To Love A Highlander (Highland Warriors Book 1) Page 28

  Her thoughts turned to Penley and how increasingly annoying he had become, even though he was not staying at the keep, in the three days since his arrival. He did nothing but complain to anyone who would listen about how inhospitably he was being treated and that he had the right to remain at the MacVarish keep since it would be his one day.

  Espy had told her husband that she was relieved that he had told Penley he could not stay at the MacVarish keep, since she feared he would have found a way to see Owen dead. Craven had confessed he thought the same himself. She only wished there was a way to get rid of the irritating man sooner.

  Espy’s face brightened and her heart skipped a beat when she caught sight of her husband headed her way. It was not only his fine features or the strength of him that melted her heart when she looked upon him, but how he let her know in words and deeds how much he loved her.

  “Tula said that you sent her off for the day since there were few who needed tending, the sure indication of a skilled healer,” Craven said as he came to a stop in front of her and bent down to give her a quick kiss. When he lifted his head, he smiled broadly. “I have news.”

  “Penley is leaving,” she said, excitement stirring her words.

  “My thoughts as well,” he said, “but sadly no. I received a missive confirming what you and Innis had told me that Samuel MacBarnes died when you said he did. I wanted that proof so that no one could deny it.”

  Espy smiled softly. He was making sure she was safe from any accusations anyone might make and she loved him all the more for it. “It pleases me that there is proof and no one can say otherwise.”

  Craven placed his hands at his wife’s waist and gave it a loving squeeze. “Since no one needs you, I thought perhaps you would like to visit with your grandmother today. I am going to see Roark and I can see you safely to your grandmother’s and retrieve you on my way back.”

  Espy scrunched her brow. “What takes you to see Roark?”

  “Nothing in particular. I want him to know that I am keeping a close watch on him.”

  “Perhaps you should have him and some of his men come to the keep one day. One look at them and the black robes they wear, might have Penley thinking differently, perhaps even taking his leave.” When she caught his grin, she laughed and playfully poked him in the chest. “That was your intention all along.”

  “I have given it thought,” he confessed.

  “I think it is a very good thought and you should go see to it immediately while I visit with Cyra, and perhaps Innis would like to go as well.”

  “He has already left. I believe he has visited with Cyra almost every day since meeting her,” Craven said with a chuckle.

  “Well he did come to learn from her,” Espy reminded, then chuckled herself. “He does seem besotted.”

  They were about to walk off when one of Craven’s warriors approached in quick strides.

  “What is it, Stuart?” Craven asked in haste, seeing the worried look in the young warrior’s eyes.

  “It is Netty, my lord. She is in pain, but the bairn is not due for several weeks yet.”

  “I will be right along, go to your wife,” Espy said and Stuart bobbed his head to them both and hurried off. She turned to her husband with a sigh. “Go and tell my grandmother I will visit with her soon. I will see you when you return.”

  She went to kiss his cheek and Craven scooped her around the waist with his arm and lifted her off the ground to plant a hungry kiss on her lips. He ended the kiss abruptly, leaving her breathless and confused.

  “I will finish that later, wife,” he said and walked off.

  Espy smiled and pressed her fingers to her lips, plumped from his ravaging kiss and was eager for later to get here sooner. She jumped when she recalled Netty and hurried to collect what she needed, then hurried off.

  It did not take long to determine that Netty and Stuart’s bairn was not arriving early, but just to be safe, she told Netty not to do anything too strenuous and to rest when she could until the bairn finally did decide to arrive.

  Espy returned to the healing cottage to take advantage of the beautiful day and work in the garden. She stopped a moment when she thought she heard someone call her name, not hearing anything, she turned to reach for the hoe when she heard it again, her name being carried softly on the light breeze. She recognized the voice. She looked around casually and returned a wave to two women a short distance away. When they were out of sight and before anyone else came into view, she hurried behind the healing cottage.

  Once there, she stepped into the woods and called out softly, “Adara.”

  The young woman appeared from behind a thick tree trunk, looking much too pale. She hurried to her side and with an arm around Adara, she helped her to the cottage. She had her stretch out on the narrow bed and quickly put a hand to her brow to check for fever. There was none.

  “Are you in any pain?” Espy asked, pulling a chair beside the bed to sit.

  Adara shook her head and turned her head away from Espy.

  Espy placed a gentle hand on Adara’s arm and she jumped, but she did not yank it away. “Let me and my husband help you.” Adara’s eyes turned wide and she looked ready to spring off the bed and run, but Espy kept a firm hand on her. “You cannot keep running. Whoever hunts you will eventually find you. You will be safe here under Craven’s protection.”

  “Never safe,” she whispered.

  Espy shook her head. “That is not true. Craven will keep you safe. I have told him about you.” She had to keep a firmer hold on Adara when she heard that. “He has agreed to help you. He even told me he would make certain you are not returned to Warrick’s dungeon.”

  “Truly?” she asked hesitantly.

  “Aye,” Espy confirmed. “Craven will protect you and you will have the safety of the clan around you. You will finally have a home and need not fear anymore.”

  Adara’s stomach gurgled.

  “Have you eaten today?” Espy asked concerned.

  Adara shook her head.

  “I am going to feed you and then we will go to the keep and I will show you where you will stay until this is settled and a cottage can be found for you. Later when Craven returns, you can talk with him.”

  Espy was relieved when Adara nodded, and she got busy fixing a hot broth for the young woman along with a chamomile brew. She wanted to ask Adara if she knew anything about the man who brought her to Warrick’s dungeon, but she worried she would frighten her away if she knew the man had been here and had been murdered. It would be better if she waited to discuss all that with Adara until Craven returned.

  Adara just finished the broth and the brew when Espy heard Tass shout her name. She hurried outside, closing the door behind her.

  “It is Owen, an accident,” Tass said.

  “Can you send word to Craven and get warriors to escort me to MacVarish keep?” she asked.

  “A messenger is already on his way to Craven and warriors will be ready soon to escort you,” Tass said.

  “Let me get my things,” Espy said and returned inside the cottage to a frightened Adara. “I will take you to the keep and leave you there where you will be safe.”

  Adara shook her head. “I go with you.”

  Espy knew Adara well enough to know she would not stay with strangers. She felt safe with Espy and that was where she would stay or else Espy chanced her running away again.

  “I stay with you,” Adara said again, ringing her hands together.

  Espy cupped her hands around Adara’s small ones. “You stay with me. We will ride Trumble together.” She was surprised to see Adara smile, then she recalled how much she had enjoyed the tales about Trumble.

  Adara stayed close to her side when they left the cottage.

  It was not shock that had Tass and six warriors staring at Adara or the fact that they were surprised when Espy explained that Adara was an old friend who had arrived for a visit, an unlikely tale if she ever heard one. No, it was Adara’s beauty, her s
oft smile, she rarely wore, but then she was looking at Trumble, that had their mouths hanging agape.

  Adara rode with Espy on Trumble and it seemed to calm her. She was surprised to see that Penley and a few of his warriors were not at the camp when they passed it, but then Craven could not keep them prisoners. They were free to leave if they wished, but where had Penley gone?

  Espy felt a sudden chill and would be glad when her husband returned and met them at the MacVarish keep. She did not trust Penley.

  Lies.

  Ober’s last word rang in her head like a tolling bell. She had felt his last word had been one of warning. Did that mean that someone he had trusted betrayed him and what he sought in the end was revenge… lies. Ober warned of lies and Espy intended to take his warning seriously.

  Adara kept at Espy’s side when they entered the keep and she stayed to the shadows when they entered Owen’s bedchamber, as if she preferred to disappear.

  Owen was sitting up in bed, his head resting against a pillow, and his eyes closed when Espy approached and saw that his foot rested on a pillow and that his ankle was swollen badly and had turned purple.

  “An unfortunate accident.”

  Espy turned to see his eyes open.

  “It is quite painful to even try to attempt to walk on it.”

  “I can only imagine,” Espy said. “At least there are no bones protruding from the skin, though a bone may be broken inside. I am going to make a comfrey poultice for it, which will need to be applied fresh three times a day and you will have to stay off it for some time, so whatever is going on inside the ankle can heal. Rest, while I go fix the poultice.”

  Owen titled his head to the side, looking past her at the shadows that stirred. “Have you brought someone with you?”

  “A friend,” Espy said.

  Owen smiled. “Anyone who is a friend of yours certainly is a friend of mine and welcome in my home.”

  “Adara,” Espy called out, hoping the young woman would not be too frightened to step forward. “Come and meet Owen. He is a good and kind man.” When Adara did not seem as if she would respond, Espy looked to Owen. “She is shy.”

  “You are safe here. No one will harm you,” Owen offered.

  His words or perhaps it was he was his gentle and encouraging tone that had Adara emerge slowly from the shadows and take tentative steps toward Espy. When she reached the bed side, she pushed the hood to her cloak off her head.

  Owen gasped and all color drained from his face. “Oh my God, Faline!” Tears sprang to his eyes. “You are the exact image of my sister.”

  Chapter 32

  “You have her dark blue eyes like the sky before a storm and your hair is touched by the sun with a trace of fire, a fire she had in her soul for adventure. You are even petite like her. It is as if I am looking upon my sister, you are the perfect image of her,” Owen said, a tear running down the corner of his one eye. “Did my sister give birth to another child after she left here?”

  Adara shook her head. “I have no family.”

  “You do now,” Espy said, stepping beside her. “You are part of the Clan MacCara. You are family.”

  “Do you remember your sister Aubrey?” Owen asked.

  “I have no sister,” Adara said.

  “You must be my sister’s child. You are the image of her. It is as if she lives again through you,” Owen insisted.

  Espy could see that Adara was ready to flee and she did not want that. She was still pale and she was sure the young woman needed rest and sleep, having been running and hiding since last she had seen her.

  “Rest, Owen,” Espy said. “Adara will help me with the poultice and we can talk about this later.”

  “Aye, we will talk, for this young woman is of my blood and my clan and my land will go to her.”

  His words echoed through Espy’s head and pieces began to fall into place. It was a perfect reason to want Adara dead. The only heir left to the Clan MacVarish. She could not wait until Craven arrived to tell him. He would want even more to protect Adara when he learned she was Aubrey’s sister. It would make sense. A younger child with no memory of her parents, perhaps separated from her sister when she was young. It would do Craven’s heart good to protect Adara. It would be like saving Aubrey.

  Adara once again followed close to Espy until they entered the kitchen. There were far too many people there. People Adara did not know. Did not trust. She got Adara busy helping her make the poultice, keeping her hands and mind occupied, until more people crowded the room. Espy could see that Adara would run if she did not get her out of there soon. She instructed one of the servants on how to finish the poultice and how to apply it to Owen’s ankle, then she took Adara outside.

  The sky had turned bleak, the sun having vanished along with the pleasant day. She took her far enough away from the kitchen for her to feel comfortable. She wished Craven was there. She needed to tend Owen, but she also needed to see Adara kept safe.

  “We should not stay out here long,” Espy said, feeling unnerved by the quiet woods a short walk from them, though Adara looked at the dense forest with eagerness. It had turned into a place of safety for her and she looked ready to escape to it once again. “It is not safe for us here alone. We will return to Owen’s bedchamber and wait for my husband to arrive,” Espy said, hoping to encourage Adara and ease her worries.

  For a moment, Adara appeared as if she could not decide, her eyes intent on the woods, then to Espy’s relief, she nodded.

  They turned to walk back to the kitchen when without warning hands came down on their mouths and arms wrapped tightly around their waists to drag them away into the woods.

  Instinct had both women fighting, but it was futile, they could not break free.

  The hands continued to hold them strong, forcing them along in the woods. If only her mouth was not covered, Espy could whistle for Trumble. He would come and help them.

  After what seemed a distance the warriors who held them shoved them loose and Espy tried to catch Adara before she tumbled to the ground, but she could not stop herself from falling to the ground as well. She landed beside Adara and they both scurried to their feet, their arms locking tightly around each other.

  “It was sheer accident or perhaps my good luck that the fool Ober came across you here,” Penley said, a sneer twisting his lips. “He recognized you from Warrick’s dungeon and thought that Adara might come to you for help. He was here to do away with my fool cousin who thought himself a physician and who I had no doubt would eventually spill the truth to Craven. I knew you had to have something to do with Adara’s escape. I had it all planned and you ruined everything. You had to free her. You could not let it be.”

  “I do not know you,” Adara said, as if trying to make sense of what was happening.

  “You do not remember me,” Penley said, “but I remembered being told of you. You were barely two years when your mum landed on my aunt’s doorstep. She was ill and had no place to go. Her husband had died. She asked my uncle to take you to her brother. That he would give him a generous reward for bringing his niece safely to her. She told him and my aunt all about the Clan MacVarish and when last she had seen her brother.

  “My aunt was not a trusting soul and did not believe her and either did my uncle. Neither wanted another mouth to feed, but there was no one who would take you. You became Adara. Oddly enough, or perhaps it was a stroke of luck, my aunt and uncle’s only child was named Aubrey and my aunt wanted no confusion. It took until you were four to find a family who would take you. I learned all this upon a visit to my aunt and uncle several years after you were gone. My uncle was dead and my aunt close to it. My cousin was the only one left and one night she told me the story about you. She thought perhaps that we could find you and return you home, make up for what her mum should have done. She tempted me with the possibility of a reward, claiming she wanted none of it. But then she was always too kind for her own good. I, however, realized there was so much more to gain than jus
t the reward, so I devised a plan.”

  “You had your cousin take Aubrey’s identity,” Espy said as more pieces fell into place. “How did you get her to agree?”

  “I threatened her life in unspeakable ways unless she obeyed me. The mistake I made was that I believed her as weak as my aunt. She married that hulking beast to best me and get MacVarish land for herself.”

  “The mistake you made,” Espy corrected, “was underestimating Aubrey’s caring heart that had her falling in love and marrying a man who would protect her and one you could not frighten.”

  Penley sneered at the thought. “She was a fool if she thought to betray me. I followed her every move and when she got pregnant I adjusted my plan, which turned out to be so much better, for it meant I would not have to suffer Aubrey as my wife until I could have done away with her.” He waved his hand. “Enough of this. You both need to die.”

  “The woman and Ober worked with you?” Espy asked, wanting to keep him talking, wanting time for someone to find them, preferably her husband. He would be close by now, at least she hoped he was.

  “She worked with Ober, I had no use for her, and they are both where I intended them to be once I no longer needed them… dead.”

  Espy shook her head. “Why go after Adara when she does not even know you, know any of what had happened when she was a mere bairn?”

  “One thing I learned is that you never leave anything behind that may return to haunt you one day. Adara would always be there lurking, the last piece of truth that could be found and could have destroyed everything I gained.”

  “In the end, it destroyed you anyway,” Espy said. “You think my husband will not find out? That he will not come after you?”

  “He will not find out. Your bodies will never be found. He will always wonder and he will retreat into grief once again and I will find a way to get his clan and his land. It all truly worked out even better than I had planned.”