Chapter 16
“That’s nae good,” Theodore said as thunder clapped overhead. The horse’s gate faltered a moment before it picked up speed. Madison’s sharp gasp at the horse’s sudden bolt pricked his ears. He didn’t like the fact she’d been frightened, but more so they were about to trapped in the squall.
The salty air kicked up around them as the sand started stinging Theodore’s face.
In a wild rush of force, the wind brought with it the rain.
Each stride of the horse’s gait caused the rain to feel like needles pricking his face.
Madison cowered into the nook of his arm, trying to shield herself from the pain.
There was no way of knowing when it would let up. Theodore could hope it would be a short storm, one that he could easily break out of any moment. But at the same time there he couldn’t have Madison continue to endure the stinging rain.
“Come on ye mule,” Theodore grumbled to his horse as it trekked through the wet sand. The horse was growing tired as the sea came to lick it’s legs.
“Theodore,” Madison called, her voice rising over the turbulent sea. He looked at the sea water lapping at the sandy shore. The water clawed and pulled the sand back as if it were jewels to be horded.
“Well that’s concernin’,” he muttered, hoping the howling winds masked his words.
He pulled on the reins, forcing the horse further inland.
Still, the ocean came for them, stretching and slamming against the shore every so greedily.
“There’s a cave just over this ridge,” Theodore shouted over the violent waves threatening to take the very sand out from under them.
The horse drove onward, knowing its very life hung in the security of its strength.
“Well done,” Theodore said as the breached the top of the ridge as the wave lapped the shore behind them.
He patted his horse on the neck and dismounted.
Taking the reins, he led the horse and Madison to the cave.
The storm echoed and bounced about the inside of the cave, but at least they were out of it.
“I’ll try to get a fire goin',” Theodore stated as he helped Madison from the horse. She looked as white as a ghost. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms, forcing circulation and warmth. But he knew the only way to get color back in her was to get a fire started.
“The water… it willnae…” Madison asked. Her voice broke with fear as she glanced at him.
“Nay,” he answered confidently despite not knowing the truth of the matter. “We’ll be fine here. The waves willnae breach the ridge.”
She bobbed her head and sat down. He watched as she drew her knees to her chest and curled in on herself to retain whatever heat she could. Theodore removed his wet cloak and tossed it over the rocks. He pulled off his shirt and handing it to her.
“It’s nae thick, but its dry,” he said. “And it’ll do till I make ye a proper fire.”
She stared at him a moment. He watched her gaze shift from his face to his chest and back again. With a weary hand, she took the shirt from him and cuddled in to it.
Theodore glanced around, relieved for the moment that he could provide some comfort to her. Still, he had promised a fire. Yet, there was nothing around him he could use. His only hope rested in the deeper parts of the cave.
“I’ll be right back,” he said over his shoulder.
“Ye’re nae about to go back out in that, are ye?” she asked. Concern riddled her tone and made Theodore smile.
“Nay,” he answered. “But deeper in the cave. I need somethin’ to burn if ye’re to have a fire.”
“I daenae need a fire.”
“Aye, ye do. Yer lips are near blue as it is. And I daenae need ye dyin’ on me out here. Now stay put, I’ll be right back. I’ll nae go far.”
Theodore sucked in a deep breath and ventured into the pitch blackness. He searched about blindly, grabbing whatever his fingers brushed up against. His heart fluttered with hope as he stumbled over something hard. He knocked on it twice, listening for any tell-tale signs and smiled.
“Luck is smilin’ on me after all,” he muttered as he snapped and twisted a bit of the branch until he had chunks to burn. Triumphantly he walked back to the opening and dropped his loot before Madison. “What did I tell ye? Ye’ll have a fire to warm yerself in nay time.”
Theodore quickly got to work, building the fire and returning to the inner cave as he needed. It didn’t take long for him to have a decent fire roaring. Madison inched closer to the heat as the rain continued falling in sheets.
“Thank ye,” she said as she stared into the fire.
“Aye,” Theodore answered, proud he was able to come through for her. “Ye’re welcome. I just hope ye daenae catch a cold.”
“Nae for the fire,” she said as she gave a shrug. “Well, nae only for the fire. Ye saved me.”
“Ye daenae have to say anythin’ further than that,” Theodore said, stopping her before she could continue.
He didn’t want to think about what she had been through.
And he certainly didn’t want her to be thinking about such things when she was with him.
“What happened for good or bad, there’s nothin’ we can do to change it.
We cannae control anythin' but how we react to somethin'.”
She nodded as her chocolate brown eyes remained locked on the fire. Theodore wished he had the ability to read minds because her expression troubled him. It was clear she was sorting through something, he only wished to know what it was.
“If ye’re worried about the sea comin’ I promise ye, it will nae dare.”
“It’s nae that,” she answered in a somber tone. “Why were there so many children in the orphanage? Is there that many people who daenae want them?”
Theodore’s chest tightened as he stirred the fire. Embers rose from the flames and danced on the current of air flowing in to the cave.
“There was an illness that came through a few years ago,” he answered.
“The fever took many people here on the island and left behind many as well. But the sister, she took the wee ones in and gave them a roof and food. She’s doin' good work there, and I feel it’s me duty to help when I can. They are me people, after all.”
Madison crouched closer as she held her hands out to warm them. Steam rose from her wet sleeves as she let out a pleasurable sigh. Theodore couldn’t help but smile knowing he had provided her that warmth.
“I take it ye grew up here?” she asked, her voice was like a bell to his ear despite the rain pounding outside.
“Aye,” he answered. “I ken every rock and nook. I could ride the shore blindfolded and still make it home.”
“Sounds a bit lonely if ye ask me,” she said as he found her gaze hunting his face. What she was looking for, he didn’t know, but he would gladly give her an answer if she asked for one.
“Suppose it can be if ye let it, but it’s home nonetheless.”
“It’s nae a bad place to call home for one so wild,” she added. There was a hint of playfulness in her tone that pricked like a light in darkness.
“Wild, am I?” he jabbed back trying to hide the smirk stretching across his lips.
“Aye. A true brute through and through,” she answered. Theodore froze. Despite the playfulness in her tone, it was the words she used that jabbed at him. “Theodore? Did I say somethin’ to offend ye? I thought we were…”
He lifted a hand as he closed his eyes. It was his mother’s voice rising like the tempest in the back of his mind. Theodore swallowed hard, forcing any thoughts of her or the dream down before they could take root.
“I meant nay offense,” she muttered. The playfulness had vanished and left nothing but the somber deadpan tone Theodore couldn’t stand. It was as if she shut herself off.
“Daenae do that,” he grumbled as he threw his eyes open. “Ye did nothin’ wrong here. There are just a few words that I’d rather nae be called if it’s all the same to ye.”
“Brute? Was that it?” she asked. There was no mocking in her voice, nothing that suggested she was teasing. But real honest concern dripped out of every syllable. Theodore nodded.
“I’ll never utter it again,” she said with such conviction that Theodore couldn’t help but admire her. There was strength and then there was her. She flashed him a weak smile as the lightning crashed against the gray sky.
“Ye shouldnae make promises ye daenae intend to keep. I’m sure the moment ye reunite with yer family, that word will be the first way ye describe me.”
“I beg to differ. The first word would be ‘Laird’, for that is what ye are.”
Theodore arched his eyebrow unamused by her way with words.
She was clever and witty. But the fact that she was even talking to him in the first place was an answer to prayer.
There was a light in her that flickered dimly.
A light, Theodore knew could grow and shine brighter than anything the world had seen before.
He just had to figure out how to kindle it, to feed it, and most importantly, tend to it.
“And is that what I am? Just yer laird?” he asked as he tilted his head and studied her a moment. Before she could answer, a sharp shiver coursed through her. She rubbed her arms trying to trap whatever heat she could.
“Ye’re still cold,” Theodore grumbled.
“I’ll be fine.”
He pushed off the side of the cave wall and moved to her. She didn’t flinch as he drew her closer to him. Her eyes widened as he rubbed her hands between his.
“Ye ken, the fastest way to warm up, is to get out of all that wet stuff. Ye look as if ye’ve got four layers of damp on ye.”
“Ye’re insufferable,” she said.
“Perhaps, but ye’re the one smilin’.”
“I am nae.”
“Aye, ye are,” he said as he noticed the color returning to her cheeks. She looked pensive and it drove him mad not knowing what was going through her head.
“What?” she asked over her shoulder. “I can feel ye starin’ at me.”
“I’m curious as to what ye’re thinkin’ about,” he answered as he stepped up to the fire to steal the sting of the cold.
“Me family,” she answered. “Why do ye suppose they went so far away?”