Page 4 of To Claim His Highland Bride

Eck’s face lit up with his smile. “I imagined our journey to be one of boarding enemy ships, fighting, and looting for our treasures. Never did I imagine diving into the depths of the sea to retrieve them where nature would be our greatest threat.”

“Nature is still a force to be reckoned with. None of this will be easy.”

Eck reached for the door. “Life often requires a struggle. The men and I are prepared for whatever lies ahead.”

Marcus nodded, feeling as much excitement as trepidation. Recovering whatever remained in the wreck of the Spanish galleons would be as dangerous as anything he’d ever done in his life. But if he wanted to create a life for himself and Rowena, independent of her family, he would have to take that risk.

Chapter Two

Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye, Scotland

March 14th, 1743

“You should not be out here alone at night.”

Rowena MacLeod turned to see her oldest brother, Alastair, coming towards the rock on which she sat along the shore of Loch Dunvegan. “You worry too much.”

Alastair’s brows furrowed in annoyance. “It is my duty to worry about my sister, especially when she is being reckless.”

Rowena scowled as Alastair took a seat on the large rock beside her. “There is nothing reckless about sitting along our own castle’s shoreline, watching the Na Fir-Chlis.” The odd green and purple hues of the night sky danced above them. The Northern Lights, the lowlanders called the enchanted night sky. But the MacLeods held tight to Gaelic lore that was the source of many myths and legends, including their own Fairy Flag.

“If you were escorted by one of your brothers, and if that were all you were doing out here alone, I might agree.”

Rowena turned away from Alastair to stare into the distant waters of the loch and not the night sky. He knew why she was truly out here. “I watch for Marcus every night. Why should tonight be any different?”

“Aye, but usually you watch for him from the towers of Dunvegan. A much safer location for you.” At her frown, he softened his tone. “It has been several months since the MacDonalds or the English have attacked, but that does not mean we should let down our guard.”

“It has been six months since Marcus left.” Rowena could not hide the anguish in her voice. “Shouldn’t he have found his fortune by now?”

“Often it takes years,” Alastair said, scooting a little closer. “It took Tormod, Orrick, and me five years to find ourselves and make our own fortunes.”

“Five years!” Rowena’s eyes rounded as she turned back to her brother. “Nay. It must not take so long. I will not be an old maid when I do finally marry.”

“Then perhaps you should look for another bridegroom,” Alastair suggested as he placed a gentle hand over hers.

“How can you say such a thing? You know what it is like to love someone, then to lose them. Could you honestly say your life would have been better had you married someone other than Gwendolyn?”

He shook his head. “Nay. Gwendolyn is the only woman I have ever, or will ever, love.”

“I feel that way about Marcus despite the fact he is a MacDonald, despite the fact he left me to find his fortune, despite the fact I may never see him again.” Her voice drifted off as tears sprang to her eyes.

“Oh, Sister. It pains me to see you like this. Come inside. I’m sure we could talk Mrs Honey into making you a delectable treat that would take your mind off things for a time.”

Rowena lifted her chin and forced herself into a calmer state. “I do not want to be mollified, and I refuse to give up on Marcus coming for me sooner rather than later.”

Alastair opened his mouth to respond when the sound of rocks shifting beneath someone’s feet caught their attention. They turned to see Tormod, yet another one of her meddling brothers, making his way towards them. His hand was on the sword at his side as he searched the darkness as though expecting the enemy to descend upon them at any moment. “We have a very large and very well-protected castle that can keep everyone safe. Yet you insist on staring at the night sky outside of its walls. Why, Sister?”

Rowena released a frustrated breath. Could she have no peace from her family? “I was hoping to find a moment to myself to think.”

Tormod stopped before her and relaxed the hand on his weapon. “There are many places where you can be alone inside the castle. Wasn’t that one of the reasons you liked to go to the tower rooftop? You can still see the night sky and the waters beyond Loch Dunvegan there.”

He had barely finished his words when a cold chill that had nothing to do with the night came over them. A swirling grey mist swept across the shoreline then coalesced into the shape of a woman, her image growing more solid with each heartbeat until their ghostly mother stood beside them. All the castle residents were used to their mother’s frequent appearances and were grateful she was still a part of their lives even though she’d been dead for many years.

I sensed danger. Is everything as it should be out here?

The words resonated in Rowena’s head as their mother spoke to them in the only way she could.

Did you both sense danger as well? The Grey Lady’s worried gaze shifted between her sons before landing on Rowena, then narrowing. Why must you leave the castle? It’s not safe for you to be alone out here at night.