Page 117 of Kidnapped by a Rogue
As he had on the first night they shared a bed, he combed her hair, letting the long, bright strands glide through his fingers. He almost wept when he undressed her and saw all her scratches and bruises from the fall.
When her hair turned white and her face was lined, she would still be beautiful, for her true beauty came from inside. He prayed he would have the chance to grow old with her. But if he did not, he would count himself a lucky man, for he had been loved by this sweet lass, his Maggie.
He made love to her slowly, careful of her injuries. Over and over, he told her how much he loved her and tried to show her with his every touch how precious she was to him.
When she drifted off to sleep in his arms, a soft smile curving her lips, he left the candle burning until it was gone just so he could watch her. He stayed awake, savoring these last brief hours with his wife in his arms. Careful not to wake her, he ran his fingers through her hair and breathed in her scent. He did not think it possible he could fall more deeply in love with her, but his very heart beat for this lass.
His love, hiswife.
In the morning, he made love to her one last time, trying not to let her see the desperation he felt at having to leave her. But he had to go. The lives of the men trapped in Dornoch, good men who had helped rescue Alex, depended on him.
They ate breakfast with Ella, but he could not delay his departure any longer. The priest was already mounted and waiting at the gate.
“Lachlan will be home soon,” he told Una, who had come out into the courtyard with Margaret and Ella to see him off.
He lifted Ella up and tossed her into the air to hear her laugh, then he kissed her cheek and set her down. Finally, he enveloped Margaret in his arms and held her close. After one last kiss, he leaned back to drink in her lovely face once more.
“Time for me to go, a chuisle mo chroí,” pulse of my heart. “With luck, I’ll be back by nightfall.”
“I need ye to come back,” Margaret said, her voice quavering, “so see that ye do.”
He would be lost without her, but he was confident that if he did not return, Margaret would persevere through her sadness and loss. Her gentle nature and graceful form hid a strength that would carry her through.
Garty held none of the bad memories for her that it did for him. She would have her independence and, in time, could have a happy life there with Ella. Word might eventually reach her brothers, but the Gordons would watch over her. Alex would make certain they did.
CHAPTER 34
Smoke hung over the town and burned Finn’s throat as he rode with the priest through the smoldering remains of the burned houses. Sinclair warriors surrounded the castle and the burned-out cathedral, which stood a few yards apart in the center of the town.
“A few of the Murrays are caught up there,” the priest reminded him, pointing at the cathedral’s tower, which was all that remained of the church.
As he came to a halt in front of the mass of armed warriors in front of the castle, Finn looked up and saw Lachlan among the Murrays peering down from the parapet.
“If this doesn’t go well, takeCeòto my wife,” Finn told the priest before he dismounted. Then he pattedCeò’s shoulder and walked toward the mass of armed warriors.
John, Master of Caithness, expected him, so the Sinclairs parted to let Finn through without a word. John stood waiting, his armor and face smudged with soot, in a small clearing at the center of his men. Behind him, two pews that must have been dragged out of the ruined cathedral were arranged face to face in the open air.
When John gestured toward one of the pews, Finn sat and stretched out his legs. Finn caught sight of the MacKay chieftain, Barbara’s lover and close ally of the Sinclairs, standing nearby with a group of his warriors. He was not surprised that MacKay had joined in the attack, but he was relieved when John did not invite MacKay to join them.
At John’s signal, the men widened the circle around the pews so that their conversation could be private. Finn waited to speak until they stepped back.
“’Tis one thing to raid some cattle and burn a few fields, but destroying the cathedral and threatening the bishop’s home?” Finn folded his arms and shook his head. “You’ll burn in hell for this, which means ye won’t escape your father even in death, because we both know that’s where he’ll be.”
“You’re just angry that I succeeded in trapping your friends, the Murrays,” John said.
“Your grandmother will be disappointed when she hears what you’ve done,” Finn said. “Lady Mary still believes there’s some good in ye.”
“She died a fortnight ago,” John said in a flat tone.
Finn was silent for a long moment as a wave of sadness passed through him. He’d always been fond of Mary, and now he knew the role she’d played in saving him when he was still a babe. And with her death, he’d lost an ally in appealing to John’s better instincts.
“Come, John, ye don’t want the blood of good men on your hands,” Finn said. “You’re not like your father.”
“I am my father’s son,” John said. “Now let’s get on with it.”
“All right,” Finn said. “Tell me what ye need to let these men go.”
John bluffed and threatened, as expected, but they soon came to an agreement that would save the skins of the Murrays. In exchange for allowing the trapped men to leave Dornoch unharmed, the Murrays would agree not to challenge George Sinclair’s control of Sutherland during Alex’s minority. As was customary, John required three hostages to secure the promise.
