Page 24 of Bride Takes a Laird (Highland Vows & Vengeance #2)

A s Magnus approached Lillith’s cottage, a cold wind blew and a light snow fell. He needed to make haste and get back home before it became too difficult to travel. He dismounted near the wall and released the reins of the additional horse he’d brought along for Jake. With a stomp forward, he reached the door, rapped on the worn wood, and the door was opened.

Lillith smiled in greeting. “Laird Cameron, I was wondering when you would darken my doorstep again and here ye are. My but ’tis cold enough to freeze your nose. Come inside and get warm. I just made a hot broth and bread.”

Hayden followed him inside and stood near the doorway.

Magnus looked for Jake on the cot where he’d last seen him but his brother wasn’t there. “Where is Jake? Has he…?” He couldn’t form the words to ask his question. A sense of despair washed over him. If he lost his brother, Magnus couldn’t fathom how his clan would react. They still mourned one of his brothers and the last thing he needed was to lose another.

“He’s gone to fetch water for me,” Lillith said.

“So he has recovered?” Magnus glanced at where the MacKendrick soldier had rested but he too was gone.

“Aye, he is still a wee bit sore but has made little complaint. I deem he is well enough to go home. He might take a bit more time to heal completely though.” Lillith busied herself at her table and started to grind herbs in a small vessel. “If ye wish for broth and bread, help yourself.”

Magnus shook his head at her offer. “What of the MacKendrick soldier, Trevor, did he survive?” He hoped so because he admired Trevor and thought he was an amiable fellow.

“He recovered and returned home when his laird had the fall festival. I wanted to thank ye for sending along those herbs I had asked for. It was appreciated and helped a great deal in tending to the men. How are ye, Laird Cameron? I heard ye had married At least, that is what Jake told me. Is life treating ye well?”

Magnus grunted at her question. Though he was sound and whole, inside he was hollow and miserable. He still hadn’t found the two missing men after searching for them for many moon rises. Not only that, but he despaired at what to do about Kendra. He should have gone to her long ago when he’d first learned she’d returned home. Was his absence giving her the idea that he cared not? He certainly hoped that wasn’t the case. Yet there was no time to fetch her, not with his duty to his clan pressing upon him.

“Laird Cameron? Did ye hear me? I asked—”

“I heard ye, Lillith. I am well enough. I need to get Jake and return home before the snow hampers us. How far do ye think he went? I should go after him.” As he spoke, the door opened and his brother stepped inside, carrying a bucket of water.

“Magnus, ye are here. I thought I recognized the horses.” Jake set the bucket by the door, marched to him, and clasped his hand. “’Tis good to see ye, Laird.”

“And ye, brother. I’m pleased ye recovered and appear mended. Are ye well enough to travel home?” Magnus turned his gaze from his brother’s head to his feet. Jake’s height seemed to have grown even higher and his stare was formidable.

“Aye, I waited for ye and thought I might have to walk home but alas here ye are.”

Magnus pulled Jake into a half-hearted embrace. “Aye, we missed ye. I’m gladdened ye are well now and finally can come home. Ma has not ceased pestering me to retrieve ye. Da was concerned for ye as well, as was the clan.”

Jake chuckled. “She would. I’m sorry she harped at ye and for getting myself injured.”

“’Twas no fault of yours.” Magnus wandered to the door and waited for his brother and Hayden to follow.

Jake stepped to Lillith and pressed a hand on her shoulder. “Lillith, I cannot thank ye enough for your aid. I am indebted to ye and if ever ye need me or any of the Camerons, just send word and we shall come.”

“I shall. Go on, men, and leave me be. There is much to do before the snow grows thick and I am confined to my cottage.” Lillith turned back to her tables and dismissed them.

Jake’s arm fell by his side and he said as he ambled toward the door, “I put a large stack of wood at the back of the cottage near the doorway there. And there’s six hares that I caught this morn in the box for your suppers.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Jake. Now off with ye. Ye have done enough.” Lillith shooed them out the door with a flap of her hand and smiled whilst doing it. She waved from the doorway. “I hope I do not see ye soon. Safe travel home.”

“We’ll have our sentry check on ye from time to time during the winter,” Magnus told her and bowed his head to the healer. He was grateful for her aid and she was most kind to offer her assistance especially since she belonged to the MacKendricks. After he mounted his horse, he signaled to Hayden to take the lead. Magnus rode beside his brother and noticed he had regained his vigor.

“Tell me the news of home,” Jake said.

Magnus was dismayed to speak of it but he rambled on and told his brother everything he’d missed during his infirmity but left out the news of the traitors. He told him that Vincent had released the falcon he’d saved. His brother seemed pleased at hearing that news.

Along the way home, there were no sightings of the Chattans or their damnable sheep. Since winter was practically on their doorstep, the Chattans probably forced the flock closer to home where they belonged.

Though it was darker earlier in the day because of the heavy cloud cover and snow, they could see enough to continue their journey. They reached the gates of home before night fell. Magnus was glad to be home again. Now he could handle his duties and make ready to leave to see Kendra. His chest hurt just thinking of her and how much he missed her. He suspected she must be grieving the loss of her father and he wanted to be there to ease her discontent.

“Come inside and see Ma before you retreat to the barracks, Jake. She’ll disbelieve ye are home unless she sees ye for herself.” Magnus entered the keep with both Hayden and Jake following.

His parents sat at the table and appeared to have just finished their supper. His da sharpened a dagger with a stone and his ma plied a needle to a piece of fabric. When they noticed Jake, they rose from their seats and almost shouted in jubilation at his brother’s homecoming.

Magnus bid his parents a greeting and left them to have a private reunion. He ambled toward the chairs by the hearth. Weary from riding all day, he sat in a chair and warmed his hands from the heat of the fire. Warmth permeated him and eased the tightness in his shoulders. It was good to be home, but the solace of it was short-lived since Kendra wasn’t there to greet him.

Hayden approached and handed him a cup of ale. “Here, Laird, drink. I’m off to seek my bed unless ye need anything.”

“Nay, go on. Thanks for taking the trek with me, Hayden. I’ll see ye on the morrow.” Magnus watched him leave and then he turned his gaze to the flickering flames of the hearth’s fire. The crackle of it allayed him and he relaxed back, happy to be eased, even if briefly.

The voices of his parents and Jake sounded far off as he ignored their talk. Likely Jake told them what had happened to him and how he recovered. Magnus was glad his brother survived the injury to his body. He appeared sound now and would probably insist on taking to the training field as soon as the morrow. That was if the snow ceased and didn’t collect on the ground. Training might be delayed for a time.

“Magnus, I need to speak to ye.” Jake’s voice interrupted his reverie. He raised his face and searched his brother’s expression. His tone was most serious and his gaze blank as if what he wanted to say was dire. “Aye? Join me, Jake. ’Tis warmer here by the fire.” It was then that he realized his parents had left the hall. Only he and Jake remained.

Jake set his cup on a nearby table, flopped down in the chair across from him, and pressed his hands over his face. “I have thought long and hard about how to say this for a time…”

“What is it?” Magnus leaned back in his chair, not really paying his brother any heed. He suspected Jake would thank him for taking him to Lillith’s.

“It was my fault that Ned died. I was with Gordon and Ezlen when they approached Ned.” Jake lowered his chin which practically touched his chest.

Magnus’s pulse began to race and heat surged through veins. He shifted forward and leaned his forearms on his knees, giving his brother a heated glare and his full attention. “Ye were with them? They approached Ned? Why? Why did you not tell me! Tell me from the start, Jake, and leave out no detail.”

“I knew Ned was up to something foul in the days leading up to his death and I spoke to Gordon and Ezlen about it. For days, I followed him and suspected that he had taken the clan’s coin. Aye, for I spied on him and saw him lose at dice with Aldo on a few occasions. I was close enough to hear them but he didn’t see me because I stayed in the shadows. There was a good many inside the barn that day. When Ned left to repay his debt to Aldo, I asked Gordon and Ezlen to go with me when Ned absconded that last day with the clan’s coin. We followed him to Fassiefern.” Jake cleared his throat and retook the cup he’d set near him. He sipped at the drink and avoided his gaze.

Magnus said nothing. He wasn’t certain whether he was shocked or annoyed at what Jake told him. He waited to hear what else his brother would confess. Though he couldn’t believe or fathom that Jake killed Ned because his youngest brother was too honorable to do something so wretched.

Jake set his cup on the floor next to his chair and folded his hands. “I thought Ned was going to meet with Aldo at the Tavern as they had arranged, but he continued riding and went to Mary’s. Me, Gordon, and Ezlen went inside the Myltenhus and pretended we were there to be with the women. Ned disappeared for a time but when he reappeared he was visibly upset. He left the manor and we continued to follow him. Near the great crag, we approached him and I confronted him about taking the clan’s coin.”

Magnus steeled himself, ready to hear the atrocity and happening of Ned’s death.

His brother flexed his palms and then used a hand to rub his nape. “I hadn’t known that my comrades were aware of our brother’s crime. Apparently, they had approached Ned earlier and demanded recompense. Gordon and Ezlen spoke to him again about paying them coins for their silence. Ned scoffed at them and told them to go to hell. Before I knew what was happening, Gordon and Ezlen stabbed Ned with their daggers. Ned fell to the ground. I ran to him and tried to help him but it was too late.” Jake’s voice deepened with emotion as he recalled the clandestine mission.

Magnus tensed at his brother’s retelling of the event. He fisted his hands but stayed seated. There was more to come, he was certain of that.

Jake tried to slow his raspy breath by breathing through his nose which flared at the force. “Ned was dead when I reached him. I saw red at that point and drew my sword. I ran at them and struck them both down. I killed Gordon and Ezlen to avenge our brother. Afterward, I fell to the ground and stared at the bodies around me, unsure what I should do.” He quieted and stared at the fire.

“Jake, be calm. Go on and finish the tale.” Magnus steepled his fingers by his lips and waited to hear the rest. Somehow, he remained patient and didn’t react to his brother’s confession.

“When I got my senses back, I dragged Gordon and Ezlen to the water nearby. The river was deep enough to take them away. They floated downstream and eventually I couldn’t see them.”

“So that’s why we were unable to find them,” Magnus said, discouraged.

Jake nodded. “Then I returned to Ned and was at a loss as to whether I should take him home or leave him there. If I took him home, I would have to confess that I witnessed his thievery and that I was with the men who murdered him. I couldn’t do that to Ma. So I left him by the crag and pulled him near the rock so he’d be protected. I suspected that he would be found within days but no one noticed he was missing.”

“Until we went and searched for him.”

“Aye,” Jake said. “And by then, I didn’t know how to confess that I murdered two of our clansmen. But I did so in retaliation of Ned’s murder. They deserved to die. If I had known what they were up to, I wouldn’t have asked them to go with me when I followed Ned. It is my fault that they tried to coerce coins from him and that he was killed.”

Magnus nodded but said nothing.

“If you are going to banish me, then do so now. I admit that I witnessed Ned’s death and killed two of our clansmen. I admit that I followed him that day but I intended to talk Ned out of giving our clan’s coins to Aldo. I was going to try to help him make restitution and figure out a way out of his mess but then everything went wrong.”

“Jake, I must think on this.”

“If it means anything, I returned the coins Ned took to your coffer. I didn’t want ye to find out that our brother was a thief.” Jake kept his gaze lowered and wouldn’t look him in the eyes.

Magnus grunted at that. At least his brother returned the clan’s coins. That was why the discrepancy of their coins wasn’t that great. “For now, say nothing about this to anyone. I need to consider what ye have told me. I will not be rash and make a decision right now on whether to banish ye or not.” Magnus couldn’t look at his brother, but rose and stumbled toward the steps. He trudged to his bedchamber and closed the door quietly behind him.

Defeatedly, Magnus sat on the bedside and clenched his fists. He was furious with Jake for keeping the matter from him for so long. His brother had put him in a difficult position. As laird, it was Magnus’s duty to ensure everyone in his clan acted with honor. Jake had done so when he killed their brethren for outright murdering Ned. Still, the fact that Jake kept secret all that time about what transpired that day sat afoul with him. If he wasn’t his brother, Magnus would have banished him on the spot.

A knock sounded on his bedchamber door and it opened slightly. “Laird, sorry to bother ye but a message came for ye. I thought I best bring it to ye posthaste.”

Craig ambled forward and handed him a missive. He bowed and then made his exit.

Magnus held the missive and wondered who it was from. He hoped it was from Kendra, letting him know that she was safe. With gripped hands, he cracked the waxed seal, opened the parchment, and read :

Cameron, we awaited your response to our treaty request. Since ye have not responded within the sennight as we agreed, we have taken that as your objection. I have employed my men to build a wall to secure the tract of land we intend to use. If ye cross the barrier, we will take it as an act of war. G. Chattan

His eyes practically set the parchment aflame with his heated gaze. “Well, if it is war ye want, Geoff, ’Tis a war ye will get.”