Surprisingly, her jaw and lip were far less painful than they had been and the rest had proven helpful as well, her arm causing her no discomfit and the few aches she suffered had disappeared.
“Thank you for looking after me, Helice,” Hannah said and the woman stopped before reaching the door.
Helice turned. “It is my duty to look after you, but it is also an honor. You are a courageous woman with an understanding heart, keep strong hold of both, for you will need them. And never forget how much Slain loves you.”
Why did Hannah feel as if the woman was warning her about something?
Secrets.
There were still secrets to discover about Slain and this keep, but what would they matter? She loved him and nothing would stop her from loving him.
Hannah closed her eyes, wishing her husband was there beside her and she was wrapped in his arms. She had slept a full night with him only once, but it had been enough to know that she never wanted to sleep without him again.
The strength of his arms, the warmth of his body, his gentle breath against her face, she sighed at the remembrance and soon after fell asleep.
A clap of thunder woke her and she sat up, her heart beating madly and her eyes searching the room. The fire looked as if fresh logs had been added to it so she could not tell how long she had slept, and the door sat ajar.
Someone had been in the room.
Had Slain returned home?
She pushed the covers off her, swinging her legs off the bed and standing. She took light steps across the room to the door and cautiously peeked around it. A faint light flickered from the wall sconce, otherwise the narrow area was empty. She was about to turn around and return to bed when her eye caught something.
The door to the east wing sat ajar.
It was always locked. Why was it open now? Who was in there? Or what was in there that Slain did not want anyone to see?
She told herself to go back to bed and leave the east wing alone with its secrets. That, however, was something difficult, near impossible, for her to do. She quietly hurried across the wood floor to the door and slowly peeked her head around it.
Her breath caught at what she saw… a gigantic bat, its wings spread wide, eyes glowing red, flying straight at her.
She turned to run and ran right into the edge of the door with such force that she feared she would lose consciousness. Though not from the knock to her head, but from the sudden arm that coiled around her waist and the black wing that all but smothered her.
Though lightheaded, instinct had her fighting. She tore at the wing that cocooned her as she struggled to free herself. She gasped as she felt herself lifted as if the creature was taking flight and she fought harder.
“Stop!”
The creature’s voice was muffled near her ear, but she paid him no mind. She would not stop fighting. She would not let him take her away from Slain.
“Stop!”
She would never surrender. Never.
Chapter 23
“Stop, Hannah, stop! You are safe.”
At the sound of her husband’s voice, Hannah’s eyes sprang open. She was in bed, struggling against the blanket that had wrapped around her. Her husband sat beside her, his hands at her shoulders.
“You were caught in a nightmare,” Slain said, his one hand going to gently push her hair off her face where it had fallen over her cheeks and nearly covered one eye. “It is good I got here when I did.”
“A nightmare?” she said, her breathing heavy. “It seemed so real.”
“Most nightmares do.” He leaned over her and kissed her brow. “It is gone now and I am here with you. There is nothing to fear.” He stood and shed his garments, then climbed in bed and took her in his arms.
Hannah snuggled tight against him, relieved he had chased away her nightmare, though her fright still lingered, keeping any passion away. All she wanted to do was lay there in her husband’s powerful arms and know she was safe.
“Sleep,” he whispered and she closed her eyes.
Her thoughts, however, would not let her rest and while sleep quickly claimed her husband, it avoided her. Restless, she turned in his arms that tightened around her when she settled back against him. Even in sleep, he was making sure to keep her close.
The nightmare would not leave her. Never had a nightmare seemed so real. She glanced over at the hearth and stared at the fresh logs that had recently been added, the flames only beginning to eat away at them. Who had placed them there? When Slain had arrived to find her thrashing about the bed he would have gone to her aid immediately. Had Helice returned to the room?
You are being foolish, Hannah, she silently warned herself. It had been nothing more than a nightmare. Besides, bats were small creatures. The one in her nightmare had been the size of a man and had looked just as Slain had when he had dropped down from the window to save her from a deadly fall.
Her eyes narrowed at the thought and what it all might mean.
Something caught her eye in the corner of the room, something dark strewn over the chair.
Slain’s cloak?
She recalled tearing at, what she believed, had been the wing of a bat. Had she torn it? Too restless to sleep and her thoughts having her too curious, she decided to slip out of bed and take a look at the cloak.
Hannah had to maneuver herself carefully and gently out of her husband’s arms, slipping her pillow into them so he believed he still held of her. Her foot barely touched the floor when she felt a pain run through the bottom. She hobbled over to the fireplace, snatching up the small footstool as she went and after sitting on it pulled her leg up to rest on her knee so she could get a look at the bottom of her foot.
She lowered her head and spied a splinter embedded in the skin just below her big toe. It was a good size splinter, not just a sliver and it appeared to be a deeply embedded one. She continued staring at it. She could not have just gotten it since she felt it as soon as her foot had lightly touched the floor and it would have taken more force than a light step for the splinter to have gone so deep.
So when could she have gotten the splinter?
Fighting the bat?
That would mean her nightmare had been all too real.
“Is something wrong?”
Before Hannah could turn, her husband stood in front of her, dropping down when his eyes went to her foot.
“That is a large splinter,” he said, his hand going around the front of her foot to turn it some for him to get a better look.
Hannah agreed with a nod, too busy enjoying the way the fire’s light danced across his fine features and the way his dark eyes were scrunched with concern. Good Lord, but she loved this man.
“I woke you,” she said softly.
Slain looked up at her. “A pillow is no replacement for my wife.”
She smiled lightly, pleased he favored her by his side. “I was restless and did not want to disturb you.”
“Not having you in my arms in bed disturbs me more.” He tapped her foot. “This needs to come out now.” He stood and walked over to a small chest, retrieved something within it, and returned to Hannah, once again dropping down in front of her.
“I will do my best not to hurt you,” he said.
It was over so quickly that Hannah barely felt a thing. “Your touch is gentle.”
His eyes seemed to darken for a moment and his lips appeared ready to spew words, so his response surprised her.
“With you, Hannah, always with you.” He ran his finger faintly over her bruised jaw. “Does it pain you?”
“No,” she said as if her response surprised her. “It actually does not. Helice treated me with a comfrey poultice and made me lie abed the remainder of the day. She took good care of me.”
“She is a good woman.”
Hannah wanted to ask more about Helice, though it was really Helice’s daughter—Slain’s first wife—who she was curious about.
Hannah stood when Slain walked over to the small chest t
o return the bone needle to it, and when his arms opened as he walked back to her, she went into them. He hugged her close for a moment, then stepped back to Hannah’s dismay, though that quickly fled when he took hold of her nightdress and slipped it off her.
“I want nothing between us in bed,” he said and scooped her up in his arms and walked to the bed, laying her down gently. He joined her, taking her in his arms again. “Sleep,” he ordered.
She raised her head off his chest. “Sleep?” She sat up. “You stand naked in front of me, touch me gently, strip me of my garment, carry me to bed and tell me to sleep?” She poked him in the chest. “You disappoint me, husband.” She grew angry when she saw him smile and it spread as if he were about to laugh. “If you laugh, so help me—”
Hannah let out a gasp as her husband’s arm coiled around her waist, yanked her back, and slipped over her, his hands quickly going to either side of her to brace himself so that he hovered over her. His lips lost no time in seeking out her sensitive neck and she gasped lightly when he began to nibble along it.
“You teased me,” she said through a gasp as his nip hit an extra sensitive spot and she playfully slapped his arm. “I will do the same to you.”
Slain lifted his head and laughed. “Not possible, wife. You will never deny me, since you want me too much.” Passion chased away all trace of laughter. “Just as I do you. Besides, I have not forgotten that you told me there were other places I could kiss.”
Gooseflesh raced over her not just from his lips returning to her neck to nip and kiss, but from the anticipation of where else his lips would touch.
The loud warning toll of the bell echoing outside in the dark night drowned their passion like a dunk in a cold stream and had them jumping out of bed and hurrying into their garments, Slain not bothering to slip on his shirt.
Helice was running out the door when they entered the Great Hall and they hurried after her. The sky was ablaze with light and flame from the roaring fire. A building that housed food was up in flames. People were already forming a bucket brigade, though not for the building that was beyond help, but to keep it from spreading to the buildings close by.
Slain turned to his wife, the look of fright on her face had him ordering, “Go back to the keep and stay there.”
Hannah shook her head and shook away her initial fright. “No, I will stay and help.”
Slain grabbed her arm. “I will not have you to worry about while all of this is going on.”
“I will not go and hide while the clan battles this fire. I am either part of this clan or I am not.” Hannah’s eyes widened, seeing Imus rush toward them. Never had she seen the man move so fast.
Slain turned, following his wife’s glance.
“We found tracks. We are following them,” Imus called out as he approached.
Slain looked to Hannah.
“Go,” she urged. “I will be safe here among the clan.
“Do as she says,” Helice said, joining them. “I will look after her.”
“Do nothing foolish, wife,” Slain ordered and hurried off with Imus.
“I will help,” Hannah said, turning to Helice.
“All hands are needed if we are to keep the fire from spreading.”
They were lucky that there was no wind and that rain had fallen recently, the buildings not completely dry and not fast to ignite. The added soaking would help. Two bucket brigades were formed to work on the buildings that sat to either side of the one consumed by flames.
Hannah joined the line, passing bucket after bucket, and it did not take long for her arm to begin to pain her, but she ignored it. It would not be right of her to walk away while the whole clan fought to prevent the fire from spreading. It was Helice who finally ordered her to stop.
“Enough,” Helice said, tugging Hannah out of the line. “Your arm will be useless to you if you continue.”
“Helice is right,” Blair said from a short distance down the line.
Wilona voiced the same. “You have helped enough.”
Hannah felt differently, though she did not argue. She stepped away to let them continue and keep their mind on their work. She watched the building begin to crumble from the flames. There would be nothing left of it or its contents.
Hannah felt helpless standing there, doing nothing, while everyone worked so hard, though Helice had been right in stopping her. Her arm hung limp at her side, the little she had done having taken its toll. She hated that her arm may never regain the strength and ability it once had. It made her feel vulnerable and she did not like that.
She turned her head away, annoyed at thoughts that did not serve her well and caught a glimpse of movement just at the edge of the woods, down away from the fire. She stared, waiting to see if she would catch it again when suddenly a head popped up from behind a bush and a hand waved at her.
Hannah gave a quick glance back to see everyone busy fighting the fire and she hurried off before her absence could be discovered. She knew who it was and she knew he would be alone. Her father would not chance sending anyone with him. Warriors would be too easily detected, a small lad of eight years would not.
“Conlan?” Hannah whispered as she rounded the bush.
“Aye,” the young lad said, his head popping up. His round face was smudged with dirt and his clothes far too big for his scrawny body.
Conlan had been a wild one and fearless since he was little and when his mum went off with a warrior from another clan, two years ago, she did not take him with her. He had fended for himself ever since and her father had taken advantage of it.
He learned quick and was much wiser than anyone thought and he and Hannah often talked and they also enjoyed fishing together. She had come to know him well and they had become friends.
“Come. Hurry. I will get us home.” Conlan said his young eyes darting about, keeping watch that no one approached.
“This is my home now, Conlan,” Hannah said, reaching out and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
He shook his head and sneered. “No, the savage took you against your will. I am here to free you.”
“Who told you that?” Hannah asked, though knew.
“Nial told everyone how the savage abducted you and has kept you prisoner, even forcing you to wed him.”
“That is not true, Conlan. Slain never abducted me. Nial sold me to a man and told him to do me harm. When I escaped, I sought refuge here among the Clan MacKewan and Slain has kept me safe. I not only wed him willingly, I love him. He is a good man.”
Conlan appeared confused. “Nial has told everyone that you ran away, though I did not believe him. Then when he returned from here he told everyone that you had not runaway that the savage had abducted you and forced you to wed him.”
“I would never leave my home and my friends willingly,” she assured him, giving his shoulder a soft squeeze.
“I knew it. I knew Nial was lying. He always lies, but your da will not believe me.”
“My father sent you to set this fire?” Hannah asked.
Conlan shook his head. “No, the fire had already started when I arrived. I came to rescue you. I was going to wait until morning and enter the village, ask for a few days of shelter, find you, and be on our way.”
Most would think him foolish for believing he could accomplish such an unlikely task, but Hannah thought differently. “That is very brave of you, Conlan.”
His chin went up, his shoulders went back, pushing out a barely noticeable chest. “You have been nothing but kind to me, unlike the others. I wanted to help you as you have helped me so many times.”
Hannah’s heart went out to him. So few even bothered with him let alone had said a kind word to him. He needed a home, a good, caring home.
“We are friends, Conlan. We always will be.”
“Step away from him!”
The powerful demand echoed through the trees and instinct had Hannah stepping in front of the lad, hiding him from view.
“Stay beh
ind me, Conlan,” Hannah whispered.
“He will not believe it was not me who started the fire,” Conlan said
“Step away from him, Hannah,” Slain ordered again.
“He did nothing—”
“He lies.”
“I will miss you, Hannah,” Conlan said for her ears alone.
Hannah knew he was letting her know that he was taking his leave and she would protect the vulnerable lad as long as she could.
“I will not repeat myself, Hannah.”
Hannah waited, knowing that Conlan needed enough time to gain some distance, then he would take to the trees. He climbed them as if he had been born in them. Once he was lost in them, they would never find him.
It was when she heard a crunch of a branch crack beneath her husband’s approaching footfalls that she finally stepped aside.
“Find him,” Slain ordered the men, a short distance behind him, when he saw the lad was gone.
“He did not set the fire,” Hannah said.
Slain cast a heavy scowl at her. “And you believe him?”
“He is my friend.”
“He is my enemy.”
“No, you are wrong. He is nothing more than an innocent lad.”
“Go wait for me in my solar,” Slain ordered.
Hannah did not argue. She left him, casting a glance back to see her husband following after his men. She walked back to the keep, taking a wide path around the fire so that she would not have to speak with anyone. Just as Slain had assumed Conlan guilty so would the clan when they learned he had been there.
She paced in front of the hearth, a low fire burning in it. How did she explain it to Slain? How did she let him know that Conlan was not his enemy? Her father was his enemy.
The fire dwindled after a while and so did her pacing. She added more logs and sat, waiting. They would not catch Conlan, which would not please her husband. And what of the clan? What would they do when they learned she had protected the culprit they believed had set the fire? Would they think she betrayed them?
The door swung open and she stilled at the sight of her husband. Soot and sweat covered him and anger flared in his dark eyes. He entered the room and went to the sideboard and poured himself a goblet of wine, downing it before he turned to her.
Embraced by a Highlander Page 20
