“You don’t understand,” Mairi cried out, tears already rolling down her cheeks.
“I do understand,” Alastair continued, “you’re the one not listening. But I’m going to make sure you listen now.” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack. “I’m also going to make sure you can’t ride a horse for the next week.” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack. “I’m not going to be worrying every time you’re out of my sight, that you’re going to try to make it to Branxholme by yourself.” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
“But I need to see what happened to my family,” Mairi said. “Let me up so I can talk to you.”
“I’ve tried to talk to you the last few days,” Alastair said, “but you refused. Now I’m going to talk, and you’re going to listen.” He picked up the riding crop that he’d sat down on the table next to him. Thwack . He brought it down on her thighs. “I don’t know what else to do with you.” Thwack . “You keep insisting that we go to Branxholme now.” Thwack . “What about Cam? Are you going to endanger him?” Thwack . “He needs you here with him, and if we tried to take him with us and got caught in a bad snow squall, he’d never survive.” Thwack .
“Ouch!” Mairi screamed each time the crop landed. “I wasn’t thinking about Cam; I’m sorry, Alastair. Couldn’t we leave him here with your family?”
“And who would feed him?” Alastair asked. Thwack . “Do you think I can just produce a wet nurse?” Thwack . “Would you really want to be away from him for at least a month?” Thwack .
“Nay,” Mairi said. “I didn’t think I’d be gone that long.”
“It would be at least that long,” Alastair told her. Thwack . “Did you forget Owen left for the Scott land almost a month ago?” Thwack . This time he brought the crop down on her sit spot.
“Stop, Alastair,” Mairi pleaded, “that hurts too much.”
“I’m not going to stop until you listen to reason,” Alastair told her. Thwack . “I love you too much to let you leave here in the middle of winter and travel that far.” Thwack . “I can’t believe you were going to sneak away.” Thwack .
“Ouch,” Mairi yelled, “but Owen didn’t know about Branxholme when he left. What if he can’t find it?”
“He’s not an idjit,” Alastair told her. Thwack . “He knew the name ‘Scott’, and he’ll ask around until he finds out what keep the Scott’s are from.” Thwack .
“Can I sit up now?” Mairi asked.
“Not yet,” Alastair said to her, putting his hand on the middle of her back. “This is the most you’ve listened and talked to me in days, if this is the position I need to put you in to keep you safe, so be it.”
“I’m sorry, Alastair,” Mairi said again, meaning it. “I wasn’t thinking about you, or Cam, or even myself. All I can think about is the look on my Da’s face as Donovan Thompson stabbed him, or the fear that was on my Mither’s.”
“I understand that,” Alastair said, agreeing with her, “but freezing to death is not going to make it all go away. We’ll wait for Owen to return, it’s been almost a month, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him soon.”
“Do you really think so?” Mairi asked.
“I do,” Alastair said to her, setting the crop back on the table. “Owen knows how badly you wanted to figure out who you really were. Remember, he has no idea your memories have returned. He left before that happened.”
“It’ll be hard to do,” Mairi answered, “but I can wait until he returns. I don’t think I could sit a horse for the next few days anyway.”
“Good,” Alastair said, looking down and seeing the welts he’d left on her arse and thighs, any more punishment would just be cruel, “then I won’t have to be worried every time you’re out of my sight.” He flipped her over and sat her on his lap. Mairi winced as her arse and thighs made contact with his legs. “Please, don’t ever make me have to punish you that severely again.”
“I’ll try not to,” Mairi said as she snuggled into his embrace.
“But I think we’ll leave this crop in our room,” he said jokingly, “it seems to make my insolent wife listen.”
“Nay,” Mairi protested, wiping the tears from her cheeks but not being able to hide her grin. “That’s not fair; I only hit you with it once.”
“One time too many,” Alastair said to her, kissing the top of her head. “Are you ready to go back down to the hall and get our son?”
“Can we just sit here a little longer?” Mairi asked him. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed being close to him.
“Of course we can,” Alastair said, hugging her even tighter, “as long as you want.”
“I’m sorry, Alastair,” she said to him again. “I know I’ve been impossible these last few days. I don’t know why I hit you; I’m just so angry about everything that’s happened. I was happy growing up at Branxholme, I remember my family so clearly now, and not knowing what happened to them is making me crazy.”
“I understand that too,” he said, “I’d be angry, and worried. But Cam and you are the most important people in my life; I won’t let either of you put yourselves in danger, ever.”
“You’re an honorable man, husband,” Mairi said. “I don’t know how I was ever lucky enough that it was you who came across those men attacked us that day.”
“I was the lucky one,” he told her, “because I found you.”
“You saved me,” she said.
“I’ll always try to be there to save you,” Alastair said.
Chapter 12 Guests
“Alastair,” Hamish called, as he approached Mairi and Alastair, who were sitting in the hall near the fire playing with Cam.
“What is it, Da?” Alastair asked.
“We’ve got a large party of riders approaching the gate,” he said. “I don’t recognize the banners their showing.”
“Do you think it’s an attack?” Alastair asked, becoming concerned instantly and springing to his feet.
“I’m not sure,” Hamish said. “Eadan, Ham, Rory and Craig are already at the gates or on their way there. We’ve closed and barred them until we know for sure. The guards are all in position. Looks like a peaceful party from the way they’re riding in, but we’ll stay ready just in case.”
“Da,” Craig called, walking quickly towards them, a huge smile on his face. “It’s Owen. We can see him riding in front.”
“Who’s with him?” Mairi asked.
“We’re not sure,” Craig said. “I’ve never seen the banners they’re flying in the highlands before.”
“Can I go out with you and see?” Mairi asked Alastair.
“Let me give Cam to one of the women and we’ll go, but at the first sign of trouble I want you and Cam in our chamber with the door barred,” Alastair said, and Mairi nodded her agreement. The maids in the castle loved young Cam, and it only took a moment for him to be whisked away by one up to their chamber.
Mairi and Alastair grabbed their cloaks that hung by the door and covered themselves; it was a cold day. They walked out into the yard and climbed the steps to the top of the parapet wall.
“Where are they?” Alastair asked Rory.
“Coming from the South,” he answered, pointing in that direction. “You can tell it’s Owen in the front; I recognize his horse and the way he rides.”
“That’s him,” Alastair said once he got a good look. “I wish I knew whose banners those were.”
“Do you think they’re Lord Thompson’s?” Eadan asked. It was the first time any of the brothers had seen him in days.
“They aren’t,” Mairi said, so excited she was almost bouncing up and down. “Those are Branxholme banners, and the other one belongs to the Kerr clan. I’d know them anywhere.”
“Are you sure, Mairi?” Hamish asked.
“I’m sure,” Mairi answered. “Oh, Alastair, my family has come. They must still be alive.” She threw herself at him, hugging him tightly.
“Open the gates,” Hamish yelled to the guards.
&nb
sp; “You’ll know everything soon enough,” Alastair told her, trying to be as excited as she was, but afraid at the same time. He wrapped his arms tightly around her as he thought, ‘what if Mairi decided to return to Branxholme with her family?’
“Let’s go down,” Mairi said, “I want to be in the yard when they ride in.”
“Of course,” Alastair answered.
Mairi almost ran down the steps to the yard below. She couldn’t wait to see her Da, brother, and Grandda again. She was sure some, if not all of them, must be with Owen. As the sound of horses could finally be heard, she became more excited, not being able to stand still, she bounced from one foot to the other. Alastair had to grin as he watched her, he had never seen her so excited before.
Owen rode in first, followed closely by two of the largest men Alastair had ever seen. One was older than his own Da, and the other he’d guess, was around his own age. Neither looked very happy as they looked around the yard in the keep until their eyes came to rest on Mairi. At that moment, the older man face lit up with a large smile, and if Alastair didn’t know any better, he’d swear the man looked ready to break down in tears.
“Grandda!” Mairi yelled to them both, “Cameron!”
Mairi’s brother and grandfather dismounted their horses quickly. Mairi ran towards them, launching herself through the air at the last minute and landing in her Grandda’s waiting arms.
“Mairi,” the old man said, “my sweet Mairi. We thought you were dead.”
“I can’t believe it’s really you,” her brother said as he pulled her out of their grandfather’s embrace and into his own. “We looked for you for days. We couldn’t find you or Emelia.”
“Is she well? Where’s Da? Is Mither well?” Mairi began firing questions at them.
“Welcome to Gleann,” Hamish said, approaching their guests. “I’d like to suggest we move this reunion into the hall where there is food, drink and a warm fire.”
“And you are?” Mairi’s grandfather asked Hamish.
“Hamish McCabe, Laird of Gleann,” Hamish said, “and this is my son Alastair, who is also Mairi’s husband.”
“Finley Kerr,” Mairi’s grandfather, introduced himself, “and this fine young lad with me is Mairi’s brother, and my grandson, Cameron Scott. I’ve heard what you’ve done for my granddaughter from young Owen; I’d like to thank you.”
“Welcome,” Alastair said. “I’m glad you’ve come. Mairi has been very worried since her memories have returned.”
“You got your memory back?” Owen asked as he joined them. He had taken the time to direct the stable boys to take and care for the horses.
“I did,” Mairi told him. “That’s a long story.”
“Where is everyone?” Owen asked.
“I told Ham, Rory and Craig to find a place for these men to rest, direct the cooks to get some food out, and the servants to pull out a keg of wine. They’ll be in the hall waiting with Flora,” Hamish told him. “Tonight we celebrate Mairi’s reunion with her family.”
“Where’s Nessa and Eadan?” Owen asked.
“You missed a lot, son,” Hamish told him somberly. “Nessa passed not long after you left. Eadan has most likely returned to his rooms; he’s grieving. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
Owen nodded, stunned, as he followed his Da into the hall where it was much warmer.
“What about our men?” Finley asked as he sank into a chair near the fire.
“I’ve already directed the guards to find them food and a place to bed down for however long you plan to stay,” Hamish assured him. “You know, I saw you compete at tournaments when I was younger. I don’t think you ever lost.”
“Those days ended long ago,” Finley said grinning, “I’m too old for that nonsense now, but they were definitely good years.” He then turned to Mairi, “is it true? Has your memory returned?”
“Aye, it has,” Mairi told him smiling. “I fell and hit my head, when I awoke I remembered everything.”
“That’s good news, granddaughter,” he said. “I’ve heard some of your tale from Owen McCabe, but I’d like to hear it from you.”
Mairi sat down in the chair next to him and took his hand in hers. She couldn’t quit looking at him and Cameron; she never thought she’d see them again. “Where would you like me to start?” she asked.
“At the beginning,” he said to her.
“I’m sure you know most of the beginning from Cameron,” she said.
“But I want to hear what you remember,” he told her. “I want to make sure that when I get the chance, I kill the right man, or men.”
Mairi gasped, but nodded, thinking back to that horrid day so many years ago. “We were having our evening meal. It was just a normal evening except that the Thompson’s had shown up and asked for a meal and a place to spend the night. Da agreed. He told me to make sure I had a guard with me at all times. He didn’t trust Stephen Thompson, but I didn’t understand why back then, I do now. I looked up as two of the Thompson guards were closing and barring the door to the hall. I was confused as to why they would do that. Da stood up, I think to question what was happening, and Donovan Thompson plunged a dirk into him. I saw it. The Thompson guards all had hidden dirks and quickly slit the throats of the Branxholme guards they were sitting next too. It all happened so fast. Da screamed at Cameron to get me and Emelia out of there. I wanted to stay, but Cameron grabbed us both and pulled us towards Da’s study and the bolthole hidden there. Why would they do that, Grandda?”
“They wanted you, Mairi,” Finley explained. “Did you forget that you have land between Branxholme and Ferniehirst that belongs to you?”
“What’s Ferniehirst?” Alastair asked.
“My Keep,” Finley quickly answered.
“I had forgotten about that,” Mairi answered. “Where are Da and Mither? Why aren’t they with you?”
“Mairi,” Cameron said, taking her other hand, “Da and Mither didn’t make it out of the hall.”
“Nay,” Mairi said, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. “Why would they kill them?”
“To get to you,” Finley explained. “Stephen Thompson wanted your land. He tried to get your Da to agree to a betrothal, but Douglas turned him down. I believe he planned on killing everyone except you so that he could get his hands on Branxholme as well.”
“So this is my fault,” Mairi said.
“Nay,” Finley and Cameron said together.
“The fault lies solely with the Thompson’s,” Finley continued. “Are you sure it was Donovan Thompson that killed your Da?”
“I’m sure,” Mairi whispered.
“Then he’ll be dead soon enough,” Finley said. “Cameron knew it was the Thompson’s, but not which one. Continue your tale, Mairi.”
“You know we ran into Da’s study and Cameron barred the door. We used the secret tunnel to escape. We were heading towards the river so that we could follow it to your keep, but the Thompson’s guards were catching up to us. Cameron said he was going to try to lead them in another direction. Emelia and I made it to the river before they caught up to us. I ended up slipping and falling in. I tried to swim to the shore, but the current was too strong and kept pulling me downstream. The last thing I remember was Emelia screaming for me to help her; then I hit my head on something.”
“Emelia was alive?” Cameron asked, sitting forward in his chair.
“She was last I remember,” Mairi said, “do you think they killed her?”
“We never found a body,” Finley told her. “We assumed the two of you were killed somewhere together, but now that you’ve been found alive and well; I wonder about Emelia.”
“What happened next, Mairi?” Cameron asked.
“When I finally awoke, I was lying on the bank of the river. I hurt just about everywhere. That’s where John and Melinda Murray found me.”
“They were the people who sold you to a tinker?” Finley asked.
“Aye,” Mairi answered. “At first I thou
ght they were going to help me. John said he’d try to find my family, but until then, I could help out on their farm. I was happy to do so until it seemed I was doing all the chores.”
“Did they hurt you, Mairi?” Finley asked. Mairi didn’t answer; she just stared at the floor. “That answers my question.”
“Do you know where their farm is located?” Finley asked her.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I’ll be paying a visit to the Murray’s on my way home, to show them what I think of their treatment of you,” Finley told her.
“I’ll be coming along for that visit,” Cameron added.
“I only know it’s somewhere down the river, past your keep.” She turned to Cameron then and asked, “so you made it all the way to Grandda’s?”
“I didn’t have to,” Cameron told her. “I was trying to lead them away from you and Emelia. I was running, and I could hear horses coming towards me, I thought I was caught for sure, but it turned out to be Grandda.”
“You were coming to Branxholme?” she asked her Grandda.
“I was,” Finley told her. “By the time we arrived, the Thompson brothers were already gone, but most of their men were still there. You know I never travel alone, I had thirty of my own men with me.”
“So what happened?” Mairi asked.
“None of those men returned to the Thompson keep,” Finley replied. “At first we took prisoners, but when I saw my daughter lying dead on the hall floor, I killed every last one of them. What kind of man kills a defenseless woman?”
“I’m glad you killed them,” Mairi said to him. “Mither and Da didn’t deserve to die that way, neither did all the guards.”
“Now tell me more about the Murray’s and this man they gave you too,” Finley prompted. He knew he had some people to visit and didn’t want to leave anyone out.
“There isn’t much more to tell. Samuel came along and wanted me. At first, John said nay, but Samuel offered him money. I’m not sure how much, but afterward, they told me I was leaving with him, and he was now my husband.”
“I won’t make you tell this story again,” Finley said, patting her hand. “Owen already told us about there not being a real wedding to this tinker, and how Alastair married you instead.”
A Man of Honor Page 11
