Chapter 4
“Ye shouldnae be so hard on yer poor sister, Dougall,” Helene said. “She’s just concerned fer ye.”
“She’s always been a little spitfire. Age hasnae changed a thing,” Dougall noted. “She seems to like ye though.”
“Aye, and I like her as well. She’s been verra sweet to me. We’ve talked much today as we’ve ridden.”
“What have ye told her?” Dougall seemed concerned.
“Dinnae fear, I’ve nae spoken much of our love, if that’s what worries ye.” She examined his face, looking for a clue as to what might be concerning him. He was good at masking his feelings. Something he’d mastered as a warrior, where it was most important.
“We’ll camp two more nights before arriving at Castle Treun,” Dougall said as he scouted their surroundings. “Logan, I think we’ll make camp here tonight.” He drew his horse to a halt and the others followed his lead.
Liam and Nab were off their horses in a split second.
Logan reached up to help Brenna, but she was having none of it as she slapped his hands away and hopped off on her own, causing Helene to stifle a giggle.
Dougall lifted Helene from her saddle and gently placed her on the ground, taking a moment to quickly kiss her, before he left her standing there wondering what was wrong.
His kiss made Helene’s heart sing, but she was worried he may have been embarrassed by her in front of his family.
He’d not touched her at all since they’d woken that morning.
She couldn’t imagine what it was about his family’s arrival that had put him in such a bad mood, but this was a side to him she’d never seen before.
The men made camp while Helene and Brenna found a comfortable spot to sit. “Are ye excited to see Castle Treun, Helene?” Brenna asked.
She wasn’t sure how to answer that. She was excited to see Dougall’s boyhood home, and not necessarily excited to meet his father, so instead she said, “It will be good to see yer home.”
The men had the fire blazing, unpacked the saddle bags and laid out the plaids for sleeping. A simple meal was prepared from the items they’d each brought, leaving enough for breaking their fast in the morning.
After the meal, Dougall continued to keep his distance, so Helene and Brenna sat quietly together.
Helene wasn’t sure if she was sleeping with Dougall or if she’d be on her own.
She could see why he wouldn’t wish to have his brothers and sisters know they’d been intimate before being wed, and if that was the case, she would be fine.
“Helene, yer hair is so pretty. Could ye help me with mine?” Brenna asked.
Happy to have something to occupy herself, Helene eagerly obliged.
She retrieved her comb and brush from her things and took down Brenna’s hair, brushing it to a lustrous shine as had been her habit each night with Ashley and Jenna.
She relaxed as she worked. “In the morning I’ll braid it fer ye. ’Twill be lovely.”
“Brenna, how dare ye force Helene to brush yer hair. She’s nae yer lady’s maid.” Dougall interrupted the serenity Helene was feeling as he reprimanded his sister.
“I ken she isnae. Her hair is so pretty I asked if she’d help with mine. I dinnae understand why yer making such a fuss.” Brenna yelled back.
“Dougall, yer sister didnae force me to do anything. I did it because I wished to, please dinnae be angry with her.” Helene was confused. “I am a lady’s maid. If yer embarrassed by that, then ye shouldnae have asked me to wed ye.” She turned away, anger causing her eyes to tear.
“Helene, I am nae embarrassed that yer a lady’s maid. I love ye. I dinnae wish me family to take advantage of ye tis all. Ye’ll be Lady MacRae someday, I promise ye. When ye are, ye’ll be the one having her hair brushed.”
She couldn’t help but think that despite his words, he was embarrassed that she was a lady’s maid.
There was no denying she was overstepping her bounds.
She could never truly be a Lady and it had been foolish of her to think she could.
She’d been treated with great kindness at Breaghacraig, but she understood the MacKenzies were unusual in their treatment of the servants.
Irene, Ashley and Jenna were put on a pedestal and treated with great respect by everyone, but as a lady’s maid, Helene knew her place in the castle to be very different.
She wasn’t one of them and she didn’t deserve the same respect they garnered.
The people at Castle Treun would never accept her as the Lady she wished to be and it would only be a matter of time before Dougall realized he’d made a mistake by marrying her.
He seemed to be reading her mind because his next words touched her heart and gave her hope. “Love, I ken ye feel as if ye werenae meant to be a Lady, but ye must believe me when I tell ye that I love ye fer who ye are. Ye will be me Lady and I dare anyone to treat ye otherwise.”
“Dougall, when yer Laird MacRae and I’m yer Lady, I will still want to help. I cannae stop doing what I’ve done fer so long. The women at Breaghacraig all help each other and I wish to be like them.”
He wrapped her in his arms, kissing the top of her head. “I would never ask ye to be anyone but who ye are.” He turned to his sister then. “Brenna, me apologies. I shouldnae have been angry with ye. Please forgive me behavior.”
“I forgive ye, Dougall. Yer me big brother and I love ye. I had no idea Helene was a lady’s maid. I would never take advantage of her kind nature.” Brenna threw her arms around her brother’s waist and hugged him, a hug which he returned, kissing her head. “I’m tired. I’m going to sleep.”
Helene and Dougall watched as she walked away. “Where will I be sleeping tonight, Dougall?”
“With me, Helene. Where else would ye be sleeping?” Dougall asked. He put an arm around her and led her to the bedding he’d laid out for them.
They snuggled together covered in their plaid. Through the canopy of trees they spied the stars brilliantly shining above them. “Arenae they beautiful?” Helene asked.
“They’re nae as beautiful as ye, Helene.” He pointed to the sky. “Look, ’tis a shooting star. Shall we make a wish?”
“Aye. Dinnae say it aloud.” Helene wished for a life filled with happiness and the love of Dougall MacRae.
***
“Gather yer things. We’ve another full day of riding and another night of camping before we’ll be at Castle Treun.” Dougall checked the horses, made sure their fire was out and they hadn’t left anything behind.
Dougall helped Helene mount her horse before mounting his and had to laugh when he noticed Logan moving towards Brenna to help her—then retreating when he saw the frown on her face. She was perfectly capable of mounting her own horse, which she did with ease.
“Are ye ready, me love?” Dougall asked Helene, making sure she was securely in the saddle. He wanted to be sure she was comfortable. She wasn’t used to being in the saddle this long or to sleeping on the ground in the cold and he was worried she might be feeling it.
“I be fine, Dougall.” She reassured him with her bright smile.
He was learning much about Helene on this journey. She was much stronger than he’d thought. She hadn’t complained once. His admiration for her continued to grow with every mile they traversed.
Logan rode at the rear of their tiny party, trading jabs with Liam and Nab.
Their laughter adding levity to their travels.
Brenna and Helene rode with Dougall. The road followed the same stream they camped beside on their first night and was a guide for them to follow as it ran all the way to Castle Treun.
***
By midday, it was apparent that everyone was in need of food and time out of the saddle. Dougall stopped and dismounted and the others all followed.
“I need to walk a bit,” Brenna said.
“Dinnae wander far,” Dougall instructed.
“I’ll go with ye,” Helene said, joining Brenna.
Dougall raised an eyebrow in her direction. “Be careful, love.”
“We will,” Brenna giggled, answering for Helene.
“We shouldnae go too far,” Helene reminded Brenna of her brother’s words.
“Just a wee bit further. I’m tired of me brothers and Logan. I need some time away from them and the further the better.”
They continued walking on the path that led through the trees and to the banks of the stream.
“Let’s sit here,” Brenna suggested.
Helene was happy to sit. She hadn’t wanted to go any further.
An uneasy feeling had come over her being this far away from Dougall.
They were no longer within sight of the others and Helene didn’t care for the fact that the density of the trees made it impossible to see more than a foot beyond the tree line.
A noise behind them caused Helene to jump. “What was that?” she asked. The wind had picked up, whipping through the trees and Helene wasn’t sure if what she was hearing was the trees or something else. “We should go back, Brenna.” She stood, waiting for Brenna to join her.
“Nae. Just a small while longer. Please.” Brenna continued to sit, staring at the stream.
“Something doesnae feel right to me. I think ’tis best to go back.” The hairs on the back of Helene’s neck were standing and she was becoming more and more uneasy.
The words no sooner left her mouth than they were accosted by two men brandishing knives. “Today’s our lucky day, Ailen.” The man grabbed Helene and held his knife to her throat. “Not a sound from ye or yer friend.” The smell of him was enough to make Helene gag.
Ailen grabbed Brenna, dragging her up from her spot by the stream. She tried to fight him, but he was much stronger than she.
“Don’t hurt her,” Helene yelled. A dirty hand covered her mouth in response.
“Keep yer mouth shut and ye’ll nae be hurt,” the smelly one said.
“What do ye want?” Brenna cried.
“We want ye.” Ailen laughed.
Brenna struggled again, trying to free herself, but Ailen had her in his iron grip. Helene did her best to stay calm. There had to be a way to at least yell loudly enough for Dougall to hear them. Where was he? Why hadn’t he come to look for them yet?
The unnamed man removed his filthy hand from her mouth just long enough to toss a rope to Ailen, who apparently intended to tie them up.
With her captor’s grip loosened, Helene took the opportunity to stomp on his foot and spin out of his grasp, running towards Dougall and the men.
“Dougall! Dougall! Help!” she yelled as she was tackled from behind by the smelly one.
She wriggled and squirmed to get out from beneath him.
“Get off of her,” Brenna yelled. “Leave her alone.”
Helene felt herself being dragged across the ground by the ankle.
She kicked with her free leg and made contact, which was followed by a loud thud to her right.
She struggled unsuccessfully to see through the hair covering her eyes.
Sounds of running, then a cry of pain were followed by silence and then a pair of gentle hands lifted her to her feet.
“Helene, are ye hurt?” The sound of Dougall’s voice let her know she was safe. The danger they’d been in suddenly hit her and tears began to fall. “All’s well. I’m here.” Dougall cradled her in his arms.
“Where’s Brenna?” Helene’s voice trembled and she was shaking uncontrollably.
“Logan has her,” Dougall reassured her.
“Yer fine, lass. I’ve got ye,” Logan could be heard saying to Brenna. “I chased him down and got him. He’ll nae be bothering ye ever again.”
Helene pulled away from Dougall, glancing around to see Ailen and his dirty friend dead on the ground.
She gasped, covering her eyes. “Come, Helene. Dinnae give these two another thought.” He led her away and back to the horses.
Logan and Brenna followed and for once, Helene noted she wasn’t trying to push him away.
***
That night as they lay in each other’s arms, Dougall couldn’t believe how close he’d come to losing Helene and his sister.
He’d given them both a good talking to once they’d calmed down and Brenna admitted it had been her idea to go as far as they had.
He couldn’t be angry with them. It was a sad fact of life that there were people in this world who preyed upon those weaker than themselves.
“Helene, ye gave me quite the fright today,” he said.
“I’m so verra sorry, Dougall. I should never have let Brenna go as far as she did.”
“’Twas nae yer fault, love. I’m just happy ye were able to cry out for help and that we heard ye.” He held her close and vowed to himself that he’d never let any harm come to her as long as he lived.