Page 49 of To Claim His Highland Bride

“Who would stay with the ship?”

Bryce smiled. “Why, you and Rowena of course. You would sail to the western locations, then deliver a portion of the treasure to each family by horse. While you are gone from the ship, Mack will oversee the anchored vessel.”

Marcus pressed his lips together, considering. “How do you propose to keep the portion of treasure you carry safe while traveling, especially through areas where there are known English patrols?”

“We rely on our clans. The twelve men I lead will first head to clan MacDonald and gather a small army of men to accompany us. I know that even I can find twelve MacDonalds to help if I pay them a few gold coins from the treasure we recovered from the Cave of Gold.”

“I will travel to the MacPherson clan to gather men,” Gordon said, stepping forward to join Bryce.

“The MacFarlanes will aid me, of that I have no doubt,” Eck said from his position beside the men.

Marcus’s brows furrowed. “You would all do that? Give up two months of your life to help reconcile the debts owed to our fallen brothers?”

“Aye, Captain,” the crew said in unison, the sound echoing through the morning stillness.

Rob Roy smiled. “You’ve made us all rich men, Captain. It’s the least we can do.”

Rowena swung to face her husband. “Before we were interrupted this morning by Eck, I was going to suggest that I go with you, wearing my fairy armour and disguised as one of your men.”

Marcus reached up to gently smooth a lock of her dark hair from her temple. “No one could ever mistake you for a male, my love, but I accept your offer.” He turned back to his men. “Given the amount of thought and heart you put into this plan, I have nothing to say but aye and thank you.”

Cheers rose up from the men. When silence settled over them once more, Marcus smiled a little sadly as his gaze passed over those assembled. “Then it appears we will have one last voyage back to Dunvegan together. We can leave your allotments of the treasure there for you to retrieve when the task of honouring our fallen crewmen is done. Then I will have the burden of finding worthy men such as yourselves to replace you.”

“My brither will sail with ye,” a tall, dark-haired sailor called from the back of those gathered.

“As would my cousin,” Fergus said.

“I’ve two cousins that would relish the chance tae learn tae sail,” said Naill. Others echoed that sentiment.

“Sounds as if I will have a full complement of fine replacements.” Marcus’s gaze was a warm caress, embracing them all as the men went back to their posts, preparing for their departure.

Rowena suddenly realised that the men were more than crewmen. They were Marcus’s family. “These men love and respect you very much.”

A sudden warm smile lit Marcus’s face. “I love them too. That was why losing so many of them was so hard on me.” Marcus’s arms came around Rowena from behind and he drew her back against him. His lips gently brushed her temple. “Eck was right. You helped heal the pain of loss and gave me something to hold on to for our future together.”

Rowena turned in his arms, facing him. “I’ve given you nothing.”

“You’ve given me everything, my love. When I had no clan you took me in. When I had no home, you wrapped me in your arms. When I had no family, you gave me something to hope for in the birth of our first child.” His hand moved down to cover her abdomen.

“We cannot know for certain.”

“I know. And so do you.”

She did know. Their first night together had given them a child that would bind them in a way even their marriage vows could not. The effects on her body were already evident. She was softer in some places and fuller in others.

“In all the commotion of last night I forgot to ask you . . . You mentioned the remaining ten treasure chests were missing from the cave when you went back to the sea tunnel. I find that odd.”

“The only explanation for their disappearance is that the seals took them.”

He frowned. “What would seals want with treasure?”

She shrugged. “Perhaps it is like a raven with a shiny object. The seals don’t think of the goods as treasure, only something interesting to play with. Unless of course they are not seals at all but the selkie fowk.”

“We may never know.”

“You’re not upset about losing the riches?”

Marcus leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips. “The only treasure I ever need is right here in my arms. Besides, I did not make a good privateer. All the treasure I plundered was given to me by Jacob Thorne.”