It was nightfall when the Rover docked. Reed had managed to sleep a little but was feeling far from rested. He wasn’t looking forward to showing his face inside the walls of Whitehaven. He probably should have had Gair or Murray come with him for support, but he’d sent them along on the Sea Mirage to look for Brody.
He also sent the rest of the Scots along for extra security. He didn’t want to take the chance that the pirate crew or Rook’s mercenaries would change their minds and try to take back the ship.
He stood at the rail overlooking the water, for some reason feeling like he was going to the gallows. There were issues he still needed to deal with and he had no idea of what to do to get himself out of the mess he’d created.
Maggie walked up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist, laying her head against his back. “Everythin’ will be all right,” she whispered. “We’ve lived through worse. Ye’ll ken the right thing to do when the time comes.”
“The time has come and that’s what I dinna like about it.” He turned and took her into his arms. “Dinna ever leave me, Maggie. The only thing that is keepin’ me sane is the fact that when this is all over, we’ll be able to settle down and start raisin’ a family of our own.”
“Not if I kill you first for just standing there idly when you should be helping us dock,” said Rook, overhearing their conversation. Rowen was at the wheel and Ross was tugging at the lines as if he’d never been maimed at all.
“I’ll go tell Duff we’re here,” said Maggie, releasing him. A blush colored her cheeks. She was the most beautiful sight for sore eyes. Reed couldn’t wait until they were able to spend intimate time together again.
“Here.” Rook slapped a rope into Reed’s hand. “Start working.”
“Rook, can I ask ye somethin’?” Reed coiled the rope as he spoke.
“I have a feeling you will no matter what I say, so what does it matter?”
“When ye met Calliope, did ye start questionin’ every little thing?”
“Like what?”
“I mean – did ye start thinkin’ that mayhap ye’d like to slow down and just concentrate on raisin’ a family?”
Rook chuckled. “I never thought I’d hear that my wild and reckless brother wanted to do anything that wasn’t an adventure or had to do with fighting.”
“I’m married now,” Reed told him. “I’m startin’ to think that is an adventure in itself.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Rook tied off a line and started on another. “Unless you’ve forgotten, I’ve only just gotten married myself. Things haven’t slowed down for me at all yet. Of course, I have you to thank for that, Brother.”
“Ye have yer wife to thank. If it hadna been for her, I never would have kent how to take the catacombs to Scotland and would probably be sittin’ in the dungeon right now.”
Rook cleared his throat. “That was me, Brother. I sent her and Everad to tell you how to get through the catacombs and escape to Scotland. Just don’t breathe a word of it to Edward or he might start accusing me of treason.”
“Ye?” He looked up with a grin on his face. “So ye didna abandon me after all?”
“As pig-headed and stubborn and stupid as you are, you’re still my brother and I’ll always look out for you, as well as Rowen.”
“Me, too,” said Reed, releasing the rope and giving Rook a hug.
“None of that. The crew might start talking.” Rook pushed away and Reed didn’t care. He knew that Rook never liked hugging. “Don’t worry about Rowen. He’ll get over the fact you put him in a predicament. After all, we’ve been in worse situations and have always come out of them smelling like roses.”
“I’m no’ sure about roses, but I ken what ye mean. We’ve shared the same womb of our mathair and we’ll share problems for as long as we live.”
“Everything will work out,” said Rook. “Now start looking like you’re working or Rowen is going to have both our heads.”
* * *
Maggie sat in the cart with Duff’s head cradled in her lap, trying to comfort him as they entered the walls of Whitehaven Castle. His wound stopped bleeding and she knew he was feeling better since he kept telling her he was hungry and that a Scottish warrior needed his food.
“Maggie!” She looked up to see Summer holding her skirts and running across the courtyard toward her. Annalyse and Reed’s other sisters, Winter and Autumn, were right behind her. “I’m so glad you’ve returned. I was so worried about you.”
“Ye needna worry,” said Maggie, slipping off the back of the cart. “But my brathair has taken an arrow to the shoulder and needs to see the healer.”
“Maggie, you look and sound like a Scot!” exclaimed Summer.
“I am a Scot and have always been one,” Maggie answered. “Even if I’d forgotten it for a while.”
“Is someone injured?” Lady Cordelia came from the keep next, along with Rook’s wife, Lady Calliope, at her side.
“Duff needs to see a healer.” Maggie nodded to her brother in the cart.
“Oh, no!” said Calliope. “There’s no need for a healer. I have my healing herbs with me. Let me take care of him.” The two women called over some servants to help them get Duff inside the keep.
“The baron is still here and is getting impatient to marry you,” Summer told her as Annalyse and the other girls joined them.
“Then he’s goin’ to become even more anxious because I canna marry him.”
“You can’t?” asked Winter, the sister with the pale skin and long, ebony hair.
“You have to marry him. You’re already betrothed.” Autumn, the youngest of the sisters with flaming red hair, looked up with her bright green eyes sparkling in the rays of the courtyard torchlight. All of Reed’s sister had the same green eyes, not unlike Reed and his brothers who had blue eyes but different-colored hair.
“That’s right,” said Annalyse. “Rowen has made an alliance with Lord Norbert. To break it would put Rowen in a very bad situation. It might even bring about war.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m already married to Reed,” she said, feeling horrible about the situation, but relieved she was married to the man she loved.
“You’re married to our brother?” Summer said excitedly. “Oh, Maggie, I’m so happy.”
The girls all congratulated her. Then Annalyse froze as if she’d seen a ghost.
“Annalyse,” said Ross, stepping out of the shadows.
Reed came up and put his hand on Maggie’s shoulder.
“Nay. It can’t be.” Annalyse put her hand over her mouth.
“Who is it?” asked Winter, surveying Ross.
“Do you know him, Mother?” asked Autumn.
Maggie realized that when Annalyse and Ross separated, the girls were young and would not remember their father. Summer had been the oldest at four years of age at the time.
“Father?” Summer’s eyes glassed over and she stared at Ross. “Is that you?”
“It is, Summer,” said Ross, flashing a nervous smile.
Summer bolted into his arms. He almost fell over from the contact since he still limped and his leg would always be weak.
“You’re our father?” asked Winter.
“Aye, I am,” said Ross. “Ye must be Winter and Autumn. Come here, girls, I want to have a look at ye.” He spread out his arms.
The sisters giddily ran to their father. They all talked excitedly at once.
“How come ye dinna have a greetin’ like that for yer brathair?” asked Reed, sounding disappointed.
“Reed!” they shouted. The girls ran over and all but attacked him with hugs, laughing and talking all the while.
Ross stepped forward then, his eyes still interlocked with Annalyse’s. Maggie saw the love between them, even though they didn’t speak at first.
“I’m sorry, Annalyse,” said Ross. “For no’ bein’ there for ye and for missin’ out on seein’ our girls grow up.”
“Nay,” she said, shaking her head and crying. “I’m the one who is sorry for ever leaving you in the first place.” She rushed into Ross’ arms and they hugged. Maggie had tears in her eyes watching the reunion of the two lost lovers. They had started out as enemies but were brought together by a kiss under the kissing bough she’d been told.
“I’m tired of feelin’ sorry for myself, Annalyse.” Ross stood up straighter. “I ken I’m no’ as strong and as young as the man ye married, but I hope ye’ll give me another chance to make things right between us.”
“Are you saying you want to get back together?” asked Annalyse, crying and looking into her husband’s eyes.
“Unless ye dinna want me,” he said. “But I hope ye’ll find it in yer heart to overlook the selfish, pitiful actions of an old fool and let him try to make it up to ye even if it takes the rest of his life to do it.”
“I do want you, Ross.” Annalyse cried and smiled at the same time. “And you are not an old fool. Kiss me the way you first did under the kissing bough so many years ago.”
He kissed her then. It was a very passionate, long kiss. Everyone in the courtyard clapped and cheered, happy for their reunion. Reed walked over and mimicked the action, kissing Maggie just as passionately.
Everyone was happy and everything seemed fine. That was, until the baron and his guards walked up and brought a darkness over the moment of light.
“Get your filthy hands and lips off my betrothed,” he snapped. Maggie stepped away from Reed with her heart beating out of her chest.
“What did ye say?” Reed had that look in his eye like he wanted to kill the man. Maggie realized this could be a very horrible situation.
“You heard me.” The baron reached out and yanked Maggie over to him. “Guards, throw the Scottish beast into the dungeon.”
“I’ll show ye a beast.” Reed reached out and punched the man in the jaw. Maggie gasped and held her hand over her mouth.
Rowen ran up with Rook at his side. “Is there a problem here, Baron?” asked Rowen.
“I’ll say there is.” The baron rubbed his jaw. “This beast has assaulted my betrothed and attacked me. I demand he be thrown in the dungeon.”
Reed lurched toward the baron, but Rook jumped in front of him and held him back.
“Lord Norbert,” said Rowen, trying to remedy the situation. “This man who you referred to as a beast is my brother, Reed. And he did nothing that you accuse him of doing, I’m sure.”
“Look at my jaw if you don’t believe he hit me. He was also fondling and kissing my betrothed. I saw him,” shouted the baron.
“I was doin’ no such thing as fondlin’ her,” shouted Reed. “And I’ll kiss her whenever I damned well please, because she is no’ yer betrothed. Maggie is my wife!”