Beloved Secrets, Book 3

by Marti Talbott

  “The north tower is worse,” Evander said. “I cannae think why Hendry has not noticed.”

  “Is that why my mother fell – because the wall is crumbling?”

  “Did Glenna not tell you about that?”

  “If she did, I was too wee to understand.”

  “Next time you look up at the north tower, take notice of the two stones missing from the window’s ledge. Your mother put her hands on them and when she leaned out, they gave way.”

  “Apparently, I know less about my parents than I thought.” Very carefully, Shaw stepped out onto the highest level of the tower and made his way to the large, open air window that faced south. The midmorning sun allowed him to see a good distance, but in most places, the forest was too thick to see someone unless they moved. It was unlikely she was there, for the forests had been thoroughly searched. In the distance, green and blue rolling hills lacked trees, making it easy to spot a traveler if there was one – Shaw saw no one there either.

  Evander thoughtfully rubbed his forehead. “Where do you suppose he left her?” Shaw did not answer. “Perhaps she is in the castle somewhere?” He went back down the stairs and the two of them began to search the castle room by room. They opened every door, looked in every closet, checked every possible hiding place, and climbed each of the staircases except the ones leading to the towers. The last place they looked was atop the inner courtyard wall.

  Satisfied Lexine was not in the castle, Shaw and Evander went down the stairs, out the door, into the inner courtyard and looked up “He is in the north tower just as you guessed,” said Shaw. “Do you suppose he carried her up there?”

  “Hendry?” Evander scoffed. “He is too slothful to carry his own firewood. He demanded I bring him some yesterday and I said I would – the moment I had time. Unfortunately, I have not yet found the time.”

  “No wonder the castle is so cold. Jamie never let it get that cold inside.”

  “We were happy to fetch firewood for Jamie.”

  Shaw opened the outer door and let Evander walk through first. “Last night, Lexine said she was going to collect the rest of her things this morning. I should have offered to go with her.”

  “I can see how she might have gone early this morning so she could avoid seein’ Hendry, but alone? Did she not know Hendry was dangerous after what he did to her cottage?”

  “’Tis worse than that.” Shaw stood in the outer courtyard with his back to the north tower. “She thinks Hendry killed Jamie’s son.”

  “What?”

  “She has no proof, but the laddie was fine when she put him to bed that night. The next mornin’, he had passed, and...”

  “And what?”

  “She suspects her son dinna die in his sleep for his eyes were wide open.”

  Evander considered that for a very long moment. “As you say, ‘tis not proof. Still, if she thought that, she would not have gone to the castle to collect her things alone at night or even in the morning.”

  “Unless she went to accuse him?”

  There was little more to say and nowhere left to search, so Evander went home and Shaw went to comfort Glenna. When he arrived, his aunt had the little girls in the cottage she shared with Shaw. They were fed, warm, and playing on the floor. “You dinna find her, did you,” she asked.

  “Nay.” He went to the table, sat down, and poured himself a goblet of water.

  Distraught, Glenna sat on the edge of her bed and covered her face with both hands. “Will this madness never end?”

  Shaw took pity, went to her, gathered his aunt in his arms, and let her cry. He remembered he had not learned how to build the first burial box and now they probably needed two, but then they had but one body to bury...so far anyway. Lexine should have accused Hendry in front of everyone and Shaw might have advised her to do just that, if he had thought to. Now he feared it was too late.

  When Glenna managed to collect herself, she left his arms and took a seat at the table. “’Tis I who should raise Jamie’s daughters. There is no other left to do it properly. They must be taught the stories.” She suddenly thought of something. “Did Jamie teach you the stories?”

  “Some of them.”

  Shaw began to gather his things. He didn’t have much except a change of clothes and his comb. He stared for a moment at his brother’s clothes still hanging on the wall, decided he might need them, and gathered them in his arms too. “I shall sleep in one of the empty cottages.”

  “Find a newer cottage, one where Hendry cannae keep a constant eye on you.”

  Shaw smiled and went to the door. “Perhaps I should let him keep a constant eye on me. From the way he looked at me earlier, he likely suspects I know he killed her. Let his soul be troubled each time he sees me – if he has a soul.”

  “But you will take care, for I cannae lose you as well. I cannae bear it.”

  “I shall be careful. I have no desire to die, particularly at his hands.”

  CHAPTER 6

  THE OLD COTTAGE SHAW chose to live in faced the castle and needed a good cleaning. The last residents – a family that went north in spring, left a bed and some bedding behind. As well, there was a table and two chairs, although all that remained of eating and cooking utensils was a child’s wooden spoon. He made a mental note to see what he could find in the other abandoned cottages. Shaw shrugged, stripped the only bed, took the blankets outside, and gave them a good shaking. It was not until he finished that he realized shaking blankets made his ribs hurt some and reminded himself to be a little more mindful. Nevertheless, he borrowed Glenna’s broom and began to sweep away the cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling. It was then he noticed a name carved in the wood just above the door.

  “Jessup,” he muttered.

  It took a little while, but he believed...yes, there was an old story about someone named Jessup. Shaw smiled. He remembered more of the old stories than he thought. Jamie loved telling them to anyone willing to listen, and often of an evening he sat outside with all the children gathered around him. Shaw was not certain when he thought himself too old to listen, but now he would give anything to hear them once more.

  He sighed. If only those days had not passed so quickly.

  He wondered once more how the MacGreagors who left the glen were doing. Did they have shelter and find good land that was not already occupied, or were they on their way back. Any day now, he expected someone to come and tell them. Perhaps if all was well, he would take Glenna and go north after all. Then again, he could not leave the others alone to suffer Hendry’s devices.

  On a normal day, it did not take much wind to blow the dirt in from outside, and the thickness of dirt on the floor reminded him of the great wind they endured not long after the others left. He started in one corner, swept the dirt toward the door, and continued until unintentionally, he smashed the broom against a bottom board in the wall. The board fell out.

  At first, he was annoyed. All he needed was to have to mend an outside wall so he could stay warm in winter. Yet, when he looked closer, there was no sunlight streaming through the opening. Shaw set the broom aside, knelt down and stared into the hollow space. “’Tis a false wall?” he whispered.

  Something glistened, and when he reached in, he got hold of it and then cautiously pulled out an exquisitely decorated Christian cross. Five rubies were set in the center but the color of the cross was more brown than yellow. Even so, he suspected it might be gold and if it was, he had just found Jamie’s funds. Careful not to damage the settings, Shaw began to rub it with the back of his sleeve. The more he polished, the more the brown turned to a pale yellow, and when he turned it this way and that, there was no doubt in his mind that it was gold. Next, he set the cross down and pulled out a gold figurine of a woman, the value of which he could not even imagine.

  He put both back and then reached for a small leather pouch. The draw strings were nearly rotted away, but when he opened it and dumped the contents into his hand, several jewels filled his palm. Afra
id someone might come to the door; he hastily put the jewels back in the bag, set it back inside the wall, and then shoved the loose board in place.

  He began to resume his sweeping, and to his surprise a diamond had fallen on the floor. He leaned down, picked it up, and still concerned that someone might come to the door, thought he tucked it into the small pocket on the inside of his belt.

  It was just in time too, for as soon as he hung his clothing on nails on the wall and was ready to take the broom back, Skye appeared at his door.

  “’Tis true? You live here now?” she asked.

  “I believe you must be the last to know, for everyone else has already been here.” He could tell she did not believe him for a second.

  “I suppose you may live here until you take a wife. Then this old thing shall not do.”

  He ignored her mention of a wife, “Have you any other news?”

  “Aye. Lexine has not yet been found and tomorrow is Sunday.”

  “What about Sunday.”

  “The feast,” she said. As if he had not done a good enough job, she grabbed the broom and began to sweep.

  “I forgot about that.” Shaw took a seat at the table and carefully watched her sweep, just in case any of the other jewels had fallen out. “Tell me, do you plan to sweep my cottage every day?”

  “Not until after you marry me.”

  “Then I am saved until then.”

  “Aye, but dinna forget we are betrothed.”

  “How have you managed to think that?” he asked.

  “You gave me your pledge when we were not yet four...or was it three?”

  “Did I? I dinna remember that.”

  She set the broom in the corner, put her hands on her hips, and glared at him. “I knew you would say that.” She was thoughtful for a time as her mood changed from playful to sad. “Did Hendry kill her?”

  “I know not what happened,” he answered.

  “I think aye, and so do the others.” Shaw said nothing, so she went to the doorway, stopped and then turned around. “The edict says a lad who harms a lass shall be put to death.”

  He watched the tears well up in her eyes and a moment later, his doorway was empty. “Aye, and ‘tis the laird who is to do the killin’.”

  WITH SUNDAY MORNING came scattered, fluffy white clouds that clearly did not threaten rain, let alone lightning and thunder. With so many dead and Lexine still missing, the last thing the clan was in the mood for was a feast.

  Hendry disagreed.

  For once, he was not falling down drunk when he came out of the castle and stood on the top step. Smoke rose from the hearths of the cottages, and two of the men carried wood from the shed to their homes, but other than that, the clan seemed to be staying indoors. No tables upon which to set the many bowls of food had been brought forth and arranged in the courtyard, nor were there any chairs to sit on or a flute player to liven up the feast with music. But then, there wouldn’t be, for the flute player died in the battle too.

  Enraged, at length he filled his lungs and bellowed, “Where are you?”

  He got no answer, but one by one the people came out of their cottages. Slowly and deliberately they gathered in the courtyard, each staring at the man who dare command them.

  They carried no food, no tables, and no chairs which served to enrage Hendry further. “Did I not demand a feast? Is this not Sunday?”

  No one answered.

  Hendry finally spotted Shaw near the back of the crowd. “What is the meanin’ of this?”

  Shaw was ready for him. “Sunday is a day of rest.”

  “Aye, and of feastin’. Have we not always had our harvest feast on a Sunday?” Hendry waited for an answer. Instead, there came but a slight murmur from someone he could not see. The voice grew louder and louder until he could finally hear what the determined woman was asking.

  “Where is she?” Innis barked.

  “Why do you ask me? I know not where she is,” Hendry shot back. “Furthermore, as you have disobeyed me, I shall hereby take half the harvest for myself.”

  “Half?” a furious Skye started before she felt Shaw take hold of her elbow.

  Shaw vigorously objected. “We care not what he does, remember?”

  “So that is your answer. You dinna care what I do. Very well.” Hendry stepped down and began to make his way through the crowd. “I am in want of a wife.”

  “Come,” Shaw whispered to Skye. He took her shoulders and turned her around, but before they could walk away, he felt Hendry grab his arm.

  “I shall have Skye to wife.” Hendry shouted.

  Skye’s mother would have none of that and put herself between Hendry and her daughter. “She is not yet old enough.”

  “I say she is,” said Hendry.

  “Furthermore, she shall not have you,” her mother argued.

  Hendry studied the ground as he contemplated his next move. “This land belongs to the king. The king cannae manage it himself, so the laird is allowed to live on the land and oversee the people.” He narrowed his eyes hoping to intimidate them all. “’Tis the Laird who says who lives on the land and who dinna.”

  The threat was clear and everyone understood what Hendry meant – no bride, no land for her family to live on.

  Shaw returned Hendry’s glare and considered if he was well enough to challenge him. He feared he was not and should Hendry kill him, he would be no good to anyone. Besides, Shaw did not have a sword. No doubt someday he would have to fight Hendry, but not this day. He had another idea.

  “Well, what say you now?” Hendry bellowed.

  “I say nay,” Skye’s mother insisted. “She put her arm around Skye’s shoulders and began walking her daughter back to their cottage.

  “Come to me in the mornin’ and we shall make the arrangements,” Hendry shouted, but Skye and her mother just kept going. “Dinna walk away from me!” To his dismay, the rest of the crowd began to drift away as well, all but Shaw and Glenna. “What do you want?” he asked Glenna.

  “She is in need of a proper burial.”

  Hendry gritted his teeth, “As I have said countless times, I know not what became of her.”

  Shaw distastefully stared at the arrogant, lying man for a time more, and then turned his back and took his aunt home. As soon as she was safely inside, he went to see elder Aulay about borrowing a sword. His leg was much better, his breathing was not as painful, and soon, he hoped that too would heal enough to fight Hendry. Why it had to be him, he was not quite certain, but he somehow knew it would be.

  He was in luck, for Elder Aulay lent Shaw a very fine sword.

  AS SOON AS EVANDER and Shaw came into Skye’s cottage that evening, her mother quickly blew out the candle on the table. She hoped to make it difficult for Hendry to see in, if he should happen to be out and about.

  “What am I to do?” Skye asked. “I’ll not marry him nor will any of the other lasses.”

  “I dinna want you to,” said Shaw.

  “Nor do I,” Evander agreed.

  Skye sighed. “Then I am relieved, for I feared you were here to convince me otherwise.”

  “I say we go north and find the other MacGreagors,” her mother suggested.

  Shaw thought his idea might work better. “Suppose you see to it that he does not desire you?”

  “How?” Skye asked.

  He had not thought that far ahead. “I know not how, precisely.”

  “Even if we knew how, I doubt that would work,” Skye said. “He has fancied me these past few months and made no secret of it.” She folded her hands in her lap and stared down at them. “Mother is right; we must leave the glen and find the others.”

  “We should all leave and take the harvest with us,” Evander said.

  Skye giggled, “Take everythin’ with us.”

  “This is MacGreagor land,” Shaw reminded her. “We have fought and died to keep it, and ‘twould be a pity to abandon it now.”

  “If only the others would come back,” her m
other sighed.

  “If only the land was more worthy,” said Evander.

  Each of them remained deep in thought for a time until Skye’s mother said, “We leave in the mornin’.”

  “Is it wrong, Shaw, to leave the glen?” Skye asked.

  It looked as though she was about to cry, and he had seen enough tears lately to last a lifetime, so he stood up. “’Tis worse for you to stay. He shall not easily let you deny him and I know not what he shall do if...”

  “You mean he might kill me too?” Skye asked.

  “I fear he would,” said Evander. He too stood up and joined his friend. “Pack your things and we shall come at first light to help you load the horses.”

  They had not been gone for a full minute before Skye rushed out the door. She ran down the path and got to him just before Shaw opened the door to his cottage. “Shaw?”

  “Aye?” he asked, as he turned around.

  “I shall wait for you.”

  He drew in a deep breath, let it out, brushed a loose lock of hair off her forehead, and tried to comfort her with a smile. “I wish you a pleasant journey.”

  “Will you come find me when I am grown? I shall have somethin’ to wait for if you give me your pledge.”

  “You must not wait, for I know not what will become of me by then.”

  “Aye, but you could lie to me and say you shall come.”

  Shaw chuckled. “Very well, I promise to find you when we are grown, but I am lying.” She looked as though a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

  Skye lightly bit her lower lip. “I dinna wish to go.”

  “I know, but think of all there is to see on your journey. Perhaps the other MacGreagors have found good land, are happy and you shall be too.”

  “I pray they are. Suppose Hendry says we have stolen the horses, for there are five of us and we need to take two.”