Page 118 of Highland Ruse

It was not a battle waiting for Kaid, and for that he was thankful.

The men, all dressed in the earthy green tartan of the MacKenzie and surrounding clans, were off their horses by the time Kaid and the women arrived.

“Is this the MacLeod clan?” a tall man with red hair asked.

Kaid stood at the head of his people, his body tense. “It is.”

“And ye have our rightful laird?” the man asked.

Kaid turned over his shoulder to find Torra watching. “Aye,” Kaid answered. “We do. And we mean to help her into her rightful place. Is it yer intention to offer yer allegiance?”

The man bowed his head. “Aye, all of us mean to see her take her proper place as laird once more.”

Kaid beckoned Torra toward him with a subtle nod. She drew a deep breath and approached with measured steps until she stood before the man.

He immediately dropped to his knees in the lush grass, as did the hundreds of men behind him.

It was a sight to behold, so many highlanders bent on reverent knee before the laird too long denied to them. Kaid’s heart swelled for Torra, and for the people she would lead.

But there was more than just pride in his chest.

There was hope.

He looked down beside him, where Delilah watched with tears shimmering in her eyes.

And there was love.

He held her waist and together they watched the red-haired man lift his head.

“Yer father, the former laird of the MacKenzies, was a good man,” the man said. “He raised ye with a good heart. When he died and ye disappeared, we thought ye’d been killed.”

“I’m sorry.” Torra placed a hand under his chin.

“I’m only sorry for the ten years we spent without ye.” The man’s voice carried with the force of his passion, and Kaid knew he spoke for all to hear. “The ten years of murder, rape, and theft brought on by a man no’ deserving of the title of laird. I, Callum MacKenzie, will fight until my final breath to see ye restored as the rightful laird of the MacKenzies.”

He took her hand in his and pressed a fierce kiss to her knuckles.

The MacLeods’ applause behind Kaid thundered through his soul. They too felt hope and victory singing through their veins.

Though the process took time, Kaid waited until every man had sworn fealty to Torra. By the time they were done, the sun had begun to sink into the jagged distant hills behind them and left the afternoon light rich with red and golden orange.

It glinted behind Torra, framing her in the same gilded light as the painted figures he’d seen of the Virgin Mary, as if God himself ordained her as laird to her people.

“I think it best we battle at night,” Delilah said. “The longer we stay here, the more likely Seumas MacKenzie will find us. After all, they did.”

She nodded toward the MacKenzie clan.

Callum looked in their direction, having obviously overheard them. “Aye, we heard from other travelers which way ye’d passed. If the bastard has any spies about, they most likely know already.”

Kaid nodded. “They willna expect us during the night.” His chest swelled with pride at Delilah being his. Not just his lover now, but soon to be his wife. Surely there was no finer wife to be had. No woman more talented, more intelligent, more exquisitely beautiful.

Two riders appeared in the distance, coming from the direction of the inn.

“The man and woman who found ye,” Kaid said to Callum. “Where are they?”

“They were going to the inn to meet ye,” Callum replied. “Have ye gone by already?”

“Aye, but they werena there.” Kaid pointed toward the riders. “But it looks as though they’re still arriving in time for the fun.”