Eva Macpherson had inherited the chiefship of Clan Chattan from her father and thus transmitted it to her husband and son. The sticking point came when Angus chose to keep his own name, rather than become Macpherson. This did not sit well with her male relatives, for chiefship and name were meant to be inseparable.

A compromise had been reached whereby each clan kept its respective name and came together as Clan Chattan. But not everyone had agreed with the decision, and his opponents now saw Adam's weakness as a means to return a Macpherson to the position.

No sooner had the door closed than she turned to him. "Can ye not speak to the boy without shouting?"

"He's no' a boy, but a man. A mighty stubborn one at that."

"Aye, and I wonder where he got that particular trait?" Her smile softened her accusation. "Yer tired, love. Talk with the la.s.s tomorrow."

He ignored her. "Ye've met her?"

Eva nodded.

"What do ye think of her?"

With a sigh, Eva sat closer and took his hand. "I think she's been frightfully a.s.saulted and not likely to welcome a man's touch again in this lifetime."

Angus thought about this for a moment. "Judging from the look on Adam's face when he spoke of her, I'd wager he's thought about touching her, and more."

" 'Tis just his tender heart."

"Perhaps." For the first time in months, Adam had shown fire and spirit. Had the defenseless woman brought out Adam's natural inclination to protect and defend? If so, then Angus would fuel that fire and speed his son's healing.

"Are ye mad, ye ol' fool? After Suisan's rebuff, do ye think he'd take on a damaged woman like this Gwenyth and face rejection again?"

"Adam is good at healing hurting creatures, is he not? He is drawn to her. Perhaps 'tis time for someone to heal Adam."

"You want her to heal him so he can fight Leod." Eva's shoulders slumped. "It always comes back to that, doesn't it?"

"Eva, the boy needs more than to regain his fighting arm. He needs the wholeness that only love and forgiveness can give."

She reached for his hand and smiled. "You are right, as usual."

Gently he said, "He will still have to fight, my love. Leod has always acted as if the world owed him something. And he believes he has been cheated of his birthright."

Eva stood and paced the room before coming to stand next to him. "How can we protect our son?"

Angus shook his head, knowing the time had come for Adam to stand on his own. He prayed he'd prepared the boy well. "We cannot, my love. He must use his head, heart, and hands to defeat Leod."

"How much support does Leod have among the clan?"

"In numbers, not many. I'll speak to Ian. I believe the council will approve Adam, despite the la.s.s's accusation. But so long as Leod lives, Adam's life is in danger. It only takes one well-placed sword thrust, one man to do the deed."

"But surely Leod knows he would forfeit any hope of becoming captain of the federation if he kills his laird."

Eva paced again, and Angus longed to pull her to him, to ease her mind and make her forget. Make them both forget the cares of this world in each other's arms. But those days were gone, and now he had to prepare her, and Adam, to go on without him. The thought pained him, but he pushed it away. He didn't have time for such maudlin musings.

"Aye. Who would do Leod's will to the point of killing our son?"

"Who?"

"I don't know. And I fear I'll no' live long enough to be of any help." He saw a shadow pa.s.s across her face and again it grieved him to remind her of his impending death. "I've spoken with Adam and he has taken precautions."

"And the girl?"

"We must wait for Seamus to return."

She drew a deep breath. "Will Adam be able to fight, if it comes to that?"

All the worry of a mother for her child lay open in that question. "Whether he can or not, he's going to have to."

She sat beside Angus once more and took his hand. "If belief alone could win the day, yer son would be able to fly." She smiled. "Now then. Ye need to rest, and the la.s.s does, too. Talk to her tomorrow."

"Nay. I don't have the luxury of putting things off, Eva."

"For her sake, then."

He relented. "All right. Tomorrow."

Eva kissed his brow. "Goodnight, love." She stood and walked to the door. "I'll check on ye before I retire." She closed it quietly behind her.

Angus closed his eyes, resting his weary body. The harsh words with his son still rang in his ears, but none so loud as Adam's anguished cry that he could not fight. Angus refused to believe it. Men far weaker in body and spirit had successfully led this clan in the past. He smiled. Even I.

With pleasure, Angus thought of his strong, fine son, the only male child of his and Eva's who had survived to adulthood. Those four small graves in the churchyard still grieved him. Although Adam and his two sisters pleased him, those graves were a reminder that only the strongest in body and will survived the harshness of the highlands.

Aye, only the very strongest survived.

'Twas a grievous shame he couldn't climb the stairs and learn for himself if his daughter-in-law was a survivor.

SEVEN.

DARKNESS SURROUNDED HER. Must not fall asleepa"stay awake. Nothing to be afraid of, save the rats scurrying through the straw. No light but a pale sliver beneath the door of the damp, fetid chamber. Watch the light; keep your eyes on the light. But the saving light faded as sleep overcame her.

Now she was warm, lying in a soft bed with gentle voices. Safe.

Nay, not safe. Never safe.

A hand came out of the darkness, clamped upon her mouth, and m.u.f.fled her screams of terror. She heard them, tearing her soul even as he tore her clothing. She fought, twisting her body and tugging at his beard. But he was so strong. Still she struggled, to no avail. She closed her mind to all thought and feeling. Why were the bedclothes coiled? The screams echoed in the small room and then ended abruptly, leaving her weeping.

"WAKE UP, La.s.s," a woman's voice crooned. "Come, 'tis only a bad dream. Ye are safe."

As the nightmare and its terror faded, Gwenyth fearfully opened her eyes to see a woman sitting by her bed. Gwenyth touched the covers, to see if they were real and not straw, to know the dream was truly over. The reality of the warm, soft bed and the sweet-smelling chamber sank in and her sobs quieted.

She remembered where she was. And how she came to be here. She was not safe. Not here, not anywhere in Scotland, for he might return at any time.

She raised herself up, eyes gradually focusing on the woman beside her bed. Adam's mother put a pillow behind Gwenyth's back, and she sank gratefully into its softness.

Eva reached to the small table beside her and lifted a bowl. "You should have some broth, la.s.s."

Gwenyth stared at the ceiling. "I'm not hungry."

"I know, but ye need to eat a bit anyway."

Remembering the anger on Eva's face when Adam had explained Gwenyth's presence, she asked, "Why are you being kind to me?"

"I cannot turn my back on one of G.o.d's creatures any more than my son can. And I admire a woman who can outfox Leod Macpherson, especially when so doing saves my son's life."

Hearing Leod's name brought back the dream and Gwenyth recoiled. Leod was the man in the dream, the man in the chamber that night. The shudder became a quaking that would not cease as the images from the dream unfolded yet again.

Eva stroked her hair. "There now. 'Twas not yer fault, never was it yer fault. Ye must put it behind ye. Yer safe here."

Gwenyth didn't believe any of it. She should have fought harder, screamed louder, gouged out his eyes. She should have donea"

"Nothing ye could do to prevent it, la.s.s," Eva said, as if reading her thoughts.

"I want to go home." Home. She had no home. Robert the Bruce had destroyed it in his retaliatory raids throughout Buchan not six weeks ago. Thankfully, her mother hadn't lived to see it. Gwenyth didn't even know if Daron still lived and if so, where he was. The trembling overpowered her yet again, and she despaired of ever being in control of her emotions, let alone her life.

Eva patted her hand where it lay on the covers. "Pray for strength, child. G.o.d will not fail ye."

Oh, but he had. She had prayed over and over again but her family was dead, Daron was missing, and her dream of becoming Scotland's queen was quickly dying. Aye, she thought bitterly, G.o.d had turned his back on the Comyns for sure. Since he would not help, she would hide herself far away from emotion, from pain. And from the world that hadn't protected her. She closed her eyes and sank deeper into the pillow.

A soothing hand brushed Gwenyth's hair off her forehead. She opened her eyes. Again Eva offered her the bowl with the admonition to eat. Eat and restore her health or hide and what? Give up? Two years of planning and patiently waiting for Edward to send for her, to finish what Bruce started in Greyfriars Church?

She would not hide, nor would she cower in fear. Gwenyth accepted the bowl and brought it to her lips, drinking deeply of the rich broth. She was strong, strong enough to do what must be done. She needed no one except Daron. Only her cousin knew her plans, only her cousin would help her. She would find him, with or without G.o.d's help.

ADAM RUBBED a handful of straw across his horse's gleaming coat. The repet.i.tive motion and the touch of his hands on the silky hide normally soothed him, but not today. He rested his head on the horse's neck, and the animal reached around, nuzzling Adam's side as if to offer comfort. But the nibbling tickled, and Adam gently pushed the velvet nose away. "Stop, Kai."

The big red stallion stomped his foot, successfully distracting Adam from his pensive mood. He reached into the fold of his plaid for the dried apple hidden there and offered it to the horse, which nipped it from Adam's palm with expert lips.

The stable door opened and closed, and Morogh walked over and leaned against the stall door. "Thought ye might be here. Too cursed cold for the hot spring today, even for ye."

Adam stroked Kai's neck. "Aye, winter's taking one last crack at us."

"How's the wee la.s.s, then?" Morogh asked, his voice full of concern.

Adam shook his head. "She insists that she's fine, just sore ribs and a few bruises. And of the other, she refuses to speak of it, even to Mother. She cried when I visited this morning."

Morogh cleared his throat. "Well, for all ye know, those were tears of grat.i.tude for removing her from Leod's keep and further abuse."

"Aye. Or tears of fear at seeing the one man who has a right to her." He said another prayer of thanks that the marriage was only handfast, that he wasn't tied for the rest of his life to a woman who would never invite his touch. For surely her tears gave proof that the very sight of him filled her with fear.

Adam closed the stall door behind him and walked to the hay stacked at the far end of the barn. He grabbed an armful and returned to fill Kai's rack.

"Have ye had any luck in finding this cousin of hers?"

"None." And it had been that admission to Gwenyth that had preceded her tears, now that he thought on it. Perhaps she didn't fear him so much as she wanted to know her kinsman was alive. That made more sense. Adam's mood lifted. He raked up the loose hay that lay on the dirt-packed floor of the aisleway. "He's either left the country or he's holed up somewhere in the hills."

"Aye, or he's dead."

What would Gwenyth do if that were so? Adam's initial anger at her accusation of rape had greatly diminished. And not a one of the people whose opinion mattered to him believed he'd been the one to a.s.sault her. She had saved his life, no matter what her motivation, and for that, he and his clansmen were grateful.

Perhaps she deserved more than just his promise of protection, so grudgingly given. It was obvious, though she tried to deny it, that she had suffered a terrible trauma. From the look of her bruises, which were only beginning to fade after five days, she had fought her a.s.sailant, else why did he beat her?

How could any man intentionally harm such a mite of a woman? She stood nearly a head shorter than Adam, and though she carried a well-rounded body, her bones had felt delicate as a bird's when he'd held her on his horse.

Women and children, the old and infirm, were to be protected from harm. That was a man's responsibility. A laird's responsibility. That lesson had been easily learned, for Adam had a natural tendency to protect. Hadn't he spent his childhood protecting others from Leod's bullying?

Leod.

The suspicion that Leod had harmed Gwenyth grew stronger each day. It wasn't hard to believe that Leod the bully had gone from torturing animals to a.s.saulting a woman. Adam couldn't prove it, of course. And having accepted the blame himself, he couldn't very well accuse Leod, even if Gwenyth could be persuaded to name him. But somehow Adam would discover the truth. And make the man pay.

Adam shared a strong bond with Gwenyth, the bond of comrades who'd suffered bodily trauma and survived. Aye, she was as damaged as he. Maybe they could heal each other before they parted.

For a moment his mind wandered through the possible forms such healing might embrace. Yes, embraces, kisses, and all manner of delights a married couple might choose to engage in.

And then the vision of Gwenyth sitting in a chair staring out the window dashed his foolish daydream quicker than a cold highland rain. Teaching her the delights of marriage might well prove impossible.

Aye, they might heal one another, but that was all. She didn't want to stay herea"she'd made that clear. And he must make a true marriage that would strengthen the clan, as G.o.d might direct.

Morogh dropped a pitchfork, and the clatter brought Adam back to the present. "Yer not thinking of keeping her?"

"What makes you ask such a thing?"

"The look on yer face."

Morogh's black-eyed gaze didn't miss much. Never had, Adam recalled ruefully. "Nay. Perhaps under other circ.u.mstances . . . Nay, it's not meant to be."

"That's what I'm thinkin'."

"When the weather clears, I'll search for this Daron. I think it likely he's gone on without her, but if not, we need to settle with him. Or see her safely on her way."

"Aye, all will work out for the best, ye'll see."

LEOD MACPHERSON rode his horse into the woods surrounding the small village, exhilarated and freed from the frustration that had plagued him the past few days. As he entered the seclusion of the trees, he pulled the mask from his face.

Support for his cause proceeded much too slowly. His Macpherson tacksmen were loathe to transfer their loyalty from Adam to him, and he was no closer now to taking the chiefship than he'd been after Adam's visit.

Curse the woman. Miserable, misbegotten servant. Who'd have thought she'd have the courage to stand up to him, Leod Macpherson? Had she told Mackintosh who accosted her?

Women. If Eva Macpherson had married within her own clan, Clan Chattan would still be led by a Macpherson. Instead, Leod was denied the right to be laird, all because that woman had betrayed her clan.