Page 3 of Highlander’s Wild Lass (Wild McLeans #1)

3

H e clapped his hands free of the dust and dirt from the horse. After he was through with cleaning each stall, he was determined to give each horse a good brushing. When he turned, Celestia’s younger brothers were sitting on the fence, watching him.

“Good day, lads,” Anthony said. From this distance, they looked identical down to the last freckle on their faces. “Do ye want to help me clean?”

One of them laughed. “Only if ye’ll pay us.”

Anthony couldn’t help but laugh. “Ye want me to pay ye for cleanin’ up after yer own horses?”

They nodded, their lips in a straight line. “Hard labor deserves a fair wage, m’laird.”

“I agree, but no one gets paid to take care of their own property. That’s just life, unfortunately.”

One of them sighed. “Well then, ye’re on yer own, I guess.”

He took several steps toward them, wondering if he would be able to tell them apart if he got closer. “Which one of ye is which?” he said, moving his forefinger between them.

The boys looked at each other, grinning.

“Ah, nay messin’ around!” Anthony warned with a slight grin. “I ken how twins like to confuse people and I won’t be havin’ any of that from the two of ye.”

“Then, I guess ye’ll never know, sir.”

“Ye wee cheeky devils, how about this? If ye help me clean the stables, I’ll take ye huntin’ with me sometime soon. Whatever ye kill, ye keep.”

The boys’ eyes widened in shock and turned quickly to each other. It seemed as if they were communicating wordlessly. Within seconds they looked at Anthony and nodded enthusiastically.

“Ye got yerself a deal, m’laird,” the twin on the left said.

“Shake on it,” the other boy said seriously, extending his arm.

Anthony took his hand and gave it a good, strong shake.

“I’m Chester,” he said after he retracted his arm to balance himself on the fence. Chester bobbed his head to the left, “And that’s Hugo.”

“Well, greetin’s to ye both. And ye may call me Anthony.”

He motioned for the boys to follow him into the stable to begin the task of getting rid of the old hay in each stall. However, he noticed that Hugo’s attention had turned toward the garden, watching Celestia and a very tall, hulking man in what looked like a heated conversation.

“Uh, oh…” Hugo muttered, nudging Chester in the side.

“Nae him again,” Chester said darkly.

“Who is that?” he asked. Anthony felt a heated protectiveness course up his arms as he watched the impassioned arguing happening only fifty feet away.

“Ah, well…he’s our da’s biggest rival, Ryder Koll. He’s been tryin’ to steal his clients right out from under his nose for years, but now that Da’s been sick, he’s been a little bit more…aggressive,” Chester told him.

Anthony squinted and shielded his eyes from the sun, hoping to get a better look at the man.

Hugo jumped from the fence to the opposite side of the paddock, landing neatly on his feet. “Aye, he’s a huge pain in all of our ar—”

“Ye bloody foul bastard!” Celestia shouted loud enough for Anthony and the boys to hear her plainly.

Hugo took off toward his sister. Chester jumped off and followed closely behind his brother. Anthony watched for only a moment before gripping the top of the fence and hopping over it himself. There was no way he was going to let two fourteen-year-old boys get into a fight with a grown man.

Anthony reached the garden just when Celestia seemed to lose her composure.

Celestia lunged for him, but Anthony caught the crook of her elbow and pulled her to him. He grabbed hold of the hoe, but Celestia wouldn’t let go. She was seething, breathing heavily, and trying to rid herself of Anthony’s grasp. His body reacted to her being pressed flush against him, and he took a breath to relax, hoping she hadn’t noticed anything.

“Calm down, lass,” Anthony murmured gently just behind her ear. The intoxicating scent of her hit him, being so close to her. She smelled of lavender and homemade soap. “Give me the hoe.”

Celestia threw the tool aside. It tumbled away from them, landing with a muffled thump in the grass.

Koll smirked. “Did the wee damsel finally find someone to rescue her?” He reached forward, softly tapping the tip of Celestia’s nose.

Celestia recoiled from the man’s touch before pulling and twisting forward, straining against Anthony’s hands. “I swear on my mother’s grave if ye touch me again, I’ll—”

Good lord, woman.

Anthony was quick to grab her around the waist to get a better hold of her raging body. “Ye’ll be kindly leavin’ the lady and this family alone, sir,” Anthony spoke up, cutting off Celestia.

“Ye won’t be speakin’ for me, Anthony Moore,” she growled, still struggling to pull away from him. “Ye’ll never get my Da’s clients. I’ll be takin’ over the business, and I’ll run ye dead dry, Ryder Koll.”

“Rein in yer woman,” Koll said, glaring harshly at Anthony. He saw a slow realization hit the man. “Oh, Chief Moore, I barely recognized ye.” The burly man stooped into an unnecessary deep bow. “Where are my manners?”

“Oh, ye have manners, do ye?” Hugo spat, advancing with fists clenched.

“Easy, lad!” Koll shouted, glaring at the twins.

“Mr. Koll, I’m goin’ to ask ye only once more to leave the McLean’s alone,” Anthony said, restraining his voice to a low growl. He felt it was safe to let go of Celestia, but he still stepped in front of her and shielded her from Koll.

“Aye, as ye wish, m’laird,” Koll said, sneering at Anthony. His eyes then connected with Celestia. “This is nae over, lass.” He tipped his hat and walked away.

The twins followed behind Koll to ensure he was leaving while Anthony turned to check on Celestia, but she was already storming away down the worn dirt path back to the house.

“Wait,” he called, catching up with her. He reached out toward her, but she jerked away.

“No need to finish the stables, ye can go,” Celestia muttered, her voice unsteady. She fiercely wiped at her eyes.

“Wait, lass,” he said again. “Are ye alright?”

She turned on him quickly and Anthony saw the tears streaming down her ruddy cheeks. She fisted them away harshly, deepening the redness of her face, especially under her eyes. Anthony was distracted at how illuminated her light green eyes looked in comparison.

“Nay, I’m nae alright,” Celestia said, nearly shouting. “Is that what ye want to hear, Anthony? My da is dyin’ and I’m tryin’ my best to keep us all fed and healthy.”

She sunk into the bench that sat just outside the house.

“Och, lass…” He was not all that sure what to do, but he knew he was concerned. She caught him looking and her mouth formed into a scowl.

“I daenae need pity from ye,” Celestia said, chest heaving as she struggled to calm her tears.

Anthony took a seat next to her. “I’m nae pityin’ ye.”

He reached out his hand and took hold of hers slowly. He could feel the hesitancy in it, she nearly pulled her hand away, but after a few seconds her hand relaxed and she cried.

She cried silently, hiding her face in the palm of her hand.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders slowly and pulled her into him, letting her cry. He expected at any moment she would come to her senses and pull away, but she just buried her face into his shirt and sobbed.

Anthony stayed silent, unsure what to say to her. He wasn’t sure what he could do for her, but he felt a deep need to protect her that he didn’t quite understand. His heart went out to her, she had lost her mother after she gave birth to the twins all those years ago and now her father would probably be gone before the year ended.

“I’ll show that foul man,” she said, the worst of her tears over. She sat back up, wiping her eyes clear of tears as she lifted out of his embrace. “He just wants my da’s clients and business handed over to him, but I willnae let that happen.”

“I’ve nae doubt,” Anthony said quietly, giving her hand a good squeeze. “But I still think ye need help, lass. What can I do to help?”

Celestia grimaced. “Nothin’ from ye.”

She squeezed back before slipping out of his grasp. “Thank ye for sittin’ with me, nae many men ken how to handle emotions like that. And thank ye for nae lettin’ me bash that man’s head in.”

Anthony laughed. “I thought about lettin’ ye for a second.”

Celestia smiled wide as she stood. “Who kens, maybe one day?”

“Aye, lass, maybe one day,” he said, feeling a pang of need hit him unexpectedly when she smiled.

* * *

“How is Mr. McLean?” Anthony asked as he and the castle healer were on their way home.

“It’s nae good,” Helena MacMoore said. “It reminds me of yer poor maither. The raspin’ in his lungs, the strainin’ for air.”

“Oh,” he said, struggling to find words.

“It’s sad business.”

“Chief Moore!” one of his guards shouted from ahead in the road, waving his hands in the air.

Anthony ran to his guard. “What the hell is goin’ on?

The guard doubled over, gasping for breath. “It’s nae that urgent, except Chief McDunn is here. And he’s nae in a very good mood.”

“Is he ever?” he muttered darkly under his breath. Anthony clapped his guard on the back, shoulders relaxing slightly. There was no danger to the castle or its people. “Aye, I’ll see to it. Where is he?”

Behind his study door, he heard the muffled noises of McDunn and Sebastian. He took a slow inhale before opening the door. “Chief McDunn, what a pleasure.”

“Would ye like a glass of wine?” he said, pouring two glasses before McDunn could answer and handing one to him. He offered the chair opposite his desk as Anthony settled into his overstuffed desk chair. “Please sit.”

“Now, let’s get to business,” McDunn said, giving the glass a sniff before drinking. “Are ye to be betrothed to my daughter?”

“I cannae.”

McDunn slammed the wine glass on the desk, splashing bits of wine all over the papers that had taken over the desktop. “She would make a fine wife.”

Anthony eyed the man carefully. “She will make a fine wife in about ten years’ time.”

“What can ye mean, man?”

“Yer daughter has just turned eleven. Surely, she could nae have even had her first courses yet. Why are ye so keen to marry her off?”

McDunn stood, leaving the chair wobbling as he did. “We can hold the weddin’ off by a year if yer that bothered by her age.”

“I willnae be marryin’ yer daughter today or ten years from now.”

The chief’s face grew redder and more agitated. “Ye daenae want to marry my daughter because she’s too young.” He pointed an accusing finger at Anthony. “Ye have decided to marry someone else, havenae ye? Tell me, is it that bastard Armstrong? What did he offer ye in exchange for his daughter?”

“McDunn!” Anthony stood from his chair, glaring at him. “I have made nay declaration of marriage to any chief’s daughter.”

McDunn sneered. “Do ye nae want to continue yer faither’s legacy?”

“In my own time,” he said in a tone more measured than the rage that was boiling inside.

McDunn rubbed his beard harshly. “Ye are seven and twenty years old. Ye’ve got at least three toes in the grave, Moore! Now is as good a time as ever to get married.”

* * *

Celestia woke up early after a fitful night’s sleep, she kept having horrible, bloody nightmares of Ryder Koll and Anthony dueling to the death. It was still dark when she got dressed in a pair of riding trews, boots, and one of her father’s woolen coats.

She rode hard once she felt Grannus was ready, and they found their way to Celestia’s favorite spot near a rocky beach. Her family used to come here a lot; the boys and her father loved fishing here, and just under the young eared willow tree Auralia would sit reading a book. She tied Grannus to one of the willow’s low-hanging limbs.

She found a spot on a large boulder. From here, she could see the outline of Castle Ferguson. Only the servant quarters were lit up at this hour, smoke beginning to billow out of the kitchen’s chimneys.

The sun was just beginning to crest over the eastern mountains when she heard a horse approaching. Turning, she saw a huge stallion stopping next to her horse. The darkened shape of a tall, well-built man dismounted, patted the horse on its snout, and reached for the reins of her horse.

“If ye ken what’s good for ye, ye’ll leave that horse be!” she shouted as she quickly stood up, her voice echoing off the water.

The man’s head snapped to look in her direction. “Celestia?”

Anthony.

Her cheeks burned with shame at how she lost control of herself in front of him yesterday, crying and complaining about her life. But there was also an unexpected feeling of comfort that rushed through her; she knew she was at least safe with him. His boots crunched underneath the rocks as he came near.

“What are ye doin’ down here by yerself? It’s nae safe.”

“We’re still on clan lands. I can see the castle just there.” She thrust her hand towards the large dark outline of the castle with the sky pinking just behind it. “Ye should ken that it’s safe enough,” she said, waving away his concern.

They were silent for a while, him standing on the rocky beach with the water lazily lapping around his boots and her sitting on the boulder. She felt this overwhelming need for him to be close, maybe it was because he made her feel safe when Ryder Koll showed up threatening to ruin her father’s whisky business.

“Come and watch the sunrise,” she said, patting the empty space beside her on the wide boulder.

She watched his eyebrows raise in surprise, and honestly, she had surprised herself. There was more silence as he settled himself beside her, his leather-clad hip and leg bumping up next to hers so that she could feel the warmth coming from him.

“I, uhm, I want to thank ye for yesterday.”

“There’s nay need for that.”

“Nay,” she said, placing a hand on his forearm to stop him from speaking. “Let me say it proper without cryin’ this time. Ye’ve got a lot of responsibility bein’ chief, and there’s nay need to come and spend yer day with us. But thank ye for bringin’ the healer and attemptin’ to clean the stables before Mr. Koll made an unwanted appearance.”

She wouldn’t make eye contact with him then, feeling rather bashful about how she handled herself yesterday.

“I ken you had fire in ye, but I did not think ye’d be willin’ to take on a man as big as he was,” Anthony said, almost laughing as he hugged one knee to his chest.

“He really is the worst man. He’s been tryin’ to undercut my da for years. He was always comin’ to our home or the storehouses to harass him.”

“I wouldnae tempt him with a fight again,” Anthony said, more serious than she ever heard him before. “After meetin’ Mr. Koll, I went back and looked at some of my father’s old daily diaries, and I saw his name a lot—well, his father’s name. His father used to have dealin’s with mine years ago and I never heard a good word spoken about the Koll family.”

Celestia hummed in agreement. “Well…still, I need to protect the family and the business’s good name if I want to keep it goin’ after my da is gone,” she said, picking at the fraying seam of her coat.

“Ye were serious about that? That’s respectable, lass,” he told her. “How do ye plan on doin’ that and runnin’ a house, takin’ care of yer brothers, sister, and the animals? While also rememberin’ to feed yerself? Yer all nearly skin and bones.”

“I can do it,” Celestia said stubbornly, shrugging her coat closer to her.

“Ye cannae do it alone. How would ye handle all of that? It’s too much for one person.”

“Once the twins are of age, they’ll take it over,” she told him, growing more frustrated as he spoke. Celestia felt the weight of his judgment and her own wavering belief in herself.

“The twins daenae come of age for a while, do ye think they’ll be ready to take on such a thing?”

“They’ll have to be.”

“Will ye let me help ye?” Anthony asked her, placing his hand over hers that was still frantically picking at the frayed seam.

Celestia enjoyed the warmth of his hand against the cool morning, the weight of it on hers was soothing in a way. If yesterday was any indication, she was cracking under all the pressure. Could she really take on her father’s business by herself too? And how would Anthony be able to help? He had the entire clan to worry about.

“How?”

Anthony shrugged. “I have men that could help run the business and teach the lads. But yer faither is still sound of mind. I think teachin’ them, and ye too, if ye do wish to take this on, would give him…purpose to his days.”

She nodded, thinking. It was a good idea, maybe it would perk her father up to get the business running again.

“Aye,” she said, pensively. “Keep yer men, I’ll ask my da first.”

She slipped her hand from under his, wrapping her hands around her legs as she pulled them into her chest. “What’s the sudden concern for my family?”

“Our families have always known each other. First our maithers when they were growin’ up, and then our faithers in their grief and whisky cups.”

“I’m aware of our parents’ connection, but I don’t really understand yer interest.”

“My interest…” he said, rubbing his hand against the day-old growth of his beard. He wondered for a moment if she forgot his teenage attempts to court her. “Well…to be honest, I cannae let a good family fall into ruin.”

“Ruin!?” she exclaimed, scoffing.

She stood up fast, stumbling to gain her footing. Anthony reached out and grabbed the crook of her arm to steady her.

“Let go of me,” she exhaled. She wrenched out of his grasp and jumped off the boulder. She left him on the cold rock just as the sun was over the mountains, lightening the sky to a pale blue.

Celestia wanted nothing more than to get back home, more determined than ever to take on the business while remaining on top of every single one of her responsibilities. She would never need anyone’s help.

“Celestia, wait!” Anthony jumped off the rock and followed swiftly after her. “I dinnae mean it like that!”

Celestia rushed to untie Grannus’ lead from the tree. She muttered under her breath, creating a knotted mess in her hurry.

Anthony stood beside her, watching her struggle with the knot. “I’d ask ye if ye need help, but I ken now that yer a prideful woman.”

Celestia cursed, tugging in vain at the tangled lead. “And I dinnae ken ye had such a low opinion of my family that we would easily fall into ruin once my faither is dead.”

“Good lord, woman, take a breath. I meant nay offense.”

“Every word out of yer mouth is an offense, Anthony Moore.”

“Ye wound me, lass.”

“Good!” she shouted. Celestia tried untangling the knot again, but it was unrelenting. She went to the pouch attached to Grannus’ saddle and pulled out a knife. If she couldn’t pull the knot apart, then she’d cut through it.

She turned to see him untying the knot and pushed him aside. “Get away, I’ll do it myself.”

“Put the knife away before ye hurt yerself.”

“I’ll hurt ye with it if ye daenae leave me alone,” she snapped, grabbing hold of the lead.

“Ye are a funny lass.”

“Funny, mad, prideful.” She dropped the leather cord, using her free hand to unsheathe her small knife. “Ye’ve got a lot of words for me…”

Celestia held the knife up and backed Anthony into the trunk of the tree. She could see his eyes glinting with mischief and a hint of fear. “But ye’ve been an arrogant pain in my backside since the day I met ye.”

“And ye havenae been a pain in my backside?”

She held the tip of the knife to his throat.

“What are ye gonna do, Celestia? Kill me?” Anthony dropped his voice low, near to whisper.

* * *

Anthony gazed down the edge of Celestia’s tiny blade, his back pressed up against the willow tree, and grinned. He had not expected her to take such a great offense to the help he was willing to offer, but he didn’t mind being pressed up against a tree next to her.

“Go ahead, I dare ye. But ye will not be seein’ the light of the next day if ye do. My men will want vengeance.”

He could feel her warm breath on his neck, a great deal different than the cool air around them. It made a slight shiver erupt down the length of his spine.

“I willnae be killin’ ye today, but if ye ever say another disrespectful thing about my family again, I will.”

Celestia pulled away slightly, giving Anthony the chance to take hold of her and pin her to the tree trunk. He heard the knife clatter to the ground.

“How dare ye!” she said, struggling to loosen his grip.

“Hold still,” he said, leaning down and looking into her eyes. The day was bright enough now that he could make out the color of her eyes—green like the bright, fresh leaves of spring. “Stop squirmin’—I need to say somethin’ to ye.”

He had taken her by surprise and her cheeks were red with a deep blush, her skin clear from the dirt that had been there yesterday.

They locked eyes.

“Marry me,” he said in a low voice.