Sir Henry and Charism traversed their way through the throng of people asleep on the keep floors. Outside the mistress’ door, Shelly stood pounding. “Please mistress, open the door. Ye don’t want to be late for the weddin’.”
Shelly’s face showed relief when she noticed Charism and Sir Henry. “I can’t get the mistress to open her door. I haven’t heard a peep from her all morning.”
“Aye, we know,” assured Charism.
Sir Henry pushed at Sarra’s door, but it appeared stuck. He leaned his shoulder in, but try as he might the door wouldn’t budge. “There must be something against it. Would she wedge herself inside?”
“Nay. Something has happened to her, Henry. I feel it in my bones. We must use her secret entrance.”
The three of them left Sarra’s door and hurried to the room next door. Inside the wall was a concealed door that led to Sarra’s room. When they reached the door, Shelly gasped. The door had been split in two. Wood chips littered the stone floor.
“I don’t think Sarra has left on her own,” said Sir Henry.
“Nay, it would appear not. We need to assemble the knights and have them go after her.”
“But where do we start?”
They studied the keep and the grounds but there was nothing of significance. Because of the festivities there were more footprints than usual. There was no way to tell one from the other. As they squatted down and investigated the ground, they had a visitor.
“What are ye doin’?”
Three heads jerked upwards with guilt. No one answered Cedric’s question.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Why is no one at the church?”
The small group moved from side to side. Charism eyed him sheepishly. She was clothed in a gown of gray wool, hardly the dress a mistress would wear to her wedding. Cedric’s impatience was showing as he wrung his hands and waited on an answer.
“Charism, I don’t plan on askin’ again. Why are ye not ready for the weddin’?”
Charism straightened her bowed form. “Cedric, I’m afraid there won’t be a weddin’ today.”
Cedric eyebrow arched in confusion.
Sir Henry took over the conversation. “Maid Sarra has gone missing again.”
“What?”
“We fear Wilt Hotham may have returned and carried her away.”
“Ye mean the man from before?”
“Aye. Shelly said a man at the party requested a private meeting with the mis… I mean Sarra. Sarra went to see him but returned to the party soon afterwards. She told no one about the meeting or what transpired. After going to her room for the night, she disappeared.”
Cedric threw up his hands. Why was this maid so important? “I think it’s obvious the lass has left of her own accord. Get ready and we will have the weddin’. We can look for her later.”
The words had been spoken with authority and assurance but inside Cedric felt nothing of the sort. He couldn’t believe what he was setting out to do. Was he going to marry this old woman in front of him just to have land? She was too old to give him the children and family he desired. Maybe Cedric should give it all up and return to England. He could inform the King of his failure and perhaps begin again. He might even be able to return home to his own family, his own land. Was such a suggestion even possible?
Cedric paced. Images of Sarra being flung against the stone church flooded his mind. Memories of the kisses they’d shared, memories of quiet moments they shared. Could he honestly even think of marriage while Sarra was out there somewhere in danger?
Intruding into his thoughts, Charism said firmly, “I won’t marry without maid Sarra.”
Tired and frustrated with the constant interruption, Cedric said, “What is it with this maid? Ye all treat her like royalty.”
Sir Henry’s eyes narrowed. His mouth opened, but before words could spill forth, Charism put a hand upon his arm. “Cedric, Sarra is an important person to this keep and to me. I won’t marry without her. Find her.”
With those parting words, Charism strode away. Cedric didn’t know what to say. Looking to the knight, he asked, “What do we do now? It seems we are on another hunt. Why does this crazy man want the maid anyway?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Sir Henry said, “The ‘crazy man’ as you so elegantly put it, thinks Sarra is the mistress.”
Thinks Sarra is the mistress?
“But why?”
“It doesn’t matter. We have to retrieve the maid. Gather your men and meet me at the gates. I have a few ideas where Wilt Hotham might have taken her.”
Cedric didn’t question the knight. This was his land, his territory. Henry was sure to know the layout better than most.
Doing as Sir Henry suggested, Cedric gathered Duncan and the others. Bringing fresh mounts from the stables, they arrived at the gates the same time as a small group of knights.
Sir Henry leaned up in his saddle, addressing the crowd. “Men, it would seem Wilt Hotham has taken Sarra once again.” There was a groan amongst the men.
Henry raised a hand in the air and their complaining ceased. “But no matter. We will protect every citizen of this keep no matter what the cost. I have assembled you here because you are the finest trackers and you know the land better than any other. When we exit these walls, I would like the Scots to stay to the rear and wait in a group, while my knights scour the perimeter looking for a sign of which way Sarra was taken.” Without further instructions, Sir Henry raised his arm into the air and bid the group of horsemen to follow.
Cedric and his men stood to the back as the knights studied the surrounding tree line. As Boyd shifted in his seat, Cedric could sense he was unhappy. He was a tracker in his own clan. To be sentenced to wait with the helpless bothered him immensely.
“Can’t they see it?”
“See what?”
“Cedric I can see the broken limbs from here! They went straight down that path. Looks like they are going the same way they went before.”
“Boyd, are ye sure?”
“Cedric, I’m a born tracker. I’m sure.”
Cedric trotted his horse forward, receiving a scowl from Sir Henry for disobeying. When he reached the knight, the glowering didn’t get any better.
“What are you doing here? I told you to wait.”
“Pardon, but my tracker can see something.”
“And what might that be?” Sir Henry responded with disdain.
Cedric scratched his beard. The animosity had gone on for long enough. “Forgive me, but I thought we were on the same side. I don’t know why ye don’t like me and right now I’m not too concerned about it. But I am concerned about finding the lass so I can marry and get what I deserve.”
“Oh, you’ll get what you deserve,” Sir Henry whispered.
Cedric ignored the statement and kept talking. “Because we are so far back from the edge of the wood, Boyd can see some broken limbs going down the path there. It looks like the same way Hotham took Sarra before. Why don’t you have one of yer knights check out the area?”
When Cedric finished talking, he didn’t wait to see if Sir Henry agreed. He forced his horse around and headed back to the Scots. As the horse trotted away from the old knight, all Cedric could think about was jumping from a pan into the fire.
Coming to Greenbriar was supposed to give him peace and comfort. But now he felt like he’d returned home to his own keep. The hatred from Sir Henry made him think becoming Lord of Greenbriar might not be the best of plans.
When Cedric reached his waiting men, Boyd had a smile upon his face. “Finally, them no ‘counts discovered it. Good job.”
Cedric barely angled his mount around before they were off again in the direction of the path. They traveled for quite some time before they noticed a divergence. Up ahead, along the trail, it appeared as if a new pathway had been made. Taking the new way led them down an old trail. The path was covered in brush and undergrowth with briars so high they embedded themselves in the naked legs
of the Scots as they passed. The knights rode ahead seeming to have no problems as they plunged forward.
“Why them lily-livered—”
“Boyd, hush. Do ye see it?”
In front of them sat a cabin. It was snuggled tightly between rows of trees. The trees appeared to have grown up around the tiny building, hemming it in with a protective embrace.
The knights and Scots pulled their reins and slowed to a stop. Hiding behind the brush, Sir Henry announced his plan.
“I will sneak up to the cabin and search inside. Everyone else remain here until I return.”
Cedric watched as all the heads nodded. His was not one of them. There was no way he would sit back and wait for Sir Henry to tell him of Sarra’s condition.
Why if anything had happened to the lass, he would burst through the door, find the man responsible, and slice him into tiny pieces. Pieces so small a bird could lift them in its beak and swallow them in one bite.
With those thoughts running through his mind, Cedric followed Sir Henry, taking care to keep the knight from becoming aware of his presence. The other knights left behind on their horses grunted and hummed, trying to get Sir Henry’s attention until Duncan sent them a look meant to send fear into their hearts.
Cedric stifled the chortle under his breath and continued. The men were in good hands as long as Duncan was in charge.
It didn’t take more than a moment for Sir Henry and Cedric to reach the cabin. Cedric deliberately angled himself to the opposite side of the house. Finding a window, he peered inside.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The ropes binding her wrists were now slick with her blood. Sarra had moved her hands constantly, trying to loosen her bonds but it was no use. Wilt might be crazy but he could tie a good knot.
Sarra had made the mistake of trying to run after Wilt said they were to be married. She just couldn’t take it and now she was bound.
She had known she was in trouble. No one knew where she was. No one at the keep would try to find her. Why would they? She was pretending to be the maid. How could they go after the maid again without it looking suspicious? Why hadn’t she trusted Charism and just told Cedric the truth? Why? Why? Why?
After Wilt’s announcement that they would marry, Sarra had edged around the room, planted her feet on the ground, and shot for the door. He had immediately grasped her by the hair and jerked backwards, knocking her already aching head against the log wall. As Sarra dropped to bruised knees, the world spun around her. Wilt grasped her sore arms roughly, pinning them behind her back while he placed a rope around her wrists.
“Try to run, will you? Very well. We will fix that.”
He’d tied the ropes so tight the blood flow threatened to stop. Sarra had pleaded until a little slack was given but it wasn’t enough to assist her escape.
Now as she sat on the dusty, dirty floor, the blood slowly trickled down her wrist and mingled with the grime. Maybe the blood would make the ropes slick and she could slide her hands free.
Struggling slightly against the bonds, Sarra kept a strict eye on Wilt. He was sitting in an opposite corner. In his hands, he cradled a dagger. His gaze focused on a spot on the ceiling, but it was obvious he wasn’t seeing it as he mumbled to himself. He appeared to be talking to his brother. The word revenge was repeated more times than Sarra cared to count.
She closed her eyes and said a prayer. No one could help her, save God. This was it. If she didn’t get away Wilt would force a wedding and then likely take her life. There was no other option for him. There was no way to reason with him and try to make him understand even if he succeeded in marrying her, Wilt would never own Greenbriar. He was too far gone to realize his actions would carry consequences.
After her prayer, Sarra opened her eyes and gasped at the face in the window. Recovering quickly from her shock, she coughed to cover the unexpected sound, hoping Wilt didn’t stop his mumblings to see what had scared her so.
When she was sure Wilt was still in a state of meditation, Sarra glanced back at the window. Sure enough, there in the opening was Cedric. He’d come looking for her!
He laid a finger across his lips, urging her to be silent. When she nodded slightly to let him know she understood, he moved away from the window.
Sarra thanked God. Surely Cedric had a plan.
****
Sir Henry spotted Cedric across the room staring in through an opposite window and shot him an angry scowl. Lying back against the cottage, Cedric pushed off the wall and headed back to the group of waiting men. When Sir Henry returned, he glowered at Cedric but said nothing of his disobedience.
“Sarra is inside. She is tied up and sitting along the back wall. We need a way to get Wilt out of the house and away from Sarra to keep her from further danger.”
“A distraction?” asked one of the Scots.
“Aye. A distraction. Cedric, you and your men set up a distraction while we surround the cabin.”
Cedric was on the verge of refusing, but Sir Henry’s look changed his mind. “Aye. Men, this is what we will do.”
Cedric paced outside the loop of huddled knights. Duncan, Filib, Boyd and the others were in place and ready to begin the commotion. Cedric had ensured they were prepared, then returned to Sir Henry. Probably the old knight thought Cedric was coming to tell him his group was ready, but he was wrong. Cedric was there because he was going to be the one going into the cabin to pull Sarra out. At this point, he dared Sir Henry to stop him. Nothing would deter him from saving the maid.
As he reviewed the reasons in his mind for why he wanted to help Sarra, Cedric kept coming back to the fact that Charism had ordered it so. But he knew that wasn’t the reason. In his heart he knew the true reason he wanted to rescue Sarra was love.
He loved her.
The leather strap had loosened and he raked a hand through his hair while staring at Sir Henry. The intense heat from Sir Henry’s gaze threatened to sear his flesh. “Why are you back here?”
“I’m going in with ye.”
“Nay, you are not. You will go back with the Scots and help with the distraction.”
“Sir Henry, ye must understand—”
“I must understand your only goal is to swoop in and take someone else’s land. Land you didn’t work for. Land you didn’t bleed for. Land that means nothing to you. Is this what you want to say?”
Cedric furrowed his brow. So Sir Henry’s anger was all about the land? He’d seen how Sir Henry watched Charism. Perhaps he had feelings for the mistress as well and this was also clouding his judgment.
“Do ye love her?”
“Love her? Sarra? Of course I do. Everyone in the keep loves her. She is like the daughter I never had.”
“Nay, not Sarra. Do ye love Charism?”
A blush crept over Sir Henry’s face as he stammered out a reply. “We have to save Sarra. Nothing else matters.”
“Ye do love her. Well, this does change things.”
“Does it?”
“Aye, it does. Ye see, I didn’t want to say anything but I love someone other than Charism.”
“I see. So you are going to marry her for the land alone. You understand this is why I don’t like you. You are only after what you can get.”
“Nay. I’m not going to marry Charism.”
Sir Henry twirled back around to face Cedric. “What?”
“I’m not going to marry Charism. I told ye, I love another.”
“But what about the land?”
“There’ll be other land.”
Sir Henry appeared as if set to ask more questions but Duncan gave a shrill whistle.
“We need to move now. Duncan would only give a signal if something wasn’t as planned.”
Sir Henry nodded and the two of them headed through the trees and toward the cabin. Stopping just short of revealing their position, the two of them crouched down behind a low creeping bush.
“What is he doing?” whispered Sir Henry.
“I don’
t know. I can’t see.”
As the words left Cedric’s lips, the sound of a scream rent the air.
Chapter Thirty-Four
“Let go of me!” Sarra screamed. Every tiny follicle of hair felt like it was being pulled loose at the roots, as Wilt carted her around the yard by the head.
“You are in no position to make demands.”
Perhaps she needed to try a different tactic. Adding a small hint of honey to her voice, Sarra said, “This is not the best way to start a relationship, Wilt. Maybe you should be nicer to me.”
Wilt’s lips drew up in a sneer as he placed her on his horse. Taking the reins in his hands, he walked beside the animal. Where were they going now?
Sarra was silent as her body swayed on the beast. With hands tied in front of her, Sarra had to use all her strength just to keep her body upright.
Secretly, she searched. Cedric and the others had been right outside the cabin. Surely they were following even now. What was taking them so long to rescue her?
The woods around Sarra grew thicker as they walked along a familiar route. Was Wilt foolish enough to take her back to the same exact spot as before? If she wasn’t seeing it with her own eyes, she would never have believed it.
Within a few hours, Sarra was staring at the same stone chapel as she had just a few days before. Taking a deep breath, Sarra hoped the priest would remember the incident and decline to wed them.
Wilt reached his hands up toward Sarra, taking her down from the saddle and placing her on the ground. Dizziness assaulted her and she wobbled back and forth. The world spun.
Wilt left her there leaning against the horse’s flank. While he was detained, she studied the line of trees. If Cedric waited nearby, she couldn’t see him.
Without warning the horse whinnied and shifted. Sarra twisted her head to search for the cause of the disturbance. The zig-zagged tail of an animal was slithering under a bush. A tremble of fear sent her heart to racing. She backed away huddling closer to the horse right as Wilt returned. He was more frustrated than ever.
There Your Heart Will Be Also Page 17