Chapter Twenty-Five #5
“Nay, you would have to walk a bit, Torrian. I do no’ think you could walk that far.”
“Aye, Mama said I couldnae go to the forest to die. Then I cried. But she promised me something before she sent me back.”
“What did she promise you?”
“I did no’ believe her then.” He sat up in her lap and turned to look her straight in the eye. “But now I think I do.”
“Why is that?”
“Because she promised to send me someone who could fix me. She said she kenned someone who could fix both Lily and me so we wouldnae be sick all the time. I thought she would send a priest.”
He continued to stare, his wan face glowing with hope.
“‘Tis you, Lady Brenna? Did Mama send you to fix us?”
Brenna didn’t know what to say. How did one answer such a question? “Lad, I do no’ ken your mama. I have never met her. But I can promise you that I will try to help you.”
“And will you fix Papa, too?” His gaze never faltered.
“I do no’ know what is wrong with your papa. I do no’ know if I can fix him.”
The lad stared at his hands in thought. “Then if you cannae heal him, will you tell him something for me?”
“All right, but why do you no’ tell him, Torrian? He might like to hear it from you.”
“You see, Mama promised to send someone to fix us, but then I had to make a promise to her, also.”
Quade walked into the doorway as the boy spoke. He came to a complete stop when he saw Torrian in her lap and stood transfixed as he listened to his son. Since the boy had his back to the door, he was totally unaware of his father’s presence.
“And what did you promise her?” Brenna asked.
“I promised I would tell Papa that he did no’ kill Mama. Mama said Papa thinks he killed her, but he did no’. She said to tell him that she was already dying and she kenned it.”
“You havenae told him that yet, lad?”
“Nay, I am afraid. Papa doesnae believe I saw Mama in my dream, and he always gets angry when I talk about it. But I promised her. Will you? Will you tell him that Mama said she wants him to ken that he did no’ kill her?”
Brenna glanced over Torrian’s shoulder at Quade’s retreating body.
“Aye, I will tell him, lad.”
Chapter Twenty
There can’t be a collection featuring Brenna Grant
without this scene between Torrian and Growley.
“What about me?” Torrian sat on the stool where Margaret had left him, still unable to walk on his own without support.
Brenna held her hand out to him and helped him walk to the door. His steps were slow and deliberate, but he persisted. “Your da will help you pick clothing for the wedding, but I have something special for you right now. Come, Mungo has a new friend for you.”
She took Torrian out to the steps in front of the keep and whistled for Mungo.
“Send him, Mungo!” She yelled loud enough for Torrian to cover his ears.
“What are you talking about, Lady Brenna?” He peered up at her, his hands still covering his ears. When he turned his head back toward the gate, he yelled, “Och, nay! Brenna, help me! He will run me down.” His hands reached for her as a huge deerhound ran their way.
“Nay, Torrian,” she said with a laugh. “This is your new pet.” Just as she finished his statement, the big dog lumbered up the steps and licked Torrian’s face.
Torrian’s hands covered his face in an attempt to block the slobber from the very large tongue that ran a line up his cheek. “Och, yuk. Sit!”
The dog promptly sat in front of him, awaiting his next command.
Brenna checked Torrian for his response. His eyes met hers, the gleam in them evident. “He listened to me. ‘Tis true? Is he mine?”
“Och, aye!” Brenna laughed and helped Torrian turn back toward the door to the great hall, beckoning for the hound to follow them.
“Nay, Lady Brenna. Grandmama does not allow dogs in the great hall.”
“Aye, but he is special. Grandmama agreed to let him in so he can help you.”
“How will he do that?” His curiosity piqued, he petted the dog carefully.
Brenna picked Torrian up and carried him over to the chair near the hearth. The deerhound followed close behind. “Come with me and I will show you.”
“What’s his name?”
“Mungo said his name is Growley. They had four pups that lived from their most recent litter. He is just over a year old.”
“Why did they name him Growley?”
“Because he likes to growl in his sleep. But he does no’ hurt anyone. Mungo said he is verra gentle, and I think he is the perfect height for you.”
“Why? How can he help me?” He peered at the furry animal lumbering near his chair.
The beast’s coat was a beautiful gray with tufts of brown mixed in.
The dog came over to him and settled his head on his lap.
Torrian patted his head carefully and started to giggle.
“Lady Brenna, his nose is cold! I like him, but he is verra big.”
“’Tis why he is perfect for you.” Brenna helped Torrian out of his chair. “Come. I will show you what Growley can do.”
She noticed that everyone in the great hall had stopped to watch.
Torrian called out to his grandmother. “Grandmama, may Growley stay in here with me?”
Brenna noticed that while Lady Ramsay nodded her head, she didn’t speak.
Her hands wiped at her eyes several times.
Brenna returned her attention to the dog.
She stood and patted her thigh. “Come, Growley.” The dog padded over and stood at attention facing her.
She stepped to his side and placed Torrian next to him.
“Now what do I do?” He looked up at her in confusion.
“Torrian, he is the perfect height for you. I want you to place your arm on his back so that he will support you while you walk.”
Torrian gingerly placed his hand on Growley’s back and started to pet him. “Like this?”
“Aye, almost. You can pet him anytime, though, this is different. Come a wee bit closer to his head. I want you to place your hand near his neck. When you give Growley his command, he will start to walk with you. If you feel yourself falling, grab hold of the fur around his neck.”
“But if I do that, I will hurt him and he will bite me, will he no’?”
“Nay, Mungo and I have both trained him. ‘Tis how mama dogs pick up their pups, by the fur on their neck. ‘Tis verra thick and willnae hurt him. Try it.”
Torrian played with the fur on the dog’s neck for a bit before he attempted a slight tug. Growley never budged. He turned to her with a big grin. “You are right. He did no’ mind. How do I tell him to walk?”
“Place your hand near his neck and say, ‘Go, Growley.’ When you want him to stop, say, ‘Stop.’ Try it and see.”
“Will you go with us to catch me if I fall?”
“Aye, but you willnae need me. Growley will take care of you.” She nodded her head in encouragement, hoping the lad would try on his own. Mungo had worked with the dog for many hours, and she was confident the two would make a great pair.
Torrian held onto the dog’s neck. Brenna stepped slightly back and when the boy glanced at her, she nodded. “Go ahead, Torrian. He will help you. He is verra gentle.”
The boy looked around, as if searching for something, when he saw his grandmother standing nearby.
He smiled, hung on, and said, “Go, Growley.” Brenna could tell Lady Ramsay was holding her breath as she waited.
Every eye in the great hall was on the wee lad and the big deerhound that was almost twice his size.
The dog took a few steps, Brenna following along at his side helping to set the pace. Torrian’s face lit up as he walked. Every time he started to fall, he grabbed onto Growley’s neck and righted himself. It wasn’t long before the two made it over to Lady Ramsay, Brenna still by their side.
When they arrived, Brenna knelt in front of the hound, ruffled his ears and said, “Good dog, Growley.”
Wrapping his arms around Growley, Torrian announced, “I love my new pet.”
Brenna stood and smiled at Lady Ramsay.
“See, Grandmama, I can walk by myself now,” the boy said. “I want to go back now. May I try again, Lady Brenna?”
Brenna was showing him how to get the dog to turn when Quade strode in the front door and halted at the bottom of the stairs.
Torrian yelled in delight. “Papa, watch me walk.” He grabbed hold of his pet’s thick fur and said, “Go, Growley.”
The dog led him over to Quade. Torrian only faltered twice, but the hound kept him on his feet both times.
Somehow, the creature knew just when to slow down and when to speed up.
Brenna beamed as she watched the pride on Quade’s face.
Tears streamed down Lady Ramsay’s cheeks as she took in the scene, too.
Then she wrapped Brenna in her arms and said, “You are such a blessing. Thank the Lord you came to us.”
Quade’s gaze caught Brenna’s and the expression on his face almost caused her to tear up. But she was too happy to see the young lad and his new friend together to cry. When he made it over to his papa, Quade picked him up with a whoop and swung him in a circle.
Lily ran over and shouted, “Me, too, Papa! Me, too!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The vow that lasted decades—Logan and Brenna, sometime antagonists but eternal allies…
Father MacGregor began the service by taking Quade’s plaid and wrapping it over both of their wrists.
Brenna gazed at Quade the whole time, still unable to believe she was actually marrying him.
One glance was all it took to set her heart aflutter, especially when he stood in his full clan dress.
He finally realized she was staring at him and flashed her that boyish grin she so loved.
When the ceremony came to an end, Quade carried her outside and set her on his horse.
He mounted behind her, to the cheers of the crowd, and cantered in the courtyard a wee bit before bringing her to the great hall.
After what had happened, he had told her he would not risk taking her outside the keep walls.