Page 53 of Bride takes a Scot

“Whoever the knave is knows ye survived, for he is still intent to overtake your clan. He told my men that when ye were dead, he would align our clans—the MacKendricks and the Campbells. That my clan would be easy to overtake once he had your men-at-arms on his side. He promised them prestigious positions within his army. My soldiers, the ones who were approached by the traitor, went missing without permission. I sent my seasoned sentry after them. The defectors confessed much before they killed them.”

Declan grunted again because Robbie was a force to be reckoned with. He supposed Robbie’s men would rather confess to the higher-ranking soldiers than confess to their laird. Nevertheless, they received their due with their execution.

“What I want to know is, who is your enemy? Ye have no suspicion of who it might be?” Robbie pressed his face as the aggravating conversation continued.

“I cannot think of any man within my clan that would be so traitorous. I have trusted men mingling with my clansmen. If anyone speaks of the deeds, they’ll find out.”

Robbie scoffed. “So that is none then? There are always one or two men who deem themselves better than their laird. Is there not someone whom ye suspect might want to usurp ye?”

Declan sat back and held his chin, thinking. Only one man occurred to him, but it was inconceivable. “There is my stepbrother, Silas. But honestly, I believe him to be too weak or feckless to come up with such a plan. And none of my soldiers would follow him because they are all loyal to me.”

“Ye think they are loyal, but are they? Still, I would not ignore your stepbrother. He could very well be playing ye for a fool and means to deceive ye. Why would your soldiers not follow him?” Robbie belched and reached to pour himself more ale.

“He demeans them. I recently reprimanded Silas for his treatment of my soldiers during training. Nay, it cannot be he who goes against me.”

“Well, comrade, someone means to overtake us. I have placed a few spies amongst my clansmen too in hopes of finding out if any others intend to follow this traitor. They’ll listen for any word of such an uprising.”

“I did the same, but so far, there has been no talk amongst my soldiers. We will not let this interloper try to overtake both our clans. I am certain this miscreant will make a mistake. I should leave ye to your wife and son.” Declan rose and was about to take his leave when Robbie stopped him.

“Do not go. Stay the night and journey in the morn. We will have a good supper and we can talk about Leona. I miss my sister and I was saddened to hear of her passing. Now that ye are here, ye can tell me what really happened.”

Declan retook his seat. “Aye, I will be gladdened to stay.”

“I know it has been years since her passing, but do ye deem this has anything to do with Leona’s death? It is strange that she would die from drowning,” Robbie said, “My sister was not careless.”

“I always thought her death odd but cannot see how this discord is related to her. Our son does well, though he is still affected by what happened that day. Something dreadful happened but nothing has ever come to light about it.”

Robbie poured more ale in his cup. “And tell me of my nephew, Noah. Is he of good health and grows well?”

Declan sighed at the woeful telling about his son. “Noah was a clever lad, but I fear he will not become the man I’d hoped he’dbe. He cannot hear and hasn’t spoken a word since the day his mother died. I think something happened to him that day, but he’s been unable to tell me what. For three years, he’s lived in silence.”

“That’s dreadful, Declan, and I’m sorry to hear that. He saw her drown?”

“Aye, he was with her. I suspect he was in shock at what happened. I prayed he’d come out of it and speak, but so far that hasn’t happened.” He lifted his cup and drank down the ale, quenching his thirst and mollifying his thoughts.

Throughout the evening, Declan spoke of his relations with Leona, how she died, and how Noah was affected by what happened at the loch that day. The only person he had ever professed his deep sorrow to was Anse, but he let his emotions show when he spoke to Robbie about his sister. He confessed how pleased he was with the marriage that Alexander had arranged and told Robbie about his wife.

That dark time had passed but lighter days were ahead of him. How could they not be when he was married to such a woman as Isabella?

Chapter Nineteen

The rain finallyceased. 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 aboutChristopher 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.”