The Twisted Laird

by Cherime MacFarlane

  ***

  Sitting in his library, Tally considered his options once more. Both his nephews were gone, vanished to God knew where. Angus had disappeared as well. The Dutchmen were not pleased and would find another man in Glasgow, if he didn't get the business headed in the proper direction once again.

  The only person he had left that he truly trusted was Mackey. Getting another butler was going to be difficult. There was far too much going on in this house for a normal butler to be trusted with.

  Perhaps he should just give it up, Dutchmen be damned! But, he hated the thought of anyone else pocketing the huge profits from his smuggling operation. It was too bad Anderson had left.

  Where had his nephews gone? At first, he assumed they had taken the profits from the sale of the last shipment and jumped ship. Now, he was not so sure. It was as if they had vanished off the face of the earth. Coupled with Angus' disappearance, Tally was growing uneasy.

  The morning sun lit up the library. Shortly, he would go into breakfast. The fine mist of last evening was gone, leaving a clear blue sky. The garden, which angled down to the road, looked clean and bright in the sun.

  Later, in the afternoon, he and Mackey would go over to the warehouse and inspect the property. If he decided to get out of the business, there was no reason not to sell the property. It would bring a fair price situated where it was. For now, he was going to get his breakfast and think about it all later.

  Regardless of what the Dutchmen said, he had time to think about it all. They were not going to pull out immediately. Tally doubted they had anyone beside him who was prepared to handle the volume of trade they were looking for. They would wait. He tossed his paper on the table, breakfast was growing cold.

  ***

  Steam rose from the pile of brush and old wood that comprised Edan’s hut. Curled up inside beneath his bedding, Edan slept. The horses grazed on the fresh shoots springing up after the evening’s soaking. Having turned onto his right side, he made a small noise, as his leg cramped.

  Turning onto his other side, Edan pulled the covers tighter around him. There was little meat on his bones to cushion them now. Half asleep, he rubbed out the cramp and fell back into a fitful doze. In his dreams, Daracha was crying, as she handed their daughter over to a smiling Rhona. Edan tried to comfort his wife, but was not able to. She pulled away from him and faded away.

  Muttering a curse, he forced himself to wake and look around. It was still early. He needed a bit more rest. Not sure he would get it, Edan stretched out his legs for a moment, then drew them back up. Making himself as small as possible to keep warm, Edan pulled his coat up under his head. Later, he would see what he might find to eat.

  Slipping back into sleep, Edan had another dream. Rhona sat beneath the rowan tree, with Cadell in her lap and Ailene cuddled against her shoulder. There was an aura of peace around her he had never seen before. Rhona was smiling gently at Ailene. Edan wanted to see her eyes. Surely, this could not be the woman he had known all his life?

  He called to her and the woman lifted her dark head. The smile reached her eyes. Ailene made a small sound and Rhona rubbed her cheek against the infant’s. Then she was gone.

  Waking, Edan crawled out of his small shelter. The day was far gone, judging by the position of the sun in the sky. His belly whined as it protested a lack of food. Today he would find something to eat and come back here. Tally was bound to come back. The bastard had to.

  Tally was the one Edan might swing for. He knew it and it did not change his course. If Tally was left alive, sooner or later, Smith would again make a demand on him. It could not be allowed.

  In the late afternoon, two horsemen approached the gate of the warehouse. Edan recognized the first man, Tally Smith. He had finally come to inspect his property. With a slight smile, Edan rose and cautiously made his way around the back of the property and into the grounds.

  Somehow, he needed to separate the two. The other man needed to be incapacitated, so he might deal with Tally. He did not want it all to end quite as quickly as it had with Dougie and Cam. Edan wanted time to toy with Tally, to make him fear for his miserable life.

  Both men went into the small house. Edan flattened himself against the wall hoping to hear something he might use to his advantage, from the open door. They chatted about the state of the premises and it seemed as if Tally might be offering the man the place in exchange for labor.

  The other man asked about the stable in the backland. Tally told him to go and see if it would be adequate for his needs. A slight smile curved Edan’s lips. How very helpful of them. Making his way silently around the other side of the house, Edan looked in the open stable door. With his hands on his hips, the other man stood looking around him. Clouting him on the back of his head with the hilt of the sword, Edan caught him and gently lowered him to the ground.

  Shortly the man was bound, gagged and blindfolded. No one needed to know who had killed Tally. If he decided to try to go back to his old life, it would be prudent to keep his identity from all who could talk.

  “Mackey! Where have ye gotten off tae! Come along, man, we’ve business tae discuss.” Tally called out.

  Assuming the stable was the first place Tally would search, Edan looked for a place to hide. He wanted Tally trapped in the building, with no escape route. Flattening himself against the wall next to the door, he waited.

  Seeing the other man, Tally rushed into the stable. “Mackey?”

  When Tally bent down to look at the bound man, Edan pulled both doors closed. Hearing the noise behind him, Tally Smith rose slowly. Edan watched his hand go to the breast pocket of his coat.

  “Nae. Turn, very slowly. If ye reach for tha pistol, I’ve ah sgian in my hand. Ye’ll be dead before ye hit tha ground.”

  Without replying, Tally’s hand darted into the pocket. Spinning on his heel, the other man pulled the pistol and tried to level it at Edan. Expecting the movement, Edan dropped his sword, fell to one knee and threw the small knife. The pistol shot splintered the wood of the door behind him. Tally dropped the pistol and was clutching his arm where the knife was embedded in his flesh.

  “I’m thinking there may nae be much time here for tha accounting. I’d use tha knife were I ye.”

  “What accounting?” Tally rasped out.

  “Och! An eye for an eye. In this matter, ah life or four. Ye should have listened tae Ian an let me be. Ye’re the reason my wife is dead, an ye’re tha last I’m settling with.” Throwing down the sword, Edan advanced on Tally.

  “Angus, the Morans?” Tally asked as he backed away from the man.

  “All dead, in hell, waiting on ye.”

  “Ye’re MacGrough.” Tally sputtered out.

  “Did I nae mention it? Right enough, ‘tis who I am. Tha lame, good for naught, is going tae kill ye. I’ve been looking forward to it since tha day ye saw fit tae send tha bastards tae my home.”

  Tally pulled the knife from his arm and shifted it to his left hand. Edan noticed the tremor in the other man’s hand, as he backed him through the straw into the wall behind him.

  “Nae good with yur left? Tae bad, ye piece of cac.”

  With a clumsy slash, Tally tried to cut Edan. Grabbing the man’s hand, Edan squeezed Tally’s fingers against the hilt of the knife. Tally tried to reach him with his injured right arm and Edan batted it away.

  Groaning in pain, Tally looked into the blazing eyes of Edan. “I can pay ye whatever ye ask.”

  “Aye, I ken.” Edan’s right hand closed around Tally’s throat. “An I’m taking payment now. She was my life an I’m taking yurs.”

  He smashed the other man’s hand against the wall behind him and the knife fell to the ground. Edan put both hands around Tally’s throat and jammed him against the wall. Cursing, he watched the man’s face change color.

  When he was sure Tally Smith was quite dead, Edan checked the other man to see if he was still unconscious. He pricked him lightly under the chin with the point of the small knife. G
rateful that the killing was done, Edan slipped out the door and forded Gruggie’s Burn. Gathering up his meager belongings, he tied the pack on the second horse, mounted and rode away in the direction of the Pict cave. He needed to be alone.

  Chapter Forty - Eight

  Jamie burst into the house. He had been out to the pub and his face wore a strange expression. The women were all gathered in the lower area preparing the evening meal. Looking around, Jamie spotted Lara at the table.

  "Gather tha weans, Lara an get them upstairs. They're all tae stay there until called. Make sure they ken. Then hie yurself back down. We've ah matter tae discuss."

  Looking up from the new shirt she was sewing for Cadell, Rhona dropped the needle into her lap on top of the cloth. "Edan?" she asked quietly.

  "Give it ah moment." Jamie hurried over to Lara and helped her get the small children up the stairs.

  Seated at the table, Jamie looked around at the women. "I've news. It seems Tally Smith was murdered, strangled in tha stable in tha backland behind tha warehouse at Gruggie's Burn."

  A chorus of noises met his announcement. "Aye, an there's nae suspect. He had his butler with him, but tha murderer hit tha man on tha lug. Knocked him out, bound, gagged and blindfolded him."

  With a nod, Rhona looked at Jamie. "How long ago?"

  "Tae days, nae more. Tha authorities are thinking it was ah robbery." His face still serious, Jamie looked around at the women seated there. "Have any of ye seen aught?"

  None had. Rhona knew it would do no good to wait for Edan under the rowan tree. With a sigh, Jamie rubbed his forehead with two fingers. "Christ! I wish I had some idea where tae look for him. Do ye think he might be in tha glen?"

  Rising from the table, Rhona went to the window. Moving the curtain to one side, she stared out into the gathering dusk. "Nae. "Tis likely tae be ah while yet, before he comes home."

  Agreement rose from the kitchen table. Jamie looked around at everyone. "At tha kirk, have there been any questions? Might anyone be inquiring tae deeply?"

  Kyla replied first. "Aye. There were some with their noses tae far intae things, nay their business. I told tha nosey old biddies, Daracha died in child birth an it fair tore Edan apart."

  After glancing over at Rhona, Jamie eyed the other women. "None of tha customers have said aught when told he went on a voyage tae tha West Indies for his health. They may think tha death was tha reason. Let them think so. Edan was right careful with things. It's been ah bit since tha fire. There's nae cause tae link one with tha other."

  Jean sighed. "I wish he would return. Tha weans are at loose ends here. I'm feared they may get intae mischief. Working in tha shop kept them out of trouble."

  "Aye." Nairna looked around the table. "I'm thinking tha lot spend far tae much time fooling in tha swamp. Callum is tha ring leader of that."

  "I'll take care of tha idle hands." Jamie said. "I've hoes an spades tae fit tha three of them. Tha garden needs tending an they can help with it."

  "Good enough, then. It seems we're tae be without him ah wee while longer?" Nairna asked as she glanced first at Jamie then at Rhona.

  Without looking, Rhona replied. "Edan will be along. He'll need time tae come tae terms with things. It's nae been that long. Ye all ken how long it took ye tae begin living again. 'Tis nae different for Edan."

  Falling silent, she continued to peer out at the lane in front of the house. There were a few comments, but the main part of the discussion was over. Lara went upstairs to bring the other children down to dinner.

  There was a light touch on Rhona's shoulder. She glanced upward into Jamie's face. "He'll be home."

  Jamie only nodded. Then he turned to glance out the window.

  The garden sales were going well. Jamie was pleased. Edan's apprentices were doing a good job in the garden, even as they complained bitterly about it.

  As she did every night, Rhona stood in front of the window in the big bedroom staring out at the rowan tree. After asking God to send him home, she drew the curtain and went to bed. At five months, Cadell was now sleeping through the night. Ailene still needed a night time feeding.

  Gathering the little girl up from the basket, she let Ailene nurse for a bit before placing her in the middle of the mattress. Loosely tying the shift at the neck, she crawled into bed.

  Coming instantly awake, Rhona saw the shadow at the end of the bed. "Edan." She whispered.

  "Aye. What are ye doing in here?"

  She reached out to pull the covers back from the other side of the mattress. "'Tis Ailene. She startles easily, an nae sleeps well with others in tha room."

  "I should go." He said and Rhona heard the weariness in his voice.

  "Nae. I think she has been missing ye. I'm of ah mind she will sleep better with ye here. Come an lie down."

  "'Tis nae right, tha tae of us, in tha same bed."

  "Ailene is in tha middle, I'm in my shift. I ken ye're exhausted. Come an get some rest. We'll sort all out in tha morning. Give way, 'tis late an I've nae wish tae wake tha lass."

  Without another word, Edan slipped into the bed. Rolling onto his left side, Edan's hand accidentally touched hers where it rested on Ailene's small body.

  "Ailene?" he asked, as he jerked his hand away.

  "Do ye toss in yur sleep? She asked softly.

  "Nae. Why?" Edan whispered back.

  "Come ah wee bit closer."

  He did as she asked. Rhona pushed the infant closer to her father.

  "Put her close to yur chest, near yur heart. Ye're tha first one tae have held tha poor wee thing. An I think she's been wanting ye."

  "Och! She's so...wee." His voice broke on the last word.

  "Haud yer wheesht. Dinnae wake our sweeting. She needs tae sleep as long as she is able." As ye do. Rhona thought to herself.

  He fell silent and she listened to his breathing slow as Edan drifted into sleep.

  In the morning, Rhona woke to Cadell talking to himself. Glancing over at Edan and Ailene, she caught him staring at his daughter with a look of wonder. When he looked up at her, Edan's eyes were damp.

  "She's ah bonny wee thing." He lightly touched the red gold ringlets on her head. "Her hair is tha color of Daracha's."

  Rhona nodded. "Aye. But, I think her eyes are green. An, she slept through tha night."

  As he touched Ailene's cheek with one finger, she opened her eyes and looked up into Edan's face. Her arms and legs flew up and down while her eyes opened wide. She made several interesting noises.

  Cadell got louder in his basket, as he protested being left out of things. Turning, Rhona tugged the boy from his bed and rolled over onto her back. Tossing him into the air several times until he squealed in delight, Rhona laughed at the infant.

  "An I've a feeling ye're needing changed. Come along, laddie. Let's get ye done, so I might tend tae our lass."

  Edan watched with interest, as Rhona changed Cadell. He tried to keep his eyes on the children. Rhona noticed his face turned pink when she leaned over to put Cadell in the bed and her breasts could be seen through the neck of the shift.

  "If ye will keep an eye out on tha laddie, I'll tend tae sweeting now. Watch Cadell, mind? He's able tae roll over now an I'm nae wanting anything damaged."

  Edan rolled over onto his back and pulled up his left leg. Propping Cadell against his thigh, Edan played with his nephew. Occasionally, he glanced over at Rhona as she changed Ailene.

  When Rhona opened the neck of her shift, Edan's eyes went wide. He hurriedly sat up on the edge of the bed. With his back to Rhona, Edan put Cadell in the crook of his arm.

  "Ye nae feed Cadell first?" he asked. Rhona knew he was trying to determine where Ailene fit into her life.

  "Nae. Tha lad is able tae take ah bit of broth. Milk is nae all he gets. Ailene is first here, being younger an wee."

  "Rhona, I'm sorry. That day, I...."

  "Wheesht! Hold yur tongue, Edan MacGrough. 'Tis all long gone. I'm nae going tae get into all of it."

&nb
sp; "They're all dead. All, but Ian an Jock." His back was still to her.

  Rhona tuned her head to see he was slumped slightly. "Aye. Naught that I wouldnae have done, had I ah name, mind? Ian an Jock, why?"

  He glanced back over his shoulder. When he noticed she was turned slightly toward him, Edan glanced away. "Tally was their uncle. They were both under his thumb. Ian promised they would take tha coin from tha last shipment, book passage as MacGroughs, an never return."

  "MacGroughs? Och! He would never look for them under that name." She laughed at the irony of it.

  Edan chuckled slightly. "Ian thought tha same, I agreed." He sighed. "I'm nae sure how tae go about being here again."

  "Ye've been missed. Tha boys, Adie, Blane an Callum, have been lost without yur guidance. Jamie finally put them in tha field tae keep them out of trouble. Jamie an Rut are married. Gara is living with her sister, tha one who married tha MacNab. Ailene's birth an all, 'twas tae much for her."

  "Well now, I'm sorry tae hear it. I'll miss her." He sighed again.

  "Och! At least Glynis stayed with Lara an Isa. Dinnae ken what I might do without Lara. An we told tha customers ye were off tae tha West Indies due tae illness."

  Ailene was full and fell asleep in Rhona's arms. Rising, she tugged the cloth across her slightly damp breast and walked around to where Edan sat jiggling Cadell.

  "Set tha lad on tha bed an take Ailene. Lie back intae bed with tha pillow behind yur head. Place tha lass on yur chest an see how it goes. Put yur right arm down on yur chest incase tha bairn begins tae roll. They do things so quickly. I'll feed tha lad an we'll go from there.”

  Edan quickly lowered his eyes to Ailene, doing as Rhona asked. She climbed back into bed and rolled over onto her side. Freeing her right breast from the shift, Rhona tuned Cadell on his side. The baby began to suckle. For an instant Edan watched before looking away. They settled into bed and went back to sleep.