Chapter Thirty-Two
Lennox
Glad to be on their way the next morn, Lennox considered how he’d left their relationship. He’d refused the offer of her maidenhead, something that his erect member had reminded him about several times in the middle of the night, her soft bottom often rubbing him in the wrong way.
He’d held strong, something he’d wished he’d failed at. He’d love naught more than to make Meg his, bury himself deep inside her while she cried out his name, her nails raking his shoulders as she crossed that threshold of exquisite pleasure.
But he would not do it without a promise of marriage or a handfasting, and there was a reason for his madness.
There was no doubt in his mind that once he had Meg, once would not be enough. If he were to wager, he’d never get enough of her. She was under his skin like the flavor of the finest wine or the scent of the sweetest flower in the garden.
Unfortunately, Meg needed a man with patience because she was young and innocent, and he was not feeling patient at the moment. But he had no choice. She deserved nothing less than his best.
Today they would head to Drimnin and hope to find out more about the bastard Egan and his unscrupulous behaviors. If they were lucky, they would also find Lia safe and unharmed.
The path widened as they followed the coastline, and he pulled his horse abreast of Meg’s. “What think you of Lia? What wee bit I know of her is unusual.”
“In what way?”
“The way she speaks is a start, as though she were a wizened old healer, or some kind of odd witch. I’ve heard talk of the men looking for a faery. Think you she’s a faery?”
Meg glanced over at him with a shrug of her shoulders. “Honestly, I don’t know what to make of Lia. She told me things as if she’d met my sister. Told me Tamsin was in love with a chieftain and was verra happy, and this was before I told her I had a sister. Now I understand that she and Magni lived on MacQuarie land so she would know this, but Magni never considered making such a statement. How did she know Tamsin was my sister? And as I told you, she mentioned going to Loch Aline and that she would go alone. What young lass says such a thing? None of the other three had any interest in going anywhere alone.”
“She is definitely a different soul, and while she appears delicate, she is far from it. I hope we find her, but I also believe she is far more capable of taking care of herself than the other three bairns.”
“Lennox, may I tell you something without you thinking me daft?”
“Of course. Ever since the Granthams arrived, I’ve learned to open my mind to things that I’ve never known before. Like Tora and her mother being seers. I’ve heard of seers but never seen them in action. Now I’m starting to believe. I would love to hear your thoughts.”
“I think Lia does things to draw people in a certain direction. I’m not sure exactly why I feel that way, but I think she wanted me to follow her to Loch Aline, mostly because I was the only person she shared her destination with at the time. Why tell me and not Magni? Or Connor? And that if I went, you would follow. And now she wishes us to go to Drimnin, to put a stop to this horrific business. She’s leading us to certain places for a reason. If we find Egan and end his reign of terror, that would be wonderful for bairns, for parents like the poor cook we met, and for you. One trip could solve many problems. And if so, then she has some power I don’t comprehend, but I’ll respect it.”
The village appeared over a small hill, and Lennox couldn’t help but smile. He tipped his head toward the sea. “Is it not one of the most beautiful spots you’ve ever seen?” The rolling hills in the background, the serene bay, the carefully tended gardens and huts alongside fishing boats made the area appealing as any he’d ever seen. “Someday, when I’m old and decrepit, I wish to live here with my wife, watch the sunsets, fish for our dinner, swim in the warm water in summers.”
“That sounds appealing to me too, Lennox, though I don’t know how to swim. Do you truly swim in the sea? I’ve bathed in burns before but that frightens me a bit. But you swim in the sound, you said. Do you like it?”
He nodded. “Swimming will offer you a sense of calm unlike any other. I will teach you. What think you of the area? The village?”
“It is quite lovely. I see exactly what you mean. I’m surprised to see so many people milling about. What do you suggest we do?”
“Probably best for me to approach. I say we start on the beach where the two fishermen are pulling in their boat.” He led the horses down the small incline until he hit the rocks, then dismounted, helping Meg dismount before he approached the men.
Meg immediately rinsed her fingers, cupping the water to splash her face.
“Greetings to ye. It’s a fine morn. I’ve come from Dounarwyse Castle on Mull. Looking for a man named Egan.”
Both men had long beards, their skin weathered and tanned from the sun. But their eyes took in everything about the two visitors.
“You’re the chieftain, MacVey. I’ve seen you. What do you want with Egan?”
The two had a net of about six fish. “I see you have some mackerel. Do you get them often? And how big is the largest skate you’ve ever caught?”
One man grinned and his hands stretched out from his body, demonstrating the size of the skate he’d trapped. “Had to get him with my cousin’s big boat. Could not have pulled him up with our small boat. But he was a big one. Delicious. My wife likes the pollack. We caught a fair-sized one this morn.”
Lennox peeked into their net. “He’s a beauty.” Then he set his hands on his hips and said, “I’ve a score to settle with Egan. You related to him?”
“To that bastard? Nay. Wish he’d disappear. Gives our parts a bad name. I’ll help you in any way I can to get rid of him. I don’t like him or the way he conducts himself.” The man pursed his lips and pointed beyond their village. “He don’t belong here. We sent him off.”
“Do you know where he lives now?”
“Deep in the woods,” the other man said. “You’ll need more than you, unless she’s good with a bow. There’s four of ’em. None that are big, but all nasty. They threaten us at times, so we mind our own business. Tried the sheriff once, but Egan knows when to hide and how to disappear.”
“Horses?”
“Only one that I seen. They travel back and forth between the hut in the woods and a spot on the coast on the far side of Drimnin. You’ll see it. There’s a small hut there too. An old couple lives inside, but they’re no trouble. He controls them.”
“My thanks to you.” He handed each a coin, knowing they could use it in Tobermory.
“Protect your wife, Chief. He likes ’em young. Uses ’em and sells ’em.” He kept his voice down out of respect for Meg, but Lennox was sure she’d heard every word.
He turned to depart, but then spun back around. “Have you seen a golden-haired lass of about five summers in the area?”
“Chief, if there were a lass of five around here alone, he’d have her. I don’t trust him at all.” Then the man spit into the bay. “We’d be in yer debt if you got rid of him.”
Lennox moved over to help Meg off the rocks and led her back to their horses, helping her mount. Once he climbed up, he nodded to the two men and headed down the path.
One called out to him, “Take the path between the two large oaks, marked with two rocks.”
A few moments later, he led Meg toward the forest, stopping as soon as he saw the hut deep in the woods. “Lass, do you have your axe?”
“Aye,” she said.
“Keep it handy. There are four of them, as I’m sure you heard. If you can take one out with your axe, I’ll take the other three. Have you a dagger?”
She shook her head. “I’ve only used one for cooking.”
“I have two, so you may have one since I plan to use my sword. I will not have any mercy for the fools.” He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a sheathed dagger then made sure it was clean before handing it to her. “Aim for the neck. If you stab an arm or a leg, you’ll only pish them off enough to hit harder. You have to go for the neck, the inner side of the wrist, or deep into the flesh of the inner thigh.”
She nodded, paling a bit, but she sat up strong.
Lennox knew he’d been foolish to come across without a guard, but the lass had gone out of the keep so fast, he’d not had the time to yell for any to follow. And he certainly hadn’t expected to be all the way into Drimnin with Meg. His expectation was to travel to Loch Aline and back home again. That was two days ago.
He prayed he hadn’t made a huge lapse in judgment, but Lia was close. He could feel it.
Dismounting, he helped Meg down and led the horses into a small copse to keep them hidden, hanging their reins on the bushes. He took Meg’s hand and then crept around the hut, coming in from one side to listen for voices, scan for any activity.
There was a burn not far away and the rippling sound of a waterfall in the distance. It wouldn’t be surprising if bairns were kept in the cottage. Water would be needed to keep them alive and clean.
He heard nothing, and Meg shook her head to let him know she didn’t hear anything either. Moving over to the hut, he held his ear to the door, then opened it. The windows had fur coverings, so the place was dark, but quiet. He moved over and lifted one fur to light up the chamber, only to find it was a one-chamber hut, rows and rows of small pallets on the floor—pallets the size of bairns.
But they were all empty. There was no one inside.
They were about to go around back when four men rushed them from the opposite side, tearing out of the forest, two going toward Lennox and two toward Meg.
Lennox had his sword unsheathed at about the same time Meg pulled out her axe. She threw it and caught the man square in the chest, dropping him to the ground instantly.
Lennox swung his sword, surprised to find one of his attackers bearing a strong weapon while the other held a small English sword. He took the one with the smaller weapon down quickly, but the other man was much beefier. He’d have to be on target to finish him off.
Meg screamed and ran away from him, her attacker in hot pursuit.
“Meg, your dagger!”