Page 13 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

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L ucas rode until he reached the top of a far hill. Searbas, breathless, turned, and they looked down upon the castle from afar. He straightened in the saddle and cursed himself for what he’d just done. He knew Seamus would be ashamed of his behavior, and Lucas was furious that he’d allowed the evil in his blood to take hold of him.

I couldnae wait until I’d found a willing woman to share me bed? To slake me lust for a time so that I could bear to live with Caitlin MacLennan so close?

Yet something inside him told him that it would not have helped. Perhaps for a time but not forever. Everything in him was drawn to Caitlin, his blood, his bones, his very being, and he had to keep his distance if he was going to do right by his vow. Seamus had not asked him to defile his sister but to protect her, give her shelter, help her.

I will leave tomorrow, give us both space. Nay doubt she hates me for what I did.

Guilt crept through him bit by bit until it was all he could feel. He had not asked to kiss her but had merely taken her mouth like a ravenous beast. But he could have sworn that she’d whispered ‘Kiss me’ right before he did.

That mouth. That tongue. She really was a witch. Never had a mouth so intoxicated him before. He could have drunk from her lips for the rest of his life and never been satisfied. And her hands. They’d explored him, touched him lovingly, and they’d pulled him closer .

Could it be that she wanted it too, just as much as I?

Lucas growled as he kicked Searbas into running again, racing along the hillside. He didn’t want to return yet, for he was certain Nan would see what had happened written all over his face, and there was no way in bloody Hell, he was going to give her any satisfaction as to her matchmaking efforts.

He rode for another hour or so, until the sun was high in the sky, and the clouds had crowded over it, creating a gray tinge over the land. The weather matched his mood as he slowed Searbas’ gait, nearing the stable. He jumped off, spoke a few quick words to Daniel and returned to the castle, walking in through a back door.

Archie stopped him. “Och, yer Nan told me ye were out.”

Lucas glowered. “Aye. Forced to ferry the new lass about. But here we are. Have the preparations begun for the trip?”

“Aye, all is ready for whenever ye wish to leave.”

“And the men are at their stations?” he asked.

“Aye.”

“Good. Come, we will talk in here.” He led the way, and Archie closed the door behind them.

On his desk, the whisky had been replaced after he drank it all the night before, and gratefully, he poured them both a cup.

Passing the cup to his second-in-command, he said, “Have ye any ideas about the two men?”

He was glad Archie did not ask him about Caitlin or how being locked in the garden had gone last night.

Sitting down, Archie frowned. “Nay. It could be two very skilled cutpurses, or two soldiers having been kicked out of their army or clan. They wore no colors or symbols.”

Lucas stayed standing, pacing while he sipped from his cup. “Aye. It is strange, but perhaps it has somethin’ to do with the skirmishes on the border? I never paid them much thought until now. I thought it was the usual fighting that happens between clans, certain groups angry about borderlines.” He shrugged. “Perhaps there is some animosity? But I cannae think of any clan in particular that would have such a hatred for me they should leave soldiers to lie in wait. Those men meant to kill us, Archie, nae simply to maim.”

He finished his whisky and poured another. Archie thought for a moment before he spoke again.

“But when ye are the strongest laird in the western part of the Highlands, yer land holdings bigger and wider than any of the other clans, ye are sure to make enemies. And yer father ruled with violence, hurtin’ many others as he did ye. Surely there are those still alive who wish to take revenge?”

“Aye, I suppose.” This time Lucas sat down and rubbed at his rough chin, deep in thought.

His father had been a very cruel man both as laird and as a father. He believed that violence brought about a certain end, and he didn’t care to whom he applied this principle. Lucas, only knowing his own experience had thought the violence more harshly applied to him. But there could have been others. People taken prisoner, tortured, killed for sport.

“Well, whatever the reason, I want us to go tomorrow. To leave to deal with the skirmishes and remain a few days to make sure these issues daenae continue to happen.”

Archie sat forward, his eyebrows lifting. “All right, but why rush off? Like ye said, the skirmishes are likely nay emergency, and… ye have a guest to attend to. A woman still grievin’ her brother, and ye are still grievin’ as well.”

Lucas stood again, drinking down the contents of his cup and slamming it on the table.

“I daenae wish to remain imprisoned by me grief, Archie. I still need to go and dae things, to act as laird. And Caitlin as well. She will make a new life for herself, but it is nae I who needs to help her to dae it. Me Nan will be her comforter now.”

He could see Archie’s look out of the corner of his eye. Sighing, he turned to face him.

“What is it?”

“What?” Archie asked innocently, the hint of a grin on his face.

“What are ye goin to say? There is nay way in Hell I could say somethin’ like that without ye havin’ an opinion on it. Especially with this lass. Everyone seems to have an opinion about her and how we should treat her while she’s here.”

His man-at-arms was a true Scot with his shock of bright red hair and beard. Burly arms and a ready smile. Far too ready in Lucas’ opinion.

“Well—” Archie began, and Lucas let out a bitter laugh.

“Ye see?” He walked to the hearth and picking up a poker began to shift the logs on the fire, embers sparking into new life.

“I dae think that ye could be kinder to the lass. Every time she is near, ye have a scowl on yer face.”

“I always have a scowl on me face, Archie. Her bein’ here doesnae affect that.”

Archie chuckled, and Lucas envied him for his constant mirth. Archie made life look so easy, and why should it not be for a man who had everything he wanted? He had not suffered as Lucas had even if they had both seen battle and death.

“Aye, but I ken yer grandmaither wants ye to be a proper host. Besides, the lass is the only one who kens yer grief. Kens it more so. Ye could share that together. She is a nice lass, dae ye nae think?”

Lucas grit his teeth. Nice did not even begin to describe Caitlin MacLennan. It was not good enough a word or full enough. He spun around to face Archie.

“What of it? It doesnae matter what I think of her. I simply made a vow about keepin’ her safe, and I should keep it. Now, make the preparations to leave tomorrow, and we will go for a few days. It will be a good thing for her. She will get to ken the castle on her own, and she and Nan can spend time together. If I even wanted to be kinder or to play a proper host, I can tell ye she would nae want me to. She thinks little of me as it is.”

The reminder of how she’d whispered “Kiss me” by the sea flashed through his mind, but he pushed it away and poured himself a third whisky. Before the day’s end, he planned to be very, very drunk. It would hopefully blur the memory of how her lips felt against his.

“Very well, Me Laird,” Archie said, standing, folding his hands in front of him. “All will be as ye say.”

“Thank ye.” He sat down again, and Archie walked to the door. “Och, will ye send in a servant? I wish to eat here this evenin’. Keep me Nan from makin’ trouble. She’s embarrassed Caitlin and I enough as it is.”

Archie opened the door and then turned around to look at Lucas again. “Aye, it must have been very embarrassin’ to be locked together for so long in the healin’ garden last night. And there were also nay desperate knocks on the door for yer Nan to let ye out as one might have expected for two trapped and embarrassed people. So she tells me.” Archie winked as Lucas’ eyes filled with rage, but he shut the door before Lucas could say anything.

“Damn it all to Hell,” Lucas grumbled, leaning back in his chair as he held the cup of whisky tight in his hand.

After a few minutes, a soft knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.” He looked up, hoping to see just the servant, but instead both the servant and Paige entered together.

“Paige,” he said with a frown.

“Laird Lucas,” she smiled prettily as she spoke, drawing his eyes to her mouth.

The bonnie healer had a way of drawing all men’s gazes, especially to her lush pink lips. But those beauties did little to tempt him and had never really done so. Especially not since he’d already tasted the ones he truly wanted to taste.

“I will take dinner here this eve,” he said to the servant. “Please inform me grandmaither. Bring it as soon as it is ready.”

The young male servant bowed and left the room, and he wished that Paige would also. But instead, she lingered, shutting the door behind her.

“Is there somethin’ ye need, Lass?” he asked, pulling a map toward him to plan the journey for the morrow.

He considered making it more than a few days, not looking forward to seeing Caitlin again after what happened.

“Aye. I was wonderin’ if ye needed a healer to come and join ye on yer trip tomorrow. I saw Archie, and he mentioned ye would be goin’.” She clasped her hands in front of her and looked eager.

It was a dangerous thing to have so young and pretty a healer in a castle full of lusty men. Not that they would take advantage, but that they’d be so distracted they could hardly do their work. She generally seemed to purr under the male attention, but he noticed, it was especially so when he spoke to her. It was the reason he so often avoided her.

“Nay, I daenae think so. It is better for the healer to remain here for those in the Castle and the nearby villages. I wouldnae wish to leave me Nan unattended, especially when her joints are givin’ her such troubles of late.”

Paige’s pretty face looked crestfallen. “Och, aye, of course. Ye are right. Well, I have prepared some medicinal materials for yer men if ye should so need them. I have given them to Archie.”

“Good, thank ye. That is kind. Although we will only be gone for a few days.”

Paige nodded and turned to leave. He stopped her at the door, calling her name.

“Aye?” she asked, turning around, her almond eyes sparkling with hope.

“Would ye pay special mind to the new lass? She may need the comfort of a friend since this is a strange place to her. I am too busy to play the sole host, so I will need the help of others in the Castle.”

Paige’s expression looked less than pleased. Instead of looking so eager, she gave him a curt nod.

“Aye, I will dae as ye say.”

“Thank ye. A good eve to ye.”

“And to ye.” She left the room, shutting the door behind her, just a little bit louder than he thought warranted, and he sat back in his seat, awaiting both dinner and the inevitable arrival of his complaining grandmother.