Highland Harmony: Avelina and Drew (Clan Grant Series Book 8) (12 page)

“That makes sense.” Drew couldn’t imagine being so restricted, but then again, he
had
been restricted as much, but in a different way.

“Why? It makes no sense to me.”

“Because if you had no experience with strange men, how could you be comfortable talking with them, especially once you reached the age of five and ten. ‘Tis a difficult age. The keep likely has more women than men. You may have been afraid of them for a long time without realizing it.”

“I never had anyone to be afraid of until…”

He filled in for her. “You mean until Lachlan?”

“Nay, until Keith. He tried to attack me at my keep, and I could not even scream. I was frozen. ‘Tis why I came to Jennie’s. I begged to be sent away.”

“Ah, Lina.” He leaned his cheek against her head and tugged her close. “I promise you that will never happen again while I’m around.”

Lina rubbed her hand across the hair on his arm. “I know. I feel much safer with you.”

Later on that day, they rode through a glen with rocks and hills on one side. A loud bird chirp echoed through the trees, and Avelina jolted to attention in the saddle.

“What is it?” Drew asked.

She held out her hand to hush him, so he slowed his horse. The same sound came three times in quick succession.

“Lina?” he persisted, his voice lowered this time.

“I’m quite sure ‘tis Logan. ‘Tis the bird call he uses among the clan.” She pointed toward the hills and said, “Head that way.”

Drew hoped she was right and they weren’t heading into a trap. The sound echoed again, closer this time, and she nodded. “Aye, ‘tis my brother. I’d know that sound anywhere.” They moved around some rock formations by the creek, eventually reaching a waterfall. Lina dismounted, listening intently for any sounds, and Drew pulled out his sword, ready to attack anyone who came out at them.

He’d been searching for any sign of Clan Burnes as they traveled. He hadn’t mentioned it to Lina, but he knew Lachlan to be sneaky. Fortunately, he hadn’t seen any evidence of them, but his gut churned at the thought of being caught off-guard. What would he do to protect Lina? She was riding in front of him, so if a horse came directly at them, its rider wielding a sword or a bow, she would be in danger. The thought made him quite ill.

How did Aedan handle being married? Drew couldn’t stand the thought of Lina being hurt in front of him, and they were not even wed. It was surely a telling thought, but he ignored it, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand.

He breathed a deep sigh of relief when Logan stepped out from behind the waterfall and waved to her. She took off in a fury, Abby tucked up on her hip. Drew begged her to watch her step, but he could tell she was barely listening.

Chapter Thirteen

Something was wrong. Lina could tell from the look on her brother’s face, and besides, her family should have reached Ramsay land long ago. Setting Abby on the ground, she did what she needed to do most. She ran straight into her brother’s arms, and Logan wrapped her into a tight hug. “How did you know?” he whispered into her ear in wonderment.

She pulled back. Rather than answer, she said, “Gregor? How is he?”

“Come lass, I’ll bring you to him. He is not well. Gwyneth has gone for his mother. But since Brenna is carrying again and you know she’s had difficulties, she may not be able to travel.”

“And Gavin?”

“We’ve all been sick in one way or another, though we know not why. Gwynie is the only one who has stayed healthy. Gavin and Maggie are improving, and the rest of us are better now, but we don’t dare travel with the wee one still so sick.”

Lina followed Logan into the deep cave behind the waterfall, which was surprisingly warm. She felt a comforting hand on her lower back, and when she looked over her shoulder, she saw that Drew had joined her. He had a strange expression of disbelief or wonderment in his gaze as if amazed to see her dream had proven true, but he was here to support her, and that realization sent a welling of warmth through her.

Gregor lay unmoving on his side in a pile of furs. They knelt down beside him and Logan moved his hair back from his forehead. “Gregor?” He leaned down to kiss his forehead. “He’s got a terrible fever. His temperature rages, and he talks nonsense much of the time, but he seems to know we’re here. We cannot get him to eat or drink anything. He asks for you, Lina.” Questions danced in his eyes, but Lina could not take the time to explain.

She peered down at her wee nephew, his hair plastered to his face, his body much thinner than usual. “Gregor? ‘Tis Aunt Lina.”

Unable to lift his head from the fur pillow, he tilted his head to look at her. “Aunt Wina? You tame for me. Aunt Wina.” His arms reached for her, but then they fell back onto the pallet. He was too weak to hold them up.

Abby had followed her into the cave and was sniffing out all the bairns who sat a distance away from them. It was Lily who came to Lina first, her arms outstretched for an embrace. “Please help him, Aunt Lina. He’s so sick.”

Torrian followed Lily. “Aye, we’ve all been sick, but none as bad as Gregor. He reminds me of the days when Lily and I were too sick to get up from our beds.”

Gavin held Torrian’s hand. “Please, Aunt Lina? Make him better.”

“I’ll try my best.” She gave them each a quick hug before returning her focus to Gregor. Their sad expressions and their lack of movement told her more than words. Her loved ones had been through a most difficult time.

Lina picked him up and settled him on her lap, cuddling him close. “I’m here, Gregor. Will you drink something for me?” Logan brought over a cup of broth. “Gregor, you must eat something. Try this broth.” Abby followed Logan over and sat down at Lina’s side, her tail wagging. The wee pup leaned over to sniff Gregor’s toes.

“Is that a puppy, Aunt Wina?”

“Aye. I brought a friend for you. Her name is Abby.”

Abby licked his toes until he giggled. “I want a puppy, too.”

“Well, if you get better, she may stay with you.” Erena’s meaning about finding a home for the puppy suddenly became quite clear to her. Abby kept her gaze on Gregor as if she’d chosen her next master. He reached over to pet her, and could barely hold his hand up, but it was long enough for Abby’s tail to wag again and to bring a smile to Gregor’s face. “See. She would like to help you get better. But first you must drink some broth.”

At first he shook his head, his mouth turned down at the corners, but after Abby nuzzled his hand, he finally opened his mouth and swallowed just a bit.

Abby pushed at the broth, so Lina continued to slowly feed the broth to Gregor, and to her relief, he seemed to perk up for her, especially since Abby wagged her tail every time he had a taste. Logan stepped back and spoke to Drew, though she could hear their conversation.

“While I’m most grateful she’s here, why is she flying across a glen with only seven guards, especially after the troubles she has had with Clan Burnes?”

“Well, your sister is a wee bit stubborn, as you likely know. She insisted that Gregor needed her.” Drew‘s gaze caught hers, and he gave her an almost imperceptible nod of confirmation for what she had done.

“How could she possibly have known that?” Logan asked in disbelief.

Drew hesitated, so Lina offered the answer. “Gavin and Lily came to me in my dreams. They both told me that Gregor needed me.”

It was obvious Logan was taken aback by her explanation, but she did not care to discuss it any longer. “‘Tis more important that I am here, where I am needed.”

Logan didn’t push the issue, which she appreciated. She needed to keep her attention fixed on Gregor.

“Wina, will you tay with me? Pweez?” His hand patted her arm in a steady rhythm.

“Aye, Gregor.” She kissed his forehead. “I will stay with you just as long as you need me.”

Lily came over to sit beside her. “Aunt Lina, I’m so glad you’re here.” She hugged her and leaned her head against her shoulder. The other children fell in around them—Torrian, Bethia, and Sorcha on one side, Molly and Maggie on the other.

“We will all help you to get better,” Gavin said. “And I’ll hold the puppy for you.”

Logan said to Drew, “My thanks for bringing her here. As you can see, she has a special bond with the bairns.”

Lina hummed a song and they all relaxed around her. “Drew, would you fetch the satchel with food?” she asked. ‘Tis on your horse, is it not?”

“Aye.” Drew nodded.

Once he left, Lina said to Logan. “We thought our trip would be longer, so we brought quite a bit. We had no idea you were so close or we would have been here long ago.”

“Aye,” he said. “I’m glad you brought food. We could use something fresh if you have enough to share.”

***

Drew and Boyd returned with the satchel full of food. They shared oatcakes and a loaf of bread and cheese with the Ramsays, then Drew positioned himself where he could watch Lina with Gregor. He was absolutely fascinated watching the relationships between Lina and her family. He’d never seen such strong bonds before.

It made him realize how verra much he had lost when his brothers had passed—how his parents would enjoy such a loving family. This is exactly what his mother mourned every day of her life, he decided. Not that his family would have been the same, but they would have been a family of four just as Avelina was one of four siblings. Had they the opportunity to grow and marry, their family could have been similar.

All along he’d sworn to never marry. He did not want a relationship as his parents had. But would everything have been
so
different if his brothers had lived?

He eventually fell fast asleep in an upright position.

The last thing he recalled was wondering how Lina would look with their bairn on her lap.

***

Lina knew the moment Brenna arrived in the middle of the night. A slew of guards were everywhere, and a slight form dismounted and ran toward them. Lina handed Gregor over to his mother as soon as she came inside the cave. Brenna gave him a powder in his food and rubbed a salve on his wee chest, but mostly held him, soothing him any way she could.

“Is there naught you can do for him, Brenna?” Lina asked. She had hoped Gregor had improved, but he looked no better.

“There is little I can do at this point,” she said, tears in her eyes. “I hope what I put in his broth will help, but he must fight this himself.”

Lina kissed Brenna’s cheek, then made her way outside the cave to relieve the tension in her shoulders from her fears. Drew followed, and she was pleased. Too worried to sleep, she didn’t wish to converse inside and bother the sleeping bairns.

Logan and Gwyneth followed them. As soon as Logan drank from the skein of ale Brenna had brought, he said, “Lina, you’ll travel home with us, aye?”

Before replying, Lina glanced at Drew, then at Logan and Gwyneth. “I am sorry,” she finally said, “but I cannot.” Though she tried to think up an explanation Logan would accept, she came up with naught.

Logan glared at her, then asked, “Why not?”

“Because there are things I must do.”

Drew moved over to her side in a silent show of support. There was so much they did not know about. Jennie was the only one who knew she possessed the sapphire sword. She could not share that truth with the others, nor could she tell them she had been chosen by the fae. They would believe her daft if she did.

Logan’s eyes narrowed at her. “What could be more important than your clan? Your family needs you, can you not see that?”

Lina shook her head. “I cannot return yet. My apologies, Logan.”

“I do not care what you think. You
will
go home with us. I’ll not allow you to do otherwise.” He spun on his heel and stalked off into the trees.

Lina chased after him. “Please listen to me. I must stay. I cannot explain, but if I walk away, the consequences will be severe for all of us.”

Gwyneth strode forward to join her husband. “Lina, you need to come home. Please. I have to agree with Logan.”

Her sister-in-law’s defection caught her off-guard, but it did not change her mind. “I’ll not go with you.”

Logan moved toward her, towering over her tiny frame. “If I must carry you or tie you to the horse, I will. I do not like what has been happening on Cameron land, so ‘tis my judgment to remove you.”

“If you do,” Lina whispered, “the situation will be worse.” Her hands settled on her hips. “I must do what is right for all, not just for my close family.”

“What are you talking about? What has fostered this change in you?”

Lina stared up at her older brother, her lip quivering. She would not yield, but should she tell him everything? Perhaps it was her only chance. She was not strong enough to fight Logan. She glanced at Drew, who stood directly behind her, but she knew she had to make her own decision. Mayhap it was time for them to know the situation, Drew included.

Silence reigned in the forest. The guards were a long distance away, the bairns were all tucked inside the cave with Brenna. Naught was said for a long time while Lina tried to decide what to say.

Logan finally whispered, “Lina, come home with us where you’ll be safe. What could be more important than that?”

A lone tear slid down her cheek. “I cannot go with you.”

Logan came closer and reached down to brush the tear from her cheek. “Lass, if you do not tell me why, I’ll not consider it,” he said, his tone gentle now. “You must have a reason. You would not be this insistent if you did
not
have one.”

“You must promise not to tell anyone but Quade and Brenna.”

“You have my word.” He waited.

Lina stared at the ground for a long moment, then took a deep breath. “I cannot go home with you because I hold the sapphire sword the Burnes men seek.” She waited for the impact of her words to hit.

“Saints above!” Gwyneth said, her hand coming up to her throat.

“Lina!” Drew sounded the most shocked of all, and she could hardly blame him.

Logan took two steps back. “And how did that come about?”

“It was when he attacked me. I just did not remember until…until the day Lachlan came to the Cameron keep with his sire. Something about it made the memory return to me. I took his sword and hid it in my skirts. I knew it was the one.” She hesitated, wondering if she should reveal the rest.

“The one?” Logan prodded, his hands settling on his hips.

“You must swear never to reveal this to anyone outside of our family.” Lina’s hands flexed in her skirts.

Brenna crept out of the cave from behind the waterfall, her arms wrapped around her sleeping son. From the look she gave Avelina, she had heard everything.

“I swear, Lina. Now tell me what this is really about.” Logan ran his hand through his hair and mopped the sweat from his forehead.

“The fae. The Queen of Harmony came to me on two occasions. There is evil in the land of the Scots and the fae have asked for my help. They wanted me to locate the sword. But the queen has not told me what I must do with it yet.” The words came out in a rush, but no one stopped her.

No one moved after she finished her explanation. Lina searched each of their faces to see if they believed her. The expression on her brother’s face was one she had never seen before. Was it fear? Confusion? Gwyneth had stepped closer to her husband and laced her fingers with his, Logan responding with a tender squeeze.

Though Lina was afraid to look at Drew, she needed to know how he was reacting. When she finally peeked at him, his gaze was already fixed on her, his eyes wide, but she thought she could also see a sense of pride there. She clung to that thought, hoping the others would feel the same way.

Then Brenna stepped toward Lina, her arms outstretched. Gregor was still not moving, and his skin had taken on a dusky hue. “Take him,” she said.