Page 31 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
“The boats, the horses. We heard all. Rowan is fine. Sloan is on his way. Come home, Lennox. You said you’d be gone for a day, but it’s been a few.”
“Nay, I’m not leaving her.” He nodded toward Meg on the bed. “Look, Mama. This woman is the one who saved the bairns. I will see her to her destination and explain everything to you in the hall. Please allow me to finish with Eli first before I answer your questions.”
He could have sworn his mother smirked, but the look vanished and she said, “I’ll wait for you.”
He turned back to Eli, not willing to argue because he was too exhausted. “Check her finger under the dirt. I could see the swelling on her left hand.”
Eli sat next to Meg and lifted her hand, moving the finger a touch.
Meg bolted up in the bed and said, “Don’t you touch those bairns or I’ll kill you.” Her right hand swung out and punched Eli in the cheek, though the strike was not powerful enough to hurt. “Leave them alone. Leave me alone.”
Lennox moved Eli out of the way and wrapped his arms around Meg so she couldn’t move. “They’re fine, Meg.”
She stared at him and tried to wriggle away. “I wish to see them. I have to get them home.”
“They are home,” he said in his most calming voice. “Remember me? I’m Lennox MacVey. I found you in front of the cave where you threatened me with an axe to my chest if I moved. You’re at Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull. Tora is with her mother, and Rowan’s uncle is on his way. Magni’s sire will be here soon.”
“Lia? She left, did she not? She told me she was going to leave the others in Oban.”
“We’ll get Lia. This is Eli. She’s a healer, and she’s going to fix your finger. Once you’ve changed, the bairns will come in to see you, but we’ll feed them first. You have my word that the three are safe, and we will go back for Lia.”
Meg’s head fell on his shoulder, and she clung to him. “Please don’t let anyone harm them, Lennox. Promise me you’ll find Lia.”
“We will. I promise.” He rubbed her back and glanced over at his mother, who was as wide-eyed as he’d ever seen her.
Meg closed her eyes and said, “Save them. The men will come back for them. They’ve already tried to follow us. Cruel bastards.”
He peered over at Eli, who motioned for him to lay her back down. Once they had her settled, she said, “I’ll wash her up and change her, then I’ll have to lance her finger. I could probably use your help with that, so I don’t take a fist to my other cheek. Give me a quarter hour and I’ll call you in. Rut, mayhap you could ask Murreal for some vegetable broth? Meg needs food.”
“Of course. I’ll bring it back in for you, Eli. I can help feed her.”
“Nay, I’ll feed her, Mother. She doesn’t know you.” Lennox would not argue with her, so he stepped out.
He swore his mother looked at Eli and said, “Finally.”
Chapter Eighteen
Connor
Connor managed to get Sela and the bairns inside and settled, with the two lads now chowing down on meat pies, so he headed back out to help Alasdair arrange the horses and see what else they needed for their guards. The cook advised she had more meat pies and loaves of bread nearly ready.
The men could wait, and they knew it.
Alasdair approached. “The stable buildings are beautiful. One made of wood with plenty of stalls with a wee bit of fire damage that we can fix, and a stone building with stalls and plenty of pallets and stools for our men.”
“It’s a fine night to sleep under the stars. Tell them to take care of the horses and we’ll feed them in about an hour.” Connor’s gaze traveled to the castle entrance. “Alasdair, is that Logan?”
Alasdair spun around and asked, “Truly? No one has seen him since Alaric’s wedding, or so I thought. Mayhap he’s living here?”
Connor strode toward the entrance, pleased to greet his old friend. He came in with two women on horses, and he swore one was Logan’s wife, Gwyneth, the woman they thought to be dead from an infection in her leg. He approached to help one woman down, one he didn’t know. “May I be of assistance, my lady?”
“Why, you surely could. I happily accept your help.”
Connor smiled and lifted her down. “Connor Grant, father to Dyna, grandfather to the three wee hellions.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Connor Grant. I am Eva, sister to Lennox MacVey. Is he here?”
“He is. I met him and he’s a fine man. Your brother is part of the reason the bairns are here. He found the lass who’d moved them secretively nearly to Oban, and he’s with our healer now,not for himself but for the lass. Please go inside and you’ll hear the story. I wish to help this lady. Broc?” He waved over to his nephew.
