Once her hands were secured behind her back, the two older women helped her to her feet. They left her a bit of leeway not having tied her wrists tightly together. Rhona was sure her mother was responsible. They sat her against the wall on the pallet and tied her ankles together.
Beside her on the pallet was the bag of gold. Rhona knew what the old leather pouch carried. Hamish explained all to her, once they were married. The necklace other baubles and the gems were apparently still in the keep. She would ask Edan about it when they were alone.
Rhona pushed back against the wall behind her. The other women and two lads made themselves comfortable on the floor. They all were facing Edan. Jean sat in front and before her were her two sons, Adie nine years old and Blane seven.
Edan took his sgian from his boot then looked at Adie. "Adie, lad can ye use a sgian?"
The lad nodded and Edan beckoned him forward. "If I give ye tha sgian and tha wood, can ye trim off the wee knobs an peel tha bark for me?"
"Och, surely Edan." The boy sat down next to the fireplace, so he might place the shavings and bark in it.
Edan braced both hands on his knees and looked at the assembled women. "We're ah sorry lot. Ye've only me an me lame, at that. Even were I strong as Sampson, I would be hard pressed tae get enough done tae keep us through tha coming winter. Nor would I be able tae fight off tha scavengers who are going tae descend on us quite soon. Therefore, ye of MacGrough, I see nae other choice, but tae take us tae Glasgow."
There was a collective sigh from the assembled women. Adie looked up at Edan in surprise. The branch dangled from his hand. With a clatter Edan's sgian slipped from the lad's hand to land on the hearth. "Leave tha glen? We're leaving our home?" The boy asked as fear caused the boy's eyes to widen.
"Laddie, I see nae other way. If we try tae stay here over tha winter, there'll be naught, but bones come spring. Hamish gave me ah duty tae look after tha clan. There is nae where else for us tae go."
Rhona felt her eyes fill. She shook her head to clear away the tears, as she could not use her hands. They would lose their land. Land MacGroughs had lived on for centuries. It could only get worse from the look on Edan's face.
"We need tae bury our laird. We will see tae it this afternoon. I've thought about it carefully. We will put him under tha lip of tha old quarry. If we collapse tha ledge down over him none will be tha wiser."
"I will need help. Glynis, Jean ye tae will help me. Tomorrow, we will take down Daracha and Cadha's looms. As we have three horses, one will pull the big cart. We will take tha chests in my workshop. Fill them with whatever provisions are left from winter which will keep. Then, ye may put personal goods on top. If they dinnae want tae close properly tie tha things shut. Those will go in tha big cart. We have tha small pony cart for tha looms. By tomorrow eve we need tae be on tha road tae Glasgow."
He looked around at the stunned faces of the women. Only Glynis was dry eyed.
Softly, he continued. "God's mercy be on us. I'm sorry we cannae stay here. But we're tae few. Were there even three other good men we would try tae hold tha glen."
There were tears on all the faces. Edan pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers. Glynis' eyes filled and she brushed the back of her hand over her face once. With a shake of her dark head, she addressed Edan.
"We need ah place for Rut and Nairna to ride, an for Rhona, as all three are with child."
"I'm nae with child! Hamish was wrong. I will stay here. I'm nae leaving tha glen."
"Rhona, ye are......"
Edan was cut off by Cadha. The old woman rose and went to stand before Rhona. "Answer me true, Rhona. Did Hamish tell ye ah babe was inside ye before he left?"
Rhona could not lie to her. Cadha knew he had. It would do her no good to lie. Rhona hung her head. "Aye, he did. But I dinnae feel anything. My food stays down an I'm nae tired. Shouldn't I feel something?"
Evina rose to stand next to Cadha. "Nae always, lass. There're women who suddenly wake tae find they're three, or more months along. They get bigger an their monthly ceases. Naught else."
Rhona lifted her head to stare at the circle of women around her. Jean nodded in verification of the truth of Evina's words.
Edan cleared his throat. Rhona looked over at him.
"Are you ah honorable woman, Rhona? If ye give yur word will ye keep it? I've nae wish tae keep ye tied up until tha bairn comes. Will ye give me ye word tae wait nine months do naught rash an stay together with tha clan? If ye do so, if ye swear on Hamish's grave tae abide by tha terms I will let ye go unbound. After the nine months pass, ye may go where ye wish."
Rhona stared into his odd colored eyes. Edan knew if she swore to honor the agreement on Hamish's grave she would do so. She was in a corner. Edan's words check mated her and he knew it. She tried to stall, but he would not allow it.
"Is your honor as tha wife of MacGrough worth anything? Will ye swear?"
She spit the words out he was waiting for. It was a reasonable thing to ask of her, for Hamish's sake. Rhona could not refuse.
"Aye. Ye miserable, misbegotten son of ah Campbell I swear tae it. I will abide by yur terms on tha bones of my Hamish, my beloved, I swear it."
Edan looked over at Adie who was still working on his walking staff. "Adie, lad, go cut Rhona free. She has given her word in front of tha clan. Ye have my sgian, so cut her bonds."
The lad did as Edan requested. First her ankles were freed. Rhona turned so he might reach her hands. Once she was free, Adie went back to his place on the hearth.
"Edan, I have ah request tae make." All eyes went to Gara. "Will ye give me leave tae go live with my sister once ye're settled in Glasgow? She is ah widow as well who was married tae ah MacNab. I ken she is living in tha city. If ye have need of me I will stay, but I am nae sure what help I can be."
"Will ye give me tha same as I asked of Rhona? Will ye give me nine months Gara? If ye are of tha same mind afterward then ye have my blessing."
"I give ye my word, Edan. Ye have me for nine months. Enough time tae get all the bairns intae this world."
Chapter Four
Gara rose from the floor. She stretched for a moment before stepping up to the bed where Edan sat. "Now laddie, I must look at tha leg. Ye've worked it over hard along with other things." Gara gave Rhona a hard look.
The young woman lowered her face, keeping her eyes on the floor.
"I've my trews on here, Gara. Mayhap, if ye all left tha cottage for ah while..."
The color in his cheeks amused Gara. She chuckled softly. Young Nairna, widow of Ailean, gave Gara a sharp look, as she rose from the floor. The tear tracks down her cheeks and the rounded stomach caused Gara's slight smile to disappear. The older woman turned to put an arm over Nairna's shoulder.
"I ken, Nairna. I've lost my man an my laddie. But I've learned ye must take what sweet there is from life. Ye'll have ah bairn tae raise. It willnae grow strong an true, if all it feels is sorrow."
Gara brushed the fine red hairs from the girl's freckled face, then cupped her chin in one hand. "I will need water tae tend tae tha Laird's injuries. Take tha bucket an Rut with ye tae tha burn an draw me ah bit of water. Tha short walk will do ye both good."
Looking around her, Gara began issuing orders. "Rhona, Jean, Kyla, go prepare Hamish as best ye can. I wouldnae unwrap him, mind? Perhaps add another plaid. If ye go down to tha keep there's several older ones up stairs. Search tha small room looking west."
Gara glanced at the other women. "Tha rest of ye go along. Get down tae tha keep. Look in tha smokehouse an make note of what is there. Will all fit in Edan's chests? What are we taking? Get on with it."
Once everyone, but Adie was out of the cottage, Gara pulled a blanket from the pallet on the floor and handed it to Edan. "Drape it over ye, undo yer trews an let's have ah look here."
"I'll be right with ah bit of rest."
"Ye've had ah "bit o' rest". All night an ye cannae walk on yur own yet. If ye want me tae unhitch yur tre
ws an feel around yur manly parts...."
Edan turned bright pink again. With his eyes on the blanket, he snatched it from her hand. Spreading it across his lap, Edan undid the tie which held his trews up. Those he wore were not made of cloth, but of soft leather. They hung loosely on his legs, so as not to expose his disability to anyone unnecessarily.
They were a design of Gara's when Edan was Adie's age. They gave him protection for his leg and heart. Hiding the workings of the brace helped Edan feel more normal.
"Lift yerself up, Edan, an I will pull them from yur legs." Gara told him softly.
She knelt down in front of him removed his boots and pulled the leather down. The short brace was curved to hold his calf muscle. There was a sheepskin lining to cushion his leg. The sheep skin went down under his heel to form a cup.
Untying the straps which held the brace in place, Gara set it to one side. She looked up at Edan, then turned to Adie.
"Adie, my lad, I'll need ye tae go down tae my cottage. There's ah basket next tae tha door. Can ye bring it please? An be quick, lad."
Adie laid the branch he peeled the bark from on the hearth and handed Edan his knife back.
"I'll hurry, Gara. Here's yur sgian, Edan. I'll finish when I return." The boy dashed out the door.
"Lie back for ah bit, Edan. It will take tha lad ah while tae fetch tha basket. Ye ken yur muscle is twitching, I can see tha spasms."
"I thought as much." He swung his legs up onto the bed.
Gara rose and pulled another blanket from the pallet, which she put over him. Edan put his arm under his head. Eyes closed, he allowed himself to drift into a semi sleep state.
When Rut and Nairna returned with the bucket of water, Gara put some into the kettle to heat, before she shooed the two young women outside. "Go along with ye. Ye need tae go tae yur cottages an get yur personal belongings sorted out. Ye can nae take all, so make yur selections carefully. An remember, we are going intae enemy territory. Ye will need tae look respectable, ketches an tha like instead of wild highland lassies with unbound hair."
A short time later, Edan was nearly asleep when he felt Gara touch his right ankle.
"Alright, laddie, I've ah warm cloth tae put on tha leg. First ah pad beneath ye tae keep tha bed dry. Ken?"
"Aye, Gara. Do what ye must."
While others might fuss and argue with her, Edan was always compliant. Gara knew it came from all the years she cared for him. It was difficult to know when Edan was in pain, as he hid it well. When the first cloth became cool she placed a fresh warm cloth on Edan's leg.
"Hamish always felt guilty over yur leg. He always thought he should have looked in on ye an yur mither tha first time he heard ye crying."
"I ken. I always told him it was nae his fault. She died an that, was that."
He lay there with those odd eyes of his closed. One muscled arm lay under his head. She had treated him enough to know his chest and shoulders were as well muscled as any man. Edan's left leg was just as it should be. The right calf muscle was the problem, as the bone beneath was twisted in a green break when he was but a few hours old.
Gara was the one who heard Hamish's anguished cry on finding his stepmother dead. Hamish was but a child himself nearly seven. He did not recognize the reason for the blood all over the Laird's room.
Birk left the keep to chase reivers who were trying to make off with the cattle. His second wife, having just given birth to her first child, was left alone for too long. Gara and Cadha made a pact. No one need know the poor woman became despondent and opened her veins. Somehow, Edan was pushed off the bed. His right leg caught between the bed and the cradle was twisted out of shape.
The Laird was grieved enough from the loss of Hamish's mother. Knowing his second wife had purposely taken her life would have been too much. Hamish lost another mother and Edan was denied both a mother and a life free from physical pain. It was a tragedy the two women kept between themselves.
She and Cadha were too inexperienced to understand what dagers Lioslaith faced after giving birth. It never again happened to another woman under their care. The two of them cleaned up the room and 1poor Lioslaith while tending to the two brothers. One clanswoman was still nursing and was able to nurse Edan, so he lived.
Now, he was the only one alive who could be affected by the truth. But the secret would remain within the hearts of the two women. There was no reason to burden the young Laird with more. Their poor, twisted limbed laird, had enough to deal with as it was. Hamish left him a heavy burden.
Adie returned with her basket. Gara found the salve within. Rubbing some on her hands the older woman began to stroke Edan's calf muscle. Fastening her hands above the muscle she exerted a firm pressure, as she stroked downward toward his ankle.
The heat began to build, as she worked the tight muscle with the horseradish salve. Edan's breathing slowed and she knew he was asleep. Using her thumbs Gara massaged the muscle deeply. Then, she rose from the bed.
Adie looked up at her from his work at the hearth. The branch was coming along nicely. The boy was almost finished making Edan a good walking staff. Gara nodded to Adie, with a smile as she put a finger up to her lips. Adie nodded in understanding. He was to let the laird sleep.
Gara went outside and closed the door quietly behind her. She knew where Edan intended to put Hamish to rest. They would get Hamish to the quarry, as Edan slept. Then someone would fetch him when it was time. But he needed the rest. The morrow would be difficult enough.
Beneath the tree, sheltered from the sun, the three women were gathered around Hamish's body. Rhona was sobbing as she knelt beside him. Rocking back and forth on the ground both her arms were wrapped around her body.
Jean and Kyla were tying the plaid tightly around the corpse. Gara sent Jean into the corrie to bring back a horse. They would take Hamish to the site on the sledge, then come back for Edan with the horse.
On Jean's return, Gara and Jean went to the stable for the rock sledge. When they returned and were loading Hamish onto the sledge, Edan came out of the cottage with Adie. Without a word he took the reins of the horse from Gara and began to lead the animal back over the narrow trail to the quarry.
The sound of sobbing grew behind Edan as they got closer to the quarry. It woke a sadness in him, which threatened to overwhelm him. Edan turned to anger to help him get through what must be done. Inwardly, he cursed all who were traitors and sold Scotland's freedom for favors from the Sassenach.
Several times the sledge caught on exposed roots. Each time Edan and the horse managed to pull it through. When they came to the narrow ledge, Edan alone lifted Hamish into the crevice beneath the overhang.
Edan turned to Gara. "What do we speak over him? Do ye ken tha words?"
With the back of her hand over her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks, Gara negatively shook her head. He looked to Rhona, but she was being held by her mother. Edan was not even sure she could walk.
Turning back to the cliff face, he knew it was left to him. "Dear God. Ye already have my brother an my kin. They're all good men an we give them into yur care."
Without another glance at the women and children behind him, Edan started up the cliff. What Gara did to his leg, helped. Not that he cared, other than it made it easier to get up the rock face.
Using his hands and left leg as much as possible he made his way up to the ledge directly above where Hamish lay. Large rocks lay on the terrace having fallen there over the years the quarry was unused.
Edan began pushing the loose rocks over the edge of the cliff. Some he strained to move, others went easily. They crashed down on the ledge causing dust and rock chips to fly in all directions. As he was nearing the end of his strength, there was a great noise. More dirt and rock flew upward, covering him in a cloud of choking dust.
He looked down at the women below him. Gara looked up and beckoned him downward. It was done. Now, he must get the women and children out of the glen.
Under cover of the
dust cloud, Edan coughed as he cried. Sitting for a moment, supposedly to catch his breath on a large rock, Edan bowed his head as he wiped his face with a dirty hand.
"Rest easy, brother. I will do tha best I can. Please God, it will be good enough."
Edan began to climb back down the cliff. Once down, he looked at the ledge. Rocks were scattered everywhere, but the place where Hamish lay was well covered. The narrow rock shelf collapsed entombing The MacGrough. It worked.
He sent the two young boys back to the stable with the sledge. They took the broad trail from the quarry to the keep. When the sledge was in the stable they were to take the horse back to the corrie.
Tomorrow, the move to Glasgow would begin. Edan hung back as the women filed down the game trail. He wanted to be alone. Edan was feeling as if he had been crushed beneath the stone with Hamish.
Chapter Five
Even working as hard as they could the clan was not quite ready to leave the glen the following day. Edan did not like the delay. As he worried about the gold and the women under his care, sleep eluded him. Edan crept quietly out of the great hall in the keep where they chose to sleep for the night.
The women sought the comfort of being together. He was happy to keep them together for safety's sake, so all were content with the arrangement. Thinking trouble would likely come from the general direction of Campbell lands, Edan made his way quietly up the stairs to his old room, taking the pouch with him.
There were two very good hiding places there, if necessary. After opening the shutters over the window which faced west, Edan carried over a chest to sit on before the window. The faint light of the stars lit the sleeping land below him. Every bush and rise of ground he knew intimately.
Edan shifted uncomfortably on the trunk. He had hoped to be gone, as he could not stand the thought of leaving. Leaning forward he rubbed the top of his leg between the straps. Rubbing would do no good, as he was not able to reach the back of his leg through the brace. This night, nothing gave him ease.
The Twisted Laird Page 3