Legacy of the Mist Clans Box Set (114 page)

“Mairi and I always lock it when we leave.”

“Perhaps she forgot this time.”

Connell pulled it closed, but the lock refused to catch, and it swung open again.

He crouched and examined the door jamb. Reaching into a small recess, he pulled out a bit of broken wood, showing it to the smith. “This be why it won’t lock.” Through the open door, he saw Adam’s blanket on the floor, strewn with small toys.

The smith also looked at the wood and then at the blanket. “A man with a strong hand could break the lock. Then it would be a small matter for him tae step in and grab a toy.”

“Aye,” Connell said tightly. “A man such as ye or I could manage it, or a man accustomed tae wielding a sword.” He looked to the yard. “And when I be at the forge or my bench, I canna see the house, and God kens ye canna hear a damned thing while at the forge.”

“Aye,” Ian said, scratching his head. “But why, Connell? Why Mairi?”

Connell thought of Adam and shivered. He prayed it was not true, that they had not been discovered. He liked it here. He didn’t want to run again, and he knew Mairi felt the same. But as he studied the door and then the toys on Adam’s blanket, a shiver of dread crawled down his spine.

“I should have slain the bastard,” he muttered and rose.

“We’ll be putting in a new lock,” Ian said tightly.

Connell looked at him, startled.

“I have a newer type lock at the shop. It be much stronger and heavier than this old piece of scrap. We have a new project today.” He studied the door frame. “I’ll send Marcus tae fetch Angus. We’re replacing this entire door and frame and putting another lock on the bedroom door too.”

“But our work—”

“Isna so much that it canna wait one day. Yer family’s safety be more important, Connell, and I dinna like this, no’ one little bit.”

“I dinna either,” Connell said, dragging his hand through his hair.

“Let’s fetch what we need from the shop. The lassies will be fine in there while we work. It will do Fiona good tae tend tae yer laddie. She misses her grandson so.”

That at least gave Connell a reason to smile.

HHH

It was late in the afternoon when Connell closed the new door on his home. Ian handed him the key, and Connell locked it.

“Give it a go, laddie.”

Connell gripped the knob and twisted, but it didn’t budge.

“Put yer back into it.”

Connell did so, throwing his shoulder against, it but again the door didn’t move, and the frame held strong.

Angus stood back on the porch. He nodded. “That be more like it.”

“A strong man can still kick it open, but it will take a fair amount of doing,” Connell said, stepping back. “Angus, the door and frame are a work of art. The same for the bedroom door. I dinna think I’ve ever seen anything this solid.”

“Thank ye. Any man who tries to kick open that door will jar his teeth right out of his skull.”

“And make quite a bit of noise,” Ian said, handing Connell a second key. “You’ll hear it no matter how loudly the fire roars in the forge.”

“I thank ye both,” Connell said. “I’ll sleep better at night now.”

“Connell!” Mairi called from the shop.

“Aye?”

“Are ye coming? Fiona and I have food ready for all of ye.”

Connell grinned at Ian. “Now there be something I truly enjoy, a fine meal after a hard day’s work.”

Ian laughed. “Let’s go. Come on, Angus, we have enough for all of us.”

As they trooped toward the shop, Connell felt a strange sensation skitter down his spine. He looked toward the road, but at first didn’t see anything. Then he focused on a horse tied to a post a short distance away. He knew that horse.

“Connell?” Ian asked.

Connell’s jaw tightened so much it was a miracle he didn’t break his teeth. “That be the mount ye sold tae the captain,” he growled.

Ian looked in the direction Connell indicated, his gaze also growing steely. “Aye, ye be right. Where be the bastard?”

“I dinna see any of his men,” Angus said, his gaze also scanning the road.

“Could the sorry cur really be that foolish?” Ian asked.

Connell continued to examine the area, but he didn’t catch a glimpse of the captain or his men. Only the horse that Ian had sold to him. A knot of merchants and travelers with a large wagon passed before them, blocking Connell’s view of the horse. A moment later, they moved on by, but the horse was gone.

Connell continued to look, but he saw nothing and he rubbed his jaw. “Perhaps I be bloody daft in the head.”

“Then we all be bloody daft, laddie,” Ian said. “Come on. We’ll all be watching for the next few days. They’ll either leave or we’ll hand them their arses, and I’ll roast their bollocks in my forge.”

“The Highlands become a part of ye. The mountain be yer blood and flesh, yer bone and sinew. No matter where ye live, a Highlander ye will always be.”

~
Connell MacGrigor

C
onnell worried over Mairi the rest of the day. They had enjoyed their dinner with Ian, Fiona, and Angus, but Connell had watched Mairi become more withdrawn. He saw glimpses of the frightened creature he had come to know on the trail, and he feared he was witnessing the disappearance of the Mairi he had grown to love. Seeing the change in her, even a hint of it, reminded him too much of the change he had experienced with Ina, and he’d be damned if he suffered anything like that again.

That night at home, he once again entertained Adam while Mairi finished supper. As she was putting the last of it on the table, Connell heard a peculiar rattle. He looked up and saw her approaching with the last bowl, but her hands shook so hard that the spoon banged against it. It slipped from her fingers and crashed to the floor.

She stared at the mess, her face terribly pale, then looked at him, tears gathering in her eyes. “Forgive me,” she whispered. Her tears broke free and spilled down her cheeks. She turned to flee the room, but Connell was on his feet in an instant. He caught her before she was two steps away and pulled her to his chest, holding both her and Adam as tightly as he dared.

“Nay,” he murmured. “Mairi, I ken the captain gave ye a fright, but there be something more tae this than I’m seeing. What is it? What’s wrong?”

She sobbed against his chest, and Connell’s heart twisted all the more. Adam didn’t like seeing his mum cry any more than Connell did. He began to whine and reached out, touching her head. “Mumm - mmmm - mumm.”

Mairi lifted her head, struggling to control her sobs.

“Ye see?” Connell said softly. “I’m no’ alone. Adam be worried too.”

Adam suddenly had no interest in Connell and held his arms out to Mairi.

She smiled just a little bit and did her best to scrub her tears away, taking Adam and holding him close.

Adam made all sorts of nonsensical noises, but Connell didn’t miss that the sounds flowed in the cadence of speech. “I have no idea what he be telling ye, but it sounds important.”

Mairi’s smile finally broke free. “He be sounding just like his da when he be worried over mum. Forgive me, Connell, I’m fine, and yer supper be growing cold.”

“Nay,” he said firmly, his arm just as tight around her as before. “Ye no’ be fine, and I’ll no’ eat a bite until I ken what’s wrong.”

Adam’s noises again sounded, and he mimicked Connell’s cadence quite well, but the bairn punctuated Connell’s statement so matter-of-factly that he caused both of them to laugh.

Connell looked at Mairi and patiently waited. She studied him and then lowered her gaze to the floor, sighing heavily. “And ye will stand here until I tell ye.”

“Aye,” he said firmly.

“I . . . I was no’ only afraid. I’m furious at myself . . . and disappointed.”

“Why?”

“I worked so hard tae defeat the fear I kenned on the trail. I vowed I wouldna run like a coward. I thought I had been doing so well, but the instant the captain and his men surrounded me, I panicked. I couldna think straight. That old terror was right there, just as strong as ever, and like a bloody fool, I forgot the promise I made tae myself and ran, placing ye in danger just like I did before. I feel like a bloody failure.”

He blinked at her once, twice. Had he actually heard her correctly? “Mairi, what mean ye? Of course ye were afraid, surrounded by six well-armed knights. I would have been too if it hadn’t been for Ian and the others at my back.”

She looked away from him but not before he spotted another tear sliding down her cheek.

“Listen tae me.” Gently, he tugged her chin until she looked at him. “Ye told me of yer promise, remember?”

A frown blurred her brow. “When ye were hurt?”

“Aye, and I distinctly remember ye saying ye promised yerself ye would never run away from
me
. And ye didna, ye ran straight to me, just as ye should have.”

Her frown deepened. “I . . . I . . .” Her voice faded, and she appeared even more confused.

“I dinna blame ye one bit for being frightened, and it was no doubt enough that ye really didna think, ye just reacted. Now ye be filling in the gaps with the wrong information. Ye ran tae me, no’ away from me.”

“But that fear . . . it was just as strong . . . it hasn’t faded at all.”

“Because the threat was before ye in the exact same way. When I first saw them . . . yesterday, when I started work on their horses, I saw the captain from a distance, and that old fear rose within me too.”

She looked up at him, startled. “Ye feel it too?”

“Aye, lassie, but I’ve been trained how tae respond tae that threat. If I hadna, I’d no’ only be running with ye, I’d probably outpace ye.”

Her lips twitched at that. She shook her head. “But all the battles ye fought on the trail . . . ye were never afraid.”

“Thank ye, now I ken I disguised it well. There were times I thought I’d lose ye for certain, and that put such a fear in my heart I canna describe it, but because I have a sword in my hand and no’ a bairn, when I’m terrified, I fight even harder.” He fell silent, studying her a long moment. “Do ye no’ understand? Since we arrived in Edinburgh, I saw yer courage, I witnessed ye defeat yer fear and become a different lass before my eyes, and seeing what ye were able tae accomplish gave me the courage tae face my own demons.”

She stared up at him, her dark eyes growing liquid again, but then he saw the spark return. Her lips tugged upward ever so slightly.

“There’s my bonny lass.” He lightly traced his fingers over the soft silk of her cheek. “There’s one more thing I want ye tae ken. Ye didna place me in danger. I willingly stepped into it as the man who loves ye . . . and I always will.”

She blinked rapidly, “Oh, Connell,” she whispered and threw her arm around him, awkwardly because she was still holding Adam, but she clung to him with surprising strength.

He held them both and kissed the top of her head. “’Twill be all right, lassie. We’ll be keeping our eyes and ears open tae make sure the captain be gone for good. All right?”

She nodded and lifted her head, scrubbing away the last of her tears. “Thank ye.”

He smiled and guided her back to the table but vowed he would keep a close eye on her for the next couple of days. If the captain showed his face again, even for a moment, Connell resolved he would end the bastard’s life. Mairi had fought too hard and had overcome so much. There was no way in hell he would allow the cur to take that away from her.

HHH

Days passed, and Connell insisted that Mairi and Adam spend their time at the shop with Fiona and Ian, but at least they had fine meals every day and shared good company. Ian gave Connell leave to accompany Mairi whenever she had to go to market. A sennight turned into a fortnight, but not once did Connell see any sign of the captain and his men. He finally started to relax, convincing himself that the man had learned his lesson and was probably already back in England, harassing some other man’s wife. Fortunately, after their conversation, Mairi seemed to shake off her fear and bounce back quickly.

They also attended Mass every Sunday. Connell grew to know the men of the cloth in the neighborhood, and he finally had an idea of who he could talk to in order to arrange a quiet wedding for himself and Mairi. He saved his coin and came up with a plan.

Ian and Connell were busier than ever. Even though the war was quiet because of winter, some nobles took the opportunity to rearm, and Ian was working a dozen commissions for artistically beautiful swords that were strong enough to survive the battlefield. Connell found himself learning more about swordsmithing in the last month than he had in years.

Fully in the grip of winter, and with the snow on the ground, Edinburgh remained a bustling, busy city. December arrived, and their little merchant square abounded with holly and ivy decorations. Most everyone was cheerful with the arrival of Christmastide, and there was definitely a strengthening spirit of the season within everyone. People laughed more and were in a festive mood. Seamus, the old man who ran the tavern down the street, set up a table in the small square, serving wassail to any who wanted the warm beverage on cold days.

Connell found himself falling into the Christmas spirit right along with everyone else. He had always enjoyed Christmas but found himself looking forward to sharing it with Mairi so much he felt as giddy as a lad. Speaking of which, he still needed to get Adam and Mairi their gifts, but he had no idea what to get them. He fiddled with the medallion at his neck. Mairi insisted
he
was her Christmas present, and that thought always brought a smile to his face. But the lass refused to tell him if she wanted anything else.

Adam would be happy with a small toy, but the lad was starting to grow like a weed. Connell wondered if Mairi’s sewing could keep pace with him, but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings by purchasing clothing when she was so good at sewing. She might mistakenly believe he didn’t appreciate her work.

He caught his thoughts and shook his head in disgust. He needed to quit second-guessing himself and make a decision.

“Ye ready, Connell?” Ian barked, pulling him back to the present.

“Aye.” He fisted the massive sledge while Ian pulled the metal he had been heating from the forge.

This was the main duty of the apprentice, the backbreaking swing of the sledge. Ian, holding the hot metal with tongs, grabbed a smaller hammer, and Connell lifted the sledge. Ian tapped an area of the steel with the hammer, and Connell brought the sledge down in that exact spot. He didn’t hesitate; it was up to Ian to get out of the way once he showed Connell where he wanted the strike. As Connell lifted the sledge again, Ian tapped with the hammer, and soon the two were in a rhythm that, to the untrained eye, would appear as if Connell would strike Ian at any moment.

The metal rapidly cooled, and Connell knew that three more strikes would be enough.

“Hold!” Ian barked, but Connell had already lowered the sledge.

Ian looked at him and shook his head, laughing. “Connell, ye keep learning at this pace, I’ll have taught ye everything I ken by the end of the month.”

Connell chuckled and wiped the sweat from his brow.

“All right, laddie, a bit of a test here. What comes next?”

“Nothing,” Connell said.

“Oh?” Ian asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Ye dinna dare heat it again. This part be done, and we dinna wish tae overwork the metal. The problem is, Marcus hasn’t hied himself back from fetching the supplies ye have at the dock, and we canna do anything more without them.”

Ian shook his head, but he was smiling. “Ye be exactly right. Where be that lad anyway?”

Connell ignored his question, looking closer at the steel. “I could have struck that better,” he muttered.

“What’s that?”

Connell pointed.

Ian frowned and looked closer. “Glory be, I never kenned I’d meet my match. Ye be as critical of yerself as I am of me. The strike was solid. Aye, there be room for improvement on that one, but it be verra acceptable.” He looked up. “Are ye sure we are no’ blood kin somehow?”

Connell laughed.

“Smith!” Marcus said, running through the gate.

“Now why be ye empty handed?” Ian barked.

“The supplies, they willna be here until tomorrow.”

Ian looked to the heavens and cursed like a sailor.

Connell arched an eyebrow.

“Ye were right, Connell, until we can get that shipment, there be nothing left tae do unless ye get some horses tae shoe. Hell, at this rate, I’ll be helping ye with them.”

“Are ye sure they will be in tomorrow?” Connell asked Marcus.

“That’s what the quartermaster said,” Marcus replied.

“They had better be, or I’ll be going tae the docks myself, and the quartermaster hates tae see me coming. I had tae threaten something dire the last time a shipment was late.”

Connell fought to keep a straight face. “Dire?”

“Fiona be friends with his wife. Last time, I told him she would probably be visiting the next day.” He paused and grinned at Connell. “The man is as hen-pecked as they come. If Fiona lets one word slip about an order being late, the quartermaster will be paddling a rowboat in the middle of the channel, searching for that bloody ship.”

Connell choked back a laugh. “I never kenned ye were quite so vindictive.”

“Me? Of course I am, laddie, ye just havena seen my bad side.” He hefted the steel. “As long as ye keep producing work like this, ye willna see it.”

“Thank ye . . . I think.”

Ian laughed. “Well, I can always work on the ledgers. I dinna want ye tae lose a half day’s pay, but there be nothing tae do here.”

“Actually, Ian, if ye dinna mind, it would probably be a good opportunity for me tae get Mairi and Adam their Christmas gifts.”

Ian’s eyes widened. “Ye havena done that yet? Och, laddie, be off with ye then. Ye think I be vindictive? Dinna even go there.”

“The problem is she willna tell me what she wants.”

Ian frowned at him and abruptly laughed. “Lord have mercy, ye be worse than I was when I was newly married. She’s been telling ye every day what she wants.”

“I think I’d remember if she had, Ian.”

“Trust me, she’s been dropping hints all over the house. Ye have tae open yer eyes and ears, laddie. Lasses are subtle about it.”

Connell’s thoughts scrambled. He hadn’t thought of it that way.

“Can ye think of anything she’s mentioned in casual conversation? Usually Fiona says, ‘it would be nice,’ or she’ll ask me if I’ve seen the new wares at a merchant booth. Things like that.”

Connell thought for a long moment. “Nay, I dinna recall anything.”

“Has she broken anything lately? If ye want something new, break the old.”

“Only one bowl, and I know exactly the reason behind it, so that no’ be it.”

Ian focused on the medallion hanging around Connell’s neck. “Ye could always get her one in answer tae yers?”