Beautiful breathtaking, he whispered in her ear, and she knew he was paying homage. He slipped his arm about her waist, defying her woman to make some objection. He stiffened as Ada approached. He was ready for her. To his amazement she suggested, Valentina, why dont you take Lord Hamilton to see the pear trees in the orchard? The blossoms are so profuse, youd swear the branches were covered by snow. She smiled at Patrick. My lord, if you send your man up here, I will show him the sea and entertain him so that the next two hours will not drag endlessly for him.

Patrick could have kissed the woman. She couldnt have made it plainer that she was allowing him two hours of uninterrupted privacy with her charge. Tina flashed him a provocative smile. She removed his arm from her waist and clasped his hand, then together they descended the castle stairs. He had a quiet word with his man, directing him to the parapets, and then he and Tina went out into the castle garden. Once there, she took back her hand, then quickened her steps to carry her deep into the orchard, glancing back over her shoulder to lure him after her.

The moon bathed the blossoming trees with a pale, delicate light, and her silk gown was like a splash of whiteness beneath the fragrant pear blooms. His long stride soon closed the distance between them. Im having a most enjoyable evening. Will ye allow me tae come again?

Tina shrugged a beautiful shoulder. Perhaps.

He took a step closer. She did not retreat. If I invite ye tae Lanark an Hamilton, will ye come?

Tina ran a provocative tongue over her top lip. Perhaps Patrick was quick to catch on to her teasing replies, and he framed his next question accordingly. If I kiss ye, will ye kiss me back?

Her lips made a little moue. Perhaps.

He closed the distance between them, then placed his hands on either side of her small waist and drew her toward him. The piquant fragrance of pear blossoms mingled with her delicious womans scent. He had become aroused the moment they were alone together, and her teasing, come-hither glances to lure him after her had painfully hardened him. Now as he dipped his head to taste her, his manhood reared and bucked and then began to throb. He felt the throbbing all the way to his eardrums. He kissed her softly, tentatively, molding his lips to hers. His pulse quickened when she opened her mouth slightly beneath his in a most inviting way. He lifted his mouth from hers and murmured huskily, Sweetheart, when ye say perhaps, do ye always mean yes?

Perhaps, she whispered, but when he again lowered his mouth to hers, she slipped away playfully and ducked beneath a heavily laden bough. He did not hesitate to pursue and capture her. This time he brought her body close to his and pressed her against his hardness. Little wanton, ye know what ye do tae me, he said raggedly.

What? she asked innocently, her eyes brimful of mischief.

Patrick Hamilton was a very experienced man with ladies of the sporting variety, and up until tonight he had always had a strict code of behavior toward unmarried girls of high birth. But Flaming Tina Kennedy was a force to be reckoned with. More than any female hed ever desired, either whore or virgin, she made a man think of bed and fucking.

He decided to break his code of behavior. He bent his lips to her ear and whispered, Ye are cockteasing.

Tina had to stand on tiptoe to put her lips against his ear. Am I good at it? she whispered outrageously.

Damned good! he said aloud. I think yeve had lots of practice. Is it true yeve turned down six proposals?

She laughed up into his handsome face. Six marriage proposals, but scores of indecent proposals.

He laughed at her candor, then exhaled a slow breath of desire. Though her interest in him was undisguised, he feared she would not succumb to his wiles. Ye know exactly how tae twist men about yer fingers. Ye refuse a proposal and twist them tighter.

Not guilty, Patrick. I truly didnt want to wed any of them.

He slipped an arm about her, then took her chin in his other hand and held her so that he could look deeply into her eyes. What about me, Tina?

You have a most comfortable pair of arms, my lord.

He smiled, knowing she would make him spell it out in plain language. Do ye think I could make Lady Kennedy become Lady Hamilton?

Patrick, I must be totally honest with you. I told my father flatly I did not wish to be married. He told me in no uncertain terms that I must marry. He advised me to choose while the choice was still mine. The alternative would be a forced marriage, chosen either by Archibald Kennedy or the king.

She was easily the loveliest woman hed ever held. Too, she had a most exciting quality about her, as if she were ready to kick over the traces, and more than anything on earth he wanted to be the man to teach her the mysteries of her own sexuality. Sweet, are ye telling me that I am yer choice?

I am telling you that I am in no hurry to marry, but that I should like to be wooed. I am telling you that perhaps I would enjoy being your sweetheart. Then, if we find that we love each other, we could be betrothed. Im told that leads to marriage. The look in her eyes held all the fatal power of destruction.

He groaned and covered her mouth with his, this time kissing her deeply. Tina, Id be unwilling tae wait that long for ye.

The man on guard at Doons gate tower saw the lone rider in the dark plaid and raised the portcullis. He shook his head and laughed to himself, for obviously it was another suitor for Valentina. The torches on the gatehouse showed the dark head of the clansman and the dark greens of the tartan, and the guard guessed that it was either a Campbell or a Gordon. Both men were heirs to powerful earldoms, and he wished he could be present when the man riding in discovered that the heir to the powerful Arran and cousin to the king already had his feet under the table.

Ram Douglas rode up to Doon Castle and across the drawbridge with cold deliberation. God help any who stood in his path. A young Kennedy groom came forward to take his horse, but one look at the enormous beast stopped him short. He saw that the black devil was savage and ready to attack anyone who approached with teeth and hooves. The groom ran back into the stables.

The Black Ram dismounted and tethered Ruffian securely. He strode into the castle as if he owned it. No one even considered stopping him. He had all the arrogant poise and confidence of a man who knew his own power. He walked a direct path to the great hall.

The servants moved back to make way for him.

Donal Kennedy. His voice was deep, resonant, and commanding.

Donal looked up from his leather tankard, and Ram Douglas saw the burly figure, the full-bearded face, the piercing eyes. He saw those eyes widen in recognition.

There was no mistaking the swart darkness of Black Ram Douglas. Holy Christ, how had he found out?

Donals claymore was at the ready, but he never even got the chance to unsheath it. Ramsay swung his weapon high with both powerful arms and brought the flat of the broadsword down full force upon Donal Kennedys head. It felled him instantly. He dropped like a dead horse.

Duncan Kennedy stared in disbelief at the scene that met his eyes as he came into the back of the hall from the kitchen. He saw his brother go down, and even from behind he knew a dreaded Douglas when he saw one.

He drew his dirk and launched himself from behind.

The Black Douglas had the eyes and ears of a hawk. He did not need to turn around to know he was being assailed. His elbow smashed into Duncans belly, doubling him over; then the heavy hilt of Rams knife came up under Duncans chin with an uppercut that knocked out a tooth and embedded it in his tongue.

Blood was everywhere.

Davie was in the solar plucking out a tune on a lute when he heard the commotion. He thought that most likely Donal had had too much to drink and had picked a fight with Patrick Hamilton. Not wanting to miss the fun, he ran down the winding stone staircase that led to the hall. His face turned ashen as he saw the fury of Black Ram Douglas. The intruder snatched the lute from Davids hands and smashed it against the wall The wooden, pear-shaped body splintered away, leaving a jagged neck with its fretted fingerboard. Ram jabbed it into Davies throat as he growled, Vicious young bastard!

In spite of his damaged mouth Duncan had cried the alarm, and now red Kennedys were gathering from every direction. Ram grabbed Davie with one powerful arm and wielded his sword with the other. None dared to make a move against him. Ram knew he had timed his one-man assault perfectly. Every last Kennedy had been drinking heavily, and there was none to challenge the Douglas might.

Ramsays voice rang through the castle: Restore my cattle, or face the consequences! If its reiving ye want, its reiving yell get! he promised with relish Before he came to Doon, hed had a notion to take back his young prisoner and hold him for ransom, but now with great contempt for the cowardice of a clan who would raid knowing another clan would be blamed, he flung David Kennedy away from him and watched dispassionately as he hit his head against a fireplace and sank to the flagstones.

Ramsay turned to leave, disappointment surging inside him that there were not more of them to put up a fight.

He still had a hot ball of fury burning inside his gut that needed an outlet. He flung open the heavy studded door and heard the seductive laughter of a woman very sure of her prey. A couple were kissing before they came inside.

Douglas stood to one side to let them enter and stared directly into the eyes of Patrick Hamilton. Christs passion! he swore, his pewter eyes glittering with hatred The bloody rotten Hamiltons in cahoots with the cowardly Kennedys! He spat on the floor to rid his mouth of the taste of their names.

Patrick Kennedy had no idea what Douglas was talking about, but it made little difference to him. Here was his hereditary enemy. Theyd lived their entire lives at each others throats. Their castles were built almost nose to nose, and the two clans were bitter rivals because of territory, ambition, and the ruthless power-mongering of Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, and James Hamilton, Earl of Arran. Even the king knew better than to put them on border patrol at the same time, and he was forever at them to sign a bond of friendship or at least declare a truce.

Step inside, man, invited Douglas.

Ye scurvy, uncouth bastard, how dare ye act like an uncivilized savage afore a lady? Hamilton demanded, drawing his rapier. This is a godly household!

Man, yer so self-righteous, I wonder it doesna choke ye!

spat Ramsay. Both men stepped into the hall to give them more room for their quarrel. Join yer fearsome partners in crime. They fair had me quaking in my boots, invited Douglas.

Hamilton gazed about the room in disbelief. Where are yer men? he demanded.

I came alone, the Black Ram said insolently.

Yer vaunty boasting makes me spew! roared Hamilton.

Ye need guts before ye can spew! taunted Douglas.

It will give me pleasure tae rid the world o one more maggot-blown Douglas, snarled Hamilton.

Ye crawling louseI ha better things than ye crawling in ma body hair! spat Douglas.

Valentina had followed the two men inside. She ran to Donal with her heart in her throat, thinking him dead.

When she saw he was unconscious, she was angry and assumed hed drunken himself into oblivion just when Doon needed defending.

Duncan, covered with blood, was still trying to stanch the flow of the severed artery in his tongue. Tina ran to Davids side. He too was bleeding from a gash on the head. Let me help you, Davie! she cried.

Get the hell away from me! he snarled, shamed that she treated him like a puling bairn.

She stared about the hall at the servants and the Kennedy clansmen and wondered wildly why they did naught, save watch and listen to Patrick Hamilton and Ramsay Douglas circle each other exchanging insults.

Her pulses raced, her heartbeats quickened. Suddenly she felt no fear, only a mounting excitement that she was witness to the confrontation of two deadly enemies. As they circled each other warily, she saw how proud Patrick Hamilton looked garbed in elegant black with the white linen ruffle at his throat. He was tall and slim and moved with the grace of a black panther His deadly rapier blade glinted in the torchlight, and she knew his reach was longer than that of Douglas.

Then her eyes were drawn to the Black Ram. She had never seen a naked man before. His plaid did little to cover his nakedness. Instead it revealed and emphasized his magnificent torso. He was not as tall as Patrick, but his shoulders were broader by far, with the powerful, sleek strength of a swordsman.

Her mind flashed about like quicksilver. Part of her felt guilty because she was enjoying the spectacle. Then she saw with disbelief that the two men were smiling, and she realized with a shock that they were relishing it more than she. She caught her breath on a half sob as the two enemies lunged at each other, but instead of the blood she expected she saw the double-edged Douglas sword snatch the deadly rapier from Hamiltons grip. It flipped into the air, and Douglas neatly caught it in his left hand Hamilton, unarmed, tore off his doublet and challenged Douglas. Throw aside yer weapons and fight me wi yer fists!

Douglas was guilty of many things, but stupidity was not one of them. Unarmed he would have been jumped by a score of Kennedys. He slammed his broadsword into its scabbard and advanced upon Hamilton with the mans own rapier. Patrick had the good sense to back away.

Bad enough ye raided my cattle, but tae aid an abet the Kennedys tae do likewise, lured on by yon red-haired bitch in heat, is unconscionable, Patrick man.

His foul accusation was totally unfounded, but when Tina tried to defend Patrick, both men totally ignored her. Douglas backed his prey clean across the hall, then with a swift downward slash he slit the white linen shirt and carved a crude letter D on Hamiltons breast.

You swine! screamed Tina. Youre doing this because I bested you. How did you learn my name?

Twas a simple thing tae sniff outyer reputation as a wanton stinks to high heaven.

Patrick Hamilton tried to control her, but shed heed no man at this moment. Before Im done, Ill see you in hellfire! she screamed.

Most likely, Ram acknowledged with a courteous bow.

Then he dismissed her and swept Hamilton and the Kennedy men with a look of blackest contempt Yer no fit tae clean the shit off ma boots. He strode from the hall looking to neither right nor left. Turning his back on all that company showed he was fearless.

Valentina looked down at her white gown and saw it spattered with Patricks blood and smeared with Davids.

In that moment she knew a need to see Douglas blood spilled. She cried out to the men in the room, but they were already screaming abuse at one another and exchanging brutal blows. Heedlessly, she ran outside after Black Ram Douglas His hand was about to untether his devil-horse. Coward! Whoreson coward!

she cried.

He turned to face her, his eyes raking her from breast to hip. Ye mistake, mistress. Tis all Kennedy men who are cowards, just as all Kennedy women are whores!

She flew at him and struck him full in the face. Her breasts heaved wildly with her agitation as she screamed, You dont have the guts to strike me back!

You dont have the guts to defend yourself against a woman. You dont have the guts to lay a finger on me!

A muscular bare leg shot out and knocked her to the ground. Then Lady Valentina Kennedy found herself in a shameful position shed never experienced before in her life. Ram Douglas was on top of her, imprisoning her body between his muscular thighs. As she struggled wildly, her hands came in contact with his massive hirsute chest, and her eyes saw clearly his shameful male parts. As he straddled her they were shamelessly displayed only inches from her face. She was acutely aware of the heady, disgraceful, masculine scent of him.

He clenched his fist on a handful of turf and was sorely tempted to grind the dirt into her beautiful face. He mastered the impulse as beneath his dignity He did not need to use his brawn on the little wanton. His contempt would show his superiority. How many men have ye rolled in the grass? Ram Douglas got to his feet. He was secretly impressed that she had shown more courage than the Kennedy men. He hid his response to her passion and fire behind a contemptuous look of scorn to show he despised her He drew away from her as if contact would contaminate him. He gave her one last insolent look that almost scorched her skin, then vaulted onto the back of his black devil-horse.

Tina struggled to her feet, impotence feeding the fires of her anger and hatred. She cried out into the night, I swear that someday the positions will be reversed! I shall be armed, and you will be weaponless, but I vow to you that I shall use my weapon!

When Tina went back inside, she saw Patrick and the clansman who had attended him exchanging blows Ada looked on helplessly. Shed spent a most rewarding evening with the Hamilton moss-trooper in the privacy of her cozy chamber and wondered why men always ended up shouting and brawling by midnight.

Donal was staggering about. Though now conscious, he was still groggy and very much confused about what had taken place at Doon tonight. Tinas eyes caught sight of her pretty lute smashed to smithereens, and suddenly she was overwhelmed. She picked up the forlorn neck with its dangling strings and broke down in tears. She brushed them away impatiently with unclean hands, smearing dirty rivulets across her cheeks. Why do they ruin and destroy everything they touch?

whispered Valentina.

Because theyre men, explained Ada, ushering her off to bed.

The moment she was alone in her chamber she remembered Old Megs tarot cards.

She had met The Emperor, the dark man of authority who sat upon the throne decorated by rams heads. She saw the Five of Swords in her minds eye. Just as Meg had foretold, he had come with his swords and defeated all. Her mind refused to go further. It was all ridiculous nonsense. Her future could not possibly be affected by some silly pasteboards laid out by an old Gypsy!

Chapter 9.

During the following week the Kennedys of Newark, Dunure, and Carrick were raided, along with the Hamiltons of Lanark, Dunbar, and Midlothian.

Naturally Black Ram Douglas was the prime suspect, but there were many who doubted that it was possible for one man to hit so many far-flung castles within the same week.

Ramsay Douglas had decided to join in the game and to teach the other players how to go about the thing with a vengeance. When he hit, he hit hard, and he hit where he knew it would stir up a stink as foul as a cesspool. At each of the Kennedy holdings he left cattle that belonged to the Hamiltons, and likewise he deposited the famous Kennedy sheep upon Hamilton property.

The Kennedys of Doon, however, were not touched, and it was a week before they realized their herds were mysteriously multiplying. The head of the Kennedy clan, Archibald, Earl of Cassillis, was renowned for owning the finest horseflesh in Scotland. Some he bred, others he imported from Ireland, Flanders, Spain, and Morocco.

He supplied the royal stables, both at Stirling and Edinburgh, with the very best. Ram Douglas, with his brothers Gavin and Cameron, lifted every horse at Cassillis. It was a major undertaking that required planning, cunning, nerve, and speed. The brothers relayed the horses to their Douglas cousins, Ian, Drummond, and Jamie, who in turn passed them on to Douglas moss-troopers, who planted them in the stables of both the Kennedys and the Hamiltons.

There was one particular mare, however, with which Black Ram Douglas could not bear to part. He had been looking for a worthy dam for Ruffians offspring, and the moment he saw the glossy filly, he knew he had found her.

She was tall for a female, with extremely long legs. Her neck also was long and graceful, yet her chest was deep, and he knew instinctively she would prove to have long wind. In the dark she had looked black, but when he examined her more carefully back at Douglas, he saw she was an unbelievable shade of purple damson. Just by looking at her, he could tell her bloodlines were royal and that she was part Barbary or Arabian. Her face was exotic, with large eyes, and if he wasnt mistaken, she had been bred with one less vertebra, so that her tail went up high at the least excitement.

He tucked her away in a small meadow at Douglas with one of his most trusted herdsman-tenants. Then Ramsays perverse humor prompted him to further mischief. It was no secret that the wealthy Kennedys of Doon were thick as thieves with the Campbells of Argyll and that the clans would soon be united in marriage.

This was clearly a power-move by the ruthless Argyll.

The Campbells already held and ruled the Northwest, and the Kennedy alliance proved their greedy eyes had turned south.

Douglas knew the Campbells had culled about sixty young bulls from their famous herds of shaggy, short- young bulls from their famous herds of shaggy, short- legged Highland cattle with their great spread of horn and had brought them to the spring cattle auction in Glasgow. Lifting the cattle was childs play for the Douglas reivers; the tricky part was depositing them on Donal Kennedys doorstep without being observed.