He heard a noise then and stood quickly. His son began to fidget, not liking the sudden movement. He placed Andrew on Andie and took his sword.
‘Twas just as well, for he needed a good flight right about now.
Someone walked through the shrubs and he saw Bryce. Relief so profound enveloped him, almost to the point that his legs gave way.
“Dear Lord,” he whispered in a mixture of dismay and wonder. “Two bairns? Here, alone?” He regarded Andie’s appearance and then the blood. He looked over to Gavin and it dawned on him what was happening.
“We must get them back,” Gavin said quickly.
“I canna…be moved. It hurts…so much…Gavin,” she whispered. She glanced at Bryce and shook her head, indicating to him the futility of moving her.
“Leave…with the bairns…Andrew and Ma-aggie…,” she said and smiled slightly at Bryce’s surprised look. “Take them to…safety…then come back for…me.”
“Nay, I’ll nay leave ye!” he said thickly, nearly overcome with panic.
Bryce’s eyes had grown misty. The daughter of his beloved friend was dying in the snow. They were a day away from Gavin’s holding but they might as well have been five, for the severity of the situation. He saw Andie look beseechingly at him.
“Gavin, ye go. Take the bairns to the safety of the castle. I shall stay here and guard Andie. Bring Greida and Althor to help, and a contraption to move Andie without forcing her to sit on horseback.”
Gavin shook his head. Bryce knew the man wasn’t thinking clearly, but who could blame him? He was losing his wife and if he didn’t get his bairns to shelter and safety, he’d lose them too. Bryce knew compassion would not help Gavin.
“Damn it, mon. Get out of your stupor, Gavin. Ye want to save yer wife and bairns, do as I say!” Bryce snapped. Gavin’s attention was on him and he continued. “Take them. I will tie a sling around ye to protect and hold Maggie. That arm will be free for the reins. Then ye can hold Andrew with yer left arm. ‘Tis the only way! I will stay behind and guard her.”
Gavin’s eyes glowed eerily. The look unnerved Bryce. It was almost as if the Dark Wolf was measuring him as an opponent, and taking note of the best way to eat him.
“I will give my life before I allow a finger on her!” Bryce said passionately.
The watchful stare still persisted.
“Please, my love,” Andie whispered.
After a long moment, Gavin’s eyes traveled to his wife’s. They became a light, incandescent silver, and remained trained on her for several minutes. The possessive stare culminated with a nod of his head, as Gavin came out of his trance.
Gavin kneeled by Andie as she said good-bye to the babies.
“I…love ye, my sweetlings,” she said, her voice gruff and raw. Her voice trembled from emotion and cold. “Mama loves ye…I love ye…,” she said, ending with a sob. Her precious babies would be raised without their Mama.
Would they think fondly of her when they were grown? Would they know her name? Would they know her favorite scent was lavender? What would be their first words? When would they take their first steps?
Who would be their first loves?
She looked at Gavin, who hovered mere inches from her. Would Gavin love anew? She hoped he would. He was a man with so much love to give. He deserved happiness.
“Doona say it,” he whispered throatily. Somehow he knew what she was thinking. His heart beat every other minute. His wife, his love, was fading, and he was leaving her. What if she died on his way home?
“I canna do this,” he whispered as he stared intently into her eyes.
“Gavin, leave. Ye must,” she said, her lips bluish and eyes lacking their usual vitality.
“I canna leave ye,” he whispered fiercely.
“Ye must. For them. I will be safe here.”
For them?
He looked down at his bairns, their son and daughter.
The dream had come true, he thought somberely.
He kissed her pale, bluish lips tenderly, not wanting to fight and prolong the time it would take to return to her. Bryce helped him with making a sling, as Andie spent precious minutes with their babies.
Gavin mounted his warhorse. Once Gavin was comfortable, Bryce placed Maggie in the sling and the reins in Gavin’s hand. Andrew was placed in the other arm and Gavin turned to look at his cherished Andie.
“I love ye, Andie Maitland. Doona ye die on me. Be stubborn, Andie. For once, use the stubbornness for my benefit, my love, and wait for me.”
She smiled at him and nodded. “I love ye, my beloved Dark Wolf. Ye take my heart with ye. All three of ye and Riley own it. It no longer is mine, though it still beats in my chest.”
His throat choked with emotion and he swallowed. “I love ye,” he said, and turned to gallop away.
Secure in the knowledge that his bairns were safe and snug to him, he raced towards home as if the devil was chasing after him.
The truth was, the devil was chasing after him.
His name was Death, and he was knocking on Andie’s door.
Chapter Twenty-One
A twig snapped.
In the silence of the snow-fallen environment, it sounded like a clap of thunder.
Andie stirred awake and Bryce moved his eyes back to a weak Andie. “Bryce?” she asked groggily.
“Shhh, now, Andie. Doona make noise. Doona speak. Rest easy,” he said, smoothing her still-damp hair over her head. He knew she needed her rest, but he worried that she was sleeping too much. Sleep was beneficial, in that she was less likely to make noise. He didn’t want to alert anyone to where they were, and he had a feeling someone was near.
A day had passed since Gavin left. It would be at least another before they saw him again. Bryce’s chest expanded with grief. Since Gavin had left, Andie had been sleeping. This was only the second time that she had awoken. The first time had wrenched Bryce’s heart out.
“Bryce?” She’d awoken and forced her stubborn eyes open.
“Andie, ye should be resting. Birthing two bairns is nay easy.”
She offered a weak smile and her bottom lip split, yet she hadn’t felt it. She shuddered with cold and no matter how many plaids Bryce had piled on her, she still shook from the cold.
“Bryce, promise me that ye’ll tell Meghan that I love her,” she whispered.
“Nay, I willna.” At her wide eyes he said, “Ye can tell her that yerself, Andie McBride, when we return. Aye, Andie McBride. Ye carry that stubborn trait of yer father’s. Ye will damn well fight for yer life, just like yer father did. Ye were never a coward, Andie, so doona begin being one now.”
“Bryce, please. I canna rest until I tell ye this,” she said slowly, weakly. He nodded sadly and she continued. “I know Gavin will be aggrieved, so tell him that I love him. Tell him that my death isna his fault. I want him to move on, Bryce. He has so much love. Tell him to love again.” She stopped, taking a breath. Just this small effort left her exhausted and winded. “And my children,” she said shakily. “I want my children growing up with Meghan’s, just like she and I did. Promise ye’ll tell them?”
“Aye, I promise ye, sweeting,” he said, taking her hand into his as he knelt down next to her. He had tried to get behind her to provide her with his body heat but when he moved her she had cried out.
“And ye, Bryce. I love ye like I loved my father.”
He sighed unsteadily. “I love ye like my daughter,” he said hoarsely.
She smiled at him again and it seemed as if her eyes twinkled. Even when she was dying, she was still the brightest star in the sky.
Life was cruel. It was less than a year ago when he had sat with her father, his best friend, on his deathbed. Now he had to sit with Andie on hers. Bryce was losing his fortitude.
Where was Gavin? He needed to be here with her.
Another twig snapped, bringing him back to the present and out of his thoughts. Andie stirred again and slowly opened her eyes. She looked over to him and he s
hook his head, unsheathing his sword.
“Bryce,” she said fearfully. Her pale face was the plain on which painful tears fell.
Bryce signaled for her to remain quiet. The frigid breeze began picking up. Bryce waited for the intruder and after a long moment, his wait proved fruitful.
“Charlie.” It was Bryce who said this.
Andie’s eyes widened.
“Bryce,” Charlie said solemnly.
“Ye’re a traitor,” Bryce said with outright hatred. “Tell me ye didna aid Alistair on his siege against Andrew.”
Charlie shook his head. “I canna tell ye that, for ‘tis the truth.”
“Why, Charlie?”
Though Charlie had been passive, at that moment, he turned hard eyes on Andie. Andie was looking at Charlie, and Bryce saw him clench and unclench his fists.
“How could he name her as the next laird? I knew he would.”
“Is that what ye’re bitter about, Charlie? Ye wanted it, didna ye?”
He nodded his head and then shook it. “Either ye or I, Bryce, but Andie? Andrew couldna have been in his right mind to do that!”
Bryce shook his head as steel appeared in his eyes. “I canna believe ye did this! I thought ye cared for Andrew, loved him like a brother. I thought ye loved his daughters the same. And Maggie?”
Charlie shook his head and looked down, almost as if in shame. “I did- I do,” he amended. “I’m sorry for all that happened.”
“Ye will be,” Bryce said vehemently.
“Why?” Andie asked.
Charlie opened his eyes wide as if finally seeing her deathly appearance.
“I couldna follow a woman, that is why I continued. As for how it began- I wanted power.”
“So many years of loyalty and ye throw it away for that?” Bryce asked incredulously.
Charlie looked sad. “I regret all that I’ve done. I do, Bryce,” he said as Bryce shook his head. “I wish that I could take it back.”
“Ye canna, Charlie.” Bryce was furious. His eyes were hard and his breath shallow.
Charlie sighed, as if in resignation. “I’m sorry, Bryce.”
Bryce stepped a bit closer, seeing sincerity in Charlie’s eyes. It hurt him to know his friend had destroyed their clan.
“Truly, they and ye, were like a family to me,” Charlie said, truly meaning his words.
“Then ye are sorry,” Bryce said calmly, but still unappeased.
Charlie nodded his head. “Aye. But I did what I had to. Alistair promised me that I would be his first in command.” Charlie continued over Bryce’s outburst. “‘Tis a power I canna relinquish. So aye, Bryce, I am sorry,” Charlie said. “For what I’ve done, but mostly, for this.”
Charlie swung his hand around and threw a large rock at Bryce’s head. Bryce’s sword fell from his hand and Bryce crumpled to the floor.
“Bryce!” Andie yelled, now shocked into alertness. Her tear-filled eyes returned to Charlie who lifted sad eyes from Bryce to Andie. “How could ye?” she breathed.
He shook his head, his eyes hardening. “Andie, ye doona understand.”
“I understand that ye are heartless, unloyal, and evil!” She was struggling to breathe. The exertion of the moment drained more of her energy.
His eyes grew hostile. “Ye’re fortunate that ye gave birth to yer bastard, Andie. He would have killed it on its day of birth.”
“Are ye taking me to him?” she asked, panicking. She cursed her weakness. She couldn’t even crawl away.
His whistle was her only answer.
“Hurry! We’re nearing them,” Gavin bellowed as they marched towards where he’d left Andie and Bryce.
He’d arrived at the castle two days ago. His men helped him by taking a crying Andrew from him. Once Gavin dismounted, he took his son back, hunching over him and his daughter protectively. Entering into the holding, Shaun met him.
“Ready all the men. Keep thirty here. Send word to Gabriel.”
Gavin felt that he would need a large contingency. As he’d neared his castle, an ominous feeling settled in his stomach.
“Nay questions. Ye’ll be informed on the way back! Now, Shaun!” Gavin bellowed.
The babies began crying as Greida came in.
“Greida!” he hollered unnecessarily because she had already seen him. “Get a wet nurse and another healer! They will care for the bairns. Andie is dying and I need ye and Althor!” he shouted and the babies wailed. He inhaled a long breath, hoping for calm.
Greida called on Agnes and told her what to do with the bairns. Gavin jerked when they took his children away.
“Easy, Laird. They’ll be alright,” Greida soothed. Gavin stood back and watched his children, barely a day old, leaving him.
“I want guards on Andrew, Maggie, and Riley,” he bellowed. He would not have his children endangered as he went to retrieve Andie.
Damn it, but the ominous feeling wouldn’t leave him. And sadly, he hadn’t felt Andie. Before he hadn’t wanted to feel her. Now, knowing they shared a connection, he needed and wanted to feel her. Then he would know whether she was all right. He tried to reach out with his emotions and found darkness and numbness. This could mean only one thing- she was close to dying, if not dead already.
Althor came in then and Gavin quickly informed him of what happened. Gavin went upstairs at their insistence, to change his plaid. When he came back downstairs, they were ready. He took the stairs three at a time.
“The men are ready,” Shaun said.
“We have a soft palette where we can lay Andie on and carry her. I’ve my jars of herbs as Althor has. Riley has been kept occupied and is unaware of this,” Greida told him.
Gavin gave a curt nod. “Let’s go. The longer we wait, the more dangerous Andie’s condition grows.”
Now, on horseback, Gavin moved forward to where he had left Andie and Bryce. He stopped and fisted his hands.
“Maybe this isna the place,” Shaun said.
“Nay!” he said scathingly. “It is.”
Greida and Althor rode forward. “I see the blood, Laird!” Greida exclaimed, pointing. “It mustna have snowed for too long if the blood is still apprarent.” Greida hastily dismounted and walked to the spot where Andie had been.
“Where is she!” Gavin yelled, closing his eyes as his head reeled.
They heard moaning.
“Over here!” one man cried out.
Gavin dismounted and walked over to a prone man. “‘Tis Bryce,” he bellowed. “Bryce?” he asked, his heart in his throat.
Bryce didn’t stir.
“Is he dead?” Shaun asked.
“Here, let me through,” Greida said. She took a jar out and stuck her fingers inside. Moving them under Bryce’s nose, he began stirring awake. As he did, she checked his head wound. “‘Tis a serious injury, but nay grave. Something large must have done this.”
“This,” Shaun said, picking up a huge rock.
Bryce was breathing harshly, forcing his eyes open. Finally, he stared at Gavin.
“Where is she, Bryce?” Gavin asked, but he already knew the answer.
“Charlie…he injured me. I doona know what happened after. They must have…taken…her.”
Gavin broke apart from them, needing a moment. All of a sudden, it felt to him as if the beautiful snow-white surroundings swirled around him. He stood with his legs braced apart and arms hanging at an angle with his hands up to the sky. The wind picked up speed and everyone shivered, even Althor. Snow lifted off the ground and swirled in the wind around Gavin and those standing near him. They were standing, spellbound.
They all stared at Gavin, who seemed to be growing taller and bulkier. His massive body stood unmoved and undisturbed in the near turbulent blizzard that surrounded them. Even his hair was eerily still, while the others felt their hair whip their faces. He looked almost unaffected.
Almost.
He opened his eyes and they gasped.
His eyes were silver globes of feral light.
His face was a mask of fury and rage. His inhale was so massive, his chest expanded to what seemed like twice its size.
Then he opened his mouth and let out a fierce, sinister battle cry that those who stood watch would later claim the trees had swayed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Damn it, hurry!” Alistair bellowed gratingly. They were marching back to McBride land at a devil’s pace. Curse it, he thought. If her husband caught them before they reached the safety of the holding, they would be in for a battle to the death.
“We canna go at that pace! She’s falling!” Charlie yelled back, annoyed, dragging her back against him while trying to keep up the neck-breaking pace. He was stuck transporting Andie on his own horse. “She’s nay strong enough to go this fast!”
“I doona give a DAMN!” Alistair bellowed, exaggerating the last word. “Drag her for all I care!”
“She’ll die and what then! Ye canna wed a corpse, Alistair. How will ye get the respect and title of the clan?”
“I have the title, ye fool. As far as the respect, I can get it with fear as I’ve done, rather than wed her! As far as the whore dying, why would I care? Her husband follows closely, and if he finds us, he’ll slaughter us anyway!” he roared. “March, damn it! March.” Alistair kicked his horse and hastened forward. His men followed.
Alistair only brought with him two dozen men. For some time now, he feared that the Dark Wolf was nearing. How, he didn’t know. They’d taken Andie with a good lead, but the threat he felt was very near, judging by the hairs standing up on the back of his neck. The damn rogue laird was on his heels and if he wanted to remain alive, he needed to get back to his men.
Andie, who was mostly unconscious and feverish, had one moment of lucidity. She looked up at Charlie. “Please,” her voice vibrated in a deep timbre. She hadn’t had anything to drink in a day and a half, since Charlie had found her. “If ye have any feeling left in ye,” she said, erupting in a fit of exhausting and hacking coughs, “Let me go,” she whispered tremulously. “I canna go on, Charlie. If ye cared even slightly for me or Papa, let me go,” she said whimpering, miserable in her own pain.
To Have and to Trust (Heart of a Highlander Collection Book 1) Page 31
