Chapter Twenty
When Jake and Aline save her sister and Effie, they find two other lasses. Wee Maeve attaches herself to Alex and becomes bairn number six.
Jake flew out of the tent at the same time his mother came running toward her. “What’s wrong?” they both asked.
Aline reached for the babe, turning her on her side to look at the birthmark on the wee one’s hip. The wee one stared at her, her fingers in her mouth, as she ran her fingers across it.
“Morna?”
Jake knelt down beside her. “What is it? What’s wrong?” Her face had turned so pale he feared she would keel over in front of him.
She turned and stared at him. “Morna. This bairn has a mark just like my sister Morna did. The bairn that was newly born when my mama died. She had a mark here on her hip, in the verra same spot. I have not seen her since Hew stole Maisie and me from our da. She was less than six moons when I left.”
Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at Jake.
“That is quite a distinctive mark, Aline,” his mother said softly, glancing over her shoulder. “The chance of finding another with a mark such as that is next to nothing. Who is this child? Where did you find her? Is she about the right age to be your sister?”
“We found three bairns with Effie. One is Effie’s child, but she does not know where the other two came from or why Hew brought them to her. She has cared for them for over a year, I believe.”
Aline thought for a moment before she nodded.
She finished fastening the bairn’s rag, then turned her over to look into her eyes.
“Oh, saints above. Morna? Could it be true?”
“Does the timing fit?” his mother asked. “She appears to be about two and a half summers, mayhap three, but I do not think three. Let me look at her teeth.” She settled her hands on Aline’s shoulders and they peered into the wee one’s mouth.
“Aye. My mama died birthing Morna about two and a half years ago. Maisie and I were taken away two years ago, but he didn’t take Morna. I took care of her after my mama died, fed her milk from a cup. We did not have a wet nurse, so I gave her goat’s milk.”
“Aline, she would not remember you or aught about your home. She has no memories of her life before being here. Oh, praise God, I believe you have found your sister.” She squeezed Aline’s shoulders, tears in her eyes.
“Mayhap he went back for her,” Jake said. “Though I’m not sure why he would do such a thing.”
Effie had come out to join them. “I know why,” she said softly.
All three faces turned to her. “When I gave birth to Una, I threatened to leave once I was healed. He left and returned with your sister and the bairn with the gold curls. He threatened to hurt them both if I left, and of course, I could not. And you may not believe this,
but I think he wanted someone for Maisie to play with. He felt bad for her because she was lonely.”
Jake said, “And it gave him another to use against Aline if he needed to.”
Effie nodded. “I heard him say that under his breath once.”
“It fits,” his mother said.
“It was only in the last few moons that he talked of these new ambitions, new ways to become wealthy. I do not think those were his original plans.” Effie smiled at Aline. “Mayhap this worked out for the best.”
Aline’s tears finally burst free as she clutched the wee one to her chest. “Maisie and Morna and I shall be together again.”
She turned to his mother and asked her a question, her face showing how concerned she was. “Will you help me with her? And Effie? I have never raised a bairn before. I only saw Maisie for limited times, and I need to learn how to care for Maisie, too. Please help me with them?”
His mother leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Aline, of course I will help you. We all will.”
Jake stood, helping Aline to her feet as she held Morna.
His mother patted her arm. “I know circumstances were not the best, but I think she’ll be fine. I’m sure Effie took good care of them, they just were not allowed out around others or outside.”
Maddie fussed with the bairn’s red curls.
“She has hair like yours, a bit lighter, but still red. Aye, with the love of our clan, she will blossom.”
“I cannot believe I have my two sisters back. Are you sure you shall take us all in?” She glanced at his mother, then at Jake.
“Of course.” Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulder, just as Maisie came running toward them.
“Aline, why did you scream? Did you change the wee one’s raggies? Were they smelly?”
“Aye, I have changed her. Maisie, this is our sister Morna.”
“It is? I did not know we had another sister. Morna is my sister?” Maisie played with the wee one’s feet sticking out of her gown. “But I thought her name was Ina.”
“Nay, this is Morna.” Aline nodded. “There are three of us now.” She tipped Morna down so Maisie could see her better.
Maisie leaned over and kissed Morna’s cheek. “I love you, wee sister.”
Morna smiled and reached for Maisie.
Jake could tell how much this meant to Aline. He could not imagine losing a sibling and finding them again. How difficult this entire situation was for her.
His mother ushered them toward the tent. “Let’s bring her back inside where the wind isn’t blowing so. She’ll be warmer.” As soon as they ducked inside the tent, they all stopped in their tracks.
“Greetings, wife.”
Jake looked past his mother’s shoulder. His sire sat on a tree stump at the edge of the tent. The wee yellow-haired girl was cuddled on his lap, her thumb in her mouth. Jake said, “Papa?”
“I know it looks odd, but she will not leave me.” His father gave them all an innocent look that told him he wasn’t ready to set the lass down yet.
His mother strode over and kissed his father’s cheek. “She knows when she sees the best father ever. I think we should keep her, Alex.” She turned to Effie. “Would you mind, Effie? We have not had a bairn in a long time. Alex is quite good with lassies.”
Effie smiled. “Not at all. I will be busy with Una. If you must know, the four of them did exhaust me, though I tried my best.”
“You did a fine job, especially under the circumstances. We all thank you for what you did for these lassies.”
Effie breathed a sigh of relief. “You are welcome to keep her as yours. You will be wonderful parents for her.”
His sire didn’t say a word, but quirked a brow at his wife. He was always amazed to see how his mother always understood his sire, sometimes with just a glance. His father wouldn’t agree to this unless he was willing. Adopting a wee lass was a large commitment.
“You know we’ll not have another, and Eliza is ten and four now. Would you not like another daughter? I do not think anyone will claim her if what Effie says is true.”
He watched his mother work her magic with his sire.
Everyone knew how the huge laird loved to have wee bairns on his lap, especially lassies.
His cousin Lily had spent more time on his lap than anyone, though mayhap not as much as Eliza, their youngest.
His father glanced down at the head of golden curls, her eyes now closed. “What is her name?”
“Maeve,” Maisie said. “Call her Maeve. That’s what we called her and it sounds almost like my name.” She tipped her head back to see what Maddie thought of her choice.
His mother said, “Maeve it is. I think it’s a fine choice. Alex, you’ll be a wonderful sire to her. She needs you in her life.”
His sire grunted, but then the briefest of smiles crossed his face, indicating he agreed with the decision.
Jake now had three sisters, Kyla, Eliza, and Maeve.
Jamie and Gracie
Book 7
End of Chapter Twenty-One
Alex goes down.
Jake came up behind him. “Nice battle with the baron. Great way to put an end to this ruckus. Why is everyone in a circle?” He pointed toward the spot where their sire lay, clearly still unaware of what had happened.
“Da took a sword to his belly,” Jamie said bluntly, wiping his sleeve across his face to get the blood off.
Jake stunned, asked, “What? Da? But he’s…where is he?” He jumped off his horse and raced to the circle, pushing everyone aside as Jamie shouted to him.
Jamie followed. “He was bleeding heavily when I last saw him. He couldn’t get up, but I saw his eyes open and close.”
He dismounted and pushed his way into the circle. Uncle Brodie was already kneeling beside Alex, whose eyes remained closed.
“Papa?” Jamie leaned closer to him, searching for any signs of life.
His heart was beating hard in his chest, yet his limbs felt almost numb, and he could not find any beats of life in his arm or his wrist.
His face was so pale, that alone frightened him.
Jamie’s mind clouded again as he tried to reason through all that had transpired.
This could not be happening. Could not. He should be going after Gracie, but she’d probably run off to hide.
The threat had lessened now that the baron was dead and his men were gone.
Loki rode up from the outside, staring down at Alex with a strange look on his face.
“Loki, see if you can find Gracie. She was on horseback headed west.”
Loki simply nodded and rode off.
Jamie grabbed his sire’s arm and shook it, attempting to get a reaction. Alex’s eyes fluttered open and then shut again. “Papa!” Jamie lifted his head and shouted, “Someone bring Aunt Caralyn.”
“Robbie’s already gone for her,” Uncle Brodie said. “He’s barely alive.”
Connor moved next to Jake. “Papa?”
Jamie put his hand up on his sire’s neck, searching for a sign that he still lived. “I feel it. He’s still alive. Papa!”
Alex’s eyes opened and he glanced at Jamie. “My thanks,” he said in a weak voice, “your actions saved me. Take me inside…Maddie.”
“He’s alive. I heard him, Jamie. He’ll come back.” Connor’s voice was full of hope.
Jamie wished he had the same hope inside him right now.
Caralyn arrived moments later on foot, Maddie by her side. Jamie bolted up before they reached the circle, hoping to lessen the pain of what his mother was about to see. He grasped her shoulder. “Mama, remember how strong Da is.”
“Is he dead? He looks dead… Nay, Alex, please, nay…our time is not done yet.” Maddie’s fist went into her mouth and tears streamed down her cheeks. “Help me, Jamie, Jake. My knees. Help me get down, I must be close to him, please, please.” Jake came over to help console his mother.
Jamie did as she asked as more and more people gathered around.
Magnus had stepped away from their group to give instructions on cleaning the area up, gathering the dead, and looking for wounded men.
There was a dampened mood, and many of the warriors surrounded their fallen laird at a distance.
Some had even dropped to their knees to pray.
“Alex?” Maddie brushed his long locks away from his face and kissed his forehead. “Alex, come back to me, please.” Her voice had broken into sobs. Jamie watched as his sire reached for her hand and squeezed it, though it was obvious he had no strength.
“Fine…, Maddie. I’ll be fine. Do not…worry.” His eyes closed again.
Jake asked, “Aunt Caralyn?”
She looked at Uncle Robbie and Uncle Brodie and shook her head. “I…‘tis naught I can… Healing a belly wound is beyond my abilities. I’m sorry.”
Maddie screamed and rested her head on her husband’s chest.
Jamie whispered, “How long before he’s dead?”
“Not long,” Caralyn said. “Mayhap a day.”