Page 86 of Wild Highland Rose
Watching intently, Cameron began to discern shadows moving along the tree line. Riders. He glanced over at Marjory. Her brows were drawn together in a worried frown. She'd seen them, too. "Do you recognize them?"
"Nay, they're still too much in the trees, but I dinna think they've come from the pass." She kept her eyes on the riders.
"How can you tell?"
"I canna fer sure, but they're too far into the valley to have come through the pass this morning. And if they came through yesterday, we'd have had word o' some kind. I canna shake the feeling that something is verra wrong."
As if in emphasis of her statement, the riders broke free of the trees, riding slowly into the clearing. The sun beat down upon them, highlighting the colors of their plaids.
"Holy Mother of God." The words came out in a painful whisper. Marjory had gone rigid, her eyes riveted on meadow. "Camerons."
For the first time since spotting the riders, Cameron felt a tug of worry. "Are you sure?"
"Aye, there's no mistaking the colors o' the plaid."
He watched as the riders relentlessly moved across the clearing. There were quite a few of them, enough to qualify as a small army. "Can they get down the mountain from there?"
"Aye, faster than we can." The thought seemed to agitate her. "I dinna know what Torcall is up to, but it canna be anything good."
Cameron took her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "I'll admit it doesn't look good, but it still doesn't make sense to me. There's just no good reason for Torcall to cause trouble."
"I pray that you have the right o' it."
"Of course I'm right." He tried to issue the statement with more enthusiasm than he felt. "He believes I'm Ewen, and he thinks I'm working overtime to get you pregnant. Which, for whatever twisted reason, seems to be his overriding goal at the moment. As long as he believes that, you're safe."
"Then why is he riding back to Crannag Mhór?"
"I don't know."
They watched the riders in silence, their march across the clearing seeming more ominous by the minute. Cameron raked a hand through his hair. It just didn't make any sense. One minute, the man was hell bent on getting back to Tyndrum, and the next, he was making his way back to Crannag Mhór. He struggled, trying to find logic where there seemingly wasn't any.
Marjory sucked in a breath, grabbing his arm, her eyes wide with alarm. "It must be Aida."
"Aida?"
"Aye. 'Tis the only explanation. Cameron, she saw what happened last night with Fingal. And we sent her away. You rejected her and I humiliated her. You heard her. She threatened us both." Her eyes turned back to meadow, the riders were disappearing once more into the trees. "It would no' take much to convince Torcall to destroy Crannag Mhór once and for all, if he believes his son bewitched…" She trailed off, her hand tightening on his arm.
"He'll be out for vengeance."
Marjory nodded. "I canna let him destroy my home again." She released his arm. "I have to go." She jumped down from the rock, starting to walk away almost before her feet hit the ground.
"Marjory, wait," he called after her, his heart beating furiously in his chest. He had to stop her. She'd be walking into certain death.
She turned back to him, and with a half hearted gesture, pointed to a large tree. "You'll find the site o' the landslide just over there, beyond the tree. 'Tis only the best I wish for you, Cameron." She swung away, already intent on reaching the tower.
He sprinted across the clearing and whirled her around to face him. "Are you crazy? You can't go down there. If he is out for revenge, he'll be waiting for you."
She pulled out of his grasp. "I have to go. If it's to my death, then so be it, but I will no' lay down and let him take Crannag Mhór without a fight." She started to walk away again.
"Wait."
She stopped, her back rigid with determination.
He let out a sigh, his mind split. Lindsey needed him. But so did Marjory. And standing here on the side of a mountain, heknew what he had to do. If he lived to tell the tale, then maybe he could still help Lindsey. But in this moment. Now. He wanted to help Marjory, to stand by her side and face whatever Torcall Cameron intended.
"If you're going, then so am I. After all, I'm the one with the sword."
She turned with a faint smile. "I believe there are two trees over there who'd bear witness to that, but, Cameron, you dinna belong here. This is no' your fight. 'Tis time for you to go home."
