested my presence?”

Quade stood and limped to Kyle’s side. “Aye, I did, Kyle. For three reasons. First I’d like to congratulate you on a job well done. You’ve done a fine job as Torrian’s second. You’re a hard-working lad, and I know your sire would be proud of you. I wish he were here to share in your success.”

“Many thanks, my laird.” Even though Torrian was the official laird now, Kyle continued to call Quade by the same title out of respect. He was not alone in this. “I wish my sire were here, as well. I know my mother misses him as much as I do.” Kyle’s father had died from an injury incurred during the battle to save Avelina Ramsay, Quade’s sister, many years ago.

“My apologies my wife was not able to save him.” Quade moved back to his seat. “Sit, lad. You work hard enough all day.”

Kyle recalled how hard Lady Brenna had worked to save his sire, going so far as to bring him into the keep to tend his wounds. His sire had received a sword wound to the leg that should not have been serious, but he hadn’t tended to it right away as Lady Brenna always advised. It had festered on the road back home, and she’d been unable to stop it from taking his life. Whatever it was that caused wounds to slowly kill strong men, even small nicks, he hoped Lady Brenna would be able to figure it out. If any healer could do it, she was the one.

Even though the loss was an old one, Kyle still missed his sire every day of his life. And he did aught he could to make his father proud. He could not jeopardize his position as Torrian’s second.

Kyle sat in the proffered chair. “Many thanks, my laird.”

“Now, the second reason I asked you here is to find out what you learned of this supposed attack on my daughter. You need not tell me how foolish she was to go out on her own. She’s been chastised enough by me and her stepmother, but I’d like to hear what you found when you came upon her.”

Kyle nodded, organizing his thoughts carefully before he spoke. “When I noticed she was missing, I headed to the gates. The guards told me she’d left for a brief ride, but the thought of waiting for her return did not sit well, so I headed out across the meadow. Once I reached the halfway point, I could hear a lass screaming. I saw Lily tearing across the meadow as if she was being chased by a wild animal, but I did not notice any pursuers, only a rider on horseback heading away from the forest. I did not recognize him, and since he was moving away, I did not concern myself with him. Mayhap ‘twas a mistake. When I approached her, she was so frightened she had trouble telling me what had transpired. She finally explained that a man in chain mail and a helm had chased her, asking for her to stop and declaring that he loved her. I checked the area later, but found naught out of the ordinary, just some trampled grass in the forest.”

Quade glanced at Torrian. “She did not mention to me that the attacker had declared his love for her. Did she mention this to you, Torrian?”

“Nay. Other than that, her story was the same.”

“Was there aught else out of the ordinary?” Quade asked Kyle.

“Only that Sunshine had run off. Lily had left her to graze outside the forest, and when she returned, the horse was nowhere to be seen.”

“Hmmm. She rarely needs to tether Sunshine.” Quade rubbed his knee as he considered this new information.

“Nay. Sunshine always stays by her side,” Torrian agreed.

“Kyle, many thanks for doing your job and finding her, but I must ask you a serious question. Please consider your answer for a moment before you give it.” Quade paused, waiting for a response from him.

Kyle nodded, but his mind raced with panic. What in hell was Quade about to ask him?

“Do you believe ‘tis possible that Lily created the entire incident to draw attention to herself?” Quade leaned back in his chair while he waited for Kyle’s answer.

“What? You think Lily made it up?”

“Nay, I did not say that. I’m asking you if you think ‘tis possible. It concerns me how unsettled Lily has been since Torrian’s marriage. I had hoped it would be a passing stage, but she has not returned to herself. I’d like to hear your thoughts on this since you were the one who found her.”

Kyle could not imagine his Lily lying about something so serious. He knew her well, hell, he
loved
her. “Nay, my laird. Lily did not make the tale up. I saw a genuinely frightened lass when I came upon her. And I might add that she would never have chased off Sunshine to back up her tale. You know how she adores that horse. It took me half the night to find Sunshine, so the danger to her was real.”

“Good point,” Torrian said with a nod. “Da, he’s correct in that assessment. She would not have risked Sunshine for a fabrication. I have to agree with him.”

Quade considered their answers, rubbing his chin in thought. “Mayhap you are correct.”

Silence settled between them, broken only when Torrian cleared his throat and stared at his sire. Kyle thought that did not bode well for him. His best friend did not wish to look him in the eye.

“All right,” Quade said. “That pleases me. I’d hate to believe that of my Lily. I have already given Torrian instructions to search the area. In view of what you’ve just told me, I’d like a score of guards to troll the periphery of our land every day until we determine who that was. The rider frightened Lily, and he was not of our clan. I wish to know who he is.”

“I will see to it, my laird.” Kyle said.

“And please keep a careful eye on Lily. I know you always do, but she is unsettled ever since Torrian married Heather.” He glanced at Torrian and at Kyle to ensure his point was made to both. Kyle nodded his affirmation that he would indeed continue to protect her. “Kyle, my thanks that you were as observant as you were about our Lily. You know how much she means to all of us.”

Kyle stared at the ground.
If he only knew how much she meant to him.

“That brings me to the final reason I asked you here.”

“Aye, my laird?” A new moistness flooded his palms as he waited. Would he be fired? Sent away? What ill news awaited him?

“Have I noticed something building between you and Lily?”

Kyle opened his mouth to deny it, but Quade held his hand up to stop him. “Please. Allow me to rephrase this. Brenna and I believe ‘tis time for our daughter to consider marriage. So I’d like to ask you before anyone else. Would you consider a betrothal to Lily?”

If a frog had hopped across in front of him at that very moment, the slight breeze would have felled Kyle. His mind seemed to explode with a hundred thoughts at once. He had no idea how to answer that question. None at all.

Torrian said, “Kyle? Are you well? You look a wee bit green.”

Kyle stared at his friend and nodded. His dream had just been handed to him. He’d always wished to marry Lily and thought about how sweet life would be if he could love her, cherish her, take care of her. But he was new to his position, and besides, he needed to take care of his mother. If he were married to Lily, he’d never be able to do his duty to his clan and his sire. Why, he’d been so distracted by her this morning, he’d almost cut off his own hand.

He glanced at Torrian in mute shock. If he wedded Lily, he’d be related to his best friend. The thought had never before occurred to him.

“Kyle?” Quade asked, glancing from Quade to Kyle.

Would Lily even have him? She’d been furious with him earlier—she’d actually thrown dirt at him. But she had also kissed him. Mayhap they should talk first.

“Have you asked Lily?” Kyle managed to get out.

“Nay, I’m asking you first. Your response?” Quade drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair.

“I am well. I…I…I do not know what to say. Lily is a beautiful young lass, but I…if we were to…how could I? I do not know how I could take care of a wife while doing my duty as Torrian’s second. Besides,” he rushed on, “I am sure Lily is not interested in me at all. She may not have mentioned it, but we often argue. We probably would not suit. We…”

Quade held his hand up. “You’ve answered my question. I see you are not ready for married life yet. Please do not mention this to Lily. I thought I saw something there that does not exist. Forgive me if I have upset you, lad. In fact, you may go.”

Kyle stood up so fast, he was light-headed. “Many thanks, my lairds.” He nodded to both Quade and Torrian and rushed out of the room, across the courtyard, and through the gates until he was outside the castle. Only then did he expel the breath he’d been holding.

Betrothed to Lily? He wanted naught more than to be betrothed to Lily. But how could he wed her without failing in his duties and disgracing his sire? Mayhap it would help if they waited a year or more, until he was more steadfast in his job? Would Lily be willing to have a long betrothal?

He ran his hand through his hair, wishing to slap himself. It was too late to ask that question now.

And besides, he had to make a choice. When it came down to it, he could either satisfy himself by marrying Lily or he could continue doing aught he could to make his sire proud and take care of his mother.

Responsibility had always guided Kyle’s actions, so his answer was obvious.

***

Lily spoke in a quiet soothing tone to her horse as she rubbed her down. “Sunshine, how will I ever get this dirt from your white coat? You must have rolled on the ground, did you not?”

Sunshine whinnied and lifted her head as if to nod to Lily.

“I missed you too, Sunshine. What would I ever do without you? I was so frightened when you were missing. He was a bad man, a verra bad man. I’m forever grateful you are safe.”

Sunshine nudged her.

“Aye, I know you like Kyle. I think you flirt with him. He is the only one who could bring you home. Or possibly Torrian.”

Sunshine was still in the special room in the stables, but Lily thought to take her outside today. First she had to make sure Kyle was not around, or else he’d shout at her again.

She hadn’t seen Kyle in two days. After her adventure with her mama and the babies, she’d stayed hidden all day yesterday, but she had needed some space and air, so she’d headed straight for her sweet mare.

“Sunshine, you are my only true friend, but I believe you know that, do you not?”

The horse snorted and pushed against Lily’s hand, looking for her love. She rubbed the soft fur of the horse’s neck, only for her fingers to be caught once again by the mess in her mane. “Sunshine, much as I hate to do this to you, your ribbons are frayed and your mane is a mess. I can no longer allow you to look so bedraggled. I must make you beautiful once more.”

Lily reached for the ribbons and carefully pulled each one out, tending to the fine hairs of her mare’s white mane as she worked. Sunshine always allowed Lily’s ministrations, whatever they were. After a little while, she decided to fetch a better brushing tool.

“Sunshine, I must make you forever beautiful, so forgive me for leaving you for a few moments. I must fetch the better curry-comb.”

She took off down the corridor. The Ramsay stables had grown so large that one could be at the far end without knowing who else was inside. Sound did not carry well because of the number of horses that were kept there. Quade was forever adding new stalls so his favorite horses could be kept inside for much of the winter. She reached the storage supply chamber and ducked inside, pleased to find it empty.

As she searched for the proper comb, though, she heard Aunt Gwyneth and Uncle Logan’s voices from the stall next to her. Not normally one to eavesdrop, she could not help but overhear a comment that caused her to freeze in place.

“Logan, I know she’s your dearest niece, but you must allow her to grow up on her own.”

Dearest niece? Were they talking about her? She could not walk away until she knew for certes, so she stayed.

“Gwynie, I cannot stand by and allow the two of them to make such a big mistake. How could the lad be so foolish? There is not another lad on Ramsay land or in any of the surrounding clans who would turn down the opportunity to be betrothed to Lily. What the hellfire is wrong with him?”

Lily’s eyes, which now felt as big as the saddles hung on the nearby wall, darted around the chamber as if to find something hiding. Could she have heard them correctly? She tiptoed as quietly as possible over to the wall. She had to hear every word of their conversation.

“I think you need to give them both time. They’re both young, and Kyle has just been promoted to this new position. Lads focus on their fighting skills first. You know he’s smitten with her, he is simply not ready.”

Still uncertain as to what they discussed, she could not deny that her heart just skipped a beat or two to hear her aunt say that Kyle was smitten with her. Was he? Naught would make her happier than to be sure of his love.