He, too, was feeling the stress of the past few days. He just needed to get these women to safety. That thought kept him going.
With Caitlin already sleeping, Jack and Millie sipped on their mugs of tea and talked briefly about the day's events. Jack still remembered the look on the faces of old Clint, Winston, and Ethel, all folk who had cared for Millie's grandmother and aunt. What would happen to them? Did Millie need to help them? Somehow he didn't think she would just leave them with no help. The place was hers now. What did that mean to her?
With these thoughts running through his head, he banked the fire and lay down on a cot, then watched as Millie and the babe joined Caitlin on the larger bed.
Jack was concerned about Caitlin's swollen leg, but knew the best thing he could do would be to get her to the home place. Alex would be coming along soon. Jack knew her leg would need to be reset and didn't know if they could do it. If not, then they would have to find someone who could, but finding a healer in the Highlands was difficult.
Everyone was abed now. They were all asleep before the owl had even found a proper resting place in the evergreen tree at the back of the cottage. None of them heard his last "hoo hoo" of the evening.
CHAPTER 62
Jack got up early and made a small fire in the fireplace, the one from last night having been reduced to smoldering ashes. With his peat all ready by the hearth, it was a quick task to complete. He then found himself being nudged in the back of the knee, and looked down to see Willie peering up at him. Willie had run alongside them all the way, making brief trip into the woods.
"Hey now. Ye need to go out for a quick run?" Willie was ready for his early morning romp, no doubt finding his own breakfast and scouting about in the snow, which he liked to do whenever Caitlin would give him permission to run freely. Jack opened the door and off he went. The wolf always returned and, if he hadn't returned quickly enough, Caitlin had but to whistle once and he would be at her side in moments.
As the sun was just beginning its morning struggle to overcome the moon's dominance, Millie and the babe began to stir, coming over to warm themselves by the flames. Jack watched in amazement. This woman, holding her child and sipping her tea, was the most feminine creature he had ever laid eyes on. When she walked, she seemed to glide across the floor, and she went about it so quietly she would be behind you before you even knew she was there. With her long black hair trailing over her shoulder as she leaned over the babe, the fire was picking up reddish tones in it. He thought he would never see anything as lovely ever again.
Jack helped Caitlin to a chair, hoping a change of position would ease the pain in her leg. She hadn't said a word to anyone, but the swelling was continuing to get worse, and from the look on her face, Jack assumed every heartbeat sent a message of pain.
"Is it bearable, Caitlin? We'll be home shortly. Hector is a fair hand at binding wounds, so he might can help."
"I'll make it, Jack. My medicines are almost gone, and I'll need some herbs to make more. Maybe there's a healer in your village that can help me."
"Well, there's some medicines at the house, from the time when Mam was with us. But I don't know what it is exactly, But we'll find whatever you need."
Caitlin looked up at him. "Jack, I know you think I was out of my mind yesterday, but I know that something was happening to Alex. But, today, the feeling is gone, and I don't quite know what to think about it. It was so very real for a few minutes. He's become very special to me, Jack. I wish he were here."
"Aye, so do I. But Alex will catch up with us. Don't worry about that. He's able to take care of himself, and Wabi is probably already home by now. And I pity anyone who might try to get in his way!"
Jack saw that Caitlin was past going much farther. There was simply no way of knowing when they would see Alex. He quickly brought the horses around front where they had left the pony cart.
"We'll be at the home place in about two hours, ladies."
"Oh, my. That's the best news I've heard in a long time. Do you think there's a stream nearby where I might take a bath?" Millie asked.
"I believe we can probably manage that," Jack smiled at her.
Then he caught the reins of Caitlin's horse and hooked up the pony cart once again. That had been a lifesaver if ever there had been one. It might have slowed them down a bit, but the cart was a great help to Caitlin and the baby.
He approached Caitlin who was still sitting in her chair as she had to depend on him to move her. Seeing the despair in her eyes, Jack tried a bit of levity, hoping to bring a little lightness to their situation.
"Are ye ready to get back into yer very fine carriage, milady?" Jack asked Caitlin quietly, seeing she was just about done for. He bent over and picked her up. She was like a child almost. Why, Ian weighed more than she did for heaven's sake! He again wished Alex were here.
"Oh, aye, me lad. I'm ready to get this journey over with. And my carriage is most stupendous!" Jack noted that she tried to make light of their problem too, but knew she was about to expire from pain and weariness.
Millie had made a pallet of blankets for Caitlin and placed it in the cart. Each woman knew the other was more than uncomfortable, but neither spoke of it. There were some things women just understood about each other. Millie got the blankets arranged and waited for Jack to bring Caitlin out. When she saw him carrying Caitlin, she went back inside to get the rest of her belongings and the babe.
She came back out and placed the babe inside the blankets with Caitlin, who was enjoying the company of this little creature. The babe never seemed to cry, but just slept.
"You know, it's kinda nice, feeling her tiny body next to mine. I've never thought much about having children, but I could become accustomed to this." Caitlin had made this statement yesterday, but today she just pulled the child closer. Conversation was just too tiring. Then she lay back, and exhaustion once again took over.
Having satisfied herself that Caitlin and the baby were as comfortable as she could make them, Millie walked over to Dillon, ready to mount up one more time. Jack stood next to her, ready to give her a leg up as Dillon was quite a tall mount. As he held the stirrup for her, he heard a "click" up next to his ear.
"I'll thank you to take your hands off my wife, sheep man!"
Where had he come from? But Jack had better sense than to argue with someone holding a pistol to his head. He released the stirrup and Millie quickly pulled her leg back down. She didn't have to look to know who it was — Edward! Whirling around to face him, she unleashed her pent up anger and screamed.
"Edward! Put that pistol away! You have no quarrel with him! It's me you want!"
Millie looked at the man she had married. How had she ever let this happen? Why hadn't she stood up to her father years ago and refused him? She loathed everything about this hideous man. And now she feared him more than ever. She had no doubt he had arranged for someone to kill her family, and now her friends were in peril because of her.
"Oh, yes, my dear. It is you I want." Warwick took one look at her and realized she was considerably thinner than she had been the last time he had seen her.
"So, my dear wife. You appear to have had my son! And where is the little Warwick man!"
Millie glanced toward Jack then looked back to Warwick. She would do whatever she must to protect her child, even if it meant returning with Warwick. She would have to find another time and place to make her escape, again. She was frantic, trying to keep her thoughts from running away with her.
Jack still hadn't moved, not with the pistol still pointed at his head.
"Can't you see she doesn't want to go with you? Let her go and get back to your English castle where you belong!"
"Keep your thoughts to yourself, sheep man. What I do with my wife is none of your business. What is it with you heathen Scots? My wife is my property. I'll decide what I do with all my properties!
"And speaking of properties, my dear, it seems you are the latest mistress of the Cameron keep
. And, of course that, too, will be added to my holdings. But, it was such a shame about your family. Both in the same night! But, let's not cry over spilt milk. The place will need someone to look after it, so we must send a capable man to the place to make it worth our efforts.
"Come, Millie. Where's my son?"
"Our child is here." Walking over to the cart, she leaned over and looked down at the babe, tucking the blanket around her tightly. Then, turning to face Lord Warwick directly, she smiled when she said,
"But, Edward, you don't have a son. You have a daughter. And a very beautiful one at that!"
"What! I don't believe you! I will have a son, I tell you! You lie!" He struck her so hard she fell to the ground and cried out in pain as her head struck the cart. She slowly stood up then, trying to protect her baby from this insane man.
Warwick walked closer to the cart and jerked at the blanket, trying to take the child from Caitlin's arms.
Jack took this one moment of opportunity when Warwick was focusing on the child to make a move. He jumped in front of Millie, trying to shield her and the child. Warwick, also a large man, grabbed Jack's neck with one hand and, with the butt of his pistol, struck his skull with a thud that would have brought any man down. Jack lay crumpled at the lord's feet in an instant.
Millie backed away from Warwick and bumped into the pony cart where Caitlin lay. The healer was quiet, as she had been all morning. In fact, both Millie and Jack figured Caitlin was past making conversation and decided to let her be.
"Leave us alone! You don't want me or your child! All you want is more property! Leave here! I'll never go back to England and live with you!"
"You'll do whatever I tell you, just as you always have! Stupid woman! How dare you produce a girl child! She's useless to me! But I'll take you back, and you'll get the papers for the Cameron estate. They will be mine!"
"No! I . . . "
Suddenly, the earth began to tremble — like a small earthquake. Then it began to quake violently, causing them to fall to their knees. Millie held tightly to her babe, fear taking hold of her mind. A whistling coming from the top of the trees was deafening and the noise became so loud it had Millie trying to cover her ears with her hands.
At this very moment, the Highlander tried to get up from the ground, but was just too weak. Unable to do anything but watch, he was confused for a second. Then he realized what was happening.
"Oh, Jesus!" said Jack. "I've been through this before! Heaven help us!"
He knew that whatever it was would end only when the "instigator" wished it to. He had experienced only a brief touch of this power back in the stables, but that was enough for him. And, now, apparently this man was going to get the full treatment!
Warwick dropped the gun, let go of the blanket, and held his hands to his ears also.
"What in God's name is that?" he screamed. His head ached, his eyes burned, and blood began to trickle from both his ears.
The wind swirled around him, blowing snow in every direction, then the snow wrapped about him like a cocoon. But it wasn't cold, rather, it was like liquid fire. And it scorched his body everywhere it touched him!
He leaned against the cart, trying desperately to get to his feet. Then Caitlin raised up slightly and reached out her hand. She grabbed Lord Warwick's wrist and held on tightly. He glanced down, wondering what was happening. As Caitlin's hand touched him, a jagged bolt of lightening came streaking from the sky, illuminating Warwick’s face as it found its target! And Warwick could no longer see or hear —he could only feel. And every inch of his body screamed in agony. He felt his skin begin to melt.
"Dear God! Stop this madness! Help me, Millie! Aiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"
There was the sound of glass exploding as the flask in his coat burst with shards of glass flying about in a thousand directions. At once his screams stopped abruptly.
The last coherent thought Lord Warwick had was that he wished he could have a drink of the alcohol. Perhaps it might ease his pain. As it was, his pain was eased when his body, the essence of him, melted down to the gleaming snow, which was quickly covered in soot. Ashes to ashes — dust to dust.
Caitlin groaned and fell back on the blankets. Millie rushed over to the pony cart.
"Oh, Caitlin! Have you been struck? Speak to me!"
Caitlin lifted her head slightly and whispered, "Is it done? Is he taken care of?" Then she closed her eyes and could no longer hear Millie's voice.
Millie looked back and saw that Jack was lying, unmoving, still on the ground.
"Oh, no! It struck Jack, too! No!"
She didn't know what to do now. Caitlin was unconscious and Jack was perhaps close to death. What was she do? Now she as alone with an infant, and her dear friends were both either dying or close to it. She held her child close and sent a prayer to anyone that would help her.
CHAPTER 63
Alex had heard Mam speak of an ancestor who had what she called "second sight," which meant that person could foresee some happening in the future. Now, Alex never put much belief in anything he couldn't personally see, but at this very moment he felt as if he might crawl out of his skin. And as surely as his name was Alexander MacKinnon, he knew that Caitlin was in trouble!
There weren't any voices in his head, and no trumpets blaring, but there was such a stirring in his heart that told him he had no choice but to move quickly and get to her. It was as if he could feel her presence, or sense the spirit of her. Having never had this experience before, he stopped and looked about. Maybe he was just tired. But, no. The urge to get to Caitlin immediately was greater than ever. Something flew over, close to his head. As he looked up to the sky, a great owl soared just above him. Alex watched a moment, and the bird circled his head then headed north. Alex knew this bird was leading him, and he never hesitated as he gave his horse his head.
"Well, Mam, if this is 'second sight' then so be it!" Alex talked to his mother often.
He asked Zeus to go as fast as he could, and that was pretty fast. It wasn't long before he spotted the crofter's hut. All along the trail, the tracks in the snow told him there were three horses traveling together, one pulling some kind of wagon. But, now, coming from a little used side road, he saw another set of prints also. A lone traveler. It didn't take much to figure out who those tracks belonged to. He knew that, as he had feared, Warwick had beaten him here.
As he came through to the wooded side of the cottage, Alex could hear voices coming from the front. A woman's voice. But not Caitlin's voice. It was Millie's voice. And a male voice. But not Jack's. He might not hear Caitlin, but he could feel her and his need to get to her all but made him run around the cottage with no thought as to what he might find. But, knowing what he must do, he squatted down and peered around the edge of the small hut. His heart raced as he clearly saw Jack lying, totally still, in a heap on the ground. His first reaction was to run to him, but at that moment he watched as the man twisted Millie's arm behind her back and began to yell at her.
"Where is he? Where is my son?"
He then struck the woman so hard she lost her balance and fell to the ground, crying out in pain as she struck the edge of the cart.
Alex knew Caitlin would be in the cart, and he needed to go to her. But Warwick was brandishing a pistol in one hand and pulling at Millie with the other. His strategy was to get behind Warwick and put his own pistol to the lord's head. Alex began to slowly make his way, keeping low, creeping along when the ground began to shake, and he fell flat on his face. What was happening? Then the whole world seemed to convulse! An instant later there was a great roll of thunder and a blistering streak of lightning lighted up the sky. Alex was stunned as he saw it strike Warwick.
The Highlander watched in disbelief. He couldn't believe his eyes. Was that Caitlin's hand he had seen, reaching out of the cart and grabbing Warwick's wrist? Had she caused this unbelievable cascade of events to occur? He had not forgotten the incident at the well, but he had thought that Wabi had conjured that one.
The earth gave one last quiver, and a quiet settled over the whole area. Alex ran to the cart and looked down into Caitlin's face. She was so still. So pale.
"Oh, no! You can't be dead. No! I won't let you be dead!" Alex yelled.
Millie pulled herself up and rushed to Alex's side.
"No, Alex! She's only unconscious. Not dead. But I'm not so sure about Jack. He may have been hit by the lightning."
Alex felt Caitlin's pulse and his heart slowed just ever so slightly. Yes, she was alive. He reached Jack in a second and raised his head up. Jack opened his eyes and lifted his hands upward to his head.
"Ah, Jesus! My head is coming off!" He held his head in both hands and Alex bent down to look at him.
"Well, thank God it was yer head he hit. Else we might have had a real problem." Jack was in pain, but still knew what was happening.
"Alex, we need to get Caitlin home. She's not doing so well."
"Right, brother. Come, let's get ye up here in this cart, too. We'll be home before ye know it and get ye both sorted.
"I can ride, Alex, I can ride."
"Not this day, Jack. Now, get up here and stop yer whining. We need to go."
Millie held the little midge to her breast and tied the blanket as she had when she first carried her on horseback. Had that only been a few days ago? So much had happened since then.
"Alex. Do you think we can make it to your home quickly?"
"Aye, lass. Not long now."
He walked over to Warwick and just stared. The man's lifeless body, with his greatcoat and fine boots, lay on the ground — a mass of melted fabric, leather, skin and bone. Alex got down on his knees and looked more closely at the body, or what was left of it. Lord Warwick's very fingertips were charred, his ears tipped in ash, his beard burned to a crisp, and the bottoms of his boots were missing, exposing the blackened soles of his feet, still within the confines of his boots. Whatever had she done to him? There was no blood, and no wounds that he could see. But the man was most definitely dead.
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