"Is my brother here? I need to speak with him. It's important." A man's voice spoke between short gasps.
"Ye'll find 'im inside," Gunna said.
Gavin's blue gaze met Serena's before he strode to the door. "Sounds like Leith." A dark-headed man rushed in with wide, worried eyes. Standing at eye level with each other, Gavin folded his arms and waited while Leith took a moment to catch his breath.
"A giant is tearing down our tents. He has a vicious wolf following him everywhere. I assumed he might be from the village so we didn't want to harm him, but neither can we allow him to destroy our things."
"Is anyone hurt?" Gavin scratched his forehead and pinched his eyebrows.
"Nay, but at this rate, we canna set up camp. What do ye advise?" Leith asked.
Gavin shifted his weight to one leg and rubbed his red beard as he pondered what to do. This was only the beginning of the many challenges he would encounter if he intended to stay here long enough to repair Braigh Castle.
"Still think we're the Village of Hospitality?" Serena asked.
3
Gavin strode beside Leith, pondering Serena's question about the village name. Even though he hadn't admitted it aloud, he could understand why this place was deemed as the Village of Outcasts. Most of them would have a difficult time fitting in with others—even among the low-class. The only exceptions were Serena and Evelina. Why were they here? They didn't appear to belong anymore than the rest of the villagers belonged in the town of Braighwick.
"Wait!" A woman's voice called from behind.
Gavin whirled. Serena held onto the door frame as she stepped over the threshold. Tomas supported her on the other side. Gavin dropped the reins on his horse and rushed to her.
"What's the meaning of this? Ye should be resting as Tomas advised." A surge of unexplained protection welled inside him. Mayhap it was from seeing her in such a weakened state when he'd carried her home.
"Aye. See?" Tomas glanced down at Serena with a disapproving frown, his tone a fatherly reproach. "Gavin agrees with me."
"Serena, I do wish ye'd go back to bed and rest," Evelina said from behind, hidden by the shade inside of their home.
"I'll be fine, Mither. I need to warn Gavin about Quinn. I won't be able to rest 'til I do." Serena lifed a pleading gaze. Her eyes reminded him of the color of fresh peat moss in the spring. His heart swelled with mixed feelings as he waited, the lure of her expression tugged at him. "Have ye met Quinn?"
"I have. He seemed like a pleasant man, but quite large."
"Aye, and his size alone seems a direct challenge to some. They pick and prod hoping to push him into a fight so they can say they've defeated the giant."
"I see. Ye think my men have provoked him?" Gavin raised an eyebrow, not sure whether he should be insulted or admire her loyalty.
"Please, I mean no disrespect, but I know Quinn—we all do." She glanced at Tomas and back at her mother. "Quinn is much like his wolf. He's lovable, sensitive, playful, slow minded at times, but verra protective of folk he cares about— that includes any of us villagers—especially Beacon and the wolf." She stepped forward, slipped her fingers around his forearm in a steady grip in spite of her weakened condition. "Don't let them hurt Quinn. If he's on a wild fit, it's because he feels the need to protect something or someone."
"I promise I'll do my best." Gavin laid a hand over Serena's warm fingers. He looked into her eyes. A current of understanding passed between them. "I give my word."
"And I know how important a Highlander's word is." She stopped worrying her bottom lip with her teeth and broke into a relieved smile. "Ye'll discover that we're not like other villages. Here, we're all family."
"True, but more than that, I believe in keeping the Lord's commandments. Breaking my word once I've given it would be the same as lying."
"Then God brought an honorable man to rescue us." Her hand trembled in his. "I pray the Lord's favor will continue with ye."
Pleased by her reaction, Gavin didn't want to let go, but he knew it was the right thing to do. He stepped back.
"Come on." Leith tapped his other arm. "Yer word will mean naught if the giant provokes our men while we're away."
"Indeed. We'd better hurry," Gavin said, striding to where Sholto was tethered to a tree. Gavin took the reins in his right hand and lifted his other. "I bid ye farewell."
She waved and his chest pounded in response. Leith took the lead as he knew the exact location of their camp. They arrived at a beautiful loch, its surface shimmering in the sun's rays as the water gently moved with the slight wind. Heather and an assortment of flowers he couldn't name dotted the wild grass in a mixture of peat moss.
In the midst of this pleasant beauty, men shouted. A group surrounded Quinn in a circle, closing in on him. Swords and bows aimed at the vexed giant as he raised a fist in the air. Two ripped canvas tents lay on the ground nearby. Gavin raced his horse toward them, hoping he could prevent anything they would all regret. Leith kept pace.
"Stop!" Gavin broke through the circle and faced Quinn upon his horse. "Quinn, who's in danger? Who are ye trying to protect?"
"They have Phelan. And I want 'im back." Quinn pointed in the distance at the white wolf he had seen earlier. The animal was bound in an iron chain to the trunk of an oak tree. He lay on his side.
"What do ye mean asking him who's in danger? It's us!" Roan said, his skin color nearly matching his shoulder-length red hair. His lips thinned to white and his green eyes glistened like emeralds. "That wolf started growling at me as if he was
about to attack, and this big brute went crazy when I protected myself and hit him with a limb. He's lucky I didn't run him through with my sword."
"He was already down. Ye didn't have to chain 'im," Quinn said. "Let him loose!"
Roan pulled his sword and stomped toward Quinn.
"Stop, Roan!" Leith warned. "Hold yer temper."
The man paused in mid-stride, but his expression clearly showed his struggle to obey. He clamped his jaw and turned away to pace.
"Did the wolf physically attack anyone?" Gavin shielded his eyes from the sun to better see the men. Some looked at each other, shaking their heads, while others murmured among themselves.
"Nay," Craig stepped forward. "But the wolf was growling and snarling at Roan as if he might."
"Ye left out the rest o' it." Quinn said. "Roan called to Phelan and when the wolf ducked from his grasp, Roan cursed at 'im in anger. Phelan sensed he wasn't to be trusted."
"Roan, why would ye provoke a wolf?" Leith asked.
"I heard him say that the white fur would make a nice coat," Craig said, tilting his blond head toward Roan, who kicked his booted foot into the ground.
"What's wrong with Phelan? Why is he lying down?" Gavin looked at Quinn.
"Roan hurt 'im when he threw the stick at his head." Quinn clenched and unclenched his hands at his side. "I need to set him loose and take him home where I can tend to 'im."
"Verra well." Gavin nodded. "Craig, help Quinn set the animal free." He looked into the giant's eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Wasn't yer fault." Quinn cast a dark menacing gaze at Roan. "If Phelan doesn't recover, ye'll be the one who's sorry."
"Is that a threat?" Roan straightened and glared back.
"One that is well deserved. Ye had no right to do what ye did," Gavin said.
"How was I supposed to know he belonged to someone?" Roan crossed his arms.
"He didn't belong to ye, so it doesn't matter. Ye should have left him alone," Gavin said. "This isn't our land. We're the guests here. Naught on this land is yers to claim without the laird's consent and ye'd do well to remember it."
"Ye can handle Roan's punishment." Gavin faced Leith. "There must be a consequence for his thoughtless actions."
"Aye, I'll take care of it," Leith said.
Gavin turned his horse around, pleased he hadn't broken his promise to Serena. He would have to remember to thank her for the tip about Quinn. He smiled. It was
an excellent excuse to stop by and see her on the morrow.
Serena rolled over. Gray light angled through the open door. It was already daylight? She rubbed her eyes and sat up. No sign of Gunna or her mother. Cattle lowed outside. Chickens bawked and wings flapped. What happened to the rooster? He always crowed at dawn.
She tossed the covers aside and swung her legs over the box bed. A wave of dizziness gripped her. Serena wrapped her arms around her middle and paused, waiting for the world to right itself again.
The lump on the side of her head had gone down. Tomas said she could go back to a normal routine once the swelling faded. After waiting a few days, she was very eager to do just that. Easing her bare feet upon the compact dirt floor, Serena winced at the cold contact. Even though it was now late spring, freezing air was common at night or in the early morning.
Sheep bleeted in the distance. Embers simmered in the fire pit, but it didn't give much heat. Serena threw on some kindling and stoked the hot coals until a new blaze lit. She grabbed a log and threw it on. Now she could dress without feeling like an icicle.
By the time she donned a clean dress and fastened her plaid around her for warmth, her mother walked in carrying a pail of milk. She breathed heavy from hauling her burden.
"How are ye feeling?" She set the pail down and kneaded the back of her neck. "Yer not as pale as yesterday. It's good to see color back in yer face."
"I feel much better and the swelling is gone." Serena combed through her long thick hair, wincing as she tugged the tangles free. "It's time I get back to work. I hope the laird won't be angry I overslept this morn."
"We sent a messenger. He'll think naught of it." Mother pulled out a bowl. "Would ye like somethin' to break yer fast? I was about to make fresh bread."
"'Twould take too long to make from scratch. I'll just have some of the strawberries."
"Serena, I wish ye'd wait one more day. It's a long walk to the castle."
"I'll be fine." Serena strolled to the table and grabbed a small basket of the ripe red fruit. "Where's Gunna?"
"At the loch washing clothes."
"Oh, I'll see ye both this evening." She slipped out before her mother could protest.
Serena hurried through the village greeting people as she passed. Her thoughts drifted to Iain MacBraigh, the new laird of Braigh Castle. When he took ownership six months past, he had inquired through the village for someone to run his household. Tomas had recommended her. As the laird had no wife and was a private sort of man who wouldn't be doing much entertainment, he didn't require her to live at the keep.
Serena's only concern in taking such a position were her horrible fits. The last thing she needed was to be discovered. People didn't understand and would say she was demon possessed as her own father had done. Her mother finally told her about the story of her birth when she turned ten and six a few years ago, but she'd refused to give his name. All Serena knew was that her mother had chosen the name of Boyd from distant relatives.
Something wet nudged her hand. Serena gasped and pulled her arm against her chest. She glanced down to see Phelan. The animal lifted his head against her. He was so large, he knocked her off-balance, causing her to sidestep. Serena laughed. "I suppose Mither got her way. So I'll have company on my walk after all."
Serena frowned, remembering what Gavin had said about Phelan's injury. One of his men had hit him in the head with a stick.
The dog's yellow eyes blinked, begging for affection. "Are ye all right, laddie?" She rubbed him between the ears. His tail wagged in happy satisfaction. Her fingers graced a raised knot. "Looks like we've both been recovering."
They walked in silence through the forest. As she left the woods, Serena took a deep breath smelling the salty sea. She climbed down the twelve-foot drop to where Braigh Castle was situated. Her head only hurt once and the pain soon went away.
Seagulls flew about and squeaked above her. Waves pounded the rocky cliffs below. White clouds drifted over the bright sun until it burst through again.
Phelan followed her to the castle gate. She turned and patted him on the head. "Thank ye for keeping me company and watching over me. Go back to yer master."
The black iron gate rolled up. The turning wheel squealed as the ropes wound around the pulleys. Serena stepped into the courtyard and waved at Philip, the gatekeeper. "Good morning!" The gate crashed to the ground behind her and rattled.
He secured the thick rope and hobbled over. A huge grin brightened his weather-worn face, bearing yellow-stained teeth. A full gray beard peaked to his chest. "Serena, I'm glad to see ye, lass." His warm brown eyes sparkled. "The laird was askin' 'bout ye a short while ago."
"Oh dear. Is he angry? I didn't intend to oversleep." She swallowed the rising concern. "I'd better get inside, posthaste."
"He didn't appear to be."
"I'd better hurry just the same." Serena waved a hand in the air.
She lifted the hem of her dress and ran to the side entrance. A quick search of the library, drawing room, and art room showed no recent trace of the laird. She paused, her hands on her hips, trying to imagine where he might be. Mayhap she would encounter him later.
Serena decided to begin her chores in the kitchen. She would check the inventory and determine if a trip to the market was needed.
As she walked down the servant staircase, she hummed a melody her mother used to sing to her. The winding steps narrowed toward the bottom, preventing her from viewing around the curve. She slid her hand along the stone wall, wishing for a rail.
At a long arched window, she couldn't help glancing out to view the glorious sea. Continuing on to the next step, Serena
gasped as she landed on a moving object. She lost her balance and would have tumbled forward if sturdy hands hadn't grabbed her shoulders and held her upright.
"Steady, lass. 'Tis only me."
She glanced up to see Gavin grinning down at her. She realized her palms pressed against his chest where his fastbeating heart now pumped under her fingertips. Serena breathed in the scent of pine and heather as she struggled to gain her wits.
Heat flamed her neck and face until even the top of her head tingled with shame. Serena didn't want to look up and see his reaction to her blundering mishap, but how could she avoid it?
"Ye always seem to be rescuing me." She attempted a halfhearted laugh as she leaned back. Brilliant blue eyes stared at her. He tilted his head, attempting to see her better. An expression of concern lingered in his eyes.
Not wishing to be studied, Serena tried to wrench free of his hold, but he held her tight. He swayed on his heels and reached for the stone wall with one hand, while maintaining a grip on her with the other.
"Uh, lass, I canna move. Ye're standing on my feet."
"Oh!" Serena's hands flew to her mouth in horror. She tried to back up, but the previous step dug into her calf. Careful not to tip him, she stepped to the side, feeling quite awkward. She leaned back against the opposite stone wall. "I'm sorry. Why didn't ye say somethin' sooner? I feel mortified." No sense in trying to hide her humiliation now. Her actions were far beyond justification. To think she had been standing on the poor man's feet! She shoved the heel of her palm against her forehead.
"Mayhap, I liked having ye so close." Gavin shrugged, a mischievous grin curling his lips. "Or maybe I wanted to see how long it took before ye figured it out."
"Ye're incorrigible! What kind of evil mind lurks beneath that red head of yers?" In spite of everything, Serena smiled. After all, he had saved her from falling. "I hope I didn't bruise yer toes?"
Highland Sanctuary Page 5
