Highland Chieftain (Book 5)

Chapter 19

AN - Hi everyone! Merry Christmas!! If you celebrate it in anyway, then I hope you have had a good one! I know that I have. I know I have not had a chapter up for a while, but I hope this makes up for it!! Az x

Chapter 19

Kendrick spurred his horse on faster, not able to sit still in his saddle. Knowing that he could be minutes from sorting out both their problems for good. He knew she was not happy, had know it for a long time, had seen her reaction even if he did not understand it. Had heard the rumours of her which were becoming notorious throughout the Highlands. Yet whilst he may believe that she acted like that, he had seen a part of her, a moment when she fractured that noone else had ever seen...or they had better not have if they liked the life they lived.

His men were lagging behind, calling out to those they recognised in the village near MacKay Keep. Yet, Kendrick could not find it within himself to pause and call to those that he had had the privilege of meeting on previous trips...no, his gut was pushing him onwards. Needing to see her...just once before he talked to Camdyn. Charging through into the Bailey, he saw the twins lounging by the stables, coming abruptly to alert upon his entry. Marching over to him, smiles spreading over their identical faces, which was particularly eerie, especially when he had not seen it in so long. Swinging from his horse he threw his reins over to a stable boy who had beat both twins to him. "You need to deal with your security a little more. I managed to ride right into your stronghold. What if I had an army with me?" He could not stop the jesting tilt of his voice. Something about the twins made him revert to when he was a bairn.

"Don't be absurd we knew you were coming the moment you left your own land. You think we just leave the gate open for all? Oh nay, only those we know are absolutely no danger whatsoever to us." Aonghus had spoken but Artair had a smug look upon his face that spoke of exactly the same thought in his mind also. Yet, before he could retort in anyway, Hamish was calling from the top of the steps to the main hall. "Hamish if you wish some of those in your clan to live any longer, you better come and save them from themselves." A large hand came in a thumping slap to his shoulder, if he had not been expecting it and tensed, he would have ended up bowling into the twins before him.

"Och Aye, now then, what makes you think I want to save them? They cause enough trouble as it is, you can have them lad." Hamish turned as if to walk away. "Just make sure that it's quick and not very messy, wouldn't want to cause a ruckus or extra work for the maids." The smirk covering Hamish's face was hidden from the twins, but the righteous indignation was clear on the identical faces. The spluttering was the moment Kendrick cracked. Deep, belly aching laughter came up within him, Hamish was soon behind him, chuckling away. Aonghus and Artair, however, were not amused in the slightest, huffing as they headed to the main Keep. Kendrick followed them with his eyes as Hamish leant on him, both of them trying to keep standing whilst pulling themselves together.

Only when his eyes met the entranceway, watching as the twins passed through the doorway, his eyes landed on the one thing he had dreamt of seeing the entire way here. She was perfection, though most did not even give her a second look as she stood to one side, looking like a lost angel, trying so hard to fit in with those around. But in the end, she did not belong here...no he longed to take her and spirit her away, taking her where she truly belonged...with him. If the MacKay's could not see the true treasure they had beneath her hard shell then that would be their utter loss.

In one of the plainest gowns he had ever seen her in, the natural beauty she possessed seemed to shine on through so much stronger than if she had been wearing her usual finery. The strong sunlight hit her perfectly, not that it could highlight her in any other way, but after so long without seeing her, it was as if the sun itself was showing him what he had been missing. But the lost, empty look upon her face tore at his soul, how could she feel so when she was surrounded by so much love and contentment? Was she not celebrating the new life as all the other members of the clan were? It was strange that she would be so subdued when so much was going on at this time.