Abducted, Book 8

by Marti Talbott

  CHAPTER IX

  “SHE IS FOUND!” CAME the shouts of the men who rode swiftly into the MacGreagor glen the next morning. Soon everyone was rejoicing and could not wait to question the men—Is she hurt, was there a war and when will they arrive?

  The entire clan was delighted to hear their men, their laird and his daughter would soon be arriving—all but Blanka and Thomas. In the courtyard with the gathering crowd, Thomas folded his arms and just watched. Blanka found an empty place next to him, folded her arms and watched Thomas more often than the happy crowd.

  There had to be a way out of her mess and perhaps there was, if Thomas felt the same as she. Only he said nothing, did not leave his hand in hers longer than was necessary and she could not be sure. Yet, she felt his warmth when they were together instead of the cold reserve of her father’s guards, and hoped she did not mistake his meaning. Then again, all the MacGreagor men seemed uncommonly friendly and helpful. Perhaps she felt his warmth because she so desperately wanted to. It was all very confusing. Now, Justin was coming home and perhaps he would want to walk with her instead, in the tradition of courtships. “Will you walk with me?” she asked him finally.

  The cool morning air felt wonderful after yet another hot night and Thomas was happy she asked. She chose to walk the path beside the river this time and although she might have been in a little more danger than in the glen, he did not object. They walked in silence only because he could think of nothing to say.

  “You are very quiet this day. Is something amiss?” she asked.

  He liked the sound of the rushing water, the smell of the air away from the smoke of the hearths and most of all, he liked being with her. It was an honor to protect her but dangerous to fall in love with a woman who might well be his laird’s next wife. “Nothing is amiss. I enjoy quiet occasionally and once Paisley is recovered, we’ll not likely be able to hear ourselves think.”

  Blanka smiled. “I look forward to that.” She bent down and when she did, she reached for his hand to keep from falling. Then she picked up a small blue rock and examined it. As though she had not noticed the feel of her hand in his, she let go and went to the edge of the river. Kneeling down, she washed the rock in the edge of the water and once more took his hand when he offered it to help her stand up.

  Thomas was not pleased. The last thing he needed was for her to touch him and the temptation to take her in his arms was becoming a plague on his mind. But what could he do? It was normal and natural to give his hand to her whenever she needed it. Save for meals, he had been with her constantly, walking, sitting on the logs near the graveyard under the shade of the trees, or watching the children play in the courtyard where the two of them could sit on the short wall together. He liked her smile, loved her laughter and even appreciated the way she liked to tease him. It was almost as if she fancied him as well.

  “What do you do, I mean when you are not with me.”

  “I am a hunter.”

  “A hunter? Then you know these woods very well. Justin’s sister said there is a waterfall not far away. Is it so?”

  “Aye, but it is not safe there, at least not just now.”

  She flashed her smile at him. “But when it is safe, will you take me.”

  He truly wanted to and would if given the chance, but he had to wait until Justin came home and who knew what that might mean? “If it is permitted,” he managed to mutter.

  “Permitted by your laird?”

  “Aye.”

  She sighed and kept strolling down the path. “I am torn.”

  “How so?”

  “I want very much for your Paisley to be safe, but I do not look forward to your laird’s return.”

  “Will your father force you to marry him?”

  Blanka looked away for a moment. “He will try, but as I said, I will not welcome it. A life with that sort of husband is much more demanding than most. ‘Tis hard enough being the daughter of a laird. Did your parents take you to run and play in a meadow, perhaps with a noon meal and plenty to drink?”

  “Aye, they took us often.”

  “I have never been.”

  He stopped and looked at her to see if she was teasing him. “Never?”

  “Not even once. Father always had much to do. How I longed to put out my arms and spin around and around in the pleasant meadows where wildflowers grow. I dreamed of seeing rabbits hop, or a deer with her fawn, or even a red fox. I have seen none of those, save after they are dead, and even if Father had taken us, we would have been surrounded by lads to protect us.”

  Thomas was reminded of his duties, glanced around to make certain they were safe before he said, “Have you never seen a waterfall?”

  “Once, but it was on our way here and father would not let us linger. We filled our flasks and moved on. There is no arguing with my father.”

  “Aye, but a laird must be stern to keep his clan under his command.”

  “Not that stern. Even if it is necessary, I do not wish it on my children. I want them to run and play, do their mischief and then watch them sleep peacefully at night. My mother is required to be with Father the whole evening through and she often complains of missing our youth.”

  “You would prefer a candle maker, a tanner or even a hunter?” Thomas asked.

  “I care not what he does as long as he loves me.”

  “Yet you are kind and you do not withhold your smiles. You will make a good mistress.”

  “Perhaps, but her smile fades when a lass is miserable. At least my mother’s has. I could never be happy with a lad who is forced to consider me, by a father who believes he does the right thing. My father is wrong and I care not to pay the price for his error.”

  “But will you be able to talk your father out of it?”

  “He will not listen to me, he never has before. I am condemned unless your laird does not prefer me.” She started them walking again. “Perhaps I might grow a longer nose or put some sort of unsightly mole on the end of it. There is always...”

  She was making him laugh on the outside, but inside he was miserable. There had to be a way to claim her and just now he decided he would, even if he had to face an upset Justin to do it.

  STILL IN THE MEADOW surrounded by men, Paisley abruptly sat up and loudly said, “I do not want to die.”

  She frightened the men, who quickly looked around to see what the danger was, but there were no intruders or wild animals.

  Justin quickly took her in his arms. “You are safe, Paisley. ‘Tis only a bad dream.”

  Her heart was pounding and she struggled to calm her labored breathing. In her dream, Blathan had MacAlister’s eyes, was holding a blade to her neck and starting to cut. At length, she closed her eyes and relaxed against her father. “I am sorry, Father, I did not mean to wake you.”

  “Perhaps more wine will help you go back to sleep.”

  “I thirst, but for water,” she whispered. “I fear I will never get enough water.”

  Justin looked around and accepted the flask of water a wide-awake Chisholm handed him.

  As soon as she finished drinking, she relaxed against her father again. “Is Sawney truly well?”

  “Truly, he was very brave, for a laddie his age. Do you wish to tell me about your dream?” She shook her head, so he tried again. “You liked telling me well enough when you were a wee babe.”

  Again she shook her head. “I only want to bathe and sleep in my own bed. Can we not get an early start?”

  Justin smiled. It was not that early. “It appears everyone is awake.” He looked at his men and when several nodded, he kissed her forehead. “Will the ride hurt you?”

  “Not if she rides with you,” Shaw put in, beginning to fold his plaid. “You are getting old and your chest is softer.”

  Justin glared at Shaw, but the men laughed and even Paisley managed to giggle.

  THOMAS AND BLANKA WERE back in time to watch two MacGreagor warriors and Leslie ride out to meet Paisley at the river. Neither of them
had a solution to the problem and neither managed to tell the other how they felt, but it was there; the feeling of closeness and belonging, and both of them knew it.

  PAISLEY WAS DISTURBED. The ride seated in front of Justin on the jostling horse with one leg on each side was uncomfortable at best, especially after so many hours on Blathan‘s horse. Normally, she would have loved seeing the forest on both sides of the path, watching the birds in the air and smelling the pine trees. She would also have been proud to be with so many hearty MacGreagor warriors, but what to do, to help Blathan plagued her mind.

  Twice, she looked back to make sure Chisholm was still with them and when they finally reached the path that would take him home, she made Justin stop. She got off the horse and as she walked back through the line of men, she saw him dismount as well.

  Without thinking, she started to touch him and then dropped her hand. “Thank you, I shall never forget.” Realizing everyone was watching her, she lowered her eyes. “Will you come again? I was not there to greet you the last time.”

  “I will be honored.” He wanted to show her how much, but he slightly bowed instead and got back on his horse. He turned his steed around to get one more look at her before he hurried up the path toward his home. He would return soon, furthermore, he was encouraged enough to believe she loved him too.

  THE MACGREAGORS FINISHED riding through the narrow valley between two hills and were about to go around the last curve in the path before reaching the river when Paisley suddenly said, “Father, please stop.”

  He immediately halted the men and his horse. “Are you hurting?”

  “Aye,” she answered, “but I need my comfort more.”

  “Spread out,” Justin shouted. He found a place out of sight in the woods where he thought she would be safe and then left her alone.

  “Blathan,” she whispered. “What about Blathan?” The thought of him dying at the hands of Laird Keith, because he let her live, upset her even more than it had in the night, and she had thought of little else. Soon the clan would see her alive, gossip would quickly spread, if it hadn’t already, and how long could it be before Laird Keith guessed his order had been disobeyed? At length, she walked back to her father.

  She drank from the flask he offered her, carefully wiped the spillage off her painful chin and looked up at him. “Promise you will not attack.”

  Justin was taken aback. “MacAlister is dead, I have no cause to attack save for the lad who took you.”

  She hesitated, but it had to be said, “There was another. Promise you will let him live.”

  “Who?”

  By then, all her uncles were within hearing. “Father, please promise me first. There was one who helped me and I do not wish him to die.”

  Justin feared what he was about to hear and was reluctant to agree, but he nodded.

  It was the first time she noticed her scarf was gone, but she dismissed that worry. “In the forest I happened upon a few Keith warriors. They thought MacAlister sent me to spy on them and even though I told them who I was, and that I was lost, they did not believe me. They took me to their village to see what their laird said to do with me. Blathan is the name of the lad who saved me”

  “They took you east,” said Justin.

  “Aye.” She stopped and took a couple of steps away from her father to collect her thoughts. “I wore my scarf and when Laird Keith took it off and discovered the color of my hair, he was enraged. He shouted at Blathan in English, which he supposed I did not understand.” Again she stopped and took another two steps away. Justin liked to pace when he was upset and everyone knew not to get in his way.

  “Go on, why was Keith enraged?”

  “He said you would think he took me and attack his village. So he...”

  “He what, Paisley?”

  She lightly bit her lip and hesitated, but it had to be said. “He told Blathan to kill me and leave my body where it would be discovered.” She could see the rage building in her father’s eyes and quickly went on. “But Father, Blathan disobeyed. He even turned his back so I could run off. If you attack the Keith village, you might kill him by mistake—if his laird has not already killed him. He disobeyed a command and as soon as Laird Keith hears I am alive...” She let her words fall away and watched to see what her father would do.

  Justin looked at Shaw and then calmed himself for her sake. “Why did Keith want your body found?”

  “So you would stop looking and never suspect him.”

  Shaw rolled his eyes. “As if no one would ever tell of a strange lass brought to him and then taken away.”

  That was something Paisley had not considered. “Wearing a green scarf and MacAlister colors,” she added. Then she looked at her father again. “You would have heard anyway, so he ordered my death for nothing.”

  “Aye, he is a foolish lad,” said Justin. “What would you have me do to help this Blathan?”

  “I do not know, what can be done? Surely he is in danger and he has a wife and children.”

  Justin went to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Let me worry about Blathan. There is a bath, proper clothing and your sister waiting at the river.”

  “Truly?”

  “Truly.” He helped her back on the horse, swung up behind her and started them home again. But he could not help himself, he was seething. Dare a man order the death of his daughter?

  Riding side by side in front of Justin, Shaw and Ginnion exchanged glances. They knew what their laird was thinking and it would be all they could do to keep Justin from going after Keith by himself. They needed a plan and quickly before they got home. Shaw looked back and just as he expected, Justin’s eyes were narrowed and his jaw was set.

  CHISHOLM WAS HOME FINALLY, the courtyard was full of the normal number of barterers and when he looked toward the pasture, he was not surprised to find the MacDuff brothers sleeping with the dog on his back between them. A paw jerked to shoo away a fly, but otherwise none of them stirred. Chisholm smiled, dismounted and let a boy take his horse away. Then he slapped his second on the back, “We found her, she is alive.”

  The man heaved a great sigh of relief, “Did you truly promise the reward to the MacDuff brothers? They have been pestering me.”

  “Aye, see that they take their pick.”

  “Consider it done. I look forward to hearing all about her rescue, but first, you look like death. Have you not slept?”

  “Some.”

  As soon as Chisholm disappeared behind the door of his keep, his second began spreading the word. “MacGreagor’s daughter has been found alive.” The gossip went from person to person and as soon as the barterers headed home in four different directions, the whole of Scotland would have something new to talk about.

  BLATHAN KEITH WAS WORRIED about what to tell his laird, but in the end he only said, “The deed is done.” He was grateful not to have to explain further and once Laird Keith nodded, he quickly left the great hall to see his wife and children. The next morning, he was still worried. Eventually word would come either of her death or her rescue, and he hoped for the latter even if he had to pay the price. He had not killed a woman and of that he was glad. Perhaps he could swear he thought she was dead and believed he hit her hard enough to kill her. Perhaps Laird Keith would believe him...he hoped.

  JUST AS HE PROMISED, her sister and two of Justin’s men were waiting for Paisley when they reached the river. They crossed the river first, and then Justin led the way around a bend and found a shallow place in the water where she could bathe without being seen.

  Happy to see each other, the sisters embraced and held on for several long moments. The eldest of Justin’s daughters, Leslie, wiped her tears of joy away and smiled. “You need a bath.”

  “Finally someone agrees with me.” Paisley headed toward the edge of the water.

  “Whose clothing are these?” she asked looking Paisley up and down.

  “I have much to tell you.” She waited for the men to turn their backs and thoug
ht about MacAlister‘s wife. She could not imagine letting them watch and gratefully, none of them dared to. She untied Rona’s dagger, suddenly remembered something and bowed her head.

  “What is it, sister?”

  “The belt Sawney made for me, I have left it.”

  Leslie laid the clean clothing and soap down on a rock and put her hands on her hips, “Do not fear, I will protect you from all your brothers.”

  Paisley couldn’t help but smile. “Did you happen to bring another? I care not to put MacAlister’s belt back on.”

  “Forgive me, I did not think to, nor did I remember a brush. I was so happy you were safe it was all I could do to remember to bring this much.”

  Paisley sighed and took off her shoes, “The clan is used to seeing me with wet hair and at least I will not smell.” She untied the belt and let the disgusting MacAlister plaid fall to the ground. Then she slipped out of her shirt, took the chunk of soap her sister handed her and waded into the water. It was a little bit colder than she expected, but to get clean again she could easily bear it. Careful not to get caught by the river currents, she waded out as far as she could and then submerged to wet her hair.

  Sawney’s missing belt was just one more insult MacAlister managed to put on her and suddenly it was too much. Her tears began again but this time no one could see her.

  His back to his nieces, Shaw kept his eyes straight ahead. “What do you mean to do?”

  Justin took a deep breath. “I mean to welcome my daughter home and then decide.”

  It was Justin’s way of saying they would discuss it later where Paisley could not hear and Shaw was satisfied with that. “Perhaps we should have another feast and invite Laird Graham.”