Maude glided to the stack of buckets beside the door and began handing them out before leading the women to the well. She carried two buckets back and set them to boil. Once they bubbled with steam rising, she poured them onto one of the fires. When the fires were extinguished, she chose four women to sweep out the grates while she tied a cheesecloth over her hair.
“While we clean these fireplaces, some of you can heat more buckets of water in the Great Hall. I expect the older women to sweep away the rushes and the younger ones to scrub the floor. When that is complete, a team of you will go to the gardens and begin weeding. It’s impossible to tell the weeds from the vegetables. I’ll be along to pick herbs that we’ll dry. There will be flavor to our food from now on. If you don’t care for it, you can have bannocks for all three meals or cook in your own homes.”
Maude turned back to the hearth she stood beside and sank to her knees. She dipped a scrub brush into the mixture of lye and water before proceeding to scrub the stones surrounding the fireplaces. It took a moment before the women organized themselves, and two slender women climbed into the chimneys and began knocking the soot loose with flue brushes. When they finished, Maude dismissed them to wash and change their clothing. She scooted over and began scrubbing the walls behind where the flames usually roared. She called over a woman who’d been willing to help her in the past and asked her to join her in scrubbing. Fiona stood, watching as Maude turned her kitchen upside-down as women scurried about to follow Maude’s orders. The older woman seethed, but she realized there was little she could do. Even if Maude hadn’t spoken to Kieran about her plans, Fiona understood he’d support Maude before taking anyone else’s side.
The work went faster than Maude expected, and it pleased her that by the time they served the noon meal, the kitchen’s fireplaces sparkled. She beamed at Kieran and nodded as he met her at the doors of the kitchen. He peeked inside and whistled as he saw that not only had they cleaned the fireplaces, but they’d cleaned every surface and door in the kitchens. He caught sight of Fiona scowling at Maude’s back, and he feared what the woman might do to retaliate. He bid Maude wait for him before he stepped into the kitchen. Several of the women were still preparing platters when he entered. He stepped in front of Fiona and crossed his arms.
“I can imagine what’s caused your snit, Fiona, but you can cease immediately. Lady MacLeod will run this keep as she sees fit, and I support her choices and edicts. I hadn’t realized the state of disrepair this kitchen existed in until now, when I can see how it should be. I’m certain my wife has warned you that you’re to fall in line, or she’ll replace you. If she hasn’t, then let me make that clear to you.” He swept his gaze over the women. “To all of you. My feelings from last night haven’t wavered. I’m ashamed of this clan, and I expect changes to be made immediately, and that includes obeying and fulfilling Lady MacLeod’s instructions. My mother has spoiled not only my sisters, but those employed in this keep. Fiona, you’ve been given far too much freedom, and we have suffered for it. You’ll cook as my wife wishes, or it’ll be my wrath you face.”
Kieran didn’t wait for any responses before turning on his heel and pushing through the doorway. Maude remained where she’d been when he left her. She gave him a rueful smile and shook her head.
“Thank you for your support, but the women must recognize that it’s my wrath they should worry aboot. I must be the final authority on what happens within these walls, or they’ll also think they can run and complain to you.”
“I didn’t mean to undermine your authority.”
“I know you didn’t, and that’s why I’m not upset. But I’d have it be clear between us.”
“I defer to you, buttercup. This is your domain, and I won’t intervene unless you ask.” Kieran wrapped his arms around her and burrowed his nose into the lemon verbena scent of her hair after he pulled the cheesecloth from it. “I threatened to find you a kertch before we married. Do you find this to be an improvement?”
“No,” Maude chuckled. “But it was what was available when I decided I must continue to lead by example. If I am going to make demands no one’s prepared for, then I must share in the work. They’re already going to call me a bitch for ordering them aboot. I don’t need to add prim and lazy to the list of my faults.”
“You are hardly any of those things, mo chridhe.”
“You may believe that, but I doubt many others would agree.”
They took their seats at the dais, and Kieran filled Maude in on his morning and the tasks he had to accomplish that afternoon. It disappointed him that she wouldn’t be able to accompany him when he rode out to inspect the fields. Halfway through the meal, he changed his mind and decided the visit to the fields could wait until the next day. He finished the last bite of his meal when a loud slamming of a door abovestairs rang through the hall. Kieran stifled a groan as he waited to see if it was Adeline or Abigail coming to complain. After what Maude shared of her plans, he assumed whichever woman it was had discovered the change in candles. According to Agatha, his mother and sister hid in the ladies’ solar all morning. Abigail stormed down the stairs and onto the dais, shaking tallow candles as she marched. She tossed them in front of Maude before putting her hands on her hips.
“What’s the meaning of these foul things? Where are my candles?” she demanded. When Kieran made a move to admonish Abigail for her tone, Maude laid a hand on his arm.
“I had the finer candles removed and stored for Beltane. You’ll make do with the same candles as everyone else, including your brother, the laird. If you don’t care for the scent, I suggest you gather some flowers for your chamber.” When Abigail’s mouth pursed and a conniving glint entered her eyes, Maude laughed. “You won’t be able to get to them. They’re locked away, and only two people have the key. I won’t give them to you, and neither will Agatha. By the by, I also collected the spare keys your mother had hidden. You will learn to live with this, or you may ask to live elsewhere. I’m certain you’ll find Queen Elizabeth as accommodating as I am, or better yet, a withered and fat widower looking for sons might be tolerant of your tantrums. But I am not.”
Abigail huffed before bursting into tears. “You’re hideous. An ogre who’s cruel to me and doesn’t care aboot anyone but herself. You’re selfish believing you know more aboot this clan than my mother, who’s been a true lady since before you were hatched, you old crow.”
Before Maude could respond, Kieran was out of his seat and storming around the table. He hoisted his sister over his shoulder and carried her abovestairs where he dumped her inside her chamber.
“Pack, Abigail. I heard from the priory this morning, and there is a cell next door to Madeline’s that awaits your arrival. We depart in the morning.”
“You can’t be serious, Kier. No. I don’t want to become a nun. I deserve a keep of my own and children with a husband who adores me.”
“You deserve naught but a sound thrashing. I won’t ruin an alliance before it begins by off-loading you onto another clan. And as for a keep of your own, you haven’t a clue how to run one. If you did, Maude wouldn’t have so much work to do. The only selfish one at that table was you. Have your tantrum here where I don’t have to see you.” Kieran slammed the door behind him, tempted to call Agatha to lock the door but refusing to hold his sister prisoner. He drew the line there despite the temptation. By the time he returned to the Great Hall, Maude was directing men to take down the tapestries and lower the massive candelabras on their metal link chains. He shook his head as she turned toward his approach, dropping a smacking kiss before playfully swatting her backside on his way to his solar.
The remainder of the day passed in a blur of activity for Maude. It came as a pleasant surprise to find how willing the women were to fall in line once she asserted herself. The respect she’d hoped for seemed to arrive in spades when she put her foot down. The evening meal went off without a hitch, despite another argument with Fiona about seasoning the food. Maude relieved the cook
of her evening meal duties, allowing her only to oversee the morning and noon meals. The improved fare pleased Maude, and she saw the looks of appreciation as people savored the food. She fell into bed next to Kieran, exhausted but lighter. Kieran was relieved to see Maude’s improved spirits and tended to her every wish that night.
* * *
Pounding on the door had Kieran bolting from their bed, grabbing his sword but not bothering about clothes. He yanked the door open, expecting to learn they were under attack. Kyle stood on the other side of the doorway, studiously avoiding looking at Maude as she pulled a robe on in the dark and joined Kieran at the door.
“There’s been a raid on a village bordering the Morrisons. A lad arrived on a lathered horse saying it happened after sundown. His father sent him on horseback when the attack began, so he has no idea if anyone survived or the extent of the damage. Nearly broke his neck and the horse’s galloping through the dark.” Kyle rushed to explain.
“We leave at daybreak. Ready the men and meet me in the bailey. We’ll gather supplies and ride out.” Kieran barked as he ran a hand over the back of his neck. He had a sickening feeling that things would get far worse before they got better.
“I’ll take care of the supplies,” Maude said, wobbling on one foot and then the other as she shoved slippers onto her feet. She darted between the men and was already running toward the stairs before he could stop her. He made to follow her, fearful she would fall down the stairs in the dark, but Kyle pushed against his chest and pointed to his waist. Kieran realized he was naked. He hurried to dress and made his way belowstairs and into the bailey as Maude slipped out the side door, with several guardsmen following with satchels of food and blankets. She disappeared before he could say anything. He bellowed orders and checked Peat’s saddle. He was about to dash back into the keep to find Maude when she bounded down the stairs. He couldn’t believe his eyes. She was dressed in a tunic and leggings much like those he’d been forced to wear at court. Neither did much to hide her curves, and he growled as he heard several appreciative sounds from his men. She’d braided her thick hair with a leather thong wrapped around it. She had her bow and quiver strapped across her back. She signaled someone behind him, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her to look. He was just as stunned at how quickly she’d changed as he was by what she wore.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he snapped. Possessiveness and wariness warred within him as a sense of urgency pressed a suffocating weight upon his shoulders. He didn’t intend to be short with her, but he wasn’t about to take her with them. He was unsure what they faced, and he wouldn’t put her life at risk.
“We can have this out now and be done with it. Does the village have a healer? Can you be sure he or she is alive? There may be people who survived and need care. Are you and your men skilled enough to do that? You can refuse to take me and discover I’ve followed you with or without a guard, or you can allow me to come and know I’m well protected by you and your men. Make your choice, Kieran, but one way or another, I’m going.”
“No. I won’t allow it. I’ll have you locked in our chamber before I have you ride into a possible battle.”
“Do you think I came dressed like this because I’ve never done this before? Look at me. This isn’t the first time I’ve ridden out after a raid. My mother and father took me and Blair plenty of times. Your duty might be to fight and defend our clan, but my duty is to tend to any and every member in need. I do not jest, turtledove. I’ll follow you if you leave me behind. You know you’re taking your best horses now, and you know what Trioblaid can do. Once I set off, none of the horses you leave behind will overtake me.”
Kieran wasn’t certain that he liked this newly independent and fierce Maude when he was on the receiving end of her iron will, but he’d known it lurked beneath the surface since he met her. He looked over her garb once more before pulling a plaid from his saddle.
“You’ll freeze,” he barked, but Maude’s grin told him she knew he wasn’t worried about the temperature so much as he loathed the men looking at her. She snatched the plaid from him and strode over to Trioblaid, who had been brought out of the stables. Kieran realized she must have signaled to a stable boy. She vaulted into the saddle, once more surprising him. He knew she could mount on her own, but he hadn’t been aware of her ability to leap and pull herself up without using a stirrup. He recalled what she’d told him of her childhood. She’d raced and played with the boys of her clan until they became adolescents. He had supposed her strength had faded, but she was wheeling Trioblaid around and staring at him as the horse pranced and whinnied. He pulled himself into his own saddle as she threw the plaid around her shoulders. It was one of his own plaids, and had several extra yards of wool to accommodate his height and muscular thighs. It drowned her, and he was relieved to see the only thing visible to his men was her head.
They galloped onto the road with Maude nestled into the center of the party. She leaned low over Trioblaid’s withers and kept apace.
The men and Maude rode for an hour as the sun broke over the horizon, but the sky was still dark enough for them to spot the trails of smoke from several miles away. Kieran slowed them and sent scouts ahead to determine whether the enemy lurked nearby. Maude checked her satchel once more for the medicinals she packed, praying she had enough and that there would be people alive to need them.
“They razed the village. We didna enter, but we didna see anyone moving aboot either. Dyland and Peter rode the periphery and spotted no one,” Kieran’s scout reported. They nudged their horses forward until they rode into the smoldering village. Maude took in the devastation and swallowed against the acrid smell of smoke and burning flesh. They dismounted, but Kieran ordered her to hang back until he was certain no one would charge them. She swept her gaze across the charred remains of crofts, taking in the bodies that littered the ground. She would never understand why one clan raided another, intent upon murdering villagers. Maude wondered what the Morrisons, or whoever the guilty party was, hoped to gain. They could have stolen anything they wanted without the farmers being able to stop them. The deaths were needless.
Kieran and his men moved further from the horses and spread out. As their voices no longer monopolized her attention, she thought she heard someone calling out. She edged away from the horses and sneaked a look at Kieran, who had his back to her. She lifted her bow from her shoulder but didn’t draw an arrow. She moved toward a ridge that she could tell dropped into a chasm. As she crept closer, the voice became clearer.
“Mama! Da! Help us!”
Maude’s heart somersaulted as she realized there were children still alive but likely trapped on a ledge over the side of the drop off.
“Kieran! Kieran!” She called as she sprinted toward the gap. “KIERAN!”
Maude heard the unmistakable hiss and snarl of a Highland tiger or wildcat. They weren’t large animals, but they were known to maul people when they felt threatened. She drew an arrow from her quiver as she looked over the edge, relieved to see the drop was insignificant. It wasn’t a chasm so much as a deep trough.
“KIERAN!” She screamed once more as she spotted two young children, a little girl and a toddler boy, huddled together with a large wildcat prowling toward them. As the cat lunged toward the children, she leaped forward, putting herself between the animal and the children as she released her arrow. It embedded in the animal’s chest, but its forward momentum carried the cat. It swiped its claw over her shoulder down her ribs and hip to her thigh. The wildcat landed dead at her feet, but she had little time to consider the pain that blazed through her side. Another wildcat lurked less than ten feet from where she landed. She fired off another arrow, this one landing in the animal’s neck. Maude dropped her bow and turned to the children. Despite blood pouring from her wounds, Maude squatted on her haunches as she peered at the two terrified children.
“I’m Maude, and I’ve come with Laird MacLeod to help ye. Will ye let me lift ye up?” The litt
le girl, who couldn’t have been more than five or six, nodded while her tiny brother cowered. Maude kept her voice smooth and soft as she slowly reached for them. “I ken it looks bad and mayhap I looked fierce, but I wouldnae hurt ye. Only something that might want to harm ye.”
When neither child screamed nor shied away, she lifted the pair and bit her tongue to keep from yelping. She spotted Kieran and his men running toward them. She wondered what took him so long, but she suspected only a few moments had passed since she took off at a run to discover who called out.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kieran was certain his heart would beat out of his chest. Maude’s scream had turned the blood in his veins to ice until he saw her running toward the ridge. He knew the drop wasn’t significant, but he feared she would hurt herself. When she pulled an arrow from her quiver as she jumped forward, his stomach lurched, and he broke into a sprint. He was sure he’d never run so fast in his life as he did to reach his wife, who had time to release another arrow before her head disappeared for an instant. When she stood, she had two children in her arms. He skidded to a halt when he reached them. Maude had already placed the children on the ground above her and prepared to climb, but her arm gave way, and she pitched forward. Kieran fell to his knees and scooped Maude under her arms. He touched the blood before he saw it. As he cradled her against his chest, his hands skimmed over her, searching for the wound. She cried out, then whimpered as his hand touched her side and the sticky liquid coated his hand. Kieran twisted to look at Maude’s left side and saw something had shredded the material of her tunic and leggings. He looked past her shoulder, spying the two dead wildcats, and wanted to be ill. The animals could have killed her with a bite to her neck; they killed larger prey by crushing their windpipes. He’d seen the aftermath of more than one fawn taken down by a Highland tiger. Maude was saying something as his attention shifted back to her, but he failed to make out her words over the pounding of his heart.
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