Page 14 of Desiring the Highland Laird
“Why else would she be here?” He waved his hand to encompass their land. “She has a piece of the keystone. A piece we were promised we’d have.”
Callum shook his head and scoffed. “’Tis a farce.”
“I ken ye dinnae believe it, but ye must,” his da insisted.
“Mayhap argue about that later. We best no leave her here,” Malcolm said.
“No, we cannae leave the wee lassie here,” Hamish agreed.
“No, we cannae,” Callum agreed.
“What do ye suggest, brother?” Malcolm said.
“Take her to the keep,” his da said, as if that were the most obvious thing to do.
Callum rose to his full height, still gazing down at the sleeping lass. “Are ye half mad, Da? If we bring her to the keep, then she becomes our responsibility.”
“So, ye mean to leave her here in the field?” he asked. He clucked his tongue.
“Well, brother, if yer no goin’ to pick her up and take her to the keep, I will.” Malcolm thumbed at his chest. There was a glint of mirth in his brother’s eyes as though he were goadinghim to take her. He started to lean down when Callum grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“I’ll do it.”
Malcolm chuckled as Callum once again kneeled down. He took the stone from her hand and placed it in his sporran. He scooped her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. Her head lolled against him. He noticed a gash on her chin. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks. Her breathing was shallow. Her skin was cold and clammy.
“We best get her inside. She’s cold,” he said.
The lass was light in his arms as he carried her back to the keep. His da and brother were right behind him.
“I’ll put her in my chamber,” Callum said. “She’ll be safest there. Send for Dougal.”
He charged inside and headed up the curved staircase to his bedchamber. He kicked the door closed to keep the others out until the healer arrived. Then he placed her gently on the bed. As he did so, he noticed the bruises along her shins. What had happened to her? He reached for the thick coverlet, pulling it over her. She made not a sound as she slept on.
He stared down at her, wondering where she got a piece of the keystone. It was also called the Chronos Stone, at least according to the Triple Goddess. He wasn’t one to believe in thatorthe existence of the Triple Goddess. The idea of an all-powerful stone that had mystical abilities to control time seemed like far too much madness.
Yet here was this mysterious lass holding the piece promised to come to him.
Well, not him personally. His clan—Clan MacLeod.
Or so his da had told them.
What were the words of the prophecy? Something about MacLeod blood guarding the stone. He couldn’t recall, thoughhis da touted it whenever he had the chance. He’d heard the story as he grew up and yet he never believed in it.
He pushed away those thoughts, though. It seemed senseless to continue to dwell on them.
Now that he was alone with her, it gave him time to look her over without his brother or da hovering. The bruises and cut along her chin, as well as the contusions blooming color on her shins, made him think she’d run from something…or someone. As though she ran from something or someone and took a tumble. But from who and why? He hoped when she awoke, she’d be able to tell him the answer.
Even looking at her now, that strange sense he had seen her before wafted through him. Unbidden, remnants of a dream flickered through his mind. A dream in which a lass with fiery red hair, golden strands shining in the candlelight, climbed into his lap. It had seemed so real at the time when he awoke, he thought for sure she was in his bed. Disappointment flooded him when he realized he was alone.
Remembering the stone, he removed it from his sporran to get a good look at it. When he first saw it nestled in her hand, he’d noticed the carved engraving. Now that he held it, he was able to get a better look at it and see it was part of a triquetra with the arc of a circle going through the top of it.
He cut her another glance. Was she from the future?
Could this be part of the keystone that represented all of time?
She shifted on the bed with a faint moan.
He pocketed the stone once again as a knock sounded on his door. He pulled it open and welcomed Dougal, the healer and their steward, inside.
