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Maura shook her head. “I would suffer a thousand lifetimes tae protect ye,” she said with a tearful sob.

“I feel as though I should dae more,” Ruairi said. “This all began when I killed someone I should nae hae. I need tae atone for it.”

“Ye can atone by haeing a good life. Ye are gaeing tae be laird tae this place. Ye are gaeing tae be married. I want ye tae fall in love and hae children. I want ye tae live a long life and be happy enough for both of us,” she said. It occurred to her that she was speaking as though this was her final goodbye. Given what fate might await them back in McGrory territory, it might well have been. As she looked at Ruairi, she noticed how he had grown in the short time she had been absent. There was a wisdom and maturity about him now that had not been present when she left. It seemed that he had spent much time thinking about his actions and how they affected the world around him. In this instance, she was the one suffering the consequences for his recklessness. But she would do anything to protect her brother and, now, her husband.

There was a lump in Ruairi’s throat. “Are ye gaeing back with him out of duty or out of love?” he asked.

The question took Maura by surprise. “Love,” she said, and she was astonished at how easily the word came out. She wasn’t sure when it had happened; perhaps it had been the first time they had shared a bed, or when he had shown his vulnerable emotions towards her, or perhaps it had been when she saw him beaten and bloodied. But either way, love burned in her soul for him, and she would follow him to the end. Ruairi nodded at this and then left her alone.

A messenger from the McGrory clan had been dispatched to the Calbraith clan. They were going to send a carriage to collect Kevan and Maura in order to prevent them from fleeing deeper into the Highlands. It showed how little they thought of the married couple, as neither would ever have shirked their honor like that, but the McGrorys were a paranoid lot.

Maura was resting in bed. The carriage was to arrive the following morning at dawn, and if neither of them were there, then it would be war. Maura’s mind was filled with various thoughts. Most of all, she wondered if it was possible to undo bad decisions. At the time, she knew that she was being reckless, but the alternative was war, and anything seemed better than that. Now, she wasn’t sure. It seemed as though she and Kevan had to suffer from crimes they did not commit, and even though their sacrifice meant peace, it was a fragile one. There was no telling how long it was going to last, or if some warmonger was going to rise up within the McGrory clan and take the position of laird as his own. If they didn’t recognize Kevan as laird, then why would they both protect the peace that his marriage had sealed? It almost seemed as though the McGrorys wanted war above all else, but wanted the cause to be an injustice against them.

It was going to be a testing time when she returned to the McGrory clan, and her quick mind was thinking of ways to deal with the situation. Unfortunately, she was unable to come up with anything.

It was late at night when she stirred, sensing movement beside her. She opened her eyes and blinked to adjust to the dim light. The blanket had been pushed away, and the shadowy form of Kevan was standing beside the door.

“Kevan?” she asked in a soft breath. Kevan hung his head and sighed.

“Ye were nae supposed tae wake.”

Maura pushed herself up into a sitting position. “What are ye daeing?”

Kevan left the door and returned to the bed. “I was taking matters intae my own hands. It’s sweet that ye should want tae suffer with me, but there is no need for it. Ye should be free tae live here and hae a life of yer own, one that ye deserve. I can never give ye the happiness that ye should hae. I cannae guarantee that things are gaeing tae be easier when we return. I thought that I might slip away in the night and meet the carriage and get them tae take me back. I thought that if I gave myself up, they would hae their revenge. If they want tae beat me, then they can beat me. I’m tired of it now. They dinnae want me tae be laird, sae I won’t be their laird. I’ll be happy with that, as long as ye are safe.”

A chord was struck in Maura’s heart. “Ye cannae dae that. What about yer promise tae John?”

Kevan shook his head and cursed under his breath. “I cannae keep his promise, and perhaps it was tae much for John tae promise anyway. Our clan haes a certain way of daeing things that cannae be changed. I was a fool for thinking they would take mercy on me or show me any kind of sympathy. I should hae known this from the beginning. I should hae warned ye. The only chance ye hae now is tae stay here where ye are loved. Ye belong with yer family, lass.”

“Ye are my family,” Maura said. “Ye are my husband. We made vows, and I didnae make them lightly. I always intended tae be a loyal wife tae ye, Kevan, and I meant what I said earlier. I am nae gaeing tae let ye suffer alone. Whatever awaits us, we will face taegether,” she said. “I know it seems as though the whole clan is against ye, but there hae tae be others like yer sister—good people who know that ye will be a good laird. All we need tae dae is convince them tae be as vocal as everyone else.”

“Maura, please. I dinnae want ye coming with me. Yer place should be here. This is where ye are safe. I want ye tae be safe and tae marry a man ye truly love.”

Maura laughed and cupped his head in her hands. “Kevan, I dae love ye,” she said. As the moonlight slanted upon his face, she saw his surprise and delight. They kissed and sank into the blankets, distracting themselves from their sorrow with the pleasures of the flesh.

And then, in the depths of night, Maura had an idea.

17

The following morning, there was a great commotion as the carriage from the McGrory clan approached. Maura and Kevan walked out together, making a great show of leaving. There were tearful goodbyes and big hugs. All eyes were on these gestures as the outpouring of sympathy was genuine. But there was one notable exception: Ruairi. Maura wept as she took Kevan’s hand and made sure that all the eyes of the McGrorys were on them while shadowy figures moved near the carriage.

“Hurry up, will ye? We dinnae hae all day. It’s bad enough that ye hae been cavorting with the enemy. Did ye really think ye could flee without us finding ye?” one of the McGrory men said. He was a rough brute, and his words were harsh.

“We’re gaeing tae prove tae ye that we are the rightful heir. Ye should hae more respect for yer laird and lady,” Maura said in a haughty tone. The way the man looked at her made her skin crawl, and she had a grim feeling that if she returned to the McGrory castle, there would be nothing waiting for her but misery.

Thankfully, she had planned for that to not be the case.

Kevan and Maura made their way into the carriage and shut the doors, preventing anyone else from joining them. Maura declared to the McGrory men that she wanted a bit of privacy with her husband. As far as the McGrory men were concerned, she could have it, as they weren’t going to get much privacy back in the castle. It was clear to all of them that this act only confirmed their suspicions. Kevan was nothing more than a traitor, and the sooner they got him back, the sooner he could be punished.

Kevan and Maura shared uncertain glances as the carriage trundled along the path. Outside, the forest glistened with morning dew. It was peaceful and bright, and cared not for the tribulations that came with living a life like Maura’s. While they exchanged few words, she reached across and clasped Kevan’s hand tightly, reassuring him that everything was going to be fine. Kevan looked undecided about that. He held himself rigidly, as though he was expecting danger. His gaze was fixed on the windows and the world passing by. As the journey continued, Maura’s heart beat frantically. The journey was a quiet one. They were privy to the bawdy and uncomfortable conversation between the men driving the carriage, and Maura squirmed as she listened to what they were saying. Kevan grit his teeth.

“I’ve a good mind tae get out there and thrash them,” he said.

A few moments later, there were cries and yells as arrows thumped into the side of the carriage. It came to a halt, and the McGrory men tried to get refuge. Maura and Kevan glanced at each other as they saw men in hoods swarming around the carriage, firing flaming arrows. Smoke began to fill the carriage. Maura wrestled with the handle in a panic. Arrows continued to rain down upon the carriage as the fire took hold. The men who were guarding it tried fighting back, but they were overwhelming with the ferocity of the strikes, and soon the flames took hold, licking the carriage clean with its unquenchable appetite. Fire crackled, and the horses bolted as soon as they were able, afraid of the heat that seared the air. The carriage was a charred husk, its wood blackened. Smoke poured out and formed a cloud that poured through the forest like fog. Nobody knew where the attackers had come from or what they wanted.

“What is this madness? How dare anyone attack one of our carriages!” Wallace thundered, slamming his hand against the arm of his throne. After the carriage hadn’t returned, he had sent out a search party to see what had happened, as he suspected some trickery from the Calbraith clan. On the way, they had come across the carriage, and that wasn’t all. Along with the dead bodies that had been slain by arrows, there were two burned bodies in the carriage, one male and one female. It could only be Kevan and his bride. Wallace sank back and sighed.

“I truly thought he would fight for his place and earn his right as laird,” he said. “It should hae been in his blood. I was only hard on him tae try and get him tae fight.” He placed his head in his hands as he spoke to himself. Wyl was beside him, as always. Wallace was so taken by his grief that he didn’t notice the glances shared by Wyl and the burly men that had formed the search party.