A Time of Madness

by Marti Talbott

  Tavan was thrilled, “If you can find her. I assure you, we have spent years looking for all her hiding places. On the other hand, she will come to do my wash soon. Perhaps you might wait for her to come to us.”

  THE NEWS CAME SO SLOWLY; Carley began to fear the MacGreagors were indeed dead. Nearly two weeks had gone by since her sons were banished with no new reports of them. Then rumors came so quickly and so varied it confounded even her. A large clan was seen moving north in numbers of nearly a thousand, maybe more. However, they were not MacGreagors; they were Ferguson, or Forbes or maybe Kerr. Another sighting was near the border with England, but that was rebuffed by rumors they moved east or west. This day they heard a rumor that the MacGreagors boarded a ship bound for the Norse coast.

  At last, Grant brought her the news she longed for—men on the paths heard of a gray wolf with blue eyes. Carley’s sons were alive and most likely so were the rest of them.

  CHAPTER XII

  WITH A LOT TO THINK about, Sawney slowly walked back to the castle. He was not certain what to do next and needed advice. Who better to ask now that Paisley was feeling so much better. He softly knocked on her bedchamber door and waited.

  With a wide smile on her face, she let him in and then pointed to her soft cloth belt. “Mackinzie brought it while you were gone. It is very soft and does not hurt at all. Is it not very handsome?”

  Sawney studied the design and agreed. “Aye, but will it hold the folds of your plaid in place.”

  “I do not feel them slipping and I had not noticed before, but she wears one also. If it is good enough for Mackinzie, it is good enough for me. Now, would my brother care to take me for a walk or must you wallow in the mud still more this day.”

  Sawney smiled. “She told you what I did?”

  “Indeed. She is convinced she insulted you by laughing. Mackinzie has an odd way of thinking and I did not know what to say.”

  He took Paisley’s arm and opened the door. “‘Tis not odd at all, leastwise not for her. I’ve a story to tell and ‘tis not a pleasant one.”

  They left the castle, crossed the courtyard, and headed down the beach where no one could hear before Sawney began, “Mackinzie was a wee babe when she was found washed up on shore in a bucket. No others were found and sometime later they heard a ship had sunk.”

  “Her parents died at sea?” she asked.

  “That is what Tavan thinks. She was but two or three weeks old.”

  “No wonder she does not know where she was born.”

  “Laird Campbell named her after his mother’s clan. Tavan said Mackinzie did not ask about her parents until she was nearly twelve, and she surely knew all the other children had parents. He thinks it was because she trusted no one else to tell her the truth.”

  “She does not trust any of the Campbells? These must be dreadful people. I had not guessed that.”

  Sawney took his sister’s hand and wrapped it around his arm. “Do not judge them too harshly, there is more. It was the children who taunted her. First they called her bucket and then claimed she was a sea monster.”

  Paisley closed her eyes and bowed her head. “Did no one try to stop the children?”

  “Tavan said she never once told on them. He only knows because he caught them once, but he fears it was much worse. He fears they were hurting her as well.”

  The look in Paisley’s eyes turned to fury. “Children can be so vicious.”

  “Aye, but suppose it was not just the children who were hurting her? Tavan could never find out, and Mackinzie would speak to no one.”

  “Someone threatened her.”

  “A threat she never forgot.”

  “Is there more?”

  Sawney nodded. “The people who cared for her could find no way to give her comfort—she would not let them so much as touch her. Therefore, she was given to other parents and then others until no family was willing to take her.”

  “She had no home? No brothers to protect her, no sisters to talk to and no home? I can think of nothing worse for a child.”

  “Nor can I,” said Sawney. “When she was old enough, she began to hide and the clan spent long hours trying to find her. Be it rain or cold with wild beasts in the woods, Mackinzie cared not and would not answer when they called. She only came around when she was hungry.

  Each evening, Tavan left a bowl of food just inside his window where she could reach it. Sometimes she did not come, but when she did, she always put the empty bowl and spoon back where she got it. Beside himself with worry, Laird Campbell finally gave her a cottage of her own.”

  Paisley laid her head against her brother’s arm. “It makes me want to hold her tight and never let go.”

  “Me too.”

  “Aye, but brother pity is not a good reason to marry.”

  “Too late, I loved her before I knew her troubles. Now I long to give her all the love she can endure and protect her. I will not have her hurt again, not by anyone.”

  “Do you understand what you are asking? She trusts no one and she runs from even you.”

  “I know, that is why I need your help.”

  Paisley giggled, “Nay, Mackinzie needs my help. You must manage on your own.”

  In silence, they walked back and were almost to the castle when he put his arms around Paisley and hugged her. “Do you want to go back inside or...”

  “I believe I feel her watching us.”

  “So do I.”

  “Perhaps if you leave, she will come.”

  “Perhaps she will.” He kissed her forehead and walked toward the meadow behind the village. Just before he turned the corner, he glanced back and saw Mackinzie standing next to his sister. Sawney smiled.

  WITH AN IRON CROWBAR, Neasan pulled up the last board under the stairs, grabbed a candle, and looked, but he found only hard dirt underneath. Even so, he was not willing to give up just yet. He set the candle aside, stood up and began to eye the nearest wall. If there was a hidden door, he aimed to find it. Neasan glanced up and down the inside wall and then began to pry the first stone out.

  The lack of shouting from inside the Keep unnerved the clan and several stood in the courtyard wondering exactly what the screeching of wood meant.

  Leaning against the outside wall next to Bearcha, Grant covered his mouth with his hand. “Our next laird, once Neasan has gone completely daft, will have no home to go to if we do not stop him.”

  “Stop him? We do not want to stop him; we want him to hunt for whatever he thinks to find instead of going to war. Did you say the Swintons have William and the other lads?”

  “Aye, they are safely captured.”

  “I do hope Neasan does not hear that. We will be forced to go to war to get them back and it is just the excuse Neasan is waiting for.”

  “The Kennedys captured the man you sent to the MacDuff. He’ll not be coming back either.”

  “I see.” Bearcha paused to think for a moment. “I wonder how many other Davidsons the clans are willing to capture? Perhaps we might send more out.”

  Grant chuckled. “I hear the Kennedys spit every time someone says the name of Davidson.”

  Bearcha couldn’t help but smile. “Do they now.” He stopped to listen to yet another thud coming from inside the great hall. “Perhaps I could suggest we send lads out to find William.”

  “What reason will you use?”

  Bearcha’s grin was wide. “Did you not hear? William was seen just yesterday at the Graham market keeping company with a bonny lass and drinking instead of searching.” He paused to enjoy Grant’s snicker. “Can you let the Grahams know they are coming?”

  “Twill be an honor.” Grant didn’t hesitate to walk down the path and then slip into the woods where he knew the Graham spies were located.

  THIS TIME, NEASAN SENT ten men to bring William and his five traitors back, who were supposed to be searching for the first three traitors and Paisley. His life had become one big annoyance after another. Dena kept asking if the roof would fal
l once he removed more stones, and he finally had to send her outside before he did something rash. It occurred to him that if he could find Justin’s wealth, he would take it, ride away and start a new life somewhere far less annoying—if only he could find Justin’s wealth. It was, after all, his wealth now. He earned it and it was unfair for Justin to keep it hidden from him. If the man were not already dead, he would kill him!

  IT WAS THE FIRST TIME anyone had been in the cottage Mackinzie lived in and she was not at all certain it was presentable. Nevertheless, Paisley asked to see it, and there was nothing she would not do for her. She held her breath, opened the door, and let Paisley walk in.

  The first thing Paisley noticed was the beautiful wall covering made of the same soft wool as the belts. There were more belts too and a pile of clothing fit for a newborn in the seat of a chair against the wall. “May I see them?”

  “They are not...”

  Paisley picked up a small blanket and held the softness against her cheek. “I desperately wanted children, but it was not to be. Do you make these to barter or are they for the child you hope to have someday?”

  “They are for me.”

  Paisley folded the first back up, laid it aside and unfolded the next. When she turned, Mackinzie’s forehead was deeply wrinkled. “What is it?”

  “I...I do not know many things.”

  Paisley thought there might be a question in that statement, but she had no idea what it was. “I do not know many things either.”

  “Did your husband hurt you? I...I once saw a husband hurt his wife.”

  “That, my husband did not do and ‘tis a good thing. My Father would have killed him for it. My Father once said he did not raise me, fret over me, and keep me safe just so my husband could hurt me.” Paisley wondered if she should and decided to add, “Sawney is the same. In our clan it is forbidden for a man to hurt a lass, be he husband or not.”

  “I have no father.”

  Apparently, Paisley thought, Mackinzie was not interested in what Sawney would do and her brother had a larger hill to climb than he thought. “I see. There are many in Scotland who have no fathers. Lads die in battle or from fevers, but never do they mean to leave their children.” Paisley set aside the baby things to admire a wooden shovel hanging on the wall. It had an intricate carving of a border collie in the handle.

  “It is from Tavan.”

  “It is glorious.” She turned away from the wall to look at her friend. “If you desire children, then you must want to marry. In our clan, a lass chooses her husband. He must want her and we prefer he loves her, but in the end a lass does the choosing.”

  “Will you choose another?”

  Paisley shook her head. “Nay, I’ve had my fill of husbands.”

  “Lenox loves you.”

  “Lenox? Why do you say that?”

  “I saw it in his eyes when I sent him to help you.”

  Paisley smiled and took hold of Mackinzie’s hand. “I suspect you know far more than you let on.”

  “I saw your brother hug you...twice.”

  Paisley let go, walked to the table, and picked up a carved wooden goblet. “Our lads hug us very often. My Father did and his father before him. A lad feels more like a lad when he can comfort a lass.”

  “Sawney comforts you?”

  “He comforts all lasses, as do the other MacGreagor lads when we are in need.”

  “I do not need comfort.”

  Paisley thought to argue the point and then decided against it. “Perhaps not, but you may like it someday. I am convinced I would die without the comfort of a lad’s arms.”

  MORE AND MORE, CARLEY was enjoying Neasan’s frustration. William and his five were not recovered, the man sent to threaten the MacDuff was never seen again and now, the ten he sent to find William were lost. Neasan finally guessed, and rightly so, his men were being captured. It left him seventeen, very well trained warriors down, and he worried the other clans were in the forest getting ready to attack.

  If that were not enough, Neasan loudly voiced his rage at not being able to find Justin’s wealth. It made Carley smile each night as she lay down in her bed not a foot from more wealth than Neasan could ever imagine.

  More importantly, the Davidsons were turning against their new laird and asking her if she thought Sawney would indeed come back. Sometimes she answered that she did not truly know, but to those she heard loudly shouting in favor of Neasan, she asked why her nephew would. They rejected Sawney and the deed was done. Carley was happy to let them continue to worry; they deserved it.

  Still, she constantly kept Bryce in her thoughts and prayed he and the other two could find Sawney and bring them all home. In the meantime, she continued to advise the women who asked about womanly things, carried on with the old ways of bathing each morning and sweeping the path in front of her cottage. Other women were beginning to join her in the old ways, particularly those weary of once placid husbands who were becoming overly demanding.

  Those who shouted in favor of Sawney for their next laird, yet did not go with him, continued to feed Neasan’s madness with rumors of clans seeing Sawney here or there, alone or with a full force of men. Sometimes, Bearcha greatly struggled to hide his laughter. Yet even he worried that Sawney would not come back and began to wonder who they might make their next laird if he did not.

  IT WAS YET ANOTHER day with yet another herd of sheep needing sheering. Sawney and Hew were getting far better at catching them, once the collies chased the sheep their direction. Just as Tavan predicted, Mackinzie would not let Sawney near her so he concentrated on catching sheep.

  The Campbells were still grateful for the help, the MacGreagors were happy to do it and no one believed the village needed protecting. Without daily warrior training, it was a good way for the MacGreagors to keep their reflexes sharp as well as their minds. They just did not expect to have to face danger quite yet.

  As soon as one of the Campbells shouted to warn them of strangers, the MacGreagors raced to their pile of swords, quickly tied the sheath strings around their waists, and gathered to protect their laird. Caught outside, the MacGreagor women and children ran to the castle. Kneeling beside the river attending to her wash, Mackinzie quickly stood up and found a place behind a tree to hide and watch.

  It was clear the strangers wore Davidson green. However, there were only three and the MacGreagors relaxed a little. Sawney watched the men dismount in the courtyard, take a moment to stare at the imposing castle, and then begin to look around. It was Bryce who spotted them first, quickly tied his horse to a tree, and began to run in their direction. “Sawney!”

  Determined not to let a Davidson get close to him, both Keter and Blare stepped in front of Sawney and drew their swords.

  Bryce slowed. It was clear they did not trust him and they had good reason not to. Still, he kept his smile and stopped only a few feet away. “Neasan has gone daft. You must come back Sawney, you are our only hope.”

  “How do we know you have not come to lay a trap for him,” Keter asked, his eyes narrowed and determine.

  Bryce paused to catch his breath. “I regret not standing up with Sawney and I am not the only one. Neasan made us attack the Haldane. He commanded us to burn their village, but we three would not obey. They hunt us now.”

  Sawney touched Keter’s shoulder and urged him to move aside. “Are the Haldane dead?”

  “Nay, someone warned them.”

  Relieved, Sawney closed his eyes for a moment. “I am very pleased to hear that. What of the Kennedy and the Swinton?”

  “The Kennedys told us which way to look for you. The Macfarlane said they only saw Fergusons, but they did say some of you wore mac...Davidson colors.” Bryce suddenly smiled. “The Kennedys have taken to spitting on the ground each time someone says, ‘Davidson’.”

  That made Sawney smile too, and then he got serious again. “Still, we are only nine lads and even with the three of you, it is not enough to fight Neasan.”

 
“Aye, we twelve and all the Kennedys. They fear Neasan will try to conquer them next. And do not forget the Haldane will help and...”

  “Bryce,” Sawney interrupted. “Have you ever sheered sheep?”

  “Aye, many a time.”

  Sawney grinned, stood aside, threw out his hand toward the flock of sheep and the Campbells trying to catch them. “‘Tis how we are to earn our keep.”

  Bryce playfully slapped Sawney on the back, “Come with me, lad, I will show you how a master sheep catcher does it.”

  Sawney barely had time to glance toward the river before Bryce pulled him away, but Mackinzie was there watching and he was glad to know where she was for a change.

  IF MACKINZIE HAD ANY one particular advantage over most other people, it was her exceptional hearing and she had not missed a word of what Sawney and his men talked about. Suddenly, she needed someone to talk to, and Paisley would not do.

  “He is a laird,” she whispered, standing close to Tavan. As usual, he was spending his day watching the river flow to the sea. “I did not truly believe it.”

  “Aye, but he is laird of a very small clan.”

  Mackinzie leaned a little closer, “Nay, they talk of many others and these three want him to go back.”

  Tavan stroked his beard a time or two. “Do you fear he will stay or go?”

  “I...I fear he...they will all die.”

  “I believe he fancies you too.”

  Mackinzie wrinkled her brow and put a hand on her hip. “Which convinces you, his kiss or his throwing me in the river?”

  Tavan tried desperately not to laugh. “Did you like his kiss?”

  “I hardly had time to consider it. Perhaps, perhaps I did. Is it sinful?”

  He wanted to ask why she was just now worried about sin, but he didn’t. “If a lass is married and then kisses another lad, it is sinful. But if she is...”