Page 29 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
“I’ll tell Alick and join you.”
“Their savior is sickly, and I wish to move along. Once you speak with Alick, please help Sela get the bairns situated safely on the ship. I’ll take care of Midnight and MacVey’s horse.”
Alasdair glanced over at Meg and Lennox, then directed his question to Lennox. “Do you know who abducted them?”
Connor turned to Lennox, who shook his head. “We don’t. I haven’t questioned the bairns yet. They were too upset. My goal was to get them back first. The five slept in a cave last eve and have traveled for three days, so the men are surely looking for them. Meg was about to collapse when I found them. I did what I thought was best.”
Alasdair said, “Wise move. Get the bairns to safety first. We’ll find the bastards.”
Connor said, “They had better start running.”
Leaving his horse with Grant, Lennox found a spot on the upper deck and sat, laying Meg down with her head in his lap. He’d protect her from the bouncing of the birlinn the best he could. The waves were not bad, but there were enough horses on the lower deck to move things if they got upset. He noticed Alasdair chose the men who were to go below deck to keep the animals calm.A wise move, he thought.
The ship was crowded when they finally shoved away from the dock, but he noticed Magni and Rowan stuck close to Connor while Tora held on to her grandmother’s hand, sitting on her lap.
“Magni, where’s Lia?”
Magni didn’t look him in the eye when he answered. “She had somewhere to go.”
Lennox glanced back at the disappearing shoreline searching for a wee lass running about. “Who took her?”
Sela teared up. “I was so excited to have Tora back that I neglected to pay attention to Lia. I thought the lads had her.”
Connor looked confused. “Where did the other lass go, Tora?” Connor asked.
“Lia said she would be busy. She told us all last night not to fwet about hew.”
Rowan nodded. “She said she was going for a brief journey, then she’d return. She made us promise not to tell anyone until she was gone.”
Lennox didn’t want to yell, though he felt the need to, but this was ridiculous. A young lass like Lia didn’t just make plans to go off on her own.
Tora got up from her grandmother’s lap and moved over to pat Lennox’s hand. “Do not wowwy. She’s not twuly a lass.”
“What?” Connor and Lennox said in unison.
“She’s a faewy. She’ll weturn soon.”
Chapter Seventeen
Lennox
Once they arrived at Craignure, Lennox found his horse, Meg sleeping comfortably in his arms, then led the beast up the hill while he waited for Connor and his wife with the bairns. No one was there to greet them, but it was nearly dark, so the patrols should all be ending. It wouldn’t take long for any at his castle and Duart Castle to notice the arrival of the recent visitors.
Sela approached him and said, “You know, Eli was trained by the two finest healers on the mainland. I know naught of your healers here, but please consider that it might be best to take her to Duart Castle. I’d be honored to watch over her. She’s an angel sent to save these four.”
“Many thanks to you, but I’ll take her to Eli if she is receptive. I don’t know Meg, but I have spoken with her, so she knows me enough to trust me. It has been a long day. I’ll see what Dyna says about the other patrols and have her send messengers to Clan Rankin.” He nodded toward Rowan. “His uncle is the chieftain.”
Connor helped Lennox situate Meg in front of him in the saddle, then they led the first group up the hill to the main path just as two riders approached.
“Da!” Dyna squealed with excitement. “Is that Tora with Mama? Tora?”
Tora said, “I’m fine, Mama.”
Dyna nearly dismounted but her father stopped her. “Tora’s fine, but I ask that you wait until we are at the castle to greet her. We need to get the lass who saved them to a healer. She and MacVey brought them to safety. Is Eli at the castle?”
“Aye. Of course. Lennox, I’ll need to hear everything.” She led the way, and Connor fell back while Lennox moved abreast of Dyna.
“You have them all?” she asked.
