Kara Griffin - Gunn Guardsmen

by On Highland Hill

  Since he couldn’t travel, he sat in the chair beside the window and pulled one of the tartan’s Elisa had used over him and stared across the room.

  When he opened his eyes, he realized he’d fallen asleep. It was early in the morn, and he glanced out the window and saw the high snow drifts. With the heavy snows the day before, he wanted to ensure the clan was warm enough and had enough food. All would be imprisoned in their cottages until the storm let up.

  Kenneth reached the hall and grabbed a heavy fur cloak and pulled it around his shoulders. Outside the whiteness blinded him. After a few seconds, his eyes adjusted to the brightness and he saw several of his clansmen chopping wood in the courtyard.

  He approached Duncan and Simon. “Have the men help you and make sure everyone has enough firewood. There’s a good bit of peat stored in an empty stall in the stables, too.”

  Kenneth trudged through the knee-high snow, his legs becoming numb. He visited each cottage ensuring his clans’ people had enough food and didn’t want for anything.

  Snows as deep as this often caused senseless deaths and he would not allow any to go without necessities. Throughout the day, he was welcomed into their homes. Kenneth was gladdened by their acceptance and wouldn’t reject their offer of food or good conversation. Many did not enjoy being closed in and seemed happy by his visit.

  The only thing that dejected him was when they asked after his wife. None knew Elisa hadn’t returned with him except for Helena who swore to keep it secret. Kenneth didn’t want to upset the clan with news of her departure because they adored her and he considered the ramifications. They might not be as accepting of him if they learned the truth – that he had lost their lady.

  By the end of the day, he was appeased his clan would farewell during the storm. Kenneth slogged through the courtyard, barren of anyone now that the sun, which really hadn’t shown itself, was setting. The sky looked ominous and the wind blew drifts of snow, and he realized the snow fell hard again. If it kept at this pace, the situation would become dire.

  Duncan and Simon had long finished their chore of distributing the wood and must have gone inside to get warm. As he made his way toward the keep, he listed to the silence of the snowfall and windswept drifts. The beauty and serenity of it was astounding. Kenneth wished Elisa was here for he wouldn’t mind being snowed in with her. Many bairns would be born next January for he suspected his clansmen would enjoy the warmth of their wives bodies this night.

  A noise came from behind him and he turned. He swore it was the sound of an arrow whipping through the air. Another came, and then another. Kenneth was so cold, he hadn’t sensed his body being pierced until he glanced down and saw the arrows sticking out of his right thigh and left shoulder. The last had stuck his waist where it embedded. Pain wracked him and he turned to see a figure of a man in the distance. The figure became blurry but by God he thought he recognized him.

  Kenneth’s strength depleted from the pain now coursing through his body. He fell to the ground, landing on his side and his face a short distance from the steps of the keep. His gasps clouded the air as he drew breath. The cold snow felt somewhat comforting, allowing him to realize he still lived. I’m not dead, he thought before he closed his eyes.

  He moaned when he heard the crunch of footsteps in the snow getting closer. His enemy was about to do him in and he waited apprehensively for the final blow.

  “Laird!” Duncan shouted for help and lifted him. The man was a beast and didn’t exert himself when he carried him inside the hall and placed him on the table.

  He tried to speak but now there were a good many people in the hall, most questioned in outraged voices at what had happened.

  Kenneth had to say the name and was able to speak it, “Aiden.” The name came out as a groan and he didn’t think Duncan understood him.

  Duncan leaned close. “What say ye? Who did this to you, Laird? I’ll set a search out for him as soon as the snows subside. Laird?”

  The last thought he had before losing consciousness, I’m safe.

  Helena stood next to Uma and clicked her tongue. His wounds looked serious and she started to worry. “We cannot ask the healer to come out in this weather. It is up to us to save him.” She winced for she would have to pull the arrows from his body. When she went to reach for the one in his shoulder, Duncan gently pushed her aside.

  “Let me, milady.” He yanked the arrow from Kenneth’s shoulder, leg and side, tearing some of the skin in the process. Blood began soaking through his garments.

  She couldn’t berate the man for his use of force because he was only trying to help. “Assist me in remove his clothing,” she said to Uma. For two old ladies they had Kenneth naked within minutes. Helena assessed the wounds.

  “Duncan, we’ll need water and some cloths. Simon, in my chamber there is a wooden box next to my bed, bring it to me.”

  Uma grinned. “Have ye ever seen such a fine specimen of a man? Why if I were a young maid I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off him.”

  Helena chuckled. “You shall have your wish, Uma, for we need to clean and tends his wounds.”

  “Och, I’m sorry this happened to him, but I am not sorry to have to touch him.”

  Duncan returned with the water and cloths, and Simon with her box.

  Helena began mixing the herbs she’d need and ground several coxcomb leaves for his pain.

  “You’re using too much,” Uma said.

  “Nay, this calls for at least three leaves.”

  “Nay it doesn’t. You’ll kill him with that much coxcomb.” Uma slapped her hand.

  Helena was worried about the amount to use and decided not to add the last leaf. She had ground it to a powdery substance and added a few drops of water until it would be able to slide down his throat. Duncan helped her to keep Kenneth’s mouth open so she could pour in the remedy.

  Uma was thoroughly washing his body. She stopped by his midsection and stared at him a little longer than necessary. She nudged her friend, who scoffed.

  “Uma, for shame. Have you no decorum?”

  Uma flushed and her wrinkled skin brightened on her face. “To be honest, nay. Och I was just thinking … Why did I not perceive this coming?”

  “You have received no visions of it?”

  She shook her head. “He is the only man I’ve had visions of for so long. Only he and the lass. I had visions yestermorn and came to tell him about them. But none this day. Mayhap my visions are fading.”

  Helen grew concerned for Uma for she was aged. Though she wouldn’t say it aloud, she considered her time might be nearing and if she was losing her gift, it was a sure sign. Helena finished tending the wounds and added a mixture of Solomon’s Seal and a bit of oak oil. She then applied her needle to his flesh, closing the wounds, and wrapped them with cloth that she had Duncan tear for her.

  “Some lass should snatch you up, Duncan. I would say love-making with you would be intense.” Uma laughed at her quip, her snicker coming harsh.

  Helena had never seen Duncan blush, and he paced alongside the table dismissing Uma’s rash statement.

  “Will he live?”

  Helena’s eyes saddened at the sight of her Kenneth, lying so helplessly on the table. “I hope so, och he already burns with fever. I’ve given him too much coxcomb and cannot administer the fever remedy yet. His wounds were tended with enough salve to ward off infection so I must have hope. What say ye, Uma? Will he live?”

  She sighed heavily. “I know not. I see … nothing.”

  “Go and take rest, Uma, you look tired. I shall watch over our lad.”

  Duncan helped her take the stairs and Helena finished washing Kenneth and then covered him with a McInnish tartan. She had Simon add logs to the hearth in the hall to warm the chamber and stood by watching Kenneth’s chest rise and fall uneasily.

  “Who would want to do this to him?” Duncan asked when he returned from the stairs.

  Simon frowned. “Someone obviously wants him dead.
”

  “The only enemy he had was Domhnall and he’s gone. If the snows were not so deep, I would have the entire keep searched. We’ve a traitor amongst us.”

  “Do you deem Aiden is behind this attack?” Simon asked.

  “I know not. No one has seen him since the day we prepared for Domhnall’s coming. He wasn’t happy about Kenneth’s return, but to be so vindictive …”

  Helena stood afar and had been unable to hear their discussion. She didn’t like seeing Kenneth so near death. As the night progressed, Kenneth held on to life. She left Duncan to watch over him and went to check on Uma. The aged woman concerned her.

  It took forever for her to reach the level above as her leg pained her. Her limp grew with each step and yet she tried to move as fast as she could. When she reached her chamber, she opened the door and saw Uma lying on the bedding. Helena reached the bedside and touched her friend’s face.

  Uma opened her eyes. She reached out for her hand. “Helena, I fear I shan’t make it to morn. I feel my body slipping away.”

  “Rest easy my friend. I will sit here with you.”

  Uma grabbed her hand to keep her from moving away. “The lass,” she said, her voice falling to a level of disquiet. “She’s in danger.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Elisa wished she could enjoy the early spring warmth, but she was far too busy to have a care for the sunshine. The snows thankfully had melted within weeks. She’d never seen such a fierce storm and had worried some would not survive it. If not for Sean and Colm, her clan would have suffered. But they had taken care to ensure everyone had enough supplies to last throughout.

  She quickly hurried to the door and was about to exit when Sean stopped her. He was coming toward the cottage, holding a missive.

  “Elisa, I’ve received word from the McInnish clan.”

  Turning, she closed the cottage door and watched him walk hastily to her. He took her arm and led her back inside to the table. She was wont to pull away, but the concern on his face stopped her.

  “What word have you received?” She didn’t like the expression he wore. “Is Kenneth well?”

  “You had better be seated.”

  She did as he asked. “You are worrying me, Sean. Speak for I cannot take another second …”

  “The missive indicates Kenneth was injured, but he’ll survive. Someone tried to kill him.”

  Elisa felt sick to her stomach. Her heart rose to her throat. “He shall live?”

  “Aye, and there’s concern that someone might try to harm you. Colm and I will have to be with you every second. I won’t allow anyone near you. You cannot leave the cottage now.”

  “Why would someone want to harm me? The only person I feared is dead. Sean, I am sure there is no reason to be concerned. Besides, I will soon be confined and you know how I feel about that.”

  Sean scoffed. “You shouldn’t be traipsing about, Elisa, not in your condition. I wish you would let me tell Kenneth.”

  “Nay, he made his choice when he left. He does not want to be wed to me, never did. I will not be the cause of his unhappiness.”

  He pounded the table with his fist. “Do you deem he’s happy? I tell you, I’ve known Kenneth since the age of six, he’ll not be happy until you are back in his arms.”

  “Nonsense, Sean. If that were so, he wouldn’t have left that day and honestly, he did the best thing by leaving for all of us.” Elisa didn’t care that she spoke an untruth, for she was miserable without Kenneth. The deceitful words were the only thing that got her through the day.

  “Still, someone did try to kill him and Uma indicated you were in danger. Helena wrote to me,” he waved the missive, “She stated the urgency. I won’t let you out of my sight.”

  “I see there is no way to convince you otherwise. I am off to the woods to find some soapwort. Come if you must.” Elisa left the cottage and saw Colm speaking with Kelsi not far from the gate. The two of them spent much time together and she thought they might be besotted.

  As she looked around, she saw all the repairs that had been made to the village. Some of the MacQuarrie clan had returned, and she was sure more would come once the weather afforded travel. She was silent on her walk and Sean looked angry, so she wouldn’t try to converse with him.

  She was concerned for Kenneth, but there was nothing she could do. Sadly, she knew she was right for he had made his choice when he left that day, the day Domhnall died. And now she was alone again, although she had friends who did try their best to keep her company.

  Within a few minutes, she found the soapwort and dug until she could pull the roots from the hard ground. But they held fast. It hadn’t warmed enough to soften the ground, but had enough to help the vegetation grow.

  “Let me.” Sean moved her aside and yanked the roots out. He handed them to her.

  “Thank you. I should look for more, this won’t be enough.”

  “We need to return.” Sean kept glancing around as if someone was about to bound out from behind a tree.

  “I don’t know why you are so worried, Sean. None would harm me here. We shall return if it will make you feel better.”

  When they entered the gate, she stopped when Sean spoke with the watch. Aiden rode up and dismounted near Sean. She thought it odd since another had come with word from the McInnish clan.

  “Sean, good to see you, my friend.”

  “Aiden, what do you here? Someone just came from McInnish clan a short while ago.” Sean looked at her and then back to Aiden.

  “Aye, I know. I was riding along and stopped to take rest. How are you, milady?”

  Elisa smiled slightly at the handsome warrior. He appeared to be in good spirits. “I am well, Aiden, thank you for asking. Is Kenneth well after his mishap?”

  Aiden frowned. “Ahh, he seemed well the last time I saw him. When are you going to come to your senses and return home?”

  She didn’t like the tone of his words, but dismissed it for Sean and Colm often berated her for not going to Kenneth too. “I shall see. Come, are you hungry? Kelsi made a fine stew for supper. You are welcome to join us.”

  They walked toward the cottage she shared with Kelsi. Her friend was enamored of Colm, and Elisa smiled, for who wouldn’t be? He was a fine man and the two of them seemed to suit. Elisa was about to call out to her, but they appeared to be engrossed in an intimate conversation. She would hold supper until Kelsi came inside.

  “I’ll just go and put these herbs away,” she said and dropped a few of the stems. “Kelsi, when you’re ready, we can have supper.”

  Colm finished his conversation with Kelsi and gave a peck to her cheek. He looked oddly at Aiden and then at Sean. Elisa didn’t think Colm liked Aiden, for his scowl was fierce.

  Sean retrieved the herbs she’d dropped and handed them to her. “I need to speak with Colm for a few minutes. You’ll stay within the cottage?”

  “Of course. Where would I go to at this time of day? Oh, but I promised the stable master I would come by and check out the new horses before he’d stable them. I shall go and meet him after supper.”

  Sean nodded. “I will go with you. Stay inside. I’ll return in a few minutes. Colm, come on. I’ve news to impart.”

  Elisa watched the two of them walk away. Aiden stood not far from the cottage watching her. Kelsi saw a lady with whom she had befriended and walked away. Upon entering the cottage, Elisa set the herbs in a basket by the hearth so they would dry out from the heat of the fire. She started to set the table for supper and saw Aiden come inside. Something about him seemed off, but she ignored her instinct and went to stir the stew.

  “Did you see Kenneth? I heard he was injured.” She tried to make small conversation because she felt awkward with him pacing around the table. Elisa wanted to inquire why he thought he could enter her cottage without permission, but he looked rather irked about something so she refrained. Although she had invited him to supper, hadn’t she? She wished she had not now, with him being so peculiar.


  “Nay I didn’t see him. He’ll be well?”

  Elisa stopped stirring the stew. If he had come from the McInnish holding he would’ve known if Kenneth fared well. He certainly wouldn’t be asking such a question. Surely he would have made sure his laird survived and was on the mend before attending to errands. Something about him did not seem right.

  “I thought Sean mentioned that he was mending. Why did you not see him before you left? Haven’t you come from the McInnish holding?”

  Aiden stopped pacing. “No one was allowed to enter the keep.”

  “Oh, well you must be relived then to learn he’ll be well.” Elisa moved around the table, feeling stalked by him. He kept moving closer to her and she moved farther away.

  Aiden reached out and grabbed her around the waist. He held a dagger at her throat. Elisa’s eyes widened in shock.

  “What are you doing?”

  He didn’t answer her, but held her too tightly. What would he gain by killing her? She tried to trip him with her foot and they both fell backwards until his back hit the floor and she landed atop him. Elisa scrambled away, but he grasped her leg and pulled her back. She saw the hearth poker on the floor and thanked God that Kelsi had not put it back. She had a habit of using it and forgetting to put it back in the stand.

  Elisa grabbed at the poker but she couldn’t reach it. It was a mere few inches from her grasp. Aiden pulled her to stand, his hand wrapped around the locks of her hair. He tugged her tresses so hard and it hurt so badly tears came to her eyes.

  “Why do you wish to hurt me?”

  “You never should have wed the McInnish laird. He would never have returned if not for you.” His words spoken so harshly, his spittle hit her face.

  Elisa tensed and tried to pull away but he held her too tightly. The door started to open and light shown inside the cottage. She heard Sean’s and Colm’s voices outside. They distracted Aiden and Elisa had only seconds to act. But before she could jerk from him to grab hold of the poker, Kelsi thrust the poker through his stomach and she was released. Elisa fell back on her rear. Her breath caught in her throat and she lay back, stunned from what she’d just witnessed.