Page 60 of Treachery in the Highlands
Joey steps up beside me, his voice carrying over the wall."Yeah, pal.Where I come from, we call that breaking and entering.Or possibly attempted kidnapping.Take your pick."
I give Joey an appreciative glance, warmth blooming in my chest at his unwavering support.Turning back to the wall, I call out, "Ye heard the man, Alisdair.Now take yer wee army and go home before ye embarrass yerself further."
A commotion erupts on the other side of the wall as muffled voices argue amongst themselves.I strain to hear, catching snippets of "...not worth it" and "...her father will have our hides."
Finally, Alisdair's voice rings out once more, this time tinged with frustration and a wee bit of defeat."This isn't over, Rachel MacTaggart!You may have won this battle, but the war is far from finished!"
I roll my eyes at his dramatic declaration."Away and boil yer head, Alisdair!There's no prize to be won here, only a fool's war!"
We listen as the sounds of hoofbeats gradually fade into the distance.When silence settles over Dùndubhan once more, I turn to Joey."Well, that was a bit of excitement for the day, wasn't it?"
Joey pulls me into his arms and kisses me."You Scots sure know how to keep things interesting."
"It's our way.Sometimes it's even more exciting 'round here."
Joey's eyebrows shoot up."More exciting?What, do you have dragons hiding in the loch or something?"
"No dragons."I wrap my arms around his neck."But we do have a resident kelpie or two.They're much more troublesome than dragons, if ye ask me."
Joey opens his mouth, likely to ask what in the world a kelpie is, when a shout from the courtyard interrupts us.
"Rachel!Joey!Are ye alright?"
I turn to see my father striding toward us, his claymore still firmly in his hand.Behind him, a small crowd has gathered, consisting of my great-aunts, my mother, and my grandparents.
"We're fine,Athairich," I say, waving reassuringly."Alisdair will rue the day he tried to assault Dùndubhan."
As the Laird of Dùndubhan approaches, his grim expression slides into a smug smile.He visually scans every one of us for injuries.Finding none, his demeanor relaxes slightly."Ye did well, lass.But what in the name of all that's holy possessed you and Joey to take on the MacLeods by yerselves?"
I shrug."It was either that or let them waltz right in and snatch me away.I chose the more entertaining option."
Joey chuckles beside me."Yeah, 'entertaining' is one word for it."
Now that the MacLeods are scurrying away to lick their wounds, we return to our normal daily chores and whatever else we might like to do.I still want to know more about Joey's past.He's been reluctant to tell me much, probably because he fears I might disapprove---or that my father might put him through another test of his mettle.But I approve of Joey wholeheartedly, and I dinnae believe my father will require more tests.He knows I have deep feelings for Joseph Finnegan.
After the evening meal, I excuse myself and Joey.He doesn't mind if I speak for him.I know that because he winked at me and smirked.My father and mother wish for me to remain inside the castle compound.I agree to the limitation, mostly because I have no wish to cause my family any further anxiety.We will be safe within these walls.The drawbridge remains closed, after all, and the sun won't set for a while yet.
Joey and I go into the garden for a private discussion.
I settle onto a bench, patting the empty space beside me."Come, Joey, please do sit with me."
He cautiously rests his taut arse on the bench, mere inches from my thigh."Should I be worried about why you brought me here?You've got that serious look in your eyes again."
I shake my head, brushing my fingers over his lips."Nay,mo leannan.I simply...want to ken ye better.Ye've been through so much since ye arrived here, and I feel like there's still so much about ye I dinnae understand."
Joey's shoulders tense slightly, but he doesn't pull away."Rachel, I...well, my past isn't exactly something I'm proud of.I'm not sure you'd want to hear all the seedy details."
I reach out to Joey, gently taking his hand in mine."Joey, I care for ye.Whatever ye've done, whatever ye've been through, it's made ye the man ye are now.The man I..."
My thought trails off, and I'm feeling strangely shy.
"The man you what, Rachel?"
I take a deep breath, releasing it as I gather my courage.Speaking the truth has never been difficult for me.But this is the first time I've felt this way.I clear my throat and simply say it."The man I've fallen in love with, Joey---you."
For a moment, he doesn't speak, his eyes wide with surprise.Then, little by little, a smile spreads across his face, lighting him up in a way I've never seen before."Rachel, I love you too.God help me, I've tried not to, but I can't fight it anymore."
He leans in, cupping my face with his free hand, and presses his lips to mine.The kiss is tender at first, then grows more passionate as we both pour our pent-up emotions into it.When we finally break apart, we're breathing hard.
