Page 43 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)

And the others

Thane watched his wife try to fit a newly sewn gown to Alana, who did her best to wiggle out of it, so distracted by Lia and Magni that she couldn’t settle.

His mother stood next to him from afar and whispered, “She hasn’t figured it out yet?”

He suspected Tamsin was carrying their first bairn, but he wasn’t certain. “Mama, I think she does, but she was so afraid that Raghnall did permanent damage to her insides that she feared she’d never be able to carry again.”

“She’s had her courses since you married, though. I know it because she asked me a few questions once.”

He wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. “She’ll come to it on her own. Her belly is growing, but I ignore it.”

“Da and I are so proud of you, Thane. I don’t know how you were able to keep your brother and sister alive living in the forests.”

“We had help. Artan admitted he used to leave us food every week. He was the fisherman who rowed his boat here with that wicked bitch. Said he came back to check on us and when he discovered the cave we slept in, he left us what he could so we wouldn’t starve. The man even left blankets once and an extra tunic for each of us.”

“How did you find Artan?”

“We didn’t. He found us. Eventually, he convinced us to come here and help build the castle. We gladly joined him and the others.”

“I’m glad I didn’t know. I would have worried every night.”

Mora approached and said, “Mama, look at these tarts I made. Do they look all right? Will you taste one, please? I think I burned a few, but are they still edible? And the berries? Are they sweet enough? I used the honey, but I may need to put more in.”

Thane watched the two go back into the kitchens, so pleased to see how Mora had improved since their parents’ return. Much of it was also due to Tamsin, Alana, Lia, and Magni. Mora had gone from being a sad lass to one who was blossoming into quite the young lady.

He’d stared at his lovely wife for long enough, knowing he had work outside, so he headed to the hearth, leaning over to kiss Tamsin’s cheek. “I think I’ll go out to the lists, then I have some repairs needed for the stable. Magni, join me?”

“Aye, Chief. I’ll help.”

“Lia, how long do you plan to stay with us?” He agreed with everyone else about Lia, though none of them had decided exactly where she came from. Under a leaf just didn’t answer enough questions for Thane, though Magni believed it with all his heart.

“I’ll be here for another moon, my lord. I may have one other place to visit on the isle. Will that suit you?”

Tamsin’s head jerked up quickly. “Grant does not need you for a moon? What about after that?”

Lia laughed and waved her hand in dismissal. “Grant won’t need me again until he’s nearly grown.”

“Then who is next?” Tamsin asked, frozen. Thane knew she feared it would be Alana, but for some reason, he was quite certain Alana would not be bothered again.

“I think I’ll go into the forest for a wee bit. I’ll meet you in the stable later, brother Magni.”

Lia disappeared without answering their questions, something she excelled at. But Magni grinned with pride. “She is my sister. I tell everyone she is, yet no one believes me. She just had to find me in an odd way.”

Thane ruffled his hair and said, “I’m heading out, Tamsin.”

“Me too?” Alana asked.

“Nay, Grandmama and Mora made fruit tarts for you.”

“Yum!”

Thane reached the door, Magni running along behind him, and he knew the boy would ask him the same questions he always did.

Magni ran in front of him and spun around. “Tell me about Odart again. He was a mean bastard.”

Thane arched a brow at him.

“Sorry, Chief. I meant he was a mean man. Grandpapa Logan lets me curse. Sorry, I forget.”

Thane grinned. Logan had adopted Magni as his grandson, and Thane considered it one of those endearing things most people wouldn’t understand. But Logan was exactly what Magni needed. He gave the lad undying love, something Magni often doubted he deserved.

Logan was just the person to convince him of his value.

Magni hadn’t been distracted from his purpose, so he carried on. “Odart was a mean soul. He tried to kill Tamsin before. What would Alana do without her mother? What did Odart say about it all? Was he in charge?”

Thane answered Magni again; he was sure it was the fifth time he’d told him the story of finding Odart on Coll. “Odart said he only drove the boat for Raghnall with Tamsin in it. Said he had no idea what his boss had planned to do. He said he liked Tamsin, but he hated Garvie. After Garvie died, he said the man on Kilchoan informed the group left on Ulva that one of them had to manage the business. If they didn’t, they’d die, so Odart killed the other one who wished to challenge him.”

Magni chuckled, his hand going over his mouth. “And tell me again what he said about hating bairns and what you did …”

“But I already told you this, Magni.” Thane had never thought a lad could be so entertaining, and their little conversations brought a smile to his face daily.

“But one more time. Please?”

“I asked him how many bairns he’d sold—”

“And he said five and ten, and then you said—” Magni waited, staring up at him.

“I was going to knock one tooth out for each one he sold. And then I started—”

“And you hollered for everyone to hear that this is for Magni and Lia! And you knocked out five teeth for us!”

“Nay, only three,” Thane corrected as they made their way into the stable.

“But I think you said five once …”

“Nay, three.”

And Magni slapped his legs again and broke into gales of laughter. “Three teeth. You knocked out three teeth because they were so mean to us.”

Thane’s father stood next to their new stallion, a gift from the Grants, brushing the animal down. “You’re telling the O story again, son?”

“Aye. His favorite tale. Is that not so, Magni?”

“I wish I’d seen it,” he said. Then he stepped away so he could swing his fist in a wide arc. “I think you looked like this, Thane. And this would be for my sister Lia, and this one is for Tora and Sandor.” He swung his fists, bouncing around the stable. “And this is for Magni. Is this the way you did it?”

His father said, “I fixed that hole in the wall.”

“My thanks. That’s why I came out.”

“No need. Thought I’d brush Midnight Specter down for you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen as fine a horse as this one. He’ll be quite a stud for you.”

Thane grabbed an apple and moved over to his newest pet, feeding him the treat and running his hands down his withers and over to his nose. The animal finished its delicacy, then nickered at him. “Don’t worry, Midnight. I’ve got a lady almost ready for you. Be patient.” Then he chuckled when the beast tossed its mane. “He’s a fine one. Da, I don’t know why I got so lucky. Tamsin, Alana, finding you and Mama, the Grants and MacVeys and Rankins.”

His father stopped and stared at his son. “Because you deserve a good life now. After all you’ve done and accomplished, you deserve the blessings you’ve gotten.”

He clasped his father’s shoulder and said, “So do you and Mama, Da.”

***

Maitland pulled Maeve in tight, his favorite thing to do after their sweet lovemaking. “Seems nice being alone, does it not, love?” Her head nestled on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her.

Maeve laughed. “I know she wasn’t paying us any mind, but she was often in the same chamber with us. It wasn’t until we got Grant in the other chamber that I could convince her to leave us alone.”

He rubbed circles on her arm.

Maeve said, “Maitland, can I confess something strange?”

“Go ahead.”

“I can’t decide if I’m glad she’s not here to watch over him, or if I fear more for him that she’s gone. She truly was his protector.”

“That she was. I’m confident that if Grant was ever in danger again, Lia would be here for him. I think it’s a good thing. I think it means that he is no longer in danger. I’m trying my best to convince myself, and I think I’ve finally done it.”

Maeve said, “I have to admit that having her with us after we were captured did offer me comfort. I believed that she would protect him.”

“I would say so. Thane confirmed that Odart’s one palm was burned, the skin raw. I don’t know how she did what she did, but I’m grateful.”

“And I’m most grateful that Grant didn’t seem bothered by it at all.”

“Maeve, I have one more question for you. Sloan wondered if it was Grant who burned O’s palm. It happened when he tried to touch you. That Grant glared at him and his hand burned immediately because the man touched his mother. He doesn’t think that part was Lia at all. Is that true?”

“It could be. I’m not sure, Maitland. And we’ll never know until he grows up.”

Maitland said, “Do you think our son has something special in his future? I can’t get that out of my mind. I think Connor said it. That Lia only protects those who have something they must accomplish in their future.”

“Nay, husband. I just plan to love our only son with all my heart. The rest I’ll not worry on. We are all here, all hale, and we have many to help us when the next trouble arises. According to Lia, he won’t need her for many years.”

“I’d like to ask her how many.”

“Nay, you will not. I do not wish to know. Oh, and I just remembered something else I forgot to tell you. Something that should comfort you, because it surely did comfort me.”

“What?”

“Sandor and Tora said Grandpapa Alex and Grandmama Maddie were sitting in the cellar, watching over all of them.”

“And you believed them with all your heart?”

“Not at first, but when the smell of our apple orchard washed over me, I never doubted them again.”

“Alex and Maddie were guarding the bairns and you, wife.”

Maeve gasped. “They did! I remember something now. Tora said Grandmama Maddie told Alex we were too cold. And this blast of heat came in like someone lit a hearth behind us.”

Maitland kissed his wife’s hand. “You needed help, and you had it.”

“Oh, Maitland. They were so close.”

***

“Diamond, if it happens again, we’re leaving Mull.”

Alasdair chuckled from the staircase, and Dyna shook her head. “I am laird here, Derric. We’re staying.” Then she glanced at her parents entering the hall.

Alasdair said, “Well, I’m headed home to see if Emmalin wishes to return with our bairns.”

Sela asked, “Will all the kidnappings keep her from coming?”

Alasdair snorted. “Emmalin thinks I’ll save them from everything. She won’t worry, but we’ll see. Chief? What about you? You returning?”

Before Derric answered, Alaric flew down the stairs, running into the kitchens and back out again with something to drink and an empty bowl.

“Eli hale?”

Alaric shrugged. “Heaving her insides out again this morn. I promised something to drink, then I have to take my leave.”

“I’ll wager a laddie,” Alasdair called out.

Dyna gave a wee whoop. “Nay, a lass.”

Alaric took the steps two at a time, chuckling.

Tora, Sandor, and Sylvi were busy making toys for their new friends in anticipation of the upcoming holiday. It would take a while to make fabric animals plus a sword for Magni.

“Where’s Logan?” Connor asked.

“He had a meeting with someone. Gwynie went with him. Took her bow too.”

“Pheasant! I’m hoping for a nice plump pheasant,” Dyna shouted.

Just then, Sandor got up from the floor and began to run in circles, Tora doing the same but in a different direction.

“Sandor, what are you doing?” Connor asked.

“Gwandda chaseen me,” he said, giggling.

“Nay, I’m not chasing you. I need a day’s rest from all the excitement. I’m an old man now.”

Tora said, “Not you, Gwandpapa. Gwanda Alex chasing Sandor.”

Connor looked up at Dyna, who whispered, “He saw them on Ulva too. Said they watched over them.”

“They? Who?” Alasdair asked.

Tora said, “Gwanda Alex and Gwamma Maddie. Gwanda swim with Eva and Sandor. Gwamma swim with Eva and me.”

“Eva had help swimming?” Alasdair looked from one adult face to the next, but no one said anything, the two bairns running and giggling.

Connor said, “I saw no one but Eva swimming as hard as she could, both bairns tied to her torso, and she struggled, but her strokes were powerful. There was no one visible in the water with them. But please ask Maeve. She believes that Mama and Da were in the dungeon with them. Said she could smell the apples and Mama’s lavender. She found it comforting.”

“Nay, Shakie, nay!”

Alasdair, wide-eyed, asked, “Who’s chasing you now, Sandor?”

“Unca Shakie chaseen me.”

Alasdair stood and froze, watching the boy run in circles and around the hall while he called out to some figment of the lad’s imagination with his father’s name. Jake, who died long ago. John Alexander Grant, nicknamed Jake by his twin brother Jamie.

“Papa?” Alasdair waited, but then Sandor stopped, looking over toward Alasdair.

Sandor pointed toward him and said, “Unca Shakie o’er dare.”

The air around Alasdair filled with the powerful smell of mint leaves, exactly what his sire had chewed every day in the early morn, and the aroma filled him with all that Jake Alexander Grant had been in a matter of moments. “Da …”

Connor stood next to him and whispered, “Aye, he’s here. Jake, you’re missed!”

Sela had tears running down her cheeks. “Connor, we’re staying. Alasdair, when you go back to get Emmalin, bring Hagen and Morgan back. Astra misses them. We’re staying wherever your parents are. And Emmalin and your bairns need to be where Jake is.”

Alasdair nodded. “We’ll return, Aunt Sela. I cannot disagree with you.” He peered up into his uncle’s eyes. “Do you believe it?”

Connor nodded slowly. “I felt him too, Alasdair. That was my brother.”

As fast as they’d gotten up, the two bairns returned to their animals in the middle of the hall, Sandor waving, “Bye, Unca Shakie.” Then he stood up and ran back over. “What, Unca Shakie?”

Alasdair froze as if he were watching his dear father. Sandor ran again then stopped in front of him and said, “Unca Shakie say come back.” Then he raced to his animals, waving goodbye to something.

Or someone. Shakie. Jake, his father.

The hall was silent as they all took in what they’d watched, but then Dyna asked, “Sandor, if Grandda Alex helped you and Grandma Maddie helped Tora, then who helped Grant?”

Sandor said, “Eva and Unca Shakie hep Gwant.”

Tora nodded but added, “And Lia.”

Connor mumbled, “We’re staying. I promised Logan I’d help him with one more chore. We made a promise to a lad, and we have to do what we can.”

Dyna asked, “To Magni?”

“Aye.” Connor got up and went to the sideboard for a quick drink of Sloan’s amber brew he’d given them.

“To do what exactly, Da?” Dyna asked.

“Help him find out what happened to his parents.”