“I dinna even ken where to start,” Andrew Mòr sighed. “These two—” he pointed to Rab and Catherine, “—already married. These two,” pointing to Catriona and Andrew Óg, “are likely halfway to handfasted. Despite that, he,” pointing to Caelan, “agreed to marry Rab to Catriona because none of us kenned half of what we’ve just learned. Turns out that dung heap Maxwell is who has really been behind it all. He stirred up trouble to draw ye and Brodie out. Used the MacLarens and me like bluidy bait.”
“What’s the Black’s role in all this?” Dominic asked Catriona.
“Naught until last eve. He’s livid that Maxwell kept all this from him. He’s surely humiliated that he never learned aboot any of it. Because he agreed with Maxwell’s suggestion that Rab and I marry, he feels honor bound to ride out and help the MacLarens.”
“Wait,” Catherine interjected. “If they all think ye and Rab are marrying, then why do they think they need to ride to the MacLarens’ aid? What do they think brought the MacFarlanes and MacLarens back to battle? They canna ken aboot Rab and me.”
“Ye dinna ken?” Catriona’s face blanched. “I thought ye already kenned.”
“Kenned what?” Caelan and Andrew Mòr demanded, shooting disgusted looks at one another.
“There were fields set ablaze last night where yer lands meet. Two villages on either side of the border were raided and burned down. Maxwell paid some clansmen to do it and make it look like ye attacked one another. I thought that’s why ye were already here.”
“Nay. King Robert sent missives saying Rab and I ran away to marry.” Catherine held up her hand.
“Bluidy damn time,” Catriona said, a smile wanting to tug at her mouth, but the moment was too somber. She turned to Rab. “Dinna fash, I wouldnae have married ye, anyway.”
“I kenned and told Maxwell as much.” Rab met Andrew Óg’s gaze. “I wouldnae have accepted.”
“How far behind ye do ye think they are, Lady Catriona?” Andrew Mòr asked.
“Mayhap another hour if we’re lucky.”
“Rab, take Catherine and Catriona upCreag an Tuirc. Get them hidden. Douglan is there with two score more warriors. Send him down.”
“Douglan?” Rab asked in surprise. He watched his father clench his jaw, and Rab realized his father waited for Rab to react. He understood Caelan must have found out about Douglan and Katherine. “It worked out for the best. They love each other, and I love Kitty.”
Caelan nodded. “Ye dinna hold aught against him?”
“Nay. I dinna like or agree with what he did, but frankly, I dinna care that much. I have Kitty as ma wife. That’s all that has mattered for years. If Katherine can forgive me for using her, and Kitty can accept what I’ve already told her, then I’m in nay position to pass judgment on anyone.”
Caelan nodded and eyed Andrew Mòr, a hint of humor in his tone. “Bluidy complicated, this lot. It was much easier when we were their age and meeting our wives.”
Andrew Mòr’s expression softened. “Aye. There was never a reason to sneak anywhere with ma Aveline.”
No one spoke. Everyone watched Andrew Mòr, shocked to hear him say his dead wife’s name, let alone share a memory. He hadn’t been able to talk about her since her death. He nodded as he looked at Catherine. “She wanted ye two to marry. I’ll never ken if she had time to forgive me before she went. That will always be a regret that haunts me.”
“I’m certain she has, Uncle. She only ever wanted what was best for each of us. She understood yer duty to our clan, and she admired how ye always put everyone ahead of what ye might have wanted for yerself.”
Andrew Mòr’s eyes widened. “I wanted ye to marry Rab. I just didna want ye to marry a MacLaren. Since one couldnae come without the other, that’s why I refused to consider it.” He shifted his attention to Caelan. “Even if we didna learn aboot the Douglases today, the weans are right. We canna carry on.”
“Nay. We canna,” Caelan agreed. “Nessa will never forgive me if I did aught to hurt Catherine and fighting ye does that. I willna choose to lose ma son either. It all seems so wretchedly pointless now.”
“Aye.” Andrew Mòr nodded.
“Mòr,” Caelan cleared his throat. “I am sorry for what we took from ye. I wished I could have said that to ye moons ago. I admired Lady MacFarlane and yer lasses, and I ken ma Nessa was fond of them. She’s grieved in private for yer loss, but it has taken its toll on her. On all of us.”
“Thank ye,” Andrew Mòr rasped.
“Óg, ride with me,” Rab suggested, allowing both lairds a moment to gather themselves as emotions became too raw. Both lairds stared at their sons, proud of the men they found at that moment. They’d accomplished a truce that Andrew Mòr and Caelan had been too stubborn and prideful to negotiate. Andrew Óg and Rab smiled at their fathers, relieved that the bitterness slipped from both leaders. The two younger men escorted the women into the crags, where Douglan hesitated to step forward. Rab nodded to his younger brother, rapidly explaining the complicated and nearly unbelievable events that unfolded.
With a score of men waiting with the women, both to guard them and as a second wave of warriors, Rab, Douglan, and Andrew Óg returned to the base of the hills to await the Douglases with the MacLaren, MacFarlane, and Campbell armies at the ready. Both Andrews, Rab, Caelan, and Dominic faced their horses toward the woods from which Catriona had emerged. Douglan and a senior MacFarlane warrior maneuvered their horses to stand behind the front line. Nearly a hundred warriors fanned out behind the nobles. Their wait wasn’t long.
Chapter 18
Rab glanced toward the women’s hiding place from the corner of his eye. He could tell Andrew Óg, who sat atop his horse beside him, did the same. Keeping his voice low, he spoke only for Andrew’s ears.
“She’s been ma friend since we were weans. Ye couldnae find a better woman unless ye wanted Kitty. Her father would take her back, but the Black willna be able to. Nae after she chose our clans over hers. He’s fond of Catriona, but he must save face after this blows up, which it will.”
