The day had turned out to be glorious. Anna turned her face up to the Highland breeze, then leaned back against David. His hand went to the back of her neck, softly massaging her tender skin. After all that had happened, what would become of her family?
Anna felt a strong wish to see her mother, and she hoped Filib was waiting for her, too. Did they know Ossian was now dead? And Struan? What would her sire think?
When they arrived at the abbey, David and Anna were escorted to the door to be certain there were no interruptions this time.
Had everyone heard of her troubles?
She gripped David’s hand as they stepped inside. The abbess welcomed the two of them back, though the look on her face indicated she certainly had not forgotten the other evening. She then led them down the passageway to a chamber, opening the door and closing it behind them.
Anna’s mother and Filib sat close together at a small table, both of them looking anxious and mournful. As soon as Anna stepped into the room, her mother leaped to her feet and rushed to her side. “You are hale and hearty? I was so worried.”
“Aye, Mama, and I’m unhurt thanks to David and his cousins. Where is Papa? I don’t know if you’ve heard yet, but I’m sorry to tell you that Ossian is dead. He killed Struan and then tried to kill me. He brought it on himself.”
Her mother stared at her, not saying a word, such a shocked look on her face, Anna feared she might faint. She paled and reached out to grab her mother’s hand, but Filib came up behind her.
Filib said, “Mama, sit down.” They settled the poor woman in a chair, and Anna moved to sit next to her.
Her mother gripped her hand and whispered, “I’m so sorry. I fear this could be my fault. I fear…”
Anna had no idea what her mother was talking about, but perhaps the entire day had simply been too much for her. “Mama, do not be ridiculous. None of this is your fault. My rape was a fraud. Papa paid a man to knock me out and make it appear as if I’d been attacked. Ossian sold me to a man who planned to send me on a cargo ship to the East. For some odd reason, he believed he needed to get rid of me.”
Her mother gasped, tears misting her eyes. “Oh dear. How awful. What if David hadn’t saved you? A cargo ship to the East? Why? What…?” She paled and her hand came up to her mouth. “Nay, tell me it cannot be true. My dear daughter. How could he have done this to you? David, you have my deepest gratitude. Anna, your father will be in shock to hear about Ossian. He never intended for everything to go that far…”
“Mama, where is Papa?”
“Your father took his guards and headed home, though he sent five guards off to find Struan. I never liked that man. I don’t understand any of this. Why would Ossian try to sell you?”
David squeezed Anna’s hand and said, “Allow me. Ossian sold her for the coin, but he then changed his mind. He told Anna he feared he would be switched with Filib again. That the truth about their ages would come out and be used against him.”
Her mother looked up at her, a pained expression on her face. “You knew?”
“Aye. Ossian told me about switching their ages, but why?”
Her mother grasped her hand and said, “I need to tell you something. Lorne is not Filib’s sire. His sire is David Drummond, your husband’s grandsire.”
Anna was stunned. She glanced at David, who nodded in affirmation. “She told us all when you were missing. It was a difficult thing for her to do, but it helped us find you. There was no time to explain before.”
She listened, her hand clasped tightly in David’s as her mother explained everything. She then turned her attention to Filib. “But that makes you…”
Filib smiled. “I’m still your half-brother, but I’m a Drummond. Your husband is my nephew, I suppose.”
Her mother’s expression was still confused. “But if Ossian sold you, why were you with him?”
David took over the tale again. “Ossian pocketed the coin from selling Anna, but then had apparently planned something with Struan.”
Filib said, “Aye. We discovered Struan obtained the monks’ clothing to get Anna out.”
Anna did her best to explain what she’d heard. “Struan and Ossian had planned to kidnap me, hide me in a cave, and ransom me for land from the Drummonds and coin. Papa felt he deserved it, and they were doing it for Papa. But Ossian saw the opportunity for more coin once he had me away from the abbey so he sold me to the man in the Channel, then returned to steal me back to use as a bargaining chip. The only part of it Struan agreed to was hiding me in a cave and trading me for land. But for some reason he killed Struan. Then I knew he’d gone completely daft. Poor Struan.”
Her mother shook her head slowly, her jaw opening wider as the details were revealed.
“How did Ossian die?” Filib asked.
“He tried to push me over the edge,” Anna said. “But David stopped him. He pulled a knife on David, and David killed him with his sword. I’m sorry, Mama.”
“Or I thought I killed him. He managed to get to his feet and charged toward us, but my brother pushed him over the edge of the falls. ‘Tis where his body landed, though the water may have taken him downstream.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she said with a hoarse voice. “I loved him because he was my son, but I know his soul was twisted.”
A knock sounded at the door. Diana stuck her head inside and said, “May I come in?”
Anna glanced at her mother to see how she felt about it, and to her surprise, her mama was waving Diana inside.
Diana entered, Micheil Ramsay following fast behind her. “I’m sorry that all this has disrupted your wedding day,” Diana said, “but I hope the tragedies are over for now.” She turned her attention to Filib. “I’m not sure how you feel, but I’d like to get to know you better, so I’m inviting you to come and spend a fortnight at Drummond Castle. I’ll tell you more about our father. I know he would want me to do so, and I hope you’ll accept.”
Filib thought it over for a moment and then nodded. “I would like that. I don’t think I’ll be welcome on MacGruder land any more. I can find my own way, but I would like to know more about my true sire. Mama, what are you going to do?”
She smiled and Anna was struck by her expression. The sadness was still there, but it seemed to coexist with a more enduring contentment. “You may find this odd, but I feel so…free. I no longer have to carry this lie around with me. For now, I’d like to spend some time here at the abbey. I held many secrets over the years. I did what I thought was best, but it ended up hurting you both. It seems inadequate, but all I can do is apologize. I told Lorne that your betrothal would be for the best, even knowing how he felt. Struan and I both convinced him he could gain land or something from the alliance. I was wrong, and for my part in this, I need to get closer to the Lord. I’m sure I can find some work to do here. I’ll not be returning to Lorne, but I hope you will both visit me on occasion.” Tears misted her eyes and she whispered, “I do love you both.” She kissed Anna’s cheek and then Filib’s. “Anna, I so hope you will be happy. I wanted you to marry David all along, but your sire is a stubborn man.”
“Oh, Mama. David and I will be back to visit.”
“I hope you do, but ‘tis time for you to begin your life together.”
Diana cleared her throat. “Anna, there are two people outside this room who are anxious to see you and David, may I bring them in?”
Anna glanced at David before nodding. She had no idea who Diana meant, but she knew she trusted her. Diana opened the door and Crisly came charging across the floor, running straight for Anna. Mariana followed behind her.
Crisly wrapped her arms around Anna’s waist and cried, “I was so worried about you. You are the strongest lass I’ve ever met, but when I saw him kidnap you, I wanted to cry.”
Anna hugged her back, feeling tears well in her eyes. “David, this is Mariana and her sister Crisly. They helped me to escape.”
Mariana said, “The only one who helped was Crisly. She stole the knife and then gave it to Anna. It was Anna who tricked Scarface into coming up close enough for her to stab him in the neck.”
Crisly said, “Blood was everywhere. I’ve never seen aught like that.”
Her mother gasped, and David’s jaw dropped open. “Anna? Is this true?”
He glanced at his mother, who was beaming with pride. Anna sat up a bit taller and said, “Aye, ‘tis true.”
For a moment, she was worried about how he would react, but David leaned in to kiss her cheek. “I’m so proud of you,” he said. “Had you not done that, I shudder to think what would have happened.”
Crisly shouted, “We could have been on a ship now, headed for some unknown place.”
“We told Maggie, Will, and her sire everything we knew about the Channel of Dubh,” Mariana said. “Maggie said they’d find a way to put an end to it so no one would ever fall victim to them again.”
Crisly said, “Aye, ‘twas almost terrible for us, but now we’re being adopted into a new family.” She clapped her hands together, her enthusiasm and excitement contagious.
Anna couldn’t be happier. “You are? Who is adopting you?”
Diana came up behind the two of them and gave them a squeeze. “We are. David, meet your new sisters. ‘Twas an easy decision. I’ve always wanted a daughter. Now I have two.”
Anna broke into laughter over the thought of having the two as sisters-in-law. Before they were done, she had the entire group laughing along with her, even her mother. “Oh, Mama. ‘Tis good to see you laugh again.”
A knock sounded at the door, and when David answered it, Daniel stood there, his usual grin on his face. “We’re ready for you two.”
Anna glanced at David, perplexed. “For what?”
David stood and held his hand out to her. “Anna MacGruder, will you marry me, right now? I’ll not be kept waiting any longer.”
She jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. His mother said, “Not yet. You must follow the trail first.”
Anna’s gaze traveled from one person to the next. “The trail?”
David extended his hand to her. “Come with me, love. I asked Sweeney to do me a favor, but this will be a surprise for me as well.”
Anna glanced at David. “Where are we going?”
“It would seem ‘tis a secret. We’ll just have to wait.” David tugged her into the passageway, following Daniel outside.
Where were they headed?
***
David glanced at Daniel, who simply grinned. He wondered what his brother had planned. All he’d asked Sweeney to do was find a priest and some flowers for Anna so they could still marry today. Daniel had something unusual planned for sure.
He followed his brother outside, holding Anna’s hand. Daniel led them to a horse with ribbons tied to its tail and flowers entwined in its mane. Anna squeezed David’s hand, telling him how much she approved of the horse they were to ride. His brother mounted his own horse and held his hand out, indicating they should mount up. He noticed his father and mother were behind them, along with Anna’s mother and Filib, all on horseback.
“Allow me, wife-to-be. ‘Tis time for us to marry.” He helped her mount the horse and climbed up behind her. His brother led them through a dense grouping of trees. When they came through the other side, they were greeted by a sight more pleasing than he’d guessed he would ever see. He lifted Anna’s chin and turned her face forward. “Look, my sweet.”
From the opposite side of the meadow, a small group of Grant guards bedecked in their red plaids approached David and Daniel, Connor in the lead, bellowing the Grant war whoop. Braden approached them with another group.
“Follow me,” Daniel said. “I’ve got it all set up. I was worried the MacGruder warriors might decide to come along and try to stop us, so we’ve arranged an escort for you. The wedding could have been held at the abbey, but I feared it might not have the best memories for Anna. We thought this would work better. You both deserve something special—and what could be more special than marrying in front of our extended family and allies?”
David followed his brother, shocked that he’d had the foresight to make such arrangements. Connor fell in behind them as Roddy’s warriors came along one side of them and Braden’s warriors protecting his other side.
The Grant warriors began to fall back as another slew of warriors approached them from the front, Ramsay warriors in their blue plaids circled them, Gavin and Gregor whooping the Ramsay shout for all to hear.
Anna peeked at him, excitement bubbling out of her. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Believe me when I say ‘tis over. You’ll be my wife soon.”
They didn’t travel far before another slew of warriors joined them. The Drummonds, bedecked in their red and black plaids, surrounded them completely. David’s parents joined the warriors and rode alongside them.
“Where are you taking us, Daniel?”
Daniel let out his own Drummond war whoop and charged his horse forward. Will and Maggie, who had been riding with the Ramsays, fell in next to them, all smiles.
David glanced over his shoulder, so impressed with the sight that a lump formed in his throat. A sea of warriors escorted them forward, protecting them as they traveled to their unknown destination. His Band of Cousins had fallen in directly behind him.
Anna pointed off into the distance. Lorne MacGruder sat on his horse a short distance away with several of his guards. He just stared at the procession flying past him, his shoulders slumped in resignation.
He’d lost his daughter and his son.
David nudged Anna and pointed to something. Mariana and Crisly rode with the Drummonds, huge smiles on their faces.
The cavalry slowed as another two horses approached David and Anna. Daniel motioned for them to move forward, toward the newcomers, and his cousins made a tight circle around them.
Sweeney sat on one horse, grinning from ear to ear. Father Rab, the Ramsay priest, rode the other horse.
Daniel held his sword up to silence everyone, and Sweeney said, “I hope you’re accepting of the idea of being married on horseback.”
“Well done, Daniel, Sweeney,” David said with a grin, turning to look at Anna. Her smile was just as wide, so he said, “I think my bride-to-be will agree.”
“Wait!” Sweeney drew close and handed a small sack to David. He opened the bag and pulled out a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers tied together, full of purple, yellow, and white blossoms.
David handed the bouquet to Anna and whispered, “Will this suit you, love?”
She nodded enthusiastically. Father Rab directed everyone where he wanted them, though he had to interrupt David’s sire and his brothers at least twice before they heeded him. They were looking over the Band of Cousins with pride, jesting about which cousin was best. Uncle Quade, the eldest and most level headed of the brothers, said, “Shut up, you two, and listen.”
Father Rab nodded to Quade. “My thanks. Do we have a Drummond plaid available?”
David’s mother came forward, handing over the Drummond dress plaid, while his father came around to their other side.
Father Rab rode closer to the couple and wrapped their hands together, entwining the fabric around and between them, reciting in Gaelic all the while.
David glanced at Anna, her face alight with happiness, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Their moment had finally come, and he was so overwrought with emotion and love, he barely heard any of the words Father Rab said. Their love was so worth fighting for, their love was true, and they’d have their own bairns someday.
When Father Rab declared them husband and wife, David cupped her cheeks and settled his lips on hers, tasting her happiness if that were possible. When they ended the kiss, Anna broke out in a giggle and pointed to the Band of Cousins, now running their horses in a circle around them while the elders had moved back, allowing them this simple celebration of their marriage.
David’s parents and Anna’s mother and brother joined in Anna’s laughter and offered their congratulations.
They were finally husband and wife.