As the light grew brighter, visibility was not improved for the thick haze gleamed white, giving their surroundings a mystical quality. It seemed unreal, just as it had to kiss Seona in the wood. Like a dream. One he never wanted to wake up from.
“Chief!” a man yelled from the depths of the mist. They halted. A guard named Boyce appeared.
“Aye?” Dirk responded.
“Are any of you hurt?” The brawny man’s dark gaze skimmed over them.
“Nay. We’re well,” Dirk said. “Did everyone in our party survive?”
“Aye. Three men have injuries and are being patched up.”
Dirk nodded. “Were any outlaws killed?”
“Aye. One I’ve never seen before. The rest fled.”
“Make that two. I killed Nolan MacLeod.”
“’Tis good news, m’laird. We’re well rid of the outlaw.”
“What of Haldane and McMurdo?” Keegan asked.
“Escaped.” Boyce lowered his bushy dark brows.
“We’ll get them.” Keegan was determined to stop Haldane from attaining either of his goals. To Keegan, Dirk was like a brother, and the clan needed him as the chief. As for Seona, she was growing more precious to Keegan each day. He wished he could’ve found a way to talk to her months ago. But he’d thought there was no hope for anything between them. Now, the time they had left together grew short.
“I only regret we didn’t take them down before we started on this journey with the women,” Dirk said in a low voice.
Keegan nodded, feeling the same intense concern.
“Send three men to bury Nolan MacLeod’s body in the wood and mark the grave with stones. But first, search him and bring his weapons and possessions to me. I’ll make sure his brother gets them,” Dirk told the guard.
“Aye, m’laird.” Boyce bowed and hastened back toward camp.
“I’ll let Torrin MacLeod know where his brother is buried,” Dirk said. “I’d want to know if it was my brother.”
“Aye,” Keegan said. Although he didn’t know the MacLeod chief well, he didn’t think the man would be angered that his outlaw brother was killed at Dirk’s hand. In fact, he should’ve expected it, given what Nolan had tried to do to Isobel.
The four of them rode into camp where the men were packing up the tents and readying everyone to travel. Keegan was disappointed that his ride with Seona was over. Holding her close to him was one of the best feelings on earth. He dismounted, then lifted her down from the horse. Her dark blue gaze met his in the faint dawn light and her lips curved up in a tiny smile that bewitched him. Damn, how he wanted to kiss her again.
Her haggard-looking aunt appeared and dragged Seona away. She glanced back at him once, her expression dejected. He wanted to chase after them, but that would be daft. His chest ached. He led the recovered horse toward one of the two grooms traveling with them and instructed him to give the gaunt animal extra oats and also check it over for injuries.
Glancing down, Keegan realized he was still only half dressed, though he was fully covered. Hopefully, Seona would return his plaid after she put on her own clothing. The men were sure to tease him about losing his plaid.
Behind him, a man roared as if in pain. His hand flying to his sword hilt, Keegan spun around expecting a surprise attack. But no one moved. “What the devil?”
“Rebbie cauterized Marston’s badly bleeding wound,” Dirk said nearby.
Keegan finally noticed the injured guard, lying on the ground beyond several more men who either stood watching or helped hold him down. “I hope he will recover quickly.” Keegan accepted a cold bannock from their cook, Oran, a tall hefty man with a short gray beard and a bald head. “I need another bannock for Lady Seona.”
Oran nodded and handed him one. Keegan headed toward the bushes where most of the women were gathered. Apparently, Seona was behind a bush, dressing, with the help of her maids.
“Halt right there, Master Keegan,” Lady Patience said, her critical glance darting down his shirt-clad body. Aye, he knew very well he was not dressed properly, but at least his private parts were concealed. Besides, it could not be helped. He’d needed to give Seona his plaid for warmth. They were in the wild Highlands and had just survived an ambush. Men often threw off their bulky plaids to fight more easily in battle.
Keegan held up the bannock. “Lady Seona has not yet broken her fast.”
Lady Patience grabbed the oat cake from his hand. “I’ll give it to her.”
Annoyance drove through him. “I thank you.” He gave a mock bow, but waited where he was.
“That will be all,” Patience said, with a flick of her hand.
His annoyance grew into full blown irritation and he crossed his arms over his chest. Obviously, he wasn’t a laird, but neither was he a servant. “Lady Seona was cold, and I allowed her to borrow my plaid. Do you ken if she’s finished with it?”
Lady Patience narrowed her eyes and hastened behind the bush. After a few moments, she returned, holding his plaid between her thumbs and forefingers as if it contained vermin. Grinding his teeth, he snatched it from her and strode away. He wanted to call her a vile name, but somehow restrained himself. The lady had been like a thistle pricking his arse all winter, glaring at him when he merely glanced Seona’s way.
Somehow, he had to catch Seona away from her again and give her another lesson in knife fighting. And ’haps steal another kiss. Anticipation rushing through him, he suppressed a grin.
As he belted his plaid into place, Dirk approached him at a determined pace. “We have a problem.”
Keegan tensed, his attention focused. “What is it?”
“The coins are gone,” Dirk growled in a hushed tone.
Keegan frowned. “Which coins?”
“I told you about the money I was going to pay Lady Seona’s father for breaking the contract he had with my father. ’Twas a large amount.” Dirk lowered his voice further. “Five thousand merks.”
“Hell. One of the outlaws must have stolen it. Was it on Nolan’s body?”
“Nay. I asked the guard who brought his weapons to me. The bag of coins was in my tent, but when I took off after Nolan and Isobel, the money was left unguarded.” Dirk released a long, frustrated breath. “Now what am I going to pay Chief Murray with?”
Keegan thought for a moment, but had no ready answer. They were too far away from Castle Dunnakeil now to return and get more money. Nothing else they carried with them would be as valuable, beyond the horses. “Mayhap you won’t need to pay him,” Keegan suggested.
“Well… nay, I don’t have to pay him. ’Twas only an act of goodwill to keep peace between our clans.”
“’Haps the horse will be enough,” Keegan said, motioning toward the finest horse to ever come from the MacKay stables.
Dirk shrugged, then eyed Keegan. “Or… if you ask for Lady Seona’s hand and he agrees, no payment will be necessary. In fact, you’ll receive her dowry.”
A flash of excitement lit within him. ’Twas what Keegan yearned for more than anything. And he didn’t even care if she came with a dowry. “If only I could be so lucky.”
“Isobel and I will go with you to the Murrays’. ’Haps we can help convince her father.”
“’Twould mean the world to me, cousin.” Keegan smiled and shook Dirk’s hand, a thrill of exhilaration moving through him that he might have a chance with Seona. He didn’t think she would be opposed to marrying him. Of course, he hadn’t asked her. ’Twould have been premature. But after that kiss, and the sweet but sensual way she responded, he was convinced she felt as drawn to him as he was to her.
He had to find out for certain.
***
Haldane MacKay rode north across the moor as if the devil himself chased him. Although Dirk MacKay was not half as fearsome as a devil, he had a large force of men with him. More than Haldane had. That was why he hadn’t succeeded in his mission.
He hungered for revenge so badly he could hardly sleep at night. That bastard, Dirk, had murdered his mother, and then taken the castle and chiefdom from his brother. Aiden no longer wanted to be chief, so Haldane would take the responsibility off his hands. ’Twas what his mother and father would’ve wanted.