Page 70 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
With two strokes, he was next to her. “Maeve, I’m here. I’ll support you.”
Sloan took one arm and wrapped it across the top of her chest, sliding his body underneath her to lift her head above the water. “I’ve got you, but don’t fight me or you’ll take us both down. Relax, Maeve.”
Connor’s voice called out, “We’re coming. Dyna and Maitland are almost to you. Hang on.”
The creature came up out of the water again, and Grant laughed, waving to the reptilian monster.
What the hell was happening?
Maitland appeared between Sloan and Eva. “I’m here, Maeve. Who shall I take?”
Sloan said, “Neither one, Maitland. Grant is safely tied to Eva, so swim next to her until she can touch. Maeve is calm with me, and I’d rather not move her. Too much fire and chaos to stop.”
Maeve said, “Maitland, I’m fine. Sloan and Eva saved us both.”
Connor and Dyna swam on either side of them and Dyna said, “Da, are you watching your nephew and the creature?”
Connor said, “I noticed. He’s enjoying this, is he not?”
Dyna said, “A wee bit too much, I think.”
Maitland looked around and asked, “Where’s Lia?”
Eva said, “She was still on the boat when we left.”
Dyna whirled around in all directions before continuing. “I don’t see her in the water, but I wouldn’t worry about her. I think she’s controlling everything.”
Maeve said, “She pushed me in the water before the creature appeared. I haven’t seen her since.”
Grant pointed at the creature and said the first word they’d ever heard from him, “Wia.” Then he giggled again.
“Wia.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Sloan
A short time later, Sloan sat on the small hill in front of the castle wall, Eva settled between his legs, leaning against him. “You are a strong swimmer, lass. You did well, especially with the two bairns together.”
“They were easy, but I tired quickly. I’ve been thinking about it all, and I’ve decided I know one thing for certain. I don’t think anything is ever going to hurt Alexander Drew Menzie Grantham.”
Shadow spun around and yipped at Sloan as if to agree with her, then launched himself at Eva, right onto her lap. She laughed and tickled her dog. “I know, I know. You are such a good lad. You told them all where I was. And you told Sloan about me traveling there too. You deserve a treat!”
He barked so Eva pulled a piece of dried meat out of a nearby sack and handed it to him. “Here. I knew you deserved some, Shadow, so I grabbed you a wee bit of Thane’s last batch of venison.” The pup ate his treat, then rushed off toward the beach, running in the grassy area.
Thane and Tamsin sat next to them, Maitland on the other side, leaning back on his elbows and chewing on a blade of grass. Maeve and Dyna had taken the bairns inside to wash up and to feed them. They’d all been through an ordeal.
Maitland glanced over at Sloan and Eva. “I don’t know how to thank you properly for saving my wife and son. Both of you. Incredible how well you timed getting Eva off the boat and distracting the men, Sloan, so they never noticed her until it was too late.”
Eva said, “I know we all believe Lia is Grant’s protector, but I wish she would return.”
As if she’d heard them, Lia stepped out from behind a tree, looking as fresh as ever.
Mora had come out to join them, and she rushed over, wrapping Lia in a huge hug. “There you are. I missed you so much and I was worried about you. Will you stay with us for a few days, Lia? Please? And we have to get Magni back, so it feels like it used to. Promise to stay with us?”
Sloan glanced over at Thane, both men smiling at Mora’s exuberance and her inquisitive nature. How she adored Lia and Magni.
Mora stepped back and declared, “Lia, you are not a bit wet. Did you not get thrown into the water with the others? How did you get back here when the boats are out there still? Well, two of them are gone, but one was destroyed with that monster’s tail, and what was that, anyway? Was it a snake or a giant fish? Mayhap an eel of some kind?”
