The Twisted Laird

by Cherime MacFarlane

  As it was, Tally had every right to insist the job be done without pay. MacGrough owed him for staying in the warehouse on Gruggie's Burn. Ian's turning the property over in exchange for the barrels was far too generous. Ian was developing a soft spot.

  With a snort, Tally looked out the window and down the drive. Whatever was the fool thinking? First he gave away good land, then he wanted Tally to overlook a debt. Ian was quickly becoming a liability. The only reason he was still working with the big idiot was because he was family.

  Movement at the head of the drive caught his eye. There was a horseman coming toward the house. When the animal turned to make its way toward the rear, where the stable was located, Tally knew his messenger had returned.

  Tapping the handle of his letter opener on the edge of the desk, Tally waited impatiently for the man to make his way to the library.

  Hesitating slightly inside the door, the man bobbed his head. "Sir?"

  "Come in here man!" Tally shouted and immediately wished he hadn't. Putting a hand to his head, Smith closed his eyes. "Get yur arse in an close tha door, quiet like."

  "Aye, sir."

  Hearing the soft click of the door closing, Tally opened his eyes carefully. "What news from Ian? Has tha merchant been spotted?"

  The other man was flapping his bonnet back and forth. The motion irritated Tally. "Damn all! Be still ye bloody arse! Nae news ahtall?"

  Now the servant was bobbing his head in agreement. Much like a bloody bird. He thought to himself. Anger boiled up in Smith, causing his head to ache even more. It was time for debts to be made good.

  "Get out o' here! Hie yurself down tae tha docks. Find Williams an bring tha bugger back with ye. I dinnae care what tha bloody hell he may be doing, I want him now. There's debts tae be called in an I'm tired of waiting tae be paid."

  Turning on his heel with a mumbled "aye", the servant left Tally's library as quickly as he could manage it. Striding over to the pull cord, Tally summoned his butler.

  "Tea, man an quickly. I'm in nae mood tae be 1trifled with." Smith growled out at Mackey.

  When the tea arrived, Tally poured a good measure of brandy into the cup and added fragrant brown sugar. After a few sips, his head began to clear and the ache was greatly reduced. An I'll feel better when that arse of ah offal eating Highlander has been put in his place. Talley took another sip of the brandy laced tea as he watched the drive. It was not long until the servant and Williams rode up the drive to the house.

  Williams knocked lightly on the library door. Tally's frown deepened while he silently laughed at them both. It appeared the servant had made sure to tell Williams of the vile temper his employer was in. That was good enough. Respect for your betters was a good thing in a servant.

  "Enter an be quick about it." Smith called out gruffly. Williams entered and closed the door gently behind him. Rising from the chair, Smith turned away so Williams would not see his grin. Scrubbing his hand across the lower part of his face, he turned back to Williams.

  "Tha Highlander, tha lame one what stayed at tha warehouse, ye ken he has ah lumber yard?"

  "Aye. Grahamston way, they're calling it Wood Lane." Williams responded quietly.

  Enjoying keeping the man on his toes, Tally nodded. He did not let on that he had not heard the new name for the area. It would not do for them all to begin thinking they knew more than he did. "Tonight, there's only ah sliver of ah moon. Ye ken?"

  Williams nodded silently in agreement.

  "Get ah crew an burn tha yard tae tha ground. Torch tha whole o' it. I want only ash left, ye ken?" Williams simply nodded.

  The man wanted to ask if they were to burn the shop building just outside the lumber yard. After hearing Brody's complaints about the foul mood Tally was in and seeing it for himself, Williams decided to do exactly what he was told. There was only one thing he needed real clarification on.

  "An if tha Highlander puts up resistance? What are we tae do?" Williams asked.

  "Ye're nae likely tae meet much o' that. Tha man is lame, there's only one other full grown, healthy man there. Tha rest is naught but weans an lasses. If ye do, remember, I may need tha fool later. I'm nae sure Ian's man is gontae work out. Tha bloody MacGrough can do tha job. Keep tha harm down as much as ye can. I'm only wanting tae have him understand I will have my due. Ye ken?"

  "Aye, sir, tonight. Just before tha moon sets, ye'll be able tae see tha blaze from yur upstairs window."

  "Now, go along an gather tha men. How many do ye think ye will need? I nae want tha whole o' Glasgow tae ken. Make it as small an as tight ah crew as ye may.

  "Meself, tae others. That should do well enough. Pistols, ye think?" Williams was already thinking who he would recruit for the evening's entertainment.

  "Aye. Pistols. Speak tae Mackey an he'll see tae it. Make sure tha bloody things get back here. I'm nae giving pistols as gifts."

  Understanding he was dismissed, Williams quietly left the room. It didn't seem as if it would be too difficult to get in, burn the yard and get back out. He was glad he was not trying to set fire to the cottage. That would be a more difficult task.

  Tally did not often seek to have killing done, something which Williams was happy about. He did not like killing. It was far easier to get away with such things before the Sassenach took over. One could still manage it, but discretion was necessary. Doing a murder at the edge of Grahamston in clear sight, due to a major fire, was not discreet.

  Riding down the drive, Williams already knew which men were his first choice. He would find them and they would lay plans for the evenings work.

  Daracha was having a difficult night. She was not able to find a comfortable position in which to sleep. Edan had rubbed her back, held her and finally sang softly to his wife.

  It was very early in the morning. What little moon there was lay almost like a fingernail paring on the tips of the trees outside the window. A light fog obscured the tree trunks.

  Edan heard the sound of horses' hooves drumming along toward the cottage just as Nairna called up the stairs for all to wake. They were finally coming. Tossing the covers away, Edan hobbled out of bed. His leg was a bit stiff.

  "Edan?" Her voice was querulous, and husky with exhaustion.

  "Dress carefully, luv. Then get down tha stairs. I nae want ye alone up here. If they fire tha place..."

  "I ken. Horses, ye heard horses?"

  "I did. An Nairna did as well. They've gone past tha house. I'm thinking they mean some mischief at tha yard first. I must go, luv." Edan gave her a quick kiss as he felt for his boots. Pushing his feet into the boots without socks he hurried to the door.

  The crossbow and bolts lay on the top of the chest by the door. Edan did not bother with a shirt, as there was no time. Meeting Rhona and Jamie in the hall, he heard the other women waking the children, as they all dressed.

  "Tha yard first." Jamie said as he and Rhona followed Edan downstairs.

  "Aye." Edan agreed. "Rhona, get someone on each door and tha windows. Have Nessa stir the fire as soon as she comes down tha stairs. Jamie, with me. We'll open tha connecting door to the shop an have ah look round from tha windows. If we dinnae see aught, we'll slip out tha door and station ourselves in the backlands near tha chicken coop."

  Jamie and Rhona nodded.

  "If they're intent on tha yard, mayhap we can slip down tae tha office an waylay tha lot o' bastards there. I'm for keeping them as far from tha house as we can." Edan said quietly.

  "Aye." Jamie agreed.

  The two men carefully opened the connecting door from the house into the shop. There seemed to be torches flying around the lumber yard. A hint of flames could be seen around the edges of the shutters. Cracking the door open, both men kept low as they slipped out into the dark night surrounding them.

  Bending over, Edan led the way through the brush. Keeping a bit of distance between them in case one was seen, they finally came up on the shop.

  The three men had spent the last few hours in th
e warehouse, drinking. It all seemed like great fun. Here they were, with orders to burn the entire yard to the ground. The wood was dry and with the application of oil soaked cotton placed in strategic places, the fire was cooperating nicely.

  As the shed was part of the yard, Williams decided to burn the damn thing as well. "Cam!" He called out to one of the men. "Go set fire tae tha building. It might as well go up as nae."

  The other man jerked his horse's head around and galloped over to the shed. Not paying sufficient attention to where he was going, the man collided with the bell mounted on the side of the shed. It rang out into the night.

  The three boys were staring at the growing flames in the yard from the window of the wood shop. Adie and Callum heard the bell and stared at one another.

  "It rang three times." Adie whispered in a hoarse whisper.

  "Nae." Callum shook his dark head. "'Twas only twice. Should we go out tae help?"

  Adie grabbed the older boy's arm. "Nae! We're tae stay here an help Rhona."

  Unlatching the door, Callum pulled it open a bit and peered into the darkness. The flames were beginning to shoot into the sky, as the fire encountered pitch pockets in some of the soft wood from the colonies. A pistol shot rang out and Callum pushed on the door to close it.

  None of the boys saw Sim wander into the shop. The toddler slipped out of the box bed without being seen by Nessa, who was dealing with the twins. The boy tried to pull himself up to the window in order to see. Leaving the shop, the three lads went back into the main room. Seeing the unlatched door, the small boy walked over to pull it open.

  Daracha reached the bottom of the stairway. Walking further into the room, her gaze automatically went to the connecting door to the shop. She barely caught a glimpse of Sim dashing out the door into the night.

  Without thinking, she rushed into the shop calling to the boy as she ran. "Sim! Nae! Come in. Dinnae go out there!"

  "Daracha! Wait! I'll get him." Rhona called out as she lifted her skirts to run after her friend.

  There were small fires everywhere and several had already joined into larger blazes. Williams was satisfied they had done their job. It was time to get out before they ran into the Highlander. The man was sure to be guarding his house. Williams doubted he would try to save the lumber. It was too far gone.

  Yelling at Cam and his brother Dougie, he urged them on back up the lane past the house. Screaming at the top of their lungs the other two men pounded up the lane toward Broomielaw Street.

  Williams did not see the toddler or the woman reaching out to grab the child until his animal reared in fright. A crossbow bolt slammed into the animal's haunch. Eyes wild, the horse tried to pull away from the frightening thing in its peripheral vision. Screaming in agony, the horse was out of control.

  Daracha saw the horse spin with its hindquarters toward them. Holding Sim tightly to her, she turned to run.

  Rhona was only a short distance away. Dropping the crossbow, she pumped harder as she reached out to pull Daracha from the path of the frightened animal.

  It was all moving so slowly. Rhona heard Edan's voice over the horses' screams. There was noise everywhere. Just as Rhona's fingers closed over Daracha's the horse lashed out with both hind feet. Striking the woman fully in the back, the blow catapulted Daracha into Rhona's arms. Both women went down, the toddler between them.

  Then the horse was gone. Rhona looked up into the Edan's eyes. He was cursing her for not taking care of those in the house. Pulling Daracha up into his arms, Edan carried her into the house.

  Jamie picked Rhona up from the ground with one arm, as he reached out to pull the screaming toddler to him.

  Shaking, as if in the grip of a fever, Rhona looked up at Jamie. "She wouldnae stop. I said I would get him. She wouldnae stop."

  "Wheesht! Come along, lass. Ye an tha wean need tae get inside." Cradling the child in the crook of his arm, Jamie took Rhona by the arm to tug her along.

  Kyla came running up and snatched the boy from Jamie's hold. Jamie lifted Rhona up into his arms and carried her toward the house. Where there had been chaos, the interior of the cottage was now horribly quiet. There was the sound of muted voices in the room above. Jamie put Rhona on her feet in front of a chair before gently pushing her down into the seat.

  Rhona watched Gara hurriedly fill a small bowl with warm water from the kettle on the hearth. Kyla pushed Sim into Lara's arms and strode over to Rhona. "Here now. Are ye hurt? Let me see."

  Rhona shook her head. "I dinnae ken. Daracha? What of her? Tha damnable horse kicked her. What of tha bairn?" Following Gara with her eyes, Rhona watched the old healer hurry up the stairs. "Gara?" she called out to the healer.

  Kyla took Rhona's face in both hands and forced her to look at her. "Lass, let me see if ye're injured. Here now, let me look. Gara and Nessa are with her. I'll tend tae ye."

  Grabbing the other woman by the shoulders, Rhona pulled Kyla's face close. "I'd have gotten him. I told her tae wait, she wouldnae." Rhona's voice began to rise and she was shaking Kyla. "'Twasnae my fault. She wouldnae listen. I would have gotten yur wean."

  Breaking Rhona's hold on her, Kyla pulled Rhona tightly against her body. Rhona broke into great sobs. Kyla held Rhona's head against her stomach and the other woman's arms went around her. Kyla and Jamie exchanged glances.

  Laying a hand on her dark head, Jamie stroked Rhona's hair. "'Tis nae yur fault. Wheesht, lass. We ken."

  Chapter Forty - One

  Not sure of the time, Rhona moved her chair closer to the fire. She felt cold, but did not want to go upstairs to get a shawl. Cuddling Cadell to her helped somewhat. The infant's warmth soaked into her.

  The sounds from above her were muted and not the normal sounds of childbirth. Nessa had come down earlier to tell everyone it appeared Daracha had gone into labor. Kyla and the older woman had a quick conversation. Catching the phrase, "cannae feel her legs", Rhona closed her eyes and lowered her head.

  The horse had damaged Daracha far more than anyone realized. Rhona's eyes filled with tears. Her friend was badly injured and Rhona was not sure Daracha would live. Cadha came to sit beside Rhona. Daracha's grandmother had wrapped herself in her arisaid. Hugging herself, Cadha was softly praying, as she rocked on the stool.

  Glancing quickly over at the older woman, Rhona reached across the small gap and took her hand. Cadha leaned her head over onto Rhona's shoulder and the two women sat silently by the fire, waiting.

  Cadell woke and Rut walked over to take the infant from his mother. Relieved of the weight in her left arm, Rhona slid her chair over closer to Daracha's grandmother. Tugging her hand from that of the older woman she placed one arm over her shoulder and hugged her.

  Putting the kettle on to heat, Nairna quietly asked who wished a cup of tea. Neither Rhona nor Cadha responded, but others did. Once the tea was finished steeping, Nairna held a cup out to both women.

  "Here, take it. Ye both need ah wee bit of something." The young woman said as she moved the cup in a bit closer to Cadha.

  When Cadha shook her head and only buried her head tightly to Rhona's shoulder, Jamie came over.

  "Cadha, come now. Drink tha stuff. I can put ah dram of something intae it for ye. But, ye need tae take it. Nae matter what happens here today, Edan is going tae have need of ye."

  Faded blue eyes full of tears looked at Jamie where he squatted on the floor in front of her. "Tis nae right. I dinnae want tae outlive my weans. God's asking tae much o' me."

  "Aye. But, ye ken who is going tae be suffering right along with ye. If he loses tha both..." Jamie shook his blond head. "I cannae fathom how Edan will deal with it."

  Cadha took the cup and sat up. Holding it in both hands, she sipped at the liquid.

  Jamie stared into Rhona's face. "He's going tae be hurting, lass."

  She understood how horribly this would hurt Edan. Rhona thought of all the times she had spied on Edan and Daracha. Of all the people in this room, she had a better grasp of their re
lationship. Sweet, spicy Daracha had brightened both their days. The worst was she had not been able to save her friend.

  If she closed her eyes, Rhona could see Daracha's outstretched fingers only barely in her grasp. Sucking in a shuddering breath, Rhona sighed. "Damnable horse. Dafty thing!"

  Someone opened the shutters downstairs. The children went into the weaving room and sat on a blanket there in the sun. The shadows slowly moved across the quiet room. Jean made porridge for the children and they ate by the fire. The little ones knew something was wrong and kept silent.

  Cadell began to fuss for his afternoon feeding and Lara brought him to Rhona. When he had nursed his fill, Lara took him away again. Rhona was grateful for the help, as she was not able to deal with him at the moment.

  It was late afternoon when the wail of an infant was heard. Cadha whispered a small prayer to God, thanking him for the birth of the child. Shortly thereafter, raised voices filtered down into the room below.

  Gara and Edan were arguing it seemed. The infant continued to scream. A wail, which seemed to come from Edan was heard for a moment then he was silent.

  Cadha moaned and reached for Rhona. "She's gone. My darling lass is gone." The old woman began to sob. Sliding off the stool onto the floor, she curled up into herself and cried.

  The infant was still crying. The three nursing mothers all understood the child's cries. It was hungry and needed to feed. Rhona stood and looked at Rut and Nairna. Both of their children were a bit older. With the twins, Rut was hard pressed to have enough milk for her two bairns.

  Gara hurried down the stairs and looked at Nairna then Rhona. "She needs tae nurse. I cannae get Edan tae turn loose o' her. Daracha is gone, but to save tha bairn, we need ah wet-nurse."

  Nairna rose from her seat at the table. Rhona shook her head at the other young woman. "I've tha most milk. I'll go."

  "He'll nae take it kindly, lass. Edan is blaming ye for her death. Mayhap ye should let Nairna go up."