Highland Courage(86)
Choking back a sob, Finola turned and ran from the camp. Once she was far enough away so that no one would hear her, she sunk to her knees and sobbed. After a few moments, someone placed a hand on her shoulder. Afraid, she jerked away, jumping to her feet to run.
“Easy, lass, I mean ye no harm,” said a soft male voice.
“Who are ye?”
“My name’s Rafer. I’m a Fraser and I overheard ye talking with Guthrie earlier.”
“Then ye know he wouldn’t help me, he sent me away.”
“Aye, lass, I know. But he was wrong to do that. Darcy does want to help ye. He told me so. After what ye did, he was worried about ye and told me to look for ye. I was heading to your encampment to find ye. Imagine my surprise to see ye here talking to Guthrie only to hear him turn ye away.”
“Darcy sent ye to help me?”
“Aye, lass, he did. He wants to see ye. He bid me find ye and take ye to a safe place. He will meet ye there as soon as he can get away from the castle. Will ye come with me?”
Finola was flooded with relief. Darcy did care for her and he would protect her. “Aye, I’ll come with ye. I knew he cared.”
“Wait here for me, then. I will fetch a horse. We won’t get far on foot.”
She waited as he bid. Before long, he returned mounted on a large black gelding. He pulled her onto his lap and rode along the northern edge of Loch Craos to the heavy forest on its eastern bank. When she tried to make conversation, he told her to be still. He didn’t want to risk anyone hearing them. Surely, the sound of the horse’s hooves was louder than her soft voice, but she didn’t argue. Eventually they came to a small cave at the base of a rocky hill. It was little more than an indention in the rock but it provided a small bit of shelter.
He helped her dismount. “Ye must stay here, undercover. Darcy will come for ye as soon as he can.” He tossed her a wineskin and a bag containing a little dried meat and oatcakes. “Here is a bit of food for ye. Try to rest and he’ll be here before ye know it.”
Fear gripped Finola as she watched him ride away. She was alone, in the middle of a forest, without any means of protection. Still, the night was quiet and she doubted there was anything that could harm her. Perhaps it would be best if she tried to rest. She wrapped her plaid tightly around her and curled up to sleep in the shallow cave.
~ * ~
As the sun rose, Tadhg awoke, his sweet Mairead snuggled close to him. His anger from the previous day returned as the morning light illumined her bruises. He might not be able to exact vengeance from Darcy, but he could certainly deal with Finola today and he intended to. Mairead stirred as he slipped out of bed. “Wheest, sweetling, go back to sleep. Ye need to rest.”
She stretched, wincing slightly. “I have rested. Where are ye going?”
“I need to speak with David.”
Mairead sat up in bed, her brow furrowed. “Tadhg, Finola made a mistake. She didn’t know what would happen.”
“Aye, she made a huge mistake. If she had come to me, her laird, with her concerns, ye wouldn’t have been harmed. As it was, ye could have been raped or killed.”
“But she didn’t know that.”
“Mairead, she delivered ye into the hands of another man and then lied to me about ye being safe. Even if she thought it was what ye wanted, she never should have taken the risk. She betrayed us both by doing so. I can’t ignore her reckless actions.”
“I know ye can’t. But please, remember she is just a lass. She has been disgraced. That will be hard enough.”
“Nay, Mairead, it won’t. There is no suitable punishment for what she did.”
“Then what are ye going to do?”
“She has no mother, and her father seems unable to control her. I don’t want her living under my roof any longer.”
“Are ye planning to banish her?” Mairead looked aghast.
Tadhg chuckled. “Nay, my tender-hearted, wee wife. I am going to see that she is wed.”
“Your punishment is marriage?”
Tadhg laughed outright. “Nay, Mairead, I don’t consider marriage punishment. However, she is certainly old enough to marry and perhaps a husband can keep her out of trouble. In any event, she will no longer reside or work within the keep.”
“I want to come with ye.”
“Sweetling, I know ye do. Surely, ye can see how hard this will be for David. Perhaps it is better if I speak to him alone first.”
She sighed. “Aye, I suppose it would be better if ye went alone.”
“Ye will have two guardsmen here with ye at all times. After extracting that outrageous vow from us, Niall opened Duncurra last night. I don’t want ye out of their sight unless ye are in this chamber.”