The Draig's Choice Page 7

  Robena scowled back at the stall and offered a quick curtsy to them as she rushed past straightening her disheveled gown. Peter never ceased to amaze him.

  “Was that really necessary?” Evan asked as he left the stall with his hands tying his trews.

  “Yes,” Peter said quickly. “I’m getting sick and tired of the household women fighting over you. For the last time, leave them alone.”

  Evan rolled his eyes. “The lass pulled me into the stall.”

  “Enough,” Conall interrupted. “Your follies need to cease. Even Tearlach comments on your ways. It brings shame to the clan. Our father would have never permitted you to take advantage of those who serve the household, and neither shall I.”

  While not as broad, his brother did share his height and came nose to nose with him. “I ken our ways and have never forced, merely accepted offers.”

  Peter roughly knocked pieces of hay from Evan’s tussled hair after smacking him. “Then start refusing offers, at least while the Campbell men are here. Tearlach needs to be certain you will not attempt to dishonor his sister after Conall leaves to join the Bruce.”

  Evan smirked. “She is quite bonny, but I dinna have the patience to attempt to sweet talk her. I swear the lass has no spirit.”

  Where Conall should reprimand his brother for speaking so about his betrothed, he remained silent. Elspeth had no fire in her soul, or so it seemed. Not like Sarah, whose eyes burn bright. Or did until she realized where she was trapped.

  “We have much you need to know before the meal starts. Do we have your attention?” Peter questioned Evan.

  After adjusting his trews and wincing, Evan jested, “I fear my blood has nay interest in duties.”

  Conall grabbed his brother by the neck. “Enough. I need you to act as one prepared to be laird if I die in battle. Save the wenching and crude humor.”

  Evan paled and exhaled. “I have no desire to be laird, so dinna die. You have only just returned. I would ken what ‘tis like to have a brother again.”

  Instantly, Conall felt his rage end. Evan had grown to a man in his absence, a man who had yet to be taught. The duty should be his, not Peter’s. “Then act as my brother and aid in my duties. Sit with me after the evening meal and let us speak. Leave the lasses alone.”

  “You wish to sit with me when you will have a wife within days? Mayhap your evenings will be better spent with her.” Evan laughed and gave a wink that spoke of Peter’s influence.

  “Enough. The day has brought events you need to ken,” Conall said rather than admitting he doubted his wife would relish his company. “On our hunt, Peter and I met a traveler of legend.”

  Evan burst out laughing. “I am no longer a wee lad in need of tales. Speak to me of what you would. I need to make amends with Robena, thanks to Peter. We were nay quite finished.”

  “He’s not joking,” Peter said with no trace of his normal humor. “Her name is Sarah and I have claimed her as part of my family.”

  Evan swayed on his feet. “Truly?”

  “Aye,” Conall stated. “Sarah is to be treated as an honored guest. Do you ken my meaning?”

  Evan shook his head and his dark hair settled on his shoulders. “She is nay for you is she. You have Elspeth.” Conall flinched at Evan’s understanding of the legends. In prior generations, when the traveler had been a lass, she had been destined for the laird and a great love. Such had been his fantasy for too many years.

  “Time will tell if she is fated for you,” Peter said while looking at him and Conall knew he scowled. The thought of Sarah and his brother threatened to make him ill.

  “When can I meet her?” Evan asked standing taller.

  “You will meet her at the evening meal and you will behave with her. She’s not dealing with the change very well. So, keep your hands to yourself.” Peter’s harsh voice filled the barn.

  “Mayhap I can ease her loss,” Evan chuckled and Conall clenched his hands into fists.

  “Touch her and I will see you on the training fields at first light,” Conall warned his brother.

  “Someone likes the traveler,” Evan teased.

  “Both of you knock it off. We have too much going on for this type of crap. The marriage will be announced tonight. The hall will be packed with Draig warriors and our Campbell guests. Given the years of fighting, it could be a tense evening. Add in that we have another from my time here, and we have the potential for a mess. I need you to be on your best behavior.” Peter pointed his finger at Evan.

  “We need to make certain this marriage happens, or the fighting will resume, maybe worse than before. We need peace. I need to hear that you will, for once in your life, act like the son of Graham, grandson of Michael, and potential heir to the Draig title.”

  Evan ran his hands over his loose hair. “‘Tis no need to remind me of my ancestors. I recall them all too well.” He paused to nod at Peter before turning his green gaze to Conall. “Aye, Conall, I will do my duty this eve and greet your bride with honor, calling her sister by marriage. I will treat Sarah as an honored guest. Though I do wish to hear her tale of arrival and all that she would tell us of her lands.”

  Conall softened at his brother’s oath. It warmed his heart to hear a man’s voice from someone who had lately only acted as a spoiled lad. “My thanks, Evan. I would have you by my side as I announce the marriage. Together we shall ensure the future of our clan.

  Evan grinned at the praise. “But tell me how it happened. Describe the moment to me. Was it truly a door as the legends claim?”

  Peter glanced around the barn to make certain they were still alone. “Yes, it was the shape of a door as was mine.” He continued with the conversation he had with Sarah, the dog’s entry and Sarah boldly seeking to rescue the animal. “And then your brother shot her in the ass.”

  Conall groaned as Evan laughed until tears fell from his eyes.

  Chapter 6

  Sarah stood against the solid wall in the main hall and sipped wine that closely resembled a Cabernet. Her eyes closed as the commotion in the packed space washed over her in meaningless waves. Voices murmured and spoke and none of it resonated. Exhaustion meshed with anxiety at the environment, which allowed the chaos that had become her life to overwhelm her soul. Concrete thought escaped her capability to process as she failed to make sense of the world before her.

  She’d been told the men gathered were a mix of Draig and Campbell and didn’t care. The women around the long wooden tables were wives of the local warriors and some who were off duty in the keep. Children ran around and added chaos to the choir of raucous disorder.

  All the sights and scents were foreign. Roasting meat mixed what she could only think of as the aroma of stone. Stone floors, stone walls, stone ceiling, a stone covered fireplace, stones everywhere. . . I’m encased in stone.

  Woman wore simple long dresses and the men varied in whether they wore leather pants or a bland variety of kilt. But Peter had called them plaids. Maybe kilts haven’t been invented yet.

  The dress, or gown, she had been given for the evening fit as if designed for her. How in the world did anyone alter something so flawlessly and so quickly? The rich blue of the top layer faded to a robin’s egg hue for the under-layer, visible at the bodice, over the back’s lacing and at her feet. She should feel like a princess in the luxurious layers of flowing silks, but instead had an otherworldly and out-of-sorts disregard for the wardrobe.

  The singular goal of keeping her act together had become all-encompassing. I have trained and studied for years to counsel people to deal with life’s curveballs, to handle and rise above the proverbial shit storm. Never in a million years could I ever dream of helping someone handle this type of displacement; torn from my world, my time and everything I know. How do I even begin to cope with this insanity?

  She reached down to Bella who sat at her side guarding a massive bone. Apparently, the dog was full after the large meal provided her from someone in the kitchens. Warm and solid fur help
ed to keep her grounded. While Peter and Lena had attempted to talk her into putting Bella with the keep’s dogs in the kennels, she had refused. She stays with me.

  “How are you doing?” Peter asked from her side as he motioned to one of the serving women to refill her cup.

  “Fine,” she mumbled. “Fill it all the way up, please.” Do I trust him? The inner question remained unanswered while she decided she did believe he had also experienced the same life upheaval. How is he so well-adjusted?

  “You can get drunk later. I’d prefer it if you paid attention to who you’ll meet and their roles in all of this.” Peter’s comment fell on deaf ears. Drunk seemed like a perfect escape from her current reality. Too bad I’m far from it and have no intention of losing control in this unknown place.

  He nudged her elbow. “I want you to meet Conall’s brother, Evan. He’s dying to ask you hundreds of questions about your home and life.”

  Sarah glanced at the man who approached with a wide welcoming grin. A sigh left her lips at the sight of his long dark hair and brilliant green eyes that matched Conall’s. But where Conall held a rugged beauty, Evan seemed almost pretty to her. His build held strength, but not as massive as Conall’s. He walked with a swagger that she had seen far too many times in the world. He thinks he’s hot shit and looks like he should be the lead man in a boy band. Add his youthful appearance, and Peter’s reminder the boy was only nineteen, and Sarah burst out laughing despite the ache of loss that continually threatened to cripple her.

  “Who in the heck does he think he is?” she asked Peter without taking her eyes off the approaching young man.

  “He thinks he’s God’s gift to women, or have you already noticed that?” Peter chuckled.

  “Oh, yeah he does.” Sarah glanced away to catch several of the younger women practically drooling over Evan, and one woman she thought she had been introduced to earlier, maybe Robena, who scowled at him. When Peter filled her in on the barn incident, she laughed again.

  “Evan wonders if you are here for him,” Peter casually commented. “The legends state that all the women who’ve come from our time have saved the clan and been destined for a great love, usually with the laird. Conall and Evan allegedly have more than one ancestor from our time.”

  No pressure there, she mentally scoffed. Sarah frowned at the reminder of her instant attraction to the laird that was forbidden. Didn’t Conall say he wished I were here for him? I think I like that idea even if it borders on lunacy. The next thought left her lips. “Then why are you here?”

  “I’m assuming someone got their wires crossed,” Peter teased but added that over the years he had been needed.

  The young man halted in front of her as his gaze wandered her from head to toe. His lips twitched in what she decided had to be meant as a flirty smirk. Too bad for him, she felt annoyed at it rather than intrigued. “You must be Sarah,” Evan practically purred at her.

  Lifting her hand to shake his, she breathed out slowly when his lips pressed to the back of her hand. So looks like Conall and yet so not Conall. With my world upside down, why am I constantly going back to thoughts of him? While blatantly meant as a seductive gesture, her body didn’t hum in recognition of Evan. When his green eyes left hers and stuck on her cleavage, she yanked her hand back. “Hey, Evan. It’s rude to stare.”

  Peter chuckled and glared at Evan. “We talked about you behaving.”

  “No one warned me that Sarah would fill my eyes with wonders.” Evan inclined his head toward her and whispered, “None spoke of your beauty or your bounty.”

  Let’s have some fun with the boy. Sarah leaned closer and placed a hand to his defined chest. She inhaled deeply and let it out with a dramatic sigh. When Evan leaned into her personal space, she ran her hand over to his shoulder. Confident she had his complete attention, she asked, “Does that crap ever really work on a woman?”

  Evan’s cocky grin faded making Peter laughed. “Well done, Sarah. If you’re done making a fool of yourself, Evan, I will introduce you to our guest.”

  Evan bowed before her. “‘Tis a pleasure to meet you, Sarah. ‘Tis much I would hear of your. . . travels.” He noted the close company and she sighed in relief at not being made the focal point with her arrival. Would I be accused of witchcraft for saying I was from the future?

  Peter pointed to the table closest to the fire at the center of the hall. “Why don’t we find our seats, then others will follow suit.”

  “Conall asked me to wait for him. Last I saw, he was attempting to convince Elspeth that he would escort her to the meal.” Evan leaned closer to whisper to her. “I doubt he will succeed, given he spoke to the closed door.”

  Unable to comprehend how any woman would be able to ignore Conall, Sarah sipped her wine and prayed it would help in dulling the loss of everything she knew and the ache at never even attempting to know the man she couldn’t have. But her skin knew the second Conall came down the stairs and entered the hall. The heightened nearness made her realize she had still been feeling him, the tingles that kept her on edge blossoming to a roar with his approach.

  His dark hair shone in the torchlight and his height was unmatched by any present, save his brother. Downing another gulp of the wine, her gaze caught his and she had to fight the impulse to walk to greet him. Damn, what is it with my hormones and this man? Is it simply another form of displacement? Focus on the handsome Highlander rather than my life?

  While many approached Conall and he greeted them all, his brilliant gaze remained locked on hers. She would swear her heart quickened as each of his footfalls brought him closer.

  “Sarah, you grace my hall and I bid you welcome.” His deep voice washed over her and she could only sigh at the warmth he emanated, and that every cell in her body wanted to be close to him. His gaze could be felt as it swept her from head to booted toe and back up to her eyes, without the lascivious undertones Evan had used. “You are a sight to behold.”

  For the first time she could ever remember, she felt petite. His massive bulk in front of her had her looking up and standing in his shadow. His compliment had a blush creeping over her face, but she couldn’t peel her gaze away.

  Conall was breathtaking in a simple white shirt with ties around the neck that stood open to offer her a peek at the tempting skin of his massive chest. The black, green and blue woven plaid hung over his shoulder and fell to wrap around his waist in clean lines with his strong calves covered in what seemed the requisite footwear: handmade leather boots that tied mid-calf. He looks just like the cover of a novel I would lose myself in for hours. A small braid pulled just the front of his ebony dark hair off his face. I want to unravel that hair. Instead of acting on the impulsive thought, she took another large sip of wine.

  Before she could reply any type of thanks for the compliment, Peter stole the moment away. “Is your bride going to join us?” Her lips fell in a frown at the reminder that whatever the reason for the overwhelming attraction, Conall had someone else.

  Conall lost his grin and shrugged his shoulders. “Tearlach says he will bring her to the hall.” His previously bright eyes dimmed and forced her thoughts to the arranged marriage no one other than Peter seemed to want.

  Sarah listened as Evan joked about the reluctant bride, the likely mess of a bedding-to-be and wondered at the cruelty. He spoke of Elspeth as if her hesitation were a laughing matter rather than one of a woman trapped against her will.

  “If the lass will nay eat at your side, the bedding should be interesting. Will her brother aid you there as well?” Evan laughed, along with several other men and women in earshot.

  How dare he mock the poor woman? But she’d heard far too many comments in the day about Elspeth, none of them kind. Sarah turned to glare at Evan. “Why do you feel the need to make fun of her? She can hardly be blamed for not being overjoyed at a marriage forced upon her.” Her gaze shifted to Conall. “I don’t mean to offend you, but I’ve been told she also had no choice.”

 
“You speak truth and yet we must do as commanded by the Bruce.” Conall’s deep baritone rang with regret. “If I were a man free to choose, my course would be verra different.”

  She despised seeing it, the gleam in his gaze that called to her. Her thoughts whispered forbidden notions of her being for him just like the legends claimed, as if that type of fated love could ever possibly exist. I have to stop drinking. I know better than to believe in fate. Life takes effort, as does love.

  Evan chuckled as he reached to take a goblet of wine from one of the women. “My brother may have need of the Bruce and the whole of his army to see the marriage completed. Mayhap you could use one of his battering rams to gain access to her chambers.”

  His voice reached far too many and Sarah felt her body go rigid at the light laughter that rang around them. What is wrong with these people? I just heard a joke that implied forced consummation and I refuse to stand by and let that happen.

  She knew that Peter caught her mood change when his hand came to rest on her shoulder. His voice was a barely audible whisper. “No one is going to harm Elspeth or force her into anything. Arranged marriages are part of the culture of the time.”

  Sarah’s lips parted to blow out a harsh breath. “Culture, my ass. It’s barbaric and wrong in too many ways to count. I will not stand by and be an accomplice to rape in any form. Nor will I be the one who coerces the reluctant bride into being biddable or agreeable on any level. If I see one sign that she is being held against her will, you will deal with me.”

  “There is nothing you can do to stop the wedding.” Peter’s grip tightened on her arm. “You can trust me to handle this with all the sensitivity it requires, or you can work against me and then face the consequences of the clan warfare that will follow.”

  With his harsh whisper, Sarah lifted her arm and broke his hold, pleased at the surprised wide eyes on his face. Thanks, Mom, looks like I needed those self-defense skills after all. “I will decide once I have all the facts, not because you told me it’s fine. We just met and I,” her vehemence faltered. “I don’t trust anyone here yet.” The shocking truth had her questioning motives and drives in a world she didn’t understand.