Page 60 of Bride takes a Scot
“Where is Silas?” Isabella asked.
Declan reached across Noah and clasped her hand. “He is gone, love. Ye will never have to lay eyes on him again.”
“Gone?”
“He has been removed from MacKendrick land.” Declan wasn’t sure he should tell her the truth that the man was dead. She was a sensitive lass, with a Christian’s forgiving heart, and he wouldn’t have her grieving for the knave. If he knew Isabella, he suspected she would be in the chapel praying for the deliverance of the miscreant’s soul, and Silas didn’t deserve anyone’s prayers.
Noah swiped his hand beneath his nose. “There was someone else there, Da, the day mama died. I remember seeing a man standing by the trees watching.”
Declan peered at his son and tried to discern what he was saying. “A man? Who was it?”
Noah shrugged. “I do not know. He was not from our clan and wore a different color tartan. He had dark hair though, and I saw him talking to Silas before we walked to the loch, mama and me.”
So, the villain hadn’t worked alone. Declan wasn’t able to enjoy peace then. There was more to do. He nodded to him. “You did good, lad. If you remember anything else…or if you see this man again, you need to come and find me.”
“I will, Da.”
The need for vengeance would continue to plague him though because there was still one more knave to thwart—the dark-haired man who’d apparently watched Silas murder his wife. If only he knew who it was who wanted to overtake the MacKendricks and the Campbells.
Right now, however, Declan only wanted to hold Isabella and Noah. Vengeance needed to wait.
Chapter Twenty-One
Isabella opened hereyes and glanced at the window in the bedchamber. It was still dark out. She lay there wondering where Declan was. Last she recalled, he and Noah rested beside her. They weren’t there now. She stretched and got up to hurry through her washing and dressing. Before she left the bedchamber, she ran her fingers through her hair. Lord, she probably looked a mess.
In the hallway that led to the main living area, she stopped and listened, but it was quiet. At the massive table by the hearth, she paused to snatch a soft piece of bread from the trencher in its center. Her stomach rumbled because she hadn’t eaten a meal since the day before.
“Oh, there ye be,” came the familiar cold voice from behind her.
Isabella turned to see Lady MacKendrick standing there. “Good morn.”
“Good morn? You mean eve. Ye slept all day. Ye are the laziest harridan. I have been working all day whilst ye have been lazing in your bed.”
She knew that couldn’t be true because the woman barely lifted a finger to care for the upkeep of the cottage. Isabella quickly swallowed the bit of bread she’d placed in her mouth and rounded the table to put more space between them.
“It is your fault. Why did ye have to come here and lure my son to wanting ye? I hold ye accountable for his death and now ye will pay for it.” Helena walked slowly around the table and picked up a supper dagger. She held it in her fist and stared at her.
Isabella’s heart raced at the sight of the maddened woman. She continued to move around the table, keeping a good distance from her.
The door slammed and Isabella glanced toward it. Declan stood there with a fierce scowl on his face. He marched to Lady MacKendrick and took her neck in his hand. He squeezed and his jaw flexed with his exertion.
“Ye are the vilest woman alive. I do not know why my da cared for you. Ye are akin to your son, uncaring for anyone but yourself. I told ye if ye cannot respect my wife, I would remove you.” Declan wouldn’t release the woman. She gasped and clutched at his arm, trying to get him to let her go.
Isabella sidled next to Declan and placed a gentle hand on her husband’s arm. “MacKendricks do not kill women.”
“There is always a first time,” he gritted out.
“No matter how foul the woman is, you shouldn’t kill her. Declan, release her. Please.” She pulled his arm, and he released Lady MacKendrick.
Helena gasped, bent over, and held her throat. “Ye! Ye are the vile one. I heard ye murdered my son outright. Aye, ye killed him.”
Isabella was surprised that Declan remained still. She had never seen him more intense or violent.
“Aye, I killed the miscreant. Your son murdered Leona, hurt my son, and tried to drown Isabella. He was fortunate that I did not slay him at the loch. Ye, Mistress, will be taken to the border of my land and be left there. If ye step a foot on my land in the future, I will not stay my hand. Do ye understand?”
“But I have nowhere to go. Ye cannot make me leave.” Helena rasped and straightened. “Your da promised me that I would always have a place here.”
“That was before your son killed my first wife and threatened my second. Now my da is dead and his promises with him. I took care of ye out of honor to him, but now I know ye have no decency. He would be ashamed of ye. I care naught where ye go, but ye will be removed from my land before dawn.”