Page 19 of Bride takes a Scot (Highland Vows & Vengeance #1)

T he rain finally ceased. Isabella had to forgo meeting Claude to hunt for his treasure the day before because the rain came so heavily and forced them to stay inside. After taking care of her morning chores, she readied to spend the day outside once the sun returned. Now, it appeared to be getting hotter by the minute. Isabella loved being outside and had often spent much of her day outdoors—or as many as her mother had allowed—when she lived at home.

With a quick bite of her morning fare, she hastened through the door. Lorcan, as always, waited outside for her. He shadowed her but kept five paces behind. On her way to morning Mass, she greeted the clan’s men and women. They now smiled at her, which was such a change from when she’d first arrived. Isabella was beginning to feel welcomed and a part of the MacKendrick clan. She thought of home less and less as each day passed.

During Mass, she prayed for Declan and that he received the solace he desperately needed, for Noah that he would someday hear again, for Rhona’s happy marriage, and that Claude would find his treasure sooner rather than later. She prayed that her mother and father were well and happy and that her mother found something to occupy her and her father wasn’t thieving and putting himself in danger. Then she thought about Christopher and the perils he must be witnessing in the crusade. She offered up more than one prayer for him.

When Mass ended, she met Claude outside. Friar Faelan bid them farewell and muttered something about a man needing last rites at a neighboring clan’s holding. He set off before they could ask who was dying.

Claude waved him off. “I wanted to go with the friar, but I cannot leave MacKendrick land without Declan’s permission. Since he’s not here, I told the friar to go on without me. At least that will give me time to search for the treasure.”

Isabella walked beside Claude. “Shall we go in search of the cave?”

“I have nothing else to do,” Claude said, “And I’m prepared for a trip to the cave this day.” He indicated such by pulling at his satchel. “I have a torch, flint, a small spade, and the map.”

“Let us stop and get Noah. He will want to come and needs a little adventure.” Isabella wasn’t in much of a rush because they had all day to seek the treasure. At Marian’s cottage, she knocked lightly on the opened door. “Marian?”

Marian gasped. “Oh, Isabella, ye frightened me.”

“Why are you startled so easily? Is something wrong?” She stood next to the elder woman and was concerned.

“Nay, nothing is wrong. I just was not expecting anyone to be there. And I just finished the surprise I made for ye. Here,” she said and handed her a folded cloth.

“So that is why you didn’t want my help with your sewing the other day.” Isabella pressed her hand over the soft material. “What is it?”

Marian smiled widely. “I know ye lost the tartan that Declan gave ye, for he told me so. He said he suspected ye discarded it. I wanted to make ye a shawl with our clan’s plaid on it because ye have been so kind to Noah and to me. Here, put it around your shoulders. Ye are slighter than me and so I made sure it was not overly large.” She opened the fabric and then spread it over her back.

Isabella took hold of the fabric and pulled it together at the front of her. The shawl was perfectly stitched and would keep her warm when the weather got colder, which from what she’d heard, tended to happen much sooner in the north than it did by the border. “It is perfect.” She wanted to weep at the woman’s kindness. “My thanks.”

“Wear it, lass, in good health,” Marian said and smiled.

“I shall. Might I leave it here? I will pick it up when we return from our sojourn. We are off on an adventure this morn. Is it all right if we take Noah with us?”

Marian chuckled. “He has been itching to get outside. Aye, go on, lads and lassie. Enjoy your adventure. I shall make a wee bit of stew for the midday meal, so come back when ye gets hungry.”

Isabella took hold of Noah’s hand when they exited the cottage. On the way to the cave, they veered around the loch. It was peaceful at the loch as if everything stopped. The water was still, no wind or breeze stirred the trees, and no birds chirped. She wondered briefly at the silence, and Lorcan seemed irritated that they wanted to go afar, but she kept walking as Claude guided them to where he thought the cave was located.

On the other side of the loch, the forest grew thicker. They traipsed through the tall oaks, pines, and the elms whose leaves shaded and darkened the forest floor. It was much cooler beneath the canopy of the trees. Isabella breathed in and smelled the thick permeation of sand and soil. The outdoors engulfed her senses and she smiled.

“I think the cave should be yonder, there near that huge rock.” Claude marched forward and turned. “There is a mark on the map that looks about right. I see an entrance.”

Isabella took the parchment from him and nodded. “There is an indication that alludes to an entrance.” She had searched through the pamphlets she had but found nothing to help her discern some of the language used on the map.

Lorcan called them to halt. “We will go no farther than that cave.”

“We don’t plan to, Lorcan.” Isabella hurried forward and stopped before the entrance. “It looks deep and dark inside.”

“Be cautious, I warn ye, because we know not if any animals have made this cave their home. The last thing we want to come across is a pack of wolves taking their slumber,” Lorcan said and walked ahead of her, but Isabella didn’t mind because the darkened cave was daunting. It was best to allow the brawny soldier to enter first.

Claude pulled the wooden torch from his satchel and used the flint to light it. Lorcan took the torch from him and waved it inside the cave. Within moments, the bright flame lit up the confines of the cave. The ceiling moved and shimmered from the torchlight. A bat left its perch and made screeching noises. Isabella jumped back and almost knocked poor Noah to the ground. She disliked the vile creatures and hoped this one flew back from whence it came.

Farther into the cave they trekked. Isabella held tightly to Noah’s hand. She was beginning to become fearful and wanted to suggest they leave the cave when Claude gasped.

“What is it?”

He took a few more steps forward and knelt. “Here is the exact rock that was on the map. It is similar in shape and a good size. It must be the same one.”

Isabella remembered that the rock on the map had almost appeared heart-shaped. “Is the treasure there?”

Claude removed the spade from his satchel. “I will dig a little and see if I can find anything.”

She moved back and sat on another rock with Noah. Claude dug furiously for a good bit of time until Lorcan insisted he take over. They waited with bated breath until Lorcan stopped digging. Claude turned and grinned at them.

“Have you found something?”

“Aye, there is something wrapped in cloth not too far down.” Claude dug a little more and pulled out the cloth-wrapped item. He placed it on the ground and stared up at her. “What do ye think it is?”

She shrugged. “Open the cloth. Let us see.”

He did as she suggested, and the glow of gold shone on the cave’s ceiling. All four of them, Noah included, drew an awed breath.

“’Tis a chalice and a cross.” Claude held up the items which were larger than she thought they would be. Both objects were at least a foot tall. The cross had markings scratched into it and the chalice was rimmed with small red gems.

“They are beautiful and look ancient,” she said and ran her finger over the ornate carving of the cross.

“Come, let us return. I don’t like being in here,” Lorcan said. “We can view them closer later when we get back to the safety of the walls.”

Isabella waited for Claude to rewrap the items and put the items in his satchel. They hastily made their way back out of the cave. Lorcan fell behind them and as always was ever watchful. He was being overprotective, but Isabella didn’t mind and was thankful Lorcan was there.

Claude spoke with excitement, “I cannot wait to show Friar Faelan what we found. Who do ye think the objects belonged to?”

“Did your grandda ever mention what might be buried?” Isabella let Noah run free. He veered around them, passed Lorcan, and spread his arms as if he were a bird soaring through the sky.

“He told me stories of when King MacBeth ruled the land and brought back relics from Rome. He gifted some to my grandda’s relatives and because they were at war, but many of the objects were secreted away or taken when they were invaded.” Claude appeared boastful in his ability to recite his family history.

“They are beautiful objects.”

Before they walked past the gate, Claude stopped and said, “I am going to show these to Friar Faelan. Maybe he’s returned from his duty. We should keep the relics in the chapel. I will ask Declan when he returns if we might keep them in a place of honor there.”

“I think that is a splendid idea, Claude.” She glanced at the dust covering her garments and noted how dirty Noah appeared. “Noah and I are going to wash at the loch.”

Claude began to walk away but turned back to her. “It is starting to rain. Ye should return to the cottage with me.” As he spoke, she noticed several people heading toward their homes.

“It’s only a little drizzle. I feel so vile after being in that cave. I pray I don’t have a spider or two on me. I shan’t be long.” Isabella kept hold of Noah’s hand and reverted her direction. She headed for the loch and on the approach, the water was still tranquil.

Lorcan followed her, but he kept his distance. When they reached the loch, the soldier remained by the tree line. She hoped to get Noah in the water, but he balked and scurried back on the bank. He sat with his legs folded and skipped rocks that he found near him. She smiled when he celebrated a good throw with a grunt.

Noah was beginning to make more sounds from his throat. She surmised that Noah might even hear a little sound because he’d turned at noises. Of course, he might just be sensing noises from vibrations. Isabella meant to talk to Declan about it, but with him gone so much, she had forgotten. If Noah could hear even the slightest noise, that gave her hope that he would speak when he was ready.

Isabella removed her overdress until she only wore her shift. The water was refreshing and chilly, and she washed herself as best she could without soap. “Milady, ye should not be in these waters by yourself. ’Tis dangerous.”

She jumped; she hadn’t been paying attention and hadn’t noticed Silas coming to stand next to Noah on the loch’s bank. She searched for Lorcan by the tree line, but he wasn’t there. Chills swept over her but they had nothing to do with the water.

Isabella fixed Silas with a stern look as she crossed her arms over her breasts. She hadn’t realized how see-through the thin white material of her shift was when wet. Lorcan had been far enough away, and Noah was just a boy, so it hadn’t seemed important. Now, however, she felt exposed to Silas’s gaze as if she were completely unclothed. “I am a capable swimmer and besides, I don’t intend to go out far. Please, leave me be.”

Silas smirked at her modesty, but he didn’t listen to her request to leave her alone. Instead, he stepped into the water, fully clothed, and began to progress toward her. A sense of trepidation moved over Isabella as he drew closer. There was a strange look in his gaze.

“Ye are so lovely. Does my stepbrother know how fortunate he is?” He reached out to grab her arm, but she hastened away before he could grasp her.

Isabella sloshed to the bank, her steps slowed by the water and mud sucking at her toes. It felt like forever before she reached Noah, who stood, frozen as a stone statue, with fear in his eyes and terror on his face. “Come…we…should…go.” She reached for his hand and her clothing. Even that felt slowed, as if she couldn’t move fast enough and couldn’t get away.

Before she could collect her overdress from the ground, Silas grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She gasped and tried to jerk away from him, but he was stronger than he looked.

Noah growled and seemed to suddenly come to life as he ran at Silas and pulled at the man’s tunic. Silas shoved the lad and Noah fell back. Isabella heard the thump of his head as he hit the ground, and then he lay on the bank, unmoving. “Noah!” Rage filled her. “Let go of me. Let me get to Noah!” Isabella huffed as she struggled against Silas’s grasp, but he gripped her arms and pulled her against him. She could feel his arousal pressed against her bottom.

“Ye are mine now, sweet,” he purred in her ear.

“I am not yours. Release me, Silas. Noah is hurt and I need to see to him.” Isabella gained her freedom but only briefly, as Silas yanked her off her feet and carried her into the water.

“Let the cretin be. All I want is what ye freely give to your husband. I deserve no less.”

No! How could this be happening? She tried to swing out and strike him, or kick him, to no avail. She had nothing with which to protect herself but her words and her voice. “If you hurt me, Declan will never forgive you.”

Silas bellowed a laugh. “I care naught. He will be dead soon and then ye will need my protection.” He kissed her face and she winced.

She screamed and didn’t stop in hopes that someone nearby would hear her. Isabella jerked her body back and Silas lost hold of her. She sank into the water until fully immersed. Kicking, she tried to swim away from the man but when she rose to breathe, he was there, and he pressed her head back under. She couldn’t breathe. Panic ensued, and it seemed like a miracle when she was able to get her head above the water. She drew in a deep breath but once again Silas forced her back under. She could hear his laughter reverberating even through the cold, dark water surrounding her.

She was terrified that he wouldn’t let her live. When Silas pulled her up from the water and against his chest, Isabella screamed into his face as loud as she could. He grinned sinisterly and gripped her chin in a tight hold. “Never try to keep yourself from me, sweet. I promise I will not be too rough.” He kept her lodged against him with his arm around her back and his free hand roaming her body.

Isabella continued to fight him, taking gulps of air, and shouting for help. Silas became angry with her attempts to flee him. He pushed her back under the water and she couldn’t take in enough breath when he allowed her to come above the water line.

After a time, as she floated beneath the surface of the water, she began to feel oddly comforted, as if all the peril suddenly vanished. She was dying. It was just her, and God, now. “Please, Lord, don’t take me now. Declan needs me. Noah needs me. I cannot leave them…” She prayed, as darkness began to fall over her vision.