Alex glanced at his brother. It had to be Madeline. What could he do about it? Before he could ponder his choices, his brother forced his hand.
“’Tis time to take our leave, brother.” Brodie ground out.
***
Madeline opened one eye and realized it was past dawn. She needed to get out of bed. Pushing herself up on one side, she searched the room. A vision of a dark stranger came to her.
“Alice? Alice?” Maddie’s anxiety grew at the thought of a strange man in her room.
“Maddie, I am here. What is it?” Alice asked.
“A man, there was a man right here, someone I have never seen before.” Maddie turned her head slowly to allow her one good eye to search the chamber.
“Nay, there is no stranger here. It is morning. No one has entered your chamber this morn.” Alice grabbed Maddie’s hand to rub it in comfort.
Madeline crumpled back in her bed. She was exhausted. Her memory was failing her. She could remember him, couldn’t she? His scent was ingrained in her mind. Horse and pine? And something else she didn’t recognize.
She was becoming daft. Kenneth had gone too far this time. Her eyes closed and she slept.
Madeline dreamed of a large, handsome stranger. He reached for her, caressing her cheek. He tried to tell her something, but she could not understand his words. His arms reached for her and pulled her in tight to him in a warm embrace.
Wrapping her arms around the strange man, Maddie rested her head on his chest and sighed. His warm breath caressed her forehead. His gentle touch eased her mind. She was finally safe again. But who was he?
***
Alex and Brodie made their way to the stables to retrieve their horses. Alex nodded at the stable master.
“Good day to you, Laird Grant. The name is Mac. Any other way I can be of service to you?” Mac led his horse to him.
“Nay, Mac.” Alex reached for Midnight. He had been brushed and fed. Alex could tell Midnight had been treated well by the way his favorite horse greeted him.
“Nice piece of horse flesh, Laird.”
“Aye, he is. You been here long?” Alex raised an eyebrow at the stable master. He would find out more about his angel. He had to.
“Started with the old laird, James MacDonald,” Mac said. He lowered his voice. “Naught like the new laird.”
Alex stared at the stable master. How much would he tell?
Alex decided to take a chance. “There be a young, yellow-haired lass here?”
“Aye, the old laird’s daughter, Madeline. Sweetest lass in the Highlands, e’en if she was born part English. Her maid be my wife. She came here when the laird brought the English lass, Elizabeth, here to wed. None kinder than James and Elizabeth MacDonald, and none fairer than their daughter.”
“My sister mentioned her. She remembers Elizabeth visiting long ago with her daughter.” Alex ran his hand down Midnight’s coat, recognizing how carefully Mac had brushed his horse.
“Is that so?” Mac opened his mouth to speak more, but was silenced by his laird’s sharp entrance.
“Mind your tongue, Mac.” Kenneth appeared in their view on his horse. “Be on your way, Grant. I will not say it again.” He turned and brought his crop down hard on his horse’s flank and sped away.
Mac whispered. “Things are not the same, sadly.”
Alex and Brodie rode out, followed by their guards. Alex had a sick feeling in his gut telling him he was making a mistake. How could he leave the lass behind? He was a Scottish laird, head of his clan. His people looked to him to do what was right. That would include protecting the innocent.
They also depended on him to keep his clan safe. One of the reasons he was on this journey was to find out who the new marauders were. His duty was to protect his clan and their possessions. Kidnapping a woman from a neighboring clan was cause for war. He could not endanger his family or his people that way. His father taught him well, he knew what his obligations were. Chasing a beautiful lass was reckless and dangerous. He simply couldn’t do it.
Yet he could not erase the blue-eyed beauty from his mind. Mac had said her name was Madeline. Kenneth had said she was to marry the Comming. Who would give one of their own kin to Niles Comming? His reputation in the Highlands was horrific. He was cruel to every woman that passed by him.
Niles Comming was betrothed to Madeline?
Alex would not allow it. Madeline was his.
***
Days later, they headed back to Grant land. Alex had no more information than he had when he had left, except that he did not trust the MacDonald laird.
Finding a clearing, he motioned to his men to make camp for the night. Several went off in the hopes of finding some fresh meat to roast. Alex kneaded the muscles in his neck, attempting to relieve the tension. He stood in the center of the clearing.