Chapter 24
“That’s the fourth fish ye’ve lost,” Cody said in disbelief. “Ye remember we eat them, right?”
Theodore passed the fishing pole over to the other orphan and stepped back from the bank. The eleven-year-old was right, his mind wasn’t on fishing, trapping or any other joy the orphanage often brought to him. He pressed his lips into a tight line and turned his attention to the east.
“Want to paddle out to the island?” one of the girls asked as she batted her eyelashes at him. The little girl could have been his daughter as she rocked on the balls of her feet, eager to hear his reply. “I can show ye where I’ve found some mushrooms if ye want.”
“That is rather kind of ye, lass, but I think I should be headed back. The hour is much later than I thought it was,” he answered as he walked past the small girl and paused to place a coin in her hand.
She squealed with delight. The pitch reminded Theodore of Madison’s laughter and how he couldn’t seem to forget her.
“Theodore, ye looked troubled,” Sister Marget said as he came up to the kirk to collect his horse. Her smile could brighten even the darkest of days, yet for some reason this day, her light couldn’t reach him. “I daenae recall ever seein’ ye so distraught.”
“I daenae ken what ye’re talkin’ about,” he answered as he pulled the cord to untie his horse only to have it knot on him. The frustration flared as he threw the reins down and ground his teeth in anger.
“Oh, is that so? Well, I testify ye’ve been comin’ here for two months straight, every day without fail. And I ken it just so happens that ye let that lass go two months ago as well. Perhaps maybe there’s somethin’ goin’ on there that ye’re nae confessin’ to?”
Theodore froze. He hated the fact that Marget could read him so well. It was as if he were an open book to her, despite all he did to keep concealed. Grabbing the knotted reins, he started trying to get it out.
“Or maybe,” Sister Marget continued as she strolled around the post with a mischievous glean to her eye. There was something about the way she kept her eyes on him, Theodore couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. “Ye daenae think ye deserve happiness.”
Theodore flinched. “It doesnae matter either way. She’s gone. And I’m certain with the amount of coin I gave her father, she’s already married off to save the family from disgrace.”
Sister Marget nodded her head as she leaned against the wooden post, clearly watching Theodore as he fumbled with the task. He wanted to go back to the castle, not have a conversation about a girl he couldn’t have.
“So, ye’ve heard then,” the sister said.
There was a sadness in her tone that Theodore couldn’t ignore.
His mind instantly jumped to Madison. Was there something that had happened he wasn’t aware of?
Had Boyd missed some vital information that slipped by?
With his nerves sparking like flint to stone, Theodore tried to remain calm and poised.
“Heard what? There’re so many rumors that fly about these parts, it’s hard to keep any of them sorted,” Theodore said as he finally got the first part of the knot undone.
He didn’t want to listen anymore to what the sister had to say.
The purpose was to let Madison live out her life without having to remember what happened to her.
Surely some part of her mind associated him with that dreary time and he couldn’t think of it causing her pain.
“Madison is to be married a week from tomorrow,” the sister said with a somber tone that rattled Theodore’s bones. A sharp pain cut through his chest as if someone had pierced him with a blade. The words lingered over him, slicing and dicing him.
“Come again?” he asked, as every beat of his heart drummed in his ears.
“Madison is to be married next week to a fine laird from what I was told,” she repeated. Theodore couldn’t believe his ears. How had her family found someone so fast? He shook his head. Madison was a rare beauty and belonged to someone else now.
“Do ye ken who?” Theodore managed to ask, despite not really wanting to know the answer.
“Does it matter?” the sister asked as she folded her arms over her chest. “I thought ye said ye dinnae care about the lass.”
“I never said I dinnae care about her,” Theodore snapped as the knot came out of the reins. “She is the bravest lass I’ve ever met. And her laugh will lighten any laird’s day. I’m sure whomever she is to marry, he’s the one she has picked.”
“Ye could— ”
“I will do nothin’,” Theodore said through clenched teeth. “She’s made her pick. I wish her nothin’ but peace and happiness.”
Theodore mounted his horse. Every nerve in his body sparked as he turned the horse about.
“Simon Leery,” the sister said, much to Theodore’s angst. He tightened his grip around the leather straps.
“She’s nae,” Theodore answered. The thought of her picking such a match didn’t make sense.
It was clear that was her father’s choice.
Theodore’s anger flared as he ground his teeth in frustration.
He had sworn not to get involved, not to interfere and to let her live out her life.
But Simon was not a man who deserved her. No, he would force her to take another.
“Ye’ll find him proposin’ at Creek Fork’s,” Sister Marget called, her voice carried over the breeze as Theodore made his way to the mainland.
His heart pounded just as fiercely as his horse’s hooves hitting the ground.
Out of all the devious men that could have come around for her, why Simon?
Sure, he had some lands that her father could negotiate to own.
But still, the very thought of her with him, caused Theodore to see red.
The landscape passed by in a blur as he rode hard through the glens and pastures.
Small stone cottages littered the countryside as he traveled closer to the lake.
With each hour that passed, his heart seemed to beat a bit harder.
The thought of being too late to make a difference cut through him like a razor.
Theodore rode hard to make up for the time he lost going around the cliffs. He couldn’t risk that path, not when the weather had been so bad recently. By the time he spotted the small cottage, the sun was kissing the horizon. His heart pounded as he slowed the closer he got.
Through the window he could spy someone moving about.
He pulled on the reins and slipped of the horse.
Swallowing hard, he walked to the door as his mind skipped and jumped from one thought to the next.
His purpose had been to stop Madison from marrying.
But as he reached a hand to knock on the door, he paused.
What am I doin’ here? This is wrong. I cannae be givin’ her hope like this.
“Can I help ye?”
He froze at the sound of the young voice. Fear pricked as he fought the urge to pull his dirk. After all, he hadn’t come to pick a fight, but to save Madison from a life of misery.
Slowly, Theodore turned. He blinked to find it wasn’t Madison standing before him, but a younger version of her. He stepped away from the door to let her pass. All hope of slipping away unannounced had flown out the window.
“I came to speak with Madison, but I think I might have made a mistake,” Theodore answered.
“She’s down by the creek. I can show ye the way if want,” the girl said with a huge grin. “I’m her sister, Hallie.”
Theodore could see the similarities. The girl before him shared the same almond shaped eyes as Madison. But the color was different. It wasn’t the same chocolate brown Madison had, but more of a murky water. Hallie tilted her head as the door flew open.
“Hallie, who are ye talkin’ to? And where’s Madison? Ye dinnae leave her alone by the creek again, did ye?” the father said as his eyes narrowed on Theodore. “And who might ye be? We daenae want any trouble.”
“And I bring none,” Theodore stated as he drew his hands up in surrender. The fact that he’d been spotted by not one but two now made it complicated for him to explain why he was there. It wasn’t like he could express his desire to marry Madison.
“Then why have ye come?” her father asked as he tossed a towel over his shoulder.
“I’ve come to hear of the betrothal,” Theodore said, trying to be as cheery as he could be.
But the very thought of never having the chance to tell her how much she really means to him broke his heart.
Even if it was the worst possible timing, he had to tell her the truth.
She was about to make the biggest mistake of her life.
“Betrothal? And pray tell who is gettin’ married?” the father said with a joy in his tone that tickled Theodore’s ear.
“Madison,” Theodore answered. “She’s to be married is she nae?”
The father glanced to Hallie before turning to look at him once again. “Aye, I’m sure she’d like to be, but as far as I ken, she’s nae betrothed to anyone.”
A relief washed through Theodore as if it were a rushing river threatening to wash everything from him.
He tried to breath, but the air was too heavy.
Madison wasn’t engaged. The fact that she could still pick him thrilled him.
It was in that blink of a moment he realized the pain and anxiety he felt wouldn’t go away.
She had become a part of him and there was no way he was about to let her go for a second time.
“Sir,” Theodore said as he turned to the father. “I’m Laird MacLeon and I’ve come to ask for yer daughter’s hand. I swear I will honor her and love her for as long as I breathe, but I’ve recently learned, I cannae go one more day without her.”
Madison’s father blinked as Hallie’s excitement radiated off her as if she’d turned into the sun. Edward reached for Theodore’s arm, pulling him into the small cottage.
“What’s this now?” the mother asked as her husband pulled in the stranger. “Who have ye brought in here? And what do ye think ye’re doin’ with him?”
“Hush, woman,” Madison’s father said with a wave of his hand as he led Theodore to the table and sat him down. “Let the men speak. Hallie, ye’ll go back to the creek and keep yer sister occupied. Ye’re nae to come back till dark. Is that clear?”
“And what am I to tell Madison if she asks why we cannae go home yet?” Hallie asked with a sort of pout that grated on Theodore’s nerves. But he hadn’t come here to negotiate for Hallie’s hand.
“Tell her I’m procurin’ her a husband,” the father stated as he placed a secure hand on and flashed Theodore a smirk. “But ye must nae tell her who.”
“She’s nae goin’ to like this,” Hallie said as she started for the door. Madison’s mother placed a reassuring hand on Hallie’s shoulder before letting her out of the cottage.
“A laird, ye say?” Madison’s father questioned, his tone thoughtful. “And how big exactly are yer lands?”
Theodore smiled as he looked at Madison’s father. The negotiation would be a breeze as Theodore already knew exactly the price the father wanted for his daughter. It was a price Theodore was more than willing to pay over and over again. For Madison was a jewel far more precious than rubies.
“I assure ye, I offer yer daughter nothin’ short of the world.”