Page 32 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
Broc ran over to assist. Connor said, “Please escort Lady MacVey inside. I’ll help Gwyneth.”
As the two left, Connor grinned. “Hellfire, but you two are a pleasant sight to see, Logan and Gwyneth Ramsay. What are you doing here?”
Logan dismounted and moved over to his wife. “I’ll get her, Connor. She’s got issues now.”
Connor waited but noticed right away that Gwyneth had lost her leg. “Sorry to learn you have issues, Gwyneth.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “But I’m more pleased to see you are well. You are healed?”
“Aye, and my niece is working on some fancy contraption to help me walk so I don’t break Logan’s back. It’s lovely to see you, Connor. Glad you are here. There are some evil people on this isle. It’s a lovely place with some fine clans, but there are always a few. You can help them, I am sure.”
“There are evil people everywhere, Gwyneth, but you know that. I’m glad to be here to see my daughter and family. They are all inside. Are you staying here?”
Logan replied, “We stayed with Clan MacVey for a bit, but we’re moving here now. I’ll go let Alaric know, and then I’ll return once I find myself an ale, Grant. We need to talk.”
Connor nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”
“See if you can find a private place for a discussion.”
“I’ll find one. I believe I see a bench on the far side of the courtyard.” He pointed to an area in the dark, but still inside the curtain wall. “Bring me an ale too, if you can, Logan. I’ll be over there in a few minutes.”
Connor hadn’t expected to see Logan here, but it was a great surprise. He trusted Logan to assess the situation on the isle andupdate him on anything he needed to know. Logan had more experience than Derric and Dyna, and with Maitland on the mainland, they must be busy learning the area.
A few moments later, Connor found the bench and took a seat, loving the night air and scanning the new castle where his grandbairns would grow up. The smell of the salt air was unique to him, and he found it pleasing. He couldn’t wait to explore the area on the morrow. After a good night’s sleep.
But first, he must find a way to get all his worries off his mind. Relax, enjoy his family, his friends, his clan, and their many allies. Tora was home with her mother. That was the best part of his day.
Logan returned promptly carrying two goblets. “Fresh just for us, so the serving lass said. It tastes fine to me.”
Connor took a sip and smiled. “Just what I needed. The meat pie can wait. I wish to hear your thoughts on the isle. I’ve talked with Maitland extensively, and he seemed pleased thus far. He didn’t detect any true threats. Your concerns suggest otherwise.”
“One that I know of. I’ll update you with all I’ve learned.” Logan took a seat next to Connor on the bench, but he barely had time to get his thoughts arranged when a lad came barreling out of the keep straight for him. “Chief Ramsay, you must do something. Please help her.”
Connor looked to Logan and said, “You know this lad? He was one who was captured?”
“I do. Magni, calm down and tell me what has you in such a state.” He moved to the edge of the bench, leaving a space for the lad between Connor and Logan. “Sit right here. You’ll have the two strongest men to protect you.”
“You have to go back for Lia. Please.”
“Why didn’t she come with you? I was informed all the bairns were found.” Logan looked at Connor for confirmation.
“All were found by Meg and Lennox. Lia didn’t return on the ship. She remained in Oban.”
Magni added, “Rowan and Tora came back, but Lia didn’t. She made us all promise not to tell. So, we couldn’t. She said she had to go somewhere to take care of some things.”
Connor could see the lad was riled up over the issue, but he didn’t know Lia or the lad, so he had to let Logan handle the situation.
“Magni, why are you telling me if she made you promise to keep her secret?”
“Because she said we couldn’t tell Meg or the chief, but she didn’t say we couldn’t tell someone else. And besides, you already know she’s not truly my sister.” He leaned in to whisper, “You already guessed the truth, Chief Ramsay. They all think she’s my sister because that’s what she told me to say and I had to promise not to tell anyone where I found her and then she said to tell everyone we were brother and sister, but she never said I couldn’t tell you the truth, but you already knew so…”
Logan held up his palms and said, “Magni, take a breath. Calm down. Do you see this man behind you?”
“Aye. Tora’s grandsire.”
“Aye, he’s the chieftain of Clan Grant and they have nearly one thousand guards to help him. They’ll do whatever he tells them to do. We will find Lia. I promise you.”
Connor set his hand on the lad’s shoulder. “I swear to you, as one of the best swordsmen in all the land, along with my nephew, we will find the evil souls who dared to touch you and my granddaughter. They will be found, and they will pay.”
“My thanks to you. But I don’t know them.”
