As they neared the glade, Molly started crying again. Fearchar had to gag her to avoid attracting attention.
Just as planned he secured her to a tree at the edge of the glade. He took the puppy from her. “I’ll keep him safe. I promise. Ye can have him back when Lady Anna gets here.”
“Laird, what if the other lass tells. What if she brings an army back?” asked Kenneth.
“We’ll hear them coming. If there’s more than a guard or two with her we’ll cut this one’s throat and disappear into the forest.”
“Ye’ll kill a bairn?” asked Iagan.
“I’d be forced to, Iagan. I told her sister if she didn’t obey me I would kill Molly, and I’m a man of my word.”
~ * ~
As soon as the midday meal was finished, Anna left the keep with Mairi, Tasgall and Barclay. She and Tasgall chatted while Mairi pouted. Ah, well at least she came with them. Anna supposed that was something.
When they reached the cottage, Maeve welcomed them. If she was shocked that Tasgall MacKay was in her home, she didn’t show it. Things had certainly changed.
“Bridget, love, give the table a quick wipe so I can show Lady Anna the arisaidh I made for her,” said Maeve to her middle daughter.
“Aye, mama,” said Bridget before quickly wiping the table with a dry cloth.
Then Maeve carefully spread out the plaid on the table. It was woven in shades of red and green on a cream background.
“Maeve, it’s beautiful.”
“Thank ye my lady. It was an honor to make it for ye. Can I see it on ye?”
Anna grinned. “Of course.”
Maeve helped her drape the garment and Anna turned to Tasgall and Mairi. “Do ye like it?”
“Anna, it is perfect. It will look so pretty over the new dress,” said Mairi, stroking the soft wool.
“It is lovely, Anna. It makes yer eyes sparkle,” said Tasgall. “Of course, something has them sparkling quite a bit already. I can’t imagine what that is.”
Mairi huffed. “She’s in love.”
Maeve laughed and winked, “Aye, sir, anyone can see that.”
“Well, thank ye for clearing that up for me, ladies,” said Tasgall with mock seriousness. “I must pay better attention to these things.”
Anna laughed. “Aye, Tasgall, understanding what makes a lass’s eyes sparkle is a skill ye should work on.” Turning to Maeve, she said, “I’ll just take this off and we’ll not take up any more of yer time today. Thank ye again for yer hard work.”
“Ye’re very welcome, my lady.”
Maeve helped Anna take it off and folded it before giving it back to her.
“Lady Anna, before ye leave, do ye want to see our new puppy?” Bridget had been so quiet, Anna had forgotten she was there.
“Oh, Bridget, sweetling, I have so very much to do, can I meet yer puppy on another day?”
Bridget’s eyes filled with tears. “Please, Lady Anna, ye have to come see Shep.”
“Bridget!” scolded her mother, “Lady Anna said not today.”
“I like puppies,” said Mairi, “I’ll come with ye. Anna, Barclay can stay with me and ye can go back to the keep with yer brother.”
Barclay, shook his head at Anna. His message was clear; she could not return to the keep without him.
“Mairi, yer brother would not want us to do that.”
Mairi pouted. “But I really want to see the puppy.”
Bridget’s lower lip wobbled.
Anna couldn’t bring herself to say nay. “All right. We can take a couple of minutes to see the puppy.”
Bridget gave her a watery smile. “Molly was playing with him. Come with me.” She took Anna by the hand. Mairi, Tasgall and Barclay followed them.
When Bridget realized they were all coming, she said, “Ye don’t have to come.”
“I want to see the puppy,” said Mairi.
“I meant them.” Bridget gestured towards the men.
Barclay scowled. “We go where Lady Anna goes.”
Perhaps it was his fearsome countenance, or maybe his low rumbling voice, but Bridget trembled and a tear slipped down her cheek. “We don’t have to go see the puppy.”
Anna put an arm around her shoulder. “Nonsense, Bridget. Take us to see yer pet and don’t let Barclay scare ye. He loves puppies, don’t ye Barclay?”
“Aye, my lady,” he said in all seriousness.
Tasgall suppressed a grin. “So do I.”
Bridget nodded and led them behind the cottage.
Seven-year-old Molly was nowhere to be seen.
“I thought ye said Molly was playing with him?”
“She is. She’s in the glade with him. It’s not far.”
Anna frowned. “Bridget, does yer mother know ye left Molly in the forest alone?”
“We’re allowed to play in the glade,” answered Bridget.
“Aye, but Molly is very little. Perhaps ye shouldn’t leave her alone in the future.”
Bridget just nodded, still looking on the edge of tears.
They had walked for nearly ten minutes when they finally could see through the trees to the glen. As they drew closer, Anna glimpsed little Molly, gagged and tied to a tree. She gasped, dropped the arisaidh and took one step towards the child when Barclay pulled her back, motioning for her to stay quiet. At the same moment Tasgall grabbed Mairi, clamping a hand over her mouth just as she started to scream.
“It’s a trap,” hissed Barclay. He looked to Bridget, who stood silently, tears flowing down her cheeks. “What have ye done?” he whispered.
“He said he’d kill Molly if I didn’t bring Lady Anna or if I told anyone or brought help.”
“There’s no time,” whispered Tasgall. “Take these three back and bring more men. I’ll give ye a moment’s head start before I go to the wee lass.”
“Ye’ll be ambushed,” whispered Anna.
“Better me than the two of ye. Go!”
Barclay silently drew his sword and scooped Bridget up with one arm. “Now, my lady.” His whispered command brooked no argument.
Anna grabbed Mairi’s hand, pulling her along with them.
It wasn’t long until the sounds of a sword fight reached her ears. Please God, keep Tasgall safe. The silent prayer had no sooner entered her thoughts than Barclay stopped.
He thrust Bridget behind him. “My lady, stay back.”
Anna understood why in an instant. Two men, swords drawn, stood in front of them. Hearing a noise, Anna spun, shoving Mairi and Bridget between her and Barclay just as a big bearded man moved into position behind them. They were surrounded.
“Mairi, Bridget, run!” yelled Anna, as Barclay engaged the men in front of him.
The girls did run, but the big bearded man grabbed Anna, jerked one arm up behind her back and held his dirk to her throat, its point drawing blood. “Don’t take another step lassies, or I’ll kill Lady Anna.” As Barclay continued to battle the other two men, the bearded man yelled, “That goes for ye too, man. If ye value yer lady’s life, drop yer sword.”
Barclay spared the slightest glance towards her and failed to fend off a blow from one of his opponents in time. He parried at the last moment, but couldn’t prevent the other man’s sword from slicing into his right thigh. He stumbled forward and one of the men raised his sword with both hands, slamming the hilt into the back of Barclay’s head. Barclay crumbled to the ground.
Mairi screamed and rushed towards him, only to be grabbed by one of the men, who clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Get the other one and follow me,” said the bearded man holding Anna.
Bridget stood trembling, too terrified to move. A hulking man threw her over a shoulder and followed.
When they reached the glen, Tasgall had felled one opponent and continued to battle another, keeping him away from Molly, who was still bound to the tree.
The man holding her made the same threat he had to Barclay. “If ye value yer lady’s life, drop yer sword.”
Tasgall looked at her, his eyes full of anguish.
“Do it!” the man commanded, pushing the point of his knife a little deeper into her flesh.
“Don’t hurt her,” Tasgall said, stepping back and dropping his sword.
“Is Kenneth dead, Steenie?” The bearded man asked.
“Aye, Laird.”
“Then run the MacLeod through.”
“Nay!” Screeched Anna. “He’s my brother, not a MacLeod. He’ll bring a huge ransom.”
“Hold. If he is one of Laird MacKay’s brothers, he will bring a tidy sum. Besides, once he finds out what we’re about, he may be pleased to help us. And it was just Kenneth, after all. Bind him.” To the other men he said, “Tie the lassies to the tree with the other one. We don’t need them slowing us down.”
As Tasgall’s opponent shoved him to his knees and bound his hands behind him, Tasgall tried to reason with them. “Let Anna go and I promise my brother will pay three times the ransom as thanks for yer mercy.”
The man laughed. “I’m not ransoming her, lad. I’m marrying her.” He laughed harder at their shocked expressions.”
“Ye can’t marry her, she’s marrying my brother,” said Mairi.
Anna cringed and Tasgall groaned. It had looked as if they were planning to leave Mairi behind until that moment.
“Marrying yer brother ye say? That must make ye Mairi MacLeod. Change of plans, lads, just leave the wee ones; we’ll take her with us.”
The bearded man holding Anna, bound and gagged her as well. Before they dragged their captives away he crouched down before the terrorized lassies bound to the tree. “Wheesht now, ye have no reason to cry. I promised I would give ye back yer sister and yer puppy if ye did as I asked. And ye were a good lass, Bridget. So, the puppy is tethered to a tree not far from here. He’s a very nice dog. Be sure ye take good care of him. I gave him a bit of dried meat to chew on while he waits. When the MacLeods find ye, which I’m sure will be soon, ye can fetch him home.”
Chapter 22
Darach was beside himself. First Fearchar had refused to announce their presence on MacLeod land, assuring him they would as soon as he returned from a walk, of all things. Then four of his brother’s men disappeared. Darach decided to go on to Curacridhe on his own, but the men his brother’d left behind stopped him.
“Darach, the laird said to wait for him, and we will.”
“The MacLeods are allies and this is my home, Athol. I don’t feel right, hiding in the woods.”
“We aren’t hiding. We’ll ride to Curacridhe as soon as Fearchar returns.”
Some form of this argument continued off and on until well after midday. Finally, Darach simply walked over to where to the horses were tethered and began to saddle his mount.
“That’s not a bad idea,” said Wallace. “We’ll saddle up the mounts and be ready to ride the moment Fearchar gets back.
Darach had no intention of waiting longer than it took to ready the horses. Fearchar could follow with his men when he returned. But just as he was about to swing up onto his horse, the sounds of men moving quickly through the trees reached them.
Moments later Fearchar and three of his men emerged from the forest with three captives—Lady Anna, Mairi and a man who Darach didn’t know, but assumed to be one of Anna’s brothers. He turned on his own brother, prepared to demand that he release them immediately, but the mad gleam in Fearchar’s eyes stilled his protests. He might be able to get them out of this, but not by confronting Fearchar at this moment.
“Brother, we have my betrothed now. Mount up and we’ll take her home.”
“How did ye find her so quickly?” He glanced at Mairi; not only was she was bound, gagged and terrified, but she stared at him in shocked disbelief.
Fearchar grinned. “God is on my side. He put two wee lassies in my path who led Anna to me.”
“But she doesn’t look happy to be with ye.”
“She doesn’t know I’m rescuing her and I don’t have time to explain. When we’re away it will all be made clear.”
“But if ye’re rescuing Anna, ye don’t need the others.” Darach wasn’t sure if his brother knew that the other lass he held was Mairi MacLeod. Maybe if he didn’t, Darach could convince him to leave Mairi behind.
“Nay we do, brother. The MacLeods might attack when they find I’ve rescued Anna. Having Dougal’s wee Mairi is leverage to prevent that. I’ll give her to ye. Maybe if ye have a sweet plaything of yer own on Lewis ye’ll be happy enough to come home where ye belong. Aye, that’s just the thing.”
Plaything? Darach could scarcely contain his shock and revulsion. Mairi was like a sister. But he had to keep his head about him. “And the man?”
“Tasgall MacKay. He killed Kenneth. But once he understands what I’m doing, he’ll thank me. Enough talking. Mount up.”
Fearchar put Tasgall on Kenneth’s horse, giving the reins to his man Iagan, then handed Mairi up to Wallace before lifting Anna onto his own horse and mounting behind her.
Darach’s mind spun. He had to save them but he wasn’t certain how. Surely someone would miss them and follow. As long as his brother didn’t suspect anything, when the rescuers caught up to the Morrisons, Darach might be able to ensure Mairi and Anna weren’t harmed.
They traveled as fast as the horses could carry them for perhaps half an hour. When it became clear no one was following them closely, Darach began to worry more. They needed to slow down, so the MacLeods would have a chance of catching them. “Fearchar, the horses are becoming winded. They’ll drop if ye run them this hard for long.”
“Aye. We don’t want that.” Fearchar slowed their pace significantly.
Before long, much to Darach’s confusion, they turned westward. “This isn’t the way to Durness.”
“We aren’t going to Durness.”
“But that’s the port we sailed into and where ye must return the hired the horses.”
“I don’t care about returning hired horses.”
“Then what port are we going to?”
“We’re not going to any port. We’re going to a deep inlet on the west coast. Sandy has the ship anchored at the mouth of it. The MacLeod’s will expect us to go to Durness. We’ll be away before they realize their error.”
Dear God. Fearchar’d this all planned before they left Lewis. How was Darach going to get them out of it?
In a little while, they stopped to rest and water the horses.
His brother seemed a bit calmer. Maybe Darach could try reasoning with him. “Fearchar, I don’t think ye want to do this.”
“Of course I want to do this, little brother. I’m saving my betrothed. ”
“I know ye believe that, but Fearchar, she’s bound and gagged. If she wants to be saved, surely ye could let her be free.”
Fearchar seemed to consider. He pulled the gag from Anna’s mouth but left her hands bound. Her eyes were wide with fear.
“Let me give her something to drink.”
Fearchar nodded.
Darach helped her take a drink of water from his costrel. He wanted to tell her that he feared Fearchar was losing his mind, but his brother was too close.
“Can I give the others a drink too? There’s no one to hear them now.”
“Go ahead,” said Fearchar absently.
Darach untied Mairi’s gag, first whispering, “Please stay quiet.” After giving her a drink, he did the same for Tasgall. When he turned to Fearchar, his brother stood in front of Anna, stroking her hair.
“When Da offered for ye, I didn’t know ye had red hair. I’ve always been fond of women with red hair and fair skin.”
Anna stood rigidly as if fearing to anger him by pulling away.
“That’s a good lass,” Fearchar said, taking her bound hands in his. He untied the ropes, rubbing her chafed wrists. “Now ye understand, don’t ye? I’m rescuing ye. The MacLeods had no right to hold ye captive. Da offered for ye. Ye’re mine.”
“I-I know he did, Laird Morrison, b-but t
hat betrothal was never signed,” said Anna.
“That is an insignificant detail. It was just a matter of time.”
“P-perhaps it might have been. But my brother did sign the betrothal agreements with Laird MacLeod. The MacLeods are yer allies.”
“The MacLeods stopped being an ally the day they kidnapped my bride, forcing me to save her.”
“If ye are truly saving me, allow me to return to my home with my brothers.”
“Ye have one brother with ye. That’ll have to be enough.”
Darach tried again. “Fearchar, ye must know that Laird MacLeod will declare war on the Morrisons for this.”
“He won’t, because ye’ll be married to his daughter.”
“Fearchar, she’s already betrothed to Tasgall.”
“It was forced. Just like Anna’s. The MacKays will thank us. Ye’ll marry little Mairi and then ye’ll be happy to stay on Lewis.”
“Nay,” gasped Mairi.
Darach shook his head. “Fearchar, I cannot marry Mairi. She’s like a sister to me. I will not marry her.”
“Ye will if I say ye will. I’m yer laird.”
“Fearchar, please, let’s try to stop a clan war. Da would never have wanted ye to do this. Ye and yer men can go on and meet Sandy. Let me take these three back to Curacridhe and smooth things over with Laird MacLeod.”
As the conversation became more heated, one by one, the Morrison men began to stop what they were doing and gather around.
“Ye don’t want that, do ye Anna? To go back to Curacridhe?”
“I-I do.”
“What is this? Ye should be thanking me for saving ye.”
“I know ye thought I needed to be saved, but I don’t. I’m betrothed to Andrew MacLeod and I’m happy.”
“Ye’re mine!” roared Fearchar, raising his hand to strike her.
Darach grabbed Fearchar’s arm holding him off her. He knew no one else would intervene. Fearchar ruled by fear and these men were loyal. They would stand by and watch, even if their Laird was beating Anna to death. In his short time on Lewis he had heard a few whispers of Fearchar’s brutality.
Fearchar turned on him, a look of realization dawning in his eyes before they grew black with fury.
Captured Hearts and Stolen Kisses Page 163