Their Own Time Page 7

  “I am here, Carissa.”

  “He is so angry. Couldn’t you see it?”

  “Aye, but ‘tis my life, not his.”

  “You aren’t afraid of what he will do?”

  Garrett laughed slightly. “He will do nothing. He will be angry, and then he will leave, and if I have any luck, he will never return to McKinley land.”

  He guided her toward the dining hall, and she stayed tucked in his side.

  “Good morning, Mother.” Garrett smiled and kissed Kettie lightly on the head.

  Her eyes widened. “So, you two have decided to come out to the world, I see, and with Carrick McLaughlin here as well,” she added, eyeing Garrett.

  “He does not matter.”

  “I agree, still timing is coincidental.” She winked at him. “Although not surprising, you’ve been trying to anger that man since the day you met him.”

  “Come on to Grandmother, wee Gabby.” Kettie smiled and held her arms out for the little girl. She immediately changed hands and wrapped her little arms around Kettie’s neck in a hug.

  “We wish to be married soon.” Garrett squeezed Carissa’s hand and smiled at her.

  “Very well, we can have the ceremony in a few days, if you wish.”

  “We do.” Carissa smiled now. She was so happy with the love she had found with Garrett, and she couldn’t wait to be his wife.

  How dare he. How dare he parade this new woman around in front of him as if he was nothing more than a thorn in his side. Carrick slammed his fist down on the bed, not wanting to make any noise from the room he was staying in.

  It was no secret that he never truly cared for his daughter. His wife had died in childbirth, and the many women he bedded had never produced a son for him. It was supposed to have been merely a backup plan to have Eleanora marry the McKinley.

  He would have killed him too, had the failure of a daughter of his not died herself. Carrick shook his head and pulled out his knife. Now Garrett would be marrying again, and he would lose all hope of taking the land for himself. What if the wench bore him a son?

  But what if they never got the chance to marry? He smiled as a plan began to form in his twisted brain. He would show them, he thought to himself as his smile widened. He would show them all that the McLaughlins were no one they wanted to be at war with.

  Carissa smiled as she walked through the small marketplace in front of the castle. Garrett’s people seemed ecstatic at the thought of them marrying, and it filled her with even more joy than his proposal had. Garrett had insisted on staying back at the castle with Gabby so they could spend some time together. Gabby was finally going to have a father, she thought to herself. She had been beating herself up from the moment she found out that she was pregnant at the fact that Parker was the child’s father. Somehow, she supposed she had always known he would not change.

  But now, her Gabby was going to have a wonderful man to call her dad, and he would love her as if she was his own daughter. Possibly give her brothers or sisters to play with. Carissa’s slight smile turned into a grin at the thought. She had never wanted more children with Parker, but now that she was going to marry Garrett, she found herself wishing for an entire soccer team.

  “Lady Carissa!” Carissa turned to see an elderly woman rushing toward her.

  “Hi,” Carissa said softly. When the woman got closer, Carissa noted the panic in her eyes.

  “I must speak with you!” she whispered loudly and tugged at Carissa’s hand.

  “What is it? I am expected back to the castle.” The woman was scaring her, and Carissa tried to push her off, but her grip was strong.

  “I must speak with you now!” the woman yelled again. Her face was deeply etched with age, and her eyes were full of panic, fear covering her face like a mask.

  “What is it? Tell me.”

  “You are in danger,” the woman whispered and looked around to ensure no one was paying them any attention.

  “What do you mean?” Fear flooded Carissa’s mind.

  “He is going to come for you, you must be careful!”

  “Who is going to come for me?” she asked, now gripping the old woman’s hand. Was it possible that Parker had found a way to come back in time as well? Was he coming for her now?

  The woman shook her head as if she had read Carissa’s thoughts and then leaned toward her.

  “You must be cautious, lass. I had a premonition, you must be careful.” The woman pushed her back and disappeared.

  Carissa fell until strong arms grabbed her from behind.

  “Are you alright, Carissa?” Leon asked her as he helped her stand.

  “I don’t know.”

  “What is it?”

  “Who was that old woman?”

  “What old woman?” Leon looked around confused.

  “She was just here, she warned me.”

  “Warned you? Were you threatened?” His tone changed, and she placed a hand on his arm to settle him.

  “She didn’t threaten me. She said she was here to warn me.”

  “Let’s get you back,” Leon said as he placed a hand on her lower back. He guided her back toward the castle, and they were getting ready to walk through the inner wall when Leon caught something out of the corner of his eye.

  “Stay here, Carissa.” He drew his sword and walked toward the wood line.

  “Some protector he is.” Carissa heard a deep voice from behind her and turned just in time to see a blur of movement before she felt the contact with the back of her head.

  “Why has she not returned?” Garrett asked Kettie as he paced the floor of the dining hall. When he had sent Leon into the village to bring Carissa home, he had expected them to return quickly. Now here it was, well after dinnertime, and they still hadn’t shown up.

  “Maybe they got caught up in the village,” Kettie offered as she fed a giggling Gabby another bite of her food.

  “The people are all incredibly excited over Carissa becoming Lady McKinley. ‘Tis possible they were held up speaking to them.”

  Garrett shook his head, he had told Leon to bring her straight back. He couldn’t rid himself of the feeling of dread that was brewing in his stomach. Gabby giggled, and Garrett smiled at her.

  “Dada!” she squealed and held her arms out for him. He went to her and lifted her in the air. “Momma?” she asked him and patted his cheek.

  “Momma will be home soon, lass. Don’t you worry.” He smiled and bit back the fear. What if something happened? What if she never returned? He pushed that thought down; he hadn’t just found the one he was meant for only to lose her. She was his family, and he protected his family.

  “Master McKinley!” Sean yelled as he ran toward Garrett. Garrett handed Gabby to Kettie gently and turned to face him.

  “What is it, Sean?”

  “It’s Lady Carissa. She and Leon have disappeared.”

  “What do you mean disappeared?” Fear iced Garrett’s blood.

  “They were on their way back here when two men grabbed them.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “I saw it with my own eyes.” Sean looked down guiltily. “I ran for them, but by the time I reached them, the men were already gone. They climbed on horses that wore the colors of the—”

  “McLoughlin,” Garrett said through grit teeth. “That son of a bitch!” He screamed, and Gabby started crying. “Lass, I’m sorry. Dada is sorry.” He lifted her in his arms again and calmed her.

  “Why would he take them?” Kettie wondered. “He has no right to be angry with you, you married his Eleanora and were faithful until the day she died. After that even, if my intuition is serving me right.”

  Garrett nodded. “He wants McKinley land.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He wants to kill me, if I am out of the way, then he can claim it as his own. His people are starving, unable to pay him what he asks of them because of his own greed. He has no heirs, no one else to marry off, and since their land borders ou
rs, he means to take it over until our people are bled dry as well.”

  “Carissa is meant to be a trap,” Kettie said angrily.

  “Bring me twelve of my men, have the horses saddled and ready to go.”

  “You cannot go to war with the McLaughlin clan, Garrett. ‘Tis suicide.”

  “I cannot leave her with them, Mother!”

  “That is not what I am saying, and you damn well know it.” His mother never used such profanity, so the word rolling off of her tongue surprised him. “He is using her as bait, you cannot go in without a plan.”

  “I have a plan.” He looked to Sean. “Do as I asked, get them ready. We leave in an hour.”

  “Momma?” Gabby asked as Garrett tucked her into her crib.

  “Momma will be home soon, lass. I love you.”

  “Love you too, Dada,” she muttered as she lay down.

  Garrett leaned down to brush his lips to her forehead and then walked to the doorway, where his mother waited. “Watch over her, Mother. I am leaving James here with you. He will be right outside of the nursery, in the bedroom.”

  “I wish you were staying, but I understand why you must go. Be careful, Garrett.”

  “I will, Mother. If anything happens, and we don’t return—”

  “I will watch over Gabby.” Kettie smiled and patted his cheek lightly.

  Garrett kissed his mother lightly on the head and then headed for the door. He walked down the steps and outside where the twelve men on horses waited for him.

  “Carrick McLaughlin has taken Leon and my future wife captive. This is an act of war.” At their sidelong glances, he continued, “I know they outnumber us, but if we can sneak in and rescue them, then we stand a chance.”

  “How do we sneak in?” one of the men asked.

  “Eleanora’s old handmaiden still lives in the village. As some of you know, she is the one who told me of Carrick’s plan to kill me once Eleanora birthed me a son. I still have contact with her from time to time, and I believe she will help us. She knows the castle better than Carrick himself.”

  Garrett climbed into his saddle. What he left out was that he planned on killing Carrick McLaughlin before the night was over. He knew that he would never be able to live a happy life with Carissa while the man still drew breath.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Carissa?” Carissa opened her eyes when she heard her name whispered. She gripped her head and winced with pain when she tried to sit up. The stone floor was cold beneath her, and she looked around to see that she was in what looked to be a dungeon.

  “Thank God,” Leon muttered and leaned back against the bars. “I couldn’t get to you to make sure you were alright.”

  “What happened?”

  Leon growled, and his jaw tightened. “McLaughlin had his men grab us from right outside the castle.”

  Carissa’s stomach churned, and she felt as if she were going to vomit. So Carrick was the man the old woman had warned her about just minutes before their abduction.

  Panic set in. She had to get out of there, had to get back to Gabby. What must her little girl be thinking right now? What would happen to her if Carissa never made it back?

  “Garrett will care for Gabby. You needn’t worry about her,” Leon grunted and held his side.

  Carissa looked to him and noticed the pain on his face. “Are you hurt?”

  “‘Tis just a scratch.” Carissa crawled to him and moved his hand.

  “That is not a scratch, Leon.” She tore a sleeve from her gown and pressed it against the wound in his side. She could tell he lost a lot of blood, and while the wound itself would be easy enough to stitch, the risk of infection was high, especially if they didn’t get it cleaned soon.

  “Ahh, so you are finally awake, lass. I was wondering how long you were going to be out,” Carrick’s voice rang in her ears, and Leon grabbed her to pull her behind him.

  “Please, Leon, don’t make me laugh.” Carrick motioned to one of the guards who accompanied him, and he opened the door. “I’m currently trying to decide if I should execute you for crimes against my clan, or just leave you here to die. A slow death would be more satisfying for me to watch.” A twisted smile curved his lips.

  “What crime?” Carissa asked him. She was getting damn tired of bullies. “He has done nothing to you!” she yelled, and Leon pulled her back.

  “Of course he has, he broke into my castle and tried to rape my betrothed.”

  “What? I did no such thing,” Leon grunted.

  “My lovely Carissa here was sleeping in her bedchamber when you broke in and attacked her, thank goodness I was able to get to her in time.” His voice dripped with mock emotion.

  “That’s preposterous!” Carissa yelled, her cheeks flushing with anger.

  “I was going to introduce you to my people tomorrow, it would be a shame if you were to die before I was able to.”

  “Why would you think I would go along with that? I will scream the truth to anyone who will listen!” Carissa yelled and applied more pressure to Leon’s side.

  Carrick got closer until he was just out of reach of Leon’s free hand.

  “Because if you don’t, I will kill not only Garrett but your daughter as well.”

  Carissa’s eyes widened at the mention of Gabby.

  “Garrett will slaughter you where you stand,” she growled at him, and he gripped her hair, dragging her toward the door.

  “Carissa!” Leon screamed and tried to reach for her.

  “Leon!”

  “Take her to my bedchamber.” He ordered the guard. “I have something to attend to, and then I will be there. Stand guard until I arrive, no one goes in. That whore is mine.”

  Garrett stood, staring at the looming castle before him.

  “There is an entrance through the kitchen,” the small maiden whispered. She had been more than happy to assist them in breaking into the castle when she heard what had happened. Garrett believed she despised McLaughlin even more than he did.

  “Momma, can we go?” The small boy tugged at her skirt, and she knelt to lift him in her arms. He had to have been no older than four, and he had the unmistakable look of Carrick McLaughlin. It was no secret throughout the lands that the bastard took whomever he wished to bed with or without their permission. It seems as if Eleanora’s poor handmaiden had been one of those who had attempted to fight it. He was surprised she had kept her son hidden from the laird.

  “I am sorry for what happened to you, lass.” Garrett touched her shoulder gently, and she smiled at him.

  “Thank you, Master McKinley. I was at first as well, but I have my son now, and he is worth the pain I suffered,” she whispered. “Go get the bastard. If any harm comes to your lady or her guard, bring them to me. I can help.”

  “Thank you, Chloe.”

  “Please let me go,” Carissa cried as the guard dragged her down the hall. “Please, I have to get back to my daughter.” She pleaded with him, and when that didn’t work, she used all of her strength and pushed at him.

  He turned, murder in his eyes.

  “You would do well not to touch me again, wench. There isn’t a soul inside the walls who will help you; we are all loyal to Master McLaughlin. I know you are no innocent maiden, so I doubt the master would notice if you were a bit tousled up when he got you.”

  Carissa’s eyes widened, and the man’s nostrils flared.

  “Perhaps I shall toss you around a bit anyways?”

  “Don’t touch me!” Carissa screamed and kicked him as hard as she could in his groin.

  “Bitch!” He grabbed himself, and Carissa took off at a run.

  She looked behind her and saw that the man was still holding himself. When she turned back around, she ran right into another of Carrick’s men.

  “Where do you think you’re going, lass?” He grinned, and Carissa’s cheek burned from where his hand made contact with it.

  “Take her to McLaughlin’s chamber, and this time, do it without distraction.
She is not for you.”

  Tears filled Carissa’s eyes as the first man gripped her arm roughly and dragged her back down the hall.

  Garrett and his men emerged into the castle through the kitchen and were surprised to see that the room was deserted.

  “Wonder where the kitchen staff is?” Luke whispered to Garrett.

  “‘Tis strange there is no one here, dinner would have just finished.” Garrett agreed. “Chloe said the dungeon is down that stairwell.” Garrett pointed to a curved staircase in the corner. “I imagine that is where they will be.”

  Garrett and his men descended the stairs.

  “What are you doing he—” one of the guards stationed below started, but Garrett shoved his sword into the man’s chest. The other attacked, and Luke dispatched of him just as quickly.

  “Garrett,” Leon whispered, and Garrett rushed to the gate. Luke handed him a key ring from the belt of the now dead guard, and he unlocked it.

  “Leon, where is Carissa?” Garrett asked as he lifted the man to his feet.

  “They took her to McLaughlin’s bedchamber,” he sputtered, and Garrett handed him over to Luke.

  His blood went from a simmer to a full boil, and he grit his teeth to keep himself from howling with rage.

  “Get him to Chloe. You four are with me.” He pointed to some of the men, and they followed him up the stairs.

  Garrett no longer cared about stealth, he ran up the stairs and to the upper level of the castle. Getting to Carissa in time was all that mattered to him. He and his guards ran into a handful of Carrick’s, but the fight was over quickly, and they continued to where Garrett knew the bastard’s chamber was.

  “Wait here.” He instructed his men and pushed the door open.

  Fear pulsed through him, and Garrett growled when he saw Carissa tied to the bed by her hands. Her eyes were wide and her face pale.