Highland Promise (41 page)

        "Some of these bodies have been here several months or more." A flame in Brendan's gut sparked into rage. "The killer is here."

        "Aye, and he didn't follow us to England," the commander said.

        "The bastard rode with us." Brendan stood and slammed his fist into the wall, then rubbed his gloved hand. The pain didn't extinguish his fury. "Damn it, Roland, who? I would trust any of the warriors in my guard with my life—even Tormey, who comes to mind first. He exasperates the hell out of me, but he loves women so much that I cannot believe him capable of this atrocity."

        "I cannot begin to speculate. I trust them as you do." Roland placed a hand over his nose. "Do you wish to keep quiet about what we found here?"

        "Nay. We will make it known. The clan will wish to pray for these lassies, and Suisan's parents have a right to mourn her. Hopefully when the bastard finds out we have discovered his lair, he'll do something foolish so we may catch him."

        "I wonder what kept the wolves away from this place," Roland commented.

        "The sheep. Wolves always prefer live prey."

        "What do you wish to do with the bodies?"

        Brendan headed for the door. "Send Douglas for Father Cunningham when the storm calms. We shall leave them here until Father comes to bless them. Then we will burn them with the hut."

        "Where do you go?"

        "To my wife. I'll not leave her again until the bastard is caught." Brendan paused at the door and once again surveyed the carnage. He wanted to memorize this scene. It would feed his rage until justice was met. "I intend to rip him apart with my bare hands."

        "Your guard will take offense that you no longer trust them," Roland cautioned.

        "Faith is more important to me than their prides." Brendan stormed out into the raging winds and rain. Nature's wrath fed his own as he made his way back to Jamie's hut.

        Another daunting thought besieged him. Both Michael's wife and Alera had warned that Faith was stalked by evil. Michael's wife had actually called the killer a minion of the Beast in one he trusted. Terror like he had never known gripped Brendan. He had to protect Faith. He couldn't imagine facing the rest of his life without her. Her love gave him strength—made life worth living. She was his promise for a future.

        As he made his way back to her, he did something he hadn't done in a long while. He prayed. "Saint Michael, drive the evil one into Hell where he belongs. And Saint Raphael, if anything does happen, I beseech thee now.

        Save Faith. I fear I cannot live without the lass."

~ * ~

        The man was making her daft.

        After the scare of seeing all those poor dead souls, Faith gratefully accepted Brendan's constant attendance. His presence gave her a sense of security, though she worried about his refusal to speak of the matter. His protection increased over the ensuing days. She couldn't even attend to her most personal needs without him nearby.

        Members of the clan were outraged. Tensions ran high as the warriors doubled the watch about the mountain. Women left their homes only in pairs.

        The first snow came and lasted for three days, forcing Faith to remain indoors. The confinement left Brendan pacing the hall. Since he was driving her to distraction before the end of the first day, she didn't know how she would survive the winter. She felt like she was in a cage with a hungry bear. She mentioned they needed to find an indoor activity to stem his agitation. His response was to toss her over his shoulder and carry her to their bedchamber where he kept her in a rapturous daze until the snow quit falling.

        Faith tried to stick to her routine of helping Kirsten, playing chess with Alfrid, weaving, and telling stories to Heather and Sabina. She hoped a little normalcy would keep her from caving in to hovering fears of when the killer might strike again.

        The first day after the snowfall ceased, they visited Kirsten and Jamie. Brendan refused to leave her. Faith realized he no longer trusted his men to protect her. She questioned him about this as they returned to the keep, but he simply said her safety was his responsibility. That was also when her husband came up with the daft notion to teach her how to wield a dagger.

        Her first lesson came that very day after the noon meal. All the warriors gathered about to offer insults. She felt like she had two left hands. Brendan didn't help her ineptitude either. He stood behind her, wrapping one strong arm about her waist as he guided her aim. How was she supposed to concentrate when all she could think about was the lust quivering in her womb? She wanted to turn around and kiss him until he forgot about the target.

        "For heaven's sake, Brendan," she complained. "Even my sister couldn't teach me. I have not the skill, nor the need. You would never let anyone near enough to harm me."

        For some reason, her compliment irritated him. He became even more critical of her technique. Judging by their laughter and mirthful comments, Heather and the warriors enjoyed her pitiful display.

        By mid-afternoon, Faith had a headache worse than any her husband ever suffered. She was about to call a halt to the instructions when Annis burst into the hall. Tears streamed down her ruddy cheeks. "My babe is

missing!" she wailed. "I cannot find my Sabina!"

        The cook was so distraught, it took Gemma and Faith a good while to learn that the child had been missing since the meal.

        The scene in the cottage flashed through Faith's mind. She anxiously turned to Brendan. "Do you think the killer has her?"

        "Nay," he replied. "Sabina is too young for his tastes. She probably wandered off to play in the snow. I will send men to search for her."

        "You must go too," she said. "She is but a child and will surely freeze if not found soon."

        The stubborn man shook his head. "I'll not leave you here unguarded, and you would not tolerate exposure to this cold."

        Faith didn't wish to be unguarded either, but there was no telling how long it would take to find Sabina. Every man was needed for the search. Faith's gaze fell on Alfrid. She faced Brendan with a triumphant smile. "I'll be well protected. Alfrid is here. Gemma, Annis, Heather, and I shall remain in the hall with him."

        The elder drew his shoulders back as pride straightened his spine. Brendan still looked skeptical, so she lowered her voice. "The killer will not take me where witnesses could see him. And you should take Dog. He will sniff Sabina out and hasten your search."

        "You are not to leave the hall until I return," he ordered grudgingly.

        "I shall not budge," she promised.

        Brendan gave her a quick, hard kiss then left with the wolfhound and his men.

        Faith guided Annis over to the hearth area and had the woman sit in a high-backed chair. Alfrid took his seat at the gametable across from Heather and proceeded to teach the young lass how to play chess. Gemma busied herself making lamb's wool in a crock over the fire, saying the men would need the hot spicy apple cider when they returned. Faith thought Gemma didn't want to deal with her weeping friend, but understood her reluctance. Annis was in a pitiful state. The mere mention of Sabina's name set off a new round of wailing.

        "I just know my wee precious will be frozen to death afore they find her," the cook exclaimed.

        "You must have hope, Annis." Faith knelt before the cook and took hold of one of her pudgy hands. "Sabina is probably playing inside by a cozy fire with some of the other children."

        Annis dabbed at her eyes with her apron. "The lass got some daft notion about being outside in this terrible weather. I found her lying in the snow with Heather this morning, waving her arms about and laughing."

        "Heather, what were you doing out in the snow?" Faith asked sternly.

        "Making snow angels and having great fun." Heather scrunched her face into a peeved frown. "We wanted to go slide on the ice, but Sabina had to go inside."

        "But there is not enough ice to support a body until after… Oh, Lord!" Faith jumped to her feet. "Alfrid, I think she has gone to the loch at the base of the north mountain to slide on the ice."

        Alfrid shook his head. "Not possible, the ice will be too thin. I doubt the ice will freeze enough to hold much weight for another few weeks."

        "I must hurry and find Brendan so he can save her." Faith rushed to her chamber and bundled herself against the weather. Then she descended the stairs and rushed toward the rear door of the keep.

        Alfrid blocked her exit. "The laird will have my head if anything happens to you. How do you even think to find him?"

        "I shall get a rope from the stables and ride straight to the pond. Dog is bound to be leading them in that direction." Faith tied a scarf under her chin and turned to the housekeeper. "Gemma, prepare a bath by the hearth, so we can warm Sabina when we get back."

        "Aye, milady, I will see to it."

        Alfrid muttered something about hardheaded women and grabbed a pelt from a peg near the hearth. Then he opened the door.

        "Where are you going?" Faith asked. "You must stay to protect Gemma, Heather, and Annis."

        The elder grunted and ushered her outside. "They will be safe enough until I return. I am going to the stables to help you saddle a horse, or did you think to ride bareback?"

        "I did not think of that," she said, hurrying down the path to the stables.

        "I'd wager you didn't think much on this scheme at all," he grumbled, following close behind her.

        Once they reached the stables, Alfrid went for a saddle. Faith marched straight to the stall that held Brendan's black stallion. The horse tossed his head and reared in the small space. Faith's heart did a tumble. She reminded herself of the urgency of the situation and swallowed her fear. She spoke in soothing tones to the horse and he calmed down.

        "You think to ride the laird's own mount?" Alfrid asked astonished.

        Faith led the horse from the stall. "Aye, he knows me."

        "The laird will see me drawn and quartered for this," the elder muttered, hefting the saddled onto the stallion's back. "Especially if this brute tosses you in the snow."

        "This horse would never hurt me. He knows I belong to Brendan." Faith tried to convince herself, but didn't think it wise to tell Alfrid that fact. The Good Lord knew just standing close to the giant creature made her impervious to the cold. She was so hot her brow and palms were sweating.

        After double-checking the cinch, Alfrid helped Faith mount. He handed her a rope, which she secured sash-style over one shoulder. Then he handed over the reins. "You are bound to meet some icy patches. Just guide the beast and let him set the pace."

She nodded, unable to speak over the lump in her throat.

"God go with you, milady."

        "He will," she managed to rasp out. "And do not worry about the laird's wrath. I'll tell him I saddled the horse myself."

        Alfrid rolled his eyes and opened the stable gate.

        Brendan's horse left the stable at a brisk pace. Faith clutched at the pommel and held the reins in a death grip. She promised her Maker four litanies a day for a month if He helped her find Brendan before his horse killed her. The stallion slipped on the icy decline, but quickly righted himself. Faith added a promise for an extra month of litanies to the Blessed Virgin if she would use her influence with her Son to convince Him to grant the favor soon.

        Near the base of the mountain, someone shouted her name. She spotted Luthias running toward her on her left.

        Relief rippled through her. Drawing on the reins, she called back, "Where is Brendan?"

        "Damn it, Faith, what are you doing on that beast?" her husband's enraged bellow came from behind her.

        She turned and found him striding toward her. His presence relieved her so much she felt the cold again. "Your horse is stronger than the gray. And before you get angry, we must hurry. I think Sabina has gone to the loch to slide on the ice."

        Brendan mounted behind her.

        "I'm glad I found you so fast. Your horse has me scared out of my wits."

        "You should be more afraid of me, but we'll discuss your disobedience later." Brendan called to Luthias to rally the clansmen to the loch, then nudged his mount into action.

        Faith was too worried about Sabina to worry about her husband's threat. She pressed close to him, but received little relief from the biting cold.

        They arrived at the lake to find Sabina about ten yards out, sitting on the thin ice. The child's teeth chattered loud enough to wake the hibernating wildlife, but she didn't respond to their repeated calls.

        Brendan dismounted and turned to Faith. "Tie one end of the rope to the saddle and hand me the other end."

        "You cannot walk out there. The ice will break under your weight. I'll go."

        "Faith—"

        "'Twill be safer for the strongest person to stay on land and pull."

        Brendan gave in and helped her dismount. He tied one end of the rope around the stallion's neck and the other end about her waist. Then he kissed her. "Walk lightly and come back if the ice begins cracking beneath you."

        She nodded and presented him with a big smile, so he wouldn't worry so much. She reasoned she was worrying enough for both of them. With suspended breath, she inched across the ice toward the girl. Groaning sounds from the thinly frozen loch echoed in her ears. Her belly coiled into tight knots. She kept reminding herself that Brendan would pull her back if she fell through.

        Reaching Sabina, Faith placed a gloved hand on the girl's shoulder. The child raised a terrified red-chafed face and whimpered. Then she pointed to her foot.

        "Hurry and bring her back," Brendan called.