Page 56 of Bride takes a Scot
“Ah, ye have returned. Your sweet lass will be gladdened.”
“How is my bonny wife?”
His gran petted his warhorse. “Claude said she’s with Noah at the loch and should return shortly. I vow she’s the only one who can bathe the lad. I was just taking some clean garments for them to change into.”
While he had his grandmother’s attention, Declan wanted to ask her about his parents. “Gran, did something happen years ago to cause a rift with another clan?”
“What do ye mean? We were always at odds with other clans. ’Tis the way of the Highlands.”
That was true enough, but it didn’t answer his questions. He needed more information. “Were my parents happy? I always thought they were.”
His gran shrugged. “At first, they were, but then after ye and your siblings came, there were times when I wondered if they detested each other. By the time your ma passed, they hardly spent any time together.”
“Did my da love her?” Declan tensed at asking such questions. He’d always revered his father and thought he was a noble man who cared for his family.
“He did at first, aye, but then I remember their rows. They fought and shouted. None were privy as to why they argued. I recall your da accusing his wife of cuckolding him. After that, my dear son became reserved. I tried to get him to talk to me, och he would not. I suspect your ma had relations with someone else and your da withdrew from much of the clan then.”
It couldn’t be true. “Who was she with? I disbelieve what ye are telling me.”
His gran set her feeble hand on his arm. “Your da never told me who it was. I speak the truth, lad. Your da, from what I sensed at the time, was brokenhearted by her deceit. Then your ma died, and he became even more withdrawn. The day he married that shrew, Helena, was a black day indeed, for she did nothing to bring about his happiness.”
Declan scowled hard, trying to recollect his younger years and the happenings then. “I wish I knew what happened betwixt them.”
His gran caressed his arm and shook her head. “Ye stayed in the barracks then, aye for your da probably did not want ye to witness their rows. Rarely did ye enter your da’s cottage after that.”
He dipped his chin, remembering how proud he’d been to be housed with the soldiers. “How did my ma die?”
“No one knows. At the time, the healer spoke of her weak heart, but there was no reason to suspect foul play.” His gran made atsk-ing sound. “Why are ye asking such questions?”
“I only realized I did not know much about them.” That, at much, was true, and all he was willing to share with Gran until he’d gathered more information.
“’Tis best ye put them out of your mind. Ye are laird now, and our clan prospers.” She beamed up at him.
“Aye, my thanks, Gran.” Declan stood by the gate and watched his grandmother set off down the lane that would take her to the loch. He wanted to consider what his gran told him, but there was no time for that now. With his horse’s reins in his hand, he yanked them to get his horse to follow. But something caught his eye. Declan craned his neck and spotted Noah running toward the gate.
“DA…DA…DA!” Noah shouted.
Declan quickly mounted his horse and rode hell-bent toward his son. That his lad was alone outside the gates told him that something was terribly wrong. That, and the look of terror on his wee face. And the panic in his voice.
His voice! His son had spoken and called to him; Declan only just realized as he reached him. Noah spoke!
When he got to Noah, Declan halted his horse, then bent and lifted his son onto his horse. Noah shook in his arms and cried.
“Noah, lad, what happened? Are ye hurt?”
“Bel…la…Bella…” the boy gasped with panting breaths.
Declan’s heart fell to his stomach, which churned with sudden terror as if all of the danger he’d sensed that day had materialized there in one solid mass. “Isabella? Where is she?”
“Hurt…loch. Si…Si…” Noah held him as though if he let go, he’d succumb to the fear that gripped him.
Declan shouted for his men, turned his mount, and rode swiftly toward the loch. Near to the water, he dismounted with his son still in his arms. He placed Noah on the grassy bank. “Stay put, lad.”
What he saw sickened him. His stepbrother was holding Isabella under the water. Her long blond tresses floated on the surface, but she was still. Something within him erupted. Rage. Fury. Intense ire. Whatever it was caused Declan to pull his sword free and run at Silas. But his good sense overtook him before he reached the knave and Declan tossed his sword on the bank. Saving Isabella was more important than seeking retribution at this moment.
He raced into the loch, running hard to fight the hold of the water on his legs and feet. It seemed to take forever but probably was only moments—Silas didn’t even turn to look at him but continued to concentrate on his grim task.
When Declan reached his stepbrother, he shoved him aside and reached beneath the water for Isabella. He grabbed hold of her garment and pulled her to the surface. She didn’t appear to be breathing. It was just like Leona all over again, and for a moment, he saw both of his wives before him, still in the water.