Page 24 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
The man appeared in front of her.
He wasn’t any of the men she’d seen at the kirk, and she’d not seen him at the market either. Hesitant, she waited until he saw her, and she held the axe over her head. “Come any closer and I’ll fire this.”
The man stopped as soon as he saw the axe. “I will not come closer, then. But I have a question. I promise I’m not here to hurt you.”
“Go ahead, but if you come any closer, I will throw. I’m verra good with it.” Her lower lip trembled so she bit down to stop it, but she was certain he’d noticed. He was a handsome man. Tall, broad-shouldered, hair as dark as the night and eyes the color of a cloudless sky in summer. He had a sword sheathed over his shoulder. “Do not go for your weapon.”
He held up both hands. “I thought I saw a couple of lads. We are missing some bairns from the Isle of Mull. I’ve come to take them home.”
“Sure you are. For certes, you are lying. You’re from the kirk. I’m sure your plan is to steal them away and take them back, but I will not allow it. You’ll have to kill me first.” She lifted her chin to let him know she was not jesting.
He knelt on one knee. “Lass, you are sick. I can see from your flushed cheeks and the dullness in your eyes that you havea fever. Probably from that swollen cut on your hand. I can see the scab and the redness from here. I need to get you to a healer if you wish to live.”
He rose and took two steps forward, so she stood and swung the axe back in an arch over her head.
His arms flew up over his head quickly. “Nay, not yet. I’ll stop.”
“You’re not taking me to a healer.”
“How about this? There are four bairns. Two boys about six and ten. Two lasses around five, both fair-haired.”
“If you are the one who stole them away, then you would know that, wouldn’t you? That proves naught to me.”
“The younger lad knows me. Allow him out and he’ll attest to me. Then I’ll take us all to Oban, about two hours west of here. I have one horse, and you may ride it with the lassies. I’ll pay for your fare. I’m the chieftain of Clan MacVey. We have two wonderful healers on the Isle of Mull. I wish to get the bairns home and get you to a healer.”
She listened, hoping that this handsome man was telling the truth. He gave her enough reasons that she thought to trust him until Rowan could vouch for him. Tears rolled down Meg’s cheeks and she whispered, “Will you help me get to Ulva after? I need to find my sister.”
“I promise to get you to Ulva. I’ll help you in any way I can.” His blue eyes bore into hers, and though there was a touch of coldness there, she believed what he said. He’d offered a perfect way to prove whether he was lying. All she had to do was ask Rowan if he knew this man.
Right now, she needed help. Could he be her savior?
She had to trust him, not because of his looks or his words, but because shewasgetting sick. Her mind was no longer working the same as it should. She was unsure of whether shecould make it to the ferry, and it was more important that someone take care of the bairns.
“Magni! Bring your friend here.”
A moment later, Magni stuck his head out, then Rowan came up behind him, launching into a squeal as soon as he saw the man. “Uncle Lennox!”
The big chieftain opened his arms and Rowan jumped into them with a shout. “We’re safe! He’s my uncle’s closest friend. He’ll take us home.”
Meg fainted and tumbled from the rock.
Chapter Fourteen
Connor
Connor Grant stood by the port of Oban, barking orders at everyone he saw. Alasdair, his nephew, reached his side and said, “Chief, please allow me to handle this.”
Connor and his brother Jamie had been co-chieftains of Clan Grant, but they’d passed the lairdship on to Alasdair and Alick, their nephews. Even though Alasdair was now chieftain of the clan, he referred to Connor as chieftain out of respect.
Connor sighed, his hands settling on his hips as he stared at the ground. “You are correct, Alasdair. I have no sense of reason when I know my grandbairns are involved.”
“We don’t know that for sure yet. Dyna may have found Tora by now.” Alasdair moved over to the captain of the ship onto which they were boarding the warhorses. Numerous Grant guards assisted with the task as the sound of the waves unsettled the animals.
Sela, Connor’s wife, joined him and said, “Let Alasdair handle it all. We’ll go on the first ship. He can go on the last one.”
Alasdair returned to them and said, “Nay, I’ll not be on the last one. Alick will.”
Connor grinned. Everything about Alasdair reminded him of his deceased father Alexander, and his deceased brother Jake, Alasdair’s sire.
