Chapter Nine
Maddie regrets her decision as she gets lost in the snow.
The sun was high and peeking through the clouds occasionally, a sign the storm could be abating. If the snow would stop, she’d have a better chance to find her way back to the cave. Hunger gnawed at the inside of her belly, reminding her that she had not eaten upon waking.
Was it Loki on that horse?
Doubt snaked its way through her. What if it was some other rider? Or an apparition or wishful vision of her mind?
She did not know any longer who or what she’d been chasing, only that it’d been for naught.
The wind came up again, whistling through the pines and swirling the snow around her face, making her trek even more difficult. She continued to head in the same direction only because she didn’t wish to travel in circles.
She’d decided that she must either be traveling toward Loki or headed back to Grant land, or both. She dismissed the fear that she could have taken a turn off the main path and now be lost where no one would ever think to look.
Excitement coursed through her as she saw an outcropping ahead, one that looked like the ravine they’d traveled through before entering the cave. If it proved to be the same ravine, she would be headed in the direction of Clan Grant.
She could be headed straight for a Grant patrol.
Straight for Alex!
At the moment, the thought of reuniting with him was pure bliss.
Why had she been so foolish as to do this on her own? She’d risked the lives of her bairns. And two dear friends. And herself.
She fought the tears because she didn’t want them freezing on her cheekbones.
She’d been a fool. “I’m sorry, Mama. I was foolish. Please send someone to help me.”
She’d had a dream of her mother at another time when she’d felt desperate.
Perhaps she could help her again. If her father were here, he’d be chastising her for acting without thinking, for letting a demented man’s past actions twist her thinking in the wrong way.
Under no circumstances did Alexander Grant have any characteristics similar to Kenneth. They were not alike.
At all.
She’d allowed her desire to see their bairns have a wonderful holiday with the Ramsays overshadow her clear thinking. That and the need to have some say in the decisions she made with her husband. It was supposed to be a marriage in which they shared decisions.
Fear and memories of horrible times made her quite protective of her freedom. But she’d not been fair enough to all involved in this decision, instead making them part of this small battle with her husband.
She had to pray Alex would come soon. He would, wouldn’t he?
But she knew Alex would find them. Or Logan would find them. Or Loki would find them. Someone would surely find them, and all would be well.
She hurried her horse toward the edge of the ravine, the hope building inside her so much that she wished to squeal with happiness.
She’d apologize to Alex, to Logan, and especially to Mac and Alice.
Should she wait at the end of the ravine for the patrol?
But what if the men had already come and gone?
No, if she did not spot them crossing, she’d slowly turn around and locate the cave again.
She remembered the way from the ravine. And Mac may be outside the cave entrance looking for her, which would make spotting it simpler.
Then, at least, she’d be back with her bairns and her two beloved friends to wait for Alex.
Reaching the edge of the ravine, she slowed her horse to assess the situation—then broke out in tears.
It was not the ravine they’d passed through, so she couldn’t cross it. Who knew how long it was or what she’d find on the other end? It was completely new to her. So new that she realized how well and truly lost she was.
Tears flooded her face, freezing in spots.
The wind picked up, so she wrapped her scarf around her face as tight as she could, doing her best to stop her tears, but she couldn’t.
She was lost, so utterly lost, and in the middle of a storm that covered all tracks and paths.
Turning her mount around, she headed away from the dangerous ravine and, tipping her head back, let out a wail of mourning.
She feared she’d die here in this unknown place, cold and lost.
She stopped her mare where they stood and sobbed, allowing herself to cry for her foolishness, for her bairns and friends, for her dearest husband whom she loved with all her heart.
Someone took the reins from her hands, and her eyes flew open, peering at the group in front of her. Four horses led her down a path. She could not see the first rider, but the second had long dark hair waving in the wind.
“Alex?”
There was no response. Had the wind taken her question?
She glanced at the other two riders closest to her. The one who held the reins had blond hair like Robbie, and the other had red hair the likes of which she’d only seen on Alex’s guard, Nicol.
“Robbie? Nicol? Alex?” she asked again, louder this time, sure they heard her.
Silence met her once again and fear tightened her belly.
“Who are you? Tell me where you’re taking me!” she bellowed, doing her best to sound more angry than afraid. “I demand you release me!”
But the four ignored her and she was powerless.
She did not have the strength to regain her reins from the blond-haired rider, to fight them all.
The wind came up again, so she dropped her head, protecting her face from the cold.
Her best hope was that they could be from a neighboring clan—the Camerons, the Menzies—rather than malicious in their intent.
Mayhap they’d take her inside their keep, set her in front of a nice hearth, cover her with a fur, and offer her a steaming cup of broth to drink.
Yet, if they were friendly, then why the silence?
She did not know.
She only prayed they would lead her somewhere safe and warm before she lost her remaining senses.
She was so very cold. Her eyes grew heavy then, and she struggled to remain upright on her horse.
Whoever these four men were, she had to trust them.
She didn’t have the strength for anything else.