“Carrick McLoughlin has taken Leon and my future wife captive. This is an act of war.” At their sidelong glances, he continued. “I know they outnumber us, but if we can sneak in and rescue them, then we stand a chance.”
“How do we sneak in?” One of the men asked.
“Eleanora’s old handmaiden still lives in the village. As some of you know, she is the one who told me of Carrick’s plan to kill me once Eleanora birthed me a son. I still have contact with her from time to time, and I believe she will help us. She knows the castle better than Carrick himself.”
Garrett climbed into his saddle. What he left out was that he planned on killing Carrick McLoughlin before the night was over. He knew that he would never be able to live a happy life with Carissa while the man still drew breath.
Chapter Twelve
“Carissa?” Carissa opened her eyes when she heard her name whispered. She gripped her head and winced with pain when she tried to sit up. The stone floor was cold beneath her, and she looked around to see that she was in what looked to be a dungeon.
“Thank God,” Leon muttered and leaned back against the bars. “I couldn’t get to you to make sure you were alright.”
“What happened?”
Anger filled Leon’s eyes, and his jaw tightened. “McLoughlin had his men grab us from right outside the castle.”
Dread rolled in Carissa’s stomach, and she felt as if she were going to vomit. So Carrick was the man the old woman had warned her about just minutes before their abduction.
Panic set in. She had to get out of there, had to get back to Gabby. What must her little girl be thinking right now? What would happen to her if Carissa never made it back?
“Garrett will care for Gabby. You needn’t worry about her.” Leon grunted and held his side.
Carissa looked to him and noticed the pain on his face. “Are you hurt?”
“Tis just a scratch.” Carissa crawled to him and moved his hand.
“That is not a scratch Leon.” She tore a sleeve from her gown and pressed it against the wound in his side. She could tell he lost a lot of blood, and while the wound itself would be easy enough to stitch, the risk of infection was high.
“Ahh, so you are finally awake lass. I was wondering how long you were going to be out.” Carrick’s voice rang in her ears, and Leon grabbed her to pull her behind him.
“Please Leon, don’t make me laugh.” Carrick motioned to one of the guards who accompanied him, and he opened the door. “I’m currently trying to decide if I should execute you for crimes against my clan, or just leave you here to die. A slow death would be more satisfying for me to watch.” A twisted smile curved his lips.
“What crime?” Carissa asked him. She was getting damn tired of bullies. “He has done nothing to you!” She yelled, and Leon pulled her back.
“Of course he has, he broke into my castle and tried to rape my betrothed.”
“What? I did no such thing.” Leon grunted.
“My lovely Carissa here was sleeping in her bedchamber when you broke in and attacked her, thank goodness I was able to get to her in time.” His voice dripped with mock emotion.
“That’s preposterous!” Carissa yelled, her cheeks flushing with anger.
“I was going to introduce you to my people tomorrow, it would be a shame if you were to die before I was able to.”
“Why would you think I would go along with that? I will scream the truth to anyone who will listen!” Carissa yelled and applied more pressure to Leon’s side.
Carrick got closer until he was just out of reach of Leon’s free hand. “Because if you don’t, I will kill not only Garrett but your daughter as well.”
Carissa’s eyes widened at the mention of Gabby.
“Garrett will slaughter you where you stand.” She growled at him, and he gripped her hair, dragging her toward the door.
“Carissa!” Leon screamed and tried to reach for her.
“Leon!”
“Take her to my bedchamber.” He ordered the guard. “I have something to attend to, and then I will be there. Stand guard until I arrive, no one goes in. That whore is mine.”
Garrett stood staring at the looming castle before him.
“There is an entrance through the kitchen.” The small maiden whispered. She had been more than happy to assist them in breaking into the castle when she heard what had happened. She despised McLoughlin more than Garrett did he believed.
“Momma, can we go?” The small boy tugged at her skirt, and she knelt to lift him in her arms. He had to have been no older than four, and he had the unmistakable look of Carrick McLoughlin. It was no secret throughout the lands that the bastard took whomever he wished to bed with or without their permission. It seems as if Eleanora’s poor handmaiden had been one of those who had attempted to fight it.
“I am sorry for what happened to you, lass.” Garrett touched her shoulder gently, and she smiled at him.
“Thank you, Master McKinley. I was at first as well, but I have my son now, and he is worth the pain I suffered.” She whispered. “Go get the bastard. If any harm comes to your Lady or her guard, bring them to me. I can help.”
“Thank you, Chloe.”
“Please let me go.” Carissa cried as the guard drug her down the hall. “Please, I have to get back to my daughter.” She pleaded with him, and when that didn’t work, she used all of her strength and pushed at him.
He turned, murder in his eyes. “You would do well not to touch me again, wench. There isn’t a soul inside the walls who will help you, we are all loyal to Master McLoughlin. I know you are no innocent maiden, so I doubt the Master would notice if you were a bit tousled up when he got you.”
Carissa’s eyes widened, and the man’s nostrils flared.
“Perhaps I shall toss you around a bit anyways?”
“Don’t touch me!” Carissa screamed and kicked him as hard as she could in his groin.
“Bitch!” He grabbed himself and Carissa took off at a run.
She looked behind her and saw that the man was still holding himself. When she turned back around, she ran right into another of Carrick’s men.
“Where do you think you’re going, lass?” He grinned and Carissa’s cheek burned from where his hand made contact with it.
“Take her to McLoughlin’s chamber, and this time do it without distraction. She is not for you.”
Tears filled Carissa’s eyes as the first man gripped her arm roughly and drug her back down the hall.
Garrett and his men emerged into the castle through the kitchen and were surprised to see that the room was deserted.
“Wonder where the kitchen staff is?” Timothy whispered to Garrett.
“Tis strange there is no one here, dinner would have just finished.” Garrett agreed. “Chloe said the dungeon is down that stairwell.” Garrett pointed to a curved staircase in the corner. “I imagine that is where they will be.”
Garrett and his men descended the stairs.
“What are you doing he-” One of the guards stationed below started but Garrett shoved his sword into the man’s chest. The other attacked and Timothy dispatched of him just as quickly.
“Garrett,” Leon whispered, and Garrett rushed to the gate. Timothy handed him a keyring from the belt of the now dead guard, and he opened it.
“Leon, where is Carissa?” Garrett asked as he lifted the man to his feet.
“They took her to McLoughlin’s bedchamber.” He sputtered, and Garrett handed him to Timothy.
His blood went from a simmer to a full boil and he grit his teeth to keep himself from howling with rage.
“Get him to Chloe. You four are with me.” He pointed to some of the men, and they followed him up the stairs.
Garrett no longer cared about stealth, he ran up the stairs and up to the upper level of the castle. Getting to Carissa in time was all that mattered to him. He and his guards ran into a handful of Carrick’s, but ran them through quickly and continued to where Garrett knew th
e bastards chamber was.
“Wait here.” He instructed his men and pushed the door open.
Fear pulsed through him and Garrett growled when he saw that Carissa tied to the bed by her hands. Her eyes were wide and her face pale.
“Took you long enough McKinley. I was beginning to wonder whether you cared for this whore.” Carrick spoke from the corner of the room, where he held a large knife.
“Are you alright?” He ignored Carrick and moved toward Carissa.
She nodded, and he diverted his attention back to Carrick.
“Let her go, and I might be inclined to let you live.” He lied. He wasn’t going to let that man leave this room unless it was to be buried.
“You are a fool.” Carrick laughed. Four men revealed themselves from a door that had been hidden with a large tapestry.
Garrett continued letting Carrick believe he had come alone. He wanted to make sure he was close enough to protect Carissa from the fight that would happen once his men came in the room. “You have me then, you can have anything you want, just let her go.” Garrett pleaded and set his sword on the ground slowly.
“I want your land.”
“Why? So you can let my people starve as yours did?” Garrett took a step toward Carissa.
“It won’t matter much to you since you will be dead.”
“I do believe it will matter very much to me, whether I am dead or alive.” Garrett took another step toward the bed.
“You would do well to keep away from my future wife, Garrett.”
Garrett’s nostrils flared. “I think you may have something mixed up, McLoughlin.”
“After I kill you and your mother, of course, I will be taking her as my wife. In body and mind.” He grinned and licked his lips toward Carissa.
“You will never touch her.” Garrett growled and lunged for Carissa. “Now!” He yelled as his men poured into the room.
The sound of grunts and metal clashing filled his ears as he worked to removed Carissa’s hands from their bindings.
“Easy love, all will be well.” He smiled softly at her and removed the fabric that had been tied around her mouth.
“You came for me.” Carissa’s body shook, and Garrett helped her to her feet.
“Of course I came for you.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face.
She smiled softly and then her eyes widened, and the color drained from her face. “Garrett!” She screamed and shoved him.
Garrett watched in horror as Carrick’s dagger buried itself in her side. A single tear slipped from her eye, and she fell to the ground.
Garrett roared and slammed his body into Carrick. He grabbed the dagger from Carrick’s hand and drove it down into the man’s chest.
“Carissa!” Garrett cried as he gathered her into his arms.
“We must get her to Chloe. She will be able to help.” One of his men knelt to his face, and Garrett saw that all of the McLoughlin soldiers who had been in the room now lay dead on the floor.
He nodded and stood slowly, cradling Carissa.
“It hurts Garrett.” She cried, and he cradled her closer.
“You will be fine, love. We know a healer. We are taking you to her now.”
Carissa nodded and leaned against his chest. “Is Gabby okay?”
“Our daughter is fine my love. My mother is with her now.”
Carissa smiled when he called Gabby theirs. If she died today, she would at least know that her Gabby was cared for and loved beyond words. The pain in her side was beginning to fade, the numbness taking over. The wound itself would have missed her vital organs she knew, but the loss of blood was great, and if they didn’t get it stopped soon then she wouldn’t last long.
She kept her eyes closed and listened to Garrett’s steady heartbeat.
Chapter Thirteen
“Lay her down.” The woman’s voice was stern, and she felt Garrett set her down.
“Bring me my kit.” She instructed, and Carissa opened her eyes. The kind blue eyes that stared into her own steadied her nerves. “Hi Carissa, tis wonderful to meet you, I am going to make sure you are okay, alright?”
Carissa nodded.
A man handed the woman a small bag and Carissa closed her eyes as the woman worked on her wound.
Carissa opened her eyes and squinted as the light poured into a window.
“How do you feel?” She heard Garrett’s voice and turned to see him sitting next to the bed she was laying in.
“I feel pretty good, considering.” She smiled and saw the pain on his face. “How are you?” She wondered as she reached for him.
“Not well, you took a blade that was meant for me. You should have saved yourself, and instead, you almost died.”
“I love you, Garrett, I would do it again if I had to.”
“It is not for you to decide that.” He said through gritted teeth.
“It was my choice, and I would make the same one again.” She repeated and then closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry lass. You just scared me.”
“Leon?” She asked cautiously.
“He is recovering.”
Carissa smiled. “Can we go home?”
“I think that would be fine.” The woman who had cared for her came into the room. “You’ve been asleep for near a day. Your wound wasn’t deep, it was the blood loss that worried me, but your color appears to be fine. You need to keep the area clean, though, infection is going to be the biggest threat.”
“Thank you.” Carissa smiled, unsure of the woman’s name.
“This is Chloe, she was Eleanora’s handmaiden.” Garrett introduced them.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Carissa said.
“You as well.” Chloe smiled and then turned to Garrett. “You will need to carry her and make sure that she does not strain or she could pull the wound open once more.”
Garrett nodded. “You and your son need to pack your belongings.”
“What? Why? We cannot go back with you, we are needed here.” Chloe’s features changed, and Carissa could see the worry on her face. She was afraid Garrett would force them to leave.
“Aye, but you are needed in the McLoughlin castle.”
“I do not understand, you said that Carrick McLoughlin is dead.”
“He is, your son is his only surviving child. Therefore, the McLoughlin land belongs to him.”
Chloe’s mouth opened and then she closed it again. “I do not understand, how?”
“Once Carissa was sleeping soundly, I met with the heads of the families here in town. I told them of your son’s parentage, and they agreed he resembled Carrick McLoughlin. I informed them that you and your son would be taking over the land. It now belongs to you. All men who were loyal to Carrick have been dispatched of.” He grit his teeth, speaking of the men who were willing to attack innocent people to support their laird. “Any issues and you send word to me. I will assist you any way I can.” He squeezed Carissa’s hand slightly. “I owe you a great debt.”
Chloe’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, Garrett.” She wiped her face and then turned for the door. “I must go and tell Fergus!”
“That was a wonderful thing you did for her and her son.”
“They deserve it. Carrick McLoughlin was a terrible man. I am grateful something good will come from his horrible acts.” Garrett stood and lifted Carissa carefully into his arms. “Shall we go home then?”
“Yes.” She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter Fourteen
Carissa stood arm in arm with her husband and stared out at the beautiful Ireland sky. Wow, she couldn’t believe he was her husband! She squeezed her eyes shut and smiled. Life was amazing.
“Garrett!” Carissa stood to see Kettie running toward them, a huge grin spread across her face.
“What is it?”
“She’s alive!”
“Who’s alive?”
“Iona.”
When Garrett’s grin matched
his mothers, Carissa found herself confused.
“Who’s Iona?”
“My aunt. She has been missing for nearly six years. We thought her husband had killed her. Why do you say she’s alive?”
“When I was out last, I found myself asking around and someone told me they had seen her only four months ago!”
“Are you sure it was her?”
“I feel it, Garrett, it has to be her!”
“Why did you not tell me before now?”
“I wanted to be sure. I know how close you were to your aunt and I didn’t want to let you down.”
“So why are you telling me now?” He wondered.
“I just received word that she has been seen again. I am leaving in the morning to find her and bring her home.”
“I will go with you.”
“You will do no such thing.” Kettie straightened. “I will take a few of the guards with me, but that is all. You stay here with your family.” Kettie pulled Carissa in for a hug. “I am so grateful my son has you.”
“Thank you. I am so grateful I have him as well.”
Kettie’s eyes lit up, and she grinned again. “I must be off, I have sleep and packing to get to!”
Carissa watched, amused as Kettie practically skipped down the hall.
“I hope she finds her.” She said softly.
“I do as well.” Garrett turned to face her. “I find I would very much like to take my wife to bed.”
“Your wife would like that as well,” Carissa said softly and then laughed when Garrett scooped her into his arms.
PART II
Wade and Chloe
Time does not heal all wounds, but love certainly can…
Chapter One
Chloe took a look around the large room she called her own. If you had told her any day before now that she was going to be living in and running Castle McLoughlin, she would have laughed at you and thought you were mad. Yet, here she was. Determining where she wished to put her trunk.
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