Chapter Twenty-Three #6
“Shush, Jennie.” The same calm voice that had soothed her after the loss of her parents settled her just a touch.
She turned into Alex’s chest and cried until she had no more tears, allowing his familiar voice to wrap around her like a blanket once again.
She thought of the day her mother had died and how she had listened to her father cry at the ceremony, of the day her father had died six moons later.
Now her husband was dead, too, and her brother still held her as he had done before, allowing her to grieve but holding firm.
Alex carried her over to Logan, kissed her forehead, and said, “I’m sorry, Jennie.” Then he settled her on the other man’s horse. “Get her out of here.” Logan grabbed onto her and spurred his horse.
Jennie collapsed against Logan, sobbing her heart out, still unable to accept the horrible truth. As soon as they were a distance away, Logan whispered, “Shush, lass. ‘Tis a ruse.”
Jennie stilled instantly. “What?”
She pulled back and stared at Logan.
“Nay, do not stop your crying. ‘Tis important no one knows,” he whispered.
She leaned against him and cried again, wondering if she had heard him wrong. Was it possible? Could her husband be alive after all?
He brought her to the abbey, then carried her inside. Once they had arrived, she said, “Repeat what you said, Logan Ramsay.”
He tugged her inside a chamber and said, “Aye, ‘tis a ruse. We need Irvine to think Aedan is dead. We must wait here one hour, then Gwyneth will take you to him while we distract the traitors.”
“Truly?” She swiped at her eyes, her breath hitching so much that she started coughing and could not stop.
Logan fetched a cup of ale and brought it over to her.
“Here, drink, lass.” He set the cup down and clasped her shoulders.
“Gwynie will come to you within the hour and take you to Aedan. You must dress as a poor lad. You are to wait here and speak to no one except the abbess. She will assist you. I must return as part of the ruse. Trust me, we are being watched.”
She gulped and nodded. “He is well?”
“He has only a small injury, I think to his left arm. I came upon him just as Irvine was about to spear him, but the traitor turned tail at the last minute. Our plan ‘twas the only way to discover the true traitor. Aedan’s small injury helped us in two ways. It revealed Fletcher, and it also fooled the blackguard into thinking Aedan was much more severely injured than he is. He rolled when he hit the ground, so Fletcher knew not where he struck him. Take what you need to tend his arm.” He kissed her forehead.
“My apologies, but we had to do it this way to be safe for all.”
“My thanks, Logan, and my apologies for drenching you with my tears.” Relief spread through her with such a force, she almost fell to the ground. Thanking the Lord her husband was alive, she promised Him never to be deceitful again. Aedan was alive, her husband lived.
He gave her a sheepish look. “Do not worry.
At least you did not score me as you did your brother.
We all said you would be wild with grief.
‘Tis one of the reasons we wanted you to stay back on Grant land. But you are stubborn, as your brothers promised.” He headed out the door of the abbey, but stopped at the last minute.
“You are much like my Gwynie, Jennie. Strong, intelligent women have strong emotions.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alex Grant totally undone and not by any threat of war…
A rumbling could be felt in the ground from nearby. A group of riders was headed straight toward them, though Aedan couldn’t yet determine who they were. But soon he caught sight of the Grant plaid and heard the familiar war whoop.
While he dreaded telling Alex the news of his sister, at least the extra men would be able to assist in their search. Many of his men knew Dermid’s land well. They’d find her, they had to locate her. This failure he would not accept.
As Alex approached, Aedan could tell from the look on his face that all had not gone well at court. He mounted his horse and moved to greet him. “All is not well with the king?”
“Nay, all is well, but word has come to me that Maddie’s wellness is at risk. There could be serious problems with the bairn. I have come to fetch Jennie and invite you to our home. I need her there. I cannot lose my wife.”
Aedan had never seen Alex Grant in such a state. His color was ashen, his hands fisted, and his jaw clenched. He looked more relaxed in the midst of a battle than he did at present.
Aedan realized he felt the same way about his wife, and they had been married less than a sennight.
“My sister. Where is she?” Alex’s eyes bore into his.
Aedan returned the stare. “I know not. She was kidnapped. Dermid MacLean stole her and planned to rob the coffers of the abbey, using her as a bargaining chip.”
“Is that MacLean on the ground?”
Aedan nodded. “Aye.”
“Did you get the information you needed from him before you killed him?”
Aedan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Nay, I did not. He wouldn’t release the information. I suspect that she is well hidden on MacLean land.”
Releasing a bellow that shook the branches in the trees, Alex clutched his horse’s reins so tight that Midnight reared up, as if he were connected to his rider in some way.
Aedan turned his horse around. “Follow me, I have an idea of where she is. We can split into groups when we get close.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Alex confesses what he thinks is causing Jennie’s nightmares.
Jennie vowed she would go help dear Maddie, but what if the wailing returned? She was just so frightened to try working as a healer again, too happy with her new life. She squeezed her husband’s hand as she followed Alex over to a rock, grateful Aedan had insisted on coming with her.
Once at the rock, Alex pointed and said, “Sit. You will hear me out.”
Jennie nodded and sat down. She loved her brother and would listen to what he had to say, though unsure of what he wished to tell her.
She loved it at Aedan’s. The wailing in her dreams had stopped; the wailing that disrupted her waking hours had stopped.
If she returned to healing, she was sure the wailing would return.
The haunting cries had driven her almost to a permanent state of daftness, and it had grown worse with every passing day she spent on Grant land.
“Jennie, are you upset because of the wailing?”
“Aye.” She peeked up at him, unsure of what he would say next.
“I brought you to the abbey because we thought you needed to come to this on your own. ‘Twas Brenna’s idea, but…I cannot wait any longer. Maddie’s life is at stake, so forgive me, but I must.”
“Alex, I know not what you are about. Where are you going with this?”
He paced in front of her, his hands clasped behind his back. “Do you recall the day our mama died?”
“Nay. I recall the day Papa died, but not Mama.”
He turned to gaze into her eyes. “Because you will not allow yourself to remember.”
She frowned, still confused. “I still do not understand.”
“I will remind you, and I think you will understand. Please be patient. When Mama was ill, Da was away. When he returned, he was in complete shock to find her near death. I remember standing in her chamber when Da came in, and you and Robbie were with me.
“Brenna had many candles going, not of the typical lavender scent that Mama loved, but a medicinal type that was to help her lungs. Mama had accepted her fate, but she hung on for a long time with her fever, hoping she would be able to say good-bye to Da. She was lying in the bed, and the candles were lit, but she would not awaken. You and I were standing opposite the bed, and Robbie was standing next to it, singing to her because she loved it. Da came into the room and took one look at her and wailed harder than I have ever heard any man, falling across the bed and throwing himself into her arms.”
Jennie stared at Alex, bits and pieces falling into place. She hung her head because all of a sudden, the memory was returning. She could smell the candles, could almost hear Robbie singing.
“Brodie and Brenna were not there, just you and me and Robbie. There was a small pillow on the bed and you grabbed it when Da came in, though I know not why.” Alex paused and stared up at the night sky.
“‘Twas a terrible moment in my memory, so I do not know how it could be anything but bad in yours.” His hands fell to his sides and he turned to gaze into her eyes.
“The wailing you hear at night is our da’s. Da yelled and hollered and sobbed like I have never seen any man do before. He lay on the bed and sobbed his eyes out, cradling Mama on his lap. Robbie stopped singing, and I froze, unsure of what to do, and eventually walked out of the room.”
“But where did we go?”
“We did not go anywhere. You and Robbie stayed. I was in such a rush to get away, I left you there. When I remembered and returned to the chamber, Papa was still wailing.” He sighed.
“And Robbie and I?”
“Robbie was holding the pillow against one of your ears and his hand against your other. You were screaming.”
“What was I saying?” She did not need to ask, because she knew. The memory of grabbing onto Robbie and telling him to make it stop, please make it stop was so vivid it was as if she were living it again. Was that how Alex remembered it?
“You were screaming at Robbie to make it stop.”
Tears flooded her face and she leaned into her husband. “I said it over and over again, did I not?”
“Aye, and the two of you hid.”
She sobbed as she clutched her husband’s hands. “In the corner. I tried to hide in the corner under the table. Robbie climbed under there with me and kept holding my ears, but I wouldn’t stay still for him. And Papa just kept wailing. ‘Twas horrible.”
“Aye. I am so sorry I left you behind. ‘Twas only a minute or two before I remembered you remained in the chamber.”