Page 3 of Cottage in the Mist (Time After Time #3)

His fingers hit cold metal and in a few moments more he’d unlocked the gate and pushed it open, slipping outside into the relative safety of the moonless night. His fist tightened on his claymore, his heart screaming for him to stay and fight. To avenge his father, here and now.

What else was there for him to do?

And somewhere deep in his mind, even as he moved back toward the tower, his rage building, a soft voice soothed him, the memory of a face floating through his mind.

“Live,” she whispered. “You must live.”

“You must be Bram Macgillivray,” Katherine St. Claire said as she moved into the chamber off of the great room where he’d been taken to wait.

Iain Mackintosh’s wife was more beautiful even than the stories he’d heard, tall and regal with a heavy plait of golden hair coiled at the nape of her neck. Her smile was warm and welcoming, and for the first time in days, Bram felt himself relax.

“I thank you for agreeing to meet with me.” He stood and gave a terse bow, uncertain of the protocol. With his mother dead, there’d been no one to teach him the finer arts at Dunbrae.

“And why wouldn’t I? You’re my husband’s cousin, which makes you my family too.

” She motioned for him to take a seat and then sat across from him, her chin resting on her hands as she studied him.

“I’m only sorry that it’s me here to greet you and not Iain, for I suspect he’s who you’ve really come to see. ”

There was something melodic about her cadence.

Different from the voices he heard daily in the Highlands.

There were rumors that she’d come from a strange land.

And people who even thought she was something more than human.

But Iain loved her. And so, for that matter, did Bram’s other cousin, Ranald Macqueen.

And since the two men were the closest Bram had come to having siblings, he trusted their judgment.

“I went to Tur nan Clach , but they told me that Ranald and Ailis were here.” Ailis Davidson was Ranald’s wife. Although he’d served as Iain’s captain for a brief time, Ranald had inherited his wife’s holding when they’d married.

“And so they were,” Katherine replied. “But Iain was called to Moy and Ranald and Ailis decided to accompany him.” Moy was home to the Chief of Clan Chattan, Iain’s uncle Duncan.

“But you stayed here?”

“I’ve just had a baby.” Her smile grew wider. “And at the moment, neither Anna nor I are up to that kind of a journey.”

“Tis sorry I am then to have intruded.” Bram made to rise. “If they’re no’ here, then I should take my leave.”

“Nonsense,” Katherine said, waving him back into his seat. “Iain would kill me if I let you go.”

Again, her wording seemed a bit strange, but he was too grateful for the welcome to worry over it much.

“So tell me what’s happened,” she said, her expression growing pensive. “We’ve heard about the troubles at Dunbrae. So I’m assuming that you’re here to seek Iain’s help.”

“Aye.” He nodded. “How much do you know?”

“Very little.” She shrugged apologetically. “We’re isolated here and so news is often garbled. Fergus told me this morning that there was some kind of coup.”

He shook his head, not understanding her words.

“Sorry.” She shook her head with a smile. “An uprising. He said there’d been bloodshed.”

“My father,” Bram said, the pain still twisting in his gut. “The intruders killed him.”

“While you were at Dunbrae.”

Katherine St. Claire was more than a pretty face. Bram should have known that Iain would never have fallen in love with a fool. “Aye, and they tried to murder me in my bed.”

“But you managed to escape.”

“With the help of my friend Robby and my father’s man Frazier. If no’ for them, I wouldna be here now.”

“Do you know who it was who did this?” Katherine asked.

“Nay. No’ for certain. But if I had to wager I’d say it was Alec Comyn. There’s no love lost between my father and his. And the bad blood between the clans goes back longer than I can remember. The Comyns and the Macgillivrays are sworn enemies.”

“But I thought a peace had been brokered.”

Bram nodded. His great uncle was the head of the Macgillivray clan, and he had held it with an iron fist, but the old man was beginning to soften with age. “There was an agreement. But clearly the Comyns have no’ honored it.”

“And you think they’re still looking for you?”

“Aye. As long as I live, I’m the rightful heir. And Alec knows I’ll fight for what is mine. But if I’m dead…”

“Won’t your great uncle have something to say about that?” she asked. “Shouldn’t you have gone to him?”

“My great uncle turned his back on my father years ago. I canna expect him to help me now.”

“Well, then you were right to come here,” she said, resolve strengthening her voice. “Ranald and Iain both think of you as their brother. They’ll be only too willing to aid you in regaining what you have lost.”

Bram nodded, thinking of his cousins. He was related to Ranald through his father and Iain through his mother.

And because of that, when he’d been sent to foster at Moy, Ranald and Iain, only a couple of years older, had taken him under their wing.

They’d been like brothers, dispensing equal parts of advice and mischief.

“Aye,” he said, pulling from his thoughts to focus on Katherine, “but they’re no’ here. And I canna put you and your bairn in danger.”

“I have quite a company of men at my disposal. Iain never leaves me without protection.”

Bram nodded, remembering that Katherine had been kidnapped not long ago. “I’d expect nothing less, but…”

Katherine raised a hand to cut him off. “And if that’s not enough security for you, I’ve also got fifteen of Ranald’s men here as well.

They came with Ailis and Ranald, but weren’t needed in Moy.

So they’re here waiting to escort their laird and his lady home as soon as they return.

Anyway, as you can see, we have more than enough men to guarantee your safety.

So I’ll not hear another word about your leaving. ”

Bram nodded, surprised at the relief that flooded through him. When he’d set out to find Ranald and Iain, he’d not considered the possibility that neither man would be at home.

“They’ll be back before you know it,” Katherine said, reaching out to cover his hand with hers. “And in the meantime, I’ll be glad of the company.”

“But if my enemies were to come here, looking for me, then it would be dangerous for you. Even if ultimately your men held the day, there would still be a battle. I canna put you in that kind of danger.”

Katherine considered his words, then nodded resolutely.

“Very well, then we won’t house you here.

But I’ll still see you safely under my watch.

There’s a cottage just across the river.

It belonged to a crofter, but he died recently.

So the place is empty. And it’s tucked away in a stand of trees.

No one would ever think to look for you there.

I’ll have Fergus assign men to keep watch.

Then when Iain and Ranald come home, the three of you can figure out how to get your holding back. ”

She rose and he followed suit.

“But before you go,” she said, “let’s get a hot meal in you.

And I’ll have Flora put together a basket of food to take with you—along with anything else you might need.

” She glanced at his threadbare clothing.

“Like maybe a clean shirt and a plaid. If you dress as a Mackintosh, you’ll be that much less likely to be discovered. ”

Bram nodded, grateful for her foresight. There was something comforting in handing oneself over to a woman. For a moment, his mind filled again with the memory of haunted green eyes, but he shook his head. There was no time now for dreams.

Instead, he’d fill his belly and then hunker down to wait for Iain and Ranald. Katherine had the right of it. He’d survived the horror at Dunbrae for one reason only—for the chance to avenge his father and take back that which was rightfully his.