by Lynsay Sands
"He was being held captive by one o' those damned infidel princes," her father said grimly. "Three years the poor bastard rotted in some foreign cage."
"Aye," Gawain said solemnly, but then cheered and added, "But he escaped. There's no keepin' a Stewart where they're no' wantin' to be. He escaped and is recuperating with friends. As soon as he's well enough to travel, he'll be on a ship home."
"Recuperating?" Merry asked with alarm, reaching up to cover one of Alex's hands with her own as she straightened, and his hands settled on her shoulders again. "Was he injured?"
"Nay, nay," her father assured her, and then admitted with some concern of his own, "At least there was no mention o' injury. From the letter we received it sounds as though he was weak and half starved is all. He'll be home soon enough."
Merry sank back against Alex's legs and chest as she absorbed this news. Kade lived. All would be well. At least here at Stewart. He would return and take her father and brothers in hand and run Stewart in her place. It would be one worry off her plate, for she truly had been fretting over how Stewart would continue on with three drunks running it, but once Kade was back...Well, this was the best news she'd had since her marriage.
Tilting her head back, Merry offered a beaming smile to her husband. "'Tis good news. All will be well."
"Aye," he agreed quietly, a small smile playing about his lips.
"Aye!" Eachann Stewart said gruffly. "'Tis the grandest news imaginable. And surely the two o' ye will stay to celebrate it?"
Alex glanced to the man, hesitated, and then peered down at Merry, lifting one eyebrow. "Do you wish to stay and celebrate? We could stop the night and continue on in the morning."
Merry smiled wryly at the offer, knowing he was no more comfortable with the idea than she. Grateful he had made it, she nevertheless shook her head. "I think I'd like to continue our journey. We've a long way to go and much to settle at d'Aumesbery."
Alex nodded and glanced to her father. "I fear Merry is right. We do have to return home. We only stopped to say hello on the way and let you know that we will return for a longer visit another time if we are welcome."
"Oh, aye, ye're welcome here, lad," Eachann Stewart assured him generously, and added brightly, "Mayhap next time ye come, Kade'll be back and ye can meet the boy."
"I would enjoy that," Alex assured him solemnly, slipping a hand to Merry's arm to help her maneuver herself from the tiny space she was inhabiting on the bench between her brothers. The two younger men were far enough gone in their celebrations that it apparently didn't occur to them to give her the room necessary to extricate herself and, in the end, Alex simply lifted her up and off the bench and set her on her feet once she was clear of it. They turned to leave then, but Merry paused as Brodie suddenly caught her hand, bringing her to a halt.
Glancing back, she raised her eyebrows curiously when she saw his solemn expression.
"'Tis oddly quiet here without ye, Merry," he confessed somberly.
"Aye," Gawain agreed, and then added, "I didna think we would, but we miss ye."
Merry felt her heart squeeze at the soft words and impulsively moved back to give both her brothers a hug.
"We will come back soon," she whispered as she squeezed them both, an arm around each of them, and then added gruffly, "Try no' to drink yerselves to death or break yer fool necks ere we do."
The two men grinned as if this was a fine joke, and Merry shook her head as she straightened, then turned and took the hand Alex offered, allowing him to lead her out of her childhood home. It took them several moments to make their way through the people crowded outside the keep doors. The size of the group had grown while they were inside, and none of them was shy about letting their disappointment be known that she wasn't staying any length of time. It made her feel a bit guilty, but did her heart good as well. At least she knew, did things go terribly wrong at d'Aumesbery, she had a home and people to return to who would welcome her with open arms.
"'Tis good Kade is returning," Alex murmured once they were finally on their way again and traveling out of the bailey.
"Aye," Merry agreed, a smile stretching her lips. It truly was the best news she'd had in a long time.
"You will worry less about your father and brothers with him here to watch over them."
Merry glanced to him, surprised by the astute observation, but then merely nodded. "Aye. I will."
They rode in a companionable silence after that, Merry thinking about her brother and what it would mean at Stewart for him to return. She had no doubt he would take up the reins there. Her father had no interest in running the place. Merry only hoped Kade could somehow make the three men give up, or at least slow down, on their drinking. Perhaps with him there Brodie and Gawain could be reformed. At least they would have a strong male lead to follow rather than their father. It was a possibility...if her father allowed him to take over this time...and if Kade returned to Scotland unbroken by all he'd experienced, she added unhappily, and began to fret about what shape he was in.
Merry was so caught up in her thoughts and worries about her brother that she didn't notice when the sun began to set or wonder why they were traveling so late into the day. It was only when Alex called a halt and she released her worries to glance around that she saw it was now full night. They were in a clearing beside a loch, the moonlight reflecting off its surface and making it easy to see despite the hour.
Her gaze slid to Alex in question then, but he was already dismounting. Once on the ground, he paused for a moment while he waited for his legs to recover from sitting his horse for so long and then moved around to hold his hands up to her.
"'Tis late," Merry murmured as he lifted her off her mare.
"Aye," Alex agreed, but didn't explain and merely said, "Take a minute to find your legs ere you try to move about, Merry. You will be stiff from the ride."
She nodded silently and clutched his arms as he held her up, and then released a breath and murmured, "Thank you" when her legs had recovered enough to hold her up without issue.
Alex then led her farther along the lake to tend to personal matters. He said she could bathe if she wished, but the water was cold so she made do with a quick wash. They then returned to camp and parted ways, he to tend to the men and she to see what she could do about the tent.
Una had been busy and the tent was already set up, the furs and their belongings laid out. Merry paused in the tent flap, aware that Gerhard stood not far away, his eyes burning a hole in her back, and then moved inside to collect the sack holding her dresses. She had no doubt that the soldier would raise a fuss with Alex about the possibility of her sleeping in the tent with him where she might kill him in his sleep. Merry had no wish to have to hear Alex asking her to sleep elsewhere or choosing to sleep elsewhere himself. At least if she simply did it now herself, she could avoid that, she thought unhappily, and turned to hurry back out of the tent with her belongings.
Una and Godfrey were both inside the wagon arranging things when she arrived. Merry suspected that the lad had also helped Una set up the tent and that was why it was all done so quickly. She knew the boy still felt bad about attacking the maid and had been doing such thoughtful little things in an effort at repentance. Seeing the single pallet of furs the two were now setting out, Merry cleared her throat and murmured, "Ye shall either need two o' those or to make that one bigger do ye no' mind sharing it with me, Una."
The maid and Godfrey both sat back on their haunches to peer at her with surprise. It was Una who asked, "Ye're no sleeping with yer husband?"
Merry grimaced. "What? And have Gerhard insistin' on sleeping in there with us? Nay. I shall sleep in here with you."
Godfrey and Una exchanged glances and then set silently to work rearranging the furs, and Merry was relieved that they were not questioning her further or commenting on these new arrangements. She set her sack of gowns just inside the wagon and then climbed inside and moved forward on her knees to help them.
"Una?" Alex's irritated voice came from the darkness. "Do you know where my wife is?"
Merry heard rustling as the maid shifted about beside her, but was already unburying herself from the furs and sitting up herself. "I am here."
"What the devil are you doing here?" Alex asked, sounding most annoyed.
Merry opened her mouth to respond, but then let it close, her eyes widening as he suddenly clambered into the back of the wagon with them.
"Husband," she began uncertainly, and then gasped in surprise as he scooped her up off the furs and turned to carry her back the way he'd come. It was an awkward business carrying her across the wagon on his knees, but he did so, and then leapt to the ground behind it with her held close to his chest.
Merry didn't say a word as he carried her around the outside of the camp to get to their tent. But then neither did he, and then they were inside the tent and he was setting her, none too gently, on the furs.
The man was obviously annoyed. If she'd doubted that, his sharp "You sleep with me, wife. 'Tis your place" would have cleared up the matter for her.
Merry lay where he'd left her and peered at him uncertainly, but he wasn't looking at her. He had apparently come to the tent and started to disrobe before realizing she wasn't buried in the furs. The man wore only his braies, and those were now quickly stripped away. He then paused to blow out the candle on the chest next to the pallet before climbing into the makeshift bed beside her.
She waited nervously for him to say or do something, but after a couple of moments of rustling as he shifted about to get comfortable, Alex merely threw his arm over her and drew her against his side and then gave a little grunt of satisfaction. The tent then fell into silence.
Merry considered simply going to sleep and not talking about what had just happened, but she could feel his irritation in the tension of the arm around her and said meekly, "After Donnachaidh, I thought ye felt safer without me in yer bed."
A long sigh ruffled the hair on the back of her head, and then Alex said, "Why do you think I wished to leave Donnachaidh so soon?"
"To tend to matters at home?" she suggested, repeating what he'd said to his sister and Cullen.
"There is that," he admitted, and then added, "But Merry, your sleeping in another room was not my choice."
"But ye didna protest it," she pointed out quietly.
"I had just woken up from a head wound, my head was throbbing, everyone was yelling, and no one was listening to me because they all thought me an invalid. You even shushed me," he pointed out dryly.
Merry bit her lip to keep from grinning at the affront in his voice.
"I knew there was no use in arguing, but did not like not having you in my bed. And did not intend to spend another night like that. So rather than deal with Gerhard's protests and Cullen's efforts to keep everyone happy, I decided 'twas time to leave so that I could now make my own rules about who slept where. And," he added firmly, "my rule is that you will always sleep with me. Understood?"
"Aye," Merry said meekly.
"Good."
She listened to him breathe, waiting for him to tell her that he did not suspect her, or...well...anything that would help erase some of the worries that were rolling around her head like great boulders, but he apparently had nothing more to say and no desire to bed her, because she soon realized his breathing had grown deep and steady and he was sleeping. It left her to wonder what exactly this all meant. He hadn't bedded her, but she was back in his bed. That last part had to be a good thing, did it not? Merry wondered, and then allowed her eyes to drift closed as she, too, fell asleep.
chapter Fourteen
Alex woke to smoke, the loud crackle of flames, and someone coughing as they tugged and pulled on him. It was a rude awakening, and he had stumbled half to his feet and started coughing himself before he was fully awake and aware that he was being half pulled and half led from the tent that was now awash in flames.
At first, Alex thought the person pulling him was Merry, and he had the brief thought that this would be the third time his wife had had to save his hide, but then he became aware that the body that had shifted to brace his own as they stumbled out of the tent into the cool night air was much larger than his petite wife.
Another fit of coughing seized Alex the moment he sucked clean fresh air in on top of the smoke filling his lungs, and he found himself doubled over and helpless to resist all the hands now pushing and pulling at him as more bodies surrounded him. In this state, he and his savior were propelled a safe distance away from the fire, and then Alex found himself pushed to sit on a boulder to catch his breath.
"Thank God," Gerhard got out between hacking coughs of his own as he dropped to sit beside him. "I thought sure you were done for."
Alex gave one last cough to clear his throat and shook his head before glancing to the man. He took in his grim, soot-stained face and then glanced to the tent before peering around the clearing to see where they had dragged his wife to. She was much smaller than he, and he worried that the smoke might have harmed her more than him. He didn't spot her at once, however, and asked, "Where did they take my wife?"
"What?" Gerhard asked sharply. "She is in the wagon with Una. Godfrey said she planned to sleep there and I saw her go there myself last night after we ate."
Feeling the blood drain from his face, Alex turned toward him with dismay. "Nay! I found her there and carried her to the tent ere going to sleep. Surely one of you saw her there and brought her out, too?"
Gerhard was now looking alarmed as well, but shook his head. "I saw no one. You were alone."
Cursing, Alex leapt to his feet at once and rushed toward the tent.
"My lord!" Gerhard caught his arm and tried to stop him. "I saw no one. She cannot be there, and if she is, 'tis too late. I barely got you out. There is no way to save her."
Alex merely shrugged his hold away and charged forward. He would save his wife, or die trying. He would not leave her in that inferno to die a fiery death. Dear God, she was probably awake right now and bleating with fear, he thought with horror. Roasting to death was a terrible way to go.
The tent had appeared fully aflame when he'd wakened in it and was certainly no better now, but Alex ignored that, took a last gasp of smoke-free air, and then charged through the flaming tent flap. His eyes were nearly closed against the heat inside, but he knew his way to the fur pallet and rushed there so quickly he almost could not stop himself and nearly trampled his wife under the furs and linens.
"Wife!" he shouted, dropping to his knees beside the bump that was she, but she did not stir. Alex didn't take the time to see whether she lived or not, but scooped her up into his arms, furs and all, and turned to crash back toward the tent flap. His heart lifted with relief and a sudden mad desire to laugh as he reached the flap and rushed through to the sound of a loud, snuffling snore coming muffled from the furs he held. His wife was alive...and had slept through the whole damned thing.
Merry was not pleased to be awake. It had been a long day of riding, following several days of little sleep as she'd fretted over Alex, and she simply was not happy to be jarred awake by Alex's sudden desire to cart her about. In truth, she suspected she might have managed to sleep through that, had the big lummox's chest not been vibrating against her ear and his laughter not reached her through the muffling of the furs she'd curled herself in as usual.
She was going to ignore him and simply go back to sleep until it occurred to Merry to wonder where he thought he was carrying her to. The wagon came to mind, and she stiffened in his arms at the thought of being put back where she'd started out after he'd dragged her out of there to begin with. Had he changed his mind about wishing her to share his bed?
Upset at the possibility, Merry began to struggle to unravel the furs cocooning her and managed to push her arms and head out of the top like a child being birthed. Her head turned instinctively toward her husband and she noted the dark smudges on his face and how they stood out in relief against the sharp light coming from the torches surrounding them.
Nay, not torches, she realized as her eyes traveled past his face to the tent he was carrying her away from. Her eyes widened incredulously on the flaming abode and then turned sharply back to her husband as she cried, "'Twas not me!"
Alex's laughter immediately died and was replaced with a soft expression of regret, but before he could speak they were suddenly surrounded by several men, Gerhard among them. The next several moments passed in a whirl of chaos as Gerhard herded them farther from the still burning tent before allowing Alex to pause. She expected him to set her down then, but Alex held her tightly and shook his head when Gerhard tried to take her from him.
"We need to check both of you over for burns or injuries," the soldier said reasonably.
"I have a few minor burns, but am otherwise all right," Alex said quietly and then glanced at Merry and added, "And I believe the furs protected my wife from injury."
When she nodded silently, he released a small breath of relief and then dropped to sit on the nearest boulder, still cradling her in his arms. Merry peered from him to the burning tent and then to Gerhard as Alex asked him, "What happened?"
The concern on Gerhard's face suddenly turned to fury as he spat, "What happened is someone obviously set the damned tent on fire...which wouldn't have happened had you listened to me and allowed me to set guards on the tent for the night."
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