by Elise Ramsay
Concentrating hard, Annis tried to claw at her memory for any clue as to how she came to be here now, in this bed. Flashes of a painful horseback ride came to her. Someone had been soothing her, rubbing her back and telling her she would be alright. Cullen? Please God, let it be Cullen. Let him be alive.
Chapter Nine
Cullen had gone over and over the events with his Da and brothers. They had questioned him over and over when all he had wanted to do was race back to his chamber where Annis lay and wait for her to wake.
“So, you didnae see anyone at all? Cullen? This is important.”
“Da, please, I told you, I was napping. I wish to God I hadn’t been.”
“Aye, we all do.” Gunn’s tone was cutting.
“Leave it, son.” Lachlan stepped in. It was no time for the quarrels of brothers, someone had taken a shot at a Clansman of the Kincaid, and he needed to get at the truth.
“Cullen, did you get a sense that aught was wrong? That you were being followed maybe?” Lachlan lay a thickly muscled arm over Cullen’s shoulder. It was a move that was much appreciated by the young man.
“Da, there was naught. I was just out for a ride. I stopped and ate my bannocks, and fell asleep in a clearing. The next I knew, Annis MacIver had landed on me, and I could see the arrow sticking out of her back.”
The ride home had seemed never ending, all the while hoping and praying the lassie would live. Cullen had been flooded with relief as he’d entered the walls of Kincaid Castle and a rush of Clansmen had helped him carefully carry Annis to his chamber. The best of their healers had gently pried the arrow from her. Cullen could still hear the ugly sucking noise it had made as it had finally broken free of her body. Blood was everywhere, but it was quickly assessed that naught vital had been pierced. The most pressing issue was to clean the wound and pray to God that an infection did not take her when she had fought so hard to live.
Endless basins of boiled water and clean cloths were fetched, with Lachlan himself overseeing and ordering the work be carried out. The healer applied a poultice of yarrow and goldenrod herbs to keep infection away. Annis had been mercifully unconscious throughout.
It was not until Annis seemed to be out of danger that Lachlan dispatched Gunn and Grant to MacIver Castle to inform Gordon and make arrangements for her family to see her.
Lachlan Kincaid’s deep voice gently brought Cullen back to the present. Addressing all three of his sons, he maintained his hold on Cullen.
“It is clear to me that someone has set out this day to take the life of one of my sons. I have my suspicions who is at the root of it, I’m sure you do too. What I need to know now, is who agreed to do the deed. Only one person can tell us who that was. Now, Annis MacIver is genuinely too sick to be moved, and I’ll be suggesting to her father that she remain here until she is well enough to travel. They may send over any companion they wish for her. Whilst she is here, make no mistake, we shall need to wrest from her the identity of the man.”
Grant and Gunn looked up at him, then to Cullen. It was clear which of his sons Lachlan was expecting to question Annis.
Cullen gulped. Annis was alive and that thought filled him with joy but could he question her? When he thought of her, all he saw was her limp body, so pale and hurt and if he shook away that sight then he saw her rosy red lips and bright eyes. The lassie was a beauty, wild and untamed and he could do naught to harm her.
Annis could hear activity going on all around her. Wherever she was, sooner or later, somebody would come in to see her. As far as she could tell, she had been well looked after. She could feel the dressing on her back, and the plaid bed coverings were clean, with no sign of her blood anywhere. Annis looked down under the blanket at a long, white shift. Somebody had taken the trouble to see that she had been bathed as well as tending to her wounds. Reaching up tentatively, she ran a hand through her hair. It was free of its fastenings entirely and was soft and smooth. In a strange bed of a host, she was, as yet, unaware of, she was strangely relieved to be neat and tidy.
However, when somebody finally did come to her, she felt sure she would have to explain how she came to be in that clearing when someone had fired upon Cullen.
Annis thought of Brodie. Whilst he had clearly declined to take the shot, Annis was still appalled by him. At the same time, here in this strange place, she felt the familiar fear for his safety that had hung about her for a full sennight. The same fear which had rendered her exhausted and put her at such great risk.
Surely Brodie must have seen her lying there injured? Unless he had seen but perhaps not recognised the woman on the ground as his own sister. Nay that cannot be true, I saw him clearly. He saw me clearly. So, where was he? Was Brodie even now telling of his and Logan’s crimes?
Annis could not see Logan allowing that, and yet, how could he prevent it? Unless there was no witness. Perhaps they had not been discovered after all.
With a pounding head, Annis fought to control her thoughts. She needed to come up with a plan. A plan, and a very good and believable story. How could she admit that her very own brother and another Clansman of the MacIver had fired an arrow at the sleeping Cullen Kincaid? What would that do to her Da? What would it do to their whole Clan? The fears she felt for Brodie were nothing in comparison to her fears for the rest of her Clan and her blood kin. Once again, the fate of her Clan rested upon her doing the right thing. Annis thought longingly of life before this last few days. In her carefree world, she had been able to roam and hunt and ride. From a small Clan with few expectations of her, Annis had been left to follow her own path. In following her own path, however, she had become deeply embroiled in adventures of life and death. It was only luck that the deadly arrow had struck her on the turn. Because of that, it had hit the leather of her waistcoat and turned before it entered her back. If it had hit her straight on the arrow would have found its home, and she would be dead.
Somehow, despite the fear and the worry, her new sense of purpose had awakened something in her. Still, it was not yet something she knew she would like, especially if her inactions had inadvertently cost the life of Cullen Kincaid.
Suddenly, the door to the chamber began to open inwards. With a quickening pulse, Annis knew that whomever should come in through that door, she must remain alert and sensible to the very real catastrophe one false word could cause her and her Clan.
Chapter Ten
Cullen peered in, smiling broadly when he realised that Annis was finally awake. His smile was returned, and he could clearly see the relief on her face. Ach, she was pretty and he felt his heart kick up a notch.
“Ach, Cullen, you’re alive then?”
“Aye, lass, thanks to you I am.”
Annis was thrown by the depth of emotion she had felt on seeing him. Concentrate, give naught away.
“Ach, well, Cullen, and to think you told me to watch out for myself.”
Annis tried to keep their old style of banter flowing as naturally as she could. The attraction she had begun to feel was making it difficult to be as offhand as she had always been with him. Cullen looked changed to her, almost as if he was struggling with the light conversation also. His face seemed to have aged just a little, and his countenance had grown more serious.
“Aye, I know. Trust you to bring that up just now, Annis MacIver! You never can let a comment go by unsaid, can you?”
His smile was different, less mocking than usual. Annis imagined it was almost intimate. She felt a slight flush rise in her face and hoped he could not see it.
“I daresay you’re right, Cullen. Old habits.”
“I dinnae remember seeing you look so tidy before. Getting shot seems to suit you.”
“Ach, here it comes. Tis the same old habits with you too. If you’ve naught nice to say, Cullen, then say naught!” She smiled at him. Relieved that she was seeming to hold up her part of the encounter, but was ever aware of the questions that must surely follow. Questions that could end her world and that on her kin
.
Cullen closed the door and came further into the room. There was a reticence to his movement, yet he crossed the big room in a few easy strides. Without asking, he sat on the bed with her. Annis marvelled at the forthrightness of manner. Rooster!
“Annis, your Da is on his way and I think he’s bringing a lassie with him to keep you company. You’re not fit to be moved yet, so the lassie’s going to stay until you’re well enough to go home to your Ma.”
Annis felt both relief and fear at the thought of her father’s visit. He would be just one more person who would be asking questions of her. More than ever, she must not slip up. Her account to all comers must be the same in every wee detail. Her head began to pound again.
“Annis, you’re pale. Shall I get...?”
Annis stayed his hand with her own as he had made to rise. “No, really, it’s just a sore head. It will pass.”
Cullen was looking down at her hand, which was still resting on his. The seriousness returned to his face once more as he moved on the bed to be closer to her.
“Annis, I know we dinnae always see eye to eye, but what you did today...”
He seemed to be racking his brain for the right words. Annis held her breath, as Cullen took her hand in both of his.
“What you did today was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen a lassie do. Ever seen anybody do, in truth. I... I don’t even know what to say to you, but that you’re the brawest wee lassie I ever came across.”
Annis stayed silent, knowing he had more to say to her. The feel of her hand in his was such a new experience for her that she did not want to speak and break the spell. His fingers moved, entwining with her own and she closed her eyes to enjoy the thrill of the sensation. It was like she was floating and he was holding her up, supporting her, and it was the nicest thing she had ever felt. Stop it! She clamped her teeth down onto her lip. This was silly, she must keep her wits about her and letting a braw young man turn her head was the silliest thing she had ever done.
“Annis, you nearly got yourself killed -- and I cannae help but admit that, if I’d not been sleeping, you need not have done so. I let you down, lass.”
“Cullen...Cullen,” she soothed, feeling the beginnings of hot tears spring into her eyes. “Please don’t. You couldn’t have known they were there.”
Annis stopped abruptly. There, she had done it. Annis had brought the wolf to her own door with those few, brief words. Now, she would have to explain who they were.
Brodie raced back to his rooms where Logan had remained throughout the drama of Gunn and Grant Kincaid’s visit. Brodie could hardly believe that he had done naught to give away his part in the tragedy, and felt a wee gust of pride in himself as he regaled Logan with the details.
The news had been passed to his Da that Annis had been injured, shot with an arrow no less, but that she was alive and would mend. Gunn Kincaid was solemn and respectful of the Chief and conveyed his Clan’s sincerest gratitude that the man should have sired so brave a wee lassie.
Despite his obvious pride, Gordon had appeared openly shocked and concerned. He had a myriad of questions, many of which the Kincaid’s could not answer. The relief had nearly swamped Brodie. Throughout the encounter, he kept expecting Gunn or Grant to say that he and Logan had been seen. Well, obviously they hadn’t.
“Is Annis awake? Has she said anything?” Logan cut across the commentary of events which Brodie was supplying.
“She’s wasn’t awake by the time the Kincaid lads had set off for here, but they say she will mend well enough.”
Brodie did not see the flash of annoyance in Logan’s eyes. Logan’s hopes that Annis had died, and with her any chance of their discovery, would need to be kept hidden from Brodie.
“Aye, well, that’s good news Brodie,” Logan almost spat the words out.
“Aye, it is... Logan?”
“Aye?”
“What if Annis recognised us?”
Chapter Eleven
Annis felt tiny beads of perspiration forming on her forehead. She knew the question was coming. She knew that Cullen had seen the change in her.
“What is it?” Cullen reached for the metal basin of water which the healer had left behind and fished out the cloth which floated there. Wringing it out, he turned his attention back to Annis.
“I just feel a wee bit light headed, Cullen. Groggy, you know? I’m so verra tired.” Annis was playing for time but knew she couldn’t expect much. Think. Think!
Cullen was dabbing lightly at her forehead, the coolness of the cloth making her feel a little better and a little sharper.
“How’s that now?”
“Ach, I’m alright, Cullen.”
Annis knew she could not reasonably stall any longer without raising suspicion. All that was left was for her to be clear in her account, and aware of everything she was saying. Every detail would have to be remembered for whatever later re-telling she might be forced to make.
“Annis, how did you come to be there? What made you run at me?”
Cullen did not want to question her, he wanted to soothe her, to hold her hand, and tell her to rest. Yet, he knew that he could not leave that chamber without some sort of account of the day. His Da was waiting for him. His Da did not know how he felt.
“I was hunting. Just my usual, what do you call it? Scampering about like a feral wee beastie. I spied you, right enough, when I reached the edge of that clearing. Laying there like a big rock, snoring your wee brains out like a hog with drool running from its mouth.”
Her return to their familiar banter made Cullen smile.
It felt natural enough to her to ease the fear and disquiet, the need to lie was causing her.
“Anyway, after you’d been so cheeky the other day when I’d seen you about with Grant, I thought I’d sneak up on you, give you a good old scare.” Annis started to laugh. It was a display of humour she did not truly feel.
“I came out into the clearing, creeping over to you, when something just, well, caught my eye I suppose.”
“So, you saw that someone was going to fire upon me?”
Annis fought the panic. She did not want to appear shaky or start sweating again. Nothing to give her away.
“Ach, not exactly, Cullen. I saw the top of a bow jutting up over the top of a rock. A man was in a crouch there and, for a wee moment, I wondered what animal he was hunting. I nearly stayed quiet for him, not wanting to ruin his shot.” She paused, running a hand over her face. Keep going, get it done.
“Then I just had a feeling. I looked from the bow, then down to where you were, and I realised that it was aimed at you. That’s when I jumped at you. It was odd, I couldnae get a scream out. I was a wee bit stunned, you know?”
“Aye, you would be.” Cullen took her hand in his once more and squeezed it gently in encouragement. Annis could have wept. Here was a man whose life she had been trying to save ever since that dreadful meeting of Brodie, Logan and Sinclair. Now, she was feeling more for this man than she had ever done before. He was holding her hand and treating her like a grown woman at last, not like some wild wee lassie to be teased and humoured. More than anything, Annis wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to open up and share the burden of the secrets she had been carrying.
“By God, lass, but you’ve got the keen eyes of a hen harrier, and I’m glad of it. If you’d not spied him, I’d likely be dead.” Annis winced at the bluntness.
“Cullen, don’t.”
“Well, I would be.”
Annis just nodded weakly, resigned.
“Annis, did you know the man? Did you recognise him?”
“I...” She faltered and gulped back a sob. “I didn’t. I couldnae see all of him. He was crouched and the rock covered a lot. Maybe he was dark haired? I don’t know... I couldnae even tell you if he was tall or short. I’m sorry...”
Finally, the dam of strength was overrun by the emotions at war within her. She began to openly weep, something she had not done since she was a wee
lassie.
“I’ve let you down...” The words were choked and ragged, but she truly meant them. In the depth of her heart, Annis knew she had let him down.
Cullen tried to put his arms around her, forgetting how injured she was. His need to hold her was so great, he tried to lift her towards him. Annis cried out in pain.
“Annis, Ach, I’m so sorry.”
“Ach, ya clumsy hog.”
Cullen laid her back down as gently as he would a bairn. Still, he wanted to hold her. Stretching full out onto the bed to lay beside her, he cradled her body against his as gently as he could.
Annis let him hold her. It felt good, right and comfortable but it also made her feel like a traitor. She could just as easily have got him killed.
Her pain had subsided, but her anguished weeping had not. Annis buried her face into the beautiful chest she had so admired earlier in the day.
So many emotions raced through her that Annis could not entirely account for the source of her tears. Pain, fear, shame at the lies she had told, and the excitement of feeling his body pressed so closely to her own, all fought for control of her.
Cullen began to stroke her face, dabbing at her tears with his big, yet gentle, fingers. He swept loose strands of golden hair from her face and planted small kisses on the top of her head. Annis had never been this close to any man in all her life.
Cullen felt the shame of his questioning burn deep. He hadn’t wanted to harass her, his Da had demanded it. Annis had taken an arrow in the back to save his life. Why could his kin not be grateful for that and respect the lassie well enough to let her rest? No, instead they had sent him to her as her interrogator. Well, there would be no more of it. Annis had told what she knew, and he would not see her in this state again whilst there was still breath in his body. His Da, Gunn and Grant, and anybody else who cared to step forwards would have to deal with him.
