by Jennae Vale
* * *
“DYLAN, what are you doing?” Maggie exclaimed.
“Cooling things down,” he gasped as he swam back to the rocks and climbed out of the water.
Maggie giggled at the soaking wet man standing in front of her and the gooseflesh that covered his body. She grabbed his kilt and hurriedly brought it across to him. “Dry yerself off! Ye’ll likely freeze to death if ye don’t.” She felt badly that she had caused him such discomfort. Maggie ran to her horse in search of something else to help him dry off.
“It’s alright, Maggie. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” He shook his watery locks out of his eyes and continued drying himself with the kilt. “I think I’ve got a dry one in my saddlebag.” Maggie went in search of it and was pleased to discover he was right.
“Here,” she said. She turned her back while he donned it, not wanting to tempt fate. She desperately needed a swim in those icy waters herself. “Are you decent?” she asked.
“Yeah, I am.” Dylan came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You still feel cold,” she said, noticing the iciness of his body up against her back.
“I’m fine, and I hate to mention it, but Angus will be angry if we don’t get back soon.”
* * *
DYLAN KISSED the top of her head and breathed in her heady floral scent. Everything about Maggie was perfect, from her coppery locks, to the smattering of freckles that ran across her nose and over her cheeks, to the emerald green of her eyes. She was his and he felt an instinctive need to protect and care for her.
Maggie turned in his arms and gazed up into his eyes, with what he could recognize as the same intense longing he had been experiencing. He had to force himself to ignore it, although he had a head full of sensual images, they would have to remain that way for the time being.
“Must we really go back?” Maggie asked.
“As much as I’d like to stay here with you forever, I’m afraid Angus would track us down and skin me alive.” Dylan grew serious for a moment. “I can’t say I’d blame him. The thoughts going through my head at this very moment are anything but pure.”
“I believe I ken yer meaning,” Maggie stood on tiptoe and offered him one more kiss. This one was sweet and tender, but her red, swollen lips were testament to the passionate kisses they’d just shared. He only hoped Angus wouldn’t notice, or he’d be in a whole lot of trouble.
“I’ve never been one to turn down temptation, but in this case I’m going to make an exception.”
“But why?” Maggie asked.
“Because I care about you.” And he really did care about her. More than he’d cared about anyone else in his life. Of course, he loved Jenna and Chester, but Maggie was different. His relationship with her was going to be life changing. He could feel it.
Walking back to the horses, Dylan kept Maggie close by his side, not wanting to give up that connection he’d been experiencing and enjoying. He helped her mount her horse, knowing she was perfectly capable of doing it herself, but that gentlemanly instinct took over and left him no choice. For her part, Maggie looked ready to tell him she could do it herself, but at the last minute, she seemed to think better of it and allowed his help.
As they nudged their horses in the direction of the castle, Dylan noticed that Maggie grew obviously concerned over something. “Is everything okay, Maggie?”
“No. I dinnae think so. Something’s wrong back at Breaghacraig. We’d better hurry.” Without waiting for Dylan, Maggie spurred her horse into a gallop and headed off through the trees.
* * *
“MAGGIE,” Angus said, sounding confused. “I thought you were out with Dylan.”
“I was Uncle, but I’m back now. I was looking for ye, as I have need of yer help.” Brielle had disguised herself as Maggie yet again. She had scanned the immediate area with her mind and was aware that Maggie was not nearby. She used that fact to her advantage. It hadn’t taken much to get that besotted Latharn to open the door to her cell and thus facilitate her escape. Men were so weak when it came to the women they loved. It was guaranteed to work in her favor, every time. Now in order to continue with her plans, she was going to need Angus and she made sure to mimic Maggie better than she ever had before. She’d need to, in order to convince Angus to go with her. Brielle needed to get him out of the courtyard and away from the others.
“Just what exactly do ye need my help with?” Angus asked.
“Come with me, Uncle. I have something I must show ye.”
“Is it something to do with Brielle?” Angus sounded as if his curiosity had been piqued.
“Yes. I believe ye will find it most interesting.” Brielle took Angus by the arm and led him out through the postern gate, nodding at the guard as they passed. “It’s just this way.” She led him along the outer wall of the castle, far away from prying eyes. Stopping without warning, Angus was just about to speak when Brielle cast a sleeping spell on him and he collapsed in a heap at her feet. She laughed quietly at the sight of the huge highlander, lying helplessly in front of her. Brielle whirled continually on the spot, picking up speed and then disappearing, taking Angus along with her.
CHAPTER 12
The smell of baking bread and the happy expression on Mary’s face had Jenna feeling triumphant with her accomplishments in the kitchen. This was probably the first day since she’d been at Breaghacraig, when Mary had not scolded her for one thing or another. Jenna had come to love Mary and her set-in-her-ways handling of anything to do with food or the kitchen. It had taken some time, but Jenna had eventually won her over and that made her happy. She wanted so much to fit in here at Breaghacraig. She had everything she could possibly want – the man of her dreams, her best friend and now sister-in-law, and a new family who let her know in so many ways, how loved she was. Life at Breaghacraig had been perfect. Sure, she missed all the modern conveniences of the twenty first century, but she had gladly given it all up for her man. Cormac was more than she’d ever hoped for. He was kind, loving and he knew how to make her laugh. She realized now, after being here and being his wife for a while, that she had really been quite awful to him when they first met and she was happy he hadn’t let that get in the way of winning her over. Lost in her own thoughts, Jenna almost missed the arrival of Latharn and Sophia as they practically fell into the kitchen. It appeared as if Sophia couldn’t go another step further, so Latharn picked her up and carried her to a nearby chair.
Latharn was alarmed about something; Jenna had never seen him so frazzled before. He was normally a very levelheaded man, but Sophia was special to him and he was obviously very upset about something that had happened.
“What’s wrong?” Jenna asked, glancing across to Mary, hoping for some hint of what had happened.
“The witch, Brielle, has escaped! She tried to kill Sophia!” Latharn appeared terribly embarrassed about something.
“Oh, my, Sophia, are you okay?” Jenna asked.
“Here, lass, drink this.” Mary handed Sophia a cup of whiskey and held her hand as she brought it to her lips and took a big gulp, coughing and sputtering as it went down.
Latharn seemed unable to move and he couldn’t take his eyes off Sophia. Jenna could see how concerned he was about her and wanted to put him at ease.
“Latharn, you go and get help. Mary and I will make sure no further harm comes to Sophia.” Latharn hesitated for only a moment, before he turned and ran down the passageway, calling for Cailin and Cormac.
Sophia was gasping for breath and Mary tried to get her to drink some more whiskey. “Just a small sip, lass. Ye took a wee bit much the last time.”
Sophia did as Mary suggested, and with Mary’s soft motherly voice soothing her, Sophia was finally able to speak. “I couldn’t breathe. She made it so I couldn’t breathe! I must have passed out and the next thing I knew, Latharn was helping me into the kitchen. I was so scared! I thought I was going to die, but now she’s escaped and who knows what she’ll do!” Sophia seemed as if she
might be about to start crying. “Latharn had no choice. He unlocked the door for her. She would have killed me, if he hadn’t.”
“It’s okay, Sophia. They’ll find Brielle and deal with her before she can cause any more trouble.” Jenna hoped she sounded convincing, because she was anything but confident they could stop that witch. Worry for Cormac and the others began to seep into her brain, filling her with dread. Please, don’t let any harm come to Cormac, she prayed. He had become her world and it would kill her if anything happened to him. “I’m going to find Ashley and Irene. I’ll be right back. Stay here.”
“Dinnae ye fash, Jenna. I’ll take care of Sophia and if the witch is unlucky enough to find herself here in my kitchen, she’ll be verra sorry.” Mary waved a large piece of firewood in the air. Jenna couldn’t help but smile despite her concerns, as she left the kitchen in search of her friends.
* * *
“CAILIN! Cormac!” Latharn stumbled out of the castle and into the bright afternoon sun.
“Aye, Latharn,” Cormac answered. “What’s wrong? Ye look terrible.” And then as if realizing the problem, Cormac continued. “Who’s watching Brielle?”
“That’s what I’ve come to tell ye. She’s escaped!” Latharn was doubled over, hands on knees as he tried to catch his breath.
“Explain,” Cormac demanded.
Cailin and Robert came running towards them from the practice field. “What’s all the commotion?” Robert asked.
“Latharn is just about to tell us. It seems Brielle has escaped,” Cormac responded swiftly.
All three men stood together, silently waiting for Latharn to speak. Latharn was ashamed of himself for letting Brielle out, but he had to save Sophia. He loved her and he wouldnae allow anyone to harm her. He just wished he had been able to do more to stop the witch before she got away. Taking a deep breath, Latharn told the men exactly what had happened. He mentally prepared himself for the berating he was certain would follow, but much to his surprise, there was total silence.
“I’m verra sorry,” Latharn said. “It was wrong of me, but I couldnae let her harm Sophia.”
Again, he waited for someone to pummel him, or at the very least, have him taken away and locked up.
“’Tis nae yer fault, lad. Any one of us would have done the exact same thing if it had been our woman she’d bespelled, and that is what Brielle was counting on. She knew ye wouldnae stand by and watch as she sucked the verra life out of Sophia.” Robert paced back and forth. “We must locate her immediately!”
“Aye, but how?” Cailin asked. “We have nae idea where she is or what she might do next. We should send the women off to Ewan’s castle, until we have everything under control. I dinnae trust that Brielle wouldnae try to harm Ashley or our baby. I think it’s best for them to seek refuge with yer brother for the time being.”
“Yer right,” Robert agreed. “Latharn, start spreading the word that the women and children are to leave the castle as soon as possible.”
“Aye, sir,” Latharn said. He walked away swiftly to do as he had been told, relieved that Sophia would soon be out of harm’s way.
* * *
JENNA FOUND Irene and Ashley sitting by the fire, sewing baby clothes. They both looked up as she hurriedly entered room.
Ashley held up the little outfit she was working on, “Jenna, what do you think? Isn’t it the cutest little thing you’ve ever seen?”
Jenna was sure she looked anything but interested in baby clothes, at that particular moment.
“What’s wrong, Jenna,” Irene asked, taking note of Jenna’s worried expression. She stood up and hurried across to Jenna, taking her hand. “Tell us.”
“Brielle has escaped. We don’t know where she is,” Jenna said, managing to calm herself enough to fill them in on the details. “We need to find the men.”
Ashley put down her sewing and joined them. “We’ll all go.”
They were just about to leave when Latharn came rushing through the doors. “My ladies, yer husbands have requested that ye prepare to leave. Ye will be escorted to Sir Ewan’s castle as soon as yer ready.”
“What? I’m not going anywhere without Cormac,” Jenna protested.
“Sir Robert has ordered that all the women and children are to leave the castle. ’Tis fer yer own safety,” Latharn responded, looking as if he fervently hoped Jenna wouldn’t continue to argue with him.
“Where are they?” Ashley asked.
“They were in the courtyard, making arrangements to see you all to safety,” Latharn explained.
“Thank you, Latharn. We’ll get ready to leave,” Irene announced firmly. “Jenna, Ashley, I ken ye dinnae wish to leave yer husbands, but Robert is right. We dinnae ken what this witch is capable of. So far, her mischief hasnae done more than cause chaos and a few wee injuries, but now that she understands we ken who she is, there’s nae telling what she may be capable of.”
Jenna gave that some thought and realized that leaving would be for the best. She was worried about Ashley and the baby, and Irene and her children, not to mention all the other innocents who might find themselves in the path of Brielle’s ire. “Let’s get ready then.”
* * *
HOURS LATER, the courtyard was lined with wagons, being loaded with passengers and their belongings. Maggie and Dylan charged through the gates atop their horses and came to an abrupt halt near the stables, where they quickly dismounted and ran to discover what was happening.
Seeing Jenna, the two of them headed her way. “What’s going on?” Maggie demanded.
“Brielle has escaped and we don’t know where she is. Robert thought it best for all of the women and children to leave the castle and head to Ewan and Lena’s for our safety,” Jenna answered. It was obvious from her composure that she was nervous. She kept searching the area and relief spread across her face when Cormac made his way through the others to reach her. He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “I’m scared, Cormac,” she told him.
“All will be well, Jenna. Dinnae be afraid,” Cormac responded.
“I can’t help it. What if something happens to you? I can’t bear to think about it,” she replied.
“Then dinnae,” Cormac smiled down at her and plunked a kiss on her forehead. “I love ye, Jenna, and I’m nae about to leave ye.”
Maggie watched and realized she wasn’t jealous of these exchanges anymore. She finally had Dylan for her own and the possibility of love was alive in her. Cormac escorted Jenna to her horse, Rose, and helped her mount. Maggie searched for Cailin and Ashley and giggled as they argued over whether Ashley was riding her horse or travelling in a wagon. It was obvious which Ashley preferred and it was the exact opposite of what Cailin wanted.
“Ashley, ye cannae sit astride yer horse for that length of time! ’Tis much safer for ye and the babe to ride in the wagon.” The pained expression on Cailin’s face must have gotten to Ashley, because she finally gave in. Cailin picked her up and settled her next to the driver, but before he did, he gave her a very passionate kiss goodbye. Ashley held on to him tightly as if she didnae ever wish to let go.
“Ahem,” Robert cleared his throat. “Enough already, you two. It’s time for ye to be on yer way. Cailin, let go of yer wife. Ye’ll see her again, soon enough.”
“Is that a promise, Robert?” Ashley asked.
“Aye. I promise. I dinnae wish to be away from me own wife and family any more than ye wish to be away from yer husband.” Robert perused the courtyard and approached Maggie. “Maggie are ye sure ye willnae join the women? I’d feel better if ye did.”
“Aye, Robert. I’m the only one who can deal with Brielle and it will be better for all if I remain and fight her with my witchcraft.” Robert nodded his agreement and Maggie watched as he ensured all the wagons were secure and everyone was ready to leave. He kissed Irene and each of their children goodbye and then waved the wagons on through the gates.
It took some time for everyone to leave and those staying behind
stood and watched until the very last wagon was out of sight.
“Robert, have you seen my Uncle Angus?” Maggie suddenly grew concerned. She realized that in all the upheaval, she hadn’t seen Angus since coming back with Dylan.
“Nae, lass, I havenae. Mayhap he has gone to his quarters to rest,” Robert suggested.
“It wouldnae be like him to miss all the commotion that’s been happening out here. I hope he’s not sick.” Maggie immediately discounted the thought. It seemed more likely that his disappearance had something to do with Brielle and the idea terrified her. “Dylan, let’s go and see if we can find him.”
They headed off towards the barracks and straight up the stairs to the room Maggie had been sharing with Angus. Maggie knocked and stood for a moment with her ear to the door, and when she didn’t hear anything, she opened it. He wasn’t there.
“Where could he be?” Maggie asked.
“I don’t know, but I don’t like this,” Dylan answered.
Their room looked very much the same as it had earlier today. Nothing appeared out of place and although Maggie searched carefully, she couldn’t find any clues that would lead her to her uncle.
Dylan and Maggie hurried back downstairs and into the stable, in search of Angus’ horse. Much to their dismay, Archie still stood in his stall. The stable boys hadn’t seen Angus in quite some time, although they admitted they had been very busy preparing horses for the trip to Ewan’s and might not have noticed if he had visited the stable.
