Alexander carried Catriona inside the cave and lowered her feet to the dry slab of stone. With a brush of his fingers against the silky line of her jaw, he gave her a reassuring smile. “Fire. Food. Then sleep. Ye’ll feel better and I promise ye, we’ll win the day, aye?”
She didn’t answer. Just looked up at him as though trapped in a trance. Her trembling smile and the sorrow in her deep green eyes came near to undoing him. She’d always been so strong but this situation had most nigh bested her. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it before leading her to a rock beside the coals of last night’s fire. “Sit ye down and rest whilst I stoke the fire and get the lads settled, aye?”
“Aye,” she responded with a soft dip of her chin. Her hand trembling, she pulled her arisaidh tighter around her shoulders and fixed a forlorn gaze down at the mound of ash-covered coals and blackened bits of burned wood.
With a stir of the coals, Alexander fed small sticks and dried moss to the faded embers until flames rose and crackled through the fuel. Larger pieces of wood soon had the fire blazing. He looked at Catriona, puzzling at her sudden withdrawal. She’d acted so happy to see him and yet now, she almost appeared as though she were sorry they had rescued her. Alexander shook away the thought. 'Twas mere weariness troubling the both of them.
“Warm yourself, aye? I’ll be back anon.”
Catriona nodded, leaning closer to the fire and stretching out her hands toward the flames.
Making his way to the front of the cave, Alexander made a spinning motion with one finger to turn his brothers around and lead them back outside. He stopped short at the sight of the scowling priest still sitting on the mare. “Duncan,” he said with a weary huff. “Get the poor Father to the fire and untie him while ye are about it, aye?”
Duncan grinned then pulled the priest from his mount with an unceremonious yank and led him inside the cave.
Alexander turned and glared at his youngest brother. His irritation shifted from Duncan to Sutherland with the ease born of years dealing with the two and their antics. “Ye could no' have treated the priest any kindlier?”
“He knows more swear words than I do, brother.” Sutherland accented the revelation with a defensive snort. “Dinna feel too sorry for the man. I promise ye, he doesna merit it.”
Alexander dropped his chin to his chest and shook his head. “Any sign of Alasdair and Ian?” He lifted his gaze and scanned the surrounding area.
“No sign of anyone,” Graham replied from a stone outcropping higher up the path.
Alexander pondered the situation as he studied the horizon, squinting against the bright blue of the sky. “If they rode all the way to Fort William, 'twill take more than a day to hear from them.”
“At least spring is struggling to reclaim the land,” Duncan said as he exited the cave. “'Tis almost balmy down in the glens.” He clapped a hand to Alexander’s shoulder and grinned. “Shall I see to finding a bit of greenery for your bride to hold whilst the priest hears your vows?”
Alexander came close to choking on his own air. Jerking away from Duncan’s grasp, he stole a glance back into the cave to make sure his brother’s statement had not been overheard. “Are ye daft? This is no time to jest about such.”
“Who says I’m jesting?” Duncan said with an irritated frown. “Magnus, do ye no' think that would be the best way to keep the lass safe from both Campbell and her brother?”
Magnus nodded. “Aye. A good tactic indeed.” He waved Graham down from his lookout and pointed at Alexander. “Do ye no' think that marriage would be a good start to clearing up this mess and repaying Mistress Catriona for all her kindness and hospitality?”
“Aye,” Graham agreed then added with a grin, “She’ll keep him in line the rest of his days.”
“I told ye before, I have nothing to offer the lass.” Alexander kept his voice to a low whisper. He’d not have Catriona hurt nor any more upset than she already was.
Duncan thumped him on the chest. “Ye’ve already given her your heart, man. 'Tis plain as the nose on your face.”
“My heart willna feed her nor protect her from the cold.” Alexander shoved Duncan and Magnus both farther away from the mouth of the cave. “We’ve already discussed this.”
Magnus shoved him back. “Then what the hell do ye mean to do with her, Alexander?” Magnus thumped him again. Hard. “Ye’ve stolen her away from clan and home. Do ye mean to take her to some strange place where she kens nary a soul and dump her there to fend for herself?”
“Ye’ve meant to marry her since we started out. Admit it,” Graham said with a shove against his other side. “Why else would ye bring her here?”
Why else indeed?
Alexander turned and stared back into the cave, his mouth gone dry as old bones. From this distance, he could just make out the light from the fire. The cavernous hole they’d found this high on the mountain was deep and generous. A chill ran through him. Caves. What sort of life was that for Catriona? Traveling hither and yon across the Highlands and sleeping in caves. What could he say to her? He had nothing to offer.
“Go to her, man,” Magnus urged with a nudge against his back. “The words will come.”
Feeling more fear and dread than he’d faced during any battle, Alexander stole one last glance at each of his brethren’s faces. Every one of them gave him an encouraging nod.
Sutherland held up a hand. “Wait one more moment.” He headed into the cave. “I’ll drag the priest somewhere else so ye can have a bit a privacy to do your wooin'.”
“Dinna drag the man!” Alexander knotted his fists, doing his damnedest to bite back the curse words threatening to roll off his tongue.Christ Almighty. We’re every last one of us headed straight to the hottest part of Hell.
Sutherland and the priest emerged a short time later. The priest was wrapped in Sutherland’s cloak but still looking sullen enough to damn them all. With his arm around the priest as he led him away, Sutherland thumped the poor man on the chest as he smiled up at Alexander. “He’s got his prayer book and everything!”
