The Angel and the Highlander(7)
Terese watched as in turn each woman nodded. “We have survived and grown strong together. We will remain so. I promise you that.”
“But the church—”
Terese didn’t let Megan finish. “I will do whatever is necessary for all of us to stay safe.”
“You’ve already proved that,” Hester said.
“Then trust me once more when I tell you we will be fine.”
Piper jumped up, a flourish of dirt drifting off her. “There’s time to get the first cache of weapons hidden.”
As each woman stood Terese knew they proclaimed their trust in her. She was the last to stand.
“Together,” Terese said and the women echoed her command.
A few hours later with perhaps four hours left until sunrise, Terese fell into bed exhausted. She hoped to drop right off to sleep, but past events came flooding back to torment her, as did worries for the future.
She wished she could have convinced Lachlan to leave, but it was obvious from the beginning that he would have it his way. He charmed, trying to make it seem that what he was doing was for the best of others, but it truly was to get his own way. She didn’t doubt women easily submitted to that quirky charming smile of his, or that he was used to their surrender.
This time, however, he was dealing with nuns so he had to behave.
Though what if he discovered the truth?
It had seemed like an answer to her prayers five years ago, not that she had wished ill will on anyone. She knew her circumstances had been of her own doing. But when the nuns began to die of a sickness, she had realized she had a chance to be free, along with the other four women.
Mother Abbess had rescued each one along the way. Rowena had been beaten beyond belief and left to die along a lonely road. No one had expected her to live, but she had fought bravely for her life and thanks to the nuns’ help she had survived. A near starved Hester had been saved from a selfish innkeeper. Mother Abbess thought she convinced the man to do the right thing and surrender the young woman, but Terese had paid several coins for Hester’s freedom. As for Megan, she had been the worst of the lot. She had walked out of the woods dazed, bloodied and her garments nearly ripped off her. It took her months before she even spoke to anyone and to this day no one knew what had happened to her. Then there was Piper. One day she popped up out of nowhere, dirt streaking her clothes and skin and a dusting of earth trailing after her wherever she went. They soon learned that she loved the woods as she would a mother and knew it just as well.
Mother Abbess offered them a home at the convent, but only if they took vows. The women quickly agreed. With no place to go, no protection, what other choice did they have?
All plans fell apart shortly after their arrival. Mother Abbess was the first to fall ill, the nuns soon followed. Terese took command and soon had those healthy enough building shelters and preparing the land for planting. She also instructed the women in the use of weapons and horsemanship. And before they knew it they were defending the surrounding area from troubling bands of bandits. To keep their identity safe, they took on the persona of mercenaries and soon spread gossip about the fierce band in hopes of keeping trouble away.
When all was done, she and the four women were the only ones left. She wanted what those four women had—freedom.
She gathered the four women together and confessed her story. She told them of her father a powerful laird who felt his daughter a troublesome lot and wanted to be rid of her until she could serve a beneficial purpose. Then she explained that she wished to be as free as they were, and the only way she could do that was to die.
That day Alyce carved her own name in the cross that marked Sister Terese’s grave and took her identity. She was finally free.
Chapter 3
Terese always rose just before sunrise. She loved to greet the dawn, watch as the first ray of light peeked on the horizon then slowly spread over the land. She felt as if the heavens touched her anew and it gladdened her heart each morning.
However, this morning her heart was a little heavy. Lachlan and his men were up at first light and asking permission to build a shelter much too close to the compound. They would hear everything the women were up to, and that wouldn’t do.
Terese kept a pleasant smile as she walked Lachlan nearer to the entrance of the convent, away from the common shelter and the woods beyond. “I believe this area would better serve your purpose.”
Lachlan glanced around.
Terese offered an explanation before he could protest. “It is the only entrance to the convent.” She crossed her fingers behind her back for protection against her small lie, for she and the women had forged a significant entrance through the woods.