Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
A nna threw open the door when the Guards arrived.
"What is this?" one of them asked.
The young thief took one look at them and began to cry harder. The knife dropped from her hands, and she trembled. Danielle didn't like to see her so scared. The criminals she'd seen in court weren't children, but she knew that she now lived in harsh times and that the poor were very, very poor.
“Please, I beg mercy. Do not hurt me,” the child pleaded.
Danielle rose from her seat on the wellhead and moved toward her, squatting to her level. “What is your name?” Danielle asked.
“Maddie,” the girl said timidly as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“We're not going to hurt you. You're obviously hungry. But you stealing things around here has caused great trouble, and innocent people have been blamed for your actions."
“I didn't mean any harm,” she sobbed.
“I know, sweetie. I know. We're going to go talk to the Laird, and he will listen. Come with me now,” Danielle said, putting her hand out. "We will escort you to the Laird."
The girl timidly put her hand in Danielle's, and together with the Guards, they walked out to the Great Hall. It seemed though the Laird had been awakened by someone and had already come down the stairs for his breakfast in the dining hall.
“The thief has been caught,” the Guard said to the Laird, who sat at the high table talking to his tanist, Bran. They looked at Danielle and the child walking in.
“What? This child? Surely, that cannot be,” Cameron said, walking around the table toward the child.
“It's true, my Laird. It is just as I said in my missive to Eva. I saw her come up the well in the larder at low tide. It is how she has been able to get in and out unnoticed into the larder while it is locked and take food and supplies. It is obvious that she is a child in need, not a common criminal looking to cause ill will toward the castle,” Danielle said. "She's just hungry."
Maddie cried hard. She seemed terrified of her surroundings and of being punished.
“Please do not lock me away, Laird MacLeod. Many others rely on me. If I do not get back to them, they will have nothing. They will starve,” she said.
“Who will starve, child?” Cameron asked, squatting to her level.
“The orphans I look after. There is a group of us. I am the oldest, so it falls to me to provide for them. It's just us, and we're hungry. We have no one to look after us, so we must feed ourselves.”
“So, you steal from my Keep?” Cameron asked.
Maddie looked at him defiantly. “And why should we not? Your lot is up here in the castle, as fancy as can be with plenty to eat. All while we starve! It is not right, not fitting,” Maddie spurted with anger in her trembling voice.
“I see." Cameron nodded sagely. "So, you have come to take revenge on me,” Cameron said playfully.
The Guards restrained a laugh.
Danielle didn't see the humor when it came down to a child starving.
“Aye. Revenge for letting us go hungry,” Maddie said, stamping her foot.
Danielle admired her gumption.
“The child is obviously mad. Put her away with the rest of her group. They are foul and will grow up to continue to be thieves or worse,” Brody said from behind some of the other Guards.
A murmur of agreement moved through the men he called friends.
Danielle was beside herself with anger. How could they say such things? They were just children. She couldn't hold her tongue any longer.
“And how would that look? Everyone outside the clan for miles around will say that Clan MacLeod at Dunscaith Castle put children in dungeons simply for being hungry. It’s shameful. Is that how you want others to view the clan? Allowing the local needy to starve until they are desperate enough to steal from their Laird? That you put them away in dark dungeons. It will be told again and again until it becomes a story passed down among the generations to be remembered forever that Cameron MacLeod jailed children."
“Enough, lass. You and your wagging tongue,” Cameron said, annoyed. “As to your point, I do not allow my people to starve. I had no knowledge of this group of orphaned children who have been starved to the point of thievery. However, it is still thievery, and that cannot go unaddressed.”
“And what of Graeme and Danny sitting in the dungeon? Here is your thief, though she's not what you were expecting, it is proof that it wasn't the brothers. Will you not set them free now?”
The Laird stared at her quietly. Then he turned his gaze to Bran. “Go down to the dungeon and release Graeme and Danny.”
“As you say,” Bran said and walked out of the dining hall.
“You, child. How many of these children are you looking after?” Cameron asked.
“There are this many of us.” Maddie held up her hands to show six fingers.
“And where do you stay?” he asked.
“An old hut in the woods on the other side of the village. Hardly a roof on it,” she said.
“My Laird,” Bran said as he walked in with Graeme and Danny in tow.
Danielle's heart leaped at the sight of Graeme. She was glad that he looked just as well as when she last saw him. A few days in the dungeon had done nothing to him, except perhaps made him very angry, she thought. Danny looked the same. They stood there honorably.
“Graeme, Danny, I owe you an apology,” the Laird said, “for keeping you in the dungeon, but we did not wish to see you further attacked and hassled while the search for the thief continued. It seems we were looking in the wrong places, though, as she is naught but a wee child.”
“Her?” Graeme said, looking shocked.
“Indeed,” Bran answered.
“Graeme, Danny, why don't you get yourself a good hot meal and a wash. Then you can take this child and Danielle to the hut in the woods and collect the other children. I'd like you to bring all of the orphans to me." Cameron turned to Heigl. "Let's get this child bathed, fed, and properly clothed,” the Laird said.
“Why do you want to be bringing my friends here? Are we to go to the dungeons? I will not have it! We will run away, and you will never find us!” Maddie warned.
“Ye have a stout heart, lass, but no you need not be worrying of such a thing. I am only going to help you. Will you take this kind woman and lead her to your friends?” Cameron said, gesturing toward Danielle.
Maddie was quiet for a moment, studying him to see if he meant his words, and then finally said, “Aye.”
“Good, go on with Heigl now. Do as I say, all of you,” Cameron said.
Everyone dispersed.
Danielle ran to Graeme and gave him a hug. “I'm so glad you're free. I hated thinking of you down there in the cold dungeons.”
“I believe it is you I have to thank for having us released? Or am I wrong?” he said, smiling.
“I'm the one who discovered the child in the larder, yes. Caught her red-handed as I knew that was what was needed. I'm just glad you're out of there,” she said.
“Thank you, lass. Now let me go and wash the smell of the dungeon off me,” he said and winked at her playfully.
Danielle let him go. She wanted to blurt out I love you, but she knew it was not the right time, so she let him slip through her embrace and he walked away.
When Maddie returned to the dining hall, Danielle took her by the hand and sat her at a table. "Heigl, will you fix Maddie a plate?"
"Aye, my Lady."
“You shall have plenty to eat from now on, Maddie. I shall see to it myself if I have to.”
“And what of the others? Are they to starve while I am here feastin’?” she spat out the words with so much spite.
“I can see you've got a strong sense of justice. I admire that. I'm the same way. Your friends will not starve, I promise. Once we have our party together, we'll go and fetch them. Then they shall eat just like you are now. But for now, I need you to get your strength, so will you eat when Heigl brings your plate?” Danielle asked.
Maddie thought about it, then finally nodded.
A few moments later, Danielle was astonished to see Heigl carrying a tray piled with food and drink. Maria was next to her carrying another plate. They walked over to Danielle and Maddie.
"Here you are, lass. Eat up now," Heigl said, setting down the tray.
Maddie's eyes widened at all the food before her. "All of this for me?"
"And you'd best eat every bit of it, too," Heigl answered before walking away.
Maddie began to dig in.
“Good work, Danielle. I’m proud of you for keeping up the investigation. I’m only a little jealous I wasn’t there at your side solving the case with you.” Maria winked. "Sarah's going to be jealous, too." She laughed.
“As crazy as things are around here, I have a feeling we might be able to work on another case in the future.” Danielle laughed.
“You've got that right,” Maria said. “Things are always strange around here.” Then her eyes turned to Maddie, seeing her cherished scarf around the child’s neck. “My name is Maria. I am glad to meet you, Maddie.”
Maddie looked at Maria and then back at the food she was eating. "Hello."
“That scarf you're wearing; my husband gave it to me, and I love it very much. Can I make you a trade?” Maria asked.
“What sort a’ trade, my Lady?” Maddie said suspiciously.
“I know Heigl is making shortbread in the kitchen right now. I will trade you as much shortbread as you want to eat for that scarf, and I'll give you a different scarf to keep as long as you want,” Maria said.
Maddie looked up at the ceiling as though deep in thought.
Danielle enjoyed watching this strong child. It did make her sad that the poor child had to be older and wiser beyond her years.
“Alright, then,” Maddie said, handing the scarf to Maria.
“Thank you so much, Maddie. Please, finish your breakfast, okay?” Maria said.
Maddie looked at the food and began eating once again.
“I’m going to go fetch that shortbread and bring it to you,” Maria said getting up from the table and leaving for the kitchen.
Danielle felt a sense of calm. Not only had she set her love free, but she was also going to get this child and the group of orphans some help. That was no small feat in a time and land where she was a foreigner. It made her feel good to have been some use here. She only hoped this wouldn't be the last time she was made useful.