Highland Hellion (Highland Weddings #3)(39)

A huge man came out to greet them. “Rolfe McTavish, what has ye darkening me day?” he asked.

Rolfe slid from the back of his horse and turned to offer Katherine a hand down. He pulled her away from her horse once her feet had touched the ground.

“Duncan Lindsey, Katherine Carew.”

Duncan’s eyes narrowed as he considered her. He was every bit as large as Rolfe, but they were opposites because he had devil-dark eyes and midnight hair.

“I’ve heard that name before,” Duncan said as he considered her.

“Ye have,” Rolfe responded as he took her up the steps to a tower. “Morton tried to force Marcus MacPherson to wed her a few years back.”

Duncan chuckled, his eyes sparkling. “Morton is a fool more times than not. He should have known he was on borrowed luck after forcing Bhaic MacPherson to wed Ailis Robertson.”

“And he learned that lesson when Marcus left with a different wife and the lass in tow as well.”

Katherine felt Duncan contemplating her. “And now the McTavishes have ye.”

Inside the tower, the scent of supper was thick in the air.

Duncan gestured to a woman, who came bustling over to him. “See to the lass.”

The woman lowered herself before propping her hands on her ample hips and looking Katherine over from head to toe.

“A bath first,” she said.

Katherine started to lower herself but quelled the urge. Instead she moved away, determined to ignore Rolfe. It wasn’t a matter of what she wanted. No, it was a necessity that might protect her from the moment when he delivered her to the man she feared the most. Her feelings strengthened with every moment she was with him. It would be hard enough to leave him as it was.

Better to remind herself of her fate. At least that way, she would not cry.

*

“I’m thinking ye should be thankful the little lass did nae have a dagger,” Duncan observed as he settled himself in a chair inside his solar. The Lindsey stronghold wasn’t as large as McTavish Castle, but that was because there was more than one fortification on Lindsey land. “The look she sent ye was sharp enough to draw blood, man.”

“Best make yer men aware that Katherine knows how to use a dagger,” Rolfe responded as he settled in beside Duncan.

Duncan had been lifting a mug to his lips, but he paused and locked gazes with Rolfe. “Ye’re planning on leaving her here?”

Rolfe nodded. “Ye owe me a favor.”

A memory crossed Duncan’s eyes, his expression drawing tight. “I do. Now tell me what is so important about this girl that ye’re calling in that favor.”

Duncan placed his mug on the table and ignored it. Rolfe didn’t blame him. It had been years before, but Duncan owed Rolfe his life. Rolfe didn’t have any doubt Duncan would pay the debt, but that didn’t mean the man would be fool enough to think Rolfe would call it in for anything frivolous.

“I’ll be straight with ye,” Rolfe said. “And no’ be surprised if ye tell me to take her and get off yer land.”

Duncan’s eyes narrowed. “It’s been too long since ye’ve come down out of the Highlands, man. Ye seem to think me cock has shriveled up and I’m less of a Highlander than yerself. I might be closer to the border, but I’ve not taken to kissing Morton’s ass along with that lot clustered around him and our boy king.”

Rolfe enjoyed Duncan’s brassy humor. “Katherine is English.”

“Now I’m insulted ye think I am blind as well,” Duncan responded. “To think I’d overlook how fetching that lass is in favor of her blood. Now that wounds me, Rolfe, truly.”

“I’ll be the one wounding ye if ye do more than notice,” Rolfe warned.

Duncan’s eyebrows rose. “Is that so?”

Rolfe nodded. Duncan picked up the mug and drew off a long sip. “Interesting, considering she looked as if she wanted to gut ye. I might just do as ye say, all in the interest of enjoying the spectacle of ye trying yer hand at changing her mind. That little lass does nae like Scots.”

“That is no’ the reason she is thinking of drawing me blood,” Rolfe responded.

Duncan tapped the tabletop. “I’m growing old waiting for ye to explain the matter.”

Rolfe nodded. “Marcus MacPherson took Katherine up into the Highlands. He trained her.”

Duncan absorbed those words. “Why?”

“Because she’s English, and Marcus… Well, the man is ever practical.”

Duncan nodded. “I suppose it makes sense, even if I doubt I’d be brazen enough to tempt the Church by doing something similar. Now tell me why ye think I’d send ye on yer way empty-handed after ye saved me life.”

“Because me father has a mind to trade her to Morton for a title, and I plan to leave Morton with naught.”

Duncan took a moment to consider the matter. His lips started to rise into a grin that Rolfe recognized from their younger days, when they’d been hell-bent on embracing their wild natures.

“I can nae wait to hear how ye plan to do it.”

Rolfe’s eyes brightened. “I plan to have ye help me dupe the man.”

Duncan chuckled again, only this time the sound was crusty and full of anticipation. “No one will enjoy it more than us Lindseys.”