“It isnae the best but there isnae much time to come up with a truly brilliant plan,” he said and he buckled on his sword. “Still, Ranald and his men are in a fairly open place and we shall have the cover of the trees until we are quite close.” He looked at her and shook his head. “And ye shouldnae be out of your bed.”
“I am nay as weak as I was, William, and if I dinnae move around a little bit now and then, how can I e’er regain the strength I have lost.”
“Ye cannae, true enough, but dinnae do too much too quickly or ye will find yourself e’en worse off than ye were.” He stopped next to her and brushed a kiss over her cheek. “Dinnae fret, Cousin, we will get him back.”
“I have faith in ye, William. Godspeed.”
It was not until William actually saw the cottage that he felt any real confidence in his plan. Ranald and his men were easily visible. Donald would have no trouble lessening the number of men with Ranald e’en from a safe distance. A few well-placed arrows would also stir up a panic amongst the men. The sight of Sir Lucas hanging from the rafters as a grinning Ranald tormented him with his sword was enough to make William’s men eager to fight and that, too, was a good thing.
“Ranald is a vicious bastard, isnae he,” murmured Patrick.
“Aye, he is and always has been. True, I have only kenned the mon since he joined forces with Agnes, but a mon like him is born and bred mean.” William looked around at his men. “Keep a close watch on Sir Lucas and kill any fool that tries to get near him.” When they all nodded, he signaled them to start moving toward the cottage.
A soft grunt echoed through the cottage followed by a cry of alarm. Lucas pulled himself free of his attempt to separate himself from the pain Ranald was inflicting and looked around. A man had fallen into his line of vision, an arrow sticking out of his back. Lucas immediately turned his full attention on Ranald, knowing that the man could well try to kill him before the ones who had come to rescue him could succeed.
“That bitch!” Ranald screamed even as he headed for the opening that had once been the door. “Kill him!” he ordered his men, pointing at Lucas just before he ran for his horse.
For one tense moment the men remaining in the cottage looked at Lucas. Some had the glint of resolve in their eyes but it was fleeting. When another one of the men fell with a dagger in his throat all interest in Lucas fled. Ranald’s men became interested in only one thing, getting out of there alive.
It was all over before Lucas could clear his mind of the pain enough to watch the battle. One other man managed to get to his horse and follow the fleeing Ranald. Two others did not even bother to fight but flung down their swords and surrendered. The rest died trying to get to their mounts.
When William and his men entered the cottage Lucas was almost able to smile. It had occurred to him at some point during Ranald’s continuous torment of him, all the little cuts and slices, that he was going to die a very slow and painful death if nothing happened to stop Ranald. Although he hurt all over, felt as if his body had been shredded into pieces and his arms pulled free of their sockets, he was still alive, and Lucas felt that was reason enough to feel jubilant.
“Wheesht, he made a mess of ye, aye?” said William as he and Patrick worked to cut Lucas free.
“Aye,” agreed Lucas as he was gently lowered to the ground. “I believe I may soon feel like screaming.”
“I am fair surprised ye havenae done so already. Ye must have a thousand cuts on ye.”
“Actually I was thinking of how my arms are going to feel in a moment.”
William grimaced. “Ah, aye.”
As the feeling came back into his arms, it took every ounce of willpower Lucas had not to weep like a bairn. Even the shallow, stinging cuts covering his body disappeared from his thoughts as waves of pain washed over him. He was breathing hard and drenched in sweat by the time the pain in his arms began to ease. Sitting on the floor taking slow, deep breaths to try and steady himself, he looked around and realized William and his men had cleared away all signs of the fight and the torture Lucas had endured. He managed a faint and fleeting smile when William crouched in front of him.
“Feeling better?” William asked.
“I dinnae feel like cutting my own throat in an attempt to stop the pain anymore,” Lucas replied.
“That bad, eh?”
“Worse.”
“Do ye think ye can make it back to the caves? We have to walk, I fear. We werenae able to grab any of the horses Ranald’s men rode here. Ranald scattered them as he fled. He didnae care that that left his men unable to flee themselves,” William said in something akin to wonder. “Only that mon Colin managed to get away.”
“And the ones who surrendered?”
“New men. Recently hired by Agnes. They were more than willing to swear that they would leave and ne’er come back. Seems Ranald fair sickened them with the way he acted tonight. Both by torturing ye and deserting his men to save his own hide. From what one of them said word will spread and Ranald may begin to find it difficult to get new men.”
“And that can only help us.” Lucas began to get to his feet and readily accepted William’s aid.
“Are ye sure ye can walk back with us? We could make a litter.”
“Nay, I believe I can make it.”
“Ye are covered in blood.”
“Many small cuts, nay more. If I fall down or slow ye down too much, then ye can make me a litter, but I would much rather make it there on my own.”
Lucas walked beside William as they headed back to the caves. The other men fanned out to keep a watch for any sign of Ranald returning with more men. William was indeed a very good soldier.
“Did Thomas make it back unharmed?” he asked, hoping that talking would help to keep his mind clear and keep him on his feet.
“He did and he made a grand show of it.” William told Lucas all about how the boy had burst into Katerina’s room and how both women had fainted.
“That will be a fine memory for the lad.”
“Aye, that it will. Just tell me when ye think ye might need a hand.”
Within a few minutes Lucas knew he was not going to make it to the caves on his own. He was increasingly lightheaded and there did not seem to be one part of him that did not hurt. It was an effort just to stand upright long enough for the men to build a litter for him. The moment it was done William moved to help him get on it and Lucas knew he more fell down than lay down. Patrick and William picked up the litter and took only a few steps before Lucas let the blackness that had been creeping into his mind take him away from the pain.
“Sweet Jesu!” Katerina felt like fainting all over again when they carried Lucas into the hall where she still waited. “I hope ye killed the bastard.”
“Sadly, nay we didnae. He and Colin escaped. Ranald is less about five men, however.” William told her about the two men they had captured and then released. “Ranald willnae find it so verra easy to hire swords anymore.”
“Good. Annie, I think it might be better if we put him in that wee niche near us. He is going to need a lot of tending. There doesnae seem to be any part of him that isnae bloody or bruised.”
“Ranald had him hung up like fresh kill and was slowly carving him up with his sword. None of them are verra deep but he has bled a lot nonetheless. I think he meant to kill the mon like that, slow and painful, one drop of blood at a time.”
“Ranald will surely burn in hell. Help me get him into bed so we can wash him clean and see just how bad it is.”
William signaled Patrick to help him carry Lucas to the little bed that had been readied for him. After advising Katerina not to do too much and get too tired, he sought his own bed. From all he could see his cousin still held deep feelings for Sir Lucas, but he was too tired to think abut how much trouble that might bring them.
Katerina sat by the little bed and helped Annie bathe each and every cut on Lucas’s body. She felt like weeping. She also felt like hunting Ranald down and gutti
ng him.
“I cannae believe one mon could do this to another, and one who was tied up and unarmed.” Katerina shook her head. “’Tis impossible to understand a mon like that.”
“Aye, it is,” agreed Annie. “Ranald is one of those men that sorely deserves to taste what he inflicts on others. It makes me fair sick to think that he wanted to get his hands on Thomas.”
Katerina found that thought so chilling she shivered. “It doesnae bear thinking on.” She studied a much cleaner Lucas closely. “I think William is right. None of these cuts are verra deep. Ranald did indeed mean to kill Lucas verra slowly and make him suffer a lot as he did it. And my half-sister has such a mon as her lover and e’en considers marrying him.”
“I think she is much akin to him, m’lady.”
Thinking of some of the things Agnes had done even as a child Katerina had to agree. “I cannae allow that woman to stay at Dunlochan.”
“It might be best to banish her when ye hold Dunlochan again. I wouldnae want a woman like that to be living in my home.”
“I couldnae e’er trust her.” Katerina gently brushed the hair from Lucas’s forehead. “At least William and the men are safe again and Ranald doesnae appear to have hurt Lucas too badly.”
“Nay, I think he will mend just fine. Go to bed, m’lady. Ye arenae fully healed yourself and need your rest. I can tend him for now. I dinnae think he will need much more than a lot of rest and a close eye kept on these cuts to make sure they dinnae get putrid or the like.”
Katrina slowly made her way back to her room, pleased that it was only a few feet away. Not only was it not too far to walk in her weakened condition but it was close enough to Lucas’s bed that she would be able to hear him if he needed anything. Shedding the robe she had thrown on after fainting, she crawled into her bed. No one had lectured her, but she knew she had pushed herself a little too hard this time.
As she closed her eyes she decided that might prove to be a good thing for it would force her to sleep despite the horrible images of Lucas in her mind. It had broken her heart to see him so pale and bloody and she knew she still loved him. He was settled so deeply into her heart she doubted she would ever dig him out. It hurt to think that he did not love her, but she knew there was little she could do about it.
What she needed to decide was what she would do about him. He had been so kind to her, so much like the old Lucas, that she had softened toward him. She could not forget his accusation, however. Unless he apologized and explained himself, she knew that would always stand between them and, even if he did renew his courting, she would doubt his words and fear more hurt at his hands.
If not love, then there was the passion that flared between them. Katerina felt she could indulge herself in that pleasure if she kept her heart sheltered. If all they shared was their desire for each other then it did not matter what he believed about her. She smiled faintly as she let sleep enfold her in its arms. It would be wonderful to feel that heat again and this time she would not be held back by her innocence and a fear of the unknown. If Lucas became her lover he would be in for a few surprises.
Chapter Eleven
Lucas grimaced as he bathed his body. He was not a pretty sight. It had taken over a week for all of the wounds Ranald had inflicted upon him to finish healing. They were still visible, however. He suspected some would even leave a scar and he already had more than enough of those. Although he was not a vain man his battered body troubled him now. He had to wonder what Katerina would think if he was lucky enough to be naked with her tonight.
Nay, not if, he told himself. When. They would make love tonight. He was absolutely certain she would welcome him into her bed. The woman had been inviting him all the time he had been healing from his wounds, tempting him with her soft kisses, her smiles, and all those little touches and strokes. Lucas had the feeling she was not offering him all she had before, however. That hurt, but he accepted the full blame for her wariness. The fact that she still desired him was something he could find some hope in, however.
“Do I really want to ken why ye are here making yourself smell all sweet and nice?”
Scowling at William, who leaned against the side of the opening to the small alcove where people could bathe if they had a wish to, Lucas asked, “Do ye really think it is any of your business?”
“She is my cousin,” William said as he walked into the little room and sat down on a stool in the corner. “In truth, she is more like a sister to me.”
“And why would ye think my bathing has aught to do with her?”
William snorted. “Because the two of ye have been wooing each other all week or more. Ye both fair stink of wanting each other.”
“Katerina is a grown woman.”
“And no longer an innocent. I ken it. I also ken it was ye who ended that innocence. And I ken that nay so long ago ye thought my cousin was the reason ye were beaten and nearly killed. Nay something I would have thought capable of stirring a mon’s lust.”
“I dinnae believe that about her any longer.” Lucas was not about to confess that even when he had believed it she had still been able to stir his lust.
“Because ye heard someone say something about it whilst ye were creeping through the hidden passages of Dunlochan?”
Lucas sighed. “Aye. I heard Ranald and Agnes admit to it all.”
“I see.” William crossed his arms on his broad chest. “Katerina’s word wasnae enough, nor was mine, yet ye suddenly ken the truth because ye hear those two telling the same tale?”
“Ye and Katerina made your distrust and dislike of those two verra clear. I shared what ye felt for Ranald, but I had no reason to think ill of Agnes. As far as I kenned, e’en Ranald had no reason to try to kill me unless someone paid him to and he claimed that someone was Katerina. I couldnae see the two of ye accusing the two of them of the crime as a good enough reason to cast aside what I had believed for a year.”
“In some strange way that actually makes sense. Ye havenae told Katerina that though, have ye?”
Lucas shook his head. “Nay, we dinnae talk about that at all.”
“So why has she been inviting ye to her bed?”
“Because, nay matter what I felt or she felt about that day by the loch or my accusations, the desire that existed between us a year ago is still there. Still strong. She cannae resist it any more than I can.”
“So, like a couple of greedy bairns, ye intend to take what ye want and worry about the consequences later.”
“I am hoping there willnae be any consequences, just rewards.” Lucas stepped out of the heavy wooden tub and began to dry himself off.
“For ye, aye, how could there not be as ye will be bedding a beautiful woman.”
“I will be bedding the woman I had intended to marry until I was beaten senseless, nearly killed, and obviously became verra confused.”
“Ye truly wished to marry her?”
“Aye. I ne’er would have taken her innocence if I hadnae meant to marry her. I was certain she was my mate, my other half, and all that.”
’Yet ye believed that she would try to have ye killed because ye smiled at another lass?”
“I ken it sounds mad, but I begin to think pain and confused memories had made me just a little mad.” Lucas shrugged and began to get dressed. “When I can understand it I will explain it all to Katerina and I am hoping she will forgive me.”
William shook his head. “I am nay sure ’tis forgiveness ye have to worry about. Katerina is a verra forgiving lass. Nay, I think your trouble is going to be that ye didnae believe her. Tis that lack of faith in her that is going to cause ye the most trouble.”
Lucas sighed. “I suspicion ye are right. Yet I cannae do anything to mend the mistakes I have made unless she is close at hand to heed whate’er I may have to say. In truth, I am nay going to talk about it all until I do get it straight in my mind.”
“Might be best, e’en if all ye can end up saying is that ye havenae any idea why ye thought
as ye did.” He stood up and walked to the hall with Lucas. “Ye mean to take whatever she may offer until ye can find a way to get what ye really want, arenae ye.”
“Aye, that is about the way of it”
“I would probably do the same.”
Lucas was not sure if that was a blessing of sorts or just an agreement to what few plans he had, but he decided not to ask. He had told William more than he had told anyone, including his twin brother, and felt a little uneasy about that. He did not think the man could or would use any of it against him. He just hoped that William did not tell Katerina everything they had just discussed. When he and Katerina finally faced that dark time in their past he wanted it to be at a time and place of his choosing and he wanted to be fully prepared for it.
“What are ye planning?” Annie asked Katerina even as she took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of whatever Katerina had put into the water.
“Why should ye think I am planning anything?” Kat asked as she stepped into the tub of hot water she and Annie had spent a long time getting filled.
“Weel, despite the fact that ye bathe and wash more than any lass I have e’er met, this is a wee bit more than ye usually do. Ye have also been spending a great deal of time with Sir Lucas. And ye just have this, weel, this look that tells me ye are planning something.”
“I am. I am going to take Sir Lucas Murray as my lover. Tonight.”
The wide-eyed look on Annie’s face made Katerina a little nervous. She could not be sure if it was shock or outrage. Although she did not really care all that much if Annie approved of what she planned to do, she definitely did not want the woman to disapprove. Annie was the closest thing she had ever had to a friend and she did not wish to lose her over this.
“But ye are a lady, a laird’s daughter, and a virgin.”
“Aye to the first two and nay to the last.” Katerina would not have thought it possible but Annie’s eyes got even bigger.
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