Page 56 of Treachery in the Highlands
We scramble to make ourselves presentable, Joey tossing me my discarded dress while he pulls on his trews and tunic.I run a hand through my tangled hair, trying to smooth it into some semblance of order.
"Ready?"Joey asks, his hand on the doorknob.
I take a deep breath to compose myself.Then Joey opens the door, revealing a flustered-looking Morna.
"I'm sorry to interrupt ye," she says, her eyes darting between us."But there's been a disturbance at the edge of the property.Kieran sent me to fetch ye both."
My heart races, all thoughts of our magical discovery momentarily forgotten."What sort of disturbance?"
Great-Aunt Morna's eyes dart nervously between Joey and me."It's Alisdair MacLeod.He's determined to see you."
Joey and I exchange worried glances.
"Do ye think he means to abduct me?"I ask.
Morna shrugs."I was told to fetch ye, that's all.We're gathering on the green."
"We'll be right there," I assure Morna."Tell Father we're on our way."
Chapter Twenty-One
Joey
As soon as Morna hurries away, Rachel and I spring into action, hastily pulling the rest of our clothes on.When we reach the great hall, the others have already grabbed weapons---even the ladies.Alyssa wields a sword, though it's smaller than Kieran's claymore.Rachel and I select weapons as well, with me opting for a dirk which is basically a really big knife, or you could call it a small sword.
What's up with all the weaponry?Is everybody worried the MacLeods might be coming to kidnap Rachel?Honestly, I can't swear I haven't thought of that too.But if that cretin so much as looks at Rachel cross-eyed, I'll kill him.
"You don't think this is because of us, do you?"I ask Rachel in a hushed voice as we rush down the corridor."Alisdair couldn't know that we've been, ah, enjoying each other's company."
She shakes her head."I don't know.It seems unlikely, but considering the sinister events of late, I cannae say for certain."
As we rush out of the house and toward the garden doorway, Rachel's entire family follows behind us---with all their weapons, of course.We burst out of the castle into the crisp night air, holding each other's hands tightly.Amid the light fog, I see a single torch held up by...Alisdair's hand, naturally.Damn, I want to beat that jerk until he's nothing but a pile of bloody entrails.
We hurry across the green with Kieran in the lead.The damp grass soaks the hem of Rachel's skirts, but she doesn't seem to notice.There's something eerie about the whole scene, like it's straight out of a Dracula movie or something.
Then it hits me.This is eerily similar to that creepy dream I had, the one that involvedAn Bodach.
As we approach Alisdair, I can make out his smug expression in the flickering torchlight.The flames break through the mist just enough.My grip on Rachel's hand tightens, and I feel her squeeze back reassuringly.The rest of the MacTaggarts fan out behind us, weapons at the ready.Even Efrica, the oldest person in our group, wields a small sword.
I come up beside Kieran, dirk in hand.He nods his approval.
"Well, well," Alisdair drawls, his gaze raking over Rachel."What a warm welcome for a late-night visitor."
"State your business, MacLeod," Kieran snarls, stepping forward with his claymore raised.
Alisdair chuckles, a sound that makes me want to crack his spine just for the hell of it."I've come to claim what's rightfully mine.Rachel,mo ciad-bhean, it's time you fulfilled your duty to our clans."
Rachel stiffens beside me."I am not your wife and never will be.Not your first, second, third or twenty-seventh wife."
"You were trothed to me at birth."
Kieran jabs his claymore toward Alisdair."Neither I nor my wife ever pledged our daughter to you, yebaltan."
My free hand balls into a fist, while I keep my sword hand at the ready.If the bastard doesn't shut up and scurry back to his cave straightaway, I'll make sure he walks away with a limp and no dick."What the hell is abaltan?"
"I'll never be yours, Alisdair," Rachel spits.Yeah, she literally spat at him.The spittle is visible on his cheek."My heart belongs to another."Then she hisses to me, "It's an insult."
Alisdair's eyes narrow, his attention flicking back and forth between Rachel and me.A cruel smile twists his lips."Ah, I see.The Sassenach thinks he can claim what's mine."The bastard takes one menacing step forward."Yer meddling in affairs that have nothing to do with ye, laddie."
