Page 7 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
One and twenty mixed with seven would give you…
Much later, Meg bolted up in bed, shocked that she’d fallen asleep. It was still dark out. She moved the fur back from her window after climbing off the bed, shivering as she stared up at the moon.
It was time to go.
She crept out, not making a sound with the door because it had never latched, then tiptoed across the floor, her bag in hand. She grabbed her mantle and a scarf, one of the lap furs by the hearth, then crept outside. She’d donned a pair of trews she often used when gardening, tucking two gowns into her bag along with her underclothing and a comb with a few slivers of soap. Lifting her axes from the rock outside, she wrapped both in the sheath, then in a heavy fabric, and hung them from the saddle along with her bag. She took some food for her mare, then a deep breath, and set off down the path.
While she questioned which direction to head, she knew only one thing about Tamsin. Her husband lived on the Isle of Ulva.
Meg had no choice. She headed toward the sea with the few coins she’d saved tucked away for a ferry to get her to Ulva.
Wherever that was.
She had no idea.
Chapter Five
Thane
Thane stood on the beach not far from their castle, laughing as Tamsin participated in a game with Alana, Magni, and Lia. They were playing catch me in the water.
“My do it? Pweez?” asked wee Alana, already soaked from head to toe.
“We’ll move in, Magni. Give her a chance.” She turned to her daughter, bending down to her level. “All you have to do is touch us and you will win, lassie. That’s the game,” her mother said, chuckling as her daughter headed straight for her.
“I get you, Mama.”
Tamsin ran away from her, but slowly, so her daughter could catch her, if Thane were to guess. He’d never known such happiness as the day Tamsin entered his life. Well, once she’d gotten away from that cruel husband of hers. Alana was as sweet as could be, and watching Tamsin with the three bairns warmed his heart.
He’d once wondered if he even had a heart to warm. No more. She’d warmed every part of him until he’d fallen in love with her. Something that had pleased his sister as much as anyone. Mora had whispered to him, “I knew it. You are perfect together, Thane.”
Brian had drawled, “Good. Now mayhap we can allow some lasses around once in a while. I’d like to marry someday.” Thane had hated their mother so much that he refused to allow women in the keep, except for them to share in a meal. Things changed after he met Tamsin, to his siblings’ delight.
Mora came flying down the beach and shouted, “Get me, Alana! Come catch me!”
Tamsin whirled around to see Mora, then tripped and fell into deeper water, going under with a sputter. Thane nearly gothis boots wet to chase after her, but her confidence in the water had grown much, thanks to his help. Instead, she popped her head above the surface and said, “I’m fine, Thane!”
She giggled as Alana launched herself at her mother with a squeal. “Got you, Mama.”
“You did get me, sweetum. Now go for Magni.”
Lia made her way back toward Thane, saying, “I have a chill. The water is a wee bit cool.”
Thane said, “I’ll stay out with you, Lia. They can have their fun. I still don’t trust the area.” He glanced over his shoulder, pleased to see Brian talking with another guard, Bearnard. Thane wouldn’t go anywhere outside the walls without guards.
Lia said, “We are all happy now, and I thank you for that, my lord.”
“You are a large part of that happiness, little lady.”
“Aye, but please understand that some things must happen. In order for everything to work the way the heavens wish, things often go awry. Fear not—all will be well, eventually.”
He scowled, wishing to ask for more of an explanation for such an odd comment, but he sensed something behind him. A sudden chill ran up his spine because he knew it was more than the slight rustle of a squirrel scampering in the leaves. The vibration in the ground of large animals was too heavy and came from far away.
“Tamsin, get Alana and come here, please.” He wasn’t going to wait to see what it was.
A wee puppy ran straight toward them, drawing Alana’s attention. Her chubby legs churned toward the animal, and her giggles carried everywhere, even over her mother’s shouts for her daughter not to chase after the small dog. Thane was about to go after her when he heard shouts from Brian. Several mysterious horsemen came at them from three different directions and they wore no plaids, an indication of someone notof the isle. Who they were and what they were doing near his land he didn’t know, but he wouldn’t wait to find out. He had to get the wee ones to safety first.
“Go to the keep, Magni. Grab Lia and get on the horse and go!”
