Seducing the Highlander (28 page)

Hamish pushed himself onto his feet with a grunt. “I did wait, my lady. Problem is, the woman you describe just turned down my offer of marriage.”

Meriel rolled her eyes. “When you find the
real
woman of your dreams, I want an apology, followed by a long speech on how right I am.”

Hamish offered his hand and pulled her to her feet. “Then I am quite fortunate, for the possibility of most men finding the woman of their dreams is so remote, it borders on impossible.”

“Four McTiernays can prove you wrong.”

“Ah, but I am not a McTiernay—” Hamish did not finish his thought, for it had completely slipped his mind. It had been replaced with one that he should have known was coming.

Hamish watched as Craig slid off his horse. His friend’s face was filled with rage and all of it was pouring onto him. Stepping away from Meriel, Hamish raised his hand, but before he could utter a single word, Craig’s fist met his jaw, sending him spiraling to the ground in a way that few had ever dared to try—and until now, no one had ever succeeded.

Time had been moving slowly since the moment Craig watched Meriel and Hamish leave the castle. But it had come to a complete stop when Meriel’s horse had thrown her into the air. And it was his fault.

Craig had almost decided to stay behind, keeping his promise to see to his own personal comfort before Meriel’s. But he could not do it. Although Meriel had never said so aloud, he knew just how afraid of horses she truly was. As a result, he found himself watching them, forced to keep a significant distance away to remain unseen, waiting for the doomed lesson to fail.

But it had not failed.

Hamish had done the impossible and Meriel, who could barely touch a horse when standing, had walked with one, fed it, and then rode on its back without any assistance. Craig had told himself to leave now that he knew she was not going to be maimed or injured, but he could not tear his eyes away from the scene. Part of him was pleased that she was finally learning the basics of riding, but whatever happiness he felt was drowning in resentment that it was Hamish who had helped her conquer her fear.

For the first time, the fires of true jealousy burned within Craig.

Hamish flirted. He charmed. He dallied. And he successfully lured women to his side time after time. He had done so ever since Craig had known him. And to think that Meriel would be indifferent to his wiles had been foolish. Teaching someone how to ride was far from a typical romantic interlude, but in Meriel’s case it was the perfect way—if successful—to woo her. And seeing Meriel easily guide the horse around the field, Hamish was definitely succeeding. The man had already secured her friendship. But if things continued, Craig wondered if their own bond would be enough to keep her from falling in love with his friend. And so he had begun to pray for something—anything—to end the happy moment.

Then it happened. Meriel was tossed high into the air and Craig knew the fall would be painful, and possibly even cause serious injury. And while it was ridiculous to think that he had caused the accident, deep down he believed himself to be partially at fault.

He watched her hit the ground and go limp. Craig’s heart stopped. Then she moved her hand to her throat and he realized she was having trouble breathing. Grabbing his horse, he fought back the icy terror ricocheting through his veins. If something happened to her, his life would be empty, meaningless. Then Hamish gathered her in his arms and the twisting pain in his stomach changed from panic to fury.

Craig knew even before it happened that Hamish was going to kiss her. The abundance of emotion—fear, relief, and desire—made it inevitable. But when their lips touched and Meriel did not offer resistance, Craig’s heart turned to stone and the sweat on his body chilled. He brought his horse to a walk and let the rage consume him.

Seething, Craig slid off his horse even before it came to a complete stop and glared at Hamish, refusing to even spare a single glance at Meriel. He didn’t dare. Craig considered himself the calmest of his brothers, saving his anger for the battlefield, but he could not remember ever feeling so much rage at someone he knew personally. And on some level, knowing Meriel was also the target of his anger and afraid of losing all control, he kept his attention totally focused on the man who had turned his life into a daily hell.

If Hamish had said anything, muttered an excuse, or pleaded for understanding as he approached him, Craig was unaware. By the time his fist met Hamish’s chin, all the pent-up emotion that had been gathering as he watched them exploded.

What little anger he had dispelled by driving Hamish to the ground was quickly replaced the moment Meriel rushed to Hamish’s side and examined the man’s cheek. As if Hamish could be hurt by one simple crack to the jaw. The man was slightly shorter than him, but his girth was substantial; he was broader than Craig and all his brothers—including their eldest, Conor. Craig had the advantage of speed, but Hamish was made of granite, and while Meriel might be unaware, both men knew Hamish had gone down because he had
decided
to fall.

Based on the pain radiating through Craig’s hand, he should have been receiving Meriel’s ministrations, not Hamish. He was about to say as much when she pivoted to glare at him. “What possessed you to do that?”

For an instant Craig’s eyes shut, and when he opened them again all expression had been removed. Only the heavily etched lines around his eyes and mouth being a little deeper than usual gave any indication to just how turbulent his emotions were. “You know why.”

His voice, a soft menace, sent a shiver through her, but then, as if rallying to Craig’s battle cry, she rose to her feet, her hazel eyes sparkling with indignation, and said, “Do I? Was it because Hamish was able to teach me how to ride when you could not? Perhaps it was because I fell off? Or was it that he was the one who made sure that I was not injured?” She took a step forward, either unaware or uncaring just how blazingly furious he was. “It could be that he kissed me. But if it was because I kissed him back—then I should be the one on the ground.”

Craig’s face hardened. He felt empty, angry, and cold. “It is time you left, Meriel.”

Hamish, hearing the dangerous softness in Craig’s voice, coupled with his ominous expression, silently agreed that it would be better if she departed. Sitting up just enough to lean on an elbow, he said, “Meriel, maybe you should ride Merry back to the castle while I take care of this.”

Meriel whirled to face Hamish. She could feel herself losing what little composure she had left as adrenaline pumped through her, causing her to tremble violently. She struggled for composure, but soon realized that his condescending words had been meant not for her, but for Craig. Lying on the ground, Hamish had propped himself on his side with his legs casually extended, crossed at the ankles. The man was purposefully appearing unconcerned just to further infuriate Craig.

Meriel leveled a wintry smile on Hamish and then an even colder one on Craig. If the two of them wanted to play games and provoke each other, she wanted none of it. “
You
return with Merry. I need to walk and will go back to the castle when
I
decide I am ready,” she said, somewhat mollified to see Hamish wince at the scathing tone of her voice. Meriel pivoted and began to march away from the two men, praying she would be out of sight by the time she broke into tears.

A strained silence followed as Hamish and Craig stared at each other. Only when Meriel was out of earshot did Craig take in a slow, deep breath. “Get up,” he ordered.

Hamish grunted. “I have absolutely no intention of doing anything so foolish. Especially as I am fairly certain I would end up down here again. And I suspect in a lot more pain.”

Clenching and unclenching his right hand, Craig’s mouth tightened. Unless he planned to roll around on the ground, he knew he would not get another opportunity to deck Hamish, but he was mollified that Hamish recognized just how dangerous it would be for him to rise. “How dare you kiss Meriel!” Craig finally spat out.

“How dare
I
?” Hamish returned, his own bridled anger coming out in his voice. “How dare
you
for spurning the only decent, let alone beautiful woman who would ever put up with your nonsense. I should get up and knock you down just for hurting Meriel as much as you have.”

“If that is true, then that is between her and me. Not you.”

“You mean
was
between you and her. You have a problem, because I am no longer a bystander but an interested suitor.”

Hamish’s sardonic expression sent Craig’s temper soaring once again. “I will not let Meriel be added to your list of conquests,” Craig promised.

“Nor would I,” Hamish agreed, “but I also will no longer stand by and let you toy with her emotions. You cannot barge in on our time together, acting as if you have been wronged, when it is you that has no intention of ever offering her any kind of commitment.”

Appalled silence filled the air for several long seconds as Craig studied Hamish’s expression and could find only honesty. “You cannot be earnest,” he said roughly, already knowing the response.

Hamish scoffed. “What did you expect? That since you didn’t want Meriel, no one else would? Or were you dumb enough to believe that men would fear pursuing her if you remained her friend?”

The truth hit Craig full force. “Of course not.”

Hamish waved his hand and sat up, but still did not rise. Resting his arms on his knees, he said, “Lie to yourself then, but it no longer matters. Meriel now knows that she wants to be loved and is worthy of being loved. If you haven’t already, you will lose her.”

The muscle in the side of Craig’s cheek flexed, accentuating his clenched jaw. “Not to you,” he snarled, no longer sure if he could or would ever call Hamish a friend again. “I will not let her get anywhere near you. You would only hurt her.”

Hamish shook his head. “What scares you more—that you know I wouldn’t? Or that she just might choose me?” Shrugging his shoulders, he leaned back on his hands and recrossed his ankles. “But again, it doesn’t matter. She knows there will be other men. I’ve proven that your friendship with her is not the only one she could ever have with a man.”

“You know nothing of our bond. If you did, you would know that our friendship is not something either of us will ever abandon.”

“You are family, so your friendship will endure, but eventually she will not need it. She has tasted passion and has learned independence. Someday she will desire someone else and will want to rely on him. And you will have no say.”

Craig’s anger was evolving into terror. “She loves me,” he said, rebutting Hamish’s prediction.

“But you don’t love her,” Hamish accused. “Or maybe I should have said, you don’t love her enough.”

Craig stared at Hamish in fulminating silence, knowing there was no point arguing. The truthful words felt like stones pummeling his body. Wishing Hamish would get to his feet so he could deck him again, Craig just glared at him. But Hamish refused to move, and Craig knew that the damn man would remain on the ground until he left. Pivoting, Craig grabbed the reins to his horse and went to get Merry.

“She’s not going to talk to you.”

Craig ignored him. Meriel
would
talk to him. He would give her no choice. He was not sure what he intended to say, but he just knew he had to convince her to stay away from Hamish.

As if able to read Craig’s mind, Hamish shook his head and said, “You are about to be either very smart for once or unbelievably stupid. And I don’t think even you know just which one you are going to choose.”

Clutching Merry’s reins in his left hand, Craig mounted his own horse and headed in the direction Meriel had gone. As he passed Hamish, he paused and said, “I know just which one you hope I choose. But know this. Meriel will never be yours.”

Completely unfazed, Hamish stared back, his eyes level and unwavering. “This is the last time I shall ever step aside regarding Meriel. I shall become serious in my pursuit. As long as she is free, I will seek to claim her heart as my own.”

Half in anticipation, half in dread, Craig left to find Meriel.

 

 

Craig followed Meriel’s trail, thinking she had returned to McTiernay Castle despite her threat not to, for her footprints led in that direction. Located high over a ravine, the castle’s immediate surroundings were rocky, uneven, and hazardous for even the most experienced of riders, limiting traversable paths in and out of the stronghold to two. The larger, more well-used path bent around the curtain wall and headed north, into the village and the majority of the nearby farms. The second veered south toward the training fields, forest, and the loch. But where the ground became grassy, the use of the path was less critical, and Meriel had opted to stray off it, either unaware or uncaring that it was easy to see where she had gone.

Craig approached the loch and searched the area where she and Hamish had picnicked, but only when he looked farther down the shoreline—closer to the forest’s edge—did he see her sitting on the ground. He frowned. It looked grassy, but the pebbles on the shore had to be uncomfortable. Sliding off his horse, he tethered his and Meriel’s mounts, freed the blanket under her saddle, and took a deep breath before coming close enough to get her attention.

He stopped two feet away, and he had no doubt that she could see him and knew he was there. When she ignored him, he stretched out the blanket on a grassy spot next to her. “Here, sit on this.”

For a moment, he believed Meriel was going to continue to ignore him. Then she spoke. “Leave me in peace. I do not wish to see or talk to you.”

Craig grimaced. That was not how he had hoped to begin this conversation, but he should have expected it. Crossing his arms, he said, “Wasn’t it you who criticized me only this morning for refusing to talk, even when it was so blatantly obvious that we needed to?”