Page 68 of Tempting the Highland Captive

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

Weeks passed as Ron worked to know his father’s people and lands as he had done when coming to the McAlpine lands. He made some enemies along the way, but most people responded to him with the respect deserving his position among them. In the days that passed, they had come to see that he was not his father. He ruled with a firm but compassionate hand. He had expected at least one of the Rossell warriors to challenge his place as laird, but they had not. His reputation as a fierce capable warrior was well known to them all and they either did not wish to die or respected him for it. Either way, he had been able to win over most of the warriors to his cause, not because they were happy about joining with the Clan McAlpine, but because they respected him.

Ron enjoyed training with such capable warriors as his father’s men, but he missed his wife with every fiber of his being and looked forward to her letters. They had agreed on a date to hold the gathering of the two clans, and both were doing their utmost to prepare for it. The safety of their people was their top priority and they each chose who would attend with care. There would be no violence on either part if they had anything to say about it.

When the day came, Ron gathered his people together. Amelia’s warriors had long since returned to their own lands. They had kept to themselves, remaining on guard in the forest to watch the border lands and had not really interacted with any of the Rossell people to any significant extent. Ron had ridden out and conversed with them as need, but this would be the first time that many of them had ever met outside of a battlefield. Not everyone was able to attend the gathering as some warriors and families had to remain behind to keep things functioning and protected. Ron hoped that he did not leave only to return to chaos, but he had to trust that the work he had done since his father’s death would stand his absence. It would be a good test of his people’s loyalty.

Ron rode out of the courtyard with Liam at his side. They made a formidable picture with his men lined up two by two behind him with their families coming along at the end. His heart raced in anticipation of holding his wife in his arms once more. It had been too long, and his body ached for her. His horse pranced beneath him as if it knew that it was going home at last.

“Are ye ready, lad?” He smiled, rubbing his horse’s neck. The horse tossed his head in reply and Ron let him run.

* * *

Amelia awaited the arrival of her husband and his people with great anticipation. She, Maggie, and many others had worked hard to prepare for the Rossells. It was important to start out well. She did not wish to cause more problems for either Ron’s people or her own due to one group or the other feeling slighted in some way. She had prepared the dinner with the diplomacy of a queen. Her stomach felt as if it had field mice running around inside of it and she grasped her abdomen to calm her nerves. She had reservations about allowing their former enemies into their home, but she had faith in her husband’s plan to join the clans. Their child would have a beautiful legacy built on love instead of the hatred that she and Ron had been raised on.

“They have been seen riding through the forest, my lady,” Lucas reported, standing tall and proud with his warriors in the courtyard as she approached. It was clear that he wished to show superior force if necessary.

“Everything is ready.”

“Yer man is a good warrior and laird. All will be well.” Lucas’ attempt to reassure her was a gallant act on his part as she knew that he was not happy about the clans coming together but had chosen to stand behind her anyway.

“Thank ye, Lucas, for everything.”

“Always.”

They stood there together, listening for the sound of hooves on the road. Nervous energy ran through the waiting warriors as their minds teetered between war and peace. The ground beneath their feet began to vibrate before they heard the horses coming. Amelia and her men stepped out of the courtyard and watched the road intently. Lucas had set men up along the way to pass information as needed following the Rossell’s approach. Though Amelia trusted her husband without question, her men did not trust that their former enemies would not attack given the chance no matter who their leader might be. When Ron emerged from the trees bursting into view, Amelia could no longer maintain a ladylike stance of waiting. Picking up her skirts, she ran toward her husband as fast as her legs would carry her. Seeing her, Ron kicked his horse into full speed, then slowed just as he reached her and slid from the saddle, taking Amelia into his arms.

“Oh, my bonnie,” he groaned with need as his lips came down upon hers. His arms closed around her, and it felt as if everything in the world had fallen into place. Her heart beat in time with his, their bodies melding into one another.

They stood their kissing, completely absorbed in one another, until a man with a deep voice interrupted with an amused chuckle. “There is a bedchamber but steps away.”

Amelia pulled back, blushing.

Ron growled at the man for interrupting them. “Aye, and I plan tae make good use o’ it, so ye will have tae tend tae yerself.”

Amelia’s blush deepened, keeping her eyes averted until she could take control of her physical state.

“Wife, allow me tae introduce ye tae my childhood friend Liam.”

Amelia lifted her head and turned to meet laughing green eyes. “My lady.” Liam bowed, black hair falling to conceal his face.

“Master Liam,” Amelia greeted in turn. Liam stood and they faced each other. “Ye are familiar tae me. Have we met before?” It occurred to her too late that their meeting might have been on the battlefield.

“I dinnae believe that I have had the pleasure, my lady.”

“Liam was fostered tae my faither. We were trained together in the ways o’ battle,” Ron explained. As if reading her thoughts he added, “He was in Edinburgh when Rossell died.”

Amelia nodded, but she could not shake the notion that they had met before. She wanted to ask Ron if he was certain that his friend was not one of Rossell’s spies, but there was no way to carve out even a brief moment of privacy as now they had been joined by Ron’s people. Perhaps one o’ Rossell’s people will ken who among our own have been spying. She was not certain how she was going to go about making inquiries without causing difficulty. Ron has already made inquiries on her behalf as best he could without alienating those he was trying to bring together and without exposing the weakness within her own clan. He had not been able to unearth anything. It was not an easy task to find answers when a person was not able to tell the entire truth of a matter.

As far as most of the clan knew, Ysenda’s death had been accidental, a lie perpetrated by her own family. Amelia had not been willing to risk everything on an uncertainty so had left it alone. Now as she stared into Liam’s disconcertingly familiar face, she finally felt as if she might be getting closer to the answers she sought. She thought hard and tried to remember exactly when she had seen his face, but the moment evaded her. Unable to do anything about it for the time being, she turned and allowed her husband to escort her back to the castle.

“I will ride back tae the end o’ the column and make certain that all o’ our people are cared for,” Liam volunteered, then with a nod from Ron, he turned his horse around and galloped back down the road.

When they reached Lucas, he and Ron clasped arms in brotherly greeting. “’Tis good tae see ye, My Laird,” Lucas greeted, using his official title respecting the importance of the day.

“I thank ye for keeping our lady safe,” Ron spoke for their ears alone.

“Always.” Lucas bowed his head in modest acceptance. They turned together as one to the castle. “How was the journey?” His tone held more than the usual pleasantries of inquiry.