Highland Challenge (Highland Generations Book 1) Read online

  “I never intended to marry Lady Mareal,” Callum said. “We spoke for the first time at the graveside, and I wasna invited here by Laird MacCurtry to marry her. That could never happen. Besides, I dinna know the laird. Only who he was, and of his sudden illness.”

  More frustrated than ever, Andrew began to pace back and forth in front of his prisoner. He needed answers, not more riddles. “If you dinna know any of these people and are na one of Kayden’s minions, then tell me what you are doing here and why.”

  “I told you that you got the bastard part right.” Callum scowled at the men holding him captive. “Tell these buggers to release me, and I will explain.”

  “It is a trick. Dinna believe him,” Seamus warned.

  After a moment’s pause, Andrew addressed his men. “Release him, but have your blades ready. Dinna hesitate to run him through if he makes one wrong move.”

  Andrew took another step back, putting some distance between him and Callum. While he was willing to listen to what he had to say, he was ready should the need arise to subdue him again. “Enlighten me,” he snarled.

  Callum shrugged. “Where do you want me to begin?”

  “Start with why I should believe you had naught to do with Elise’s abduction. Convince me you pose no threat to her, my men, or Mareal,” Andrew replied simply.

  “I dinna take your cousin, but Kayden did. He is holding her prisoner in the north tower of the keep.” Callum pointed in the direction of the Castle.

  “If you are not in league with him, how do you know this?” His concern for Elise mounting, Andrew impatiently demanded answers.

  “If you let me finish, I will explain.” Callum stared Andrew in the eye. “Well?”

  “Finish and be quick about it,” Andrew demanded.

  “I saw Kayden’s men leaving MacCurtry Castle with your cousin Elise, followed them here, then snuck into Billingsworth’s keep, so I could see where they were taking her,” Callum continued. “Rather than come himself, Kayden sent a couple of his men for Mareal, and the bampots took your cousin by mistake. When Elise entered Mareal’s chamber in her stead, they assumed they had the right woman and abducted her.”

  “If you have no association with Kayden, tell me why when you saw them take Elise, you did naught to stop them.” Andrew tightened his fist around the handle of his dirk and took a menacing step forward.

  “By the time I saw them, they already had her bound and seated in front of one of the warriors on horseback. Kayden sent three men. One to enter the castle and nab Mareal, and two to escort them back,” Callum said. “I dinna think it safe to intervene at that point, fearing your cousin would be injured or killed in the attempt to rescue her. While it might seem cowardly, I believed it wiser to follow them and try to help her once she was inside the castle and Kayden believed she was properly guarded.”

  Andrew had to admit that Callum’s words made sense. If the abduction had already taken place, and given the odds, any attempt to assist Elise at that point could have resulted in her death. But there were still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding his presence, including the reason for his visit to the castle. His gut told him it was more than to show his respect to Lorne.

  Desperate for answers, Andrew snagged the front of Callum’s tunic and yanked him forward. “Your reason for hesitation when my cousin was taken is valid, however, it doesna explain why you have been lurking around the castle for the last sennight and dinna make your presence known to me before or after the funeral. If you dinna know Laird MacCurtry or have plans to marry his daughter and become the next laird, why were you there in the first place?”

  Callum seized Andrew’s wrist and tugged free of his grasp. “I never said I wasna interested in becoming laird, only that I had no plan to wed Mareal.”

  “I dinna understand,” Andrew said. “The man who becomes laird must marry Lorne’s daughter to do so.”

  “Na if he is already a MacCurtry heir.” Callum reached into a pouch at his side and withdrew a silver medallion, then handed it to Andrew.

  “Where did you get this?” Andrew immediately recognized the MacCurtry crest. “You said your name was Callum Forbes.”

  “My mam was Elanor Sinclair and she married Malcom Forbes. May the Almighty rest their souls.” Callum snatched the medallion from Andrew’s hand and tucked it back into the pouch. “I called him father, but the man who sired me, was Donnal MacCurtry. He and my mam fell in love and planned to wed, but he died in a battle with the English before the nuptials could take place.”

  “Why did you wait until now to come forth?” Andrew asked.

  “My mam never told anyone she was breeding afore she married Forbes.” Callum released a heavy sigh and lowered his gaze. “Until recently, I thought he was my father. Even when he passed away from the fever a few summers back, my mother never told me the truth. It wasna until she lay on her own deathbed that she gave me the medallion and explained my parentage.”

  “So, you believe as the illegitimate son of Donnal MacCurtry, you are the rightful heir to the MacCurtry estate, and now Lorne is dead, you have come to claim your birthright.” It took a few minutes for Andrew to digest the information he just received, and wanted to be certain he had Callum’s reason for coming correct.

  “You make me sound like a vulture,” Callum replied. “I hoped to see my uncle afore he passed and tell him who I was, but sadly, I dinna arrive in time.”

  “If what you claim is true, it is most unfortunate that Lorne never got to meet you.” Andrew couldn’t help thinking if the MacCurtry knew Donnal had a son, he’d have sent for his nephew when he fell ill, and never summoned Andrew to settle his affairs. Had that happened, both he and Elise would be at home in Fraser Castle, and she’d be safe. “You say you are the only son of the eldest MacCurtry, but he is dead, so canna validate your claim. Kayden on the other hand is a legitimate son of Garth, the second in line, so could, and most likely will challenge you.”

  “I guess if I have a rightful claim or na will be for the king’s regent to decide,” Callum said. “But you can see why my marriage to Mareal isna possible.”

  “Why did you na tell anyone who you were when you first arrived at MacCurtry Castle?” Seamus asked. “Instead, you skulked around in the shadows and kept your presence and identity a secret.”

  “That puzzles me as well,” Andrew added.

  “Since no one knew of my existence, I wanted to check things out for myself and meet my cousins before I made any decisions about claiming my birthright,” Callum explained. “They spent their entire lives at MacCurtry Castle, living among the clan and helping my uncle to build his estate. I would na challenge their rights if I believed them fit to succeed my uncle as laird and would have returned to Ayrshire.”

  “What made you decide to stay?” Andrew asked.

  “Once I learned of Kayden’s malevolence, and his intent to harm Mareal became known to me, I realized I couldna allow him to hurt her, or to become laird.” Callum dragged his hand across his chin, then continued. “When Mareal and your cousin Elise spotted me in the hallway, I was on my way to make my presence known to you.”

  Andrew frowned, still uncertain if he should believe him or not. “Yet you ran when they saw you.”

  “I wanted to confront you first, then intended to tell Mareal the truth, but afore I could do so, Kayden’s men abducted Elise, and I felt it was my duty and responsibility to get her back. There was no time to wait or to explain.”

  “Andrew, William has returned,” Seamus announced as he pointed at a man entering the encampment.

  Anxious to hear what William learned while inside the castle, but still uncertain if he believed or could trust Callum, Andrew quickly summoned two of his men. “Watch him,” he ordered, then sprinted across the clearing, meeting William by the fire. “Did you locate my cousin? Are your friends willing to help us get her out?”

  “Before he answered, William held his hands above the fire and briskly rubbed them together, then gla
nced over his shoulders in all directions, his gaze settling on two men sitting on a log only a few feet away. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “What we need to discuss, must be private. I willna risk the safety of my friends, should anyone aside from you learn their names or of their part in this.”

  “Understood.” Andrew addressed the two warriors. “Leave us. I wish to speak with William, and there must be something you could be seeing to. If na, get some rest, it could be a long night.” After Andrew dismissed the men, he spoke to William. “We are alone. It sounds to me like your friends are willing to help. Tell me what you learned.”

  With his back to Andrew, William continued to warm himself by the fire, staring at the flames. “They are holding Lady Elise in the North Tower. Lily and Rory are willing to do what they can, but getting your cousin out willna be easy. There is more you need to know before we make the attempt to rescue her.”

  Andrew seized William’s shoulder, then spun him around to face him. “What? Is she injured?”

  “Nay. As you know, I am na a friend to Kayden, nor would he welcome my presence if discovered, so I had to rely on Lily to get me the information I needed,” William said. “She told me your cousin is fine and that her chamber is heavily guarded. But there is more to worry about than getting Lady Elise out safely. Kayden has another prisoner we will need to rescue as well.”

  “Tell me who?” Andrew ordered.

  “Lady Mareal,” William blurted.

  Stunned, Andrew withdrew his hand and stepped away. “That canna be possible. I left her at the castle with James. He had strict instructions na to let her out of his sight.”

  “I dinna know all the details, but she is no longer in her chamber at MacCurtry Castle. I saw her with my own eyes afore they dragged her off to the tower,” William said. “I was hiding in an alcove and had to duck out of the way as they passed to avoid being spotted.”

  “You are sure it was Mareal?”

  “Aye. Once they were out of sight, I asked Lily to see what she could find out about not only your cousin, but Lady Mareal’s presence as well,” William explained. “When she returned, she told me that the mistress showed up at the front gate of the keep and turned herself over to the guards. She demanded to be taken to Kayden.”

  Andrew slammed a balled fist against a nearby tree. “Why in saint’s teeth would she do a fool thing like that? She knows what Kayden is capable of.”

  “Apparently she offered him an exchange, expecting to trade herself for Lady Elise’s release,” William disclosed. “Instead, he laughed in her face and took her prisoner too.”

  Dumbfounded by the news, Andrew could not believe that despite their encounter with Kayden in the forest, the slaughtered search party, Elise’s abduction, and the warning he issued for her to stay at MacCurtry Castle, Mareal defied him. Then again, it should not surprise him she managed to elude James and showed up at Kayden’s door. She was an intelligent woman and would never deliberately put herself or others in danger, but she was the most stubborn, headstrong woman he had ever met. If she thought sacrificing herself for Elise would work, she would not hesitate to make the offer of an exchange. And while it infuriated him to think she put herself at risk, her spirit and honorability were just two of the things he loved about her.

  He cursed beneath his breath, chastising himself for thinking of Mareal in any other way than as his charge. But he could no longer deny that his feelings for her had progressed far beyond that of a guardian. She excited him, made him want to be a better man, and when he didn’t find himself totally exasperated by her obstinate, independent ways, she made him laugh. She was no longer the gangly, freckle-faced lass who annoyed him to no end when they were bairns. She had blossomed into a strong, beautiful woman, and thoughts of making love to her consumed his waking hours and haunted his nights. He was in love with Mareal and he feared for her life.

  Chapter Nineteen

  William squinted and pointed a finger at Callum. “Who is that man, and why is he under guard? He looks familiar.”

  Andrew glanced over his shoulder. “His name is Callum Forbes.” Now that William mentioned it, he could see a strong family resemblance. He and Kayden could almost pass for brothers, reinforcing his claim to be the son of Donnal MacCurtry.

  “Forbes? The blackguard you thought took Lady Elise?” William fingered the hilt of his sword, his contemptuous glower fixed on Callum.

  “I was mistaken. Mareal met him at her father’s funeral, so mayhap you saw him there as well,” Andrew said. “When she noticed him in the hallway just before Elise disappeared, the possibility that he was the one responsible for her abduction immediately crossed my mind. But he swears he dinna take her.”

  “A prisoner will lie through his teeth, rather than risk your wrath,” William countered. “Where did you find him?”

  “Two of my men caught him lurking outside the keep, not long after you left.” Andrew again lowered his voice so no one else could overhear what he had to say. “He claimed that he saw three men abscond with Elise, but feared if he tried to intervene, they might kill her. Instead, he followed them here. He swore on his mother’s grave that he planned to help her escape.”

  “That means naught,” William cautioned. “A true scoundrel will hand his mam over to the Devil to save his own neck, or say whatever it takes to get what he wants. He is also a stranger with no ties to you or clan MacCurtry, so why would he bother to risk his life for someone he doesna know?”

  “Why does any man put his life on the line for others? Be it for a king, country, a chieftain, or someone in peril.” Although William might be right and he should not trust Callum, something in Andrew’s gut told him he could. “I dinna know you and you dinna know my cousin, yet here you are. You once swore fealty to Kayden. Had Seamus na vouched for your loyalty, you too might be under suspicion.”

  Andrew could have said more in Callum’s defense, but he decided to keep his claim to be the son of Donnal MacCurtry and the rightful heir to the MacCurtry estate to himself. Until he could verify it, he didn’t want Kayden to find out about his newly discovered cousin, or his intent to claim his birthright. Despite Seamus’s assurance of William’s loyalty, right now, Andrew trusted no one. If the wrong person got wind of the information, there was no telling what might happen.

  “I hate Kayden, and want to see him dead. My brother and I were young and foolish when we signed on with him, and soon learned the sort of ruthless whoreson he truly is. Sadly, we found out too late to save Gavin.” William lowered his head and mumbled a quick prayer before he continued. “Laird MacCurtry proved to be a chieftain worth honoring. When I vowed to serve and protect him and those under his rule, I meant it.”

  William leaned in closer to Andrew. “When inside the castle, I not only discovered the whereabouts of Lady Elise, and that Kayden now has Lady Mareal too, but I also heard that Kayden has spies in MacCurtry Castle. Forbes could be one of them.”

  “Unfortunately, people come and go from a castle all the time. Some on good terms and others as enemies, making it difficult for a laird to know who he can trust,” Andrew said.

  “I also heard it bandied about that Kayden was responsible for Laird MacCurtry’s death,” William added.

  Andrew believed Kayden was capable of almost anything, even murder, but controlling a man’s health was impossible. “He died from his illness.”

  “Lily heard it whispered about that Kayden arranged to have his uncle poisoned, so it looked like an illness. But no one dared speak of it aloud for fear of his wrath.” William drew his sword, then again pointed at Callum. “Mayhap it was him.”

  Andrew whipped around to see Callum stomping toward them—the two men he left guarding him sprawled out on the ground.

  “Did you learn anything more about your cousin?” Callum stopped a few feet away from where Andrew and William stood. “If you hope to rescue her, you mustna waste time chatting.”

  “What did you do to my men?” Andrew grabbed the front of C
allum’s tunic, and yanked him forward.

  “They will both have a headache when they awaken, but neither were harmed.” Callum snagged Andrew’s wrist. “Unhand me and tell me what you learned. If we want to catch Kayden off-guard, we need to move fast.”

  William lunged forward with his blade in hand, but Andrew waved him off. “Stand down and sheathe your weapon.” He released his hold on Callum and stepped back. “We?”

  “Aye. I have been inside the keep and know where she is, so plan to accompany you,” Callum announced. “With Kayden’s army ready to pounce should you attack the stronghold, the only way to get her out is to sneak in, and pray we are na seen.”

  Andrew crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Callum. “How do you propose we get in unseen?”

  “We could get in via the escape tunnel I used to enter and leave the castle. Once inside, I can move about freely. In preparation for a retaliatory strike, Kayden has hired on so many new men, I willna draw any attention.”

  “He has Mareal too,” Andrew blurted.

  Callum’s jaw slackened upon hearing the news. “When? The buggers only had Lady Elise when I saw them ride off.”

  He had yet to conclude if he trusted Callum or not, but he appeared surprised and genuinely concerned to learn Mareal was a prisoner too, which made Andrew think he was telling the truth about his involvement with Kayden’s plot.

  “I can get you into the castle as well, and we dinna need to use the tunnel,” William said. “We can go in through the storage area at the back of the castle. I have arranged for a friend to unlock the door. So, you dinna need him.” He scowled at Callum. “How do you know for certain that Kayden dinna send him here as part of a ruse to lure you into a trap.”