Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (18 page)

She
watched him. “What are you angry about now?”

“Katie,
I know you want to marry, I wanted to tell you that …” He glanced at her face,
she was smiling. He couldn’t help but admire her beautiful eyes. He thought how
best to say it.

She
reached up and touched his face. “What is it?”

Kate
waited for him to continue, but he couldn’t because he became entranced by the
color of her eyes. “I want you to know that … that we were wed.” There, he said
it. He waited for her screech of outrage. He moved his hands to protect the
front of him in case she became angry enough to try and do him in again. Yet
she didn’t respond, or yell, or anything. Had she heard him?

“Did
ye hear me, Katie? I said you’re my wife.”

“I
can’t marry you, Brendan, not now, not ever.”

“Why
the hell not?” He’d shouted, but then he realized his folly. It didn’t matter
because she was well and good wed to him. He relaxed.

“I
have to return to England and I’ll not be coming back.”

“You’re
not returning to England. I’m your husband, it is my duty to handle your
guardian and seek justice for your father.”

Kate’s
bottom lip started to quiver.

“Don’t
cry, Katie. I promise you won’t regret being married to me.”

“I
never cry,” she said between hiccups. “My father always said he was proud of me
because I didn’t cry like most of the other girls in our village. Now look at
me, crying like a babe, and it’s all your fault.” She shoved his shoulder
before swiping her eyes. As quickly as he’d removed her clothes, she’d put them
back on.

“It
won’t be so bad, you know,” he said lightly.

“What
won’t?”

“Being
married to me. I’ll take care of you. You’ll be happy with me for a husband,
although, I’ve no idea how to be a husband yet. I want you to have our bairns.”

“I
can’t have your bairns,” she cried.

“Why
the hell not?” Brendan’s voice rose. She looked at the summit directly across
from her. “Katie, you need to come to terms with this.
We are married
.
You are my wife in every sense of the word. Wedded, bedded, and properly
blessed by the church. The priest said the blessing at the celebration. Father
Tomas declared it before my clan. You said you loved me and spoke the vow. Do
you deny it?”

Brendan
knew he’d given her too much time to think, and her deliberation sent her to
bawling. He scowled, not knowing what to do. He put his arm around her
shoulder, trying to soothe her. He tried desperately to placate her. This was
exactly why he’d married her at the celebration. He knew if he had revealed his
intention, she would have refused him. And why shouldn’t she?

He
didn’t like the path of his thoughts, and looked up at the sky. She pulled away
from him. With fisted hands, he clenched his jaw and thought about what he
could say to make her accept him. He closed his eyes and couldn’t come up with
anything plausible. The only characteristics he could think of were related to
being a soldier. Would a wife admire the ability to subdue a man with his bare
hands? Would the size of his sword matter to a wife? Would she respect him
because of his talent for hearing his foe at a great distance? He didn’t
believe she would consider those traits laudable. When he opened his eyes
again, she was gone. Well, hell. She disappeared. He wouldn’t chase after her.

The
sun shone on his nakedness. Brendan sat up and saw a large hawk fly in the sky
above him. The hawk’s wingspan was impressive, and had to be six feet across.
Its shadow passed over him, cooling him for a moment. The shrill shriek echoed
off the summit. Brendan calmed enough to go and reason with his indignant wife.

Aye,
she had almost killed him with pleasure. He smiled, the rare occurrence
becoming a habit. He’d claimed her at the celebration before all his people,
but today she claimed him. How would he make her understand? But first, he
needed to make amends for his boorish behavior. He got up, dressed quickly,
then ran to his horse and rode hell-bent toward her cottage.

When
he arrived ten minutes later, she wasn’t there. There was no sign that she’d
been there. Where the hell had she gone? Brendan ran up the hill to the keep
and entered. He found Colin sitting in his chair, talking to Bonnie. Was he
spending a lot of time with her because he missed her or had the little hellion
gotten into more mischief?

“Have
you seen Kate?”

“Nay,
she’s not here.”

Before
Colin could ask what he was about, Brendan ran outside. He went back down the hill,
hopped on his horse, and rode speedily to the cliff. He retraced his steps, but
couldn’t find her. Had she been angry enough to try to go back to England?
Panic set in, and he stiffened at his speculation. He realized that he needed
help, and for the first time, he’d ask it of his brother.

When
he entered the keep again, he told Colin what had happened. Colin sent out
several sentries to search for her. But Brendan couldn’t stay inside the keep,
so he rode out, and promised himself he wouldn’t return without her.

The
eerie dark forest made Kate feel so alone. Brendan’s reaction to their
encounter deeply affected her, and she hadn’t felt so alone before. Good
Goddess, she was married to him. She’d ridden for hours, trying to gain control
over her own anger and despondency. Why hadn’t she realized what he’d done at
the celebration? It was a sneaky, low-down thing to do, and she hadn’t expected
it. Of course, she hadn’t known he was aware of her feelings for him at the
time. Still, she shouldn’t have professed her love for him in front of all
those people. Mayhap she didn’t love Brendan MacKinnon, but the vision she’d
had all those years. That vision comforted her, oddly protected her, and made
her feel loved. All Brendan did was make her feel wanton, and feel things a gently
bred lady shouldn’t. Horrified by her behavior and what she’d done, she
couldn’t return to face him.

The
sounds of the woods did little to cheer her spirit. Trees hid daylight from her
view, shadowing the forest floor. Kate reached a freshwater pool in the middle
of the forest, and she released her horse’s reins. She knelt down, cupped her
hands, and drank.

She
sat back against a tree, and her thoughts took her back to him. Brendan seemed
to accept their marriage. Perhaps she should accept her lot, and admit being
married to him wouldn’t be as bad as she thought it might be. But he was an
obstinate warrior who wore paint, probably raided her homeland, and was
practically a heathen. Yet, she was attracted to him. Why had she let herself
go completely, not caring about the result? How did he tempt her to give into
his will? As the questions ran through her mind, no answers came.

A
tear slipped from the corner of her eye, and she wiped it away. She tried to
meditate and evoke the Goddess’ spirit, but it was useless, there would be no
settling her. Tired and restless, she felt mortified. Sooner or later, she had
to return to the MacKinnon holding, but what would she say to him when she did?

The
sound of crackling leaves drew her attention. Her horse must have heard it too,
because it startled and instantly took off, leaving her to walk back. She
stiffened at the sound again. Had Brendan found her? When her back came off the
tree to see who it was, someone lifted her by her neck. Instinctively, she put
her hands up to ward off the attacker.

“Well,
well, Kaitlin, I’ve found ye at last. Did you deem ye could run from me and
that I wouldn’t find you? I knew where you went, because you took the stupid
girl with you. Where else, but Scotland? I’ve been riding around this land
searching for you.”

“Lord
Richard, I have nothing you want. Let me go,” she demanded, trying to pull
free.

“You
know what I want.”

“Nay,
I honestly don’t, Lord Richard.” She released herself from his grip and moved a
few steps backward. He glared at her. He seemed to be alone, but she knew his
men must be there someone, lurking in the woods. She thought about calling out
for help, but then thought better of it.

“The
medallion, that’s all I want. Where is it?”

“I
don’t have it.”

“I’ll
have no more lies. Manik told me he gave it to you upon his return. This is not
the time to play games, Kaitlin. I do like to play games, still, I’m pressed
for time.” He stepped forward.

Kate
backed up another step, looking around for the best route of escape. Richard
reached out, and shoved her to the ground. He knelt down, using his knee to
keep her still, gripping the length of her hair. She shoved him and tried to
roll away.

Richard
struggled to hold her motionless. “I’m tired of your willfulness and shall make
ye regret it.” He struck her face twice before he regained control of himself.
She lay on the ground, and tried to protect herself, but it did no good. When
he struck her jaw, she cried out.

“Stop,
stop it.”

“Where
the hell is it? I need that medallion.”

“I
don’t have it here. I’ll have to get it.”

“I’m
not a fool. Where is it, with those savage Scots?” He gripped her hair, making
her neck twist and she cried out. “Damn you, all right, Kaitlin, I believe you
have an errand to run.” He rose and paced before her, striking his fist in his
hand.

Kate
sat up and tried to calm herself. She had to think of a way to escape him, but
nothing came to mind. He grabbed her wrist, jerking her upward. She coward away
from him, but still he held fast.

“Return
to their keep and get the medallion. Fetch it and come to me in no less than a
month. If you don’t arrive by then, I’ll send my full army to your father’s
fief, and all your tenants will die. Do you understand?”

Before
Kate could respond, he yanked her hair again, pulling her against him. “I had
to kill that boy, Manik, for his perfidy.”

Kate
cried out at hearing of Manik’s death. She freed her hand and slapped Richard
across the face with as much might as she possessed. “How could you do that? He
was just a boy doing his lord’s service. You are despicable.”

“He
was a means to information. If you fail, Kaitlin, I’ll kill you, and the
savages, too. If the regent had awarded me the land, I wouldn’t have taken the
child, and you wouldn’t be here. They’ll pay, they’ll all pay.” He laughed
derisively.

“You
took a child because the regent wouldn’t give you land? What do the MacKinnons
have to do with land?”

He
didn’t answer her. Richard pulled his dagger from his tunic and shoved her to
the ground again. He lay on top of her, stilling her arms and legs. She fought
against him, but was ineffective. He kissed her neck, running his hands over
her breast.

“You
could have had it all, Kaitlin, and instead you ran from me with that child.
Now, I should take what I want and be done with it.” He leaned away for a
moment, holding his dagger close to her chest. She struggled, and he slipped,
slicing the side of her chest. Blood flowed through the fabric of her
light-blue gown, soaking the material. He nodded, grunting his approval. She
felt the stinging wound and placed her hand over it to stop the bleeding, but
it was everywhere. Looking at it in disbelief, she felt the warmth of her blood
cover her fingers.

“Look
what you made me do. You’re a hellion, Kaitlin. I didn’t mean to cut you, but ‘twas
your own fault for your injury. Bah, there’s no sense in taking you now. You’ll
return to my manor, and your injury better not slow ye. You haven’t much time.”
He laughed and rose.

Kate
couldn’t move. She lay on the ground, watching him stalk to his horse.

“Don’t
dally or be tardy. The fate of those people rests on your shoulders. I’ll be
watching closely, Kaitlin.” Richard mounted his horse, laughed mockingly, and
rode away.

She
sobbed in pain, her body ached, and the wound throbbed. Looking down, she
whimpered at the amount of blood covering her bliaut. Her eyes fluttered and
blurred, she knew she would lose consciousness. Somehow she had to make it back
to the MacKinnon’s holding before she lost her senses. On her knees now, she
crawled a few feet, hoping to have enough strength to make it. She needed
Brendan. No sooner had she thought that, she slumped against the ground.

The
night grew late, too late to be riding amidst the darkened woods. Brendan
couldn’t see between the trees, and he looked above him, noting the heavy cloud
cover. He would have to give up his search for the night because he couldn’t
see anything. There was no way to find her in the darkness. Hours had passed
since she’d gone missing, and his concern tore at him. He rode back to the keep
hoping the sentry had found her. Maybe she’d just gotten lost in the hills.

When
he strode in the hall, he noticed his brother’s grim expression.

“Colin,
have you found her? Is she here?”

“Brendan,
we found her, but … I’m sorry—”

“Nay,
what the hell do you mean, you’re sorry? I, I can’t lose her, Colin. She better
be all right.” Brendan’s eyes filled with pain, he looked around the hall, then
he grabbed Colin’s tunic, bellowing, “Where is she?”

Colin
released his tunic from his hold. “Brendan, calm down. We found her, but she’s
hurt.”

“Hurt?
Badly? Is she going to die?”

“She’s
been stabbed and beaten. Jinny is caring for her. I saw her, she’s a mess.
There was much blood loss.”

Brendan
shouted his denial. “Who would stab her?”

“I
don’t know, but Burk found her in the forest by McGurdy’s pool. They’ve only
just found her, so you may want to wait—”

Brendan
shook his head. “I want to see her now. Where is she?”

“She
was taken to her cottage.”

Brendan
walked toward the door.

“Wait,”
Colin yelled.

But
Brendan didn’t wait to hear what he wanted. He ran from the keep, down the hill
to Kate’s cottage. His heart clanked in his chest the whole way. He opened the
door, and found Jinny and Julianna tending her. They glanced at him as he entered.

Brendan
went to the side of the bed and looked down at her. Her hair was dirty and in
tangles, her lovely face bruised. His blood boiled at the sight. Someone hurt
his wife, and by all that was sacred, he would find the knave and kill him. His
breath quickened, and he felt his eyes water. He somehow managed to suppress
the rage that boiled inside him.

Jinny
and Julianna didn’t say a word. He touched Katie’s face, and kissed her
forehead. His gut coiled. She looked so small and helpless.

“Brendan,”
Julianna said softly. “She’s going to be all right.”

“Look
at her, she’s too pale. Don’t lie to me, Julianna. Is she dead?” He assessed
her coloring and thought she might be dead.

“Nay,
the wound is not as bad as we first thought. It’s just a flesh wound. Now, let
us tend to her, move back and give us room.” Julianna forced him to move aside,
and he fell back into the chair besides the bedding.

Brendan
closed his eyes, and thanked God she was going to be all right. He resumed
breathing, and when he opened his eyes again, he saw Jinny motion to Julianna.

“We’ve
taken care of her wounds, there’s nothing left for us to do. We’ll come back
later and check on her. Send for me if she needs us.” Julianna realized that he
wasn’t listening, so she and Jinny left.

Brendan
watched her for a long while, and didn’t move, neither did she. He finally
decided to get up, and approached the bedding. As he sat on the bedside, he
lifted the cover, and saw the bandaged wound on her chest. She was fortunate it
hadn’t hit her heart. A few inches to the left, and it could have been fatal.
He grimaced, replaced the cover, and caressed the side of her face. Whoever had
done this would pay, he swore. He petted her hair with the palm of his hand,
but she didn’t awaken.

“Lass,
you must be all right.”
I love you.
He blanched at his thought—he had
never thought such nonsense in his nine and twenty years. He didn’t know how to
continue. Normally he would just demand, now he pleaded, and thought the
unthinkable. Her unmoving form chased away his reflection.

“Katie,
wake up, I want to talk to ye.” Nothing, she didn’t hear his plea. Her
breathing was slow and easy, indicating she was well into her slumber. He
resumed his position on the chair, watching her for long minutes. Jinny and
Julianna returned a short time later. Jinny checked her wound, and asked if she
awakened. Brendan shook his head.

“Why
don’t you go rest, Brendan? We’ll call for you if there’s any change,” Julianna
suggested. “We will bathe her.”

“I
can’t leave her.”

“She’s
likely to sleep for sometime, Brendan. We’ve given her a sleeping potion.
You’re not doing her any good sitting here. We’ll call for you the minute she
awakens,” Jinny said.

Julianna
forced him to leave the cottage by taking his hand, and leading him to the
door. She gave his back a shove. He scowled at her bold behavior, and knew she
didn’t fear him.

Brendan
walked to the keep. The night grew even darker, because no moon provided light.
It had to be past the midnight hour. He strode to his room, changed his tartan
and shirt. He washed his face and realized just how tired he was. When he
arrived in the hall, his brother shoved him into a chair.

“What’s
going on, Brendan? Who would stab the lass?”

“I
know who would, and just found out about what drives him. I cannot believe he
came here. How did our sentry not find him? The man is a sneaky dog.”

“Is
it the guardian?”

Brendan
nodded. “Aye, she has no other enemies besides that knave.”

“Why
would her guardian come all the way to the Highlands to kill her? He could not
want her that badly, could he?”

“There’s
more to it than his wanting her. Katie’s father sent her a treasure. She said
the man asked her about it, and that she denied knowledge of it. I think he
knows she has it. He came after her for it.”

“What
kind of evil man are we dealing with here?”

Brendan
grunted. “He tried to force Katie to submit to him, and he did steal Bonnie
from Henry’s castle. What I don’t understand is why he would take your
daughter? Why would Bonnie be important enough to take, risking his neck? If
Henry found out it was him, he would be executed. And it seems that Katie has
something else he wants—the treasure.”

“What
kind of treasure?”

“A
gold medallion, it’s a strange object. I’ll bring it to you so you can look at
it.”

Colin
nodded. “Aye, I’d like to see it.”

Brendan
noticed her cat on the way out the door, and he picked up the furry creature.
He carried it to her cottage and set it beside her on the bed. The animal
purred instantly, settling itself next to Kate. He knew Kate adored the animal,
and that it would soothe her when she awoke.

The
medallion still lay on the table. He picked it up, checked on her progress, and
then went back to the keep. Colin had remained at the table, and he handed the
medallion to him.

“Here,
‘tis a strange object. She said it was from Egypt. I saw it earlier.”

Colin
assessed it, turning it over then turned it over again. “Why do you deem he
wants it? Do you believe it’s valuable?”

“I
don’t know, Colin. I don’t think she has any idea either. She said she hasn’t figured
it out yet. Her father was killed in Egypt, mayhap over this. She hasn’t said
such, but I get the feeling that she might suspect the guardian. There was a
message with it, beware the friend with the black heart. She said she didn’t
know what it meant.”

Colin
flipped it over again and saw the tiny hole. “Look, there’s a clasp.” He
removed his dagger and pressed the point into the hole. The medallion clicked,
and Colin opened the ends. A piece of parchment fell out.

“What
is it?” Brendan leaned forward.

“It
looks to be some kind of map. I cannot understand the writing. Do you deem the
man is after her for this?” Colin held the parchment up. “Mayhap he killed her
father for it, but her father had all ready sent it to Kate. Seems likely to
me.”

“It’s
the only conclusion we can draw. Why else would he chase her here? How does he
even know about it? I don’t like this one bit, Colin. Aye, he’s after the map.
I cannot leave her right now, else I’d chase the man down and kill him.”

“We
should go after him, but we don’t even know who he is or where he’d run to. You
have to get your wife to tell you.”

“I
will, and then we’ll go. Vengeance will be mine.”

Colin
nodded in agreement.

*****

Kate
lay in a semi-sleep state, her mind blank and devoid of pain. How was that
possible? Why did the cold of night not penetrate her? She didn’t feel the
cold, nor did she want to wake, but she heard someone calling her. The lids of
her eyes seemed too heavy, she couldn’t open them.
Katie, wake up, lass.
She tried to move, but felt weighted down, as if something pressed on her. Was
she still in the forest? She managed to open her eyes a slit. It wasn’t too
bright, so she opened them more.

Brendan’s
voice gentled. “That’s right, Katie, wake up. Come on, sweetheart, open your
eyes and look at me.”

She
focused her eyes, and saw him sitting next to her, and then she glanced around
the room. He was alone. How had she gotten there? The last thing she remembered
was Richard and he had stabbed her. Her eyes widened. Brendan caressed her
cheek, the one not swollen and blackened.

“Brendan,”
she whispered.

“Aye,
you’re safe in your own cottage.” He lifted a cup of water to her mouth, and
she tried to drink deeply, but he pulled the cup away.

“Thirsty,”
she groaned the word out.

“You’ve
been ill for two days, lass. If you drink too much, your stomach won’t handle
it. How do you feel?”

“Tired.”
She closed her eyes.

When
Kate opened her eyes again, she sat up and adjusted to the darkness. She
noticed Brendan sleeping peacefully in the chair next to the bedding with his
legs propped on the bedside. How could she miss him when he overwhelmed the
room? She pushed her legs aside and tried to stand. Her left side stitched when
she moved. She noticed the chamber pot on the floor. With shaky legs, she made
her way to it. She picked it up and went to the other room. After taking care
of that business, she returned back to bed.

“What
are you doing?”

Kate
jumped at his hard voice, stumbling. “I’m … I had to …”

Brendan
lifted her in his arms and carried her back to bed. “You’ve been injured. You
cannot get out of bed and go traipsing about. Are you hungry?”

“Starving,”
she uttered.

He
laughed at her, then walked to the door of the cottage, and shouted for Gil.
Brendan gave him instructions, and returned to her side. “Gil will bring you
food.”

“What
happened?”

“You
were beaten and stabbed. You don’t recall?”

“Aye,
I do. I never should have gone off into the forest, but I was so angry with
you. I needed to be alone and think.”

“I
know, Katie, I didn’t mean to be hurtful that day. You practically killed me
with pleasure, but you left before I could regain my wits.”

“Well,
I was on my way back when—”

Gil’s
knock interrupted her. Brendan went to the door, took the food from him, then
closed the door. He brought the food into her sleeping area, placing the
contents on the table. He tore pieces of bread and handed them to her. She felt
strange chewing the food. Her appetite appeased, she wanted to continue
explaining and get it over with.

“I
suppose we should talk about what happened at the cliff.”

Brendan
stopped her with a finger to her lips. “Katie, I didn’t mean to anger you that
day. When my heart slowed, I went to find you, but I couldn’t. I panicked,
that’s when I got Colin to send out the sentries, they found you stabbed and
beaten. Was it your guardian?” He went from calm to enraged.

She
nodded. “After I left you, I rode around, and then found a small pool. I sat
beside it, thinking about … you and what we did. He grabbed me and told me that
he wanted the medallion. He said that I must bring it to him, otherwise …”

Brendan
moved to sit beside her. “Otherwise what?”

“He’ll
invade my father’s home and kill all my people. Then he’ll track me down and
kill me. I refused him and I told him that I didn’t have it. He struck me then,
and said he knew I had it. That Manik had told him that I had it. He killed him
… Manik died trying to protect me.” The thought of that young soldier dying,
caused tears to come to her eyes.

“Who
was Manik?”

“My
father’s squire. He brought the medallion to me after my father’s death. I
don’t know why my guardian wants the medallion, but if he wants it, it must be
important. I think I should just give it to him.”

“Damned
right he wants it. Nay, you’ll not do anything. The only thing I want you to do
is tell me his name.” Brendan cupped her cheek.