Highland Courage(87)
“Don’t worry, I appreciate their protection.”
Tadhg kissed her and left the chamber. When he reached the Matheson encampment, his people surrounded him, asking about Mairead. Their concern touched him. She truly had found a place in their hearts. After assuring them she was well, he sought out David, who looked drawn and haggard.
“Laird, I am so very sorry for Finola’s behavior. I don’t know what could have possessed her to do what she did. There is no excuse, but please, Laird, she is my daughter and I beg your mercy on her behalf.”
“David, she betrayed me and Lady Matheson. I know she thought her reasons were sound, but it doesn’t excuse her actions. It is only by Mairead’s strength, and the grace of God, no serious harm was done. I cannot overlook her behavior. I do not want her living or working under my roof any longer.”
“I understand, Laird. If ye mean to banish her, allow me to go with her.”
“I don’t ye mean to banish her, David, she is just a lass. However, she must acknowledge her errors and I must know she can cause no further harm. I want her married, preferably to a crofter, so she is well away from Cnocreidh.”
David looked relieved. “Aye, Laird. I understand.”
“Angus lives near our border with MacIan. His son Seoras lost his wife several years ago and has two small children. Angus and his wife have been helping him, but they are getting on in years. Seoras needs a wife and someone to care for his children. He would make a good husband for Finola, but I will not consider the match if she is unwilling. Seoras and the children deserve better. There are other men.”
“Aye, Laird, I understand.”
“Good. Then I suppose ye should bring her to me. There is much to discuss.”
David left, only to return agitated and with Meriel instead of Finola. “Laird, she is gone. Meriel was still sleeping, but there is no sign of Finola. No one remembered seeing Finola after she returned from the castle.”
“Laird, I know she was frightened. She must have run away after I fell asleep,” explained Meriel.
David’s face fell. “Laird, she isn’t safe out there on her own. I need to find her.”
“Don’t worry,” Tadhg assured him. “We will find her.”
The initial search for Finola turned up little. With so many people encamped outside Duncurra, finding any evidence of a trail was difficult. Still, well away from the trodden area of the encampments a trail left by a single person walking westward was found, but lost again in a rocky area. It appeared she was trying to go home to Cnocreidh. When they had found no further sign of her by midday, Tadhg sought Niall’s help and search parties formed, fanning out westward from Duncurra.
Twenty Five
Darcy sat drinking ale in the great hall oblivious to the uproar surrounding the Matheson lass’s disappearance. He supposed he should be concerned, she had helped remove suspicion from him regarding the attack on Rowan, but he had other troubles and he just didn’t care. That was until Rafer sought him out. “Darcy, are ye not joining in the search?”
“Why should I? I owe Matheson nothing.”
“That may be true, but I suspect he sees it differently.”
“I don’t care if he does.”
“Well, if ye were to find his wayward clanswoman and return her safely, he might be less likely to want ye dead.”
“There are hundreds of men out searching for the twit. I am more likely to run afoul of one of his angry clansmen than anything else.”
“Aye, there are hundreds of men out there, but ye will only run into them if ye go off in the same direction, searching toward the west.”
“That is where they found her trail.”
“What if it wasn’t her trail? What if she decided, with her laird as angry as he was, going home was the very last thing she wanted to do?”
Darcy looked at him thoughtfully. “Aye. Now that ye mention it, why would she run away only to go where she would surely be found?”
“My thoughts exactly. If ye search to the east ye will not run into any angry Mathesons or MacKenzies and if ye find her, ye will be the hero.”
“Your plan has some merit, but what’s in it for ye?”
“Darcy, I love your sister. I want to marry her. All I ask is for ye talk to your father for us.”
“I doubt my father will pay me any heed, but if we find her safely, I’ll do it.”
They left the castle for the Fraser encampment to get horses then rode east looking for signs of a trail.
~ * ~
Mairead became distraught when Tadhg told her Finola had disappeared. He tried to assure her that Finola would be found unharmed, but Mairead was all too familiar with the foolish choices one could make out of fear. She begged him to enlist all available guardsmen in the search, including those guarding her.