Page 57 of Bride takes a Scot

Nay!He lifted her and rushed to the bank where he set her on the grass, spread her arms, and pressed on her chest. Hastily, he pushed aside the strands of her hair and knew only one way to get her breathing again. Declan rolled her onto her side, stuck his finger in her mouth, and forced her to gag. Water spewed out and she began coughing. Declan rubbed her back with forcefulstrokes to encourage her to inhale and yet expel the water that filled her lungs.

“Ye are going to be all right, lass. Take easy breaths.” Declan leaned over her and continued to rub his hand in a circular motion on her back. He couldn’t believe what had happened to her. “Where the hell is Lorcan? He was supposed to be protecting you!” Declan scanned the area, but his soldier was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he noticed his grandmother who reached the area and stood by with her hand on her heart, looking forlornly at the scene before her. His men, too, had begun to arrive and were gathered around in a protective ring.

At the same time, he saw Silas, scurrying away like the rat he was. Declan motioned to his men who stood beyond watching and waiting for direction. Four of his men formed a wall and wouldn’t let Silas pass them. Two others took hold of his arms and held him forcibly.

Noah pushed past the men, looking tiny next to the fierce warriors. But there was something about him now. The way he seemed to look past them as though everyone was gone, and it was only him and his son. He was present and here, involved in the situation. He reached Declan and touched his face while looking down at Isabella, his small face showing concern. “Da…” he said.

Declan pulled Noah into a hug and caressed his hair. “Noah, lad. Are you harmed? Did he hurt ye?”

“He…He pushed me. I fell and hit my head. I remember now.”

He wasn’t sure what Noah was trying to tell him. Declan pressed a hand on his son’s head again. It was a miracle. “What do ye remember?”

“Mama. I remember he came and…” Noah motioned to Silas. “She said no. But he made her swim. Then she stopped. He is a bad man.”

Declan had to clarify what his wee son was telling him. It was inconceivable, and yet he knew in his heart that it was true. “Silas intentionally hurt your mother?”

“Aye. She told me to run, to get ye. But he pushed me. The rock hit my head. I do not remember what happened after that. I think I fell ’sleep. But when I woke up…Mama…she floated in the water.” Noah sniffled and looked forlornly at Isabella. “Bella floated.” He paused. “Mama died. Is Bella going to die too?”

Isabella groaned and opened her eyes. “No, she is not,” she said with a raspy voice and rolled onto her back to give his son a little smile to show she was well, reaching out to take Noah’s hand.

“Bella!” Noah flung himself over her body and wept. Isabella wrapped her arms around him, and Declan could hear her sobbing. He wanted to weep as well, but anger had a hold on him, now that he knew his wife was alive.

And knew who had murdered his first wife.

Conflicting emotions—thankfulness and extreme rage—warred within him. Eventually, the knowledge that Isabella survived and that he had his son back made him realize what was truly important. He was grateful, above all. Noah had spoken—in full! And could hear and understand what had been said. God be praised. His son was healed!

“Lorcan,” Isabella said, sounding like a frog. Her voice rasped and she spoke so low, he almost hadn’t heard her. “He…was…there.” She pointed to a copse of trees a short distance from the bank.

Declan turned to look at his men. “Two of ye search for Lorcan. He should be there, by those trees,” he said. Then he returned his attention to Isabella. “Are ye all right? I cannot bear to see you like this…harmed.”

“Sorry,” she said with a small smile. Isabella continued to hold Noah and he continued to hold her. The three of them sat there for a long moment in silence, holding each other.

“Ye have naught to be sorry for, wife. I should apologize to ye for not being here, for protecting ye from that vile piece of cosh.” Declan gave her time to recover enough for him to lift her into his arms. “Noah, stand back, lad. I need to get Isabella back to the cottage so Edith can see to her.” His son stood aside and waited for him. Declan carried her and walked past his men who continued to hold Silas who struggled and looked sullen but didn’t raise his eyes as they moved by. “Have him taken to the pit. I will deal with him later.”

Anse appeared then, breathing hard. “I was helping in the fields. But Slone came and got me and told me that… I just heard that Isabella was…attacked. Is she all right? What happened?”

“She is well enough now. I will tell ye about it later. For now, see that Silas is put in the pit. Make sure he does not escape.”

Anse nodded. His eyes were hard as he peered over at Declan’s stepbrother. He growled, “I will watch the snake myself. Come and find me when ye are able.”

“Aye, Anse, I will. I need to make sure Isabella is warmed.” Even as he spoke, he felt her shiver in his arms and he tightened his grasp about her. “Then I will see to my…tohim.” He couldn’t even bring himself to saystepbrother. The man was no kin of his and he would never say so again. He was vile.

Isabella trembled again. Declan tugged at his upper tartan and set it around her. “I am here, love. There is no need to be fearful now.”

She set her head on his shoulder and pressed her hand on his neck. “Declan.”

In no time, he reached their cottage, Noah trailing close behind. When they arrived, Declan forced the door open with his foot. He did the same to their bedchamber door and gentlyset Isabella in the center of their bed. His son didn’t leave them. Instead, he stood by the bed with wide, watchful eyes.

“Go, lad, and find Edith. Tell her Isabella needs her.”

Noah nodded and turned to leave the room. But then the lad spun back, raced to the bed, and jumped up to give Isabella a kiss on the cheek. “I will be right back!” he announced before he raced off to get Edith.

Isabella closed her eyes. Declan watched her chest rising and falling, so he didn’t fall apart as he suspected he might, otherwise. As he watched her sleeping and breathing, he couldn’t wipe away the thought that that despicable knave murdered his wife, hurt his son, and tried to kill his new wife. Wrath such as he never felt burned his eyes and tensed every part of him.

Edith rushed into the room, Noah on her heels, and her breath heavy from her mad dash. “Noah spoke to me! He told me that Milady was hurt. Laird, is she…?”

“Nay, she breathes. Silas tried to drown her in the loch. I was able to get her to bring up most of the water. I’ll have Lillith fetched so she can check her over. It’ll take the healer some time to get here. Will ye stay with her? I do not want to leave Isabella alone.