Binding Vows (27 page)

The plan was solid. Tara secretly thanked God that her friend and sister would finally know what happened.

“Do you think I’ll come back?” Myra asked when they stopped and sat on a fallen tree.

“God, I hope so.” Tara took her hand without looking at her. “I don’t think I could bear losing two sisters in one year.”

“How will I know when to return? It isn’t like Ma can tell me. I’ve never had any premonitions like her. Amber seems to have that gift, but I don’t.”

“We have to believe something more powerful than us is pulling these strings. Have faith if nothing else. And pray.” It was all Tara had to offer.

“The real question is if you’ll want to return.

Between the indoor plumbing, clothes and food, we may lose you because you’ll want to stay.”

“I’d miss my family too much.”

Tara squeezed her hand. “Good. The list I’m making is growing by the hour.” The list was what Tara wanted Myra to bring back with her. It was loaded with everything from medication, to seeds for 232

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every plant available, and books about how things are made in the future.

Including one on plumbing.

****

The night before her expected departure, and exactly three weeks before the winter solstice, the family gathered for their evening meal. Even though everyone tried making the conversation and mood light, they failed.

Everyone agrees that Duncan, Tara, and Myra would go together outside the walls of the Keep where they would activate the stones without notice.

If the entire family were to leave, someone would certainly notice and might question where they were all going.

This night was for goodbyes and final thoughts.

The servants were sent away for the night. The knights who guarded the keep while the family slept were asked to remain on watch in the towers. Even the dogs slept outside the main hall.

“How long should I wait before I return?”

“A month, maybe two. After that...” Lora cast her eyes to her plate of food that sat untouched.

“I’ll return in two months.” Myra sighed with relief saying this out loud.

“Nay, Myra. Wait for a sign,” Lora encouraged.

“I want your safe return. Not one which will put you in harm’s way.”

Ian MacCoinnich glanced at his daughter with fear in his eyes. “If you’re ever in danger in that time you must return.”

“I will, father.”

“Has anyone thought of how we could go to her if needed?” Tara asked.

No one answered. No one could.

“I see.” Tara’s hand found Duncan’s under the table.
Are we doing the right thing?

His reassuring smile helped lift her spirits.
My
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mother’s visions have never lead us wrong before.

Amber and Cian went to bed near midnight.

Duncan and Tara returned to their bedchamber shortly afterward.

Myra stayed up late talking to her parents. Over and over she told them her plans. Each time she listened to the advice they gave, grateful for their council.

When she left their side, she had a family heirloom that would be worth currency in Tara’s time and afford her a way to take care of herself if Lizzy was difficult to locate.

Fin caught her in the hall when she made her way to bed. “I didn’t want the others to hear what I have to say. They’d worry too much.”

“What is it?” She and Fin had always spoken so candidly and yet he hadn’t said anything of importance since Lora announced she had to leave.

“If Grainna learns of you, she will stop at nothing to...” He turned away, his words trailed off.

Myra read him so easily. “Use me,” she said, finishing for him.

“Aye.” Fin sought her eyes and held them firm.

“Unless you are of no use to her.”

His implication would have shocked her if she hadn’t already thought of it.

He took her hands. “Dammit, Myra. How can I be saying this to you?”

“Tara and I have already talked of this. When I return, if I haven’t been given a sign that I’m safe from Grainna... I will be of no use to her one way or another.”

“Oh God.” He pulled her into his arms. “If you don’t return, I’ll find a way to go to you. If it takes the whole of my life, I will know you are well.”

Myra hated the fear that crept inside her heart.

“When I return, if I’m no longer... chaste, what then, Fin?”

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He took her head in his hands. “Any man would be lucky to have you as a wife, chaste or not.”

He lied she knew, but she didn’t call him on it.

There was no purpose. Besides, life was more important to live than chastity was to keep.

****

The three of them rode is silence. The fog covered the land and cloaked the riders in the perfect cover.

The sun peaked over the horizon, slightly burning off the fog when they stopped and set the stones in a circle.

“Remember, Lizzy is short for Elizabeth.

Elizabeth McAllister. If for any reason she won’t listen, find Cassy. Cassandra Ross.” Tara thought she was missing something, and found herself rambling.

“You’ve told me all of this. I won’t forget.” Myra pulled off the cloak covering the modern clothing she wore. “Here, I won’t be needing this.”

Tara held her tears back and smiled like she meant it.

Duncan held his sister for one last moment, listened as she whispered, “Congratulations, brother.”

“For what?” he asked.

She smiled and said, “You’ll see.”

One by one they touched the stones activating them until they glowed and pulsed.

“God’s speed,” Duncan called.

The wind started to turn and light shimmered and burned.

“Hey, Myra?” Tara called out distracting her from what was to come after sensing her fear.

“What?” she yelled over the noise.

“Have Lizzy take you to Magicland. The rides don’t compare to this, but you’ll love it.”

Myra held onto her sack and waved with her 235

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free hand. “Magicland. I’ll remember.” Myra started the chant.

Duncan pulled Tara back when the ground began to shake. In a flash of light and a thunderous roar, Myra vanished.

The earth was scarred where the stones had been placed.

Both of them couldn’t help but wonder if they would ever see Myra again.

So this is what it’s like to say goodbye
, Duncan thought.

At least you know where she’s going. Lizzy never
knew. Maybe now she will.

Duncan kissed the back of his wife’s hand and made their way back home.

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Chapter 21

The family went from
operation LA
, to
operation
cover up
.

When anyone asked about Myra, the family would say, “You just missed her.” Or, “If you run, you might be able to catch her.”

But this grew tiresome and proved difficult.

On the third day after Myra’s departure, they concocted a story about an illness she contracted, which would keep her confined to her room. This was much easier to maintain.

Tara and Lora were in charge of minding the sick, so there was no need for anyone else to bother.

When a knock came at the door, Tara would jump under the covers, pull up the sheets, and pretend to be Myra.

The ploy worked and no one suspected a thing.

As winter set in, the nights grew longer. The newlyweds enjoyed the longer nights for their lovemaking. It was easy to forget the troubles of the household in Duncan’s arms. Tara sought them constantly. Passion filled nights often led to late mornings.

Tara enjoyed the winter weather and snuggled into their bed after Duncan went off to train with the men. She slept more than usual. She thought her worry for Myra was partly the cause.

The door to the bedroom opened with a crash, startling Tara awake.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I didn’t know ye’d still be abed at this time of day.” Megan scurried into the 237

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room, closing the door behind her.

Tara’s pulse pounded at an alarming speed as her body responded to the intrusion. Her stomach gave protest. She bit back the bitter taste of bile.

“My lady, are ye well?” Megan asked.

Tara leaned back in the bed, waited for the nausea to pass. “I’m fine, Megan. Maybe some water.”

The maid hurried to get what she requested. “I hope ye’re not getting ill from Myra. She’s been a bed for the better part of the week.” She handed Tara her drink. “This room has such a chill. Had I known you weren’t well, I would have brought more wood to warm the room.”

The fire was all but out, yet Tara could have sworn Duncan had hocus-pocused it before he left her. “What time is it?”

“Nearly mid-day.” Megan drew the drapes back to let the light shine in.

“It’s late. I should check on Myra,” Tara lied.

“I can do that, my lady. Ye look like ye should stay abed.”

“No! I mean nay.” Pulling back the covers, Tara started to get up. Her stomach clenched again, this time in earnest.

She ran to the pot on the other side of the room and retched. When she finished, Megan handed her a towel and took the pot away.

As Megan left the room, Tara said, “Have Lora check on her daughter. You wouldn’t want to catch this.”

Tara settled back in bed and recalled what she’d eaten the night before.

It didn’t take long for Lora to seek her out.

“It’s nerves.” Tara excused her illness away.

“We’ve all been jumpy since Myra left.”

“Still, it would be best if you rested today.”

Tara shook her head. “I’m feeling better 238

Binding Vows

already.” Lora’s look of concern made her add, “But I’ll take it easy.”

“Good. We don’t need more bad rumors about illness in the Keep.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I overheard Megan speaking with Alice. She thinks Myra has a grave illness. That perhaps the illness has spread to you.”

Tara’s shoulders slumped. “We need to come up with another plan.”

“Aye, I agree.” Lora tucked in the blankets around her. “Not today. Today you rest.”

“Yes, mother.”

Lora’s hand came up to her cheek. “That warms my heart.”

Tara smiled before snuggling into the bed.

****

Edgy. It was the only way to describe the mood over the Keep. In the shadow of the upcoming solstice, Ian had knights patrolling more frequently and in greater numbers.

Although Lora’s premonition was specific to Myra, the threat was still out there and everyone knew it.

No one left the Keep alone. If a medical need came up in which either Lora or Tara was needed, at least two knights went with them. Even when Duncan and Fin went to the village to pick up the commissioned dishes which Tara had insisted be changed, they left together.

With Duncan on her errand, and the rest of the family busy, Tara settled into an overstuffed chair by the fire and dozed off.

Amber nudged her awake. Huge brown eyes smiled down on her, warming Tara’s heart. Amber had spent a lot of time searching out Tara since Myra’s departure. She missed her sister, and had no problem letting Tara take her place.

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“Hey, sweetie, what are you doing?” Tara pulled back the blanket she had thrown over her lap so Amber could snuggle in.

“I was bored with the dolls.” She made herself comfortable and continued to talk. “Megan wanted the dolls to sit and watch while she cleaned the room. It was tiresome.”

Tara laughed. “I wasn’t into dolls at your age either. I liked trucks better.”

“What are those?” Amber’s big eyes and long lashes fluttered against her cheeks.

“Well, trucks are like carts that are pulled by horses, only they aren’t pulled by horses.”

“How do they move?”

“By an engine.”

“What kind of animal is an engine?”

“An engine isn’t an animal.” Tara snickered. “Oh never mind. When Myra comes back maybe she can explain them better.” She purposely said when and not if.

“She is safe,” Amber declared as if reading her thoughts. “I know she is.”

“Did you have a vision like your mom?”

“Nay, not like that. I simply know, like you know Duncan is well, I know Myra is well.”

Tara doubted it was possible for Amber to have such a strong connection with Myra. Maybe her desires for assurance was clouding her thoughts and making her pretend. Much like a child with an imaginary friend, it wouldn’t be harmful to let her go on believing this. At least until a time there was no doubt of Myra’s fate. “I hope so, Amber. I hope so.”

“I know it,” she said with pride. “Ever since we became blood sisters the night before she left, I can tell.” Amber turned her palm up to Tara’s face. “See, blood sisters.”

Tara noticed a healed notch on one of her fingertips. “Did Myra tell you we did that?”

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“Mum hum,” she smiled. “We should do it too, that way we can all be real sisters.” The words flew out of her mouth in a rush.

Sentimental, Tara draped an arm around her shoulders. “I’d like that.”

Wasting no time, Amber jumped off her lap and ran for a knife.

It took only a few seconds to complete their chant and mixing of blood. Tara had to hold back a laugh at the seriousness in which Amber did the deed. Once done, they both smiled and nursed their sore fingertips.

“Now, I will know you are safe too.” Amber snuggled back into Tara’s lap, resting her arm over her waist. “You and the baby.”

Tara settled into the chair before Amber’s words registered. “What baby?”

“Yours silly.” Ambers giggle had her entire body shaking.

“But, I don’t have a baby.”

“This one,” she put her small hand on Tara’s flat stomach.

Tara laughed at her, a nervous little laugh that had her pushing her brows together in a thoughtful frown. She shook her head and closed her eyes.

“No,” she told Amber. “That’s not possible...”

Amber continued to chuckle.

Tara stood up, tossing Amber out of her lap in the process. “That’s not...” Using her fingers, Tara started to count. “It’s not...” Then it hit her. It had been well over seven weeks since her last cycle.