One & Only (27 page)

CHAPTER twenty-eight

A
crisp breeze came through the window casement and stirred her hair. Bree opened
her eyes and stared at the window casement for a long time. The sun was rising
in the western sky. She moaned when she tried to move. No one was in the
chamber with her. A strange dream came to her. MacHeth had come for her here at
the Gunn keep and he had taken her. It had to be a dream, she reasoned, for she
was safely in her bed.

No
sounds could be heard within the keep. That was odd especially this time of day
when many came to sup for the afternoon meal. Bree couldn’t lie there and not
know what was going on. Her leg hurt when she moved it, but she dismissed it
and threw her good leg over the side of the bed.

The
coolness of the floorboards met her toes when she touched it. On shaky legs,
she tried to stand and was able to reach the door, hobbling and grimacing with
each step. Before she opened the door, she yanked a tartan from the hook next
to the door and wrapped it around her shoulders.

Bree
sat at the top of the steps and scooted down them until she reached the bottom.
Pain began to throb in her shoulder, but in an effort to see where everyone was
and what was happening, she disregarded it.

Finally,
she reached the great hall. No one was inside. Hobbling, she reached the
doorway and saw Sean standing in front of it.

“Sean.
What is going on?”

“Milady!
What are ye doing out of your bed? My laird is going to raise holy hell.”

Bree
grabbed hold of his forearm to steady herself, and felt the rock-hard strength
of him. He set an arm around her back and helped to hold her up.

“Where
is everyone?”

“At
the rise of the hill.”

“Take
me there?”

“But
milady, ye can barely walk. The laird will be angry. I should take ye back to
your chamber.”

Bree
gazed up at the tall warrior and smiled. “Nay, he wouldn’t dare. Pray, Sean, I
want to see what is happening and I haven’t been outside in days. Please.”

Sean,
easily manipulated, helped her down the steps. He bid her to wait and helped
her to sit on a stone. When he returned, he had a cart and horse. “I’ll help ye
get on, milady.” Sean lifted her in his arms and set her gently on the back of
the cart as if she weighed nothing. “Take hold, so ye don’t fall off.”

“Where
is Grey?”

“At
the rise. I’ll take ye to him.”

Sean
walked beside the horse and kept to a brisk pace. After ten minutes she could
see the crowd gathered. It appeared every single person in the Gunn clan stood
together. The cart finally slowed and Sean helped her stand.

“Can
ye walk, milady?”

“A
little, but I need help.” Bree, with Sean’s assistance, took forever to reach
the crowd. When she finally got to the center she saw the box. “Oh, God, no.”

Someone
took her arms and as she looked up, she saw Grey holding her. “What is she
doing here?” he asked Sean.

“Laird,
she made it to the door of the keep. She wanted to come. I couldn’t say nay.”

She
pressed her hand against his chest, causing him to look at her. “Grey,” her
voice muffled his name. “I thought you were in the box. My heart almost dropped
from my chest. Who are we honoring?” Then she saw the aged couple standing
beside the box, and beyond most of the clan. Some had tears. Most wore grim
faces.

“Greer.”

Tears
came to Bree’s eyes. “Greer, oh, no, Grey. MacHeth did come, did he not? I
thought I had dreamed … Greer tried to save me? I wasn’t dreaming it.”

Grey
nodded. “Aye, MacHeth came. Greer would have done anything to protect you,
Bree.”

“Oh,
Grey, I am so sorry. He died because of me.” Bree reached the box and set a
hand atop warm wood. Her eyes darted to Kenneth, Greer’s brother. He stood
firm, unwavering at the sadness of those around him like a true warrior. Bree
limped toward him and when she reached him, she hugged him with her good arm.

“I
am so sorry, Kenneth. Please forgive me.”

Kenneth
nodded. Emotion snuck into his action and he turned and quickly strode away.

Bree
wept in utter sorrow for his death, and weak from all her injuries, she fell
back on her rear. He was such a good and decent man. How would she ever bear
the culpability of his loss?

Several
of his guard rushed to her when she fell, but Grey approached and motioned them
back.

He
helped her to rise and lifted her in his arms. “Do not deem the fault was
yours, Bree. It was MacHeth and he alone who killed Greer. He alone will
account for it in hell. Greer would have been honored to die for you. He did
his duty.”

Those
around him nodded, but Bree thought them crazed. Grey stared to walk away and
Bree, even though it hurt considerably, set her arms around his shoulders.

“I
am sorry, Grey. I know how much he meant to you. I wish I remembered him from
when we were young.”

Grey
smiled. “Nay, ye surely don’t. He and Duff used to tease ye unmercifully. Many
a time I fought with them for disrespecting you. In fact, I believe it was his
suggestion that I tie ye to a tree. But I know they did it with love. Aye, we
all loved ye even at those tender ages.”

She
sniffed. “We shall name our first son after him. We must make sure Sunny knows
her father was a great man, promise me, Grey, we won’t let her forget him?”

“Aye,
it would be an honor to call my son Greer and we won’t let Sunny forget him. I
promise.” Grey took the steps and kept going until he reached their chamber. He
set her upon the bedding and bid her to stay there.

“I
don’t want to be here.”

“You
don’t want to be in our bed?” Grey stood beside it, looking down at her.

“Only
if you stay here with me.”

He
sat next to her and held her hand. “We never had our wedding night.”

“Nay,
we didn’t. We shall soon.”

“Aye,
we will.”

At
that moment, Sunny entered the chamber alone. She ran to the bed and climbed
next to her. Bree smiled. She’d missed the little sprite.

“Why
are you alone? Where is Cait?”

“Kissing.”

Bree
drew in a surprised gasp when she heard Sunny’s voice. “Grey, did you hear her?
She spoke. Oh, sweeten, you spoke.” She drew Sunny against her and hugged her.
“Do you deem she can hear us?”

Grey
hunched his shoulders. “Mayhap she can.”

“Momma.”
Sunny looked up at her, smiling. “Cait, kissing.”

Bree
and Grey laughed. The child looked so adorable and Bree couldn’t help letting a
tear fall at the joy of hearing her sweet voice.

She
made sure Sunny could see her when she spoke, “Aye, Cait is kissing.”

Only
a child could turn a sad day into a joyous one.

CHAPTER twenty-nine

Weeks
passed and slowly the clan rectified the loss of the cottages. No one discussed
what actually happened to Greer. Bree wasn’t sure she wanted to know the
details. She felt much better. Though her shoulder and leg hurt, she was
finally able to remove the bandaging. Fortunately neither wound got infected.

The
salve Catherine had given her worked well to heal the wounds. The lacerations
scabbed and the skin around them tightened. Bree was hard pressed to ask for a
mirror. Her face had healed as well, and when Catherine had removed the
stiches, she looked aghast. Aye, she must look hideous now.

Bree
rose from her bath and dressed in a plain light green gown. She rubbed cream on
the wounds and knew how fortunate she was to be alive. With the Gunn plaid in
place, she decided to leave the chamber and rejoin the living. On her way to
the hall, she stopped by Cait’s room, her old chamber, and went inside.

Cait
had just put Sunny down for a nap. The girl looked sweet lying amid the covers
with her thumb in her mouth. Her pretty curls covered her small face.

“She
called you momma.”

Bree
didn’t know Cait had heard her when Sunny visited her chamber. She thought Cait
was off kissing Duff.

“Aye,
when Grey saved you from the MacHeth, when he’d taken you to the battlements. I
brought her into the room to see how you were doing, she called ye momma.”

“The
battlements? Pray, do not speak of it. Sunny called me momma when she visited
my chamber. I asked her where you were and she said kissing.” Bree laughed.
“She can talk. That means she can say other words. We will need to teach her.”

“I
have tried to get her to speak again, but she has not. I suspect she will speak
for you. I deem the lass reads lips well, for when she’s not looking at me, she
doesn’t hear me calling.”

“Have
you a mirror?” she asked, and Cait went to her trunk.

“Only
a broken piece of one. Here.” She handed Bree the three inch piece of mirror.

She
held it up and gazed at it and saw what others did. A scar trailed from just
under her chin to her temple on the right side of her face. It was fortunate
she hadn’t been killed. The skin around the scar still swelled, but looked like
it might improve somewhat when it fully healed.

“Uuug,
it’s horrible. How dreadful.”

“You’re
still beautiful to me.”

“Cait,
how I love you. Thank you for all you have done. I would have worried so for
Sunny if it were not for you.” Bree went and sat next to Sunny on the bedding.
She pressed her hand against her face, feeling her soft skin. “Have you made
any progress with Duff?”

Cait
laughed. “I fear not. He has been busy helping to rebuild the cottages. And I
know he mourns Greer. He won’t speak of it to me. In fact, he hasn’t spoken to
me since that day. Duff sulks about and won’t mind anyone these days.”

Bree
saddened at that news. “I’m sorry, Cait. He’ll come around. He misses his
friend.”

At
that moment someone knocked lightly on the door. Cait called out for them to
enter and then Duff strode into the room. He stood there staring at Cait, and
Bree couldn’t help smiling. Duff didn’t seem to know what he was about.

“Speak
of the …” Bree covered her mouth, to keep herself from laughing.

“Duff,
did you want something?” Cait asked.

Yet
the man seemed to have lost his tongue.

“Duff,
is Grey looking for me?” Bree asked.

“Nay.
Milady, can we have a moment?”

Bree
reached the door before he got out the last word. “I must go and see where Grey
is and I wanted to check on Gell. It’s been forever since I visited the
kitchens.”

She
left the chamber and once in the hall, she laughed aloud. The poor man was
besotted. Bree didn’t see anyone about. With Gell on her mind, she kept walking
until she exited the back of the keep and entered the kitchen.

“Milady,”
Gell said. He bid all to stop working. “Bow to ye’re lady.”

“Oh,
Gell, pray, don’t bow to me. I came to say hello and to see what you were
cooking. It smells marvelous.”

“I
chopped off a gooses head, milady. Aye, he’s plucked and ready for me spit. Had
nice quills, milady, I’ll send some to you.”

“I
cannot wait to eat it, Gell. And I do thank you for the quills. Do you need
help?”

Gell
scoffed and grumbled to the rest of the kitchen helpers to get back to work.
“Och, nay, ye’re not to lift a finger in here and no fooling me with keeping
secrets. The laird wants ye to rest up and not to exhaust yourself. Said he has
chores for ye aplenty.”

Crestfallen
at that, she nodded. “Did he say what chores he had in mind? Because he said
nothing to me.”

Gell
laughed. He cackled until his eyes watered. “Ye’ll have your hands full of
taking care of his bairns he said. Once ye are well enough.”

A
lightheartedness came upon her. “Well that I can do. I will visit you again
soon, Gell.” She left the kitchens and went to sit by the tree she’d sat under
her first night at the Gunn keep. There, she watched the men building cottages.
Some trained afar on the field. People went about their daily lives without
thought as to how much it meant. She knew.

“What
are you doing out here, lass? Did I not tell you not to leave the bed? Besides,
Nell is still on the loose and it may not be safe.”

“Grey.
I am happy to see you, too. I couldn’t stay inside a minute longer. I know the
gates have been kept closed. There’s no way she could have gotten inside our
walls. I worry not for that. Come sit with me.”

He
helped her up and took her spot, and then settled her on his lap. They watched
the clan and didn’t speak for several minutes.

“You
know what I’m thinking?”

He
grinned. “From the look on your face, the same as I?”

“You
promised me a wedding night. I’m truly well, Grey. Can we not … at least try?”

Grey
scooped her in his arms and laughed. “Aye, I want ye. Will always want ye,
Bree.” He practically ran toward the keep with Bree in his arms.

When
he reached the steps of the keep she heard a horn blow, an alert that someone
had come. Many of the clan’s men went running toward the gatehouse.

“For
the love of God, Bree, we’ll never have our wedding night.”

Bree
laughed. “Mayhap not. Let us see who has come.”

As
they waited outside on the steps of the keep for their company to arrive, Cait
came to stand beside her. She had a pleasant look on her face.

“What
happened? What did Duff want?”

“Oh,
Bree, I cannot believe …”

“He
asked? Aye, I knew he would. He is a very fortunate man, Cait. For any man
would be blessed to have you. I know I have been all these years.”

Cait
took her hand and squeezed it. “He wants to await the spring, and said he was
building us a cottage. I never owned my own home afore. Duff said he was really
upset about Greer’s death, but it made him realize that life was too fleeting.
He wants lots of bairns.”

Bree
laughed. “I deem Grey does as well. Aye, but it will surely be a pleasure
making them. I have it on great authority.”

Cait
shoved her good arm and laughed. “Aye, my authority, Bree.”

A
large procession rode through the gatehouse. The king’s flags flew and his
soldiers dismounted, filling the courtyard.

Alexander
rode through with Donal behind him. He didn’t look pleased to be there, but
Bree knew he always had such a stern look.

“Sire,
what brings you to Gunn keep?” Grey waited for him to approach. “Have you come
to behead me or hang me?”

Alexander
dismounted his horse and stood before them. “Nay, I don’t want to do neither to
ye, Grey. I came to thank you. Both of you.”

Bree
was surprised by his words. The king knelt and smiled up at them. He didn’t
have to gaze up much, as tall as he was. She was almost the same size as he,
even with him on his knees. Alexander placed his hand over his heart and
grinned.

“Get
off your knees, sire. You do not need to thank us. You need to leave my land
and never return.” Grey wasn’t being hospitable.

“Grey,
please, do not speak to his highness in such a tone.”

Alexander’s
eyes crinkled with a smile. “I came to beg your forgiveness, my lady. I should
never have sent ye to MacHeth’s lair. It was wrong of me. Donal made me realize
that. I see you are well considering what he told me. I have something for you,
Grey. Repayment for the heads of MacHeth and MacWilliams. Bring her here,” the king
shouted over his shoulder.

At
once, three of the king’s guard came forward. They held Nell’s arms which were
bound. She appeared dirty and bedraggled.

Bree
looked at Grey and then back at Nell.

Grey
took a step forward. She’d never seen him look so ominous. “Sire, where did you
find her?”

Donal
clapped Alexander on the shoulder. “When I went to give him MacHeth’s head, the
woman was relating a sad tale.”

“Aye,
but Donal tells me she spoke untruthfully. Be that the way of it?” Alexander
asked.

Grey
looked furious and Bree wasn’t sure what he’d do. She gently touched his arm
and forced him to turn to her. With a gentle look of her eyes, she silently
gave him the message.

“Nell,
why? Why would you harm Bree? She was kind to you.”

The
woman spat on the ground. “MacHeth wanted her. You killed him. Aye, ye shall
burn in hell. All of you.”

“You
know why he wanted her, Nell? He wanted to use her to victor over King
Alexander. He didn’t want her because he … Were you and MacHeth involved?”

“He
bade me to come here. I even married that wretched Joseph so I could give him
word of your doings. I wanted to be involved with Kenneth. The only way I could
get his attention was to harm Bree. Aye, I told him what I did and he was
pleased. I knew he would come to finish her. I am not sorry for it.”

Grey
turned and peered at her. “What to do? I can’t approve killing a woman, even
though that is my greatest wish.”

Alexander
stepped forward. “I will send her to Edinburgh and have her tend the keep under
my most watchful soldiers.”

“That
would be too fine a hardship for her. Nay, she should reside in hell.” Grey
appeared to take a step toward her and Bree thought he would strike her. But he
did not.

“Grey,
I promise you, she will not live her days well. Men, take her out of our sight.”

The
soldiers came took Nell’s arms and forced her to walk away. The horrid woman
screeched blasphemous words, which could be heard by all. Many in the clan
threw objects at her and called her mad. Bree felt such sorrow for the woman,
yet she was glad to see the last of her.

“Sire,
welcome to our home. Come, we have a delicious meal planned for supper. Will
you join us?” Bree turned toward the steps.

Alexander
didn’t have to be asked twice. He took the steps and Donal laughed as he passed
by. “Your lady has a mite more sense than ye do, Grey.”

Grey
punched Donal’s arm.

“Why
did ye invite them in?”

Bree
touched Grey’s face. “Because if we don’t appease him, he will never leave. Let
us feed him and hopefully he will be on his way.”

One
of the gatehouse guards shouted for Grey and he motioned him forward.

“I
will go and ensure supper is served straightaway so Alexander can leave.” She
hastened to the kitchens to ask Gell if he could serve supper a little earlier
than planned. He groaned and moaned about the inconvenience, but then agreed to
send it posthaste when she told him why.

Gell
found the fact that Grey didn’t want the king in their keep humorous and he
cackled a good five minutes.

Bree
returned to the hall and found the men sitting around the massive table. The
large candelabra had been lit and a glow set the room. It seemed comforting
until she heard someone yell. An older man stood next to the table near Grey,
and she recognized him as the man Grey had tossed out the door on her first
night at the keep. She hurried to the table and then spotted an older woman and
Anna standing nearby.

“I
said we owed you apologies, Mannis. We Gunns never apologize to anyone, you
know that. Accept it, or be on your way.”

“Grey,
you sent for them. Thank you,” Bree said. She stood next to Grey and smiled,
wishing she could hug him for the thoughtfulness. “I am so happy you have
returned home. We found out that Anna was innocent. I never thought she would
do anything so dreadful. Anna, please forgive Grey for sending you away.”

The
woman began crying and Bree’s heart went out to her.