Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (10 page)

“Aye,
they left right off, taking the news to Colin in Londontown. I told Burk that
Colin would be arriving home soon for good. I expect he should be here within a
day or so.”

“Good,
I hope he—”

“Julianna,”
a man shouted, as he walked into the hall. Walt stood beside him, and they
stopped upon seeing everyone at the table.

Julianna
stood, holding her daughter in her arms. “Colin, I’m so glad you’re home,
Brendan found Bonnie.”

The
man drew a deep rasping breath. He looked at Julianna, and in a sprint, he ran
across the hall and took Bonnie into his arms. He squeezed her tightly against
his chest, and his throat grew thick as he uttered her name. One arm held her,
and the other moved to caress her hair, arms, and legs.

“I’m
home, Papa.”

The
man appeared shaken to see Bonnie alive. He smelled her hair. His daughter held
onto him, crying, and soaking his tunic. Everyone began talking at once. Colin
held up his hand for silence. He looked as though he just wanted to hold his
daughter for now. Kate thought he might start weeping like a woman, because his
eyes grew misty, and he kept swinging Bonnie in his arms.

Kate
watched Colin MacKinnon’s reunion with his daughter with a heavy heart. Colin
was a handsome man, his hair was lighter than his brother’s, and his eyes were
green, unlike the gray ones that seared her, even now. She chanced a look at
Brendan, and saw him turn to watch his brother. He remained expressionless with
his standoffish manner.

“Papa,
I’m sorry that I didn’t—”

“Nay,
shhh, lass. I love ye, Button, and missed ye. Are you all right, unharmed?”
Colin whispered against her ear, but the hall had grown silent and everyone
could hear him.

“Aye,
Papa, I’m well ‘cause Kate saved me. She brung me home.” Bonnie placed her hand
on his face, turning it to look at her. Colin searched his wife’s face for an
explanation. “Papa, don’t make me and Kate sit in your chair.”

“Nay,
lass, I wouldn’t make you or Kate sit in my chair. Why would I do that?” Colin’s
shock must have addled him because he suddenly seemed to want to laugh at her
request. “Did I hear you correctly? My Button is home safe and sound, alive and
well, and yet you’re concerned about having to sit in my chair?”

“‘Cause
me and Kate, we were bad lassies, Papa. We did bad things to um, the lady—”

“Nay,
you’re never bad, Button. Now, who is Kate?”

They
spoke in Gaelic, and though Kate didn’t understand them, she heard her name.
Her heart lightened, seeing father and daughter hugging and whispering closely.
Their closeness made her miss her own father and her eyes dampened with tears.
She wanted to bawl, but she fought to keep her lips from trembling.

“That’s
Kate.” Bonnie pointed at her.

“Kate,
I’m Laird MacKinnon. You’ve my thanks for returning my daughter.” Colin’s voice
was deep and rolled with a heavy accent, yet it cracked with emotion that snuck
into his gratitude.

Kate
blushed, shaking her head. “That is not necessary, Laird MacKinnon, we should
all look out for the children.”

“You’re
right about that.” He placed Bonnie back on her mother’s lap, and then kissed
his wife. “I’ve missed ye. Are you well? Kevin?”

“Aye,
we’re all well, now.” She smiled.

“It’s
good to be home. We need to send word to Henry. He was very depressed when I
left him and blames himself.”

“Aye,
I’ll take care of it and send him a missive. Brendan sent men to let you know
Bonnie has returned days ago, you must have missed them,” Julianna said.

“I
was on my way home for a visit when I ran into them, and they told me about
Bonnie.” Colin looked at his brother and Gil. Brendan scowled at him and Gil
had a fat smile placed on his face. He glanced back at Kate, and she heard him
whisper to his wife. “The woman’s beauty must be causing problems. I’ll give up
my plaid for a month in a wager that these bucks are taken with her.”

Lady
Julianna nodded at him. Kate blushed, but didn’t know what he said in the
unknown language. No one in the room spoke, and everyone looked at her, even
Colin MacKinnon. Kate grew abashed at their attention. Bonnie took pity on her,
the sweet child, drawing their notice when she began talking.

“Papa.”
She tugged on his tunic. “I was too a bad lass. I left the tent ‘cause I wanted
to see the stick men. I looked for ye and Mama, och a man picked me up. I tried
to scream, even though I wasn’t supposed to. I remembered, you told me no more
screaming.”

Colin’s
look became appalled as she recited the happening. He retook her in his arms,
waiting for her to continue, and petted her head.

“But
I tried to scream anyway. The mean man put me on a horse and ridded away. He
took me to his home and his wife was mean too. She didn’t like me ‘cause I was
Scots, and she spanked me ‘cause I wouldn’t eat. I didn’t eat it ‘cause I was a
scairt. I’m sorry, Papa.”

No
one spoke or moved during the girl’s reminiscing. She continued with the
retelling after sighing. “I was there for a longed time afore Kate came. She
heard me crying and came in my room. She became the ward of the man that took
me, and she brung her cat to me. She told me I could hold it and pet it. Kate
said Trixie was good at keeping secrets. And, you know what?”

“Nay,
what, Button?” Colin’s voice shook.

“She
was aright, ‘cause she didn’t tell anyone my secrets. Kate took care of me.
She’s good, Papa, och the lady, she was mean. But Kate and me, we got back at
her. Papa, I’m sorry I was a bad lass and did those things to the lady.”

“What
did ye do, Button?”

“Oh,
no one wants to hear about that, Bonnie.” Kate tried to get her to stop talking
by shaking her head, and hoping she wouldn’t continue. Of course the girl’s
admissions were spoken in English for all to hear.

“I
want to hear it. Bonnie?” His face immediately expressed that,
you’d-better-do-as-I-say look. Unfortunately, Bonnie complied.

“We
put all kinds of insects in the lady’s bed. Kate said I was the best insect
catcher. You know why? ‘Cause I catched the biggest insects. Then Kate poured
her basin water on the lady’s head. Her hair looked pitiful, at least that’s
what Kate said. Then we put powder in the lady’s porridge and it gave her
pains, but we weren’t finished, were we, Kate?”

Kate
was mortified, and couldn’t believe Bonnie told them all the things they had
done. “Nay, Bonnie, we weren’t.” Remarkably, she sounded proud.

“We
catched fifteen toads and put ‘em in the lady’s ale barrel. That was fun ‘cause
the toads were hard to catch and were slimy, right Kate?”

Kate
nodded.

Colin,
Julianna, Brendan, Gil, and Walter, roared with laughter.

“Lass,
you weren’t bad at all, the lady deserved it.”

“Papa,
that’s not all. Then Kate put the leaves on the lady’s chair, and she got a
rash all over. We laughed ‘cause she itched and looked pitiful, just pitiful.”
Bonnie scrunched her face.

Colin
turned to Kate. “Our clan owes you a great debt for brining our daughter home.”
He returned Bonnie to her mama.

“Nay,
truly, Laird MacKinnon, I just wanted to get her home safely. Now that she’s
here, I can be on my way. It was a pleasure meeting you all.” Kate rose to take
her leave, she didn’t know why, but she felt she had to get out of there.

“Not
yet, I need to know who took her,” Colin said low.

She
stiffened at his hard words. “I’m uh … sorry I can’t … I can’t recall his name.
You see, I’m terrible with names and um … I shall send word if I recall. I
really must be leaving.” Kate stepped around her chair and walked to the door.
When she reached it, Brendan MacKinnon stood in the center of it. How had he
gotten there so quickly? And she hadn’t even noticed he move from his seat.

“Katie,
sit back down.” Brendan spoke low so only she could hear.

She
colored at the way he’d said her name. “I must leave, sir, please … move out of
my way.” She began to panic, because they weren’t going to let her leave. Her
chest tightened, and she didn’t know what to do.

“How
far do ye think you’re going to get, lass? You have no horse and no escort. Are
you planning to walk back to England? You’ll likely get lost.” Brendan’s snide
voice stiffened her spine.

She
hadn’t anywhere to go and the likelihood of reaching Henry was slim, especially
if she had no way of traveling or no knowledge of where she was headed. A sob
tore from her mouth and she wanted to cry. She felt a rush of dizziness wash
over her.

“You’re
not leaving, come back to the table. You look as though you’ll fall to the
floor.” He took her arm, and seemed surprised when he didn’t have to drag her
back.

“Lady
Kaitlin, please, you must stay here. You have just traveled a great length. At
least rest yourself for a time before you return to England.” Julianna kept her
eyes on Kate until she nodded her agreement.

Kate
retook her seat, trying to maintain dignity. “Laird MacKinnon, I would
appreciate the rest and you are right, the travel will be great. I should take
time before returning, but I must return and to King Henry and relay… I need to
get myself settled, because I can’t go back to Lord …” She stumbled over her
words, muddling her explanation badly.

“I
would be happy to send a missive to King Henry for you, Lady Kaitlin. I’m sure
he would be honored to help you.” Julianna looked at her husband. “Colin will
have someone take it to him, when we sent the news of Bonnie’s return.”

“Where
was Bonnie taken?” Colin asked hotly.

“I’m
terrible with directions. Why, I’m certain it took us many more days to get
here because of my bad sense of direction. I can’t tell you where or who, I’m
sorry.”

“Our
clan must repay the bastard for what he caused our family. You must tell me who
he is and why he took my daughter.” Colin shouted and slammed the table with
his fist.

“Colin,
please don’t yell at Lady Stanhope. If she says that she doesn’t know the name
or the direction, you shouldn’t press her.” Julianna touched her husband’s arm
to soothe him.

Something
strange happened then, because Colin’s demeanor completely changed. He looked
at her oddly then he began laughing as though he’d gone addled. He hastily wiped
his eyes, from laughing so hard. She didn’t know what had come over him.

“Laird
MacKinnon, I don’t know why he did it. I’m sorry, I can’t tell you who he is
because I have to … If you don’t want me to stay, I shall be on my way.” She
tried to leave again by rising, but felt Brendan’s hand on her shoulder. She
turned and gave him a get-your-hands-off-me look, but he returned his attention
to Colin. He squeezed her shoulder firmly and forced her to sit back down.

“Lady
Kaitlin, I apologize for yelling. Please stay, you are welcome here. Julianna
will set you up in a cottage. Stay as long as you like. Also, I would like you
to call us by our given names. My name is Colin and my wife is Julianna.”

“Oh,
thank you, Conner. I’m so happy you’re letting me stay.”

Colin
ground his teeth. “It’s Colin, lass, not Conner.”

“Forget
it, Colin, it won’t do any good,” Gil told him.

“What
do ye mean?”

Gil
grinned. “I’ll tell you later.”

Kate
looked at him skeptically, wondering if he knew her game.

“Julianna,
we’re in for a celebration. We’ll make it for two days from now. Will that give
you enough time to prepare?” Colin motioned to her for Bonnie, but Julianna
wouldn’t let her go.

“Aye,
but will you send word to Steven and Sara? They’ll want to come.” Julianna
leaned toward her. “Kate, Sara, my closest friend, is married to Laird
KirkConnell, whose land borders ours.”

“Aye,
get Kate settled. Let me have Bonnie for awhile, I want to hold her.” Colin
took his daughter from his wife.

Julianna
motioned to her to follow, but Kate held Brendan’s eyes for a moment before
nodding, and leaving. She could feel him watching her when she walked through
the doorway. She definitely didn’t want to be attracted to him.

Bonnie
settled on Colin’s lap, seemingly asleep. Colin rejoiced at his daughter’s
return, and now that she was safely home, he would make certain she stayed
there. His family was once again together, which he hadn’t believed would ever happen.
He’d thought he lost his wee Button forever. When his men told him that Brendan
had found her and that she was home, he couldn’t believe the news. When he
walked in and saw her, he didn’t know how to react. Fortune assuredly befell on
their clan.

He
smiled smugly, watching Brendan, and contemplated how he’d break the news to
him. When he heard Julianna speak Kate’s full name, he realized who she was.
Before he’d left London, Henry had told him he’d settled the issue over
Julianna’s land and decided to gift it to Angus Barclay, now betrothed to
Kaitlin Stanhope. Henry wanted the Barclays to cease their raids on the
borderlands, and decided maybe if they had land of their own, they would heed
his warning.

Colin
was sure this news would cause his brother’s ire, but perhaps not.

“She’s
something, is she not?” Gil waited for the ladies to leave before making that
comment.

“Aye,
she’s very bonny.” Colin whistled. “But you didn’t notice that, did ye?”

The
men laughed.

“If
I were a younger man,” Walt said, smiling.

“She
drove me daft on the way here. Brendan found her at the crossing, near the
Gordons’ holding. They were ragged. She’s bad with names and called me Gerald,
George, and God knows what else along the way. ‘Tis likely she doesn’t know the
name of the man she was warded to.”

“I
see that you couldn’t handle one wee woman.” Colin laughed.

“Damned
if we didn’t try. The lass was not impressed with me, because she gave Brendan
a look see and hasn’t looked at me since. You should have seen him—”

Brendan
cut him short. “She held my look longer than any other lass. She’s got guts,
you know how the ladies’ run—”

“Aye,
Brendan, we know,” Walt said.

“I
deem Brendan’s been doing a little running himself, but that’s about to come to
an end. Is it not?” Colin couldn’t help baiting his brother. Hell, before
Brendan could walk he’d teased him. Now, however, the teasing was going to aid
him in gaining Brendan’s agreement.

“What
are you talking about, Colin? Just what am I running from?” Brendan sat back
and folded his arms over his chest. Though he appeared relaxed, he had that
rigidness about him that Colin knew well.

“I
have news from Londontown and from Henry.”

“Oh?
What does the king have to say?”

Colin
grinned at his brother’s surliness. If there was one person whom Brendan didn’t
get along with, it was King Henry, not that his brother got along with many.
Brendan could often be found fighting with men at whatever keep they visited.
Yet he and Henry had somewhat of a rivalry, the two of them harassed each other
when Henry had come for a visit. Although, now that Colin thought about it,
Brendan and Henry seemed to respect each others talents. Henry was known for
being diplomatic and entertaining, and Brendan was known for his fighting
skills and perseverance.

“Before
I give you the news, there’s something I want to know?”

“Which
is?”

Colin
wrapped his arms around his daughter, holding her against his chest. “I take it
you approve of Lady Kaitlin?”

His
brother’s frown intensified. “What does that have to do with anything? Will you
get on with it? I don’t have time for this cosh. Does this news have anything
to do with me? If not, I should get back to training.”

“I’d
say the news might be of interest if you have fondness for Lady Kaitlin?” Colin
almost laughed at his brother’s expression. His frown disappeared and he
actually mellowed.

“What
do ye mean by fondness? Do I think she’s beautiful? Hell, aye. Do I think she’s
courageous? She saved Bonnie, so that’s an aye. What man wouldn’t be fond of
her? What else can I say? Aye, I’m fond of her.” Brendan placed his hands on
the table and leaned forward in his most threatening manner, but Colin didn’t
take it as seriously as others might have. “Now, give me the damned news from
Henry so I can go to the barracks.”

“Walt,
will you retrieve the missive he wrote to Julianna? It’s in my saddle bag. It’s
a rolled parchment with the king’s seal on it.”

Walt
left to run the errand. In the meantime, Colin continued to bait his brother.

“So
you think she’s beautiful, aye.”

“Didn’t
I just say so? I don’t want to talk about Katie. I want to know what Henry’s
news is. You know what it is, so why don’t you just tell me? Why keep me
waiting?”

“I
believe it is best you wait to read his missive for yourself. I’ll say this
though, Henry doesn’t know what just slipped through his hands, and neither
does the Barclay.” Colin grinned at his brother’s impatience.

“Hurry
the hell up, Walt.” Brendan’s bellow caused Bonnie to wince.

Walt
returned and threw the parchment on the table, then took his seat. “Here, lad.”

Colin
knew Walt had read it, because he wore a telling smile. “Well, open it.” He
couldn’t refrain from grinning widely as well. He knew the news would cause his
brother’s reaction, and he just wanted to see what that reaction would be.

Brendan
hastily unrolled the parchment and quickly scanned the scrolled writing. His
eyes didn’t change at all during the reading, they remained focused. If anyone
watched for a sign of his surprise, they couldn’t tell the missive affected
him. Colin knew his brother better than anyone, and recognized the shift in his
arms. Brendan gripped the parchment tightly.

He
looked up from the missive. “Why would he do this to the poor lass?”

“He
said he owed Barclay the favor and because his father had caused their clan
such hardship, he wanted to repay the debt. He also wants the Barclay to cease
their raids on the borderlands.”

“So
he’s betrothed the poor woman to that swine? I don’t know why he would subject
any woman to that. I should never have saved Henry’s arse down by the loch.”

Colin
laughed, taking the parchment from him. “Well, her fate is settled and she will
wed the Barclay. Now what’s this about you saving Henry?”

“When
he was visiting, some of the men took his garments whilst he bathed, and left
him there to dry in the breeze. I happened to walk by and saw the poor lad
shivering, and when he asked me to give him my plaid, I did. This is how he
repays me by betrothing Katie to another man?”

“Aye,
but he wouldn’t know your interest, now would he? I’d say you might want to
send Henry a missive of your own.”

“To
hell with that, this has nothing to do with me, Colin. What do I care if she’s
betrothed to the Barclay? I found Bonnie, now I can go about my business.”
Brendan’s look was as cross as he’d ever seen.

“Aye,
you’re aright, this doesn’t have anything to do with ye. I cannot believe my
men took the king’s garments. I wonder why Henry didn’t say anything.” Colin
wanted to laugh at his brother’s dour look. Brendan had never told him what
happened at the loch, neither had Henry.

“Why
would he do such an atrocious thing to Katie? I cannot see her with a man such
as Barclay, even if he is a wee brave.” Brendan’s incredulous tone attested to
his ire. He threw the missive on the table as if it commanded his beheading.
Nay, he didn’t much like what the message entailed.

“He’s
her king.”

“I
don’t give a damn if he’s her king. Well, he’s not my king. I can’t let her
marry him.”

Colin
kept his voice from rising. “Why the hell not? The king decreed it, she must
obey him. She’s fortunate in his choice. At least it wasn’t you he selected.
She’s beautiful, courageous, and deserves … We should escort her to Londontown
for her wedding. ‘Tis the least we can do.”

“Aye,
return her to England. That’s what she wants. I don’t know her well, but I do
think she’s a bit absentminded.” Brendan took his cup with a quick swipe and
chugged it.

Colin
laughed at his brother’s discontent. One minute he wouldn’t let the woman marry
the king’s chosen groom, the next he told him to send her back. He had really
misjudged his brother, not believing for a second that he would let the woman
out of his sight. He’d thought his brother would do the right thing, but there
was no getting Brendan to do something he didn’t want to. In time, he’d come
around and until then, Colin would do everything in his power to keep her
there.

“But
before I send her back, I want the name of the man who took my daughter. Who
will befriend the lass and find out for me?” Colin sensed his brother’s
attraction to the lass, and knew Brendan would not let anyone else near her.
Besides, Brendan had a thirst for blood and vengeance. He wouldn’t let anyone
else take on the chore of obtaining their enemy’s name. Before Brendan could
reason it out in his mind, Gil gave him a look.

“I’ll
do it, Laird MacKinnon. She’s too bonny by far, mayhap she’ll succumb to my
charms, since Brendan doesn’t want her.” Gil laughed and slapped Brendan on the
shoulder.

Colin
glanced at his brother and waited. He would give Brendan a chance to interject
before allowing Gil to woo her. Only, Brendan sat there scowling at him and
didn’t show interest in the conversation. Yet Colin caught the little signs
that indicated his brother was knocked on his arse by Henry’s news. If his
brother was standing, surely he would be pacing the room—a habit which drove
Colin crazy.

“Well,
Colin, what say ye?”

“You’ll
have to woo the lass and get her to trust you, Gil. You’ll have to spend a lot
of time with her. Do you deem you can handle it?”

“Aye,
I can handle it. It’ll be my pleasure wooing that lass, to be sure. I vow to be
a gentleman, Colin, and only steal a few kisses from her.” Gil snickered
jokingly.

“Wait.”
Brendan stood.

Colin,
Walt, and Gil looked at him. Brendan’s look was as cross as they’d ever seen
it. “What?” they asked in unison.

“You’ll
not do it, Gil, it’s my niece that beastie-swine took and I’m her uncle. I
should make the sacrifice.” Brendan’s eyes glared at them when he spoke.

“Sacrifice?”
Colin and Gil asked at the same time.

Colin
laughed and couldn’t stop. His brother had a strange look on his face, one that
he’d never seen before. His brother’s betrothal was on as far as Colin was
concerned, even if his Brendan wouldn’t admit it.

“Are
ye certain, Brendan? It would mean you’ll have to put away your scowl.”

Brendan
glowered at him. He picked up his cup, drank the remaining ale in it, and set
it down with a bang. “Cosh, I won’t have to do anything. I’ll get the swine’s
name from her. You’ll see, it won’t take long at all.” With that, Brendan
marched from the hall.