Legacy of the Mist Clans Box Set (117 page)

“I was willing tae die so she might live.”

~
Connell MacGrigor

C
onnell’s eyes flew open, his heart rattling in his chest. What had awakened him? Mairi still slept in his arms, holding Adam close. The bairn also slept, so what was it?

He heard a strange noise skittering on the outside of their home, and every sense within him came alert.

It was the same sensation he had known on the trail when they were hunted. The voice in his heart cried out in defiance. Nay! Not again! Not when they had found such peace in their lives. Not when they had at last a taste of joy.

The fear and anger lunged powerfully within him. They hadn’t even made it through their wedding night before his dreams turned to dust.

He stopped that line of thinking immediately and sat up in bed. He listened intently, praying he was wrong. His actions woke Mairi.

“Connell?”

He held his finger to his lips, and she immediately fell silent. Again he heard the strange noises outside their home. A shuffling of feet, a curse bit back. He rose from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he cautiously peered through the shuttered window. His eyes narrowed as he focused on a group of men.

“The captain,” he growled softly.

Mairi’s eyes grew wide with fear. “Nay,” she whispered. “Please, nay.”

The captain spoke to his men, keeping his voice low, but it was that sound which had awakened Connell. He was suddenly grateful his instincts had been honed to a sharp edge on the trail. Connell watched the captain’s gestures as he pointed, then two men trotted off, their armor rustling. He pointed in another direction, and two more men moved.

Connell knew where he would place men around his home, and the skills he had hoped to never need again immediately came to the fore. Because it was technically part of the blacksmith’s yard, this home was one of the few not crammed in between other buildings. There was another split-rail fence on the other side separating the overgrown garden from the alley running next to it. The backs of warehouse buildings crowded atop one another lined the other side of the narrow alley. They were old and neglected, and some were falling apart. As long as he and Mairi were careful, the warehouses offered a place to hide.

“Get dressed,” he growled to Mairi. They had only one chance. It was small, but at least it was a chance.

When she didn’t move, he looked at her sharply. He watched her eyes grow liquid with tears, and his heart went out to her. “How? How did they find us?”

Connell’s thoughts flitted over everything, and he growled a curse, only now realizing what his desire for a peaceful future had clouded. “The captain . . . his fancy with ye must have been a ruse tae determine who ye were. But I fear it was I who placed the nail in our coffin.” Damn himself to hell, he should have taken Mairi and run when they had the chance.

“How?”

“Father Padraig. I told him everything. I confessed tae him my sins.”

“The priest? Nay, it canna be. Church mandates . . .”

“Church mandates be damned, he took my coin for our private wedding a sennight ago, saying he had tae plan carefully. Like a fool, I believed him. I wager the captain offered him more. Lassie, we must run again. Get dressed—now!”

HHH

Connell knew they had little time, but they managed to dress and bundle Adam against the cold. Mairi once again wore his plaid looped around her. He hoped they could grab a few items from the kitchen then bolt out the front door. If they could surprise the captain and his men, they might reach the warehouses, perhaps even swipe a couple of horses. Connell didn’t care how they escaped just as long as—

The front door rattled just as Connell stepped from the bedroom and unsheathed his blade. Damnation! His heart hesitated in his chest. The door lurched as someone kicked it. But it held, he noted with a fair bit of pride. Yet he knew it would not last for long.

“Mairi, get back.” He pushed her back in the bedroom, and his gaze fell on the lamp beside the bed. “The lamp, quickly.”

It took her only a moment to get the lamp. Another kick landed, and the door broke open. The captain and more men-at-arms pushed their way through. Too many for Connell to fight all at once.

The terror that seized his heart was almost more than he could bear. He could not lose his family a second time. His gaze fell on the hearth immediately on his left and the still red-hot glowing embers within it. A voice cried in agony in his heart at what he was about to do, but he had to get Mairi and Adam out.

With a snarl, Connell reached out with his sword and buried it into the embers. He shoveled them out with the flat of the blade and flung them across the room. They landed on the divan and on Adam’s blanket, where his toys were strewn about. The oil lamp followed and shattered on the floor. In an instant, flames sprang to life. Connell turned and pushed Mairi back into their small bedroom. He could not be more grateful to Ian for the new lock as he slammed the bedroom door closed and locked it. It would hold the men at bay just long enough.

“The window,” he growled and hauled Mairi toward it.

“Nay,” she gasped, fighting him, but Connell merely hefted her from her feet and carried her to it. He flung open the shutters and set his sword down long enough to lift Mairi up. It was small and high on the wall, but she could fit through it easily enough.

“Nay!” she cried, fighting him even harder. “It be too small for ye. I canna leave ye behind, Connell.”

“Run, Mairi.”

“Nay!”

He hesitated only a moment and returned her to her feet. “Mairi, hear me.” The snap and pop of the flames grew in strength in the other room. Smoke thickened, and he told himself it was the reason why his eyes watered so terribly.

“I lost them,” he whispered. “I canna lose ye too. Please, ye must run.”

“Connell—”

“Please!” His throat tightened so much he could barely speak. “I love ye, Mairi.” He lowered his head and kissed her with all the passion his heart held for her. Only now could he truly understand how she had healed the wounds of his past, how she had rekindled the love in his heart he had thought he could never feel again, and this was so much more.

The door lurched as someone kicked it, but the lock held. Connell reluctantly ended the kiss.

Why?
His heart raged. Why had the Almighty given him a second chance only to steal it all away again?

He doubted he would ever know the answer to that question.

At least I was able tae love ye,
he wanted to tell Mairi.
At least I kenned joy, however brief.
Instead, he pointed to the window.

“I saw the captain assign his men. Run through the garden and straight to the alley, Mairi. Hide amongst the warehouses until ye can safely fetch a horse from the barn. I will hold them here.”

“Nay,” she moaned, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“The weeds in the garden are taller than ye, but ye must be cautious. They are dry and thin with winter. If ye arena careful, the men will see ye.”

“I’m no’ leaving ye.” Never had he heard such pain in her voice.

Connell gritted his teeth. The terror in her eyes had returned, but what was worse, he witnessed the spark he had loved so much dim as her panic set in. She knew what he was going to do.

“I am so sorry,” he murmured. With great care, he handed their marriage scroll to her. “Ye are my wife now. Go back tae Castle MacGrigor. Ronan will keep ye and Adam safe.”

“Nay! I canna leave ye! I willna leave ye!” She clutched the scroll in her hand, but her gaze never left his.

“Ye must. Now, go!”

She was crying so hard she couldn’t speak. Connell again lifted her to the window.

“Nay!” she wailed, but he forced himself to ignore her pleas and pushed her out.

“Run, my sweet,” he barked. “Run, and never look back.”

“Connell!” she screamed.

He could no longer see her, but he could hear her crying just on the other side of the wall. Connell lowered his head for a brief moment and pressed his palm against the wall, praying she would obey him in this, wishing he could find the words to tell her how much he loved her. Slowly, he lifted his head and drew a deep breath. Straightening his shoulders, he faced the door once again and hefted his sword.

Another kick landed. This time, the lock gave way and the door flew open, a wave of heat rolling into the room along with a billow of smoke.

“Godspeed, my love,” Connell murmured and strode purposefully into the flames.

HHH

Mairi couldn’t see for the tears clouding her vision; she couldn’t breathe for the sobs choking her throat.

Run
, my sweet.
Connell’s voice echoed in her ears.
Run, and never look back.

She ran into the garden. Connell had been right, the weeds were taller than she was, but there wasn’t enough cover. She heard a barked curse and lunged for the fence and the safety of the buildings lining the alley. She clung to Adam as her heart screamed in agony.

I promised. I made a vow tae him and to myself never tae run from him again
. How could she just leave him to die? She loved him. She had fought so hard to find the man he had hidden away. And she had, she had found him and married him. Now, she was leaving him to die a terrible death in their burning home.

She had been so upset with herself when the captain had frightened her the first time, but now this . . . God, how could she live with herself after this?

The flames erupted from the house, leaping through the roof, devouring it like a hungry demon. She darted for the cover of the warehouses only steps away. Panting for air, she huddled next to a wall and looked back. Two knights emerged from the barn, staring at the burning house in horror.

“Captain!” one bellowed. In an instant, the two sprinted away from the barn and toward the burning house.

Now was her chance. She could run into the barn and grab a horse. She and Adam could get away safely. But her heart screamed so loudly she could not ignore it. She couldn’t run.

Mairi watched the men run to the front door and charge inside. She held her breath and waited.

A moment later, one man reappeared, dragging two others with him. Mairi recognized the captain who had terrorized her before. They coughed and choked against the smoke. But the captain quickly regained his feet.

She stared, only now realizing he wore a different surcoat and heraldry. Suddenly, she had to bite back a scream of fury. When the English knights had tried to ride her down when they were a day from Edinburgh, he was the man who had escaped. She hadn’t gotten a good look at his face except to note he did not have whiskers, but she had seen the heraldry on his surcoat. He had grown a short beard in the meantime. When he was at the blacksmith’s shop, when he had terrorized her on the street, when Connell had faced him with his hammers, they hadn’t recognized him without his heraldry.

“Get him out!” the captain bellowed. “He’s our only hope of finding them.”

The second man appeared, and Mairi could not believe who it was he had hauled out.

Connell.

Connell collapsed to the ground, coughing so hard he nearly gagged. But somehow he started to rise.

“Bastard!” one man barked and booted Connell in the jaw. His head snapped back, and he collapsed to the ground, incoherent.

Mairi clapped her hand over her mouth to stop her scream. But her only thought was how she was going to kill the bastards. She suddenly understood Connell’s rage when he fought, how he was able to summon the warrior when he needed.

“Hold!” the captain barked.

“Captain,” the second complained, “he slew six of our men.”

“Do either of you know where the woman is? The child?”

They could not answer.

The captain strode to Connell, seized his tunic, and hauled him to his knees. “I know you wouldn’t sacrifice her life. Where is she?”

Connell shook his head, wiped the blood from his lip, and Mairi knew the moment he recognized the captain’s heraldry as well. His eyes widened, and the roar he uttered lifted the hairs on the back of her neck. In an instant, her gentle giant vanished and the warrior returned, and this man was the most terrifying Mairi had ever seen. He exploded forward, tackling the captain and wrapping his hands around his throat. The captain choked, his hands clawing at Connell’s, but Connell’s arms were like bands of steel.

The other three tried to pull Connell off, but he was immovable, his hands tightening inexorably. Just a bit more and Connell would squeeze the life out of him. The knights only stopped him when one slammed the pommel of his sword on the back of Connell’s head, and he crashed to the ground.

The other two helped the captain sit up. He gasped and gagged, fighting to breathe. The third loomed over Connell as he shook his head and battled to pull himself to his hands and knees. Blood streamed from the back of his head and soaked his hair.

“Where is she?” the knight with the sword said.

Connell spat on his boot.

The knight lifted his sword again.

“Hold!” the captain barked a second time, his voice hoarse. “Slay him and you’ll be on your knees before the king.” He looked at Connell. “You have one more chance. Where is she? Where is the child?”

“Gone,” Connell snapped. “Ye will ne’er find her.”

The captain rose and kicked him, sending Connell to the ground again. “Bring him. The king will wish to question him, and if he does not answer, then the king will decide his fate.”

Mairi watched helplessly as they put Connell in chains and gathered their horses, dragging him with them.

I love ye, Mairi.

She watched the home they had shared burn to ash . . . along with her dreams. Nay! It couldn’t end like this. Not after all they had suffered. Not after all they had gained.

There was a time not so long ago when Mairi would have done exactly what Connell told her and ran. It was the one thing she was so very good at.

Nay!

Her fear was still there, it still tried to possess her thoughts, but a conviction that she had never felt before rose and countered her terror. It was time to fight for what she held dear. Never once had Connell wavered in his vow to her. Never once had he failed her.