Seona and the other women were so exhausted, they went to bed early and slept all night. The rain continued and grew harder the next morn. The men of their party decided to stay another night, which Seona was glad for. Though she needed to see about her sister, she was thankful for any sort of delay that kept her from home. Once she arrived there, her time with Keegan would be very short.
***
Haldane led his men east, through the green glens and along the lochs, toward the Inverness area. He only had eight men now. Damn Keegan and the MacKenzies for seizing two of them. Though annoying, their capture didn’t put a damper on his plans. The two miscreants had been his least valuable men. As warriors, their skills were sorely lacking, and he was glad he hadn’t paid them much.
“’Tis there,” McMurdo said, pausing on top of the small rise and pointing at the sizable castle in the distance. “Gillenmor Castle.”
Haldane and the rest of the men stopped in the middle of the well-worn, muddy road.
“’Tis impressive,” Haldane said. The fifteen-foot, gray stone walls surrounding the castle appeared to be impermeable. Several guards patrolled the battlements, visible above the high wall. A fitting place for an admirable lady like Seona to have grown up. A good-sized village lay only a short distance from the castle.
Thanks to his mother and McMurdo, Haldane knew about the general area where Seona’s branch of the Murray clan lived. Along the way, he’d asked two people the exact location of Gillenmor Castle. And now, here they were.
He suspected they’d arrived a few days ahead of Keegan’s party, at least he hoped so. McMurdo was an expert at finding concealed spots where they might hide and wait for the MacKays.
Haldane’s gaze scanned the surrounding area—a vast expanse of arable farm land with mountains in the far distance. Vibrant green pastures, cattle and sheep. He’d never seen such gently rolling land, so different from MacKay country. Plentiful bushes and trees grew along the edges of the crops and expanded into a forest.
“Do you think we might hide out in that wood?” Haldane pointed to the left.
“Mayhap,” McMurdo said. “We’ll need to search it and see if anyone else is using it. See if the Murrays have a gamekeeper patrolling it.”
Haldane nodded. “You and six of the men do that. I’ll take two with me to the village and look for several trained warriors in need of work. After that, I’ll seek out a quick way home by sea.”
“The sea is about a half day’s ride from here,” McMurdo said. “I can handle that tomorrow if you wish. As for now, we need food.”
“Aye. I’ll bring some back from the village.” Haldane well knew hunting game on Murray land would get them into trouble with the chief if he learned of it. They had to remain inconspicuous.
“How far are we from Inverness?” Haldane asked. If he couldn’t find men here to hire, he would have to go further out.
“About five miles.”
Haldane nodded, hoping he wouldn’t have to travel that far. Who knew how soon the MacKay party would arrive in the area? He had to be ready.
“Gil and Rusty, come with me. McMurdo, we’ll meet you at the edge of that wood in a couple of hours,” Haldane said, then headed toward the village. He would have everything set up and in place, but he had to hurry. When he captured Seona, nothing would delay him and his men from reaching Durness within a few days’ time.
He would need at least two dozen skilled warriors to help him take Castle Dunnakeil from whoever Dirk had left in charge. Dirk’s sword-bearer, Erskine, had not been with the rest of the MacKays as they’d traveled south. ’Twas evident to Haldane he was the one left in charge.
Haldane’s brother, Aiden, was there as well, but he posed no threat. Although Aiden was a couple of years his senior, Haldane considered him his wee brother because he was small in stature and utterly incompetent at fighting. Haldane did not want to hurt his brother, but Aiden had best stand aside or he would find himself in the dungeon or killed.
Same with his infuriating half-sister, Jessie. She would likely put up more of a fight than Aiden. She was near as tall as Haldane and had the same flaming red hair, like their da. Besides that, she carried a wicked dagger on her belt.
Truthfully, none of them concerned Haldane. Dirk, Keegan and the more highly skilled MacKay guards would not be at Dunnakeil when he attacked. No doubt, Dirk had only left a few of his weaker men in charge. Haldane would have an easier time taking back what was rightfully his. The legacy his father had left him, and his mother had so desperately wanted him to have. She’d given her life for him and Aiden.
Once Haldane had Dunnakeil well under control, and Dirk returned a few days or weeks afterward—if he survived the injury to his leg—Haldane or McMurdo would have an easier time killing him. Or Gil might fill him with arrows from atop the guard tower. Haldane grinned, loving his plan. He could see it all unfolding so clearly. His mother, God rest her soul, would be proud of him.
What he had to concentrate on now was the best way to slip Seona away from Keegan and the guards. He must grab her as they approached Gillenmor, because once she was inside the castle walls, removing her would be far more difficult. If he and his men were forced to kill Keegan and several of his men in the process, so much the better.
***
A knock sounded at Seona’s bedchamber door, startling her from her imaginings of Keegan as she’d drifted toward sleep. She sat bolt upright. The gray light of gloaming still lingered outside the narrow window, and a soft rain fell beyond it.
Her aunt had not yet returned from supper. Perhaps she had spent extra time with Lady Mackintosh, an old friend of hers, catching up. Could that be Aunt Patience knocking? Why did she not simply enter?
Seona slipped out of bed, padded barefoot across the floor, and opened the door to find Keegan standing in the dim corridor.
Exhilaration darted through her. “What are you doing here?” she whispered. “My aunt could return at any moment.”
Holding back a wicked grin, he shook his head. “I asked someone to keep her occupied.” His voice was equally quiet.
“Who?”
“MacMillan.”
Saints! Was her aunt having a tryst? Seona realized her mouth was hanging open and snapped it closed. “Do you mean… what I think you mean?”
His grin broadening, he shrugged. “Who knows what they will do? Where are your maids? I thought I saw them pass through the great hall not long ago.”
“I know not. Aunt Patience gave them the night off.”
“Well then, may I come in?” Keegan asked. “I need to talk to you.”
Her heart pounding, she glanced toward the stairwell. “What if one of the maids or someone should come along?”
“We’ll bar the door. And you can tell them you don’t wish to be disturbed.”
What he suggested… along with the smoldering look in his eyes, sent hot sparks snapping through her body. If her only joys in life were to be stolen moments with him, she would take them. She stepped back, allowing him entrance to the room. Once she closed the door, he placed the plank of wood into the metal brackets, barring anyone from entering.
He glanced around the dim room, inhaling deeply. “I smell lavender soap.”
“I had a bath a short time ago.”
“Do you mind if I light a candle?”
“Nay.” She would like to see him better anyway.
After lighting a candle from the low-burning flames of the hearth and securing it in a candelabrum on the mantel, he turned to her. His normally light eyes were darker in the meager light. “I’ve been thinking of naught but you.”
She stepped closer to him and took his hand. “I’ve been thinking of you also,” she confessed in a whisper.
He lifted her hand and kissed the back, his warm lips and beard stubble teasing her skin.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about,” he said. “The last night we were at Teasairg, when your aunt walked in on us in your chamber, I blurted out something that may have shocked you. But I meant it.” He lowered himself and knelt on one knee. “If your father agrees to it, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”