by Kara Griffin
“You hardly said two words. Something is causing your despair. Do ye want to share with me your worry?”
But she didn’t answer. She kissed him, her lips brushed his lightly. He took her in his arms and lifted her, setting her against him. How he’d missed her. Their kiss attested to their passion, and he longed to take her to bed. But there were matters which concerned him and he would get answers. Reluctantly, he set her upon her feet.
“You’re as bonnie as ever, wife. Come, sit with me and tell me what is bothering you. Philippa said you act strangely toward Galyn.”
“I couldn’t tell you in there.” Kerrigan sat and tossed the edge of her overdress over her ankles. The delicate movement lightened him. He sat next to her but kept a few feet between them so he wouldn’t be tempted to take her in his arms.
“You may not believe this, but I have found the bairn’s mother.”
She had his full attention now and all thoughts of taking her scattered.
“How did you find her? I worried for you knowing you went to the village.”
“The bairn’s mother is Galyn.”
His scowl deepened as his eyes pulled together in confusion at her words.
Kerrigan drew a deep breath and related her suspicions. “I was certain she tried to harm the babe for I realized she was trying to smother him. There was no mistaking her movements. When I asked her about it, she denied my accusation. I sent her to do launder and searched her satchel. I found the cloak, Graeme, the one we saw the woman wearing at the abbey that morn.”
“I see now why you are distraught. Do you ken who the father is?”
“Nay. She only just mentioned his name. Robert. But I know not what to do. She said he abandoned her. How can we get her to accept the babe when she’s brokenhearted? I fear that is why she took the babe to the abbey.”
“Mayhap she doesn’t want to be burdened with the bairn. Och the father’s family might want the child. We should find them and at least let them know of their kin.”
“Galyn hasn’t spoken since I confronted her about the attack. I haven’t told her I found the cloak or that I know she’s his mother.”
“I will question her after supper when all seek their beds.”
“I wish to be present, Graeme, for she’s been my friend for many a year. She is distraught for surely that is the only reason she would ever hurt the wee one.”
“Do you suppose she’s maddened?”
She leaned against him and he settled a comforting arm around her.
“Perhaps she is. I tried to forgive her for hurting the bairn, but I keep envisioning her smothering him. My heart is heavy.”
“Let me lighten it, lass.” Graeme set his lips on hers and kissed her gently. He kept to the gentle persuasion until she softened against him. Kerrigan relaxed and returned the kiss, her hands petted his chest. The tension that riddled him thwarted with each press of her hand.
Graeme pulled his mouth free and grinned. “You have a gift, lass, for no one can soothe me as you do.”
“I am relieved you are home, husband, and unharmed. Tell me of your travels.”
Graeme told her of his friends and their purchase of Liam’s new horse at the farmstead. He told her of the clash with the MacDoughalls but left out the more gruesome details and that he’d almost been recognized by the Bruce which would’ve secured his death. One day he’d be free to speak of what happened at the abbey, but until then he protected his comrades.
“The MacDoughalls defeated the king’s men-at-arms, mayhap they are too many to thwart. My clan will never get justice.” Kerrigan squeezed his hand.
“Don’t despair, Kerrigan. The king’s army grows stronger each day. Many are allied with the Bruce. He will fight the MacDoughall’s again for I saw the determination in his eyes. Fear not, wife, I vow they will be crushed.”
“I see your friends are returning. Let us go inside. I wish to help Annag with supper. You will wait to question Galyn?”
“Aye. We will do it together when we’re alone with her this night.”
He helped her from the ground and hugged her before setting off for the cave.
Their homecoming wasn’t as pleasant as he’d hoped. The most concerning was his wife’s distress. Graeme sat at the table and spotted Gilroy on the floor near the nurse and bairn. He’d never spent much time in their domain, but Graeme was pleased to see the lad there.
Supper was a quiet affair. A quiet mien overtook their domain. His comrades noted the tenseness in the chamber and said little to him or the others. After they ate, his comrades set their bowls in a bucket of clean water to be washed. Brodin and Liam talked low in the corner.
“We’re thinking of going to the village. We could use more coin and should see if we can hire ourselves out. It’s been a while since we took a charge. What say you, Graeme?”
He turned to Liam and shook his head. “There is something I must tend to. If you wish to go without me, I wouldn’t object. But I cannot leave right now.”
His friends hooted with laughter and their ruckus jarred the bairn. Philippa set off and took him to the adjoining chamber. He would allow his friends to think what they wanted for the matter didn’t concern them.
“Aye, I say ye do have something to tend to. Mayhap we should see to the same matter.” Liam waggled his eyebrows and caused the men to chuckle.
“There’s a woman in the village. I can’t recall her name,” Brodin said. “She was fair and bonnie. Wasn’t it Mary?”
“Nay, but close. Maura or Maureen, wasn’t it?” Heath laughed. “We have the ride to the village to figure it out. She’s mine, lads, for you should find your own woman.”
Graeme watched as each of his comrades thanked Annag for the supper. The old woman blushed when they kissed her cheek or hugged her.
The chamber grew quiet after their departure.
“Mistress Annag, how fairs Finley? Has he awakened?”
“Nay, my lord, and I deem he might not. I shall retire early and see to him, and will wash the bowls in the morn.”
“I will take care of the cleanup, Annag. Good night to you.” Kerrigan hugged the woman and turned to start on the bowls in the bucket.
Galyn rose, said not a word, and set off to the antechamber.
“A moment, lass, there is something I wish to speak with you about.” Graeme called to her and she stopped near the hearth.
She stood and gazed at him defiantly. “I wish to seek my bed. Can it not await the morn?”
“Sit.” He barked the order, and she did as he requested. “Kerrigan tells me she found you attacking the bairn. Why would you do that?”
Her brown locks fell forward as she dipped her head. “Why would you tell him that? I told you the babe was crying, and I was only getting him. I thought you were my friend. You accuse me falsely.”
Kerrigan approached and stood by his side. “I am your friend. But you bespoke falsely, Galyn. You tried to deceive me and continue to do so.”
“I did no such thing.”
“Aye, you did. I found the cloak. It is the same as the woman’s we saw at the abbey. We saw you fleeing that day and then found the bairn on the step.”
Galyn’s eyes narrowed, and she fisted her hands. “You want to know the truth?”
Kerrigan rested her hands on the table. “We already know the truth.”
“Who is the father?” Graeme leaned forward with a look to intimate the lass, but she was cross. More angry than he’d ever seen a woman.
She stood and knocked her chair back. It toppled to the floor. “I shan’t tell you or speak his name.”
“What matters if we ken or not? You told Kerrigan his name was Robert. Tell us who he is.” Graeme was about to stand, knowing if he did so, he would be more of a threat. Then it struck him. James told him Robert Comyn had gotten his lover pregnant. Was Galyn Comyn’s mistress? Graeme’s head swam with thoughts as he tried to put together the circumstances.
“Aye, so there be no reason to shame mys
elf.”
“You have already done more than shame yourself, lass. You abandoned your child and then tried to do him harm. God wouldn’t take such sins lightly.”
Galyn shifted from one foot to the other. Her eyes blazed with anger. “My father called me the devil’s mistress. Aye and told me I would burn in hell for my sins for he said I slept with the enemy. Perhaps I am the devil’s mistress for I don’t seek God’s forgiveness or his.”
Kerrigan gasped. “You don’t mean that, Galyn. Be calm, please. We are not judging you. We only want to do what’s best for you and your bairn. Who is his father?”
“If I tell ye will leave me be?”
Graeme nodded.
“The bairn’s father is the Lord of Badenoch.”
Shock at hearing her say their enemy’s name rendered him speechless. As much as he suspected it might be Comyn, he’d hoped it was another. “You mean the Red Comyn, Robert Comyn?”
She dipped her chin and nodded.
“You never spoke of him. How did you meet?” Kerrigan’s hand squeezed his shoulder.
“We met in the village when he rode through. He visited me oft and bespoke promises of marriage. I hadn’t seen him the last few months of my confinement and thought he abandoned me.” Galyn fell onto the nearest chair. She wept silent tears that dampened her cheek and shone with the light from the fire.
Graeme couldn’t find his voice.
Kerrigan took a step toward her friend. “Do ye mean the Robert Comyn who was killed in Grayfriars by our own King Robert the Bruce?”
“I didn’t want to believe the tale. I hoped it was untrue. He really murdered my Robert?” Galyn sobbed earnestly now.
“I’m sorry to say aye, but it’s known the Bruce killed him. And he couldn’t have wed you, Galyn, for he was married to the Earl of Pembroke’s daughter, Joan de Valence. I attended their wedding feast.” Kerrigan took another step forward and appeared to want to comfort the lass.
“Kerrigan, I will return in a minute or two.” Graeme hastened outside to find Gilroy. He needed the lad to ride to the abbey and deliver a message for the friar to contact James Douglas. It appeared they might have someone with which to barter for the wee lord after all.
*****
Kerrigan stood stock still. Her friend needed solace, but she didn’t know how to offer consolation. She approached with caution.
“What you say is false, for he would have wed me.”
She shook her head. “The man deceived you for he was wedded. Did he propose marriage or did you assume he would wed you?”
“What does it matter now?” Galyn shouted.
“Why did you not tell me the truth? I am saddened you had to keep your own counsel, and you trusted me not. I would’ve helped you.”
“Help me? There was nothing you or anyone could have done. I was carrying out of wedlock, the bastard of my father’s enemy. When my parents learned of it, they left for they said they shan’t bear the shame. What could you have done?”
“I care for you, Galyn. There is always something to be done for troubles. You are not alone.”
She laughed morosely. “Aye? There is no saving my soul. I am condemned by God and the church. I wanted to take the babe with me so we could join Robert in the ever-after. When I learned it was speculated the Bruce killed him I wanted to die. I was going to do so at the abbey and have it thought we were slain. But you! You thwarted my attempt. This is all your fault, Kerrigan.”
Kerrigan was astounded by her friend’s words. “My fault. There is no one to blame for this atrocity but yourself. Killing yourself or your bairn is not the answer.”
“Nay?” She ran at her and grasped a handful of her hair.
Kerrigan fell backward when Galyn rolled on top of her. She tried to get Galyn to release her, but her friend knocked her head against the stone twice before she jumped to her feet. The force caused a flicker of pain in her eyes. She rubbed her head and tried to abate it. Galyn fled across the chamber.
“You should’ve left well enough alone. There is nothing you can do to save me, Kerrigan, nothing.” Galyn’s eyes darkened. She held out her hand. “Don’t move. Stay where you are.”
Kerrigan knelt and continued to rub the ache on her head. “Galyn, please, cease this absurdity. We can go to the abbey and ask Friar Hemm for his blessing and God’s forgiveness. Surely that will lighten your heart. I care for you, really I do, and I don’t want to see you harmed. You’re my dearest friend.”
“No one cares for me but my Robert.” She backed until she reached the wall of the cave. Galyn reached back and took a dagger that sat on a trunk, one Kerrigan left around the chamber for their protection. “You can do as you will with the bairn but you won’t stop me from being with Robert.”
She thrust the dagger at her throat. Blood shot out and flowed heavily over the bodice of her overdress. Galyn slumped to the ground, her body shook, and she gurgled with blood spewed from her mouth.
Kerrigan shouted and ran across the chamber. By the time she reached her, Galyn was gone. She took her in her arms, held her, and rocked her dearest friend who did the unthinkable. Her sobs increased as she realized the extremes her friend went through and how unhappy she must have been.
Graeme returned, but she hadn’t seen him reenter the cave. How long he stood there, she wasn’t certain. She could barely see him through tear-filled eyes.
“Graeme, she … she is gone.”
“Come lass, there is naught we can do for her now.” He grasped her wrist and tried to get her to release Galyn. “I need to get you out of here. Let her go.”
Reluctantly, she released Galyn and her body fell to the ground. Graeme took her in his arms and carried her outside. He held her, and Kerrigan could do nothing but weep for the lass she’d loved since childhood. Her body shook from her sobs, for all she envisioned was Galyn’s happy face when they’d run through the fields as children. Remorse filled her heart at the inability to help her. She swore she would take care of her friend’s bairn. She vowed to ensure the bairn’s life beheld happiness.
Chapter SIXTEEN
Nothing could’ve prepared him for what he witnessed. He’d gone outside to send Gilroy off with his message when he heard Kerrigan’s shouts. Graeme closed his eyes against the vision of the lass holding the dagger at her throat. Although he tried to get to her before she thrust it, she’d acted too swift for his reaction. Galyn had to be maddened to do such a thing. It took an insane mind or a courageous soul to take one’s own life.
He thought of Sorcha who also had her throat cut in a similar gruesome way. Graeme shook the image away, for brought back intense emotions he wasn’t wont to consider.
Kerrigan trembled in his arms and she grew heavy as her arms and legs drew close to her body. She didn’t speak since he’d picked her up from the ground. Blood stained the front of her overdress and she had a smear of it across her cheek. He wiped it off as much as he could, held her tightly, and tried to console her as best he could.
“Speak to me, lass, say anything.” He settled her on his lap, rubbed her arms, and warmed her. Her body shook uncontrollably and her teeth chattered.
She tucked her chin and sighed. “I know not what to say. My heart is troubled. I want to visit Friar Hemm.”
“I deem you should. But we must tend a few things before we can leave. Will the morn be soon enough?”
She nodded, but sat lethargically on his lap. Graeme didn’t know how to comfort her. He’d seen much of war and what happened to a person when struck with a sword, dagger or other weapon. Nothing prepared one for the sight of blood flow or the gruesome injuries that befell someone when they’re struck. The sight of one’s innards terrified a grown man, let alone a sweet lass akin to Kerrigan.
He wished his comrades hadn’t gone off to the village for he could use their guidance about now. There were ample tasks to be done, and as much as he wanted to sit with Kerrigan and console her, he had to get back inside the cave before anyone awakened.
> “Will you be well here while I tend to …?” He wouldn’t finish his sentence, for he didn’t want to upset his wife further.
“You are going to move her?”
“I must for the others will wake soon and see …” He closed his mouth, because he said too much. It was best she not see her friend again or the domain.
As his words spewed forth, Kerrigan wept. Tears streaked her cheeks and her sobs shook her shoulders. Graeme wrapped both arms around her as securely as he could. He let her cry and smoothed a comforted hand over her back. After several minutes of being tortured by her anguish, her cries lessened and finally ceased.
“I must go.” He set her aside and pulled his tartan free, and placed it around her shoulders. “Stay here and try to rest. If you need me, shout for I should hear ye.” Graeme turned at the noise from the ossuary. His comrades returned from their trek to visit the village lassies. He met them at the cave.
“Where’s Gilroy? He should be here tending to the horses,” Heath said. “The village was empty. Seems all fled. The English must be on the move.”
“I sent him on a mission. You’ll to need attend to your own horses. After, come to the cave. I need your help.” Graeme didn’t have time to elaborate or speak of the disastrous incident. He stepped into the cave and fetched a tartan. Standing next to Galyn, he assessed how he would wrap her.
Brodin, Heath, and Liam stopped short when they saw the lass on the ground and the blood that pooled by her neck.
Brodin was the first to speak. “What the hell happened?”
“Galyn killed herself. Stuck the dagger in her own throat.”
“Glory be,” Heath said. “Why’d she go and do that?”
Graeme laid the tartan on the ground next to her and motioned for his comrades to help lift her onto it. While they did so, he explained what came to pass. Each word tightened his throat for he never would’ve reasoned she would do something so dreadful.
He wrapped the tartan around her and they lifted it. “… before she did herself in, she told me who the father of the bairn is. It is none other than Robert Comyn.”
