One in a Million
Darroch MacKeegan might be a master mariner in the wild Hebridean seas, but Broderick had grown up beside the tidal waters of the Solway. “We willna make it in time,” he said, expecting an angry retort.
Kyla’s father clenched his jaw more tightly than before, if that were possible. “I ken. The tide’s going out too fast. What do ye recommend?”
Broderick didn’t hesitate. “If we turn now, we’ll make it to Bowness. We’ll still be high and dry there, but at least we willna be aground in the middle of the Firth.”
MacKeegan gave the order without question and the birlinn turned as the crew heaved on the oars.
They joined several vessels moored in Bowness, waiting for the tide to turn.
“How long?” Darroch asked, pacing the deck.
“About six hours.”
“Too long. Can we go overland to Carlisle from here?”
“Possibly, but Gretna is a direct route with a major road connecting Scotland and England. We have no horses; in Gretna we’d be more likely to find someone to transport us.”
“We canna just sit for six hours and do nothing.”
Broderick risked putting a hand on Darroch’s shoulder. “I’m as anxious as ye to get to Carlisle and rescue our ladies, my laird, but we have to consider what’s the best course of action to achieve Lochwood’s downfall.”
MacKeegan arched one eyebrow, but didn’t shrug off Broderick’s hand. “If I’m nay mistaken, ye care as much about my daughter as ye do about yer sister.”
Admitting his feelings for Kyla might alienate this powerful man who probably had naught but disdain for all Lowlanders. However, MacKeegan would also perceive the lie. “Aye, but in a different way. I’m drawn to her.”
Darroch chuckled. “Lots o’ men are drawn to her. She’s a beautiful lass.”
Broderick shook his head and looked out at the horizon. “Nay, ’tis stronger than that. I’ve kent her only a very short while, and we didna exactly get off on the right foot, but I canna foresee my life without her now.”
He’d never had the opportunity to talk about such matters with his own father who was so wound up in clan hatreds he wouldn’t have listened anyway. Yet, it was surprisingly easy to reveal his feelings to Darroch MacKeegan, though he had no intention of mentioning how Kyla’s admiring gaze had bolstered his courage in one of the darkest moments of his life.
The Highland chief walked away to the prow, inhaled deeply, then came back and looked Broderick in the eye. “I love all my children,” he said hoarsely, “but my daughter is one in a million.”
“She told me a little about her childhood,” Broderick replied.
Darroch’s eyes widened. “That she didna speak for seven years?”
“Aye.”
“Till she met Blue?”
“Aye.”
“That my father wanted her cast out?”
“Aye. And she loves ye for nay allowing that to happen.”
“She told you all this?”
“And more.”
Darroch slapped him on the back. “I may have been wrong. I was certain my daughter would ne’er fall in love with a Lowlander, but evidently something about ye has overridden her anger over the Lanmara.”
Heat rose in Broderick’s face, despite the cool sea breeze. “Weel, I wouldna go so far as to say she’s in love with me.”
“But ye hope she is.”
“Aye,” Broderick rasped.
“Listen, laddie, I doot she’s told ye about the mix-up that occurred when Isabel and I were betrothed to be wed. Someday, she’ll tell ye the tale. Suffice it to say, clan hatreds between the MacKeegans and the MacRains intensified as a result. I ne’er imagined that, when all was said and done, I couldna wait to wed Isabel. She’s in my soul. Life without her would have been…weel, no life at all.”
“I understand. Kyla’s fortunate to have two loving parents who love each other. Even if I hadna met ye, I could tell she’s cherished. That’s why ye followed her, though I warrant she isna aware ye did.”
Darroch winked. “Right again.”
They both smiled, then Darroch eyed him. “I ken a little of yer father’s history.”
Broderick let out a long breath. “He was a difficult mon.”
MacKeegan laughed. “Trust me, difficult doesna come close to describing my father.” He thrust out his broad chest. “Yet, look how well I turned out.”
They both chuckled, but suddenly the smile left the older man’s face. “If ye’re the right mon for my daughter…” He seemed unable to continue, then smiled again. “’Twas inevitable the day would come when she’d find a husband, but ’tis hard to let go.”
“I understand,” Broderick replied. “I suppose I’ve always thought of my sister the same way. She’s much younger than I am, and my father ne’er took an interest in her. The thought of Corbin Lochwood putting his hands on her…”
They stared at the receding waters for long minutes.
“Too slow for my liking,” MacKeegan grunted.
“Aye,” Broderick agreed. “Somebody in Bowness must have horses.”