Forgiving Hearts: Duncurra 1-3 (16 page)

The next morning as they prepared to leave, Malcolm pulled Niall aside. “Stop worrying. Ye have made the right decision and she must accept it. I will protect her well at Brathanead. Even your mother, who rarely agrees with ye on anything, sees this is the best course.”

“I know ye are right. I just hate to send her away so unhappy.”

“Niall, ye know women wield pouting and sulking the way ye and I do a broadsword. Don’t let her manipulate ye into making a decision that could put her in danger. Now bid your lady farewell, or we will not make Brathanead before nightfall.”

As Katherine waited for a stable hand to lead Eachann from the stable, Niall went to her and pulled her into his arms. She returned his embrace and he lifted her chin to look into her eyes. “Katherine, I love ye with all my heart. Ye know that.”

“I love ye, too, and I don’t want to leave.”

“I know, sweetling, but this is the best way to protect ye. I will come for ye when it is safe, I promise.” Looking miserable, she gave another little nod but didn’t speak. Niall kissed her before lifting her onto Eachann’s back. When she had settled herself in the saddle, Malcolm gave the signal for them to leave.

~ * ~

As they rode farther from Duncurra, Katherine adopted the emotionless mask that had served her so well in the past, while Eithne chattered away about inane topics. Katherine tried to be polite without joining the mindless conversation. The snow on the ground forced them to travel at a slow pace, and the sun was well past its zenith when they stopped on MacLennan land to water the horses. They had brought a light meal of bread, cheese, and cold mutton from Duncurra, but Katherine ate very little.

Malcolm encouraged her to eat more. “Lass, that is not enough to keep a bird alive. Ye must have something else. I promised your husband I would take good care of ye. What will he think if ye waste away to nothing under my watch?”

“Aye, Laird, thank you,” she answered, accepting the piece of brown bread and cheese he offered, but she didn’t actually eat any of it.

When they set out again, Eithne rode near the front of the group beside Malcolm. Katherine heard her talking endlessly, but she was too far back to understand the words. She was just happy for a respite from the spiteful woman. After a while, she noticed Malcolm and Eithne had ridden out well in front with many of Malcolm’s men. In fact, they were completely out of sight occasionally. The party rode through a wide mountain pass on a trek skirting close to the mountain on their left.

Katherine knew the Highlands held many similar passes. When she had first travelled this way as they journeyed to Duncurra, Niall explained such spots were a favorite place for thieves to lay in wait. When riding through these areas, Niall remained alert, moving quickly and quietly, with his men riding close around them. They were on MacLennan land and with six MacLennan soldiers encircling her, she should feel completely safe, but she worried. Maybe it was just Niall’s caution making her nervous, but something felt wrong. She tried to push the pace a little in an effort to rejoin those in front.

“We seem to be falling behind. Can we speed up a bit to catch up with Laird MacLennan?” she asked her escort.

One of the MacLennan soldiers said, “There is no need, my lady. Laird MacLennan doesn’t wish for you to risk hurting yourself. Besides, they aren’t that far ahead. It’s just hard to see them because the path bends to the right and the forest is heavy. Ye’ll see, they’re just around the corner and we’ll catch them up soon.”

“I will not break if we pick up our pace a bit. I’m sorry, but I don’t think they are ‘just around the corner’ because I can’t hear them anymore. Please, I want to catch up to them.”

“My lady,” the soldier said, his voice thick with irritation, “ye can’t hear them because the snow deadens the noise, and I will not risk my laird’s ire to indulge your whim.”

In spite of her concerns, they continued to hold the same plodding pace. A moment later she did hear horses, only it wasn’t Malcolm’s party.

Armed men surrounded them and in an instant they were under attack. Although the attackers did not outnumber the MacLennan soldiers, they had far superior skills. Still, she expected to see Malcolm and the rest of the men come riding back to help, but they never did. Before she knew it, the MacLennans capitulated, laying down their weapons.

There was only one thing Katherine could do; she turned Eachann and bolted.

Leaning low over the horse’s neck, she rode to the north as fast as she could manage. She heard a horse thundering behind her, but didn’t look back. It was barely a moment before the huge black warhorse drew alongside Eachann on her right and someone lifted her off her saddle. The other rider’s vise-like arm closed around her, pulling her onto his horse as he slowed the beast.

She screamed, kicked her legs, arched her back, and pushed against him, trying to twist out of his grip, but it was no use.

“Wheesht, lass, I won’t hurt ye, but ye’ll hurt yourself if ye keep fighting.”

She stopped struggling for a moment. “Please let me go. I don’t have anything valuable, and the MacLennans have surrendered. Please just let me go.”

“Now, lass, my conscience wouldn’t allow me to let as sweet a thing as ye ride out unprotected. Ye might be set upon by brigands,” he said with a chuckle. “Beside which, I’m not interested in the MacLennans. Ye are the prize I seek.” At this pronouncement, Katherine renewed her struggle to twist free. He held her with both arms, and with his left leg, trapped her legs against the horse. He spoke in a more serious tone. “Wheesht. I don’t want to bind ye, but I will if I have to. I will not risk ye hurting yourself,” he grunted as she managed to dig an elbow into his stomach, “or me.” He tightened his grip, “Which is it to be?”

Katherine stilled. She was terrified. Finally she asked, “Who are you and what do you want with me?”

He released her legs, but he still kept one arm firmly clamped around her waist. He nudged the black into a trot towards Eachann. “My lady, I am Tadhg Matheson, laird of Clan Matheson. Am I right in assuming ye are Niall MacIan’s wife?” She gave a little nod. “Then, my lady, what I want is for ye to be my guest at Cnocreidh.” By this time he had ridden close enough to the brown gelding to take hold of the reins. Then he turned both horses back in the direction from which they had just ridden.

Katherine turned her head so she could look him in the face. “My husband will kill you,” she said, with more bravado than she felt.

He smiled at her and said mockingly, “And just where is he, lass? If ye were my wife I wouldn’t trust a group of cowardly MacLennans to see to your safety.”

Tears threatened and she looked away. “He thought he was keeping me safe,” she said defensively, adding, “Laird MacLennan is one of his oldest friends, and Niall trusts him.”

“Well, as it appears Laird MacIan’s trust was misplaced. His oldest friend has abandoned ye.”

She knew he was right. If Malcolm and his other men were ‘just around the corner’ as her escort had said, they should have heard the attack and ridden back.

She bowed her head, feeling completely defeated. “Why do ye want me?”

“Lass, have ye never seen your reflection? There are many reasons a man would want ye.”

She snapped her head around in fear and he quit teasing.

“Ye are in no danger, I swear. I am going to take ye to my home and keep ye safely there until I can get your hard-headed husband to stop raiding my holding.”

By this time they were back at the scene of the ambush. Her MacLennan escort had been relieved of their weapons and sat on the ground bound at the wrists and ankles. The Matheson warriors sat on their mounts, waiting for their laird to return. One of them asked, “What do ye want us to do with them, Laird?”

“Take the horses. We’ll leave the cowards trussed. I expect MacLennan will send someone for them, but one never knows what a cur will do. Just in case, leave a dagger. Maybe they will manage to free themselves before Laird MacIan can kill them. Oh, and lads, one last thing,” he said, addressing the MacLennan soldiers. “Please make sure Niall MacIan gets this message. His lovely wife will be my honored guest at Cnocreidh until he is willing to discuss a truce.” Then he signaled his men to leave and the Matheson warriors rode fast and hard to the northwest with seven new horses and Katherine MacIan.

He might consider her “his guest,” but she knew that was a farce. After her initial fight he had loosened his grip on her. She suspected that he believed she had resigned herself to the situation. He was mistaken. If he thought she would make this easy for him, he had another think coming.

She might not be able to escape easily, but she could make him miserable, so she launched a more insidious attack. She fidgeted and twisted on his lap, forcing him to constantly readjust in order to maintain balance. Occasionally she bumped his chin with her head, knocking his head backwards, or dug her sharp elbows into his ribs. Each time she issued a polite, sweet apology. Katherine was prepared to make him suffer the whole journey, but before long he must have realized these were not accidents. “Enough! Ye will sit still,” he commanded, clamping an arm around her waist and once again pulling her firmly against his chest.

Having effectively curtailed her attack, she was left with nothing to do but endure the ride and think. She tried to fit all the pieces together. She could not find an explanation for Malcolm’s abandonment or the fact that her MacLennan escorts had barely raised a sword. Laird Matheson had said something about getting Niall to stop raiding, but it was Matheson who kept harassing the MacIans. Nothing made sense. She needed Niall. She was afraid and she needed to escape, but as long as Laird Matheson held her on horseback, she couldn’t. She would have to find an excuse to get down and get away.

~ * ~

Tadhg had hoped if they pushed, they would reach Cnocreidh before sunset, but when darkness fell, they were still about an hour’s ride away. However, the temperature dropped and a bitter cold wind whipped up. He had no intention of sleeping on the frozen ground with this particular hostage. The moon was bright and they rode over familiar terrain well within Matheson territory, so he pushed on at a slower pace.

After hours of silence from her, his hostage turned her head and, looking up at him, said, “Laird Matheson—”

“Please call me Tadhg.” He looked at her for a moment. Even in the low light, the fear he saw in her eyes concerned him.

“I would rather not,” she said.

He chuckled. “Well, lass, if ye want me to answer, ye will have to.”

Ignoring him, she asked, “Will it be much longer?”

“Perhaps an hour,” he answered.

“Well, I...um...I need some privacy,” she said shyly, bowing her head and looking away.

He had expected this and signaled for his men to halt. He lifted her chin and gently turned her head so he could look her squarely in the eyes. “I will allow ye to have some privacy, but first answer me this. Do ye have any idea where ye are?”

She looked back at him, apparently confused, and by way of clarification he asked bluntly, “In which direction would ye go to get back to Duncurra?”

As realization dawned on her, he saw tears fill her eyes. She tried to blink them back and said, “I don’t know.”

“I didn’t think so. I know ye are scared, and I know ye want to go home, but running away from me would put ye in danger and I can’t allow that.”

“And I’m not in danger with you?” she challenged.

“Nay, ye are not,” he said firmly. “But I warn ye, if ye try to escape, I will find ye. This is my land and tracking ye through snow will not be difficult. Furthermore, if I have to traipse through these frigid, snowy woods tonight searching, when I do find ye, I will bind ye until we reach Cnocreidh. I will not let ye put yourself at risk. Do I make myself clear?”

Still fighting tears, she nodded before looking away. He hated threatening her but knew it was necessary. He added more gently, “Ye will get through this and I will get ye back to your husband unharmed.” He dismounted and lifted her to the ground, motioning for her to go into the woods. As she walked away he added, “One more thing, lass.” She looked back at him and he said with a wink, “He won’t kill me.”

~ * ~

They did arrive at Cnocreidh within the hour, and Katherine felt utter despair set in. The massive fortress appeared to be as impenetrable as Duncurra. It stood on the top of a hill with a huge swath around it cleared of trees, making it impossible to approach or leave without being seen. Not only that, but two thick, fortified walls surrounded it, an inner curtain wall enclosing the keep, and a second wall encircling the village around it. They entered through a manned barbican set in the outer wall; the heavy portcullis opened as they approached. The inner curtain wall appeared to be higher and thicker than the outer wall and she could see sentries on the top. They crossed through another manned barbican and portcullis to reach the enormous keep. It looked as if all of Duncurra would have fit within the central section of Cnocreidh, between its four massive towers. Katherine thought dismally that finding her way out of the keep alone would be a challenge. Escaping the walls appeared to be nearly impossible.

“Welcome to Cnocreidh,” Tadhg said as they entered the courtyard. He dismounted, lifted her to the ground, and handed his horse to a stable hand. Taking Katherine’s elbow, he led her to his keep and through the doors into the great hall. Fires roared in two hearths and the flurry of activity suggested the evening meal was nearly ready. As they walked in, he called to an older woman, saying, “Elspet, our visitor, Lady Katherine MacIan, has arrived. Turning to Katherine, he said, “Elspet manages the staff here.”