Free Highland Rake by Terry Spear

MacNeill."
    "Rob MacNeill? There are at least a dozen or more men named such in our clan." Why would the Cameron lass be looking for one of James's distant kin? Or he may have been a man who had sworn allegiance to the clan and taken their name.
    "Aye, that was what your brother said."
    "Which one was she looking for and why?"
    "She said Rob was the father of one of her kinswomen's bairns. She wanted him to know of it. She said he was a sheepherder."
    James cursed under his breath, annoyed one of his men could be so foolhardy, risking his own neck for what? "Where is Dougald now?"
    "He and the rest of our men and the lady are on their way here."
    James closed his eyes for a brief moment, then opened them and said, "Tavis, get your rest, lad. You have done well."
    Clutching the mug of ale and the chunk of bread again in his tight grip, Tavis nodded, then stumbled off toward the hall where he would take a pallet with others sleeping there.
    "What will you do?" Eanruig asked, sounding like he wasn't even sure how to advise him in this matter, when he usually had no trouble speaking his mind.
    "Return the lass home with great speed and take care of the matter of Rob MacNeill and the Cameron wench, who is carrying his bairn."
    "Rumors are rampant that the Cameron is making arrangements with another clan to wed his niece off to their clan," Eanruig warned.
    James frowned at him. He hadn't heard any of the rumors. "Which clan?"
    Eanruig shook his head. "'Tis a guarded secret, which is why I have no' come to you with the news prior to this. Those who say he is in negotiations say he threatens death to any should we hear of it before he officially releases the word."
    James let out his breath in a huff. "One of our enemies then, no doubt."
    "Aye."
    "'Tis fortunate she is on her way here then." James was coming up with a much different plan for the lass.
    "How so? Will you blackmail the Cameron into giving up the negotiations for the safe return of his niece?"
    "And once he had her back, he would wed her to whichever clan he decides on? Nay, if the lass is who she says she is, Dougald will wed her."
    Eanruig offered a rueful smile. "He may no' like the idea."
    James waved his advisor's concern away. "Dougald loves all the lassies. He has taken it upon himself to bring her to us. Seems only fair, he should have every right to claim her." James clapped his advisor on the back. "Ready a contingent of men to meet Dougald in the event the Cameron learns of this and attempts to pursue them across our lands."
    "Aye, my laird. Will you be riding also?"
    "Nay. I will await my brother's return. I will have enough to deal with on the morrow." Then James entered his chamber and closed his door, intent on snuggling with his own lassie, hoping that Dougald would find pleasure in the Cameron lass.
    The last he recalled of seeing Lady Alana, she was bonny indeed. Whether they would love each other in time was another matter though. He hoped that his brother could have a woman to cherish as he treasured Eilis. But it was high time Dougald settled down. An alliance with the hot-headed Cameron clan would not be a bad arrangement either.
    He yanked off his belt and plaid, tossed them aside, and climbed under the covers. Immediately, Eilis nestled against him, her hand sweeping across his bare chest. "What is wrong?" she whispered.
    "Naught is wrong. Dougald is getting married is all."
    "Dougald?" she said with such surprise, James smiled.
    "He said naught about this to anyone, has he?" she asked.
    "Nay. He doesna know it yet, lass. Sleep. We will see him and his bride-to-be tomorrow eve if all goes well."
    ***
    Lady Alana could not sleep. The ground was too hard, the night air too chilly, the worry about how her uncle would react when he learned she was with the MacNeill clan, and what Laird MacNeill would do with her continued to plague her. She breathed in the smell of Dougald's borrowed spare plaid, the scent of pine and heather and leather, of wood