Rescued by a Highlander(6)

“You did what?” Madeline cried, lifting herself from the tub and promptly falling back into it as pain laced through her. “How could you do such a thing, Alice? Kenneth will beat you when he finds out. And who is Laird Grant?”

“Your mother gave me Laird Grant’s name before she died. We were to contact him if there was any trouble. We did not realize he had passed until his sons were here. Your father believed the old laird to be an honorable man. Do you not remember the visits you had as a child? You loved spending time with the old laird’s daughters, Brenna and Jennifer. Wee Jenny was just a babe when we were there. The Lord looked down on us that day by sending the new laird to us. That is what I believe. The Grants are good people.”

“I do remember them. I loved visiting Brenna and Jennie. Jennie was so little and cute, and she followed her brothers everywhere. I loved their mama, too. Brenna was sweet, it was so nice to have a friend my age. But why would you involve them? I don’t want any trouble or anyone getting hurt.”

“Someone needs to come to your aid, lass. My husband and I cannot fight Kenneth ourselves, much as we love you. I just pray the laird finds the missive and acts on it. I only wish they would come and put a dagger through Kenneth’s cold heart.”

“What an awful thing to say. I hate Kenneth, but I do not wish him dead. He cannot help how he is. They say his mother was a mean-spirited woman and made him the same.”

“That does not make it right. He can choose to be different. He should have learned the way of your precious mother. He was around her enough.” Alice plaited Madeline’s long golden tresses while she finished soaking. Maddie leaned her head back toward Alice, enjoying the soothing ritual.

“And if not, he could learn your kind ways, Maddie. Everyone knows you would never knowingly hurt anyone. But it seems the more kindness you show, the meaner he gets.”

“I shall find a way out of this without hurting anyone. Perhaps the next time a priest comes to visit, I can find my way to the convent. Besides, where could I go if I were free of Kenneth? I have no other kin. Finding an abbey is my only alternative.” Maddie’s voice dropped as she stared into the water.

Alice’s voice trembled as she spoke, “I do not know what to tell you, lass. Kenneth will force you to marry the Comming whether you agree or not. Why must he beat you? You know those two men will force you to their bidding. The priest will not be able to deny them either. Between the two, their power is too mighty for all of us. The Lord needs to help you either to a convent or away from here. No good will come from you staying. The danger is too great for your fine-boned constitution.”

Alice sighed as she continued, brushing the stray curls back from Maddie’s face. “You belong with a strong, gentle man and many bairns at your feet. Your kindness and loving ways would be wasted at a convent. You know you are happiest around the wee ones. But you belong with a good man, Maddie, not the Comming. I hope the Grant laird heeds our message.”

Maddie placed her elbow on the side of the tub and leaned her head into her hand. Every night her mother had told her a story at bedtime. She had rubbed Maddie’s back and talked about fairies and dragons when she was younger. But the last year had always been about Maddie’s blonde-haired knight coming to claim her as his bride. Sometimes the story had been about arriving to meet her and her family. Other times, he rescued her from terrible situations.

She sighed as she thought of her troubles. Was her current situation bad enough to warrant being rescued by her knight in shining armor? Oh, how she hoped it was.

“Do you know I have been having dreams?” Maddie raised her gaze to the only woman she trusted, wondering how she could ever fare without Alice.

“About what, child?”

“A man, a dark-haired man, a stranger. He comes to me and comforts me. He seems familiar, but I have never seen him before. He reminds me of my father because he makes me feel safe. But he is not fair like him, and he is much larger than my da.” Maddie ran her finger through the water as she thought.

“In my dream, he touches me. He is so gentle. He makes me feel very different than da. I think he loves me. But I know it could never come true.”

“Why is that, lass?”

A single tear gathered in the corner of Madeline’s eye. “Because I could never allow another man to touch me.”

***



Alex sat with his brother on a log in a clearing at dawn. The peaceful silence of the Highland forest greeted them. Crisp morning air always cleared his head. He rubbed the rough stubble on his face as he listened to the rustling of critters through the trees.