THE HORSE MARSHAL : Highland Vengeance : Part Five (A Family Saga / Adventure Romance) (Highland Vengeance: A Serial Novel) (Highlands Trilogy)

This is PART FIVE of a SIX PART SERIAL NOVEL. They must be read in sequence in order to understand the story.

PART FIVE: Cousin Callum is called back to the MacGregor's holding and the identity of the Magic Giant is revealed. In the meantime, the horse marshal has infiltrated the holding and is set on carrying out his evil plot.

Set in the turn of the thirteenth century Scottish Highlands, this is the story of Daniel MacLaurin, a handsome, rugged warrior-laird haunted by his past, and Maryn Donald, the beautiful, high-spirited lass destined to help him find his heart's ease.

HIGHLAND VENGEANCE is a steamy adventure romance, but it is also a family saga. It's the story of how a man overcomes the horror of his past to find love, connection, and contentment once more.

~Excerpt~

CHAPTER 16

Jesslyn walked with Callum up to the keep. A sennight had passed since her visit to the waterfall and she was growing anxious to make another journey there. Unfortunately, her betrothed had gotten it in his head to move them to his MacGregor kin's holding and he would not let go of the notion. He'd visited her several times each day with some new enticement to change her mind, making it impossible to leave the village without raising questions of her whereabouts. Jesslyn tried once more to reason with him. "I think it not a good idea to move Alleck again so soon. He's only just settled in here at the Maclean holding and he adores your grandmother. And I'm not ready to make such a change this early, either."

"My sweet, can you not see that our presence is unnecessary here? That I am needed urgently at the MacGregor holding, as evidenced by the missive I received this morn from my uncle--stepfather--begging my assistance? There are duties that the MacGregors need me to perform for them and I should hasten to answer that request. I feel duty-bound to do so."

Jesslyn worried her bottom lip with her teeth. This was Callum's newest ploy, and 'twas a good one. She was having trouble finding good reasons to convince him to avoid his duty to his father's clan. In all honesty, Jesslyn had begun to doubt her decision to wed him. Even tho' he had become a dear friend to her, and Alleck was slowly warming to him, the passionless kiss they'd shared a few days past concerned her greatly. Especially when compared to the heated embrace she'd shared in the wood with the black-haired warrior--who, she was ashamed to admit, had been invading her thoughts, and swaying her purpose as well. Jesslyn came to an abrupt halt.

Callum broke stride and turned, giving her a questioning look.

Taking both of his hands in her own, she straightened her spine and forced the words past her lips. "Callum, I have thought on this these past days and I have decided to break our betrothal."

Callum's eyes widened. "What?" He tried to pull his hands free.

She would not let them go. "'Tis truth, we love each other not, so this cannot be so very painful for you."

"Nay, I'm more stunned than hurt. Why have you changed your mind? Is it the prospect of leaving this place?"

"Aye--but 'tis not the full of it. You know this is not working--for either one of us. You should go to the MacGregor holding, as you have said you must, but you must do it without Alleck and me."
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Callum turned and walked a few paces away, his thoughts in turmoil. After a moment, a sense of relief filled him. Jesslyn had had the courage to admit their mistake, where he had not. For the past days had been very revealing to him. Tho' he liked and admired Jesslyn, he'd only recently begun to realize that they were not well matched in temperament. Why, only a few days past, he'd tried deepening one of the rather chaste kisses he'd given her and she'd grown cold and rigid in his arms. That had worried him. For, tho' they might not love each other, he was a man like any other. He had needs that he expected his wife to fulfill, with passion, if not love. Besides, he wanted a houseful of bairns. How was he to accomplish that, if there was no enjoyment in the making of them? He turned back to her then and, nodding his head, he at last replied, "Aye, you are right. 'Tis for the best that we break the betrothal." He moved toward her. Placing a hand on her cheek, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the other. "My thanks to you for your wisdom and your courage to say what I would not."

As he began to straighten, Jesslyn turned her head and kissed his cheek as well, a relieved smile on her face matching his own. "We are friends? Say we are still friends."

"Aye, we are still friends, fair Jesslyn."

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