Highland Sanctuary

by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

  "A siege? But why? We're living in peaceful times 'round here." Philip crinkled his brown eyes and stroked his gray beard.

  "Trust me on this, my friend. I need to get Serena inside where it's safe and dry." Gavin guided his horse from the stone gatehouse and raced across the courtyard. He dismounted and reached up for Serena. She slid into his arms, her wet body molding to his. He breathed deeply to clear his mind.

  "What about my garments?" Her blue lips trembled as she spoke. Serena slipped her arms around his neck. He liked the feeling in spite of her freezing fingers.

  "I'll come back for them. They're soaked through right now and won't be any good to ye."

  She rested her wet head against his chest, accepting his answer. Yawning, Serena covered her mouth. "I'm so tired. I usually sleep a lot after one of my fits."

  Gavin carried her through the side door and to the great hall. Servants were readying the tables for the evening meal. All eyes turned toward them.

  A lass hurried over, wringing her hands in worry. As if remembering her manners, she dropped into a curtsy, her brown hair in curls beneath her white head piece. An apron covered her gray gown. She lifted dark eyes to Gavin.

  "My name's Doreen. Is Serena all right?" She touched her hand to her stomach.

  Serena lifted her head and turned to her friend. "Aye, but I'm verra tired. Gavin brought me here to stay. I'm in a bit of trouble."

  "What kind of trouble?" Doreen blinked brown eyes and wrinkled her brows in concern.

  "Gavin, ye can set me down now." He tilted her and she landed on her feet. "Thank ye."

  In spite of the ache in his throbbing arms, he was sorry to release her. The empty feeling felt strange. Serena did things to him he couldn't understand. "Why don't ye go get settled in a chamber, while I find Iain and explain everything?"

  "Aye." Serena brushed her wet strands behind her ears, her pale face a stark contrast to her black hair. "I appreciate ye telling him for me. I need some time to deal with things." She turned to Doreen and linked arms with her as they left the hall. "I'll tell ye what I can."

  Gavin headed to the library and knocked on the door. "'Tis Gavin. I need to speak with ye."

  "Come in." Iain said.

  Opening the door, Gavin saw Iain sitting in a chair reading a book by a candelabra. He looked up, snapping it closed. "Sit down." He gestured to a chair across from him.

  Gavin told him what happened in town, about Serena's history of fits, and how the townspeople were on their way. When he finished, Gavin steepled his fingers. "Can we count on yer protection for Serena?"

  "Of course, I'll do my best. Like ye, I don't believe in this evil claim. It's rubbish!"

  A knock sounded at the door. A servant peeked in. "My laird, please forgive me for the disturbance, but a crowd of people are at the gate demanding entrance. Philip would like to know if ye wish him to let them in."

  Iain met Gavin's gaze. "Too bad the storm didn't delay them a wee bit longer. 'Twould appear this mob is quite determined."

  Evelina wiped Gunna's feverish forehead with a wet cloth. Her breathing was worse as she languished on the box bed shivering in spite of the warm summer day.

  After waving Serena and Gavin off, Evelina had recognized a brewing storm in the distant sky. Her heavy heart had lifted in hope. Mayhap the rains would do more than cool the air and would hinder the mob from continuing on their quest.

  "Gunna, the rains are coming to cool ye off a wee bit." Evelina covered her limp hand with her own. She kissed the cold, hard knuckles, already the shade of powdered ashes. "Hang on if ye can. Tomas will soon be here. Let him bless ye one more time before ye go."

  She laid her forehead against Gunna's arm, her skin now clammy. Evelina closed her eyes and let the grief flow freely. Warm tears slipped through her eyelids. With Serena away, she had no need to hide the swirling pain.

  Not only had Gunna been Serena's nursemaid, but she had first taken care of Evelina during her childhood. When Evelina's parents had forced her into an arranged marriage, she refused to part with Gunna. She may have been young, but she knew her marriage would lack love, passion, and tenderness. Gunna's friendship was all she had until Serena's birth.

  Thunder shook the cottage, much like the crumbling foundation of their lives with Gunna's passing and the town's discovery of Serena's secret. Things would never be the same again. They had been happy here.

  At first, settling in a wee cottage had been hard. Evelina had grown up in a large manor with plenty of servants to attend her. She had been surrounded with a multitude of stylish gowns and jewelry and had an education. Evelina had done her best to protect Serena from that world, while preparing her for the unknown—to live by faith. Serena would now be in the Lord's hands.

  She lifted her head, realizing her tears had puddled on Gunna's wrinkled arm. She mopped them up with the sleeve of her gown and traced her fingers to Gunna's elbow. In the past, Gunna would pull her arm away in laughter, saying, "Dearie me, lass, but that tickles, it does." Evelina longed to hear her laugh again.

  A determined knock sounded at the door. Evelina straightened, wiping away the evidence of her grief, and sighed. She rose to her feet.

  A second knock rattled the door.

  Tomas would have already called out. It had to be someone else.

  She braced herself and strode to the door. Another rumble of thunder echoed. It must have kept her from hearing her visitor ride up. The door squeaked as she cracked it open and peered through. At least twenty men sat on horses staring at her with grim expressions.

  Rain pounded their heads, flattening their hair to the scalp. It hit the ground like small pebbles. A clergyman holding a plaid over his head stepped forward, his gray eyes unreadable. "We came to see the lass that fell down in a fit earlier today at the market."

  "She isn't here." Evelina clutched the door until her knuckles turned white.

  "Does she not live here?" He tilted his dark head, regarding her with doubt. Stepping closer, he lowered his voice. "My name is Jamieson Kendrick, vicar of St. Gilbert's Cathedral. I only wanted to talk to her and put to rest the fears of these townspeople."

  "Aye, she lives here, but she isn't here." Evelina glanced at the other men behind him. "I'd offer ye shelter from the rain, but I fear the place isn't big enough for all of them."

  "Nay." He shook his head. "There's no need. Will ye not tell me where she is?"

  "Nay. I see no women among ye and there's a good number of men to be chasing a simple lass." Evelina faced him, determined to stay strong and show no fear. She willed her heart to beat steadily.

  Vicar Kendrick blinked and set his jaw at an angle. "The people who witnessed her falling fit believe she may be demon possessed. I agreed to come and check out their claims to keep them from storming yer home and causing unnecessary harm."

  "There's not an evil bone in her body." Evelina forced herself to swallow, keeping her tone even. "Ye can ask Father Tomas. He's known her from infancy."

  "And where is Tomas?" His eyes flickered like hard flint. "It's been a while since I've seen him."

  "He should be here soon. I've sent someone to fetch him." Evelina tried to control the trembling in her voice. "An auld woman who has lived with us for many years is dying, and I hoped Father Tomas would arrive in time to say the last rites over her." She looked away before he could further witness her distress.

  Vicar Kendrick glanced up at the sky, blinking as drops of rain slipped beneath the plaid he held. "He may be detained by the storm." A thin trail of water rolled from his moving lips, down his chin, and dripped onto his chest. "I could say her last rites. I'd consider it an honor for the inconvenience we've caused."

  Evelina opened her mouth to reject the offer, but paused. What if she could win this man's favor and influence him into believing Serena's innocence? Would his word carry weight with the local kirk? She needed to consider every possible option. Father Tomas had always said, "The Lord's ways are a mystery and higher than man's ways."


  "The others would wait out here, of course." He leaned forward as if sensing her willingness.

  "In the storm?" Lightning lit the sky in flashes of white. "Father Tomas will come in spite of the weather. I've no doubt of it."

  He grinned, revealing slight lines around his gray eyes. "They'll be in the rain whether we remain here or carry on our journey. 'Twill only detain us a wee bit."

  Detain them? Wasn't that exactly what she wanted? It would give Gavin time to get Serena behind the safety of the castle gates to explain the situation to the laird and devise a plan. "Where will ye go from here?"

  "To Braigh Castle. The Earl of Caithness says she's a servant there."

  Evelina worked hard to keep her expression free of her thoughts. She stepped back and held the door wide. "Ye're welcome to come in."

  Vicar Kendrick turned and explained to the rest of the men that they would continue on to Braigh Castle after he gave the last rites to a dying woman. Their expressions ranged from frustration to confusion, but no one dared speak against the vicar. They murmured among themselves.

  "Good day, gentleman!" Tomas said behind them.

  Evelina breathed a sigh of relief. The men parted. Tomas made his way through them. Vicar Kendrick continued holding the plaid over his head and turned. Tomas paused. As the men faced each other, instant tension clung in the air like thick smoke. Evelina folded her arms, even more uncomfortable than before.

  "F-father K-kendrick." Tomas acknowledged him with a nod. His confidence vanished and stammering replaced it. Evelina's heart turned over in fear. He had to recover his nerves. She needed him right now. "What brings ye this far from t-town?"

  "I'm glad ye've come," Evelina said. "I don't know how much time Gunna has."

  "Then I'm not too late?" Tomas stepped around Vicar Kendrick.

  Evelina shook her head.

  "Father Kendrick, ye coming in?" He glanced over his shoulder.

  "Tomas, we need to talk. I was hoping ye'd help me with a difficult matter," Vicar Kendrick said.

  "Indeed, just as s-soon as I've taken care of Gunna." He stepped to the bedside and took Gunna's stiff hand in his. Tomas bowed his head and began praying.

  It was the longest prayer Evelina had ever heard. She smiled to herself, knowing Tomas intended to give Gavin and Serena more time. Finally, he made the sign of the cross. "Amen."

  "I hope that long prayer wasn't meant to stall me. Besides the men waiting for me outside, another group traveled straight to the castle and didn't stop here," Father Kendrick said. "Even though we had no proof that Serena is there, the Earl of Caithness is with them. As Iain MacBraigh's cousin, he believes he might have some influence on the laird."

  Hogan Lennox stormed into the great hall where Iain and Gavin waited in matching chairs carved of oak with tall backs. Gavin stretched his long legs, crossing them at the ankles. He gripped the armrests and braced himself for the earl's anger.

  "Iain, what is the meaning of this?" His cloudy eyes first rested on the laird and then slithered to Gavin. His lips twisted in obvious contempt. Resting one hand on the hilt of the sword at his side, he dropped his other fisted hand on his hip. "Why won't ye let my men at arms gain entrance? 'Tis an insult that ye hold them at the gate with strange men from another clan."

  "I realize it may seem untoward, cousin, but I've my reasons. To what do we owe yer unexpected visit?" Iain kept his mild expression calm, to Gavin's relief. Yet he noticed Iain didn't offer the earl a seat, and he'd never before witnessed the laird's lack of manners.

  "Yer cold greeting is verra distressful." Hogan stroked his thick gray beard, glancing at Gavin. "I would speak privately with ye."

  "Gavin and I haven't finished our business as yet. He's trustworthy. Ye may speak in front of him."

  Silence lengthened between them. Gavin kept still as the two of them stared at each other. Hogan blinked first, folded his arms, and adopted a warrior's stance. "Verra well. I came to warn ye about Serena, the lass that works for ye, but it looks like I didn't make it in time."

  "What about her?" Iain kept a steady gaze.

  "She was at the market this morn with him," Hogan pointed at Gavin. "I'm assuming ye've already heard the news of what happened—or at least their version of it."

  "Aye." Iain launched into the description Gavin had related to him. When he finished Iain crossed his ankle over his knee and raised an eyebrow. "Does that sum up everything for ye?"

  "Indeed." Hogan nodded his gray head and straightened his shoulders. "A clergyman from St. Gilbert's Cathedral will soon be here with several townspeople who witnessed how the lass behaved. Do ye intend to deny a man of God entrance into yer home? I'd advise against it. They'll all think she's bewitched ye. Such an action could seal her fate before she even has a chance to stand trial."

  "Trial?" Gavin repeated, not liking the direction of this conversation. "Have ye already determined she's to stand trial, then? No one from the kirk has seen her as yet."

  "Too many people witnessed her falling fit to question their word against hers. The matter will not be ignored." Hogan's menacing glare boiled Gavin's temper. He gripped the chair arms.

  "I was there and only a handful of people really saw what happened. The rest could see naught for the bodies that bent over her. The majority could only hear the boastful screams of the woman selling medicine herbs."

  Hogan ignored Gavin. "Iain, I've counseled ye before on the foolishness of keeping this Village of Outcasts. They've been naught but trouble for yer uncle and now ye. The land where they live is fertile. With hard-working souls, it could turn a nice profit for ye. But these vagabonds living there now will do naught but drain yer coffers."

  Gavin felt the color drain from his face as his heart paced. Iain must have sensed his anger for he held up his palm to keep Hogan silent.

  "Ye surprise me, cousin. For one so determined to cast off evil, ye take no delight in holding those dear to God in value. Those outcasts or vagabonds as ye've called them, have a soul and deserve as much compassion for their conditions as those worthy of praise for achievements."

  Hogan's face darkened as he looked down at the floor. After a few moments he took a deep breath. "I've compassion for those who canna help themselves, but ye must admit there's evil in the village. Have ye not heard of the strange things happening of late? Cattle reiving is a common thing among feuding clans, borderlands, and the poor trying to sustain themselves, but pure killing and the laying to waste of good beef? What would be the witless purpose unless it's a sacrificial offering? And the attack upon the blind lass? Or the fire outside the kirk, locking people inside? These are the works of evil."

  "I'll have ye know that Serena and her family were locked inside with the rest of us." Gavin shook with anger. "If ye expect yer argument to hold merit, ye need to do better."

  Taking a couple of steps toward him, Hogan glared as if he wanted to pierce him with a bow and arrow. "Nay, but none of these strange acts took place before ye arrived. Should that be ignored? I think not."

  "If ye've an accusation to make, mon, then make it. Otherwise, 'twould be prudent of ye to examine yer thoughts before sharing them. I was in the kirk as well when the fire was set, as were most all my men."

  "Most . . . but not all." Hogan grinned like a man who had caught his prey. "Mayhap, ye have a traitor among ye, one who is angry with a ruling ye gave or feels overlooked next to yer favorites." He gestured to Gavin. "What say ye to that?"

  "Only this, if I do have a traitor, Serena Boyd canna be guilty of the sorcery ye claim."

  "Maybe not the strange events in the village, but there still remains the matter of her falling fit. Try and explain that one."