Chapter Twenty-One #2
“Aye, ‘tis true.” He nodded and waited for her to continue.
“Do you know that I once wished on a star that you would grow up fast enough to be my age so we could marry?” Mayhap he would feel better about their parting with this explanation. She remembered having numerous crushes when she was young. No matter how old, rejection always hurt.
“You did?” His eyes widened.
“Aye, I did.” She paused, giving Loki time to grasp her meaning. “I knew you would be a perfect husband.”
“But I did not grow any faster, did I?” His face dropped, and he stared at the floor.
“‘Tis good we are not able to marry.”
He gave her a puzzled look. “But why?”
“Because we are family, and family stays close forever. Besides, if I chose you, too many lassies would have their hearts broken.”
Loki snickered. “Truly? You made that up.”
“Did I? Now that Alex has invited the rest of the clan inside to enjoy the dancing, have you taken the time to look about you? If you had, you would have noticed all the lassies who cannot take their eyes from you. They would be quite upset if you married me.”
Loki yanked his gaze from hers and searched the hall for the truth of her words. “But they look at you, Jennie.”
“Nay, lad. Do you see the one with the freckles and the golden hair? And the one with the dark plait in the dark red gown? And the one in dark blue near your sire? Allow me to turn my head. Trust me, if you smile at them, they will return your smile.”
She turned her head away to give Loki the chance to look at the lasses she had pointed out to him. He beamed when he turned back to face her. “‘Tis true. Each one smiled at me.”
“Loki, you have grown up to be a handsome lad, and what’s more important, you are honorable and hard-working. The lasses will soon be chasing you wherever you go.”
“I like the lass with the yellow hair.”
“Why don’t you talk to her? Never mind, here comes your mama with a wailing Braden. He wants his favorite brother. Do you know he prefers you over everyone?”
“Aye.” He grinned. “I am pleased to have a brother.”
“And a big sister.”
He stared at her, confused.
“Me. My thanks for protecting me like a brother. I’ll be safe for the rest of the night. I will always trust Aedan Cameron, but I am glad you followed me with Ennis. I really do not know him well.”
He thought for a moment before he nodded and ran off to join his mother and Braden.
Chapter Eighteen
Loki the savior…
Way off in the distance came a lone rider. He had stayed to the rear, close enough to make sure he was aware of everything that transpired, but not close enough to be seen and suspected of wrongdoing. He would not be successful in his mission if he did not know the others’ plan.
And he had to be successful. He was the savior. Someday they would understand his purpose, but not yet. The Grant lass was the true treasure.
Thus far, everything had worked perfectly. He would be successful, without a doubt.
He grinned in triumph and returned to his hiding place.
Chapter Twenty-One
Someone has to save Jennie!
The Savior’s patience paid off. He waited until Dermid left for the Cameron keep. Then he needed to wait just a few more moments until the fool guarding Jennie Grant fell asleep. He was quite certain it would take less than an hour for that to happen.
He kept an eye on Cameron’s wife, making sure she was not hurt or ill.
It was obvious she was uncomfortable, and he could almost smell the stench of the cloth they’d used to gag her from his spot, but no matter.
She would have to tolerate it a bit longer.
He had no intention of taking the gag from her mouth after he captured her.
She would be spewing curses at him, endangering both of their lives, so it would stay until he played his part and finished this whole escapade.
He searched the surrounding area through the tree branches, but did not see Dermid anywhere. They were quite alone in this hidden area, though it was clearly not as well hidden as the kidnappers believed it to be since he had found his way here.
Once he had checked in all four directions, he took a deep breath and aimed.
He jumped from the treetop directly onto Dermid’s accomplice, taking the lout by surprise. The savior beat the man’s face, pummeling him with his fists, then pulled his sword from its sheath and held it at his throat.
The daft fool reached for him anyway, forcing him to cut his throat and end his life.
Then the savior turned to the victim, smiled, and reached for her.
Jennie hollered but the gag muffled her shouts. No matter. He had a mission to complete, so he lifted her and tossed her over his shoulder, though it took a wee bit for him to steady himself. Once he reached the fool’s horse, he placed her over the horse and mounted behind her.
Jennie struggled and fought to loosen her ties, but the savior shouted, “Cease!”
His mission was almost done.
***
The savior traveled through the early night, certain of his destination. He hated to keep his captive tied and gagged across his horse, but it was paramount that they travel without making much noise. He had no idea where Dermid MacLean had gone, and didn’t wish to attract attention.
When he was certain they were out of danger, he stopped his horse and pulled the gag out of Jennie’s mouth.
Jennie shouted, “Loki Grant, what the hell were you doing leaving me tied up?”
Loki’s shoulders straightened and his chin jutted out. “I did what my training as a Grant warrior taught me to do. I got you out of danger before freeing you. Here, give me your hands and I’ll undo your bindings.”
“You did not need to keep me tied up, I could have helped you. I know the area better than you. I could have kept an eye out for Dermid. I could have helped…”
“Shush! This is why I left you tied. Could you cease for a moment so we can make a plan? If you keep your barking, Dermid will hear you from the other side of Cameron land. I am only doing what my sire taught me. You must stay observant and not make your move until you are certain of success. You are safe, are you not?”
Jennie looked at Loki and started giggling. Once unbound, she sat up on the horse and turned to face him. “My thanks for saving me, Loki.” She threw her arms around him. “You scared me half to death when you jumped out of the tree, but I was verra glad to see you.”
He hugged her back, but then held his finger to his lips. “Hush. Listen!”
A bellowing yell echoed across the small glen they were in. Jennie turned to Loki and said, “Alex. I would know his shout anywhere.” She shifted in the saddle and said, “That way. We will be sure to catch him.”
Epilogue
And his special talents are recognized again, this time by a lass named Arabella.
This was to be their last night on Grant land before they headed home on the morrow. Jennie had told Aedan more about Loki’s background and how he had ended up joining the family. With Alex and Maddie’s approval, they had requested this special night to include all the guards and their families.
After a filling meal and before the revelry was to start, Alex kissed Maddie’s cheek and then moved to the front of the dais and waited for the crowd to settle. Robbie and Brodie ushered everyone to the side and to the back while Aedan got up and stood beside Alex.
The Grant cleared his throat. Once the crowd’s whispers about the event settled, Alex placed his hands behind his back. “I call Loki Grant forward.”
Loki made his way to the front and stood in front of Alex, just as he had done a long time ago, still looking quite small next to the huge Alexander Grant. While he had grown, his surprise still made him look young and innocent.
“Loki Grant, ‘tis with great pride that I celebrate your efforts in saving my sister, Mistress of the Cameron Clan, from the hands of a mad man. You are a braw warrior and I am proud to have you as a nephew and a valued member of our clan. The Chieftain of the Camerons has something he wishes to say.”
Aedan nodded to his guards, who formed a line behind Loki Grant, then did a short drill with their swords before lining up behind Loki once more.
He removed something from his pocket and held it up for all to see.
“I bestow this jeweled brooch as a gift from my clan, the Camerons, unto Loki Grant. It carries our crest, and while we recognize that Loki is part of the Grant clan, he is also an honorary member of the Cameron clan. For those of you who do not know of his heroism, he chose to make himself my wife’s guardian, and in so doing, saved her life. ”
He turned to Jennie and handed her the brooch. She walked toward Loki, who was now the same height as she was, though still growing, and pinned it next to his Grant brooch. She hugged him and then stood back, holding her hand up to make an announcement of her own.
“You may have heard the story, but not my version.
I was hit over the head, and while I was unconscious, I was bound and gagged and stuffed into a burlap sack.
When I awoke, I was in an area I had never seen before, and I listened to two men discuss my fate.
They planned to use me as bait for my husband, then leave me to die, bound and gagged, where I would have definitely succumbed to the elements.
“Once the sack was removed, I could see my captors, but I could see no way out. Fortunately for me, Loki had followed my captors and hid in a tree without making a sound. He fell on a man twice his size, killing him in order to save me.”
The group gasped in unison, some nodding at the story they had already heard.
Loki, embarrassed at being the center of attention, fiddled with his fingernails.
“My thanks to you, Loki, for being my guardian. You are a verra special member of my family, and I will treasure you always.” She hugged him before stepping back.
Alex and Cameron stepped down from the dais while the crowd continued to applaud Loki. The minstrels and musicians came in, and all made ready for dancing.
Some time later, when she was alone, Loki found his way over to her.
“Aye, Loki?”
He struggled for words, but finally said, “I want you to know…I want to say…You were correct before. I did have feelings for you, but not anymore. Well, now I have different feelings. I realize our ties as family are much more important, and I also want you to know that I followed you because you are like my sister, not for any other reason.”
Jennie smiled. “I know. We are family, Loki.”
“I like the Cameron. I will miss you, but I think you chose well, and I wish you much happiness.”
She hugged him and said, “My thanks.”
Directly behind him, three young lassies about his age stood gazing at him in awe. Jennie took a step back, trying not to laugh. Loki turned around to face them, a puzzled expression on his face.
The first lass said, “Loki, you are such a strong guard.”
The second lass said, “Loki, you are so handsome.”
The first two lasses ran away, giggling.
The third lass, a girl with reddish-gold curls and a spattering of freckles across her nose, stepped up to him, took a deep breath, and declared, “Loki Grant, you are the handsomest, most braw warrior I have ever seen. Someday, I’m going to marry you.
” She leaned toward him, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips against his.
Jennie did not move, not wanting to ruin Loki’s moment.
When the lass ended the kiss, she whispered, “My name is Arabella, and I promise to love you forever.” She twirled around and ran away.
Loki turned to Jennie, blushing a deep red.
“Verra nice, Loki.” Jennie said, her eyebrows raised. “I think she’s quite bonny.”
Loki broke out into the biggest grin she had ever seen.
“I like her. Someday, I’ll make her my wife.”