The Wild Rose of Kilgannon (7 page)

"Do ye not, lass?" Angus spoke quietly. When I turned to him his blue gaze met mine without censure. "Perhaps he wants to see ye again or to see Kilgannon. Even if Alex is alive, Robert kens there's a great chance Alex will be imprisoned or executed. And Robert Campbell will still be alive."

Matthew shook his head. "He could ha' killed Alex in the pass, Da, and he dinna. The others were hot to kill him."

"Perhaps they did," I said, but Matthew shook his head again.

"I dinna think so. That's a lot of trouble to go to for a dead man. Why would Robert speak to him?"

"Perhaps Alex was alive then."

"And then died?"

"Yes," I said.

"They would have buried him. There were no cairns built, no graves dug."

"He may be alive in the crofter's hut or dead in the hut."

Matthew's eyes met mine. "Aye, but I dinna think so. Why no bury him if he's dead? They dinna ken I was watching. Why would they stay there for days

and then come here? And why would they leave men at the hut? No' to guard a dead man."

"Perhaps they left men to guard Alex and are coming here to give Kilgannon to Malcolm," I said. "Perhaps Malcolm's the man in the cloak and hood."

Angus shook his head. "I dinna think so, lass. If Alex has forfeited, it is unlikely they would give his lands to his brother. And Robert doesna have the authority. The English would sell the lands before they'd give them away to another Scot. No, Alex is with Robert or in that
croft house
and I think he's with Robert."

"If Alex is in the
croft house
," I asked, "why would Robert be coming here?" Angus looked at me from under his eyebrows, his blue gaze, like his voice, without expression.

"For ye."

I STARTED, BUT I
KNEW HE WAS RIGHT, WHY WOULD Robert let Alex come home? If it was an act of kindness then I was grateful, but if Robert thought I'd throw myself in his arms he was gravely mistaken. And, I thought grimly, if he is simply saving Alex now so Alex can suffer a traitor's death later, then I hate him. Under no circumstances would I be leaving with Robert Campbell. If he was coming for me he'd leave alone and in certain possession of my opinion of him. I sighed and looked at Matthew. "You're wrong, Matthew," I said. "Alex was very much himself. He knew exactly what he was doing."

Angus nodded. "Aye, he did. He led them away so we could get to the ship. He kent they'd follow him. Ye must have been in Brenmargon Pass when we went looking for ye." Matthew nodded.

Runners came just after dark to say that Robert had camped before Glengannon Pass. They would be here sometime in the morning. The man in the cloak had been escorted into a tent and was not seen again. Within an hour the torches had been lit and everyone within close distance of the castle had been gathered within its walls. Many of the women and children had gone to the shielings or to Glendevin for safety, but quite a few remained,
mostly
household staff who refused to leave. Angus and I had had a heated debate whether he should lead a group of men to meet Robert. I was firmly against it and won only because Kilgannon would be unprotected. Angus wanted me off with the boys. I refused to join them, but was grateful that they were safely tucked into Thomas's brother's
croft house
miles away. Only four of us knew for certain where they were, so no matter what happened here they had a
chance to survive. That Duncan MacNeill would protect them with his life I had no doubt. I only hoped I had been unnecessarily protective.

Now I sat with Angus and Matthew and Gilbey in the library once again while outside the rain pounded the stones and the wind wailed, mirroring my mood. I had refused to join the women and children in the keep, and the three of them refused to join the other men in the hall. Every half hour they would walk the positions and talk to the men standing guard, but just now they sat here with me. We sat in silence, listening to the wind and the fire crackling in the grate. The man in the cloak had to be Alex, I thought. Nothing else made sense. Unless, said a voice in my head, unless it was Malcolm, who did not want to be recognized. But why would Malcolm be coming here? If Alex were dead, Ian would inherit, not Malcolm. Unless, said the voice, Malcolm thought he could be appointed as the boys' guardian, or unless he was coming to claim Kilgannon as a reward for his treachery. Would Robert do that? Did he have that power? And if he did, would he do that to me? Or was this his revenge?

"What have we forgotten?" I asked.

"Nothing," said Angus. "I would there were something else."

Gilbey nodded and Matthew looked from his father to me. Washed and in fresh clothes, he still looked worn and
weary
, but he would not leave us. We had taken every precaution we could think of. The Margaret was back from Skye and stationed in the outer loch, and a boat had been placed at the mouth of the sea cave. If we needed to, we'd go through the tunnel and be on the Margaret; Angus and I were agreed on that. If Alex was alive, I would do everything I could to persuade Alex to flee. If the enemy came by land, then Alex could leave by sea. Just how I would manage to whisk him away from under Robert's nose I had not determined, but if it was possible I'd be ready. If Alex could get to Skye, he could get to France. One man would be simple to hide. Or would we all go with him? I wondered. How could I leave the people to fend for themselves? If Alex were dead ... Angus's voice interrupted me.

"Mary, will ye no' reconsider? I could ha' ye on yer way at once. I will tell ye what happens."

"No," I said. "Angus, I must be here. If Alex is coming here, then I must be here. If he is in the crofter's hut, I can distract Robert while you get Alex. And if Alex is dead, then what happens to me does not matter. Do not ask me to leave and not know."

Angus frowned, but he nodded.

Wee Donald burst in at breakfast the next morning, breathless and agitated, his arms flying as he skidded to a stop, shouting.

"They're comin'! They've just gone into the trees below Alasdair's cave."
Alasdair's
cave, I thought, remembering.

We rose as one from the table, Angus hurrying outside to make certain all was ready, Matthew in his father's wake and Gilbey at their heels. Within a few minutes we were ready, armed men lining the walls and the top of the terraces. I walked to Angus's side as he stood on the lowest terrace looking over the glen and he gave me a fierce frowning look.

"I wish ye'd do as I ask and let Gilbey take ye to the boys."

I shook my head. "I will not argue with you again, Angus. I will be here to meet Alex."

"And if they mean violence?"

"Then they'd not be coming here with Alex. They would have killed him or brought him to Fort William and then swept down on us without him. Angus, I cannot believe Robert will harm us."

"And I couldna believe Malcolm would betray us," he said and I nodded, wondering how many times in the last hours we had repeated the conversation. "Will ye do me one thing, Mary?"

"If I can," I said.

"Will ye let Matthew take ye to safety if needed?"

"And where will Alex be?"

"If he's alive, in the middle. No' having ye to worry about will free his mind. Dinna argue with me, lass. Take my son and go to safety. If I am to die this day, I would have Matthew alive. Will ye no' do that for me?"

Shaken, I nodded. I had only thought about Alex dying, not anyone else, I realized with chagrin. "I will, Angus," I said. "But how will we know?"

"We'll ken the moment they break cover," he said grimly. "Alex willna let them come upon us with drawn arms. If he's over a horse I want ye to leave at once. If he's astride we'll wait." He glanced at me sharply. "If I tell ye to go,

lass, dinna argue, just go. If Alex is lost, the boys must have ye. I have asked Matthew to take ye through the tunnel. Promise me ye'll go."

I met his look. "I promise. But Angus, if he is astride, I will stay."

He nodded and I walked slowly down the terrace to the beginning of the meadow, stopping at the small knoll that faced the end of the loch. It was from here that the prizes were given each year at the Kilgannon Games, Alex laughing and joking as he distributed them. How long ago that seemed. The others had followed me, and Angus now stood just behind me. I could hear the sound of his sword being drawn as he hid his arm behind my skirts. Matthew was on my right, his sword in his hand. Gilbey, Thomas, wee Donald, and Dougall came to stand behind us. The men shifted on the walls and terraces, and some followed us, standing between us and the casrie. They would, I knew, jump in front of us at the first sign of trouble. I was the only woman visible. We waited.

Overhead the blue sky was filled with high clouds, and an icy wind ruffled the surface of the loch, stirring it into a frothy ashen mixture before coming to me and swirling my skirts around my legs. The pine trees at the beginning of the path to the pass swayed slightly in the breeze, green against the blue mountains behind them, and on my right the air
rusted
through the pine needles with the swish of silk. I closed my eyes. When I open them, I told myself, Alex will stand before me, well and smiling, and I will tell him of the strange dream I had and he will laugh and hold me to him and tell me how silly lam. I opened my eyes and saw the empty glen before me.

The first rider to emerge from the pines wore a red coat that was a streak of scarlet against the green. He positioned his horse to the side and waited. A moment later a second soldier moved to the other side of the opening. After a pause, first one and then two additional men appeared, each stopping at the side of the path. They watched us watch them and we all waited. Slowly, slowly, from the trees came a solitary rider. He rode between the two pairs of soldiers, not giving them a glance. His head was bare, his shirt white against the green wall of the trees. He was a blond man in a plaid, his hair shining in the sun, and my heart stopped. At this distance I could not be sure. His horse moved forward at a sedate walk, and with each step I was more certain. The set of his shoulders as he rode, the angle of his chin as he saw us, surely no other man on earth had that same manner. I was about to step forward when I felt Angus's hand on my arm.

"Aye, it looks like him, lass, but many's a time I mistook Malcolm for Alex at a distance. Wait until he's closer. Ye would no' want to be running into Malcolm's arms just now, would ye?"

"No." I patted his hand and Angus released me. I could not draw a full breath and was only dimly aware that other riders had emerged from the shadows. When I could see the blond man clearly I drew a shuddery breath. "It's him, Angus," I cried, careless of who heard. "It's Alex! Oh my dear God, thank you. He's alive!"

My vision blurred as my tears came unbidden, and I held my hands tightly over my heart. As the riders grew closer I looked in vain for Malcolm, but Robert was behind Alex. The wind freshened, but I did not feel the cold. All I could see was my husband as he moved toward me at that horrible walk. With each step I saw more of the damage they had done to him. Blood stained his shirt and his hair, and his right cheek was a battered and bruised mass. He held himself stiffly, his eyes on us except when his gaze rose to sweep the men on the wall. From behind me there was a stir of excitement as someone shouted the MacGannon war cry. Alex's head snapped up at that and a crooked smile flitted across his face. He raised his hands in the air and I stifled a gasp as I saw they were bound together and then realized his feet were tied as well under the horse's belly. The soldiers stopped with Robert at a distance and let Alex come on alone. He stopped before me. Angus grabbed the horse's bridle and I met Alex's blue, blue eyes for the first time in months, an expression in them that I could not read. I smiled at him and spoke in a clear voice that carried to the soldiers.

"Welcome home, my love," I said and Alex's face crumpled. He drew a deep breath as he struggled to regain control. No one stopped them as Angus and Matthew undid his bonds and Alex slid to the ground and into my embrace. I could hear Angus sheathing his sword. Mfrand I clung to each other as the wind strengthened. I closed my eyes and pressed my face against his shoulder. He laid his cheek on the top of my head and I tightened my arms around his waist, much leaner than before. He was holding himself up, I suspected, only through the force of his will.

"Thank ye for that, lass," he whispered. "Thank ye. I dinna ken if ye would welcome me home." I pulled back and caressed his uninjured cheek, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Oh, Alex, my love, my love, how could you think that? I love you. I will always love you. All these months, all I wanted was you home, and now, thank God, you're here."

He nodded, his eyes filling with tears that he blinked back. "Thank ye for that, lass," he said again and glanced at the soldiers waiting behind us, then at Angus and Matthew. He spoke to the three of us. "Robert Campbell and his men are here to take me to Edinburgh. I have only today and tonight. We leave in the morning." At my wail he tightened his arm around me. "Dinna cry, Mary Rose, dinna cry. I have no choice. I'll go with them on the morrow and then Robert will come back to take ye and the boys to yer family, lass. He has said he'll see ye there safely. I'm assuming that the boys are tucked away somewhere." Angus nodded.

"No," I said. "No! Alex, tell me this is not true! You cannot go with him." I glanced at Robert, motionless on his horse, and then back at Alex. "Alex, do not leave me again! Tell me you'll stay! Let Angus do whatever it takes to keep you here. You don't have to go. We can—" He interrupted me with a gentle finger on my lips, his tone weary.