Highland Chieftain (12 page)

“So we take them to the sheriff now?”

“Och, aye, and I will enjoy presenting them to the sheriff.” Sir Simon smiled. “From what ye have told me of the mon, that fool will break fast and give us a flood of information. I feel there will be a lot of men in positions of power who will fall soon. The fact that it involves the taking of land implies it. Then mayhap the people in the village will breathe easily again.”

“Thank ye for this, for coming so quickly.”

Sir Simon waved away the thanks. “Too many similarities to what happened to my wife Ilsabeth to resist. Women are too often seen as nay more than easy prey. Few risk standing up for them, either. And if what ye say is true, she could be a cousin. But this has felt good. I do like to keep my hand in, keep my skills sharp. Now, let us load these fools on a horse and go get the women free.”

“I pray we are in time.”

“Aye.” Sir Simon's face darkened. “We will be or someone will pay.”

As they tossed the men on the back of their own horses, Callum felt his tension grow. He could not forget that huddled bundle of rags that was Laurel, a poor abused woman unfairly accused. Each day that passed, he could see Bethoc becoming that. It had only been four days since he had seen her, but he thought that three too many. Her place in that jail ate at him until he found himself making plans on how to break her out of the jail. He was glad he did not have to carry out any of those plans and he prayed the delay did not cost Bethoc too dearly.

* * *

Bethoc slumped against the wall and breathed a sigh of relief. The footsteps had not been coming for her. They had been dragging in another poor woman. She felt sorry for her as it was possible they were blaming her for some crime she had not committed as well. If so, why was no one taking any notice? Did they think there was some outbreak of murderous rage among the women in town? Did all these women have no one ready to stand for them? Why was there no one in town simply asking about what was happening?

“Laurel? Was there no one to stand for ye? No one to ask why?”

“Nay. My family was pleased about my marriage but then they, weel, drifted away. They still had six children and Robert wasnae verra welcoming. What hurt was that my own mother believed I did it. She visited me here once and berated me for nay quietly enduring whate'er Robert did.”

“Sorry.” Bethoc sighed. “Do ye think the woman they just dragged in has anyone?”

“Nay. That was Lorraine Halliday. Orphaned. She had a husband much like mine so I suspicion there were nay too many friends. I dinnae ken what she has that they want, though. Mayhap the building the shop is in.” She shrugged. “I wonder if we can find out what she was taken up for. I dinnae ken her weel enough to e'en guess.”

“They have quite a nice business going here, dinnae they,” Bethoc muttered.

“Oh, aye. I wonder who leads it all. I just cannae believe it is the laird.”

“Mayhap one of his sons. Does he have sons?”

“Four. Aye, it could be one of the younger ones. It doesnae matter. 'Tis still too late for Yolanda.”

“Yolanda?”

“A woman who was here when I was brought in. She wasnae much older than me. They hanged her a few days ago for the murder of her husband.”

“Oh,
Jesu
,” Bethoc whispered. “'Tis what we face, aye?”

“Aye. I just dinnae ken when. She had a wee boy, too, and constantly wept for him.”

Bethoc tensed. “A boy. Do ye ken if she said what he looks like? Ye ken Kerr liked to get boys to work his fields and I may ken who the lad is.”

“Aye, she always spoke of his big brown eyes. She had them too. Big eyes, deep brown, and so full of expression until these bastards killed all the life in them. And I guess he was a clever wee fellow. She was so proud of him but ne'er saw him again before she was hanged.”

“Do ye ken how old he was?”

“Five? Six? He wasnae a bairn. Why?”

“Aye, I think Kerr had him, took him, whate'er. Ye ken the boy who stepped forward to describe the five men I blame for Kerr's murder?” Laurel nodded. “That was Magnus. He is six and he has those eyes. Big, brown, full of expression. He has been with us for seven months now though so it doesnae fit, does it?”

“It may. I only caught a glimpse of him but if he has anything of his mother in him, I would recognize it once I got a good look at him. I still see the look in her eyes as they led her off to her hanging, see them in my sleep. The resignation, the depth of the sadness, was heartbreaking. She kenned she was going to die, her good name now blackened by a crime she didnae commit. And, at times, when she talked of her lad, I got the feeling she spoke of a dead child or one lost to her for a while.”

“If fate allows it, I will get ye that look at him.”

Both women tensed as footsteps echoed in the hall. Laurel whimpered faintly and disappeared into her disguise as a pile of rags. Bethoc felt her heart start to pound so fast and hard she feared it could break free of her chest. They had not given her as much time to recover from a near drowning as they had before. She was terrified Laurel was right about what followed the fourth dunking.

The sheriff and his two silent guards stopped before her cell. There was a look on the man's face that told what she feared was going to happen. So did the absence of William. She stepped back and kept trying to step back as they unlocked the door and walked inside. The two guards leapt forward and grabbed her by the arms. To her shock, Laurel suddenly came alive and leapt at the men, her hands curved into claws.

“Bitch!” screamed the sheriff as Laurel's nails scraped his face before one of his men pulled her off.

The battle was short but vicious. All the men were bleeding slightly before Laurel was knocked back against the wall so hard she lost consciousness. Bethoc kept struggling in an attempt to get free and go to her aid but the sheriff's men just tightened their grip on her. As they dragged her out of her cell she saw Laurel move and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sir Callum said ye had best nay leave a mark on me,” she said.

“Then we will hold ye verra gently,” said the sheriff and the way the guards laughed chilled her blood.

So terrified she could think of nothing else to say, she concentrated on doing what she could to stop her progress down the hall. They passed a cell and she saw a woman sprawled on the floor, coughing and choking as she emptied her lungs and belly of water. The men did not even glance at the woman. At that moment her hatred of the men hardened. It would not do any good, would not save her, but it was there in her heart, cold and hard and begging for vengeance.

“Are ye nay e'en going to ask for my confession?” she demanded as they shoved her into a room.

“Ye will give it to us before long,” said the sheriff.

“But I am ready to give it now and save ye all the trouble of pulling it out of me.”

“It willnae be any trouble.”

The two men yanked her back and tossed her down onto a bed. Bethoc fought hard but they managed to get her hands and feet tied to the posts. Then she looked at the sheriff, who smiled coldly, and began to pray for Callum to arrive. She just wished there was some small chance her prayers would be answered.

Chapter Twelve

Callum helped carry the men into the sheriff's and frowned when he found a strange man in the sheriff's seat. “Where is the sheriff?”

“He is busy now. I am William and ye can tell me your business.” The man leaned back in his seat and crossed his impressive arms over his chest. “What do ye want?”

“I have the men who killed Kerr Matheson and murdered Robert MacKray.”

“Aye?” The man stood up and looked over the desk, peering down at the two bound men. “Why do ye think they are guilty?”

“Because they told us,” said Sir Simon. “They confessed it to me.”

“And who are ye?”

“Lord Simon Innes, laird of Lochancorrie, and I used to be kenned as the King's Hound.”

The way William reacted told Callum he had heard of Sir Simon. He paled and carefully moved back to sink down in his chair. His big hands clenched the arms of the chair. For a moment he stared at Sir Simon in silence, his wide eyes showing fear, and then he cleared his throat.

“What do ye want?”

“I want Bethoc Matheson and Laurel MacKray released. Here are the guilty men so ye can set the women free. They are clearly nay guilty. Now, where are they?” demanded Callum.

“Down the stairs. Miss Matheson is being interrogated,” he said as if relating a lesson well learned.

Callum felt alarm tighten in his belly and took off. He heard Sir Simon order William to watch the men and, a moment later, he heard his three companions following him. He reached the cell she had been locked in and Laurel rushed up to the bars. There was a bruise on the side of her face and her lip was bleeding. The sight caused Callum to taste the sour wash of fear.

“They took her off!” Laurel cried. “Ye have to go get them, stop them.”

“Where?” he demanded as Sir Simon stepped up and unlocked the door, causing Callum to wonder why he had not thought of snatching the keys before running off.

“Follow me,” Laurel said, and took off running down the passageway.

Hurrying after the woman he had only ever seen as a pile of rags with an occasional sight of a blue eye peeking at him, Callum realized Laurel MacKray was beautiful. He caught sight of another woman in a cell, weeping as she stood at the front of her cell watching them. He glanced back to see Sir Simon stop to talk to the woman but Uven and Robbie stayed hard on his heels.

Then they reached a closed door and Laurel began to frantically try to open it, pounding on the door when it would not budge. Callum gently nudged her aside and signaled to Uven and Robbie. Those two men kicked it open quickly and as Callum rushed inside the sight that met his eyes caused rage to sweep over him. The sheriff was settled between Bethoc's legs, his manhood in his hand, and he was reaching for the braies she wore. He yanked the sheriff off of Bethoc and tossed him into a wall. Uven and Robbie quickly took down the two guards as Callum bent to untie Bethoc's hands and feet from the narrow bed they had put her on.

Bethoc just stared at Callum as he freed her, unable to believe he had come, and just in time. He gently took her into his arms and, despite all her efforts not to, she burst into tears. She knew they were caused by both the fear she had fought to hide and pure, joyous relief. Rape had come too close. The men's blatant lust had left her feeling dirty.

“Ye are safe now, Bethoc,” Callum said, holding her close and rubbing her back.

“I ken it.” She pulled away and wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I need to cease being weak. How did ye get here in time?”

“We found the true killers and had just brought them in.”

“So, ye think that will free me? And Laurel?” She glanced at her friend to see Laurel being kept out of the way of the guards by Uven.

“And Lorraine Halliday,” said a tall, dark man as he stepped into the room, Lorraine staying close behind him.

Laurel and Bethoc both broke free of the men they were with at the same time and ran to each other. For a moment they just hugged. Bethoc felt a sharp sympathy for Laurel. She had been saved that final degradation, but had a better understanding of the terror the woman had suffered. To be so helpless was not something she wished to ever feel again.

“Did they . . . ?” began Laurel.

“Nay.” She pulled back from Laurel and looked at the room. “They have been doing this for some time.”

“Aye, I fear so. What better way to torture a woman, to make her swear to whatever ye want her to. I would have broken soon,” she added softly in a tremulous voice.

“I think it is to be ended now,” she said quietly as she watched the tall, dark-haired man who had brought Lorraine in walk over to the sheriff. “That is a verra serious mon, one who willnae abide lies or evil games like this one.”

He smelled like an old pine, she thought, one of those big, sturdy old trees that stood no matter what storm battered them. She tensed and glanced around then told herself not to be an idiot. People could not tell what she was thinking. Her odd little skill was still a deep, dark secret.

Turning, but keeping an arm around Bethoc's waist, Laurel watched the man crouch by the sheriff. “Nay, he doesnae, but we shall see,” Laurel said softly.

“Awake?” the man asked the sheriff when he groaned and opened his eyes.

“Aye, aye. Who are . . .” The sheriff began to sit up and caught sight of Callum. “Ye threw me! Weel, ye will pay dearly for that, sir. I dinnae care if ye are a laird. Ye dinnae lay violent hand on a sheriff.”

“Sit,” said the man crouched near him as the sheriff started to get to his feet.

The sheriff gaped at the man. Then, slowly, his expression changed from shock to wary confusion. He carefully sat down.

“Who are ye?” he asked.

“Sir Simon Innes, laird of Lochancorrie. Ye may ken me from a position I once had as the King's Hound.” He nodded slightly when the sheriff paled. “I have a few questions I would like ye to answer.”

“What questions? And what are these women doing out of their cells?”

“I believe ye have the answer for that.”

“What do ye mean? I am just doing my job.”

“And what part of your job says ‘interrogation' includes the base use of a woman put in your care?”

His words were soft yet so cold, Bethoc was not surprised when she shivered. It pleased her to feel Laurel do so as well, although she feared ugly memories of this room might have some part in it. She slipped her arm around Laurel's shoulders and gave her a little squeeze.

“I wasnae doing that! I was just holding her down as I questioned her.”

“Ah, I see, and that works weel, does it? I am still rather curious as to what part your penis played for ye had it in your hand with your kilt hiked up high. Going to beat the truth out of her and forgot your stick, did ye?”

“Nay, I didnae. Ye . . . I . . .”

Sir Simon surged to his feet and then yanked the sheriff up. “I have some men ye need to meet.”

Uven and Robbie grabbed the guards. Callum went to collect up the woman but it was Laurel who went to Lorraine and led her away. He took Bethoc by the hand, pleased to find no resistance. It was clear what she had been through would not cause her to fully reject him.

“I was in time, aye?” he asked as they followed the others.

“Aye.” She managed a brief smile. “My braies confounded them.”

“Another reason many a Murray lass wears them. I think it was Elspeth who said they can buy ye a few moments to get free.”

“Or have some men kick down the door so they can all rush in and start tossing men around.”

“Aye, that too.” He gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.

Bethoc was feeling safe again and she savored the feeling. “Ye have some powerful friends,” she murmured with a nod toward Sir Simon.

“Ah, weel, Robbie fetched him. Seems all this reminded Sir Simon of when his wife was wrongly arrested. He is wed to a Murray lass. Elspeth's daughter in truth. Two strong reasons. I also think it has been a while since he has had a good puzzle to solve.”

“Was he really the King's Hound?”

“Aye. He had a reputation for being honest and unrelenting in his search for the truth. Beginning to see why,” Callum said as they reached the sheriff's office.

The sheriff looked at the two men tied up on the floor and all the color drained from his face. He staggered to his chair and sat down. Uven and Robbie shoved the two guards against the wall and stood watch over them. It was then that Callum realized William had fled.

“William has taken to his heels,” said Callum.

“I doubt a mon who looks like him will be hard to find if we need him,” said Sir Simon and then he looked at the sheriff. “I believe ye ken these two men.”

“Aye,” the sheriff muttered, looking as if he was about to weep.

“Weel, they have confessed to attacking Sir Callum here, of torturing and murdering Kerr Matheson, and of gutting Robert MacKray. They also claim ye were aware of all of it.” He glanced at the scarred man. “Who are ye?”

“Ian MacDuff.” He tilted his head toward the other man caught with him. “This is Dougal Marr.”

“Are ye weel acquainted with the sheriff?”

“Aye, but he isnae the one we work for.”

“And who would that be?”

“Nay sure but he is close to the laird, mayhap e'en one of the mon's sons. What did I care? His money was good.”

Sir Simon took a deep breath and let it out slowly then quietly asked, “And Master Halliday?”

“What of him? He is dead. Got his throat cut, didnae he?”

“Strange that ye ken how he died.”

“Why? 'Tis a village. People talk.”

“Mistress Halliday, might I ask just when your husband died?” Sir Simon politely asked.

“Sometime in the night. They found him in the fields outside of the village,” she replied. “The sheriff and his men found him round dawn and then came to take me up.”

He looked at the sheriff. “Ye have quite the profitable business working here, dinnae ye. Kill the mon, take up the wife for murder, and confiscate all the property.”

“Ye cannae prove that.”

Sir Simon smiled. “Oh, I could but I dinnae really have to. What I do have is enough to set the women free. I also have papers to prove Matheson's property was fully his, sold by the laird himself. I suspicion I will find papers at the other houses. Your hirelings didnae search weel enough.” The glare the sheriff sent MacDuff was enough to confirm Sir Simon's suspicions that they worked together.

“There were three others,” said Laurel. “They have been hanged!”

“Weel, we will see their names cleared as weel. 'Tisnae nearly enough but at least they will be recalled as murdered nay murderers. How about the magistrate? Is he part of all this?”

“Part of what?” asked the sheriff, and he jumped when Sir Simon slammed his hands down on the table and leaned toward him.

“Dinnae play with me, sir. I can pull in a near army of men to dig out all your secrets. Who is the magistrate here and is he a part of this?”

“The magistrate is Sir Walter MacKray and he doesnae ken anything. He but passes judgment on the prisoners we bring him.” Every word sounded as if it had been pulled out of the sheriff, an unwilling confession.

“I see.” Sir Simon straightened up and looked at Callum. “Can ye watch this lot? I believe I should go inform the magistrate that he sent three innocent women to their deaths.”

“I will go with ye,” said Robbie as he stepped forward.

“Ye cannae leave three men guarding five. Best if ye stay here,” said Sir Simon.

Robbie nodded toward the sheriff. “He could be lying. Magistrate could be part of it all.”

“I dinnae believe he is lying.”

“Two of the men are tied up.”

“Robbie, I . . .”

Robbie walked over to the sheriff's two guards, grabbed their heads, and slammed them together. He walked back to Sir Simon even as the two men slumped to the ground unconscious. Bethoc stared at the men, then glanced at Laurel and Lorraine and all three women looked back at the guards while fighting not to laugh.

“Numbers are better now. We can go,” Robbie said.

“Of course.” Sir Simon made it out the door before he started to laugh.

Callum shook his head and looked at Uven who said, “Robbie's idea of a solution to the problem.”

“Simple and direct. Do ye think the magistrate is part of it all?” Callum asked.

“If Sir Simon says nay, then nay. He has a good ear for a lie.” Uven looked at the sheriff. “He kens this fat fool is lying.”

“I havenae killed anyone,” protested the sheriff.

“Nay? Ye took up three women, accused them of murders ye kenned they didnae commit, abused them, and when ye tired of that, saw them sentenced and hanged.” Uven looked at him in disgust. “That was murder.”

The sheriff stuttered as he struggled to protest that charge.

“Hush,” snapped Uven. “Nay more lies. We willnae heed them. Ye are worse than that scum,” he said as he pointed at MacDuff. “They got the blood on their hands but that doesnae make yours clean. Enriched yourself nicely, I wager. Either from what the woman had or by helping yourself to some of the pay meant for these fools.”

MacDuff sat up straighter and saw the truth in the sheriff's face. “You bastard!”

Uven ignored that and asked the sheriff, “Did ye get to keep one of the properties?”

“Nay! I kept none of the lands. They all went to . . .” He abruptly closed his mouth.

“Ah, nay, there is at least one more player in this game. Best to give up the name. We will find it out anyway,” said Callum.