Chapter Twenty-Four
Lindsay frowned at the beautiful blue sky above her as she walked toward the village. It didn’t seem fair that the day was so lovely when her heart was in such a state. She’d rather a dreary day or perhaps a storm to match her mood.
She frowned at the maid and the two guards that followed as well. Not that they had done anything, but that they were there. A reminder of what she had lost—her freedom.
She’d had a guard many times, but it had been different. She’d allowed herself to think it was the way Shane showed how he cared when he wasn’t there to protect her himself. To make sure she didn’t suffer the same fate as his beloved Maria. Now she saw it was just what he was accustomed to. The laird’s wife must be protected at all times.
As if sensing her mood, Tre looked up and barked. “I don’t know what to think,” she told the dog for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning. She wanted nothing more than to go to her rock so she could sit by the running river and think. But the mistress of the castle wasn’t expected to sit about on a rock when there were things to be done at the castle. And, besides, it wasn’t her rock any longer. She’d given it to her husband. The laird.
Instead, she went to visit her cousins and Munro. Munro had taken up her challenge to the villagers to assist with arming the warriors. He was in his forge, melting down something to create a sword. The boys were gathered around but stayed back when he warned them of the heat.
She was happy the boys had found a new home, one that was safe and would help them grow into good men.
“Swords today, I see,” she said with a smile, though it felt as if it was in danger of breaking on her lips.
“I should have a dozen or more ready to bring up to the castle by the evening meal. I reckon I will see you there, my lady,” Munro said, giving her a knowing grin. So he had learned who she was. That meant the rest of the villagers no doubt knew as well.
Her simple life was over.
…
“What is going on?” Donald Wallace demanded after looking at Alec and taking a step back. Whether it was the new wounds or the old scar, Alec had managed to make the man pause at least. Still, the news was grim. He thought of telling the man it was none of his business, but his daughter was in danger, so Shane relented and shared the dismal truth.
“The MacColls plan to attack us.”
As expected, Donald Wallace sneered his disgust at the name. “Why?”
Shane gave a quick explanation, and the Wallace laird let out a sigh. “I didn’t bring my full army, and it would take too long for them to get here, but I’ll add my swords to your lot. It won’t do to leave my daughter here if Cluny is forfeit.”
If Shane had hoped the man would make him feel more confident, that surely didn’t happen.
“I thank ye,” Shane said instead.
“You’ll need others to join us if we’re to win.”
Shane nodded and pulled out a clean piece of parchment and his ink. “It may take Ronan too long to get here to help us, but the MacIntoshes are our closest allies.” He turned to Alec. “Summon your fastest riders. We’ll send one to the Grants as well. And the Camerons.”
“The Camerons?” Alec sniffed. “They are our enemy. They won’t help us.”
Wallace smirked. “It’s an old strategy but a sound one.”
Shane explained. “They are our enemy, but they hate the MacColls even more than they hate us. They will come and fight if they know we have a chance to win. They’ll want to see the deed done by their own swords.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Wallace said with a nod. “And the MacColls won’t expect you to ask for their help. It gives us the numbers and the upper hand.”
Shane handed the missives to Alec. “Send off the messengers and take to your bed. You need to be rested and ready for what comes tomorrow.”
Alec left to arrange the messengers, leaving Shane alone with his father-in-law.
“Lindsay explained what happened, and it seems you are both at fault. Though I’m not sure she has come to see it that way as of yet. But she will. She knows her duty. She’ll see it done and be a good wife to ye as she was raised to be.”
The man seemed to think that was the end of the matter. Did he care nothing for her happiness? Duty was one thing, but a marriage—the kind he’d had before—was not bound by duty. He didn’t know what kind of future he might have with Lindsay, and at the moment he needed to focus on having a future at all. “I will make things right with Lindsay. After I settle things with the MacColls.”
“Or you’ll be dead and it won’t matter,” the man said before shrugging and leaving.
“Good God,” Shane said while hanging his head in his hands. But he got no reprieve, for Tory entered without even knocking. She was out of breath.
“Alec told me what is happening. How can I help?”
“Have you seen my wife?”
Tory frowned and shook her head. “I haven’t seen her since last night, when she called me out for lying to her.”
“She was angry with you?”
“If you were her, wouldn’t you be? She told me she was your wife, and I told her I was the laird’s sister. In truth, neither of us lied, but that doesn’t matter, does it? Not really. We all knew well enough what the truth was, yet we said nothing. I only hope she’ll grow to trust me again someday. I was so happy to have a sister.” She pressed her lips together before adding, “Not that I don’t like my brothers, too.”
He stayed her with his hand. “Ye don’t need to twist the truth to spare my feelings, sister. I know how you feel and how it would be nice to have another woman here for you to be friends with. I hope I haven’t hardened her heart against the lot of us.”
“Do ye think she will leave?” Tory asked.
It wasn’t until the question was voiced that he began to think of that option. He wanted to say no, and say it loudly and confidently, but he wasn’t sure.
“I don’t think so. She doesn’t seem the type to give up on things.”
“I hope she doesn’t give up on us.” She pointed at him. “Don’t even think to have me keep anything from her again.”
“I won’t. I swear it. I believe we’ve all learned a valuable lesson.”
She helped him sand and seal additional letters requesting warriors to help defeat the MacColls for good. With enough people, they could defend Cluny and then attack the MacColl stronghold and take it over. These messages were dispatched to the Gordons and the Campbells as well. Any clan within a day’s ride was contacted. By the time he went down to the hall for the evening meal, Shane was still worried but hopeful. They had a chance.
What he wasn’t sure was if he had a chance with his wife.
Lindsay was already seated at the high table in the place next to his. She was wearing another beautiful gown with a different strand of gems at her throat. Would she expect such gifts from him?
Anger flared in his stomach, though he wasn’t certain if he was upset that she might want such things or that he didn’t have the means to give them to her. In her fancy clothes, she looked different. Beautiful in the way other ladies were.
He found he missed the plain dresses she wore when she’d just been Lindsay. He nodded to her as he took his seat. “Wife,” he said in greeting and nodded at her father, who was seated next to her.
“Husband,” she answered coldly.
“I missed you today.” He’d hoped saying as much might coax her into telling him where she’d been, but mostly he’d said it because it was true. He found he rather missed being able to go home to their little cottage, where he could tell her his worries and she would listen and offer her advice.
“I went to the village. I wanted to check in on my cousins and see to some other things. Munro is working on more weapons for your men.”
“They couldn’t come at a better time.”
“Why? What has happened?” Lindsay asked.
But it was her father who answered her.
“Nothing for you to worry over. The men will take care of things.”
She nodded stiffly but said nothing else. Shane hadn’t known his wife well. He surely hadn’t known she was the woman promised to him. But the Lindsay he’d known, the one he’d married, had not been one to sit around and let men handle things. She’d roused the village to make arrows.
It may have been a topic to be discussed in private, but there was no time, and she deserved the truth. She’s always deserved it. But now he was going to do better about providing it, and not just because Tory’s earlier question was still teasing at his thoughts.
Will she leave?He’d certainly given her no reason to stay as of late. “My brother returned with bad news. The MacColls plan to attack us. We may only have a few days before they arrive. They think we took Deirdre and their money.”
Lindsay gasped, but not in the way that he worried she might swoon. This was simply surprise.
“That woman is a menace,” she said angrily.
“Aye, that is a kinder word than I have used.”
“What can I do to help?” Shane noticed she had lowered her voice. Perhaps so her father wouldn’t put her off again. Still, he didn’t want her to feel obligated. This was his mess.
“You have done plenty already. You don’t need to worry.”
He could tell he’d said the wrong thing as soon as the last word left his mouth.
“Have I not proven myself to you? Am I to be the laird’s wife, a fixture at your table to be paraded about in my finery solely to make you proud? Should I put all my efforts on bringing forth a male child so I might finally prove my value and my reason for existence?”
“I, uh—” No words would come, and definitely not the right ones.
She interrupted his stammering when she stood. “Please excuse me. This silly dress is set to suffocate me.”
He rose, but she was already gone and was halfway across the hall. He knew he’d done wrong by her, keeping his identity a secret for far too long and forcing her to live in a tiny cottage with simple gowns and food. But he didn’t think this outburst was his doing. Or at least not completely.
“Women,” the Wallace laird said. “They don’t wish to keep to their purpose. Always wanting more.”
“I don’t know about all women. But that one certainly deserved more from me.”
She surely had deserved the truth. The truth he kept from her was far, far worse than her not revealing her truth to him. He was the laird, and he had failed even before he began.
…
Lindsay couldn’t be bothered with a maid. She tugged at the gown until she could get it loose enough to twist herself out of it. Next, she removed the necklace and tossed it on the dressing table. It wasn’t that she was ungrateful for the things her father had bought her and brought to Cluny for her. It was just that in his mind, that was all she was. A decoration. Good for nothing more than to show his people how generous he was. She and her mother spent every evening looking pretty and saying nothing. And now it seemed her new husband had the same mentality, which really struck her as unlike him. Perhaps she didn’t know him at all.
He didn’t want her help.
When she’d been a simple woman, it had been fine that she helped in the village to make weapons, but now…she was the laird’s wife. That was all. She would no longer be his confidant or the person he shared his worries and concerns with.
This was the very marriage she had wanted to avoid. Except perhaps Shane wasn’t a monster. Though now that she thought back, she realized how much the war chief and Shane looked alike. Because they were brothers. Another wave of irritation washed over her as she tugged on one of her older, more comfortable gowns. The one she’d made, from that other life. That rare bubble of time where it was all so sweet and perfect. Before they knew the truth of it all.
She didn’t answer the first knock at her door—or the second. She didn’t know who it could be, but it didn’t matter, for she didn’t want to see anyone. She shouldn’t have been surprised when her husband opened the door and came in anyway.
“Am I to be called on to do my wifely duty so soon?” she asked as she pulled the jeweled comb from her hair with a yank.
He frowned at her. “I know we didn’t know what seems like the most important part of who we are, but I don’t think that’s true. We did know things. Mayhap, even things no one else knows. And you damn well know I would never force ye to lie with me if you didn’t wish to. Not ever.”
She let out a breath and nodded. “Aye. I know it.” She was so angry it seemed to leak out of every word and breath. “Why have you come?”
“I didn’t doubt you’d be able to handle whatever it is I might say. I only wished to spare you from worrying over something not your responsibility.”
“I am a MacPherson, am I not?”
“Aye. You are.” He paused and then paced in the room before coming back to stand before her. Then he began to speak and didn’t seem able to stop until he’d told her everything about Deirdre stealing from the MacColls and their impending arrival as early as tomorrow.
“As you mentioned, Doran delivered another load of knives today, and not a minute too soon,” he said.
“Do you need me to go to the village tomorrow to see to the people there?” she asked, wanting to do something useful.
When he frowned again, she raised her chin, ready for him to tell her she wasn’t needed, like her father had said so many times when she’d been eager to learn something or help in some way.
“You are the mistress of the castle now, but Tory can see to things here while you see to the villagers and whatever else needs doing to prepare them. I will send a guard with ye, and if ye get word of trouble, you will come directly back to the castle.”
“And bring as many of the villagers with me as I can,” she said.
He nodded. “Have them ready to move. It will be safer here in the castle. We hope to head them off in the field to the south, but there’s still a chance we could be overrun, and if that happens…” He didn’t need to go into detail. Everyone would be better protected behind the high walls.
“I have heard tales about the MacColls. I’m sure I’m not the only one whose sire threatened to ship them off to the MacColl clan if they didn’t obey as a child.” It must’ve been a common threat among the Highlands. She only hoped they weren’t as bad as the tales said them to be.
But Shane was no fool. He knew standing against the MacColls alone was dangerous, and that was why he’d sent messengers in the hope of getting other clans to join them. He’d not been too proud to ask for help to ensure a victory. Even her help.
“I will do what I can to defend the castle and the people inside,” she said.
“Thank you.” He nodded before leaving.
Lindsay didn’t get much sleep that night. She lay in her strange new bed, thinking of the night before, when she’d been so angry she’d wanted to run from the castle and not stop until she found a new home. But now she was preparing to protect this home. And her husband was depending on her for more than making his table lively.
He’d been prepared to leave her, but perhaps he did see her as a capable person, someone he could count on and trust. When he’d been telling her what had happened and his plans, it had felt like before.
When the sky lightened with the coming dawn, she went downstairs to help Tory feed the warriors who would go to fight this day. She knew not all of them would come back. Her gaze caught on the man at the high table, who nodded to her in what she guessed was approval. Lindsay went to him as he and her father were planning.
“We’ll be in position when they arrive. We’ll wait on high ground to fight them off. And thanks to Lindsay and the villagers, we have a brace of weapons to ensure victory.” Shane smiled as her father disregarded his mention of her efforts.
Shane made the whole business sound far too easy. She didn’t think it would be. The men moved to the bailey, and she paused, unsure of what she should say. Things were strained between them. But if this were the last time she saw him… She swallowed back the tears that pricked her stinging eyes. “Please take care,” she managed, though her voice came out hoarse.
“I shall return soon enough.” He turned his horse and left, leading the men to battle as their leader.
Lindsay needed to busy herself with the tasks of the day so she wouldn’t worry. With her faithful four-legged friend at her side, Lindsay went into the village to gather some last-minute supplies. Everyone was hurrying about, making final preparations as well. Children and animals alike were loaded into wagons to make the journey to the castle.
She stopped at person after person, offering them an invitation to come to the castle for protection. Some were reluctant, but a little before noon, a messenger arrived.
“Scouts have reported the MacColls have entered our borders. They should be upon us in a few hours. Please return to the castle straightaway. The gates will be shut and not opened again until the MacColls are defeated.”
“And what of our warriors? Are they ready to protect us?” a man asked from the other side of the gathering.
A rumble went through the crowd, and the messenger looked uneasy. Lindsay moved toward the front of the group.
“Aye!” she shouted. “I spoke to my husband this morning. They are ready. Thanks to your hard work, the warriors are fitted with proper weapons that should see them safely through the battle. On behalf of my husband and his men, I thank every one of ye.”
“It’s true it has been many years since these twisted fingers have held a sword in defense of the MacPherson crest, but I hope ye don’t think to keep those of us who can fight from standing beside our men on the battlefield.”
Lindsay stood on tiptoe to see the older man who spoke. He was one of the men who’d helped shave down the arrow shafts. She looked to Doran and thought of the people here who wanted to help, and how it felt to be passed over as too weak to be useful.
“I’m sure they’ll welcome anyone who wishes to join them.” She pointed to Doran. “See my cousin, Doran, and he will lead ye to the other men. But please be safe and come back to us.”
Doran grinned as he beckoned the men forward. “Come see me if you want to be certain you won’t miss the fun.”
“Fun,” Lindsay muttered before pulling the lad closer. “Ye will stay out of the fighting and do what the other men tell ye to do. They shall need runners and the like. A person need not carry a sword to be a hero. Remember that.”
The boy nodded and trudged off with a few of the men following along, including Hal, the butcher.
His wife, Jenny, came to stand next to Lindsay. “I have never understood why the Lord saw to make the dumbest of his creatures so brawny.”
While she didn’t think a battle with the MacColls would be fun, she was glad to see the men’s spirits so high. And every man who stood next to her husband offered a greater chance he might come home. She may not be ready to forgive him for casting her aside and agreeing to end their marriage so he could marry another (her in the end), but she didn’t want him harmed.
That thought made Lindsay lean over to the other woman. “I must gather supplies for the healing of wounds.”
Jenny bit her bottom lip but nodded, and the two of them skirted around the other villagers to find a healer named Bess who seemed to recognize her even though Lindsay had never seen her before.
“Last I saw ye, you were sleeping off the damage caused by your uncle.”
Ah. Shane must have called on this woman to help. “Thank you for caring for me,” Lindsay said.
“Shane cared for ye, so it was easy for me to do the same. I hear he married you.”
“Aye.”
The woman smiled widely. “I am his aunt. Ye have a fine man.”
Lindsay didn’t argue, and not just because as his aunt she would most likely defend him to the death, but because she had seen his worry for his people. He was a fine man and even a fine laird. She just wasn’t certain he was a fine husband.
They went about helping with bandages and herbs. Lindsay took everything out to the wagon and was shocked to see it was gone. She turned to see the line of villagers had made it all the way to Cluny Castle on the hill.
“We must hurry,” she called to the other women, but she heard the chains let loose and felt the thump of the heavy gate as it crashed to the ground.
“It’s too late,” Bess said. “We’re trapped outside the gates.”
Lindsay put her hand on Jenny’s shoulder as the woman began to panic.
“We will be fine,” she said in a voice more confident than she felt.