by Kara Griffin
“There must be a reason, Grey. Find … out.” Bree closed her eyes for a few seconds.
“Promise me, you will be well?” Grey’s voice had lowered to such a pitch. He couldn’t keep the concern from his voice.
“Aye, but it hurts.”
“I know it does. Worry not. The healer is on her way. I can’t bear to see you in pain. Do you want me to remove the arrows?”
“Aye, I need you to do it. I won’t have anyone else. Pray, Grey, do it hastily. I want it to be over with quickly.”
Grey moved to her side. He had set a few cloths next to her. “For after, to stop the blood. Now close your eyes, love.” His voice grew thick with emotion.
He took hold of the arrow pinching her thigh. It had gone through the flesh and he snapped off the tip. The movement caused Bree to wince again and draw in a painful cry. Grey almost gave in and removed his hands, but she needed the arrows removed. He gripped the end of the arrow and slid it quickly from her flesh. She cried out at the pain and it tore at his soul. Quickly covering the wound with the cloth, he applied light pressure.
“One down.”
“It hurts, Grey. Thank you.” She huffed in agony and his heart thudded at seeing her is such a condition.
“Now the hard one. Do you want someone to come and hold your hand? It might make it easier.” Grey assessed the shoulder wound. The tip was embedded in her shoulder. Hopefully it had not hit the bone. This one was going to be difficult to remove and would tear her flesh when yanking it out. She was surely going to scream. The thought of causing her more pain did not sit well with him.
“I don’t need someone to hold my hand, Grey. Just do it. I’m ready.” She gazed at her shoulder and then at him, before nodding and closing her eyes. “I love you.”
Grey’s heart thudded at hearing her declaration. He wasn’t sure he could hurt her. Many an injury he’d seen on a warrior, especially when at war. Grave wounds, wounds that were fierce which had riddled its recipient a great deal of pain, were far worse than this. Yet, seeing his lovely lass bear it like a champion, made him proud.
He gripped the end of the arrow and took a deep breath. Yanking it as hard as he could, he ripped it from her shoulder. Immediately blood soaked her skin, and the plaid he’d covered her with. Bree hadn’t made a sound. She’d fainted.
An aged woman bounded into the chamber, who Grey knew well. She came with a warm bowl of water and a small trunk of medicinals. Catherine had assisted the clan for more years than Grey could remember. Her raven hair was now white, and her bright blue eyes were now dimmed with age. Still, there was no other with as much talent for healing. She immediately set to clean the wounds. Grey watched from the other side of the bed, pacing along and hoping she could heal Bree.
“Her poor face. Aye, she’ll mayhap have a scar. Poor lady, to mark such beauty,” she said, and continued to assess the skin. “Needs a bit of stitching, nothing I can do about that.”
Grey didn’t dare speak during her tending. But each time the needle pierced Bree’s skin his stomach flinched.
“Leg be sore for long. Och I don’t deem she will walk for many a month. I needs cleaning of the beeswax that remains from the arrow.” After several minutes of her dipping her finger covered with cloth inside, she then applied herbs and a salve, she wrapped Bree’s thigh carefully.
“She won’t leave this bed until she is fully healed,” Grey swore.
“From what I hear, my laird, that might be a fete. Now ‘er shoulder is troubling.” The healer prodded it and gained a moan from Bree. “That will hurt for many a time. She will need some pain relief. I will leave some hemlock juice for the attender.”
After an hour of treatment and stitching, Catherine finally wrapped her shoulder and affirmed that Bree would be all right once the shock wore off or if she was able to avoid infection. The healer handed him a bottle of liquid and then bid him farewell.
He didn’t have time for the shock to wear off, so Grey tapped Bree’s cheek. He shook her good shoulder and called her name. Her eyes fluttered and she opened them.
“Grey, I … hurt.”
“I know love. I wanted to say goodbye.”
“You are leaving?”
“Aye. I won’t be gone long. Will you be all right?”
She nodded. “Please, be safe, Grey. You’re going after her, are you not?”
“Aye, damned right I am. I will find her and kill her. The woman deserves nothing less.”
“Give me a kiss before you leave.”
As he leaned over her and pressed his lips against hers, he realized she’d fallen back to sleep. For a few moments, he looked dejectedly at her condition. But she was a strong-willed lass. He hoped she would heal and wouldn’t be difficult while doing so. If he knew anything about Bree, there was no keeping her abed.
Grey hadn’t left her chamber once during the time she’d been taken care of by the healer. He didn’t trust anyone near her, especially with Nell still on the loose, as well as MacHeth.
Word had reached him that MacHeth had evaded Alexander’s army, though most who had fought with him had succumbed. He wasn’t planning on doing anything about MacHeth until after he’d wed Bree. Now with rage consuming him, he wanted to find the man.
Outside his bedchamber door stood Cait with some of the clanswomen. “Is there anything we can do?”
“I will have a guard posted, Cait. See to it she stays in bed until I return. No one is to enter that chamber but you, Bea, and Greer.” With that, he ran down the steps and found his guard mounted on their steeds ready to ride out.
“Laird, I got your horse ready.” Duff handed him the reins of his warhorse. “We have checked all cottages within the walls and all about. She is not within. I had the gates closed to all so she could not sneak back inside. She has escaped, but we shall find her.”
“Greer, I need someone to stay behind.”
“I would be honored, laird. I will guard her and protect her with my life. You need not worry about Lady Gunn.” He dismounted his horse and nodded as he walked away.
All his guard dipped their heads and grunted. The way Greer had said Lady Gunn brought a sense of pride to him. He had a wife, his bonny wee Albrey, who he had always known would be his one and only.
“Let us head out and find the banshee woman.”
His guard let him lead the way through the courtyard and through the gatehouse. Once through, he kicked his horse’s haunches to get him moving. Nell had a head start, but she couldn’t have gotten far. That is, unless she had an accomplice.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
A fortnight had passed and still Grey had no luck in finding the woman or locating MacHeth’s whereabouts. He’d sent several of his men to search for Nell, knowing she couldn’t have gotten far. But they’d reported that she wasn’t to be found within miles of Gunn land.
Knowing Bree was safe at home, being protected by Greer, he knew the woman couldn’t harm her further. Still, he bid his men to keep searching until she was found. Greer had sent a messenger than Bree was recovering well and for him not to worry.
With much concern over MacHeth on the loose, Grey concentrated on finding him. He wouldn’t rest until he did so. MacHeth’s holding was vacant and only a few poor starving serfs remained. Grey caught up to Alexander’s army and refused to pay homage to him.
He only wanted to find out if Alexander had killed MacHeth and if the reports that MacHeth evaded him were truth. The answer was aye, Alexander’s army had allowed MacHeth to escape during the fray.
Grey had not found the wayward laird either. His patience wore thin. He wanted to return home to assure his wife was well, and see for himself that she was recovering. Yet until he dispatched MacHeth there was no retuning home.
He and his guard, and many of his warriors left Alexander’s camp. They would make their own camp some miles away – away from the loud bawdiness of Alexander’s men. Though they had not achieved a victory to be so jovial, it was the camp followers who gaine
d the cheers. He and his men were on serious business and had no time for such revelry with women.
Grey sat before a large fire and warmed himself. MacHeth was a sneaky clootie who would hide in the Highlands. It could take him years to ferret him out. With his wealth gone, the Mackay soldiers now freed from his rule, he had no followers or army with which to attack him. Still, he would be wary. Someone like Kenneth MacHeth found a way to rise from the depths of hell.
“Grey,” someone called.
He looked up to find Donal standing beside his fire.
“What do you want?” he asked in a clipped tone.
“I need to make peace with you. I saw you at Alexander’s camp and came to speak with ye.”
“I have nothing to say to you, Donal. You chose your side. You should go back to Alexander and kiss his arse.”
Donal disregarded him and took a seat next to him. “Grey, you know my hands were tied. I could not refute the King’s order.”
“Aye, ye could have. If you had refuted him Bree would not have been attacked at MacHeth’s holding. She was almost killed on our wedding day by someone within my own clan. Christ Almighty. My lady was attacked in my own keep, on my own land.”
“Is the lass all right? I’m sorry to hear that.”
Grey scoffed. “Verily, Donal? If not for you, I would have gone to her, saved her from the atrocities of MacHeth’s keep. She would not have been attacked by MacWilliams. For Christ’s sake, Donal, Bree thought they were going to eat her. She was scared to death.”
Donal flinched as Grey continued.
“Then she comes home and recovers from that ill-fated journey and on our wedding day is cut down by three arrows. And now she lays unconscious with grievous wounds.”
“Glory be. Is she all right?”
“I don’t know. Damn it, Donal, I’ve been out here searching for MacHeth. Bree shouldn’t have been hurt at all. The fucker has caused her more pain than any lass should ever have to endure in her entire life.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry, Grey. I should have let you out of the dungeon regardless of what Alexander bid. I had hoped all would work out. I see that I should have just disregarded Alexander even if the punishment would have been severe.”
“Aye ye should have. Now get the fuck out of here. I have nothing more to say to you.”
Donal didn’t like hearing that. He jumped on Grey and wrestled him to the ground holding his arms firmly by his side. “Cease moving, Grey.”
Grey tried to get his arms loose so he could grab his sword. “Get the hell off me, Donal. I vow if I get my hands free, I’m going to kill you.”
“Nay, not until you hear me out. I couldn’t refute the damned king and well you know it. I am your ally, have sworn to be until the day I die. I promised your father I would guide ye and always stand by ye. Don’t shut me out, Grey. I won’t have ye hating me.”
“Get off me,” Grey shouted.
His guard all stood watching. None would intervene or dare to interfere.
Grey was able to get a hand lose and struck Donal in the eye. Donal fell back with the force of Grey’s fist. Donal gave equal measure by splitting Grey’s lip with his own forceful fist. Grey grunted at the strike and then struck Donal in the jaw, causing him to fall sideways and off his chest. Grey could breathe again. Before he could roll away, Donal punched his nose and blood came rushing out.
“Damn you, Donal. I think you broke my nose.”
“Serves ye right, lad. I want forgiveness and I want it now.”
They shared a laugh over their fracas and he nodded, giving in. Grey’s guard moved back and left them unattended. He wanted to kill Donal, but at the same time, he couldn’t. Donal was like an uncle to him. He was Grey’s champion since he’d been cut from his mamma’s apron. Aye, as much as he’d like to kill him, he couldn’t. Forgiveness wasn’t easy for a Gunn to offer. And so he wouldn’t offer such a sentiment. Donal would know he was forgiven without the words.
“I can’t find MacHeth.”
“Aye, we can’t neither, Grey. Tell me of the happenings. You finally wedded your lass? I am a mite pissed that ye didn’t invite me to the wedding.”
Grey chuckled. “Aye? Well we weren’t about to await ye. As soon as I left your dungeon, I went and found Bree at MacHeth’s holding. MacWilliams tried to force himself on her. Bree killed him. I sent his head to Alexander.”
“Aye, Alexander was pleased by your gift, Grey. He gave a resounding speech about how the Gunns were able to best their enemies and he expected no less from his men. Did MacWilliams harm her?”
“Hell, she used the dagger you gave me to kill him. She’s a brave lass. During the scuffle, she hit her head. That’s how I found her. But she was well enough a few days later.”
“Who harmed her at your wedding? Did you know you had a traitor amongst ye?” Donal scowled and set his arms across his chest. “Who would want to hurt a harmless lass akin to Bree?”
“I thought Anna, my cousin, did and I banished her, Donal. A fire was set to Bree’s cottage. Thankfully Bree wasn’t it in at the time. Nell, a woman in my clan came forward and claimed she’s seen Anna with a torch that night. Anna didn’t like being ousted of my kitchens and I thought she had a vendetta against Bree.”
“Glory be, did she do it.”
Grey felt a stab of pain in his chest. “Nay, I don’t believe she did, Donal. Nell’s words had to be a falsehood.”
“Then ye must unbanish the lass if Anna weren’t the traitor.”
“Aye, I will. The woman, Nell, struck Bree with three arrows on the night of our wedding. If you could have seen the injuries, the severity …” Grey blanched at the vision himself before continuing, “There is no reasoning why Nell would want to harm Bree. My men are searching for her. She escaped our walls before we could locate her.”
Donal frowned. “What know you of this woman? Is she married?”
Grey shook his head. “I don’t know much about her. Joseph, one of my seasoned warriors, found Nell on a raid. They married soon after. When he died, she remained with us.”
“Will Bree fare well?” he asked in a soft voice.
“I received word she’s mending. Greer is protecting her bedchamber door. I left posthaste to find MacHeth to kill him. The man is hiding, mayhap under a crag, the swine shit.”
Donal threw a stick at the fire and bounded to his feet. “What if she is in league with MacHeth? This woman, if she had no reason to harm Bree … Mayhap she was paid or threatened. MacHeth would use a woman to do his foul deeds. What if she finds a way inside your walls?”
Grey uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “I don’t believe Nell knows MacHeth, Donal. And even if she does, how would he have gotten word to her?”
Donal spat into the fire. “The woman is resourceful. Mayhap she got word to him. They are both missing. What if they are hiding out together? I wouldn’t trust that she couldn’t find a way back inside.”
Grey bounded to his feet. “My wife is in danger.”
* * *
Bree couldn’t keep her eyes open. She felt hazy and no pain considering what had happened to her. The cloaked woman shot her with an arrow, mayhap more than one. Her shoulder hurt when she moved her arm and her leg felt pinned to the bed.
A sting in her cheek kept her from opening her mouth. A low moan came from her lips. No pain, but soreness caused her to remain still. Forcing herself to open her eyes, she looked around the chamber. She was resting in Grey’s bed and no one was within. All that happened started to come back to her and she remembered seeing the woman with the brown hair. Nell.
She heard noises in the hall and screams from the floor below. Bree couldn’t move.
There was a scuffle outside the door and she heard a man’s grunt. A shout below sounded and then she heard people running.
Then someone opened her door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Grey rode hard for Gunn land. He berated himself for not considering the MacHeth had a
spy within his clan and on his land, and within his own keep. For the love of God, Bree was indeed in trouble if that woman had found a way inside the walls. But he didn’t worry much knowing Greer stood outside Bree’s door.
Greer wouldn’t let anyone get past him. Yet, Grey couldn’t help worrying about her. Until he saw for himself that Bree was safe, he wouldn’t cease the swift pace of his horse.
As they neared the outer wall, Grey saw several fires lit several of the buildings. Counting the stable, there were seven buildings aflame. It had to be Nell’s diversionary tactic. Aye, all to get to Bree. His gut coiled with that thought. He hoped like hell that Greer stayed the course.
He rode past his men who attempted to put out the fires. Buckets came from the stream in a line of people so long, his eyes couldn’t follow it. Thankfully the weather warmed and the water remained unfroze. As much as he wanted to assist, Grey couldn’t stop. He kept riding and when he reached the keep, he left his horse untether and ran inside.
Several women were running for the exit when he entered. Cait held Sunny in her arms. Fear darkened her eyes and she screamed something. He couldn’t understand her words.
Grey motioned for his men to follow and took the steps. When he reached the top he saw a form lying in the hallway. Greer. He knelt next to his guardsman and realized he was dead. A sword had been thrust into him, darkening his tunic with blood, and sending him to a grim end. Grey was fearful to open his bedchamber door. He didn’t hear noise from inside.
Taking his sword in hand, he cracked the door open and tried to see within. He spotted the bed, but Bree was not in it. With a slam to the door, it opened completely. No one was inside the bedchamber.
Grey turned and shouted. “Outside. He’s taken her.” He suspected MacHeth was inside, because Nell could not carry Bree, even if she was a small woman. With her injuries, Bree would have been too dead-weighted for the woman to carry her.