Scoundrel’s Redemption (Highlander’s Pact #3)

Chapter Twenty-Six

G reer blinked, not sure she saw correctly. Could it be? Was it really him?

“Stand down!” Their hero pointed his blade at Randolph’s men before they thought to take action. “You know who I am, so you know who’s in charge now.”

Teagan joined Greer and pulled her close, his blade at the ready even as he held a scrap of plaid to her wounded neck.

“Phillip?” her mother whispered, wide-eyed. Her hand fluttered to her stomach. “Is that you?”

But of course, it was. He might have changed some, hardened to be sure, but there was no mistaking her father.

“Yes.” Phillip’s pained gaze went from Greer to her mother. “’Tis me.” His eyes lingered on her a moment before returning to Randolph’s men. His men now. Being married to Mother made him next in line to inherit Randolph’s estate. “Sheath your weapons and stand down. If not, the Scots surrounding you will finish you off.”

Right on time, Teagan and Malcolm’s men, along with the MacLomains, melted out of the darkness. All grew very quiet. Crackling fires became deafening and gazes warier by the moment as men sized each other up. How far would their opponent go? Was this a fight to the death? Sweat pearled on foreheads. Jaws clenched. Gazes grew more untrusting still.

Would mayhem unleash ?

Was there yet more blood to be shed?

Thankfully, in the end, one by one, Randolph’s men sheathed their blades, many clearly relieved. In truth, based on the looks her uncle received as he lay dying, he hadn’t been overly favored. But then, if he left his estate and without doubt many of these men’s families undefended, it was no wonder.

Confident all was well, her father looked at Greer’s throat with concern.

“Greer,” he said softly, closing the distance. “Are you all right, daughter?”

“Yes,” she managed, still coping with the shock of seeing him. “’Tis but a scratch.” She looked from Mother to Father. “How are you here? I thought you…”

“Died,” her mother said hoarsely, finishing her sentence when she trailed off.

“Not dead.” He pulled her mother into a tight embrace. “But very much alive.”

“Thank God.” Mother pressed her cheek to his chest and embraced him just as tightly. “Thank our dear, merciful savior.”

Greer swallowed hard and nodded that she was okay when Teagan removed the cloth and eyed her wound.

“I’m all right.” In fact, she was better than she’d been in a long time. Not only because her father was here but because of what had just happened. The courage and freedom she’d felt taking action like that. Even if her uncle had known things were off from the beginning, she’d gotten the ball rolling.

“Daughter.” Her father reeled her into his and her mother’s embrace. “How I have missed you both. All of you.”

While still somewhat hurt and confused over his sudden departure, she didn’t feel as strongly as she had before. Truth told, it hardly mattered anymore. What mattered was him being here now. Because whatever happened, there could be no doubt he loved her dearly .

“We need to talk,” he murmured. “All of us. So that you might understand.”

“Yes.” Mother wiped away a tear as she pulled back. “We most certainly do.”

“There’s a village close by.” Father crouched and rummaged through Randolph’s pockets until he found the gem. “We will rest there for the eve.” He stood and addressed his men. “’Tis your choice if you stay on at my estate. If you do, expect things to change. As many of you already know, I’m not the man your former liege was.” He shook his head. “No man, woman, or child, be they Scottish or English, will be kept under my care unless they wish to be there. All will earn fair wages.”

He looked at Alfred and nodded with pride.

“Whilst I’m in Scotland seeing to my family, Alfred will be in charge.” He clasped Alfred’s shoulder. “He’s proven himself a true warrior in every sense of the word.” Emotion flashed in his eyes as he looked at him. “You have my deepest gratitude for protecting my eldest daughter as you have.”

“’Twas my h-honor.” Alfred straightened and looked at the men. “As ’twill be my honor overseeing your estate and the good men who protect it.”

She was relieved to see so many nod their heads in turn. To see so many of a different mind than their former liege.

“I would suggest you head back tonight,” her father counseled Alfred. “’Twas foolish of Randolph to leave our estate so undefended and bring our men here. ’Tis too dangerous.”

Alfred nodded. “Yes, m’lord.”

Alfred embraced Cecille goodbye, then Greer.

“One of these days I will visit, and we will talk some, yes?” Greer smiled at Alfred, never so grateful. Sad that it had taken her all this time to get to know him better. To push beyond her demons and see him for the hero he was. Had always been. “I think it long past time we became friends.”

“I would like that,” he replied without nary a stutter. He nodded at Teagan, then looked at her again. “I wish you only the best, Mistress Greer. A lifetime of happiness.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, teary despite herself. “As do I, you.”

As Alfred and his men made ready to leave, the MacLomains said their goodbyes as well.

“This is where we part ways, I’m afraid.” Adlin clasped hands with Teagan and Malcolm and smiled warmly at Greer. “Wishing you and your new husband the verra best. Until we meet again, might you enjoy Clan MacLauchlin and your bonnie new country.”

“Many thanks.” She smiled at Teagan. “I cannot imagine it any other way.”

They said goodbye to Tiernan as well and bid them all farewell.

“I will send a man to let Ada and Edmund know all is well,” Adlin assured, swinging onto his horse.

“Please do,” her father replied, having evidently followed a great deal of their adventure from afar. “Tell Edmund that whilst the men who traveled with him to the border were unable to detour Randolph, they remain unscathed. Also, he’s not to worry over his estate and kin. We will see them protected, and any rumors of treason quelled.”

“Aye.” Adlin nodded. “I’ll see the message delivered straight away.” He winked at Greer. “Best to put his mind at ease so he can enjoy his eve with Ada and the wee ones.”

With that, he and his men left, as did everyone else after Randolph was buried, and a prayer said over his grave. They would stay at the village for the night, then arrive at MacLauchlin Castle on the morrow.

“How fare ye, lass?” Teagan murmured in her ear as they traveled. “Truly?”

“Good,” she replied. “Very good, actually…and looking forward to talking with you later. ”

“Aye?” he asked curiously. “What about?”

“Things long past needing to be discussed,” she said vaguely, not wanting to do this on horseback in the dark but where she could see him. “Things I want you to know about me.”

“Aye, then,” he said softly, hesitant. “Mayhap, I’ve things to share as well.”

“I hope so,” she whispered, glad to hear it. Because she knew it had to do with what happened that morning. Demons that needed to be confronted once and for all.

As it turned out, though very small, the tavern in the next village had room enough for the four of them. Malcolm and their men continued on to let everyone at MacLauchlin Castle know all was well and their enemies no more.

Thunder rumbled in the distance as she, Teagan, and her parents finally settled in front of a fire with a drink. This time she opted for ale, if for no other reason than to keep her head clear.

“Are you sure that’s the only reason?” Margery would have said with a twinkle in her eyes. “Or could it be you wish to finally consummate your marriage?”

She bit back a smile, glad to hear Margery again but, at the same time, not alarmed she hadn’t heard from her more today. That she seemed to be stepping back and nudging Greer to take the lead. To face things on her own.

“So you see, Cecille,” her father said in conclusion, having explained his whereabouts. “I did what I thought best to keep you and our daughters safe until the time was right.” His pained gaze turned Greer’s way. “I cannot tell you how hard it was leaving you behind, daughter. Worse yet, not saying goodbye.” He shook his head. “But ’twas far too risky. Your husband would have sent word I was there, and Randolph would have pursued straight away when I did not return.”

“Had that happened, you would never have made it to Scotland,” Mother surmised. “And never had the coin to start over nor the leverage we needed to get Greer back.”

Though Greer would have snuck away with him, she knew better than to voice it. Joining him would have brought her husband and Randolph’s wrath down on him even quicker, and that was the last thing she would have wanted. Not for her father, mother, or sister, for it would have affected them all.

“I must say, Ena was very convincing,” her mother mused, referring to the old woman she’d met in the Scottish village who claimed Father had died. She shook her head at Phillip. “Was that really so necessary?” Her eyes welled, but she blinked it away. “It broke my heart.”

“’Twas not my decision, love, but Ena and her good husband’s,” he said on a sigh. “As I told you, ’twas not easy for her to keep the whole truth from you, but she did it with good reason. She would not risk me being discovered until I did what needed to be done.”

“Which was going back for our Greer,” her mother murmured. “A worthy cause, indeed.”

“Yes, once the jewels were secure and I knew you and Julianna had what you needed, I headed back.” He shook his head. “I could not linger in the Scottish village knowing Greer was all alone back in England, and Ena knew that. She also knew if someone caught wind of me being alive, it could very easily lead back to the gems and her people.”

Mother nodded, understanding what he didn’t say as well.

“’Twas also for the best I not get my hopes up but remain realistic,” Mother deduced. “After all, you were putting your life on the line every step you took in both Scotland and England.”

“Yes,” her father said softly. “Seen clearly enough.”

Greer blinked back tears, not only because he’d come back for her but because of the trouble he had run into before he got out of Scotland. At the hands of Scottish pirates no less.

Teagan shook his head. “’Tis a wonder ye survived. ”

“No doubt.” Mother squeezed her father’s hand. “You were always very clever, though.”

“’Twas just a matter of thinking like them and proving myself useful.” Father shook his head. “And what’s more useful than a Sassenach who could fight well and help them get closer to my countrymen? Steal from them more readily?” His eyes grew haunted. “’Twas not easy betraying my own, but if it meant getting Greer away from tyrants and back to her kin, I was willing to do anything.”

“And ye’ve my eternal thanks.” Teagan rested his hand over Greer’s. “That couldnae have been easy.”

According to her father, once he was finally able to escape the pirates, Greer’s husband had died, and she was back at Randolph’s. So he reevaluated how he wanted to go about things.

First, he returned to the village only to discover Cecille and Julianna had come and gone and were with the MacLauchlins. From there, he tracked everyone, waiting for the opportunity to strike. He knew Randolph would see him dead for taking the jewels, so he’d had a missive sent saying he had already died. That way, the lout would never see him coming when he struck.

“’Twas not easy deciding who to follow when they split off,” Father said, referring to their pursuers. “Bartholomew or Randolph.” He looked at Teagan. “In the end, I knew Cecille and Greer were safe with you and your warriors, so I continued after Randolph lest he reach Julianna before anyone else.”

“’Twas a wise decision,” Teagan replied. “I would have done the same.” Amusement lit his eyes. “I give ye a great deal of credit, though. ’Tis no average man who can evade my brother Malcolm when he’s tracking. For surely yer paths nearly crossed.”

“Yes.” The corner of her father’s mouth shot up. “Let’s just say your brother is very good, but I have a few years on him.” He winked. “Plus, time spent with pirates teaches one a thing or two.”

That it did, and her father spun many a tale about it as the night wore on.

“I see where ye get yer gift of storytelling,” Teagan murmured in her ear at one point, dropping a chaste kiss on her cheek. She knew he wanted to do more, to kiss her lips and neck, to hold her close, but would see her respected in front of her parents.

Her parents, however, did no such thing. They kissed and held hands, barely taking their eyes off one another.

“How did I not see how affectionate they were?” she said later on when she and Teagan sat in their room, enjoying a last cup of ale. “How good a friendship they had? How in love they were?”

“Mayhap ye were too young to recognize it?” He shook his head. “Or mayhap, having known yer uncle, ’twas not something encouraged in ‘proper’ company.”

“That would make sense.” For none were less affectionate.

“I don’t want that for us,” she said softly, meaning it, keeping with the truth. “I want a life where we might be affectionate in the open as my parents were tonight.” She shook her head. “I want our children to never wonder how we feel about one another. I want them to see…love as it should be.”

She swallowed hard, fairly shocked she’d said love. But she meant it.

“I want the same, lass.” He took her hand. “I want…love as it should be.”

He felt it, too, didn’t he? What had grown so quickly betwixt them? What would grow stronger still if they laid their hearts bare? If they unburdened their truths?

“’Tis time to talk, aye?” he said softly.

“Yes,” she said just as softly. “’Tis time to talk.”