Free My Wild Highlander by Vonda Sinclair Page A

not
suffer her to live. She was naught but a pebble in his path and he
would kick her out of his way. The bigger obstacle was King James
himself and this damnable Highlander he chose for Angelique.
    "What are you going to do?" Arnie asked.
    "Go back to Burnglen and rally support
amongst the Drummagans and the neighboring clans."
    A fist wrapped at the door.
    "Come!"
    One of his men, MacFie, burst through the
door, breathing hard. "I came as quickly as I could, my lord. I had
to hide for hours, but Pike got on board their ship."
    "You jest." A thrill passed through
Kormad.
    "Nay. 'Tis true."
    "Pike. Now there's a man what knows how to
get things done!" Kormad laughed and let loose a hoop of victory.
"Where is the ship headed?"
    "Direct to Perth. Pike said he would meet you
there at the Ram's Head Inn three days hence. Likely MacGrath and
the lady will be dead by then."
    "Aye!" A sudden bloodlust came over Kormad.
Too bad he couldn't spend it on MacGrath and his bitch. But Pike
would make short work of them. "Secure us passage on a merchant
ship to Perth. A swift one!"
    ***
    "There you are," Rebbie called.
    The wind whipping his hair, Lachlan turned
from surveying the turbulent sea and the waves crashing onto the
distant rocky shore as they made their way up the English coast.
Rebbie approached along the rocking deck, his hair stark black
against the orange dawn light.
    "Aye." The nausea tormenting Lachlan had
naught to do with the horrid breakfast he'd eaten nor the choppy
water and rolling of the king's small galleon.
    "Is aught the matter?" Rebbie eyed him with
concern—or nosiness—he couldn't be sure which.
    "Nay." He had but wanted a few moments alone
to think; the few crewmen on deck were easy to ignore. And the
chill air helped clear his head.
    "You're pale as January snow—nay—you're
looking a wee bit green. Seasickness?"
    "The sea is rough this morn." Lachlan took
hold of the wet rail to steady himself, hoping Rebbie would cease
his questioning.
    "Indeed. How are the ladies?"
    "Camille improves, but Angelique has
seasickness."
    "She will be well once we reach Perth."
    Lachlan nodded.
    "'Haps you should be abed yourself. I believe
you are more ill than you will admit."
    "Nay." Lachlan sucked in a deep breath of
salt air and tried to slow his racing heartbeat. He wanted no one
to ken how he felt at the moment. A frightening realization had
snuck up on him in the wee hours of the night and gored his
vitals.
    "Too much drink last night?" Rebbie
asked.
    "Nay."
    "What then? I'm not good at guessing
games."
    "Devil take it," Lachlan muttered. Rebbie
would never leave off when he sensed something amiss. "'Tis only
that…I'm married," Lachlan said far more calmly than he felt. The
blood drained from his head, like a physical weakness washing over
him. Saints! He was not weak! He had fought in and survived clan
battles and skirmishes. He had traveled across Europe, rubbed
elbows with the nobility, and won the favor of his king. How could
a vow uttered to one wee thorny lass snatch his equilibrium?
    "You're only now figuring that out?"
    Lachlan should've said naught. Rebbie would
never give him peace now.
    "Of course not! But it didn't seem so real
yesterday, no different from any other adventure we've been
embroiled in. When I woke up this morn, my first thought was 'what
the hell have I done?' I even had to take her clan name in order to
be chief. I'm a Drummagan now, more fully than a MacGrath."
    A wave hit the hull and a cold mist sprayed
onto them.
    "So, you regret it?"
    "Nay. I don't ken how I feel about it. I only
know 'tis something I cannot walk away from. 'Tis permanent."
    "Like prison. I tried to tell you, but you
wouldn't listen."
    He would not liken it to prison. More, he was
simply afraid he'd fail and not be very good at being a chief, earl
or husband. Or that he wouldn't enjoy marriage.
    "'Tis only a bit overwhelming at the moment
is all. I'm sure 'twill pass. I am responsible for someone besides
myself now.