Findley's Lass

by Suzan Tisdale

  She shook her head. “Ye dunna understand! Me brother willna be believin’ ye when ye tell him yer tryin’ to help me.”

  Findley furrowed his brow in confusion. “Why no’?”

  Maggy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I canna tell ye,” she murmured.

  Findley growled at her. “Maggy, this be no’ the time fer keepin’ yer secrets to yerself! Now give me the key!”

  “Nay, I canna do that Findley. Please, trust me when I say I canna tell ye-”

  Findley cut her off. “Trust ye? Ye want me to trust ye?” The look of disgust on his face was enough to fill her eyes with tears.

  Unable to stand the way he was looking at her, the shame she felt loosened the lock she held on her tongue just enough. “Because he thinks I be dead,” she murmured.

  His frown deepened. “What? Why would he think ye be dead?”

  “I canna tell ye,” she said, closing her eyes.

  “How many damned secrets do ye have, woman?” he asked angrily.

  Maggy opened her eyes. “Findley, I had good reasons fer lettin’ everyone believe I was dead. Please trust me when I say there were no devious reasons behind it. I did it to protect me sons.”

  He wasn’t sure if he believed all of what she told him. He reckoned there was some truth to it, but there was far more she wasn’t telling.

  They could spend the rest of the day going around in circles. Realizing she wasn’t about to divulge any more than she already had, Findley grunted. “Fine. But if we run into any Buchannans and I’ve the need to fight, ye’ll unlock these damned shackles or I swear, I’ll cut yer hand off!”

  Maggy nodded her head. “Aye, I will Findley,” she promised him.

  Findley barked orders to Wee William as he and Maggy shoved feet into boots. “Ye put all the boys in one room and bar the door. Have Richard stay close to the Buchannans,” he said as he reached for his sword and belted it around his waist.

  “And what of Patrick?” Wee William asked.

  “Patrick will go with us. I want ye to stay here and guard those boys with yer life.”

  “And if the Buchannans discover us here?” Wee William asked.

  Findley could not help but chuckle at the first thought that came to his mind. “Arm the lads with stones!”

  A devious smile came to Wee Williams face as he absentmindedly rubbed the spot on his head where Maggy had hit him with a stone so many days ago.

  “Aye, that’ll keep the bloody bastards busy fer a time!” Maggy interjected. She blushed when she realized she had said it aloud.

  Wee William looked surprised to hear such language coming from Maggy. But surprise quickly turned to pride and adoration. “I’d still shave me beard if ye asked me to, lass.”

  Maggy’s cheeks flamed red with embarrassment. Findley’s flamed red for entirely different reasons. If Wee William didn’t stop offering to shave his beard for Maggy, Findley was ready to send him back to Gregor and fight the Buchannans without him.

  Findley eyed the two of them for a moment. “Are the two of ye quite finished with admirin’ each other?”

  Wee William snorted and smiled. He leaned in close to Findley’s ear and whispered. “’Tis yer heart the lass wants, no’ mine. But if ye dunna marry her, I will.” And with that, he righted himself and left the room before Findley could think of an appropriate response.

  ~~~

  It hadn’t taken Patrick much time to find a way out of the inn without being seen. When he, Findley and Maggy left through the back door of the kitchen, Richard was still sitting at a table in the corner, surreptitiously watching the three Buchannan men.

  Maggy had the hood of her cloak drawn over her head and kept glancing over her shoulders as they made their way through the busy streets of Dundee. She could not shake the sensation that they were being followed. But every time she took a chance and glanced behind her, she saw nothing suspicious. Mayhap it was the worry over the shock she was about to bring to her brother that was keeping her on edge.

  They made good time and were soon standing at the back door of her brother’s home. Maggy paused and took a deep breath before knocking on the door. As she stood waiting for someone to answer, Findley took her hand in his and gave it a comforting squeeze. She glanced up at him and smiled. She doubted she would have the nerve to do this alone and found she was quite glad to have him there.

  It seemed like hours had passed before someone finally opened the door. Maggy took in a quick breath when she saw that it was her sister-in-law who answered the door.

  “What is it ye need? We’re no’ takin’ on any new help, so if that be what ye want, ye can leave now,” Oribilia told them. She stood in the doorway with one hand on her hip, the other on the door-latch.

  “Oribilia,” Maggy whispered. Her chest felt constricted, as if it had been bound tightly. How many years had it been since she’d seen her dear sister-in-law? Far too many for her liking.

  Oribilia squinted at the cloaked figure before her. She could not see the face but she thought she recognized the voice.

  “May we come in?” Maggy whispered, her throat suddenly feeling quite dry.

  “Do I know ye?” the woman asked, puzzled and confused.

  “Aye, ye do,” Maggy offered. “But I fear tellin’ ye from here. May we please come in, Oribilia?”

  Oribilia scanned the trio with her eyes. “I be no’ alone,” she told them as she began to worry.

  Maggy finally lifted her face to look into the eyes of her sister-in-law. She pulled back the hood of her cloak, but only enough so that Oribilia could see her face.

  It took a moment for Oribilia to recognize her. She stepped backward as her hand flew to her mouth. The cry of shock and disbelief was stuck in her throat as the three people quickly entered her kitchen. She stumbled about, her free hand finding a chair. She clung to the back of it, as if it alone could keep her from falling to the floor with fright.

  “Oribilia,” Maggy repeated. “Och! How I’ve missed ye!”

  The two women embraced, their tears flowing freely. Findley felt horribly uncomfortable, as he was unable to step away to offer them any privacy. The two women stood holding on to one another for several minutes, neither one able to find her voice.

  Maggy cried for many different reasons. Relief, guilt, and longing. She was relieved that her family would soon learn that she had not perished three years ago. The guilt was for having deceived them and allowing them to believe she was dead. And she longed for the time in her life when she was free, innocent and ignorant of the hard truths of life.

  When their tears began to ebb, they pulled away from each other, maintaining their grasps, and studied each other. A warm smile came to Oribilia’s face. “Maggy, I canna believe ye stand before me. Am I dreamin’ lass?”

  “If ’tis a dream, then we be sharin’ it and I never want to wake,” Maggy smiled back at her.

  ‘Twas then that Oribilia noticed the shackles. “Och! Maggy! What is this?” she asked, staring at the chains.

  Maggy laughed at her sister-in-law as she wiped tears from her face with her fingertips. “This?” she said, lifting her shackled hand. “’Tis nothing to worry over. I had to do it so he wouldna leave me behind.”

  Oribilia studied the two of them for a moment unsure what to make of the shackles or the fact that her sister-in-law was truly standing before her.

  They finally took chairs and sat facing one another. Patrick stayed near the door, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Findley stepped behind Maggy, keeping his shackled hand on her shoulder.

  The women were lost in their reunion and had forgotten both men.

  “Maggy, why did they tell us ye were dead, lass?” Oribilia asked as she took Maggy’s hands in hers.

  “Oribilia, ye canna know how hard it was to let me family think it! But there was no other way around it.”

  “And what of Liam? How is he?” Oribilia asked, hoping against hope that the boy was still alive.

  “He is
well,” Maggy told her. Oribilia’s shoulders shrank with relief.

  “Praise God!” she said, “Why, Maggy? Why did they tell us ye were dead?”

  Maggy remembered that Findley was standing beside her and chose her words carefully. “Och! Dear sister, there is so much to tell, but I fear we’ve not time to explain all of it to ye.”

  Oribilia looked confused. “Lass, ye must tell me! Yer in trouble, I can sense it.”

  Maggy let out a short breath. “Aye, that I am,” she told her, giving her hands another squeeze. “Is Roald here?”

  Oribilia took the ends of her apron and wiped the tears from her face. “Nay, he’s at sea. He won’t be back for another fortnight.”

  Maggy’s heart sank at the news. She needed her brother, needed his help.

  “Do ye ken of Eonon? Be he still livin’ in Aberdeen?” Eonon was two years younger that Roald and just as faithful.

  “Aye, he is, Maggy. He be married now, to a fine young girl. They be expectin’ their first bairn at any time.”

  Maggy chuckled at the news. Eonon had sworn and be damned he’d never marry. How many times had he said that women were more trouble than they were worth? “She must be somethin’ verra special then if she convinced him to give up his oath to never marry!”

  “Aye, that she is, lass!” Oribilia smiled at her. “She’s got a fierce temper, much like yers!”

  Patrick and Findley chuckled. Both men doubted there was another female on the planet with a temper like Maggy’s.

  Maggy chose to ignore the snorting coming from behind her. “Oribilia, we canna tarry here much longer. I fear fer yer safety, sister. Do ye have someone ye can stay with until Roald returns?”

  Oribilia leaned back in her chair, surprised and confused. “Why do ye fear fer me safety?”

  There was no way easy way to explain it. “Oribilia,” she began quietly. “There are men searching for me. Verra bad men. They’re here in Dundee. We took a great risk comin’ here. Had I ken Roald was no’ here, I would no’ have come. I am verra sorry for putting ye at risk, sister. But ye must listen to me, please. If these men learn I was here, they’ll bring harm to ye and yer babes, I’m sure of it.”

  “Why do these men search for ye? What have ye done?” She cast a glance at the shackles before looking back to Maggy.

  A sad smile came to Maggy’s face. “I’ve done nothin’, I swear it,” She paused to take a deep breath. “Gawter died, Oribilia.”

  Maggy hoped her sister-in-law would be able to put two and two together and figure it out on her own. A few moments passed before the realization and direness of the situation sank in. Her eyes widened with shock as well as understanding. “Oh, lass! Now I see the right of it! Ye poor thing! ’Tis Laird Brockton’s doin’, isn’t it?”

  Findley’s brow lifted slightly at the mention of the name Brockton. It sounded familiar to him but he could not place it. He remained mute, glad for one more piece of information that might help him solve the mystery that surrounded the woman he loved.

  Maggy cringed at the mention of Gawter’s uncle. “I dunna ken if he knows we live or not. But ye know what will surely happen once he learns the truth.” Maggy swallowed hard and fought back the uneasy feeling creeping into her stomach. “I’ve four more boys now, Oribilia. Boys I’ve adopted as me own. Their parents died from the same pox that took Gawter. ’Tis their safety, as well as Liam’s that I think of now. I canna let Lord Brockton find us.”

  So ’tis Lord Brockton she fears, the sudden realization left his stomach tight and uneasy. But why does she fear him?

  Oribilia looked pitifully at Maggy. “Ye poor thing. But who are the men that search fer ye?”

  “Have ye heard of Malcolm Buchannan?” Maggy asked, sure that anyone who had been in Scotland for more than a day had heard of the man.

  Oribilia shivered at the mention of his name. “Aye, I’ve heard of him. They say he’s tetched and the devil has his soul.” Oribilia quickly touched her fingers to her forehead and made the sign of the cross as if that alone could protect her from the evil man.

  “I believe it to be true, Oribilia. ’Tis his men that look for me.”

  Oribilia looked horrified. “Why?”

  “Malcolm Buchannan wants to marry me,” Maggy let the words sink in.

  “Nay!” Oribilia said, unable to hide her horrification. “Please tell me ye told him nay!”

  “Of course I refused!” Maggy looked disgusted by the thought. “Every time he’s asked I’ve refused. But he has me son, Ian. And I have to get him back, Oribilia!” Tears began to fill her eyes again as she worried for her son.

  “Och! Lass, what can I do to help?” Oribilia stood and threw her shoulders back. “I’ll stab Malcolm Buchannan in his cold, evil heart fer what he’s done! I’ve horses! We can ride to his keep together!”

  Oribilia was quite ready to lead the charge against Malcolm Buchannan. Findley and Patrick looked at each other, surprised to find there was yet another woman who apparently had no fear of raising arms against the Buchannan clan.

  A sudden image crashed into Findley’s mind. In it, he was leading a thousand women and children, all armed with rocks. They charged the Buchannan keep with the same fierceness and determination he and his men held. He shook the thought away, for there was no way on God’s earth he’d allow any woman, least of all Maggy, to go up against such an evil group of men.

  Finding his voice, he leaned in a bit closer. “Ladies,” he began softly, afraid for his own life for Oribilia was looking at him with bloodlust in her eyes. “While we appreciate ye wantin’ to get Ian back, I believe it will take more than just the six of us. We’d be needin’ more men to help.”

  Oribilia looked at him as if he had just fallen from the sky. “Do ye no’ think women capable of fightin’?” It was a direct challenge and he knew there was no way of winning.

  “Aye, I do!” he answered quickly. “But I’ll need more than two women. The Buchannan are at least one hundred strong. While I’m sure ye’d do well against them, I think it would be best for everyone if we had reinforcements.” He hoped his answer would placate her. Or at the least get her to remove the look of disgust she wore on her face.

  Oribilia turned back to Maggy. “Who be the eejit?” she asked as she nodded her head toward Findley.

  Maggy turned her lips in to keep from laughing as she saw Findley stand taller, affronted by Oribilia’s insult.

  “Sister, be kind. These men have sacrificed much to help me. This be Findley McKenna and his friend Patrick,” she introduced them.

  Once the introductions were complete, Maggy steered the conversation back toward Oribilia’s safety. “Sister,” she said with a smile. “I ken ye mean well to help. But I fear that if anything happened to ye, or yer children, Roald would never find it in his heart to forgive me. He’s a stubborn man, ye ken it as well as I. But he loves ye that much we ken. Please, will ye no’ leave until he returns? Keep yerself and the children safe?”

  Oribilia studied Maggy for a moment, turning it over in her mind. After a time, she nodded her head. “I’ll have word sent to Roald when he returns. The children and I can stay with me sister and her family in Renfrew.”

  She thrust her hands on her hips. “Are ye sure ye can trust these men of yers?”

  Maggy smiled, a full smile that showed her straight white teeth. “Aye, I trust them with me life and the lives of me sons.” She resisted looking directly at Findley when she said it. She could only hope he would believe the sincerity of her words.

  Findley’s heart swelled with pride. He hoped she meant what she said and wasn’t merely saying it to appease Oribilia. He was grateful that Maggy felt safe enough with Oribilia to speak openly with her. While he might not have all the answers, he was beginning to put some of the pieces of the puzzle together.

  Maggy stood and hugged Oribilia. Neither wanted to let go of the other.

  “Maggy, promise me ye’ll be safe?”

  “Aye, I promise,” Maggy
whispered into Oribilia’s hair. “And ye as well sister. I fear ye must hurry and get to yer sister’s home, quickly. Malcolm Buchannan is capable of anything.”

  Oribilia pulled back and looked into Maggy’s eyes. “Lass, I couldna stand to lose ye again. It nearly killed me last time.”

  Maggy smiled, holding back tears. “I love ye, Oribilia. I be glad to call ye sister.”

  The women hugged briefly before pulling away. Maggy carefully covered her hair with the hood of the cloak before being led out of the house. As they walked down the pathway, Maggy prayed that God would keep Oribilia and her children safe.

  ~~~

  Richard had remained hidden in the corner of the inn keeping a close eye on the three Buchannan men who sat huddled on the other side of the room. None of the men looked pleased but Richard shrugged off their demeanour as being typical for Buchannan men.

  Findley, Maggy and Patrick had been gone for a quarter of an hour. Richard prayed they would not encounter any trouble while they ventured to her brother’s home. The hairs on the back of his neck had been standing at full attention for days now, unrelenting, full of warning. He would not rest easy until they were in Aberdeen. And then only if Angus had sent the additional men Findley had pleaded for in his missive.

  As he sat in the dark corner, he wondered if any of this would be worth it in the end. He imagined his brother would feel like a damned fool if, when all was said and done, the fair Maggy would have no interest in him. Richard shook his head at the notion. Two people who argued like Maggy and Findley were meant for each other. Richard imagined that if they could be as passionate about loving one another as they were at arguing, they’d have a long, happy life together.

  A short time later the three men stood up from their table. Richard’s hand went instinctively to the hilt of his sword. He pretended to stare at the mug of ale, attempting to blend in and go unnoticed.

  One of the men tossed a coin on the table before they sauntered toward the door and left. Richard counted to twenty before he stood and left to follow them.