No other Highlander by Adrienne Basso

Author:Adrienne Basso [Basso, Adrienne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Highland
Published: 2017-02-27T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

By afternoon they had begun to climb into higher country. The weather continued to be damp and dreary, but no one complained. Malcolm once again held Callum snuggled in his arms as they rode, leading the contingent with his brother and father. The lad talked endlessly for the first hour—mostly gibberish that Malcolm failed to understand—then after greedily eating his noonday meal, promptly fell asleep.

As he slept, the child instinctively nestled closer to Malcolm’s chest, and Malcolm was humbled at the innocent trust. Somehow the lad had seamlessly woven a spell of affection around him, and Malcolm was glad to feel it. Through no fault of his own, Callum had unfairly received little male regard in his short life.

Well, all that was about to change. Malcolm vowed he would protect and guide the lad, treating him the same as any of his natural children.

Of course, he would have to bed his new wife before there could be any more children to raise and love. That particular task was proving to be far more of a challenge than he’d anticipated, yet Malcolm refused to be discouraged.

Traveling with a large contingent in the damp spring rain was hardly the best circumstance to woo a reluctant woman. Once they arrived home, the opportunities would be abundant and he intended to take full advantage of each and every one.

Joan rode with the rest of the women in the center of the column, protected on all sides by the toughest McKenna warriors. Malcolm joined her for short periods, but mainly kept near the front of the column with his brother, their eyes constantly scanning the horizon for danger.

Riding a few lengths behind his brother, Malcolm suddenly became aware of the tension in James’s posture. Moving his mount forward, Malcolm crested the hill and eyed the open valley below, immediately seeing why James was concerned.

“Reivers?” Malcolm questioned.

“Nay,” James responded. “There’s far too many of them to be a raiding party.”

“Damn it, those are Fraser colors,” Malcolm muttered.

“What are they doing this far north?” James asked.

“Causing trouble,” Malcolm replied. His gut clenched and a cold chill invaded him. He looked to the men at his left and right, handing Callum off to the larger McKenna warrior. “Guard him with yer life.”

The soldier nodded in understanding and melted into the background.

“Keep yer hands off yer sword hilts and dinnae allow yerself to be drawn into a fight,” the McKenna warned his sons as he maneuvered his stallion between them. “If it’s a test of wills Fraser is after, he’ll not be disappointed.”

“He will be when he loses,” Malcolm muttered, his leather clad fist tightening on the reins as the Frasers approached.

“Good day to ye.” Archibald smiled as he moved closer, showing off even, white teeth.

“Ye seem to have gotten yerselves lost,” Malcolm drawled. “Fraser land lies in the opposite direction.”

“I had business to attend to with Laird MacPhie,” Archibald replied. “Not that it’s any concern of yers.”

“The MacPhies have yet to pledge their loyalty to the Crown,” the McKenna said, his brow furrowing.

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