Highland Brawn (The Band of Cousins Book 8)

by Keira Montclair

Jamie shook his head. “Nay, she’s a brave lass for certes. I hate spiders.” He shuddered dramatically as he said it.

  Connor looked to Jake. “Your thoughts, Jake? How hard was it for Aline?”

  His brother sighed. “I’ll warn you ’tis verra difficult to watch someone heal. Aline cried out in her sleep for a long time, but she’s healed a wee bit more with each passing moon. Patience, brother. It takes patience, and control.”

  “Control?” Connor asked.

  “Aye. Else you’ll be tempted to punch the wall and pretend ’tis the bastard who hurt her. If you give in to anger, you’ll end up with a broken fist and no satisfaction.”

  “How is she? I haven’t seen her around.”

  “She’s been sick.”

  “Carrying?” Jamie asked, his eyes lighting up.

  “Nay, she’s not carrying. You worry about your wife and I’ll worry about Aline.”

  Connor didn’t know what else to ask his brothers, so he just shrugged—the gesture as helpless as he felt. “Would you like to see what Gregor gave me before we left Ramsay land?” He reached into his quiver and pulled out four arrows. “Interesting, aye? When he went off to rescue Linet, he feared his arrow skills weren’t enough to protect them both. He started practicing with his sword more, but he also thought of ways he could make his arrows more deadly.”

  “Why do they look like that? I’ve not seen those before,” Jake asked. “Though I’m not a skilled archer. You are better than I am at this, Connor.”

  Jamie sputtered out a laugh. “You’ll not hear him say those words often.” He turned one of the arrows over in his hand. “Quite unusual, I agree. Why change the edge?”

  “’Twill light with fire, if I wish.”

  Jake had turned away from them but jerked back around in an instant. “Fire? For what?”

  “There’s no harm in making something twice as deadly,” Jamie said. “Besides, haven’t you been in a situation where you can’t make a direct hit to man’s heart or his head? A fiery arrow to the arm might still be deadly. Or you could use one to light up any building made of wood or with thatched roofs. Ingenious. Leave it to Gregor to think of such a thing.”

  “Aye,” Connor replied, pulling the new arrow out and aiming it to test its weight. “Jennet creates all manner of things, so I wasn’t surprised to hear Gregor had done some inventing of his own.”

  He let the arrow loose and hit his target on the first try. His face shifted into a scowl as he imagined Hord on the receiving end of that arrow.

  “Who were you pretending that was, brother?” Jake asked, giving him a knowing look.

  Connor shrugged. “Hord. The man had an obsession with Sela. Am I the fool for believing that he’ll return for her after everyone’s given up on him? Was that not the way Mama’s abuser did it? Hord is shrewd, I’ll give him that much.”

  “Don’t doubt your instincts,” Jamie said. “If you’re prepared to face him, he’ll never catch you completely off-guard.”

  “And as for Sela, stay patient,” Jake said, clasping his shoulder. “You’ll have no regrets.”

  Jamie snorted. “’Tis about time, brother. We were starting to wonder if you’d ever choose a lass.”

  “Aye, we were going to choose for you this summer if you hadn’t.”

  “My thanks, but I’ll choose my own wife.” Connor didn’t even want to think about what they may have planned for him. “I think I’ll not trust my dear brothers to choose for me, based on past experiences.”

  Jamie took a swig of ale from his skin. “Why would you say such a thing?”

  “Och, I don’t know. Mayhap memories of the time you tried to match me with the one who was in love with me? The one who couldn’t even talk to me because she was so busy staring at me and petting my hand?

  Jamie spewed his ale across the ground in front of him, then burst into laughter.

  Connor crossed his arms in front of him, staring at the two. “That was at one of the Ramsay festivals. And I did what I had to, but when she tried to climb up behind me on the rope swing, I had to finally put an end to that match.”

  Jake bent over at the waist and roared unlike he’d heard in a long time.

  Jamie sputtered, “We didn’t really know the lass. We just noticed how she stared at you. You must admit she was pretty.”

  “I’ll agree with that. She was a beauty, but ’tis not all that matters. Laugh as you like, you two, but I am bigger than both of you now,” he said with a grin, turning back to the target and shooting off a few more arrows.

  Jake asked, “What makes you think we had anything to do with that?”

  “Mayhap because the year before you tried to attach me to a lass who was older than our mother,” he muttered, firing off two more arrows.

  “Now, Connor. We were just teasing you back then. We thought you’d gain some experience from the woman,” Jake said, moving up to stand next to Jamie, clasping his shoulder. “’Twas part of our duty as older brothers. This time, we’d find you a nice lass your own age.”

  “Sure you would,” Connor said, finally stopping to stare at his two dear brothers. “The woman whispered things in my ear that I’d never heard of before. She scared me when she described all that she wanted to do with me. I was only five and ten at the time.”

  Jamie took another swig of ale, still chuckling a wee bit.

  “And I mean explicit detail. Things I don’t think you knew anything about back then. I should have sent her back to the two of you.”

  Jamie spewed his ale again, breaking into gales of laughter. When he was finally able to calm himself, he said, “Our apologies, but ’twas funny.”

  Jake said, “The one you’ve found, I noticed, is a wee bit different. Sela’s quite stunning.”

  Connor crossed his arms and gave his brothers a smug look. “Aye, and as I said, if you ever have a mind to attempt anything like that again, remember I’m bigger than you now.”

  “Aye,” Jamie said, always conniving. “But ’twill be two against one.”

  Loki came up behind them and said, “Nay, two against two. I’ll stand with you, Connor.”

  Jamie and Jake made disgruntled sounds.

  “My thanks, cousin,” Connor said. “Didn’t hear you sneak in.”

  “Just thought I’d check on the standing of the Dubh men before Yule. I’ll be staying put for the rest of the winter, but curiosity has me wondering…”

  “No news of any Channel activity. ’Tis done as far as we know.”

  “Good. Now, let’s see who’s the best archer, shall we?”

  They continued working at the butts. Shortly after the sun was at its highest, Connor noticed two horses headed their way. His heart lodged in his throat.

  “Are those Cameron plaids, Jamie?” he asked.

  “I think they are.”

  He mounted his horse and rode out to intercept the messengers. One guard asked him, “Connor Grant?”

  “Aye, I’m Connor.”

  “Your presence is needed immediately at Lochluin Abbey. Mother Matilda’s request.”

  Shite.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Sela did her morning chores, chopping the vegetables for the main course, but she couldn’t erase the feeling that Hord was hiding somewhere near or in the abbey. How could she prove it? She surely did not wish to find him.

  Sister Therese came along to check on her progress, something she usually did once a day. “My, but you’ve cut those vegetables mighty fine this morn, Sela. Are you all right?”

  She dropped her knife, just then noticing what a tight grip she’d had on it, then wiped her hands on the apron she wore over her wool gown. “I’m fine, Sister. And you?”

  “Aye. Fortunately, I will enjoy the diced vegetables that size, but you needn’t have cut them so small.”

  “My apologies, Sister. I’ll do better on the morrow. Allow me to step away and put them in the pot on the fire.”

  “Aye, then you may go to chapel.”

 
; She loaded the foodstuffs into the pot, then headed to the chapel after cleaning her spot. Normally, she made her way close to the altar and knelt, saying her prayers for forgiveness and guidance.

  This morn, she stood at the back, unable to move forward.

  He’s here, Lord. He’s here, Lord. Please help me. Please don’t allow him to hurt me again. Protect Claray. Please teach me how to protect myself.

  After chanting her prayer at least ten times, the answer came to her.

  She needed a stout stick to fight back.

  Thank You, my Lord.

  She hurried toward the back door, hoping not to run into anyone. There was still plenty of time to clean the chambers later. She had to find a big stick first.

  Several guards milled about outside. She greeted each one politely, then moved on.

  “Where are you off to, my lady?” one asked.

  “I’m headed to the forest. Would you mind escorting me? I don’t wish to run into any reivers.”

  Or Hord. But she kept that thought to herself, sensing no one else would understand.

  Two guards followed her as she moved through the trees, checking next to the fallen logs for the exact stick she needed. It took her ten minutes to find one that was big enough to do the job.

  She wrapped her fingers around the thick branch and swung it through the air as hard as she could, picturing Hord’s laughing face in front of her.

  She liked it.

  “What do you need that for, my lady?” one guard asked.

  If she told him, he might take it away. The guards were there to protect them after all, and they likely wouldn’t understand why she’d want something to protect herself.

  “Yule is coming, as you know. ’Tis going to be a decoration,” she lied. “I thought I could hang some berries and ribbons from it to pretty up the warming room and the chapter house.”

  He didn’t ask any more questions, instead moving along with her and looking for more.

  She found another.

  And another.

  And another.

  Each one was bigger than the previous one.

  “My lady, are you sure you need all of these? We can carry a few more, but then we may have trouble getting them back to the abbey.”

  She looked at the guards’ heavily laden arms and said, “My apologies. I think one more should be enough.”

  Her breath caught when she found exactly what she was searching for. It was so large that she’d barely be able to swing it. But she’d practice until she was stronger. That was what Connor had told her about archery and sword skills. It just took practice.

  She could barely lift it, but it was perfect.

  “Here, my lady, I’ll carry that one for you.”

  “Nay!”

  She hadn’t meant to shout at him, but she strongly felt this was the one. She needed to be the one to bring it back to the abbey. “I’ll pull it behind me. I think we have enough. We can return now and many thanks for your help.”

  Both guards beamed. They were used to dealing with nuns and priests and monks. She supposed they enjoyed talking to a regular person for a change.

  She yanked the large branch behind her. It took perseverance, but she made it back. “You can put those branches right there and I’ll take care of them.”

  After the guards left for their original posts, she took a stroll around the periphery of the abbey. She needed a plan. She had enough sticks that she could spread them around. Carefully measuring out the distances, she found a place to hide each weapon around the outside of the abbey, each one perfectly positioned so she’d always be able to reach one.

  No matter where she was when Hord found her.

  Wouldn’t he be surprised when she hit him on the side of his head, knocking him over? When she was finally satisfied, she went inside, taking the largest stick with her to put in her chamber.

  Mother Matilda stopped her in the passageway. “My, my, but what have you there, child?”

  “’Tis a large branch that I’d like to break up to use in decorations.” She thought carefully, begging the Lord’s forgiveness for lying to an abbess. “’Tis a surprise so I cannot tell you any more than that.”

  She gave the abbess her best smile, then headed toward her chamber. Grabbing all of her cleaning supplies, she moved on to complete her chores for the day. The last chamber to be cleaned would be her own, just before she went to sleep.

  If she could sleep. She kept trying, but she lay awake most nights—worrying, planning, strategizing how she would beat Hord this time.

  The more chambers she cleaned, the more concerned she became.

  There were more spiders than usual.

  Most days there were only one or two per chamber. Today, she’d found four in one, five in another, and three in the third one.

  Hord was here. She was certain of it.

  She hurried to her chamber to clean it, but then she had second thoughts. It was paramount that she prepare herself for the bastard. Dusk was upon them, but there was enough light for her to see. She traced her earlier steps and found each of the sticks, taking them one by one back to her chamber.

  She’d only just finished when Sister Grace entered the chamber. “More sticks, Sela?” she asked.

  “Aye, ’tis a surprise. I cannot tell how I plan to use them.” She smiled and wiped the sweat from her brow.

  Sister Grace rushed down the passageway toward the abbess’s solar, but Sela didn’t have time to consider why she was in such a hurry. She had to clean.

  Kill more spiders.

  She cleaned every space in her chamber. She’d found six spiders. How could that many have found their way into her chamber? There was only one answer.

  Hord had put them there.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, she allowed the tears to come, flooding her cheeks.

  Where was Connor? She needed him, but she’d sent him away.

  She blew her nose into a linen square when the abbess entered. “How are you this eve, Sela? I hear you’ve been quite busy.”

  “Good eve to you, Mother Matilda. Please come in and have a seat on my bed.” The abbess sat next to her. “My chamber is clean. I just finished it, though I’ve been busy this day. I saved mine for last.”

  “What is it that keeps you so busy?”

  She smiled at the abbess, mopping her tears with the linen square. It was comforting to have someone else with her. Hord wouldn’t come for her if she wasn’t alone, would he? “I’m killing spiders.”

  “There are more than usual? You always keep your chamber spotless.”

  “I try my verra best. Excuse me, there’s another.” She bolted up from her seat and used a cloth to squash the beast on the wall.

  “Oh, another right there.” She slapped the wall with her bare hand.

  “And there’s another.”

  Mother Matilda had gotten up, too, and stood slightly behind her. “I don’t see any spiders. Are you sure your eyes aren’t deceiving you?”

  “Nay, see? There’s another.” She jumped to another spot, slapping the wall with her cloth. “And that one, too. How could you not see it? And there’s another yet. And another.”

  Sister Grace came to the door, concern on her face, though Sela had no idea why.

  “Mother Matilda, the person you sent for this morn has arrived.”

  Sela didn’t care who was here. She had three more spiders to kill.

  She had to do it. Before they got her.

  ***

  Connor had ridden Midnight Moon so fast that he gave him an apple as soon as they arrived. Nodding to a stable lad, he said, “He needs water.”

  He rushed inside, not surprised to see a nun waiting for him, kneading her hands. “She’s in her chamber. Mother Matilda is with her. She’s seeing things now.”

  “Where is Claray?” he asked. “You will keep her overnight?”

  “Mistress Jennie took Claray to her keep.”

  He wasn’t quite sure what to do, but he follo
wed the nun to the chamber and stood in the doorway, his eyes finding Sela in the dark. She moved from spot to spot on the wall—smashing, slapping, and squashing at will. He doubted there was anything there.

  Mother Matilda greeted him and said, “I know not what I can do for her.”

  “My thanks for calling me. I’ll probably take her to my aunt Jennie’s keep to calm her down. We’ll likely return on the morrow.”

  The abbess patted his arm and stepped away.

  Sela hadn’t even noticed his presence. “Sela? What has you so busy?” he asked.

  Her head spun around, her eyes lighting with recognition, but the initial spark of joy left them and she whirled back to face the wall. She stood in one of the corners, sobbing. “Connor, have you not heard? Hord is here.”

  He could tell she’d lost control so he chose his next words carefully. “Where is he?”

  “I haven’t seen him for certain, but I know he’s here. Look at all the spiders in my chamber. Usually there’s only one or two. I’ve killed over a score, and there are so many more. Look at this corner. The webs hide their true number, but I must kill them all. I have to protect Claray.”

  He slowly moved over to her, not wanting to upset her. “What are all the sticks for?”

  “To hit Hord when he finds me. I remembered what you told me about practicing. He won’t find me defenseless. But these stupid spiders keep coming,” she said, her voice breaking as she sobbed. “These spiders, Connor. I cannot stop them, they keep growing bigger, they keep… Help me put an end to them, please.”

  He came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Hush, sweetling. I’ll take care of the spiders.” He brought his hand out to take the cloth from her, noticing there wasn’t a spider or a web in sight. “Watch me kill them.” He took the cloth and swept it up the corner, then down again. “See? They’re all gone now. I won’t let them harm you.”

  She pointed to the right. “There’s one over there.”

  He didn’t see anything, but he pretended to kill one.

  “And one over there.” She pointed to the left. “Connor, I can’t keep up with them. I know not what to do.” She broke away from his arms and started slapping at different spots on the wall. “Look at them down here,” she cried, kneeling on the floor to kill the spiders she believed to be in the edge between the floor and the wall. “Help me kill them, please.”