Chapter Twenty
Meg
The gray-haired man turned back to her, a shocked expression on his face, but the truth was that Meg had had enough of men and their rudeness.
“Were you speaking to me, Meg?” The man’s face held a smirk she didn’t like. Who was he and what was his relationship to the bairns?
She stood her ground, and Lennox moved beside her immediately, something she’d not soon forget. His support meant everything.
“I did, my lord. I spent most of my life being ordered about by my father, even to where he betrothed me to a baron who disgusted me. I left on my own and was insulted in many ways on my voyage, even in a kirk. Then I found men again deciding my fate without consulting me, trying to tell four innocent bairns and me what we were to do with our lives. Frankly, I’ve had enough insults, and I don’t trust many at this point. So, I’ll repeat myself. Who are you? Please be respectful and introduce yourself, or leave.”
The old warrior strode over to stand in front of her, his alert eyes a dark green. Lennox took a step closer, but the man put a hand to his chest. “No need, MacVey. Please take a seat, my lady, and I will explain.”
She did the best to quell the shaking in her legs before she sat again, arranging the fur across her lap. To her surprise, the man knelt and said, “The name is Logan Ramsay, and I am in your debt because I don’t abide men treating women and children the way you were treated. I will avenge what happened to you. You have my word on it.”
“My thanks, Logan Ramsay. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Now, where shall I start? My journey or the bairns’? Though I just told you the major parts of my journey.”
“The bairns’ story, then, if you please,” Connor said.
She cleared her throat just as Lennox settled himself in a chair across from her, his gaze locked on her face.
“I was told by a merchant in the village market that the kirk would allow me one night’s stay in exchange for some kitchen work, which I was glad to provide, though that is how I injured my finger. I cut the vegetables, was given a warm meal and a small pallet for the night. When I awakened, I heard men discussing a shipment of bairns they’d received, and one man advised the other to keep me to care for them.
“I attempted to take my leave, but I was forced inside a small chamber in a different building where I met Lia, Magni, Rowan, and Tora. As soon as we were able to, we escaped and made our way toward the sea.”
“What town was the market in?” Alasdair asked. “Or the name of the kirk?”
“I cannot tell you. I had only been away from home to a kirk and a small market when I was younger, so I am unfamiliar with the area. This was two days from my cottage. I’d never been to this kirk before. I followed a family to market, then was advised by a vendor to get to the kirk for my own safety, unsavory characters usually prowled the market, he warned me.
“I rode my horse to the kirk. I had to leave my mare behind when we escaped—but the kirk did have a large building for the altar, a smaller part in the back where the kitchens were found. I slept in the cellar. There was a stable behind it and two other outer buildings, the one we were held in, and another. I have no idea the purpose of the other building.”
“The men,” Logan said. “Names? Did you hear any?”
“One was named Herbert.”
Logan said, “The other must have been Ellis.”
Meg said, “Then I’ll refer to him that way. The lads called Ellis Pirate Man because he had a patch over one eye.” She did her best to describe both men. “Herbert was verra hairy, so the lads gave him that name, but I heard him called Herbert. Drab brown hair sticking up, a long brown beard, hair coming out of both ears and his nose, and he was thin. Ellis was tall and stronger as he was the one who lifted me when I fought, but I couldn’t fight both of them.”
“How many days did it take you to get to Oban from the kirk?” Sloan asked.
She thought for a moment, then replied, “We ran and walked for much of a day, spent one night on the ground, then found a cave for the second night. I don’t recall how long it took to travel to Oban from that cave where Lennox found us.”
“Half a day, so a two-and-a-half-day journey from Oban.”
“Did no one follow you?” Dyna asked.
Meg blushed, a sudden memory in her head. “Aye.” She paused, kneading her hands in her lap, taking a sip of the warm broth before confessing. She hated to do it, but she guessed she might need their help. Her hands shook at the horrid memory, something she’d forgotten.
To her surprise, Lennox moved over and set his hand on hers. “We will protect you from anyone, lass. We are all in your debt. And when they all take their leave,” he said as his gaze scanned the group, “I pledge to protect you and see you to your sister. No one will harm you.” He took two steps back but remained standing.
“You may not feel the same when I tell all.” She looked up at Lennox, grateful he was there, but she had to be truthful. “I killed a man. He tried to steal Lia and Tora, so I threw my axe and hit him in the forehead. I did not think, I just reacted instinctively.” She closed her eyes at the gore she recalled.
No one said a word, but she was suddenly lifted, her eyes opening to find herself settled next to Lennox, his arms wrapped around her, warming her. “I suppose the sheriff will be coming for me for killing a man.”
“Like hell. Do not worry on that,” Logan said. “I’ll give you a reward for killing a man and saving four innocent bairns. Did you recognize the man?”
She nodded. “Herbert. The one the bairns called Hairy.”
“We need you to finish this story,” Lennox prompted. “I’ll keep you warm.” His explanation suited her fine. “Now, how exactly did you escape from the chamber at the kirk?”
Taking a deep breath, she said, “Who is the parent of Lia and Magni?” She’d missed that introduction or forgotten.
Dyna said, “They are orphans. Brother and sister. Why do you ask?”
She wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to say, but she finally asked, “Does Lia seem different to anyone else? We were locked in that chamber for a long time. I tried the door several times, tried using my dagger on it, even my axe to break the lock, but I couldn’t do it. It was locked from the outside and there were no windows that we could reach. So, we made a plan to get the men inside, trip them, then escape and lock them in. It worked, but I think Lia helped a bit.”
“Lia?” Sloan asked.
“Lia seems much older than her age. She managed to get the men inside without much work on our part. She’s…different.”
Logan glanced at Connor, but neither said anything.
“Where is Lia? I know she’s missing, but I don’t recall what happened.”
Lennox explained, “She told Magni and the others she had something to do. She promised him she would return, but she intentionally lost herself in the crowd. We plan to return to find her at first light.”
Connor said, “Once you’ve told us all you recall, we’ll make our plans, but we will be breaking into groups. One group to look for the kirk, one to look for Lia, and one to attempt to find out who is running this collection of bastards. Who was in charge—Ellis or Herbert?”
“Neither. I heard them say they were paid to get the bairns from the kidnappers to the kirk where they were to be picked up the next day to go across the sea. All different men. Some to kidnap them and get them to the kirk, men to watch them until they were put on the boat. I don’t know the destination.”
Dyna spun and wrapped her arms around her husband, burying her face in his chest.
Sloan said, “I need to be the one to find the kidnappers who stole them away on the isle. The ones on horseback at Clan MacQuarie, the one who stole Rowan, and the ones who stole Tora. Those men are local or just came from Ulva or Iona or somewhere close. I want those bastards.”
Connor said, “I want the head of the operation. I’ll go to the kirk. Meg can describe the church for me. There cannot be that many two days from Oban, near a market with outbuildings as she described.”
Dyna said, “You mentioned being betrothed to a baron. I’m wondering if he could have anything to do with all of this?”
“I don’t know how. He was to return the day after I left. He couldn’t have followed me. And I don’t think he would involve himself with this kind of situation. He wanted heirs. Three lads in two years.”
Connor asked, “Meg, did the baron pay your sire any amount of coin for you?”
She thought back to the conversation she’d overheard and had to admit that Connor was probably correct. “I think so. I don’t know how much. Why do you ask?”
“Because if he paid coin for a wife, he will want to find you. Please keep that in mind. While I’ll agree with you that he’s not likely to be the one to steal four bairns away when he was about to wed you, I do believe he might be searching for you. He may have hired some men to find his bride. I would not wander anywhere alone. Since you were a day ahead of him, he just hadn’t found you yet. I would wager he will be seeking you out.”
She had not considered this after she’d found the bairns. Her focus had been on saving the four innocents, not on her own situation. But there was much truth in his statement.
Neither her sire nor the baron would have been pleased to discover that she ran away.
They asked a few more questions, and Meg answered what she could, but she had to admit, she was tiring quickly. However, she had her own questions too.
Logan stood and said, “Many thanks to you, Meg. I believe we’ll get a few hours’ rest, then we’ll leave at first light. I suggest we meet at the stables and divide up the men as we choose then.”
Everyone agreed and got up to take their leave. She wouldn’t have it.
“Wait, please.” Meg stood, stepping away from Lennox.
They all turned to look at her. Her voice cracked, but she wouldn’t be ignored. “What about me? You all said you were in my debt, but you have not asked me at all what I want. I need your help. Please. I don’t know where I am, who you all are, or where to go next.”
Logan lifted his chin and crossed his arms. “Tell us and it will be done.”
“I need to find my sister. She’s supposed to be on the Isle of Ulva. Where is that? I have no idea. I have no ship. Little coin left. What do I do? I had a mare, but I had to leave her at the kirk. Please help me.”
Eli came across the chamber while the others gathered around Meg. “What is your sister’s name?”
“Tamsin. She married a man named Raghnall Garvie, but I never met him. Have you heard of him?”
Eli nodded, then smiled. “Spit and slime! Does your sister have one blue eye and one green?”
“Aye. She does. You know her?”
“Aye. It’s a long story, but your sister is well. Her husband has passed on, but she lives on the Isle of Mull with Clan MacQuarie. She’s verra happy, and you’ll be pleased to learn that you have a beautiful niece named Alana. Their chieftain, Thane, is on his way here now. You may speak with him when he arrives.”
Meg fell into the chair and sobbed. She knew immediately that this was her sister.
Tamsin had once said if she ever had a daughter, she would name her Alana.
She’d found her.