Iver's deep voice sounded in her ear.
"Can ye ride lass?"
"I no ken. I will try."
Boyd brought the horse over to her. Lachlan then lifted her into the saddle.
"When did ye eat last Ailene?"
Iver asked. Ailene heard the sound of swords as if at a great distance. She considered Iver's question.
"The day I was taken. I, I canna eat their food. Ye ken?"
"Aye lass. Hang on ta the beastie's saddle. Boyd will gie up behind ye."
Iver helped Boyd up behind her.
"Hold her in the saddle lad."
She felt Boyd scramble up behind her. The boy gathered up the reins in one hand then put an arm around her waist. Boyd turned the animal and Ailene saw Gideon.
The MacNab man had come running at Gideon with a war cry, his sword held high in both hands. Gideon ducked out of the way. Afraid of being stabbed in the back the MacNab skidded to a stop. He quickly turned to face his opponent. Gideon had pulled out his dagger. Sword in his right hand, dagger in his left, he waited for the next charge.
MacNab was less inclined to charge. Changing tactics, he advanced carefully. Again he tried a double handed strike, trying to lop off Gideon's head with the broadsword. Gideon made a lunge forward, the tip of his blade stabbed the MacNab in the thigh, before the other man could recover from the force of his swing. MacNab tried a back handed swipe. Gideon beat his blade up. With the dagger in his left hand, Gideon slashed at the MacNab's stomach.
A quick step backward saved the MacNab from spilling his entrails on the ground. MacNab slowly circled Gideon. Gideon waited for the other man to give him an opening. The MacNab pulled his own dagger out then made a feint at Gideon's torso. It was beaten back. Gideon stood waiting.
The MacNab took a deep breath. The blink of his eyes gave Gideon advance warning of a charge. Gideon ducked under the broadsword. With the the flat of his sword Gideon deflected the blade that would have cut into his shoulder. Gideon used the tip of his dagger to score the other man's dagger arm. MacNab dropped the dagger. Before he could turn Gideon stabbed his other leg. The MacNab stumbled then fell heavily on his side.
Gideon moved forward to slit his throat with the dagger.
He heard Ailene cry out.
"Nay! Do not kill him Gildeon. I no want a blood feud on my account."
Gideon took a deep breath. The MacNab was staring at him. He had called it a fight to the death. MacNab fully expected to die. Gideon used his dagger to nick the MacNab on the cheek below his ear.
"My wife has given you life. If you value that life never come near her again."
Gideon ran toward his horse, he swiftly mounted. All the MacGroughs turned then hurried away. Lachlan stayed beside Ailene's horse. Boyd guided the animal forward. The warriors on foot dashed down the trail. Gideon guarded the rear of the column.
No one stopped until they were far down the trail. Lachlan called a halt when they reached a small burn. Ailene was barely hanging on to the horse. She would have fallen if not supported by Boyd. Ailene collapsed in a heap on the bank of the stream when Lachlan would have set her on her feet.
Gideon saw her fall. He kneed his horse, pushing it forward. Her eyes were closed, she smelled of manure. Gideon jumped off the animal to kneel beside her.
Iver spoke first.
"The lass was locked in tha shed, she has no eaten since she was taken. She was in yon shed during tha heat of the day. Poor lass."
Boyd ripped a piece from the hem of his shirt. Moistening it in the burn, Boyd wiped Ailene's face gently. Ainsley brought a pouch of dried meat over to where Boyd and Gideon knelt next to Ailene.
Lachlan shook his head at Ainsley.
"She canna eat solid food yet. She will need broth and such until her body can again tolerate food."
Gideon took the pouch of meat then tucked into his shirt. He took the rag from Boyd then wiped off her arms. She started to shiver from the cold water. Gideon looked at Boyd.
"Take the horse Boyd. Lachlan, hand her to me after I mount."
Gideon mounted the horse, pulled his plaid loose from his belt before he reached out to take Ailene from Lachlan. Lachlan lifted her into Gideon's arms. Pulling her close with one arm, Gideon tucked the plaid around her. He kicked the animal in the flank and the MacGroughs hurriedly started off back down the trail to their glen.
"Sorry, Gideon, I am sorry. Tis my fault, I was no careful."
"Wheesht Ailene! Hush love. I will not hear it. A woman should be able to go about her business in her own glen and not be grabbed by some whore's son!"
She struggled a bit in his arms. Gideon tightened his hold on her.
"Lie still Ailene. You will be home in your own bed soon."
"Gideon, I am too filthy to be in a bed."
He only shushed her again, not bothering to reply. Gideon pulled the pouch from his shirt. He opened it with his teeth as he held it in one hand. After he bit off a mouthful of the dried meat, he tucked the pouch back into his shirt.
Gideon chewed the meat sufficiently so that meat juices began to moisten his mouth. He transferred the reins to the hand cradling Ailene. Gideon lifted her head and mouth to his, then he transferred the masticated meat to her mouth.
"Suck it Ailene. Do not chew. Just suck the juice from the meat. Tell me when you are finished with it."
He felt her nod of acknowledgment against his chest.
"Had I known what you suffered Ailene, MacNab would be lying dead tonight. Nothing would have induced me to let him live."
She did not answer him. Gideon was not sure if she was even conscious. He shifted her body, holding her in a more upright position so she would not choke on the meat he had put in her mouth.
"Stay awake Ailene. You may not sleep until you are finished with the meat."
Gideon jiggled her gently. Ailene clutched at his shirt with one hand. Satisfied she would do as he ordered Gideon concentrated on urging the horse down the trail at a trot. The others would keep up as they could. Gideon was taking Ailene home.
As the day was coming to a close, Gideon started down the trail from the head of the glen. He kicked the horse into a gallop. He had seen the smoke rising from the kitchen chimney and called out for help upon reaching the keep. Edeen and Idelle came running to his summons.
"She cannot stand on her own. If I lower her to the ground, can you support her until I can dismount?"
Gideon asked the two women.
"Aye."
They answered him in unison. Edeen began to curse softly as she waited. Gideon removed the plaid from Ailene's body then lowered her to the two women. Edeen clasped Ailene to her chest.
"Poor lass. My poor wee bairn. What ha the whore's sons done to ye?"
Gideon threw his leg over the saddle, he dropped to the ground. Reaching out Gideon took Ailene from Edeen's embrace.
"She will need a bath Edeen."
Gideon lifted her then started for the hall.
"Gideon,"
Idelle called out to him.
"If ye can keep her in the hall by the fireplace, we can bring in the bathing tub then bathe her there."
Gideon knelt by the hearth, he sat Ailene on the floor. Tugging off his plaid, he lay it next to the fire. He gently placed Ailene on the cloth.
"The rest of the men are right behind me."
Idelle went to the big door of the hall where she placed the bar across it.
"They will come ta the kitchen. I will head them off for ye."
"Aye."
Gideon hurried to the kitchen then into the yard to find the bathing tub. He removed it from the laundry shed, carried it through the kitchen then into the hall.
Idelle had gathered up every large pot she could find. Half she put in the kitchen fireplace, the other half in the hall fireplace. Gideon hauled bucket after bucket to fill the kettles. Once that was done. He lowered himself to sit beside Ailene. When the water was hot he would give her the much needed bath.
Idelle bro
ught him a cup of broth.
"Did they no feed the bairn?"
"I am not sure why she has not eaten. I will learn the truth of it all later."
Gideon lifted Ailene up, supporting her as he held the cup of broth to her lips.
She sipped the broth. Then with a shake of her head, Ailene refused the last of it. Gently he lowered her down to the plaid. Gideon went to the kitchen where he put the cup down on the table.
"Wa did those spawn of Satan do to Ailene?"
Idelle asked. He gulped a tankard of water then wiped his lips with the back of one hand.
"They locked her in a deserted cowshed."
"God's teeth! In this heat they kept her in a cowshed? Every MacNab living needs to be trounced soundly."
Idelle mumbled.
"I would have killed the bastard responsible but she would have none of it. I had not seen her condition so I let him live. Had I seen her first..."
Gideon's voice trailed off. His anger bubbled through him like a fever in his blood. Gideon turned. He threw the tankard as far across the kitchen as was possible.
"Well did ye hurt the lout at least?"
Idelle asked. Edeen had come up to stand at one side of Gideon. She was listening intently.
"Aye. I would have cut his throat. But I left him with a stab wound in each leg, a dagger score down one arm then I cut his cheek so that he would remember to stay away from my wife."
"Well done!"
Cried Edeen.
"Ye did well lad."
Idelle agreed with Edeen. Then the women separated, each went to check on the water that had been put on to heat. They did not want the water to get too hot. They pulled the kettles from the fireplaces then quickly poured them into the wooden tub.
Gideon lowered Ailene gently into the water. He watched her body relax in the tub. Edeen had already cleaned as much of the dirty straw and muck from Ailene's body as she could by wiping her off.
The dark red hair had been released from its braid. Edeen washed her hair. When finished Edeen pushed herself up from the floor with a hand on the tub.
"My bones dinna like this."
Edeen bent over to lift Ailene's mass of hair from the water. She carefully squeezed the water from her hair into the tub. The older woman placed Ailene's wet hair on a towel on the floor. With a pat on Gideon's shoulder, Edeen left him to finish caring for Ailene. Edeen had sensed his need to be alone with his wife.
Vaguely Gideon heard voices in the background. They were coming from the kitchen. He knew the other men had returned. Edeen was talking quietly with Parlan.
He could feel the water beginning to cool. Gideon gently lifted Ailene from the wooden tub careful to keep her hair from falling into the water. Edeen had put a fur blanket near the fire, Gideon placed Ailene on it. After wiping the water from her as best he could, Gideon wrapped her in toweling then started up the stairs with his burden.
His arms ached. Each step up the steep stairs was an effort. There was a slight tremor in his arms as he finally entered their chamber. Thankfully someone had turned the covers back. Gideon put one knee on the mattress then lowered Ailene into the bed. He moved her hair from under her before he pulled the covers to her neck. The fire was burning well. Gideon went back down the stairs to empty the tub.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he was in time to see Iver and Lachlan hauling the tub out of the front door of the hall. Iver called over his shoulder to Gideon.
"No worries lad. We ha this. Idelle asks that you go ta the kitchen."
With a nod Gideon made his way to the kitchen. He found Idelle alone there.
"Well now, Gideon that is done. Ye have her comfortably in bed?"
He scrubbed a hand over his face. All the anger had drained out of him. It was all that he could do to keep his hands from shaking. The days of worrying and the encounter with the MacNab had finally taken its toll.
Idelle set a bowl in front of him.
"Drink it down lad. Come now, no argument from ye."
Gideon lifted the bowl in both hands. Two strong thumbs bore into his shoulders on either side of his backbone. The thick broth was warm and fragrant. Gideon drank it down then the bowl clattered to the table.
Idelle rubbed his shoulders. His head lolled forward as the muscles relaxed. Idelle chuckled softly.
"Aye lad. Neill likes this as well. When Ailene is better I will show her tha way of it."
"Please, Idelle. You have no idea how good that feels."
Gideon rolled his shoulders. Idelle ran both thumbs up his neck then patted him on the shoulder.
"Get ye to bed lad. Ye ha had a difficult time. Go rest Gideon. Tomorrow will be here soon enough."
An odd feeling took hold of Gideon. He stood, turned and hugged Idelle to him. Voice roughened by emotion, Gideon put a hand on Idelle's shoulder.
"Bless you Idelle."
Gideon left the kitchen then stumbled up the stairs to his bed. He threw more wood on the fire before he crawled into the bed beside Ailene.
Ailene woke from a dream that had her heart pounding. It took her a moment to realize she was in her own bed. Gideon had an arm over her. His dark eyelashes lay on his cheeks. The brown arm over her jerked once. His fingers tightened into a fist. Ailene felt emotions fill her as tears slid down her cheeks. He had come for her. Her knight, her husband, Gideon was so much more than she had bargained for.
The two years between them no longer mattered to her. The picture of Gideon prepared to finish MacNab was seared into her brain. Death had been in every line of his body. Ailene blamed herself as much as the MacNab lad. Gideon was correct, in a perfect world any one should be able to go about their business without fear. This was not a perfect world.
Ailene doubted that this world they lived in would ever be at peace. She had to admit to herself that the quiet lad she had wed was a man. Ailene snuggled closer and was rewarded with a leg thrown over her. She vowed to herself to be more cautious in the future. She had not only put Gideon at risk but also every male in the clan. Ailene sighed then went back to sleep. Safe and sound in her bed with Gideon, Ailene slept.
Chapter 13
Ailene woke in time to watch Gideon tending the fire. With his back to her, he was stirring the coals. He was squatting down, bare back and buttocks facing her. Gideon placed more wood on the glowing coals. He adjusted the logs carefully making sure sufficient air circulated up through the stacked logs so they would burn well. The black hair had gotten longer and now fell on his shoulders. Pushing up from the floor, he turned, Ailene could not stop the smile that lifted her lips. He was still the most beautiful man she had ever seen. She doubted he would appreciate being called 'beautiful'. Ailene knew any woman would find him attractive. It must be early yet as it was more dark than light in the small room. Gideon slipped back into bed. Ailene lifted one hand to stoke his chest.
"Ailene."
Gideon whispered her name
"God, love I was so frightened when I heard he had stolen you."
He wrapped both arms around her, pinned her arms close to his chest.
"Dear heart."
Gideon's hands stroked her back. She yawned as she tucked her head into the hollow of his throat. Ailene drifted into sleep again.
Gideon heard her breathing slow and knew she would sleep again. He was unwilling to leave the bed and the woman he held. Perhaps he should get up to see if anything needed tending to, but he felt so warm and content. Gideon closed his eyes, he forgot about rising.
The morning was far gone when Gideon finally arose. Ailene murmured and curled up when he left the bed yet she did not wake. She would need to eat soon. The partial cup of broth she had eaten the previous evening was not sufficient to restore her. Gideon dressed then went down the stairs to see what might be in the kitchen that Ailene could eat.
He found Idelle in the kitchen making bread. Seumas was seated at the kitchen table sipping from a tankard.
"Good morn Gideon. Ailene still asleep?"
"Aye, she is still asleep."
Gideon ran his fingers through his hair.
"I cannot believe he locked her in that shed."
Seumas shook his head.
"Let it be man. She is home safe. Ye canna go back and finish him now."
Gideon eyed Seumas for a moment, then laughed.
"Am I that easy to read?"
"Aye. Ye are when it comes to Ailene. I was wondering if ye wished to see the wall and the progress there? She ha done a good job."
"I had thought to take some food up to Ailene."
Gideon took the bread that Idelle offered with a nod of thanks.
Idelle wiped her hands on her apron then set a tankard of water before Gideon.
"Nay fash yerself Gideon. Edeen will be here shortly. We will see to Ailene. Ye see to what ye need to."
For a moment he was undecided. Gideon knew Ailene would be well taken care of by Edeen but was reluctant to leave her care to others. He sighed. Idelle and Seumas exchanged smiles.
"Go along Gideon. Ye will see her later."
Idelle urged him on with a wave of her hand. Seumas rose from the table, Gideon followed. They were both correct. Edeen would take care of Ailene.
He and Seumas inspected the partially finished wall. Then the two men went into the storeroom. Gideon was amazed at the progress Ailene had made with the tunnel. Ainsley joined them. The lad tapped Seumas on the arm so that he would move over.
"We were searching for stone ta shore up tha foundation here."
Ainsley crawled into the hole where he motioned to the lines drawn in the hard packed soil under the foundation. The young man explained what they were planning to do. Gideon saw what Ailene wanted to accomplish. He nodded. It was probably the most logical manner in which to proceed. The stone would hold the weight of the foundation better than any other material.
The three of them discussed where they might find the stone needed to proceed. Ainsley told Gideon of the manner in which they had used the stone drill and feathers to remove the unwanted material. The young man advised Gideon that Ailene had planned to quarry more stone in the same manner.
Highland Light Page 11