Page 84 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
When Sheona and Taskill stood outside the door, they both paused to listen, and when she heard her father’s sultry voice, she couldn’t stop herself. She burst into the chamber and shouted, “Da?”
There stood her sire, his arm leaning against the hearth mantel, clad in just his dress plaid. Seated nearby was Rut MacVey, rose-colored cheeks and a cup of wine in her hand.
“Mama?” Taskill yelled. “What the hell is going on?”
Both stupefied and shocked, they looked at the two elders who didn’t look the least bit out of sorts or guilty, both wearing smiles that Sheona hadn’t seen in years.
His mother said, “Don’t get upset, dear. We made Neil and Alma promise not to tell anyone we were here after Broc and Merryn arrived. We had no idea you would be here.”
Taskill bellowed, “What the hell did you drag my mother here for, Rankin?”
Sheona said, “Taskill, you cannot yell at him. He’s my sire. It’s my job to yell at him. Da, what the hell is going on? Do you know how many people are searching for the two of you? Do you know we could have lost our lives looking for you?” Her hands settled on her hips.
The only reaction they received was more laughter.
Dermot came over, rubbed her cheek with the back of his hand, and said, “We’ll talk in the morn, lass. You look exhausted.”
“Nay, you’ll disappear again.”
Everyone quieted around her, and she did her best to hold her tears inside, successful for now but probably not for long. “You left me, Da.” Her voice came out in such a whisper that the facade her sire usually wore crumbled.
Rut said, “Dermot, we’re leaving soon. You need to talk with her.”
“Nay, I’ll escort her to her chamber, Rut. You stay here with Taskill. I’ll have a conversation with your son on the morrow. That much I promise.”
Rut climbed out of her chair and her arms waved over her head at him. “Oh, stop with that intimidating act, Dermot. Enough is enough. Can you not see that both of our bairns are exhausted and discouraged? Go speak with your daughter.”
Her father set his hand on Sheona’s back and ushered her toward the door. “Which chamber is yours?”
Unable to speak, she pointed two doors down the passageway.
Once inside, she took a seat next to the hearth, sipping on her barely warm broth. Her father grabbed a blanket from a basket nearby and settled it on her lap. “Now, tell me how you ended up here instead of at the abbey.”
“Nay, you first. Why are you here with Rut?”
Her father sighed and sat down. “It’s a simple answer, lass. I’m lonely. I miss your mother, but she’s no longer here. I was looking for some female companionship and there was Rut. I’ve known her forever, and she’s been alone over two years. Why not the two of us?”
“You should have told someone where you were going. Lennox, Sloan, Eva, everyone is looking for you.”
“You’re right. I’ll have MacLean send a message to Mull on the morrow. Now, I need to hear about you. You look a mess, lass. What happened?”
“You mean besides being left alone at the abbey, and having two men come to the holy place searching for me who were stopped by a friend because she hit them with a dagger and sent them away, and then running into Taskill who said you were missing so we left, and then we got stuck in a storm and ourboat was crushed to pieces, and we had to swim to shore and we ended up on Erraid where there are no cottages, but Lia led us to one where we spent the night?”
Her sire bolted out of his chair. “You spent the night with Taskill? I’ll kill him!”
She jumped up. “Da! The hell you will. After all we’ve been through, I’d be dead if not for Taskill. He got me to shore. I couldn’t swim anymore and he barely made it. And after everything else I told you, that was the only thing that concerned you? Not the fact that we nearly died or two men tried to kidnap me? All you’re worried about is Taskill? And something else … Stop yelling at me, Da. I’ve had enough of your bellowing. I’m old enough to make my own decisions now, and I’m confused. I needed you, and you left me.” And that did it. The tears came out in full.
“Ah, lassie. I’m sorry.” He lifted her and set her on his lap. “Stop your tears now. I don’t know what to say to you. I need Ailis here. I’m sorry she’s gone.”
“I miss Mama,” she wailed, a bit too loudly, but then she slowed her tears. There, it was said. Then she whispered, “I miss Mama, Da. If she were still here, she’d tell me what to do.”
“I miss her too. I’ll help you if I can. In fact, I’m not hiding any longer. The abbess said she thought someone might have abused you. I need to know if there’s any truth to that statement, Sheona. Did anyone abuse you or force themselves on you?”
“Rinaldo. He did.” She sighed, wiped her tears with a linen square, and then told him about Rinaldo. She’d held it in long enough, and now he needed to know.
“Did he rape you?”
“Nay. He said he would. That it was his job to do so as my brother, to take my maidenhead, but you killed him first.” She waited, wondering how her father would feel about heradmission. Would he be upset with her? Mad at her for telling him the truth? “I’m sorry, Da.”
