14Chapter 1
Highlands 1225
His anger was boiling over as he looked at his meal and then to the scroll at his hands. There was no way that a Dukes daughter would be staying at his holding, it was not thought of in the Highlands. He dropped the scroll to the counter and slowly stood up. Coll cooly stared at his friend from the other side of the table.
"Coll it's the only logical thing to do, she needs protection from those who are after her in England," Gaghran said monotonously.
"Why can't it be another laird in the Highlands, like the McCoun or the McCree clan, why me, why this clan?"
"You owe it to her father, he has saved your end so many times. The least you could do is take up his daughter for a few months or weeks," then adding, "How hard could it be?" Gaghran gave Coll a small smile for reassurance. He knew everything was going to be in order because he knew his Uncle was not like any other English man and he knew that Coll would take good care of Adie.
But what made Gaghran's hair stand on end was the thought that Coll might find out his past too soon and kill him without a thought. He knew all too well what Coll was capable of when riled, he had seen him in battle with the rivaling clan McKie. Then the thought of his Uncle being English and how Coll accepted him as one of his own fellow Highlanders. The one thing that Gaghran wasn't sure of was if his hot tempered friend would accept him ever he found his true idenity. Only time would tell he thought silently.
Coll stood there staring at his friend and how he seemed to be muling over something with great signifigance. He seen how Gaghran's eyes glazed over when he had went silent. What was he thinking? What would make him look like that? Coll didn't know what to think at that point because he too was thinking on a plan. Why did Macrae want to get him and his daughter out of England on such short notice? Oh so many questions left unanswered, but he swore to himself that once they came he would get to the bottom of it. He had made his decision, they would be coming to the McNamara holding until they were safe enough to continue on somewhere else.
A slow grin appeared upon Coll's face suprising Gaghran.
"What is it now," he asked warily, aware that his friend always made a situation seem bigger than it was.
"I will send a mesage to England giving them passage," he said hastily and then turned towards the door. He stopped and turned around "This arrangement better work out for the best or I will have your head on my wall."
Gaghran smiled over his friends threat. "That would be your right." The Coll walked out the door. "He's going to get one of these days and I want to be around when it unfolds," muttered Gaghran. He shuffled to the door, looked back at the half aten food on the table and then shook his head and left.
England
"Father you can't be serious, there barbarians!" Adie exclaimed loudly. She had already made up her mind when the idea came up over dinner one night. Never would she go to Scotland. Never. If she had to run away to prove to her father that this was an outrageous idea, she would.
"Now, now Adie you know your life is at risk here. I can't just sit here waiting for danger to come knocking at my door, so we most certainly are going to the Highlands."
"Why do you call Scotland the Highlands, as if you have been there?" Adie's eyes narrowed at the thought of her father going to a dangerous land and not telling her. Why couldn't anyone just tell her the truth. Like what happened to her dear cousin Gaghran? Or what happened to her mother that night? Tears filled her eyes at the thought of her mother. Oh mother if only you were here, you would have talked father out of taking me to Scotland. You would have done anything in your power to keep me safe and happy.
Macrae watched as the emotions on her face changed from anger to sadness. There were only so many things that could make her sad, he knew that much. Her mother. Oh his sweet Annabelle. He had lost her that night...Even now it was still hard to talk about or think about. He wanted to avenge her death of course, those bastards would die a bloody death that was for sure. The only problem was instead of Macrae being after them, they were after his daughter, but this time to make her the leaders bride. Personally Macrae never met them face to face, but he knew enough about them and what they did. Everything they did was carefully being observed. He couldn't take the chance at losing his daughter too.
"Father," Adie's voice brought Macrae out of his thoughts and onto more pressing matters that needed to be covered.
"Wouldn't it be a fine idea just to stay in Scotland for a couple of days? This is the only bargain I am willing to make," Macrae gave Adie a stern look implying that this was not a bargaining situation.
"I'm sorry Adie, but we must stay there for longer, but once I know you are out of danger we can move on somwhere else, how does that sound?" he asked cocking head to the side with a smile knowing the look would pull her in and she would agree.
"You know that always makes me say yes," she said sighing and smiling at the same time, "I guess we should start packing then." Slowly she got out of her chair and turned and headed for one more look at the gardens before they would have to start packing and begin there journey.
"Goodnight Adie," Macrae said gently outloud, but she didn't hear it. He didn't know what would happen if the bastards were to find him but he knew they would inflict the worst upon him and Adie. Silently a vow was made in his heart to never lose anything he loved again.
Macrae focused back on his book and slowly slipped into the books mystery and wonder. It would be awhile before he could get another good read in, so he was off into the confindes of the book.
Hey! hows it going people!? Well I guess thanks for reading it, but not I would like u to click the lil button that says go! and review! please! pretty please! with sugar on top and ice cream in the middle and a big blob of chocolate!