Highland Devotion (The Band of Cousins Book 7)

by Keira Montclair

A sick feeling roiled in her gut, but she thanked them and took an apple from one of the tables. Buffing it on her skirt, she stepped back outside into the gray day. The area they were in was quite deserted, with no clear landmarks nearby and just three buildings in the middle of a forest. Would Gregor ever find her here? How could he?

  She found a log at the edge of the clearing and sat down, munching on her apple. Fighting the feeling of hopelessness. Gregor had taught her hope, and she wasn’t yet ready to let go of it.

  It struck her that something had changed within her. The best evidence she had of this was that she’d had the courage to slap Mal. After years of taking the abuse he heaped on her, accepting his claims that she deserved it and had no choice, she’d stood up for herself. Something she’d never have done when she was younger. And she’d found the strength to open up to Gregor—to let herself fall in love with the only lad who’d ever caught her fancy.

  Her love grew for him like the tiniest bud in the spring—tentatively opening, as if afraid to expose itself to the harsh conditions of this world, yet growing stronger every day.

  Was there a possibility she could marry one day with her past? She dared to hope so.

  This entire chapter in her life had made her stronger. Merewen, Gregor, and even Sela had made her believe she had value in and of herself—that she didn’t have to submit to anyone.

  And she never would again.

  Matilda opened the door and shouted to her. “One of them is crying again.” Her face turned to a scowl. “Where did you get that apple? I want it.”

  Linet looked at the apple in her hand, half-finished, and made a quick decision. If she’d thought any of the sick ones could chew it, she would have brought it to them, but they couldn’t at this point. She took a few quick bites of the fleshy fruit, then tossed the core over her shoulder.

  She was not sharing with Matilda. The witch yelled, “Selfish,” spun on her heel and closed the door.

  Mayhap it was time for her to be a little bit selfish, at least toward certain people. She strode over to the small building, opened the door, and reached for the basin of broth.

  “You’re wasting your time,” Matilda sneered. “They’ll all die.”

  Linet arched her brows at the woman. “I see that does not bother you at all.”

  “Why should I care? They don’t belong to me.”

  Linet was furious at the woman’s attitude. How could anyone put such an uncaring beast in charge of bairns? Mayhap it was dangerous to ask questions—she knew who these people were now, and they were indeed dangerous—but she thought it best to get as much information as she could. If she managed to escape, she’d need to know what to tell Gregor and the others.

  They had to rescue the bairns.

  “Where did they find them? Are there others? If they were in a home for orphans, they must all be sickly. Often times, when one youngster is sick, the others will be, too. At least, ’tis what Mistress Brenna says. And where are Guy and Dee, the two I spoke with earlier? I didn’t see them inside just now.” True, the lasses inside had told her they’d left, but she wished to hear what Matilda had to say about them. She settled the sleeping laddie back onto his pallet and stood up, smoothing her skirts.

  “I don’t know where they’re from, but I saw them leave,” Matilda said.

  “Where did they go?”

  “They have another place closer to the port. ’Tis much larger than this one. I heard them say there was trouble there.”

  Linet’s gut clenched. This was the confirmation she’d feared. “Do they plan to sell these bairns?”

  “How would I know? And why would I care? When the sennight ends, I’ll collect my coin and go on my way. I don’t wish to know anything. And I would advise you to do the same. Those men are ruthless.”

  “They’re also English.”

  “Aye, but what does that matter? We’re in Scotland now. And since it’s the Borderlands, it could all change on the morrow. You know how the Scots and English fight here. But they aren’t involved in that. However, you must tread carefully, Miss Lassie who-thinks-she’s-better than-me. You’ll get yourself in a heap of trouble asking so many questions.”

  Trouble was something she didn’t need. But she couldn’t give up. It struck her that Mal was inside and he was the one person who could give her the information the Ramsays needed. “I’m going to get something to eat. Would you like anything?”

  “A fruit tart. Tell Cook I want one.”

  Linet had made it halfway to the main building when the door opened, several guards exiting. Two made crude remarks to her, but she ignored them, intent on her quest. Mal was not with them so he was likely still inside.

  She stepped inside the hall, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness before she moved. Mal was seated at the trestle table, eating porridge and bread.

  “Miss me already, my sweet?” He chuckled, one of the worst sounds she’d heard in a long time.

  “I’m still in shock that my own brother has been involved in such a dreadful operation. How do you sleep at night?” She approached cautiously, making sure she stayed out of reach.

  “Verra well. ’Tis all the coin I’ve gained that keeps me happy.”

  “Where did the two men in charge go?” she asked as casually as possible.

  “They’re off to the big building to fetch the rest of the cargo,” he said, licking his fingers after eating a hunk of bread. “We’re about to ship off the largest group yet,” he said, smacking his lips with a sick sense of pride.

  Linet desperately wanted to tell him what she thought of him, but forced herself to focus on gaining information. “And when will the others arrive?”

  “Over the next few days.”

  “Where did you find a ship large enough for that many?”

  “It will take three ships. I’ll earn enough coin to take you far, far away from Clan Ramsay, the Highlands, and the dreadful gray skies. I hear there are places where the sun shines nearly every day. Just a ship voyage away. Or mayhap I’ll find us a place in London. I have not made up my mind yet. Where would you like to live, dear sister?”

  She gave him the most scathing look she could muster, although her muscles twitched with the need to run from him. “Nowhere with you. Wherever you take me, I’ll find a way to escape.”

  He bolted out of his chair so quickly it startled her. Grabbing her by the wrist, he pulled her toward the door. “I don’t know who gave you the idea you could be such a bitch, but I’ll teach you who’s in charge.”

  ***

  It was near the end of the day when they arrived outside the place where Earc had said they’d find Linet. He held his tied hands up to get their attention. “It’s in a clearing up ahead.”

  “And this is where Linet is being kept?” Gregor asked, yanking him down from his horse and holding a dagger to his throat.

  “She should be in there. ’Tis the only place I’m aware of.”

  “I’ll check it out with my falcons,” Will said at once. “I’ll be right back.” Tall and lanky, Will wore the dark clothes they all favored for Band of Cousins activities. His hair was even darker. Of them all, Will knew the most about traveling undetected. He’d lived in a cave for many years, training his two falcons to respond to his voice commands. They could be very effective in scaring or startling someone who was planning unsavory deeds.

  They found a place to water their horses, so Gregor suspected the buildings were indeed close by. Every residence needed a water source and this small burn would serve them well. “What else do you know?”

  Earc shrugged with a smirk. “Not much. I’ve only been here once. There are three buildings. Only one large enough to hold many people. In the main building, there’s a hall, kitchens, and a chamber to sleep about a dozen.”

  Maggie turned to Gregor. “This cannot be the center of their operation. ’Tis too small.”

  “But Linet could be here, could she not?” Merewen’s hopeful gaze reminded Gregor he wasn’t
the only one who had a personal stake in finding Linet. Merewen paced in a small circle, taking in all her surroundings as if searching for her best friend.

  Suddenly her eyes widened.

  “What is it?” Gavin asked, moving to her side and rubbing her back. “Are you all right?”

  “She’s here.” The expression on her face changed from doubt to elation.

  “Where?” Gregor asked, his gaze scanning the area round them.

  “I cannot see her, but ’tis as I told you before. I can feel Linet when she’s close. but I know she’s here.” She clasped Gavin’s hand and squeezed it. “She’s here.”

  Gavin turned to the others. “I can’t explain it either, but I can attest to it. If Merewen says her sister is here, believe it.”

  Maggie nodded once, decisively. “I wonder if Connor and the others are nearby.”

  Will returned, his falcons circling overhead. “There is activity here,” he said, his mouth in a flat line. “I hate to say this, but I can hear bairns crying. Three buildings as he said, arranged in a triangle. The crying is coming from the small building farthest from us.”

  “Did you see any evidence of Connor’s group?” Maggie asked.

  “Nay. I only saw a few guards at posts. Maybe half a dozen. But the back is all trees, and the one building in back could house quite a few people.”

  “Did you see Sela?” Gavin asked. “The tall blonde Norsewoman?”

  Will shook his head.

  “Find Sela, you’ll find Connor.”

  Maggie thought for a moment. “We cannot risk an attack. I don’t think this is the main source, and if we kill all who are here, we may never know where the other prisoners are being kept.”

  “So what do you propose?” Gregor asked, giving Earc a shove so that he fell to the ground, unable to move quickly because he was still restrained.

  “We number a dozen with more Ramsay guards on the way. I think you and Gavin should approach the building, ask for Linet. We’ll watch and provide cover. Merewen, I know you’d like to go, but I’d prefer having you in the trees with me in case something goes wrong. We don’t have the numbers we need, so we must depend on our archers rather than man-to-man fighting.”

  “But I know she’s here,” Merewen repeated, emphatic.

  Maggie patted her arm. “I know, but if Will heard crying bairns, we must be careful in our approach.”

  Will said, “I think I should go with Gavin and Gregor. You ladies wait in the trees and be ready to fire arrows if necessary. We’ll hold the guards back a bit but let them see we have them with us.”

  “I think that’s our best plan under the circumstances,” Maggie agreed. “I’d hoped to find the Grants here.”

  Gregor bound Earc to a tree, ensuring he was gagged. Maggie pointed to a couple of trees hidden behind a row of pines. This time of year, it was hard to hide in the kind of trees that had lost their leaves. Once Maggie was up in the tree, Will asked, “Can you see well enough?”

  Maggie nodded. “I can see all three buildings.”

  Gavin helped Merewen into a good spot, too, and the three men stepped into the clearing, heading toward the building with the crying bairns. They’d left their guards in the periphery, scattered around them as a show of strength.

  To their surprise, a man stepped out of the largest building, dragging a woman who looked just like Linet, though her face was partially hidden. They couldn’t hear his words, but he was clearly berating the woman. He swung his arm out and slapped her.

  Gregor, a man who prided himself on his calm exterior and ability to control his emotions, lost all his ability to reason in an instant and headed off toward them at a dead run.

  The man who’d hit her was Mal.

  And Gregor was going to kill him.

  Chapter Twenty

  Gregor caught him by complete surprise, but he wasn’t fast enough to stop the bastard from letting out a shrill whistle that clearly served as a call to action for his men. At least a score of men appeared from behind the building, inside it, even some out of the surrounding forest. When he finally got a look at all of them, it was far more than he had expected.

  He didn’t care. He hauled his fist back and punched Mal in the face, snapping his head back and felling him to the ground.

  “You bastard. How dare you touch your own sister.”

  Mal grinned as he jumped to his feet and drew his sword, so Gregor did the same.

  “Fine, I’m happy to cut your heart out while she’s watching.”

  Linet backed up, eyes wide, but she began to cry as soon as the two swords began to clash. She glanced overhead at the arrows sluicing by, finding their targets.

  “Linet, get down or you might get hit,” Gregor shouted at her.

  The men from Clan Ramsay were far better fighters than the Channel’s hired soldiers of fortune. Gavin fell in beside Gregor, quickly slaying two of Mal’s men, one on either side of him. Will whistled for his birds and they swooped down several times into the faces of the Dubh men.

  Gregor continued to fight, anger driving his sword faster and harder, but something bothered him.

  Linet.

  Her hands gripped her hair and she began to wail, her gaze locked on the fight between him and her brother. Her abuser. She began to whirl in a circle, looking at the bodies going down all around her, and her wail changed to a strange sound he didn’t comprehend.

  He recalled Merewen had acted similarly after her first battle.

  But hadn’t Linet witnessed the battle at Inverness?

  “Linet, stay still or you could be a target.” He swung his sword again, blocking a blow meant for his belly. The two parried and fought, the grunts and growls joining the cacophony of battle around them. Still, Linet kept pacing, as if eager to do something although she knew not what. Hellfire, if he couldn’t tell Mal was trained as a Ramsay guard. He fought better than all the others.

  Merewen called down, “Linet, keep still. I’m afraid I’ll hit you.”

  “Winnie, is that you? Where are you?”

  “Don’t call to her or the Dubh men will know where she is. She has to stay hidden.” He delivered a hard swing to the side, knocking Mal’s sword from his hands and leaving him with naught but a small dagger. The noise around them was slowing down, but he couldn’t take his gaze from Mal or it could mean his death.

  One more blow, and Gregor knocked Mal to the ground. He wanted to kill him—he’d never wanted to kill a man more—but Linet deserved the right to deliver the killing blow to her abuser.

  “Linet, take the dagger out of my boot and drive it into his heart. He needs to pay. You deserve justice for what he’s done.”

  Merewen called from the trees, “Mal?”

  Linet sobbed and shook her head. Kill her own brother in front of her sister? “Nay, please don’t. He’s my brother. Don’t kill him. Can we not imprison him? Winnie doesn’t know, she’ll never understand…”

  Mal took that moment and used it against Gregor. “Did you forget I’m from Clan Ramsay? I deserve the right to be tried for my crimes by the Ramsay chieftain, not you. Merewen! Talk sense into this daft man. He’s trying to kill me!”

  The skirmish had ended and the others gathered around him, questioning looks on their faces. He hadn’t told anyone about Mal’s abusive treatment of his sister. If he slayed the man now, there’d be questions Linet would not want him to answer.

  Merewen cried out, “’Tis truly you, Mal? You’re helping the Dubh men?”

  She wouldn’t have recognized him from her perch in the tree.

  “Just for the coin,” he whined. “I would have returned to Clan Ramsay in a sennight, after the shipment goes out. Think of my sire and mother,” he added, staring at Gregor, “how will they feel if you kill me?”

  Gregor could see the gleam in the arse’s gaze. He knew he was gaining sympathy from the others, but he could not betray Linet.

  Maggie shot Gregor a puzzled look. “Do you know something we don’t? He can st
and before Uncle Quade, Torrian, and my sire. He’ll pay for his involvement. We can hang him in front of our whole clan for his deeds if ’tis our chieftain’s judgement.”

  Gregor glanced at Linet, who was still shaking her head. When she caught his gaze, she reached over to grasp his sword hand. “Gregor, I could not live with myself if you killed him because…”

  “After all he’s done to you? He’s the reason you’re here. He had you kidnapped, and what about all the years before this?” Gregor’s teeth pained him because he gritted them so hard. If he bit any harder, he’d draw blood. “He deserves to die. Don’t ask me to let him go.”

  Merewen looked back and forth between them. Something in her face crumpled. “Linet, what is he talking about? What about the years before? What didn’t you tell me?” Tears slid down her cheeks.

  Linet lowered her voice and brought her lips to Gregor’s ear. “Please, Gregor. Not here. Keep my secret. Give me more time to tell her.”

  Gregor glanced at the evil blackheart with the wide grin on his face. He turned to two of the Ramsay guards and said. “Tie him up against that tree over there.” They did as he asked and dragged Mal to the side of the clearing.

  The others left Linet and Gregor to themselves, but he didn’t know what to say to her. So he didn’t say anything. He opened his arms and she fell into them. He inhaled her sweetness and reveled in the softness of her curves as she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and sobbing so hard he wondered how she could have that many tears inside of her.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something—Earc.

  Someone had freed him, or he’d managed to break his bonds himself, and he rushed straight at them, his sword over his head with the aim to kill.

  Gregor pushed Linet away, stepped in front of her, and grabbed and threw his dagger, hitting Earc between the eyes.

  As soon as the man crumpled to the ground, dead, Linet let out another scream that rang out over the clearing. What exactly was going on in her mind?

  ***

  Linet ran and ran, not knowing where she was going, just knowing she had to get away—away from the death and blood and killing and screaming…