by Kara Griffin
They ran down the steps and made it outside. Donal shouted at them and commanded Sean and Kenneth search the rest of the keep. Grey glanced around trying to note anything out of the ordinary, but there was such havoc around him. Many had gathered in the courtyard and he couldn’t see if MacHeth was there among them.
The clan hadn’t made headway in putting out the fires. Flames rose high into the sky. He could see many buildings had been engulfed.
Donal glanced around him shaking his head. “I don’t like all this dissension. He has to be here somewhere.”
“Where the hell is he?” Grey strode through the crowd and bade his men to spread out. “Find him.” He ran hell-bent to the battlement so he could have a better view. Once he reached the landing and threw his leg over the small wall, he stood and searched the ground. Nothing. He had vanished.
Grey walked along the battlement and tried to see as far as he could. He could see Donal standing on the ground, some twenty feet below, looking up at him. When he turned back to the battlement, he noticed someone at the far end of the walkway. There stood MacHeth. He drug Bree with an arm around her torso. Bree didn’t appear to be awake. Thank God for small favors.
He ran to catch up with the monster and when he reached him, MacHeth shouted for him to stand back.
“Release her and I might let ye live.”
“She will not live either way.”
Grey tried not to look at her. He knew if he really looked, his attention would wane. All his focus needed to be on MacHeth. He stepped forward.
“Why would you hurt her? She’s done nothing to you, never caused you troubles. You brought all this upon yourself. She was just a wee lass when ye took her and now …” Grey took another step closer.
MacHeth maddened then and swung Bree’s body, jerking her. Grey could hear Bree’s moan, but he kept his eyes trained on the madman.
“She is the reason we could not attain our goal. Even if ye kill me, MacWilliams will still gain the crown.” MacHeth had spat some of the words.
“MacWilliams is dead. Killed for trying to harm Bree. Give in, MacHeth. Your MacWilliams is now wearing a crown of fire in hell, where he belongs.”
“No! I won’t believe it. She was to be our pawn, aye, so Alexander would know he was defeated, as we defeated his father.”
Grey stepped forward when MacHeth stepped backward. Only a few more steps and he would be on him. But Grey knew he had to be careful. They were too close to the ledge.
“You did not defeat William. Is that why you took a child, so you could use her against him?”
“Aye, aye. I was there when he delivered her to Ian Mackay. He loved the child and would have been defeated, if he had lived. And now his son will also be defeated. MacWilliams will wear the crown as his due. I will be Laird of Ross as is my right.”
Grey took another step. “She will bring you nothing now and is no use to you. Look at her, Kenneth. Look. She is in no condition to aid you.”
MacHeth’s eyes glanced down for a brief second. Suddenly an arrow flew past Grey’s chest hitting the wall.
“Cease! You will hit Bree. Cease,” he shouted, hoping whoever had shot the arrow heard him. But they continued sending arrows up toward the battlement.
Grey had no way to protect himself or Bree. As he stepped backward an arrow flew past him and hit its mark. Bree fell to the stone and didn’t make a sound. Taking her in his arms, he looked at MacHeth, an arrow sticking out of his eye. Blood flowed down his face and turned his tunic crimson. His body shook fiercely before becoming still. The madman expelled his last breath.
Finally the devil’s banshee was dead. Grey held Bree and tried to see if she had been harmed, but for all her injuries he couldn’t tell.
“Bree, Bree. I am here, love.”
She stirred and moaned. “Grey.”
Grey reached the ladder and handed Bree to Donal who waited for him.
“Good shot wasn’t it?”
“You?”
Donal grinned. “Aye, I’ve been meaning to strike that fucker down. Did I get him good?”
“Aye, right in the eye, straight through his demented brain. You could have killed us, Donal.”
“I kept my aim. Damn. It were a good shot. I wish it were my sword though.”
Grey nodded solemnly. “Aye, I wish it were my sword too.” He reached the bottom and took Bree from him. He hastened to the keep and took the stairs two at a time until he reached the upper floor. When he entered the chamber, he set her on the bedding.
“Laird, is she all right?”
Duff entered the chamber and stood at the end of the bed looking foreboding. “Laird?”
“Duff, Greer?”
He shook his head.
“By God.” Grey knelt next to the bed and hung his head so that it rested against the frame. Greer had been a trusted friend since his birth. His loss deeply saddened him. Grey let the tears gather in his eyes and felt his nose dripping from trying to hold back his torment. Greer would be placed with honor and every single Gunn would pay their respects.
When he was able to compose himself, he looked up at Duff and bid him to bring the healer. Bree needed to be checked over to assess if she had more injuries.
Catherine came a few minutes later, and behind her, Cait followed with Sunny still in her arms.
“Laird, ye got things to see to. Let me look after her.”
“Laird Gunn, I’ll make sure to come and get you the minute she opens her eyes.” Cait set Sunny in a chair next to the bed. She handed the child a plaid. Sunny curled up and looked sadly at Bree.
“Momma.”
If Grey wasn’t ready to fall to his knees before, with all that happened, he surely was now. The child’s small voice called to Bree and rent his heart. Cait went to sit with her.
“Aye, your mama will be well.”
Grey left the chamber and when he reached the great room, he saw his guard standing around Greer’s body. He bade Kenneth to go and have a box prepared. It was only right, being Kenneth was his brother.
“Donal, what did ye do with MacHeth’s body?”
“I had men bring it to the courtyard. It is lying in a cart, atop as much manure as we could put in it. Aye, your clan said if he were to rest on anything it should be shit.”
“Come, we will go and finish it.” Grey touched Greer’s shoulder as he passed by, unable to really comprehend his good friend had been killed. As he reached the outside, an old man came and stood before him.
“McInnish, sir. Ye have come for your son?”
The old man grunted. “Kenneth told me what happened.”
“We are preparing for his burial. All shall come and pay respects. Greer was a good friend and a great guardsman. I would not have survived all these years without him at my back.”
McInnish bowed his head. “Aye, since he was a wee lad, all he wanted to do was serve ye. He loved ye like a brother. How fares the lass he was protecting?”
“She is being tended by the healer. I am honored by your words, sir. He served me and our clan well. I will have someone come and let you know when we will bury Greer. Go and console your wife, McInnish. Tell her I am mourning her son as she is.”
Grey motioned to Donal and his guard. They hurried to the cart where MacHeth’s body lay. His clans people stood around, some throwing more manure into the cart. He hated to interrupt their show of disrespect, but he needed to complete his task so he could return to Bree.
With a yank to MacHeth’s leg, he pulled his body from the cart and let him fall to the ground. He then pulled his sword from his scabbard and hacked at his head. Aye, the only thing he’d wished at that moment was that MacHeth had been breathing when the first strike hit him.
After two forceful arcs of his sword, MacHeth’s head rolled away from his body. Grey again stripped his plaid from his chest and bid Sean to wrap the MacHeth’s head in it. Revenge didn’t appease him or come sweetly, but with a resigned heart.
His men then tossed th
e remains of MacHeth into the cart. Duff retrieved an arrow wrapped with cloth and lit it. He set it in his bow and pulled back, allowing its release. It struck the center of MacHeth’s back and flame soon set the fabric of his garments. Fire engulfed the cart.
“Donal, take this to King Alexander. Tell him it is a gift from me in return for his father’s blessing and betrothal arrangement to Bree.”
Donal nodded and held the baggage. He went to his horse and left the courtyard, riding hard through the gatehouse.
Grey looked at the buildings, all blackened, and dilapidated from the fires. Most of the fires were now under control but some still smoldered. Not much remained of the buildings. There was a lot of work to be done in the coming weeks if he was to right the wrongs done this day.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
A crisp breeze came through the window casement and stirred her hair. Bree opened her eyes and stared at the window casement for a long time. The sun was rising in the western sky. She moaned when she tried to move. No one was in the chamber with her. A strange dream came to her. MacHeth had come for her here at the Gunn keep and he had taken her. It had to be a dream, she reasoned, for she was safely in her bed.
No sounds could be heard within the keep. That was odd especially this time of day when many came to sup for the afternoon meal. Bree couldn’t lie there and not know what was going on. Her leg hurt when she moved it, but she dismissed it and threw her good leg over the side of the bed.
The coolness of the floorboards met her toes when she touched it. On shaky legs, she tried to stand and was able to reach the door, hobbling and grimacing with each step. Before she opened the door, she yanked a tartan from the hook next to the door and wrapped it around her shoulders.
Bree sat at the top of the steps and scooted down them until she reached the bottom. Pain began to throb in her shoulder, but in an effort to see where everyone was and what was happening, she disregarded it.
Finally, she reached the great hall. No one was inside. Hobbling, she reached the doorway and saw Sean standing in front of it.
“Sean. What is going on?”
“Milady! What are ye doing out of your bed? My laird is going to raise holy hell.”
Bree grabbed hold of his forearm to steady herself, and felt the rock-hard strength of him. He set an arm around her back and helped to hold her up.
“Where is everyone?”
“At the rise of the hill.”
“Take me there?”
“But milady, ye can barely walk. The laird will be angry. I should take ye back to your chamber.”
Bree gazed up at the tall warrior and smiled. “Nay, he wouldn’t dare. Pray, Sean, I want to see what is happening and I haven’t been outside in days. Please.”
Sean, easily manipulated, helped her down the steps. He bid her to wait and helped her to sit on a stone. When he returned, he had a cart and horse. “I’ll help ye get on, milady.” Sean lifted her in his arms and set her gently on the back of the cart as if she weighed nothing. “Take hold, so ye don’t fall off.”
“Where is Grey?”
“At the rise. I’ll take ye to him.”
Sean walked beside the horse and kept to a brisk pace. After ten minutes she could see the crowd gathered. It appeared every single person in the Gunn clan stood together. The cart finally slowed and Sean helped her stand.
“Can ye walk, milady?”
“A little, but I need help.” Bree, with Sean’s assistance, took forever to reach the crowd. When she finally got to the center she saw the box. “Oh, God, no.”
Someone took her arms and as she looked up, she saw Grey holding her. “What is she doing here?” he asked Sean.
“Laird, she made it to the door of the keep. She wanted to come. I couldn’t say nay.”
She pressed her hand against his chest, causing him to look at her. “Grey,” her voice muffled his name. “I thought you were in the box. My heart almost dropped from my chest. Who are we honoring?” Then she saw the aged couple standing beside the box, and beyond most of the clan. Some had tears. Most wore grim faces.
“Greer.”
Tears came to Bree’s eyes. “Greer, oh, no, Grey. MacHeth did come, did he not? I thought I had dreamed … Greer tried to save me? I wasn’t dreaming it.”
Grey nodded. “Aye, MacHeth came. Greer would have done anything to protect you, Bree.”
“Oh, Grey, I am so sorry. He died because of me.” Bree reached the box and set a hand atop warm wood. Her eyes darted to Kenneth, Greer’s brother. He stood firm, unwavering at the sadness of those around him like a true warrior. Bree limped toward him and when she reached him, she hugged him with her good arm.
“I am so sorry, Kenneth. Please forgive me.”
Kenneth nodded. Emotion snuck into his action and he turned and quickly strode away.
Bree wept in utter sorrow for his death, and weak from all her injuries, she fell back on her rear. He was such a good and decent man. How would she ever bear the culpability of his loss?
Several of his guard rushed to her when she fell, but Grey approached and motioned them back.
He helped her to rise and lifted her in his arms. “Do not deem the fault was yours, Bree. It was MacHeth and he alone who killed Greer. He alone will account for it in hell. Greer would have been honored to die for you. He did his duty.”
Those around him nodded, but Bree thought them crazed. Grey stared to walk away and Bree, even though it hurt considerably, set her arms around his shoulders.
“I am sorry, Grey. I know how much he meant to you. I wish I remembered him from when we were young.”
Grey smiled. “Nay, ye surely don’t. He and Duff used to tease ye unmercifully. Many a time I fought with them for disrespecting you. In fact, I believe it was his suggestion that I tie ye to a tree. But I know they did it with love. Aye, we all loved ye even at those tender ages.”
She sniffed. “We shall name our first son after him. We must make sure Sunny knows her father was a great man, promise me, Grey, we won’t let her forget him?”
“Aye, it would be an honor to call my son Greer and we won’t let Sunny forget him. I promise.” Grey took the steps and kept going until he reached their chamber. He set her upon the bedding and bid her to stay there.
“I don’t want to be here.”
“You don’t want to be in our bed?” Grey stood beside it, looking down at her.
“Only if you stay here with me.”
He sat next to her and held her hand. “We never had our wedding night.”
“Nay, we didn’t. We shall soon.”
“Aye, we will.”
At that moment, Sunny entered the chamber alone. She ran to the bed and climbed next to her. Bree smiled. She’d missed the little sprite.
“Why are you alone? Where is Cait?”
“Kissing.”
Bree drew in a surprised gasp when she heard Sunny’s voice. “Grey, did you hear her? She spoke. Oh, sweeten, you spoke.” She drew Sunny against her and hugged her. “Do you deem she can hear us?”
Grey hunched his shoulders. “Mayhap she can.”
“Momma.” Sunny looked up at her, smiling. “Cait, kissing.”
Bree and Grey laughed. The child looked so adorable and Bree couldn’t help letting a tear fall at the joy of hearing her sweet voice.
She made sure Sunny could see her when she spoke, “Aye, Cait is kissing.”
Only a child could turn a sad day into a joyous one.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Weeks passed and slowly the clan rectified the loss of the cottages. No one discussed what actually happened to Greer. Bree wasn’t sure she wanted to know the details. She felt much better. Though her shoulder and leg hurt, she was finally able to remove the bandaging. Fortunately neither wound got infected.
The salve Catherine had given her worked well to heal the wounds. The lacerations scabbed and the skin around them tightened. Bree was hard pressed to ask for a mirror. Her face had healed as well, and wh
en Catherine had removed the stiches, she looked aghast. Aye, she must look hideous now.
Bree rose from her bath and dressed in a plain light green gown. She rubbed cream on the wounds and knew how fortunate she was to be alive. With the Gunn plaid in place, she decided to leave the chamber and rejoin the living. On her way to the hall, she stopped by Cait’s room, her old chamber, and went inside.
Cait had just put Sunny down for a nap. The girl looked sweet lying amid the covers with her thumb in her mouth. Her pretty curls covered her small face.
“She called you momma.”
Bree didn’t know Cait had heard her when Sunny visited her chamber. She thought Cait was off kissing Duff.
“Aye, when Grey saved you from the MacHeth, when he’d taken you to the battlements. I brought her into the room to see how you were doing, she called ye momma.”
“The battlements? Pray, do not speak of it. Sunny called me momma when she visited my chamber. I asked her where you were and she said kissing.” Bree laughed. “She can talk. That means she can say other words. We will need to teach her.”
“I have tried to get her to speak again, but she has not. I suspect she will speak for you. I deem the lass reads lips well, for when she’s not looking at me, she doesn’t hear me calling.”
“Have you a mirror?” she asked, and Cait went to her trunk.
“Only a broken piece of one. Here.” She handed Bree the three inch piece of mirror.
She held it up and gazed at it and saw what others did. A scar trailed from just under her chin to her temple on the right side of her face. It was fortunate she hadn’t been killed. The skin around the scar still swelled, but looked like it might improve somewhat when it fully healed.
“Uuug, it’s horrible. How dreadful.”
“You’re still beautiful to me.”
“Cait, how I love you. Thank you for all you have done. I would have worried so for Sunny if it were not for you.” Bree went and sat next to Sunny on the bedding. She pressed her hand against her face, feeling her soft skin. “Have you made any progress with Duff?”