Much Ado About Highlanders (The Scottish Relic Trilogy) by May McGoldrick

river.”
    “Kenna is a good swimmer, but the current is strong. Do you think they got away unharmed?”
    “That’s my hope. James says Alexander could swim from here to Oban, if need be. But as you say, m’lady, the current is strong. Still, I don’t see anyone else jumping in after them.”
    Emily watched as James Macpherson came back into the circle of his men. He was impressive even in times of distress. On the way here, she’d ridden recklessly to keep up after he and Kester caught up to them and James galloped ahead. Chasing after him had been exhilarating. Still, she felt a twinge of guilt, knowing the excitement wasn’t about the ride but the rider she was pursuing.
    “And you knew about all of this, too, about Kenna and Alexander. About trying to trick them to get back together.”
    Kester looked away. “Aye. That I did.”
    The old warrior was as close to her father as any brother. He was also a man that Emily could always talk openly with. She could seek his opinion on things she could never say to her father. From childhood, she’d known she could trust him to keep her secrets. She wasn’t about to be angry with him now.
    Snippets of discussion reached them from the Macpherson men. They’d follow the river to the loch west of here that led to the sea. They’d try to catch up to the raiding party or Alexander and Kenna. James told one of the MacDougalls that she needed to go back to Craignock Castle. She heard the word
wedding
mentioned several times.
    Her cousin’s objections about Sir Quentin came back to her.
    “You were there when they negotiated my marriage,” she said to Kester.
    “Aye.”
    “Why him?”
    “You know why, lass. The MacDougall believes it’s a good match. You’re an only child. Many of the elders of our clan have been after your father to marry again, to produce a son. But he’s not interested.” Kester paused. “The world’s getting smaller all the time. As you can see, the English feel free to roam about here, taking what they please. Raiders from the sea are a threat like never before. Your father thinks the safety of our people lies with you and your future husband.”
    Two summers ago, Emily’s mother died. While she was sick, Emily had heard many a heartfelt lecture on duty and responsibility.
    “But why
him
?” she repeated. “Why Sir Quentin? Why not . . . why not someone I know, at least?” And someone with a dozen more qualities that Sir Quentin seemed to be lacking.
    “You’ve never shown any interest or made it known that you wanted to choose. I, for one, never saw you show any fondness for any particular lad. So your father took the first good offer.”
    “I had a choice?” she asked, stunned. “I had a choice in whom I was to wed?”
    “Of course. You had a choice of ‘aye’ or ‘nay.’ You’re Graeme MacDougall’s only child, lass.”
    Emily’s gaze drifted to James Macpherson. He was issuing orders to his men. “Do I still have a choice? Is it too late?”
    “Your father wants you safe. He wants the clan safe. He may not be thrilled for you to speak up now. But so long as you keep those things in mind—if you’re asking me—it’s never too late.”

    He was dreaming. Alexander knew it, but he still could not shake off the blurred chaos of events disturbing his sleep. The force of the river. The panic at losing sight of Kenna in the wild rush of the current. The fight with the soldiers. The short sword jabbing into him. The clawing dread at the thought that the Lowlander might take Kenna away. Jock wielding the oars that weighed nearly as much as the lad himself. The fog rolling in around the boat as they moved across the loch’s black waters. The look of fear in his wife’s face.
    Alexander blinked back the mist from his mind and opened his eyes. A thin band of moonlight streaked in through the window and lit the stone wall of the cottage. He remembered where he was. He took a deep breath and tested his shoulder. It moved. He