A Man of Honor

by Bethany Hauck

  “He didn’t tell me,” Donovan said, then seen the flash as the axe came down again, taking the tip of two more fingers.

  “Last chance,” Finley said, “you really don’t want me to take your hand off, do you?”

  “For trade,” Donovan said. “It’s in the perfect spot to take over the trade in the area between the English and Scottish. If he married Scott’s daughter, he’d have control of the land. It’s good farmland too, with the river running through it.”

  “Why is he still after her? He has to know that she’s already married to someone else,” Finley asked.

  “He doesn’t care,” Donovan said. “We were told to bring her back and kill her husband, or kill her and he’ll just marry the other one.”

  “What other one?’ Cameron asked, speaking for the first time.

  “The younger one,” Donovan said, again looking at his now mangled hand.

  “Emelia?” Mairi asked. “She’s still alive?”

  Donovan didn’t answer right away, knowing he’d already said too much until he seen the axe rise once more. “She’s still alive,” he said quickly. “Stephen is just waiting for her to turn sixteen, then he plans on marrying her and taking the land that was her sister’s.”

  “Where is she?” Cameron asked, grabbing Donovan by the throat and lifting him off the ground as the guards who were holding his arms let go.

  “Easy, lad,” Finley said, “he can’t answer if you squeeze his throat that tightly.” Cameron lowered him just a bit, until his feet barely touched the ground, and loosened his grip enough for Donovan to breathe.

  “I don’t know,” Donovan answered. “Stephen moves her around to different places to keep her hidden.”

  “Has he hurt her?” Cameron asked. “I swear to God if he’s hurt her, I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

  “Last I saw her she was alive and well,” Donovan barely managed to say, struggling to take his next breath.

  “Let go of him,” Finley said, “I don’t think there’s anymore he can tell us.”

  Donovan waited until Cameron let go of him before he acted. As soon as he was free, he ran towards Mairi, “If you only would have come with me at the river,” he began as he went to grab her. Mairi acted without thinking.

  For the last month Alastair had been teaching her how to use her dirk, which was always strapped to the outside of her thigh. She’d had her gowns made with a special pocket that made it possible to reach it without having to pull her gown up or reach underneath it. As Donovan went to grab her, she pulled her dirk and lunged forward, plunging it directly into his chest and through his heart, right where Alastair had shown her. “That’s for my Da and my Mither,” she said, looking Donovan in the eye and seeing the life drain out of him before he fell to the floor at her feet, dead. As soon as it was over, Mairi turned around, bent over and vomited on the cave floor.

  Chapter 14 Home

  “So all this time there was never a group of highwaymen?” Hamish asked as he listened to the group retell what happened at the cave.

  “Aye,” Ham answered. “They were attacking travelers for supplies. It also kept anyone from noticing a group of Englishmen searching for a Scottish woman.”

  “Are you sure you killed them all?” Hamish asked.

  “None survived,” Finley answered. “We dragged the bodies into the woods and buried them there. It wasn’t easy with the ground being frozen, but I want to keep their deaths quiet as long as possible.”

  “What are we going to do about Emelia?” Cameron asked his grandfather. “We can’t leave her there.”

  “I’m thinking on that, lad,” Finley answered. “I could take my men and lay siege to his castle, but the King may not be happy if I start a damn war.”

  “There’s got to be a way,” Cameron said. “Who knows what they may have done to her the past five summers.”

  “You need to get someone inside to find where they’re keeping her,” Hamish said.

  “I’m thinking the same,” Finley said. “The problem is that the Thompson’s would spot any of my men, or Cameron’s for that matter.”

  “If they were watching Gleann, they would recognize many of my people too,” Hamish said.

  “You have to rescue her, Grandda,” Mairi said. “Use me and see if he’d be willing to trade.”

  “Nay,” Alastair quickly said. “I won’t allow that.”

  “But, Alastair,” Mairi said, “this is my fault. If I had let them take me that day, they might have left her alone.”

  “They would have killed her,” Finley said. “Even if I agreed to your idea, which there is no way I ever would, I believe they would kill her now before admitting they’ve had her all these years.”

  “We don’t even know where they’re holding her, Mairi,” Cameron said. “You heard what Donovan said. Lord Thompson moves her often.”

  “When will the lass be six and ten summers?” Hamish asked. “We need to know how much time we have to get her out of there.”

  “We?” Finley asked.

  “Of course,” Hamish said. “Mairi’s family is our family, and we don’t leave family behind.”

  “We have a little more than three months before she’s forced to marry,” Finley said. “I don’t know if that’s enough time to do something.”

  “I have an idea,” Owen said, making everyone turn and look at him.

  “What is it, son?” Hamish asked.

  “I’ll go,” he began, and Cameron started to protest before he held up his hand and continued, “let me finish.”

  “Go ahead, young Owen,” Finley said, “we’re listening.”

  “If the English were watching Gleann they could recognize any of you,” he began, “but I’ve been gone except for the one night when I came home and met Mairi. I left the next day again, remember? I went to find out if the Scott’s were Mairi’s family. No one should recognize me. I’d also need to stop in Edinburgh and get my friend John.”

  “Who’s John?” Finley asked.

  “He also serves the King and is training to be a knight. He’s English,” Owen said.

  “An Englishman serving the Scottish King?” Cameron asked.

  “His Mither was Scottish,” Owen explained. “He wanted to see more of Scotland and learn more about his Highland family.”

  “So why do you need him?” Finley asked, beginning to think Owen had the start of a decent plan.

  “As I said, John’s English. He could give a valid reason for me to be in England and say that I’m one of his cousins from Scotland,” Owen explained. “He also knows the area.”

  “So do we,” Cameron said.

  “You’ll not be able to contact me,” Owen said. “If the English caught on to the plan, it would be ruined.”

  “How long do you think it would take you to get her out?” Finley asked.

  “You’re not really considering this, are you, Grandda?” Cameron asked.

  “Aye,” Finley answered. “I think this might work.”

  “It depends,” Owen answered. “I’ve got to get into the keep first, then figure out where they’re holding the lass, come up with a way to get her out of there, and then get her back to Scotland.”

  “Seems like a lot to accomplish in just a few months,” Hamish said, having his doubts.

  “Do you have a better idea?” Owen asked.

  “Nay,” Hamish answered.

  “How will we know what’s happening?” Cameron asked.

  “I’ll use John as a messenger,” Owen said, then jokingly added, “as I said he’s English, so don’t kill him when he shows up at your gates.”

  “If his mother was Scottish, then so is he,” Finley said. “We’ll do as you ask, Owen, but know that when the time comes, Stephen Thompson is mine to deal with.”

  “Fair enough,” Owen agreed. “I’m going to need you to catch up with him anyway. You know he’ll come after us. Once I’ve got Emelia free, I’ll send John to Branxholme. You’ll need to leave almost immedi
ately. I’m sure Lord Thompson will try to catch us, alone we stand no chance.”

  “Why not just bring her to Branxholme?” Cameron asked.

  “That’s the first place they’ll look for her and may try to get there ahead of us. I won’t take her to Ferniehirst either,” Owen explained.

  “Where will you go?” Cameron asked.

  “I don’t think Gleann is a good choice either,” Hamish said, “Lord Thompson knows the McCabe’s and the Scott’s are connected.”

  “I could take her to Tarmon or Tioram,” Owen said. “You know Connor and Ross would gladly help.”

  “I’ll send messengers with a scroll explaining what’s happening and that you may show up there.” Hamish said, then turned to Finley telling him, “the sooner you kill the man, the sooner Mairi and Emelia will be safe.”

  “Aye. We’ll be ready when your friend comes,” Finley said. “I want my Granddaughters to be able to come home.”

  “It may take months,” Owen warned. “When I stop in Edinburgh, I’ll also need to get an audience with the King. He’ll need to know what’s happening. He wasn’t happy when he learned about Mairi, and the English trying to take her from Gleann.”

  “When will you leave?” Cameron asked.

  “First thing tomorrow,” Owen answered.

  “I need to head for Branxholme tomorrow myself,” Cameron said. “I’ll travel with you on the first part of your journey.” Owen nodded his agreement.

  “What about you, Grandda?” Mairi asked. “Will you stay for a while?”

  “I’d like to stay for another fortnight,” he said, looking at Hamish, who nodded his agreement. “I’ve just found you again, granddaughter, and I’m not willing to leave you yet.”

  “I’ve been thinking about what to do about the distance between our families,” Alastair said, seeing the struggle Mairi was having with Cameron leaving so soon.

  “Aye,” Mairi said, “I’ve been thinking about it too.”

  “I may have a solution,” Alastair said to her. “I won’t take you to the lowlands until this situation with Lord Thompson is settled.”

  “You said we could go in the spring,” Mairi interrupted.

  “Hear me out, Mairi,” Alastair said. “I won’t take you until Lord Thompson is dead and not a threat to you anymore. Once he’s been taken care of, I think we should make our home in both places. We can spend our summers in the Highlands here at Gleann, and then in the fall, travel to the lowlands and winter there with your family. Then once spring comes, we can come back here. It’ll be a lot of traveling, but it’s a way for our children to know both their Highland and Lowland families.”

  “You’d be willing to leave Gleann?” Mairi asked.

  “It’d only be for a few months,” Alastair answered. Mairi didn’t answer, but jumped out of her seat and threw her arms around Alastair. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Don’t you know by now I’d do anything to make you happy?”

  “Everything I went through was worth it to end up with you, Alastair McCabe,” Mairi said, and kissed him in front of everyone, making Finley smile knowing his granddaughter was married to such an honorable man.

  “What the hell,” Hamish said, jumping to his feet as the doors to the hall opened and Rory came running in, smiling.

  “Riders approaching,” he told them all.

  “Who is it?” Hamish asked.

  “They’re flying banners from both Tarmon and Tioram,” Rory answered.

  “Looks like you might get to meet my sister before spring,” Alastair said to Mairi, who now sat on his lap.

  “If that lass traveled here in winter, I’m going to turn her over my knee and paddle her backside good. What is Connor thinking?” Hamish said.

  “I bet Connor had no choice in bringing her,” Flora said, holding back a laugh.

  Connor, Jacqueline and Ross all entered the hall together, with Jacqueline in the lead. “Hello, Da,” she said kissing him on the cheek and giving him a quick hug. “Where’s Eadan?”

  “In his chamber,” Hamish answered, as he took Alyssa out of her arms and began unwrapping her from the furs she was bundled up in. “What are you doing here, daughter?”

  “I came for Eadan,” she said, taking off her cloak and handing it to Ross before hurrying up the stairs in the direction of her brother’s chamber.

  “Connor?” Hamish said. “I can’t believe you brought her this time of year.”

  “I had no choice,” Connor said, beginning to unwrap Annabelle. “Your daughter is quite stubborn at times and insisted we come now.”

  “You should have taken a hairbrush to her and changed her mind,” Hamish said, a bit frustrated with his son by marriage.

  “I did,” Connor said, “the first time I caught her in the stables readying a horse. The second time, I took a strap to her. The third time, she informed me that even if I beat her black and blue, there was nothing that was going to stop her from getting home to her brother. When Ross stopped and said he was traveling to Gleann, I decided it was better to just come with him.”

  “You know how Jacqueline is when she makes her mind up, Da,” Ross said stepping forward. “It was safer for us to accompany her or she would have come alone.” Hamish just nodded, knowing they were both telling the truth. He looked down at Alyssa who smiled at him, and he smiled back, realizing how much he’d missed seeing them the last few months.

  “That was your sister?” Mairi asked. Alastair hadn’t even had time to introduce them before Jacqueline was gone from the room.

  “That was her,” Alastair said. “I’m sure she’ll be down soon, and I’ll introduce you then.”

  “I think I like her already,” Mairi said, fighting back her laughter.

  “Maybe I should keep you away from her,” he teased, “she might be a bad influence on you.” Everyone at the table heard, and laughed, although the McCabe’s knew Alastair’s words were probably true.

  **********

  “Eadan?” Jacqueline called out as she knocked on her brother’s chamber door. “It’s Jacqueline, can I come in?”

  “Jacqueline,” Eadan said, opening the door, “what are you doing here?”

  “I came for you, big brother,” she said sitting down on the edge of his bed. “Da sent a message about Nessa; I’m so sorry.”

  Eadan sat down next to her and started to say something, but before he could get any words out, he began to sob. Jacqueline pulled her oldest brother towards her and held him without saying anything, letting him cry. They sat that way for a long time, neither of them able to talk. Once Eadan had gotten himself back under control, he wiped the tears from his face.

  “Good thing none of our brothers saw that,” he said, trying to half-heartedly joke with her.

  “I’ll never tell,” she said, nudging him. “I don’t know what else to say except that I’m sorry. Nessa was a good woman, and I’ll miss her.”

  “As will I,” Eadan said. “I know our marriage had problems the last year, but I was still hoping we could work them out.”

  “Nessa changed when she carried Eadan Hamish,” Jacqueline told him. “Everyone could see it.”

  “I couldn’t make her happy,” Eadan said, looking at the floor.

  “Nay,” Jacqueline said firmly. “Nothing could make her happy. She had a terrible time carrying her babe, then a horrible delivery. It was Nessa, Eadan, not you.”

  “That’s what Da says,” Eadan admitted.

  “So how long do you plan to stay up here in your chamber sulking?” she asked him. “I’m guessing you’ve been up here since it happened.”

  “I can’t stand the look on everyone’s face when they see me,” Eadan said.

  “What look?” Jacqueline asked.

  “The look of pity,” Eadan answered. “Everyone knew I was a terrible husband.”

  “Enough,” Jacqueline said firmly and smacked Eadan on the back of the head.

  “Ow!” Eadan exclaimed. “Why did you do that?”
>
  “The only one that is pitying you, is you,” she said to him. “You’ve been up in this room hiding from everyone, thinking about what a terrible man you are. Where were you when Nessa died?”

  “Next to her,” he answered.

  “Right where you should have been,” Jacqueline told him. “It’s time to face the family, Eadan. You’re a strong man, and the McCabe’s are a strong family, you’ll get through this if you let us all help you.”

  “You’re probably right,” Eadan said, sighing.

  Jacqueline slapped him again, “enough of the self-pity, pull yourself together for your son. Are you going to grieve for years like Da did?”

  “Nay,” Eadan said, then added, “if you slap my head one more time baby sister, I promise you, I’m going to turn you over my knee and spank you till you can’t sit down.”

  “Now there’s my big brother,” she said to him grinning. “Besides, if you stay up here, who’s going to teach my children how to handle a bow?”

  “You will,” Eadan said, beginning to laugh for the first time in almost a fortnight. “You’re almost as good with the bow as I am.”

  “How will I have time?” she asked, putting a hand on her swollen belly. “The way Connor keeps putting babes in me, I’ll be too busy.”

  “I can’t believe you traveled here in your condition,” Eadan said, putting a hand on her belly.

  “It was a smooth journey,” she told him. “I think there’s only one in here this time, and I’ve got months to go. Besides, I had to come.”

  “Why is that?” he asked her.

  “Because I love you,” was her simple answer.

  “I love you too,” Eadan answered, feeling better than he had in quite a while.

  “How about coming downstairs with me,” she said to him. “I’m sure by now Connor has told them all about how he ended up bringing me to Gleann, I could use someone on my side.”

  “I’m not sure I’m going to be on your side,” Eadan said to her, “but I’ll come with you.”

  “I’m sure you won’t be,” she sighed and said, “but it was worth the spankings to see you.” She hugged Eadan one more time and stood up; they left the room together.

  **********