Chapter 1

1

A Runaway Bride

McGunn Castle, Scotland, 1651

T he air was abuzz with enthusiasm. Chattering voices drifted through the hallways as the excitement billowed like storm clouds on the horizon. A wedding was supposed to be an exciting time. Today, however, the buzz and excitement weren’t one of a joyous occasion. Instead, it was a time of dread as Dakota stood in the bridal room of her father’s house with her head down and heart fluttering in her stomach. It felt as if butterflies had taken residency within her.

"What do ye mean she’s not here?" Hudson Winfrey, the Laird of McGunn, bellowed. His face was red with anger, and the small vein in his forehead pulsed with every beat of his heart. Dakota kept her eyes off him as he strained to keep the clan downstairs from hearing him. He threw his hands up in irritation and whipped his head around, hunting for an answer from the servants in the room. None of them spoke as he rapped his foot against the wooden floor.

"Where precisely did she go? Tis nae like the lass could just disappear . Are ye sure ye searched everywhere? Perhaps she’s gone down to the loch for fresh air. I’m told brides are often nervous on their wedding day."

"We’ve searched everywhere," the servant standing close to him said as her eyes dropped to the floor the moment he looked at her. He pursed his lips into a tight line and flexed his jaw as he chewed over the words he wanted to say.

"I’ve even looked for her in her old hiding spots," Dakota said, trying not to look her father in the eye. She knew very well that this was not the time to argue, nor was it a time for silly games such as hide and seek. Yet no matter where she looked, she couldn’t find Delilah. "She’s gone."

"I daenae want to hear that she’s gone," the Laird said. "I want her here, now. This wedding cannae go on without her. And I doubt very much that her husband to be will take too kindly to this. Now find her."

Dakota glanced over her shoulder at the other servants in the room. They all scattered quickly as the Laird pointed to the door.

"Daenae ye make a scene over this. We daenae need the guests in here asking questions we daenae have the answers for."

Dakota gave a quick nod and a short bow before she darted off with the rest of the servants. She raced down the corridor, poking her head into every door and throwing back every tapestry, hoping to find her sister hidden somewhere. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she moved quickly from room to room, trying to dodge the Great Hall where all the guests had gathered for the wedding.

Her irritation ran deep as each room turned out to be empty and void of life. Even the large fireplace with the carved horses, a place Dakota had caught Delilah hiding several times in their youth, ended up deserted.

"Where are ye?" Dakota grumbled through her clenched teeth. Heavy footsteps falling on the tile floor caught her ear, and she quickly stood up straight. She brushed her hair back and cleared her throat, pretending nothing was amiss. The last thing she needed was for anybody to grow concerned or ask her what she was doing. As her father had suggested, she gave no impression that anything was wrong.

"My dear," her aunt Mildred said as she came down the hallway. Dakota smiled and gave her auntie a nod as she passed by. "What on earth are ye doing here? Shouldnae ye be getting ready?"

"Just collecting the heather and a few other things from the kitchen," Dakota lied as she flashed her aunt a smile. As much as she loved her aunt, she didn’t have the time to chitchat. There was a wedding to conduct, and she was charged with finding the bride.

"Oh, so there is going to be a wedding. Strange I heard that was being called off. Something about a missing bride," Mildred said with a twinkle in her eye. Dakota didn’t flinch; she knew better than to give anything away. Dakota stared at her Aunt Mildred with an unsuspecting smile, one she had perfected over the years.

"I swear people like to talk, dae they nae? But rest easy, dear aunt, I’m sure the wedding will be getting on soon," Dakota said with a lighthearted chuckle.

"So the rumors are just that, then?" Mildred said as she stepped closer. "Because I’m on good authority to have heard someone goin’ on about a bride racing down the road on a steed."

"Where did ye hear that from? Unless ye’ve seen it wit’ yer own eyes, I wouldnae give any stock to what others are sayin’. Now, best get back to yer seat."

"There are several guests starting to think this isnae going to happen today," Mildred said as she folded her hands in front of her and rolled her shoulders back. The gaze and Mildred’s eyes made Dakota a bit nervous, but Dakota understood what she had to do to squash those rumors right now.

"I’m afraid tis nae as dramatic as everyone is making it up to be," Dakota said. "Tis really a matter of tradition and Delilah is certainly wanting this to be a memorable day."

"Well, tell yer sister to hurry it along. We daenae have all day to be waiting for her," Mildred said as Dakota gave a quick smile and scurried down the hallway.

The pressure on Dakota’s shoulders mounted as she turned the corner. The moment that her aunt was out of sight, she let out a heavy sigh. Every muscle in her body twitched as she wondered how much longer they could keep up the ruse. If people were already talking about Delilah missing, the news would spread quickly .

"So help me when I find her, I am going to kill her. How dare she put us through all this? Who does she think she is?" Dakota mumbled under her breath as she opened the door to the sitting room. Her eyes widened as her gaze landed on her younger sister, Daisy.

"What are ye doing in here?" Dakota asked as she pushed open the door a bit further and spotted her younger brother Dominic lounging on the sofa without a care in the world. "Has Delilah come through here?"

"Nay," Daisy said in her singsong voice as she twisted and played with her fingers. Dakota’s eyes narrowed as she glared at her sister and stepped into the room.

"Dominic, where is Delilah? Father is furious and looking for her."

"Couldn’t tell ye," he said, jumping to his feet and straightening his vest. "But I’m more curious as to why ye’re here. Aren’t ye supposed to be with her getting her ready? Why daenae ye ken where she is? Is this a game?"

"My dears, what are ye doing in here? The Laird is in a foul mood and is requesting everyone to meet him in the bridal suite. Come now, chop up," the maid said as she clapped her hands and corralled Dakota, Daisy, and Dominic out of the room.

"I ken ye two are up to something," Dakota whispered as she marched behind her siblings to get them up the steps without delay.

"We haven’t the foggiest idea what ye’re talking about," Dominic said as he swatted Daisy’s hand away . They marched up the stairs in silence. Dakota couldn’t help but feel something was amiss. Her younger brother and sister were never this quiet, and she knew in the pit of her stomach they were up to something.

Before they reached the door, Dakota grabbed Daisy’s arm and held her back. "What does yer brother have ye doing? I ken ye two are planning something and I’d like to advise against it."

"We arenae doing anything," Daisy said, batting her eyes innocently. "We’re just here for Delilah’s wedding just like ye."

"Please tell me that Dominic isn’t planning on releasing the pigs during the ceremony," Dakota said with a heavy sigh. The tension was already high in the room, and she knew one more thing would set their father off.

"Of course nae, he would never do something like that."

"Are ye sure about that? Because I recall a time when he decided to bring frogs into the dinner party that father had."

"Well there was a couple of times he was a bit naughty. But I swear, we’re nae up to anything," Daisy said with a slight giggle.

"Quit loitering in the doorway and get in here," the Laird grumbled. Dakota and Daisy stood straighter and held their breath as they entered the room.

"We still couldnae find her," Dakota said as she slipped around her brother and sister, hoping to oust them the first chance she got.

"This is preposterous. Why has the Lord forsaken me and given me such insolent children? Do ye have any idea what this will do to our reputation? Any one of ye has an inkling to where yer sister is, ye best speak up now," the Laird threatened as he wagged a finger at each of his children.

"Is there a problem?" A deep unfamiliar voice cut off the Laird, and the room fell silent.

All eyes shifted to the man standing in the doorway. Dakota’s heart went into a frenzy as she stared at the tall man who was fiddling with the cuffs of his tunic.

His arms were covered, but his muscular frame could not be hidden. The man's forearms bulged under the elegant material, tightening across his chest . Dakota could not help but imagine how he might look with that shirt removed.

He had a cunning look in his eye that bordered on fearsome, but there was intelligence there too, and that drew Dakota in almost more than his stature. His hair was thick and luxurious, and he towered above almost everyone who stood by his side. She felt something twinge deep within just to be in the presence of such a man.

And the small scar on his eyebrow sent a hundred thoughts racing through her mind of the sorts of adventures he had been up to in the past—chivalrous pursuits filled with danger.

"Well, what is the hold up?" The man asked.

"Laird Rottrich!" Laird McGunn dropped his head to greet him. "What are ye doing up here? Ye should be down with the priest."

William Abernathy, the Laird of Rottrich, turned to face Laird McGunn. "Aye and yet, here I am come to address the chatter that’s goin’ on downstairs. I was told there I would be wed today, yet, I’m still waitin’ on that to take place. So why is everyone standing around twiddling their thumbs?"

"There’s been a slight issue that has come up," the Laird said with a half-nervous chuckle. "It is nothing that ye should be bothered with and I’m certain it will be resolved quickly."

"Delilah is missing," Dakota blurted out unexpectedly. Her father whipped his head around and glared daggers at her. For a moment, she wondered whether not his book would kill her, but she knew better than to lie.

"Missing, ye say?" Mr. Abernathy’s eyebrow arched as his gaze fell on Dakota. "Has she left on her own accord? Or was she taken?"

"We aren’t sure at the moment," the Laird said nervously.

"Actually that’s not entirely true," Dominic said as he stepped forward, pushing Daisy to the side.

"What is this?" The Laird asked as Dominic reached into his vest and retrieved a small sheet of paper.

"A note," Dominic said with a half smirk. "Something Delilah gave me before she fled."

"Ye said ye didnae see her," Dakota hissed as she looked at her brother.

"Nay, ye asked where she was and I told ye the truth, I daenae ken where she is," Dominic said to Dakota.

"Ye’ve been holding onto this the entire time? And only now ye bring it up?" The Laird ripped the note out of Dominic’s hand and quickly unfolded it. Dakota couldn’t help but notice the color draining from her father’s face. For a moment, she wondered whether or not the old man was about to collapse right then and there.

"Well?" Laird Rottrich asked as he rolled his shoulders back. Dakota held her breath as she watched her father cautiously.

"This cannae be right," the Laird said, shaking his head. "This has to be a mistake."

Dakota quickly rushed to her father’s side and grabbed the note from his trembling fingers. Her eyes drifted across the page, and it took every ounce of her courage to look at Laird Rottrich. She swallowed hard as her blood ran cold.

"It would appear she has left on her own accord," Dakota said. "Here."

Dakota extended the note to the Laird for him to read himself. All the preparation that the family had done for this day seemed like such a waste. Dakota wanted to scream at her sister for being so wasteful, but it would do no good with her sister being absent. She never thought Delilah would do something like this in a million years . Yet here they were in the bridal suite, dressed and situated for a wedding that would never take place.

"Well, this certainly puts a damper on things," Laird Rottrich said, his eyes darkening.

"Why didnae ye bring this to our attention sooner?" Her father asked Dominic.

"I would have if there were a way to get a word in inch wise. But seeing as how ye been barking orders for the last twenty minutes I haven’t been able to," a slight hint of arrogance tinted his voice.

"Laird McGunn, a moment alone, if ye will," Laird Rottrich said as he cleared his throat. Dakota’s heart raced, and she couldn’t help but wonder what was going through the Laird’s mind and her father’s. Surely her sister’s decision to flee would ruin their name and all her chances of being married to a good family was gone.

Dakota gasped as her bracelet dropped off her wrist and clanged on the floor. The sound practically echoed through the room like thunder. She moved to lean down to collect it, but it was too late; Mr. Abernathy had strode over, a storm on his face, and got down to pick it up. He remained on one knee and offered it up to Dakota.

Dakota was not sure where to look. She felt a fool for having dropped the bracelet, and the visiting Laird had gone to the trouble to pick it up for her—it was a chivalrous act and one that he did not need to do, as welcome as it was.

"I—" Dakota froze as he looked up at her with a stern look. He was a fearsome man, but that only added to his allure—he was a man who could protect his wife, and she could not imagine why Delilah had run away on the morning of her wedding. Dakota could not remember being treated this way by a man before, and she liked it.

"Well, are ye going to take it, Dakota?" blasted her father.

"Aye, of course. Thank ye, me Laird," she said as she reached down to retrieve the bracelet. Her fingers touched his as she took the jewelry, and a jolt of excitement ran through her body. How could anyone give up a life with such a handsome man?

Laird Rottrich stood as the bracelet slipped into Dakota’s fingers. She thought him tall when she had seen him before, but he practically towered over her like a massive oak tree now that they were standing together. Her heart raced frantically as she stared up at him and yearned to reach out and touch his arm.

His smell was intoxicating, too—a manly musk peppered with sandalwood and wheat. She had to stop herself from leaning forward and sniffing at his chest. The only thing she could think was that he had a terrible past that she was unaware of. There was no other reason for her sister to leave this man.

"Aye, of course, this way," the Laird said as he escorted Laird Rottrich out of the room. Heat rushed to Dakota’s cheeks as she watched her father and the Laird step out into the hallway.

"What do ye supposedly they will be talking about?" Dominic asked as he craned his neck around Dakota to spy through the open doorway.

"Probably the finances," Daisy answered. "Father’s been going on about how much this wedding is costing him, and now he’s not only out of money but out of a new son as well."

Dakota shook her head and tried to regain her breathing. "I daenae think that’s what they’re talking about. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this moment has ruined us all."