Rescued by a Highlander(29)

Maddie toweled herself dry and stared into Jennie’s eyes. She did not want to lie to the lass. “I hope everything will work out for me, lass. You have been a great help, but I think it is time we get ready for the evening meal. I will get dressed and come down to the hall when I am ready. And I thank you for your help.”





CHAPTER THIRTEEN




Kenneth arrived at the Comming keep with his men about a day and a half later. The guards at the portcullis yelled down, “State your purpose.”

“Open the bloody gates now, or I will whip you myself when I get inside!” he bellowed at the belligerent warrior. “I need to see the Comming now. We’ve problems.”

After consulting with the Comming’s steward, his guards led Kenneth and his men into the bailey. They left their horses at the stables and headed for the steps to the great hall.

“You and your commander only, the rest will wait outside,” Comming’s steward barked. Kenneth motioned for Egan to go with him and left Iain in charge of the men.

Och, how he hated taking orders from people beneath him. Who did these lowly people think they were? Didn’t they know who he was?

After all, he was the MacDonald laird. Actually, that was rather amusing to him. He had no more MacDonald blood in him than Niles Comming did. His mother’s audacity was entertaining.

His mother’s parents had owned a tavern years ago. His grandparents had made their only daughter, Mildred, his mother, work almost every day after she was five summers old. He chuckled about that. His mother had never done a lick of work he could remember, but she was good at giving orders. When she was about ten and five, his mother decided she didn’t want to work at the tavern. She was tired of scrubbing floors, scouring pots, and washing linens. With all the men coming and going in the tavern, she had learned how nice it was to be on her back. Many men also gave her coins after she pleasured them.

She had liked the MacDonald laird, James. He was big and handsome, and she believed she could trick him into marrying her. A group of lairds were drinking in the tavern one night, and she plied the MacDonald with her sweetest smiles, pouring her father’s strongest whisky in his tankard when no one was looking. When he climbed up to his room, she followed and offered herself to him. Laird MacDonald was totally agreeable except for one small problem, he passed out.

Even that didn’t stop Mildred. She managed to get herself pregnant, though she was unsure who the real father was, and she blamed it on Laird MacDonald.

Kenneth’s mother and her da had been smart enough to confront the man in front of his peers. While Clan Chief MacDonald remembered her face, he had not recalled much else. He finally relented that it was possible that the bairn could be his. He agreed in front of witnesses that if his wife did not bear him any sons, her son would be the MacDonald heir. Kenneth chuckled to himself. Even his mother had no idea who his father was, how could Kenneth know? He was a bastard, but he deserved much more. His mother had reminded him every day he was supposed to be of noble blood and he deserved to be one of the ruling classes. And rule is what he did.

Now the power was all his. And the last of his dreams had been about to come true until Maddie left the keep. He was not sure how he would handle Niles Comming. But together, they could be unstoppable.

Kenneth halted as Niles flew down the stairs, trying to pull his breeches up. A young maid limped quietly behind him. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, the maid moved around Niles toward the kitchen.

The Comming grabbed her by the arm, “Where do you think you are goin’? I am no’ done with you yet, wench! Get yourself back in the bed.” The trembling maid spun around and ran back up the stairs. “This better be good, MacDonald! What’s the problem?”

“Maddie has disappeared. I had to leave the keep last night due to a fire in one of the cottages. When I returned she was gone. She must have been kidnapped.”

“Kidnapped? Have you a ransom note yet, you fool? How can you no’ keep hold of a mere wench like Maddie? I want her, you better find her!” Niles yelled in Kenneth’s face. “She’s my betrothed!”

“There’s been no ransom note yet. But who else would want her? She has no value!” Kenneth yelled back.

“No value? She is a bonnie wench, and I liked her when I took her. You promised her to me!” Comming bellowed.

“She probably ran away. You left enough blood on the sheets for five virgins. What in blazes did you do to her? ’Tis your fault, you scared her away. She is refusing to marry you now.”

“She is refusing?” The Comming reached out and grabbed Kenneth by the throat. “Well, you best find her. We have an agreement, she is to be my wife. Then I will handle her. I see you cannot!” Niles let go of Kenneth’s throat, tossing him across the room. He paced the hall, running his hands through his hair.