Chapter 27 #4
Madeleine turned to him, words of gratitude upon her lips, only to discover he was no longer at her side. She twisted around in the saddle, looking for him. He was riding back toward Mhor Manor. She could barely hear him calling out to the driver of the first wagon just now turning into the estate.
The moment was gone. Once again she felt her anger swiftly returning as she finally guessed what was in those wagons.
This was all part of Garrett’s plan.
It had become very plain that he possessed a sizable income, no doubt his inheritance. The extravagant night at the Edinburgh inn attested to that, along with the beautiful clothes he had bought her, the finely bred mare, and even the herd of cattle.
The wagons were probably filled with things he knew her people needed, things they had lost in the flames that could not be made easily or replaced without money. Precious items he could use to win their favor and acceptance and make his task of keeping the peace for King George all the easier.
Yet if Garrett had such an inheritance, why hadn’t he simply bought himself an estate in England? she wondered, perplexed. Why had he chosen her land instead, forcing her to become his bride so he might live among Highlanders who were hostile at best to any English presence?
It was beyond reasoning, unless…
No, she hadn’t misjudged him, Madeleine decided heatedly, forcing the disturbing thought from her mind.
‘Twas easy enough to explain. Whatever Garrett’s inheritance, it was probably not enough to buy himself an English estate as fine as Mhor Manor, yet it was sufficient to cover his bribes and afford him a comfortable living on Fraser lands. Bastard!
Madeleine tugged sharply on the reins, veering the mare hard about. Aye, she would personally see that her kin had nothing to do with Garrett and his wagons full of winter supplies!
“Maddie Fraser!”
Startled, she spun the horse back around to find Meg Blair running toward her, waving her hand frantically.
“Maddie, I canna believe ‘tis ye!” the plump young woman cried, tears swimming in her eyes. “I thought for a moment I might be seeing a ghost.”
Madeleine cringed inside. She wasn’t prepared to greet anyone yet, especially not Meg, whose tongue was apparently looser than Madeleine had thought.
It was Meg, after all, who had spread the news about Glenis and herself tending to Garrett after he had been injured.
She watched as the young woman slowed her pace and stopped, her chest heaving.
“We’ve been so worried about ye, Maddie,” Meg gasped, her chubby face flushed pink with exertion. “Ever since we saw the redcoats taking ye and Angus and the others away that night.”
She drew a ragged breath. “They told us ye were the brigand who’d been raiding the English. Is that true, Maddie? They said ye were going to hang, but here ye are!”
Madeleine quickly thought of a way to dodge Meg’s breathless questions. “‘Tis I, safe and sound,” she replied, forcing a smile, “but we’ll have to talk later, Meg. First, ye must go and tell Agnes Burke that Ewen and Duncan are well and coming home, as are Angus and Allan Fraser.”
Meg’s eyes grew round. “But how, Maddie? ‘Tis a miracle, to be sure—”
“Later, Meg,” she repeated firmly. “Go on with ye now, and hurry. Ye mustna keep such good news to yerself.”
As the young woman nodded excitedly, Madeleine suddenly remembered something. “Meg, did Glenis get off all right to Tullich?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Meg’s smile faded, and she looked at Madeleine blankly. “Glenis?”
“Aye, dinna she tell ye that’s where she was heading after staying with ye? I’ve been so worried about her. What did she do after the soldiers came? Was she able to save the cart?”
Meg seemed totally confused. “Maddie, I dinna know what ye’re talking about.”
Madeleine felt a twinge of fear. “I sent Glenis to yer house hours before the soldiers—”
“Glenis ne’er came to our house,” Meg interrupted quietly. “I ne’er saw her that night, Maddie. We’ve been wondering what became of her, and we checked yer house as soon as the soldiers left, but ‘twas empty.”
Madeleine’s throat tightened painfully, her hands twisting the reins. “Are ye sure? No one’s seen her?”
Meg studied her helplessly. “Aye, she’s not been heard of since that night.”
“Dear God,” Madeleine said, her mind racing.
No, dinna think the worse ‘til ye know for sure, she told herself. Glenis might have gone directly to Tullich. Aye, that made sense.
“Maddie, are ye all right?”
Madeleine blinked, meeting Meg’s worried gaze. “Aye, I’ll be fine,” she said faintly. “Go on now, Meg. I have to get back.”
“If ye’d like, Maddie, I’ll come to the house in the morning and help ye clean up,” Meg offered.
“Those redcoats left the place in a fine mess.
Shall I bring Kitty Dods with me? ‘Twould be a lot of work for just the two of us, now that Glenis is g—” She bit her lip as if she just realized what she was saying.
Madeleine nodded numbly. “Aye, ye may bring Kitty.”
Meg said no more but turned and scurried away as Madeleine wheeled her horse around and set off at a wild gallop toward Mhor Manor.