To Love A Highlander (Highland Warriors Book 1) Page 17

  Craven had had a missive sent to Samuel MacBarnes, even though he believed what Espy had said, that MacBarnes had died, he wanted proof for all to see. So that no one could ever question her word.

  A knock at the door had Craven calling out for the person to enter. Dylan stepped in, Craven had been expecting him.

  “What did you find?”

  Dylan sat opposite Craven and shook his head. “Too much. It seemed the day MacPeters arrived here several travelers had also stopped here for water and rest before they continued on. Then there were a few from the Clan MacVarish, though mostly women, who came to visit with friends. Also, there were two warriors who stopped briefly, needing only their thirsts quenched. So there were any number of people that MacPeters could have met with.”

  “But they would have to have known MacPeters was to arrive here that day or that his arrival was imminent. The two warriors, what clan were they from?”

  “They did not say and from what I was told, no one recognized their plaids. Their stay was brief, though they certainly could have returned and waited behind the barn to meet with MacPeters.”

  Craven shook his head. “Why? Why kill Aubrey? That is the question that haunts me. Did someone want revenge against me? Or did her death have nothing to do with me? Why would a physician from Edinburgh be involved?”

  The door flew open and Tula rushed in out of breath.

  Craven leaped to his feet, ready to reprimand her when he saw that her eyes were wide with fright.

  “What is wrong?” he demanded.

  “Leith, the stream, Espy went after—” Tula stopped to steady her rapid breathing.

  Craven did not wait, he hurried to the door.

  “Trumble.” Tula got out as Craven passed her.

  He stopped. “She took her horse.”

  Tula nodded.

  Craven rushed through the door, Dylan hurrying along with him.

  Espy reached the bank of the rushing stream where Leith’s sister had led her to find Leith clinging to a thick branch, wedged between two rocks, that jutted out into the stream. It was pouring bucketsful as she dismounted and got the little lass off the horse. Espy had to pry loose the rope the lass held in her hands, she clutched it so tightly, before she ordered her to wait under a large pine tree that sat back a distance from the bank.

  Espy hurried to knot a wide loop and toss it over Trumble’s head. “You know what to do, Trumble,” she said to the horse as she fashioned another loop at the other end and dropped it around her waist and pulled it tight. Trumble nodded and snorted.

  Espy yanked off her boots and rushed into the turbulent water. It grabbed at her like strong hands, dragging her under, though she surfaced fast and the cold rushed through her, letting her know her limbs would suffer soon enough if she did not hurry. She grabbed onto anything solid that she could manage to reach as she made her way to Leith. He was crying and trembling with fright.

  The angry water took her under twice before she reached the lad and she was not surprised to see that he clung as tightly to the broken branch as his sister had to the rope. It took her two attempts to get up on the branch beside Leith, the tumbling water and wet bark, making it difficult to get a good grip.

  “Sit up, Leith,” she said as she struggled to get the wet rope from around her waist. “I am going to put this around you and Trumble is going to pull you out.”

  Leith kept shaking his head.

  Espy leaned over the young lad. “Trumble is your friend. He will not let anything happen to you. With the rope around you, Trumble will make sure you get to shore. You are a brave lad, so do as I say before this branch cracks and you fall, and then there will be no saving you.”

  That thought frightened Leith even more and he let Espy secure the rope around him.

  “Hold your breath good when you go under. Trumble will have you to the shore in no time,” Espy said her lips pressed beside his ear to make sure he heard her. “Throw the rope back to me as soon as you can.”

  Leith nodded and Espy waved to Trumble as she eased Leith off the branch.

  The horse backed up quickly, dragging Leith through the turbulent water.

  Craven swore as his horse made her way through the woods to the stream. He was going to give Espy a good tongue lashing, though she deserved more for doing something so foolish. She should have come and gotten him, not send Tula to tell him while she went off on her own.

  He broke past the trees and came into full view of the stream and what he saw made him want to roar with fury. Espy was clinging to a branch caught between two rocks that sat in the raging water while Leith attempted to throw the rope to her from the shore, missing each time.

  He urged his mare forward, Dylan and six of his warriors following behind him. He barely brought his horse to a stop when he dismounted and as he did, he watched as the branch Espy clung to crack and she dropped, the angry water swallowing her.

  Craven did not stop to think, he ran for the stream, but Trumble got to it before him and the large black horse rushed in after Espy. Craven followed him, snatching the rope from Leith’s hand as he went.

  Craven had battled turbulent waters before and did not panic as most did when sucked down and tumbled around. He had been a hardy swimmer since he was young and he was familiar with the waterways on his land and beyond. He let the water carry him along as well as Trumble who seemed to understand the flow of the water as well. Craven clung to the rope, keeping his head above water and he turned his head when Trumble did and though it was difficult to see through the pouring rain, he caught sight of Espy not far ahead, fighting to get to shore.

  She vanished so suddenly beneath the surface, it was as if a powerful hand had reached up and yanked her down. He cursed the mighty river, silently demanding that it release her and was grateful when she finally surfaced. Her arms flailed above her head, her hands trying to grab at anything that could slow her down.

  Craven was suddenly yanked forward and he blessed the huge beast over and over as the animal fought the angry water to get to Espy. When the horse rushed past her, Craven understood it was on purpose, giving him a chance to grab Espy and he did just before the water had a chance to suck her under again.

  His arm went around her waist and held her so tight that he feared he would crack her ribs. He yanked on the rope with his other hand to let Trumble know he had hold of her, then closed that arm around her as well. He rushed to cover her mouth with his when they both were dragged under, hoping to help her breathe since she looked like she did not have a breath left in her.

  Once Trumble reached land, Dylan and his men, who had been following along the bank, helped pull the couple to shore.

  Craven got to his feet, scooping Espy up. She coughed and spurted and her head fell against his chest.

  “I need to get her to the keep and get her dried,” he said to Dylan. “See to what needs doing here.”

  Dylan nodded.

  Trumble pawed the ground and snorted when Craven approached his mare.

  Craven looked to the beast. “I ride with her or she goes with me.”

  Trumble gave a nod.

  Dylan took Espy from Craven so that he could mount the horse, though he slipped the rope off his neck first. Dylan handed her up to Craven and he tucked her close against him. Without a word, he took off.

  The rain began to slow by the time he reached the keep. It was no longer a downpour. One of his warriors waited at the bottom of the steps to the keep, expecting to tend Craven’s mare and when he saw the black horse appear, snorting and stamping the ground, he backed away in fright.

  “Swallow your fear and take Espy from me,” Craven ordered his warrior.

  The warrior hurried to obey.

  Craven dismounted and spoke to the horse. “I will see to her care. Let this warrior see to yours.”

  The horse pawed the ground agitated.

  “Do as I say!” he ordered sharply and the horse stilled and stared at him. Craven turned to the warrior. “Take h
im to the barn and see to his care. He will not harm you.” He had turned to Trumble when he said that and the horse hesitated a moment then went with the warrior after he gently placed Espy in Craven’s arms.

  Craven held Espy close against him as he rushed into the keep and up the stairs. He did not stop and think about it, he took her to his bedchambers. She shivered when he stood her in front of the hearth and he held her there steady until she could stand without support. Then his hands got busy.

  He did not ask permission. He began stripping off her drenched garments with some difficulty since her blouse refused to let go of her wet skin. Her arms went around her naked breasts when he finally got it off her, and her eyes glared at him with alarm.

  “You need to get dry and warm,” he said, trying to ease her discomfort.

  He yanked her skirt down and try as he might to keep his eyes from straying over her naked body, he could not help it. Beautiful was not sufficient to describe her; curvy waist, rounded hips, and the loveliest and smoothest pale skin he had ever seen on a woman.

  She closed her legs tight, dark curly hair peeking out between them.

  Craven reached for a cloth and hurried to dry her, rubbing her wet skin until it turned red with warmth, then he scooped her up and got her into his bed as fast as he could, pulling the blanket over her and tucking it tight around her almost as if he was constructing a shield that would protect her.

  Protect her from who? Him?

  He would love to strip off his garments and climb in bed with her and warm her. He could heat her body in no time, a touch, a kiss, and so much more. He shook off the thought. This incident could not be ignored. It had to be dealt with immediately, for if he remained he would join Espy in bed and he would do more than just warm her.

  “Take your garments off,” she said, her slight tremor in her voice and her lips still tinged blue.

  For a moment, he thought she knew his thoughts, then he realized that she was advising him to get out of his wet garments and get warm himself. He turned away from her and shed his garments in front of the fire. With rushed strokes, he dried himself and quickly dressed.

  A knock sounded at the door and Craven opened it to find Tula standing there.

  “A hot brew,” she said, explaining her presence.

  “Stay with Espy and keep me informed of how she does,” he ordered and walked out of the room.

  He went straight to his solar and found what he had expected… Leith and his sister, their hair wet, though otherwise dried and in warm garments and a blanket over them. They sat squeezed in one of the chairs together, their eyes wide with fright that filled with more fear as soon as Craven had entered the room.

  Dylan stood near the hearth and gave him a nod, letting him know all had been seen to.

  “Our mum is waiting in the Great Hall,” Leith’s sister said bravely as if somehow that would protect them.

  Craven recalled meeting Leith’s sister, Haddie, at the healing cottage one morning. She could be no more than six or seven years and skinny, a wee bit of a thing. He was surprised she had spoken up since she had seemed shy the day he had met her, barely looking at him. Not so now. She held his gaze, though there was no mistaken the fright in her pale blue eyes.

  He walked over to the pair and looked down at Haddie and she cuddled closer against her brother. “And that is where your mum will wait until I am through with you.”

  Craven admired Leith’s courage as he protectively slipped his arm around his sister.

  “Haddie has done nothing wrong. It is my fault,” Leith said, holding back his fright, though barely.

  Haddie was quick to speak. “He did not know I was following him, but I am glad I did. If I had not…” Haddie sniffled back tears and said no more.

  “Tell me what happened, Leith,” Craven commanded, his tone not nearly as harsh as when he reprimanded his warriors.

  Leith hurried to explain. “The man just wanted a message delivered to the physician. That was all he asked and he promised me a coin in exchange for the task. All I had to do was wait for him near the stream after I delivered the message.” Leith shut his eyes and shook his head.

  “The stranger threw Leith in the stream and walked away laughing,” Haddie said, a tear running down her cheek. “As soon as I saw Leith get snagged by the branch and climb up on it, I ran for help. I knew the healer would help. She always helps.”

  “Can either of you tell me what this man looks like?” Craven asked, sitting in a chair across from the two, slightly annoyed that the lass had gone to Espy with no thought of coming to him for help.

  “He was not as tall as you,” Haddie said and wrinkled her nose, “and he had a mean face.”

  “Neither of you have ever seen him before?” Craven asked.

  The two children shook their heads.

  “What was the message he asked you to give the physician, Leith?” Craven asked.

  “To meet an old friend behind the barn.”

  “Old friend, not just friend?” Craven asked and Leith confirmed with a nod. “He said nothing more?”

  “He told me after I delivered the message to go wait by the stream where the two large pines hugged each other.” Leith chewed on his bottom lip briefly as if hesitant to continue, then he finally spoke. “He also told me that if I did not tell anyone, he would give me two coins. I wanted to surprise my mum and give them to her.”

  “That was good of you to want to give them to your mum,” Craven said and stood, looming over the lad. “It was not good that you did not inform me of what this stranger asked of you. You should have come to me with this immediately.”

  Leith swallowed hard. “Aye, my lord, I am sorry and I am ready for my punishment.”

  Haddie threw herself over her brother. “No! No! You cannot hurt my brother.”

  Craven truly admired the little lass. She had courage for one so young. “Leith will be a man one day and he will face his punishment like one. Is that not right, Leith?”

  Leith eased his sister off him. “Lord Craven is right, Haddie.”

  “No! No!” Haddie demanded again and stepped in front of her brother, her little body shielding him and her thin arms spread out from her sides as if sacrificing herself for him.

  For some reason the small lass reminded him of Espy, dark hair, soft blue eyes, and protecting another with no care for herself.

  Espy and he would have such a strong-willed and brave daughter. The thought came from out of nowhere. He may want to couple with Espy, but have children with her? No, all thought of having children had died with Aubrey. Or had it?

  Craven pushed the ridiculous thought away and snatched Haddie up in his powerful arms. She gasped and her round cheeks that had flushed with anger while defending her brother, lost all color, and she paled.

  “You will go and wait with your mum,” Craven ordered and lowered her to her feet.

  Haddie turned and went to her brother’s side, taking his hand. “I wait with him.”

  “Haddie! Do as Lord Craven commands,” Leith scolded.

  “I will not leave you. He cannot make me.”

  Craven saw that Dylan was trying to hide a smile and so was he. He did not hesitate, he snatched Haddie up in his arms again and marched out of the room and to the Great Hall, depositing her in front of her mother.

  “See that she waits here with you,” he ordered the woman, her eyes red from crying. He looked down at Haddie, her mother’s hands gripping the top of the little lass’ shoulders. “You will obey me when I speak, Haddie, or face punishment yourself.”

  “I am so sorry, my lord, she is a stubborn one,” Haddie’s mum apologized.

  “Your son will join you soon,” Craven said and saw the relief on the woman’s face.

  “Thank you, my lord, thank you.”

  Craven returned to his solar, Leith looking to him anxiously, though he held his tongue.

  “Your sister waits with your mum,” Craven said and saw the same relief on his face that had been o
n his mum’s. “As for your punishment, besides seeing to the horses, you will do extra chores in the kitchen for the next two weeks.”

  Leith looked about to smile, but stopped himself. “Aye, my lord, I will go there right now.”

  “No, after your ordeal you need to rest and regain your strength. Tomorrow is soon enough. You may take your leave.”

  Leith bobbed his head and before walking away, asked, “Is Espy all right?” He chewed at his bottom lip again. “She jumped right in and got yanked under the water twice before she reached me, and she struggled to get up on the log, but she did not give up. She saved me and I am so grateful.”

  “I expect you to tell her that when you see her and she does what you are about to do… rest.”

  “I will, my lord, I will,” Leith said, bobbing his head as he walked backward toward the door and bumped into the wall before turning around, pulling open the door, and running off.

  Dylan poured ale for them both and they sat.

  “This person who met with MacPeters has to be familiar with the area if he told Leith precisely where to meet him,” Craven said.

  “Aye, I thought the same myself and he would have to know MacPeters was expected here,” Dylan added, shaking his head. “But why would a physician from Edinburgh want to harm Aubrey? And with him now dead, how do we ever find out why?”

  Craven climbed the stairs, intending to sleep in Espy’s bedchamber for the night. Tula had kept him informed as to how Espy was doing. She last apprised him that Espy had gone to sleep for the night. He supposed that was what made him enter his bedchamber. He wanted to see for himself that she slept.

  Before he reached the bed, he could see it was empty.

  Chapter 19

  As soon as Espy’s bare feet touched the cold stone stairs a chill ran up and through her, feeling as if it reached down into her bones. Unfortunately, having left her boots on the shore and not knowing if anyone had retrieved them had left her barefoot. Tula had been reluctant to tell her that Anwen had started labor and even more reluctant to help her slip into her still wet garments. Tula had insisted that Lord Craven had made it known that Espy was to rest and he had reminded her of that each time she had informed him how Espy was doing.