Page 52 of The Torment of a Scottish Warrior
“Are you sure they are alive?” Simone asked.
“Nay, but my gut says they are. Find them, Simone. A lad is counting on us.” Logan got up and said, “I’m going to take a short rest. You all eat your meal. The mean one only gives me broth with vegetables, so I’ll eat inside. I’ll be out later to see what you’ve decided, Connor. Daughter, make me happy after this is all done.”
Simone caught up with him and kissed his cheek. “You can count on it, Da.”
Chapter Thirty
Merryn
After they ate a hearty meal, Merryn set her niece down near the other bairns playing in front of the hearth. Sylvi reached her quickly, and Merryn was pleased. After all the wee lass had been through, she was glad to see she could step away and play with the others.
“Come play with us, Shealee.” Sylvi took her by the hand and led her over to the spot where the wee ones played pretend. Sylvi was like a mother to Shealee.
Merryn smiled at their creativity. Sandor had a small wooden sword he could swing nearly in the same rhythm as a warrior. Tora had pretend fabric animals and was playing healer with all of them, setting them on beds before she fixed them.
Gwyneth noticed her husband returning to the hall. “Logan, I think your face should be on all the animals. They’re fixing you like Brenna did.”
Logan drawled, “If any of them try to pinch a nipple on the animals, I’ll know they were peeking in the door.”
Merryn’s eyes widened, but she said nothing.
Brenna was crossing the hall, so she made a quick adjustment and swerved in next to Logan, swatting his shoulder playfully. She leaned down and whispered, “I’ll do it again if you don’t behave around the bairns.”
Logan scowled and crossed his arms, hiding his chest. “Nay, you will not. That hurt like hell, though I’m certain you knew it would. You have a mean streak in you, Brenna Grant.”
“I heard you call me mean before. The truth of it is you are glad to have some peace to consume your broth slowly. You cannot fool me, Logan.”
Logan snorted, giving her a side-eye. “You are a bit witchy sometimes, Brenna.”
“It’s My Lady Ramsay to you.” She chuckled and headed into the healer’s chamber.
Logan called out, “Is it not time for you to go home, Brenna?”
“Not until this issue is settled! I’m here to help Eli when the wounded come in.”
He grumbled a bit, but then Gwyneth said, “She needs to stay, and you know it.”
He sighed. “She does, I fear.”
“In the solar, group,” Connor said, nodding to Logan. “Sela and Astra will watch the bairns.”
Broc took Merryn’s hand and led her into the chamber off the hall.
She whispered, “Are you sure I should be here?”
“Aye, because I know you,” he whispered back, kissing her cheek. “You’ll follow me. You need to know exactly what we’re fighting.”
She couldn’t argue that fact. If she had to sneak out on her own, she’d go to Mingary Castle with Simmy to help her kill that evil man. Seeing him had set the fire in her veins into a rage unlike previous. They had to put an end to him. Poor Magni had the most fearful look on his face. Even Kyla had been upset.
Only Lia had acted like nothing unusual was taking place.
But Merryn would prefer to go with Broc, so she was anxious to see what they’d decided their next step would be.
Broc found her a seat toward the back of the solar, then leaned against the wall next to her while the others entered. Simone, Artan, Thane, Logan, and Alaric, who carried Gwyneth in and set her on a chair near Merryn, Alasdair, John, Maitland, Dyna, and Derric all squeezed into the chamber. Tristan stuck his head in, and they waved him inside, so he stood against the wall.
Dyna moved to the back of the chamber. “Maitland, you can run this with my sire. I’m too emotional.” She leaned into Derric, who wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
Maitland agreed. “You need to stay back with Eli and Maeve. We need archers on the wall.”
