Highland Fortitude (The Band of Cousins Book 5)

by Keira Montclair

  “And now?” Uncle Logan asked. “Did they hang the bitch and put her head on a pike?”

  David choked on the ale that he’d just taken a sip of.

  Maggie chuckled. “Nay, but they did move her to London, where there is a separate area in the prison for females. She was not happy about the decision.”

  Will continued, “MacDole Castle has been officially given to Rose. We will travel to Grant land next to see what she wishes to do with it. Daniel, are you interested in traveling with us?”

  Daniel let out a deep breath. “Nay. We wish to see Roddy and Rose, but there’s something I must do in Edinburgh first. A young lad I made a promise to. Once I’m fit to travel, Constance and I will leave for the city.”

  “Are you going back to fighting, nephew?” Uncle Logan looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve heard about someone named Damien who was quite a fighter. There was some chatter about a devil’s hand. Know anything about that?”

  Daniel smirked. “Nay, I’ve had enough fighting. Besides, if I did that, I’d have to use Jennet’s creation and someone is not fond of it.” He cast a sideways glance at Constance.

  Uncle Logan said, “But Jennet and Brigid worked verra hard on that.”

  “I’m keeping it. It’s quite handy for some things, but Constance doesn’t particularly care for it.”

  His brother laughed and added, “If you go back to fighting, it would put an end to your nickname of ‘Ghost.’ Everyone in Edinburgh already knows your face.”

  Daniel thought for a moment before he said, “I’m not sure which I prefer—Ghost or Devil’s Hand.”

  “Ghost,” Constance remarked, a bit too vehemently.

  Daniel kissed her temple and said, “If it makes you happy, but I’m still keeping Treun. It helps me picking apples.”

  “You don’t like it, truly? But why not, Constance?” Maggie asked.

  Constance stood up to defend herself, her eyes flashing in the way he loved. “Just a moment. Please tell the entire story, husband. Make sure you tell them how your hair was unruly and matted, how your beard went untrimmed until it was disgusting, how your clothes were filthy, and you went by that name I hate. Damien.” Her hands went to her hips.

  Uncle Logan grinned at her. “Do tell us more about that. How did you know she didn’t like it, Daniel?”

  “Because I woke up with a dagger at my throat.”

  “You did not.” She leaned toward him. “I was attempting to cut your beard while you slept. That way you wouldn’t stop me.”

  Daniel quirked his brow at her as her skin turned the deepest shade of red he’d ever seen. “Your cheeks are nearly the color of your hair, wife. Is something wrong?” She must have realized what she’d said—how her words had revealed they’d slept side by side before the wedding.

  Constance spun on her heel and moved over to plunk down into her chair. “Daniel, Daniel, Daniel.”

  Daniel reached for her hand and tugged her onto his lap.

  “See, Gwynie?” Uncle Logan said happily. “She’s just like you.”

  “Why didn’t you use the name Ghost when you were fighting?” David asked.

  “I didn’t want the fighter to be connected to me here. Besides, I was hardly a ghost there. My aim was to be seen.”

  “Tell us more about the underground,” David said.

  “Aye, I’d like to hear more,” Will agreed.

  Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “There’s an entire network of gambling halls where they place money on fights. Anything goes. This is their daily business, but once a moon they’re called on to do more. When they receive their instructions, they send a crew out for the lasses and deliver them to a place in the east.”

  “Did they give you any clues as to where in the east, Daniel?” Uncle Logan asked.

  “Just that it was a wealthy channel, and that it wasn’t connected with any kirk or abbey. And someone made a comment that the underground was much different there. Almost as if they had lasses fighting rather than men.”

  His sire scoffed. “That sounds ridiculous.”

  Gwyneth mumbled, “Is it, Micheil? Why can they not force lasses to fight? The Norse train their women to fight.”

  “’Tis verra helpful, Daniel,” Maggie said. “Now I have a better idea of where to send Gavin, Gregor, and Connor.”

  Daniel said, “Once I’m fully healed, I’ll help again.”

  Constance said, “I will, also. Wee lassies should not have to live in fear of such a thing.”

  Daniel said, “We have to put an end to this, and we won’t stop until we do.” He leaned over and kissed his wife. “I almost lost you. When I saw you on Lamont’s horse, I thought I would vomit for sure.”

  “I’m never leaving you, Daniel. I promise.”

  “Good,” he said as he reached over and caressed the back of her neck. “Because if you do, I’ll turn into Damien again. It was a wild ride for a few days.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

  Constance glared at him.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Daniel and Constance headed down the middle of Edinburgh on horseback. Daniel hoped no one would recognize him, especially since he’d gone out of his way to groom himself, trimming his beard and his hair. This time he proudly wore his Drummond plaid. He couldn’t help but smirk at his wife.

  “Why are you laughing, Daniel? I know that look,” Constance whispered.

  “’Tis naught.”

  “Out with it. I know I had something to do with that thought.” She gave him her elbow, easy enough to do since she was seated in front of him.

  “I was just thinking how I’d never dare not to trim my hair or beard for fear I’d awaken to a dagger at my throat again.”

  She chuckled. “Aye, ’tis true, though you know I was only holding the dagger there to trim your beard.”

  “So you keep insisting.” He stopped his horse near the village stables, dismounted, then helped his wife down.

  “Daniel, I hope we find him,” she said softly. “The lad looked like he could use friends. Where do we start?”

  “We’ll find him.” He spoke to the man in the stable about taking care of his horse, tossed him a coin. “You know a lad named Terric?” he asked. “Used to sleep here.”

  “Aye, still does on occasion. He comes back to help us.”

  “Do you know where I can find him?”

  The man tipped his head toward the castle. “Usually near the castle. He’s always looking to pick up more coin.”

  Daniel took Constance by the hand and headed toward the castle, not far away. When they arrived, he stood in the cobblestone courtyard and glanced around. A voice called out to him, “My lord, my lord! Wait, my lord!”

  Daniel pivoted just in time to see the lad launch himself into his arms. “Terric! You are hale, lad?”

  “Aye, you dinnae forget me. I feared you would.” Terric’s bright eyes glittered in the noonday sun. “Greetings, my lady.”

  “You are well, lad?”

  “Aye, and I have something of yours, my lord.” Terric asked, “Come with me?”

  “Lead the way.” Daniel wrapped his arm around Constance’s waist.

  When they were nearly back by the stables, Terric said, “Wait here.” Then he disappeared down the street.

  Daniel took a moment to look around at the city, his mind returning to the time when he’d fought for coin and loved it. A small twinge of regret caught him, but he knew he’d made the right decision. For the short time he’d been involved in the underground fighting circuit, he’d felt stronger, more like a normal, whole man. He recognized it now for false confidence, but he’d learned from the experience.

  A man strode by him, but then stopped in his tracks, turning around to stare at him. “Are you not the Devil’s Hand?” His finger moved to his chin and he scratched, leveling his gaze at Daniel. “Aye? You look almost exactly like him.”

  “He’s my brother,” Daniel lied, not wishing to bring any undue attention to Constance.
>
  “That explains it. If you see him, tell him to come back. No one fights like he did. I’d still wager on him.”

  “I’ll tell him,” Daniel said, shooting a grin at Constance. She stared back at him with wide eyes.

  Terric came down the path a moment later, a package in his hand, beaming. “Here. I saved it for you.”

  Daniel tore the twine off and dropped the wrapping, surprised to see his bags of coin. “Terric, you saved these all this time? Why did you not use it to pay for the inn or for your food? ’Twould have been acceptable.” He took the bag of coins and held it up for Constance to see.

  “What is it, Daniel?” Constance asked.

  “’Tis all the coin I won fighting. I mostly forgot about it, but I gave it to Terric to watch. I thought you’d use it to live on, lad.” He pulled out a few coins and gave them to him. “At least you’ll take this for saving the bags for me. Go get yourself a meat pie and come back.” Terric didn’t need to be asked twice—he took off toward a street vendor not far away.

  “Daniel, ’tis quite a bit of coin,” Constance said. “You’d better hide it.”

  He gave Constance a bag and said, “I know you cannot replace the stone you lost, but mayhap you can purchase something else that will remind you of your mother. Surely you would not have lost it if not for me.”

  She stared at the coin, her eyes misting.

  “What is it?” he asked, peering at her because it was such an odd thing to cry over.

  “Daniel, I’ll sound daft, but when I look at Terric, and I think about wee Kelby at the abbey, it makes me wish we could do something to help all the bairns who are different. Terric is missing a hand, Kelby doesn’t walk right. She’ll always limp and no one will want her. Could we not do something for the wee ones who are misfits? Could we use this coin to help them in some way?”

  Daniel stared at his wee wife, thinking about how much he adored her. She had the biggest heart of anyone he’d ever met. “I just had a thought. I’m going to send a message to Roddy. See if he’ll meet us near Braden’s.”

  “Oh, good. I’d so love to see dear Rose again. What are you thinking?”

  Terric came running back with a lad a few years younger than he was. The lad was also missing a hand. “This is my friend. Do you mind if he eats with me?”

  “Not at all,” Constance said. “Terric, is your friend without parents, too?”

  “Aye. I saw the other lads teasing him one day…”

  “Terric saved me,” the lad said, smiling. “My name’s Henry. My mother was English, but she died.”

  “How did you lose your hand, Henry?”

  “I got caught stealing food for my mother before she passed away. My father could not feed us so I stole a bag of oats. The sheriff caught me and chopped off my hand. Then my father sent me out. He did not want a cripple.”

  Daniel nearly choked with a raw fury, but he quickly hid it. None of it was the lad’s fault. “How would you lads like to go for a journey with us? We’re heading into the Highlands. We still have time before the heavy snows fly.”

  Terric looked to his friend, who was emphatically nodding his head. “May we both come?”

  “Aye. Once you finish your meal, gather your belongings and meet me at the stable. I’m going to stop and send a message first, then I’ll get you a horse. I promise we’ll feed you well.”

  Constance gave him a questioning look, but he just kissed her cheek and said, “Trust me, lass. ’Twill be my wedding gift to you. I know ’tis a bit late, but I wished to wait until ’twas perfect.”

  Henry and Terric stared at each other, their eyes glittering with excitement, before they took off to grab their belongings.

  “I’m telling everyone you picked me to help with your journey,” Henry announced over his shoulder.

  “Oh, Daniel,” Constance murmured, “When we find our own home, can we not make it big enough to welcome in some of these bairns? I could ask Ada to help. We could think of something.” She’d told him about Ada—how she’d become much kinder after Rose saved her and the other lasses from being sold.

  “I’ve already got a plan. Your heart is so big you’ve given me the idea.” Daniel patted her hand and said, “Patience, lass. Patience. Though I know ’tis not your strongest quality.”

  “Nor is it yours,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

  “Aye, you do know me.”

  ***

  When the four finally arrived at Muir Castle just after nightfall, they couldn’t wait to get inside away from the bitter wind. They’d taken their time, so the voyage had stretched out for a few days, but now Constance felt as if she was frozen inside and out.

  “I hope Braden has the fire going,” she whispered to Daniel. “Poor Henry is shivering as I am.”

  Daniel helped her dismount, kissing her lips quickly. “Aye, you are an ice queen at the moment if your lips are any indication, but I do promise to warm you tonight.”

  “Will we have a chamber or pallets in the great hall? Or mayhap even a cottage?” Constance whimpered through her shivers.

  “They’ll have a chamber for us. You’ve been to the keep before. ’Tis quite big and beautiful.”

  “Aye, ’tis true. Lads, Steenie is younger than you two, but he’ll be pleased to have visitors. You can probably sleep with him this eve. He has a pony, too, and I’m sure he’d love to show Paddy to you on the morrow.”

  Henry grew wide-eyed and asked, “Not in the stables? Not on the ground somewhere?” Then he glanced at Terric. “I’ve never slept inside before.”

  “Not even at home, Henry?” Constance asked, afraid to hear his answer.

  “Nay, the lads slept in the stables with the horse and the pigs.”

  Braden and Roddy came out to greet them. “So glad to see you both,” Braden said, “and you’ve brought friends.”

  “Aye, Terric is the taller and Henry is the shorter. Come, lads. Inside and up close to the hearth.”

  Once they stepped inside, Rose squealed and raced over to greet her. Constance grabbed her friend, wrapping her arms around her. “Oh, Rose, I’m so happy to see you. Are you happy?”

  When they finally found the will to separate, Rose said, “I’m verra happy. I hear you and Daniel have married! I was so hoping you would.” Then she whispered in her friend’s ear, “He’s perfect for you.”

  Constance nodded in agreement. “I know.”

  Rose squeezed her hand and announced, “I have news for you.”

  Constance moved over to greet Cairstine, who quickly said, “You are all so cold. Come by the fire. Steenie, take the lads into the kitchens and find something for all of us to eat. Grandmama just went inside.” The lads had started chattering as soon as they met one another, so they followed their orders happily enough.

  The adults settled in around the hearth, conversing about the weather and all that had transpired. Constance noticed that Roddy had pulled Daniel aside and they’d whispered together before returning to the group with big smiles on their faces.

  Constance couldn’t stand the suspense. “Out with it! What is it you two have planned?”

  Roddy said, “Rose and I have been discussing our plans for the future, and Daniel just gave us the answers to our prayers.”

  Rose bolted out of her seat. “He did?”

  “Please tell us all,” Constance said.

  Rose pivoted to the group and clapped her hands together. “Roddy and I have been given MacDole Castle. At first, I did not think I could live there, but now that some time has passed, I miss my home. We were hoping we could convince Daniel and Constance to come live with us. We’d be so close to Braden and Cairstine. Roddy, Daniel, and Braden could continue to work with the Band of Cousins—” she grinned at Constance, “—and I’d have my dear friend with me.”

  Daniel took a step forward and said, “I just suggested my idea to Roddy, and he loves it.”

  “What is it, Daniel?” Constance held her breath because she was so excited.

/>   “Constance, with her big heart, gave me the idea when we were in Edinburgh. Both of us wish to do more for Terric and Henry, and I know Constance would like to be reunited with wee Kelby at the abbey. The lassie has a limp and will probably never walk right. Our cousin Loki has a home for orphans. He welcomes them inside, and they all contribute and live together. I was wondering about doing the same for bairns who were lacking, misfits for lack of a better word. Roddy and Rose have the place but not the coin. Constance and I have the coin but not the place. What if we make MacDole Castle the Castle for Misfits? Terric, Henry, and Kelby can all move in with us. Be part of our clan, a special clan.”

  “Oh, Daniel. ’Tis a wonderful idea. What do you think, Rose?” How she hoped her dear friend would agree.

  Her friend’s radiant smile was answer enough. “I love the idea! We can journey there on the morrow and see how the place has fared in our absence. The furnishings are still there. We would just have to clean, buy some supplies, though we had many foodstuffs stored in the cellars already. There were turnips and apples and barley already there.”

  Constance moved over and gave Daniel a hug. “What a lovely idea, Daniel. But I don’t want to call them misfits. Mayhap they were misfits, but they will be misfits no longer. We’ll come up with another name for the castle.”

  They all thought for a moment, then Constance said, “’Twill be a special home for special bairns. How about the Home for Special Bairns?”

  The others cheered her suggestion, and Constance sighed in satisfaction. All of her dreams had come true.

  Epilogue

  A sennight later in West Lothian

  Gavin and Gregor rode their horses out on their usual patrol around Ramsay land, searching for any reivers or prowlers.

  Nothing. Another boring patrol.

  Gavin sighed deeply. “I’m ready to go.”

  “Where to?” asked his best friend and cousin.

  “Anywhere. Are you not tired of staying at home after all the excitement we’ve been involved in of late? The fight with those bastards on Loch Linnhe, the black pool…gambling in Edinburgh and watching Daniel pummel every fighter in the land? The falcons, the owl, even Paddy the Pony. There’s more out there in life than what we’ll find on Ramsay land, Gregor. Can you not feel it? We need to leave, and soon. We’re supposed to leave.”