“Nay, ye must come, Logan,” Lorna insisted.
“Lorna, I have worked and lived with them for many years. I willnae abandon them. They fight for ye and I will do the same.”
“But....”
“Go now. Ye wouldnae want me to behave dishonourably would ye.” He offered her a soft smile.
Tears shimmered in Lorna’s gaze and she nodded.
Catriona stared desperately at Finn. “Finn?” She knew what he would say before he said it.
“I shall stay too but we shall join ye shortly. Besides,” he grinned, “I must get Dìleas. She’ll never forgive me if I leave her.”
“And I will never forgive ye if ye leave me!” Catriona declared as her throat tightened.
“I shall have to live with that I fear, wee lass. Now be gone with ye, both of ye. Dinnae stop until ye reach Glencolum. Lorna knows the way. We shall be along soon.”
Lip tucked between her teeth, Catriona nodded. Lorna gave her brother a quick embrace but Catriona couldn’t bring herself to. She feared she might never let him go if she did. Before anyone could speak, Logan took off and Finn followed, bestowing her with one more jaunty smile.
Lorna grabbed her hand. “Come, we must go or all this is for naught.”
Nodding, Catriona gripped the woman’s hand and they ducked out of the door and ran for the hills. They stumbled and climbed, helping one another navigate the rocky peaks around Kilcree. Weariness ate into her limbs but Lorna’s strength filtered into her and she pushed on. If they did not survive, it was all for nothing. It would not be for nothing.
Though her feet ached and likely bled in her slippers, she continued on. When they reached the top of the hill, they paused to gaze down at the castle. It was impossible to see what was happening.
“Do ye think they are well?” she asked Lorna.
Lorna squeezed her hand. “They are strong men. I am sure they shall be along soon.”
Catriona spied the doubt in Lorna’s pale eyes but said nothing. Numbness seeped into her body, taking root in her chest. If she never saw Finn again, she wasn’t sure what she would do. Even the idea of returning to Bute—an unlikely occurrence now her father was dead—did not fill her with joy. The luscious greens and purples of the hills appeared dull to her eyes and the sweet fragrance grew sickly. Without Finn, the world was dying around her.
In silence, they turned, still hand in hand and continued their journey.
“I am sorry for deceiving ye,” Catriona said when the castle was out of sight.
“Dinnae be.”
“I am not sure I would be so forgiving.”
“I know why ye lied. Women bear the burden of much in this world and ye have had to carry yer father’s and Gillean’s ambition. I dinnae blame ye.”
“Does Finn?”
Lorna grinned. “Nay. Indeed, he is probably cursing himself for not seeing the truth and letting ye confide in him.”
Catriona nodded vaguely. Did he really not loathe her for lying? She had caused so many problems for them and all they had done was show her kindness.
“Dinnae blame yerself, Catriona.” Lorna pulled her to a stop and forced her to face her. The fair haired woman eyed her seriously. “This is Gillean’s doing, not yers. If he had not done this to ye, he would have done it to yer sister or some other woman. But dinnae fear, he shall pay for this one day. For every drop of blood spilled, he shall pay.” Lorna stiffened and Catriona held her breath.
Horse hooves.
They huddled together. Out in the open, there was nowhere to hide. Catriona cursed her lack of a weapon but even a sword would do them no good against a rider. A flash of golden hair and wide shoulders atop a brown horse came over the brow of the hill.
“Finn!” Warmth spread through her and she released Lorna.
Another horse trotted behind him, the reins held firmly in Finn’s hands and Catriona put a hand to her mouth, glancing at Lorna. She put her arm back around Lorna and felt the strength leave her. Sorrow tore at her gut and she only imagined what Lorna was feeling.
Finn trotted up to them, his brow grooved with grief.
“Logan?” Lorna asked.
He shook his head. “Forgive me. He was cut down. I couldnae get to him.”
A sob bubbled out of Lorna and Catriona flattened her head against her chest. Lorna did not cry but tremors wracked her body.
“We must go,” Finn said quietly. “Many of yer men escaped, sister, but Gillean prevailed. We must get to the safety of Glencolum.”
Lorna lifted her head and sniffed. “Aye.”
“Shall ye ride with me?” he asked.
“Nay, I should like to ride alone if ye dinnae mind.”
Finn offered Catriona a hand and helped her up behind him. She settled against his back and wrapped her arms around his waist. He squeezed her arm and relief mingled with regret.