Jake (The Highland Clan Book 4) (17 page)

Chapter Nineteen

Aline did her best to muffle her screech when she saw the chamber was empty. “Where is she, Jake? Where could she be? Can we yell? Can we call to her?”

She glanced around the area, frantic for some sign of where her sister might be.

Loki stepped behind them and put a hand on her shoulder. “She’s with Kenzie is my guess. I have not seen him either.”

“But they’re so young. What if they were taken? What if they’re hurt? What if…”

Jake frowned, as if trying to recall something. “When Hew came out the door the first time, he had his dagger at Aline’s throat. I could swear a stone hit him in the forehead. It must have been Kenzie.”

Aline stood up straighter. “He’s right. I heard it hit him.” She said a quick prayer.
Please, God. Let Kenzie and Maisie be safe.
How she loved her wee sister. She wouldn’t be able to bear losing her.

Loki chuckled. “The trees. I’d wager he’s in the trees somewhere hiding with her. ‘Tis where I always tell him to hide since it’s the safest. Just like I did when I was his age.”

Squeezing Jake’s hand so hard, it had to hurt, Aline said, “Jake, help me. My sister has hardly even been outside these last two years. She’ll be frightened.”

“Trust me. If she’s with Kenzie, she’s fine. The lad is a crafty scamp. And he has a deadly eye with his slinger, so he can protect both of them. Did we not tell you that he survived on his own in Ayr? That he knew more than anyone in the royal burgh?” Jake kissed her forehead. “We’ll find them both.”

“Aline, he’s my son, and I’m not worried about him,” Loki added as he led the way back up the staircase. When they stepped outside, they immediately came across Jake’s sire.

Alex Grant was on his horse, and he held the reins to a saddled horse that stood beside him. Logan, Magnus, and Gavin were all behind him.

Jake’s sire spoke first. “Well?”

“Maisie is not in there.” Jake wrapped his arm around Aline’s waist and she leaned into him, burying her face in his shoulder.

“We think she and Kenzie are together, hiding in the trees,” Loki said. “Uncle Alex, can you have your guards search the trees inside and we’ll go search the area where we climbed over the wall? He knows we plan to go back that way.”

His father tossed the reins he was holding to Jake, who helped Aline mount the horse, then climbed up behind her. “Loki, get a horse and we’ll meet you out there.”

Jake flicked the reins and took off through the courtyard, though it was now a maze of dead bodies. Outside the gates, there were a massive number of Grant warriors awaiting instructions. Aline had never seen such an impressive sight. There was a sea of warriors moving about, checking the bodies.

“I’ve never seen aught like it before, Jake,” Aline whispered, “There are so many.”

“Aye, ‘tis a mighty force. But we have a more important task. If we do not see them right away, I’ll gather some guards to assist us.”

They moved back between the old oak trees and pines behind the curtain wall. He pointed to a section in the middle of the small forest. “Those are the best climbing trees.”

Aline held her breath to try and stop herself from crying, her hand clutching Jake’s with a tight squeeze. She had to admit she wasn’t as confident as Loki. She peered up at each tree as they passed beneath, but saw nothing.

The hoot of an owl rang out from the trees, and Loki, who had ridden up behind them, answered with his own owl call. “‘Tis our call.”

“We’re over here, Papa.”

Aline pointed in the direction of the sound, her heart beating fast in her chest.

“Is Maisie with you, Kenzie?” Jake yelled.

“Aye. I’m teaching her how to talk to the birds.”

Maisie giggled, and that one sound filled Aline with a gratitude that she swore she’d never forget. The pair of them were nestled into the branches of the largest tree in the area. Kenzie had his arm wrapped around the lassie, and they were leaning against the trunk of the tree.

Aline cried out, her arms outstretched. “Maisie, are you all right?”

“Aye, Aline. Look at me. I climbed a tree! Look how tall we are.” The expression on her face told them all she had not suffered much from the battle going on around her. It was a blessing.

Jake cast Aline a sideways glance. Talking out of the corner of his mouth, he said, “I do not think she was too afraid of the outside.”

Aline laughed. “Thank the Lord for Kenzie. She seems to be having the time of her life.”

Jake said, “She’s free, and she recognizes it in her heart.”

Loki moved his horse as close to the tree as possible and Kenzie handed the lass down to his sire before he climbed down after her. Aline tried to jump off the horse, but Jake caught her. “Careful,” he said, lowering her to the ground, “you’ll turn an ankle.”

She smiled up at him and then ran toward her sister, her arms wide open. Tears of joy slid down her cheeks and she did not even care.

“Aline, why are you crying? Did you not wish to see me?” Maisie’s wee hand patted her cheek as soon as she scooped her up into her arms.

“They are tears of happiness.” She smoothed the wild red curls of Maisie’s hair. “Look at you. You are a mess, a beautiful mess. There is naught wrong?”

“Nay. When those bad men started fighting after they took you away, Kenzie and I sneaked up the passageway. We climbed another tree so Kenzie could shoot with his slinger, and I helped by holding his stones. Then we got down and came over here. I did not like the fighting. And Kenzie gave me an oatcake.”

Aline squeezed her again and set her down, clasping the wee one’s hand in hers. “My thanks to all of you, and especially to you, Kenzie. I was so scared, but ‘tis over now, or I hope so.”

Kenzie stood near them, his chest puffed out and a smile on his face. “I just did what my sire and grandsire taught me. To be a Highlander you must protect those that cannot protect themselves.”

He glanced at his father as Loki dismounted just to clasp his shoulders from behind. “Well done, son.”

“You are a mighty Highlander, Kenzie.” She gave him a quick hug then glanced up at Jake. “Is it true? Hew is…”

Jake cut her off. “Never going to bother you again.”

Alex, Gavin, and Logan appeared around the corner on horseback. “All is well? Kenzie, you saved Maisie?”

Kenzie stood next to Alex Grant’s huge warhorse and stared up at the huge chieftain. “Aye, I guess I did. I just wanted to get her away from all the screaming and yelling. We had more fun in the trees.”

“Aye,” Maisie nodded her head. “We had so much fun. Aline, may I ride with Kenzie on a horse?”

“We’ll see. I’m not sure how many horses we have, or where we’re going.” Aline cleared her throat and turned to Kenzie. “Do you have any idea where Effie went, lad?”

Kenzie shook his head. “She came to the stairway with us, but then she ran down the passageway in the other direction.”

“Jake, may we look for Effie? Mayhap she would go with us now that the battle is nearing an end.”

Ashlyn joined them with Magnus at her side. “I know where Effie is. I’ll take you to her.”

Alex tipped his head and said, “Jake, go ahead with Ashlyn and Magnus. I’ve sent a group back to Loki’s to bring your mother to join us. She should be halfway here by now.”

Loki said, “And my mother?”

“Your parents will stay on with you for a while at your keep. Our work here is not done, however. Jake, you have not seen MacNiven, have you?”

“Nay.” He glanced at the others and they all shook their heads.

Aline said, “I saw him inside Hew’s chamber, but after he stole a big bag of Hew’s gold, he left with two guards. Hew said they were going to Grant Castle.”

Alex nodded. “Exactly as we predicted, but my guess is that his plans have changed. He knows Jake can identify him, so I’m guessing he grabbed the coin and a few of his best guards and left the area.”

Jake said, “He’s not finished yet, is he? He’ll find a different place and start anew.”

His sire nodded. “I fear that is what he has planned, unless we can locate him quickly. Once he gets into the caves, we’ll probably never find him until spring. ‘Struth is that would be his wisest move. Otherwise, we could take him to King Alexander who would watch him hang this time. Jake, do what you need to, then come find me. I’ll set up my tent in the front courtyard between the two keeps. I’ll send men to search the keeps for any stragglers, any who are hiding. As of yet, the only woman we’ve found is Gordon’s cook, and she has family nearby.”

After they moved back inside the curtain wall, Aline and Jake left their horse with the others and followed Ashlyn, Maisie in hand.

“Where are we headed, Magnus?” Jake asked.

“Back into the cellar. You’ll not like this.”

Jake leaned over to Aline. “Will she come to me? I think it would be better if I carried her.”

Aline let go of her sister’s hand and said, “Go with Jake, Maisie.”

“Must we go back?” the lassie asked as she held her wee arms up to Jake.

“Aye, but just for a short time. Jake will protect us, and so will Magnus.”

As they started down the dark staircase, Maisie turned to Aline. “Can I close my eyes? I do not wish to look. I did not like it down there.”

Aline kissed Maisie’s cheek. “Close your eyes, sweet one. We’ll take care of you.” The wee lassie leaned her head down on Jake’s shoulder and shut her eyes, squeezing them tight. Aline glanced at Jake, her heart swelling with gratitude. He was so good with Maisie. She leaned toward him to give him a quick kiss.

They moved down the dark passageway until they reached the last chamber. Ashlyn knocked on the door, a quiet rap that could barely be heard. Aline held her breath, unsure why she felt so ill at ease.

A moment later, the door opened a crack and Effie’s face appeared in the opening, hiding the inside of the chamber. “Effie, please allow us in,” Aline said. “You should come with us. Hew is dead.”

The door flew open, revealing the interior of the chamber.

Aline froze. Inside were three wee lassies, all about the same age, between two and three summers. The one with brown hair the same shade as Effie’s toddled over to her and held her arms outstretched to her. “Up, Mama?”

Aline stepped past the others and came to a stop directly in front of Effie. Had she heard the lass correctly? “Mama? Effie?”

Effie turned a dark shade of red as she leaned down to pick up the bairn and settle her on her hip. “Aye. Meet my daughter, Una. Hew is her sire.”

Stunned, Aline whispered, “Why did you not tell me?”

Clearly ashamed, Effie just shook her head as tears splashed onto her cheeks.

Aline’s gaze took in the other two wee ones, both of them sitting on the floor. She glanced around the chamber, taking in the conditions they’d been living in. One large pallet on the floor told her where they all slept. Otherwise, there was a pot in the corner, a small table with two stools, a full bag of rags, and some clothing along with a bucket of water. She could tell Effie did her best to keep the area clean. There were a few fabric toys, and some oatcakes on the table.

“This is where you live, Effie?”

Effie could not look at Aline, instead turning her head to bury her nose in her daughter’s matted locks. “He said he would leave me be if I stayed hidden down here. I did what I had to do for my daughter. I did not want him touching her.”

“They have never been outside?”

“Verra little. We sneaked out a few times, but they are not used to the outdoors.”

Maisie opened her eyes and said, “Aline, I love Effie. This is where we stayed, but that mean man said if I told you about it, he would hurt you. Please do not be angry with me.”

Aline patted Maisie’s back. “You are a good lass, Maisie. I love Effie, too, and she took good care of you.” She glanced at the other two wee ones. “Effie, they are around the same age. They cannot all be yours.” Aline could not get over the shock of seeing three other bairns hidden down here, away from all. Where had the other two come from?

“Nay, Hew brought them here. I know not who they belong to. I do not even know their names. I called them Ina and Maeve.”

Aline squared her shoulders. “Well, get whatever you need, because you and the wee ones will be going to Clan Grant with us. Hew is gone forever, and he’ll not run your life anymore.”

Effie’s eyes teared up. “Truly? Hew is gone?” She set her daughter down and faced Aline. “We may leave here? We mustn’t stay hidden any longer? Forgive me, I so wished to tell you, but he said he would hurt Maisie if I did. He made so many threats that I just did what he asked. I would be forever grateful if we could go with you away from this place. I’ll keep Maeve and Ina. I could not leave them behind.”

Aline could not stop her own tears. “Aye. Come with us. You will all be welcomed. Clan Grant is lovely.” Aline hugged her friend. “We are done living in fear, Effie.”

Effie’s voice hitched. “You were the only one I trusted here, but I did not wish to put you or Maisie at risk.”

“You are forgiven. We shall start our new life together. What can we do to help?” Aline said after a moment, pulling away. “We’ll pack up. What do you need to take?”