Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (19 page)

“Nay.”

“Nay?”
He sounded shocked that she would disobey him.

“I
won’t involve the MacKinnons.”

“I
all ready told ye, we are involved.”

“I’m
sorry, Brendan, if you are angry. I’ll not tell ye.”

“I’m
married to the most stubborn lass alive. I will not give up, Katie. I’ll keep
asking. Now, do you need anything?”

“You.
Will you hold me?” Kate didn’t want to think about the mess before her. She
just wanted him to hold her, and to pretend all of her problems had been
nightmares shaken away with morning’s light. He stretched out in the bed and
cuddled beside her. She smiled as he held her lovingly. He kissed her cheek and
leaned his face against hers.

“Katie,
what am I to do with ye? You’re making this too hard. It can be very easy, you
know. As your husband, it is my duty to protect you and see to your problems.”

“I’ll
not speak of it further. I just want you to hold me, Brendan.” Kate knew it was
only a matter of time before he would realize that being married to her would
cause him heartache. She had to return to her people, and she was certain he
wouldn’t leave his. When that time came, her problems wouldn’t concern him. She
was sure of it. She’d have to see to her own difficulties, without the aid of
her so-called husband.

“Are
you a witch?”

Kate
gasped at his question. “What did you just ask me?”

“I
asked if you were a witch. You are a witch, like Jinny. I saw you mixing the
herbs, and heard you speak of a goddess.”

She
sat up and turned toward him. “I fear to admit such to you or anyone, but I
suppose you could say I am a witch. My mother was, and my grandmother, too.”

“Katie,
never fear to speak of anything with me. A wife should tell her husband all.
I’m glad you’re a witch. Aye, you have bewitched me. Do you know how to cast
hexes? Jinny doesn’t. Or at least, she won’t do so.”

“It
is against my belief to cast hexes, Brendan. I only use my skills for good or
for healing.”

“Ah,
so you won’t cast a curse on your guardian then?” She shook her head. “What are
the candles and rope for?” Brendan pulled her back against him, and she cuddled
beside him.

“I
use them to pray to the Goddess. She is supreme, the giver of all life, all
that is good in the vastness of life. I find praying to her soothing, and she
guides and protects me.”

Brendan
chuckled. “Well, your goddess hasn’t done such a good job at protecting you
lately. But you have me now, I’ll protect ye.” He kissed her tenderly, sealing
his vow and melting her heart. “Katie, mayhap if I told you something about me,
you could begin trusting me.”

“I
want to trust you, Brendan. What is it?”

“I’m
as superstitious as you. Aye, we Highlanders are most serious about these
things. I live by my ancestors’ creed, especially when I go into battle which
is why I painted those symbols.” He laughed at her expression, which showed her
surprise.

“So
I’m supposed to trust you, now knowing that you’re a superstitious man? Have
you any other secrets that you’re willing to reveal?” She laughed.

“One
secret at a time, lass.”

Kate
sighed and closed her eyes. Perhaps the arrogant warrior did have a heart.

Being
married to Brendan had to be the worst of all fates.

Each
morning, Kate awoke to find Brendan gone, but he’d return each evening, and
would badger her for Richard’s name. She refused to speak to him about it. Not
that it mattered, because he would just stare at her with that icy stone-faced
look. Once again, she found him gone when she awakened. After applying a salve
that Jinny left on her wound, Kate dressed and prepared her morning fare.

She
went about her morning ritual and lifted her hands, praying to the Goddess for
solace. Once she felt relaxed enough, she pulled her satchel toward her and
opened it. Inside, she rummaged for the packet of old spells Madam Serena had
given her. There were spells to heal, spells to bring good fortune, but not one
single spell to change a man to a more softhearted spirit. Although, the spell
to cast evil spirits away might work in turning Brendan into a more docile
husband. She laughed when she came to the love spell.

A
knock came at her door, and she hastily put the parchments back in her satchel.
She didn’t answer right away, and Julianna entered. Kate rose from the floor,
and hurriedly gathered her meditation tools. Another woman stood with her.

“Good
day, Julianna.”

“I’m
sorry I didn’t think you were here.” Julianna took her hand and led her to the
woman. “Kate, this is my sister, Laila. She’s been at the KirkConnell’s keep,
and only just returned this morning. I wanted to introduce you. Garrick, that’s
Steven KirkConnell’s brother, has finally asked her to marry him. They’re going
to wed in two days.”

“It
is nice to finally meet ye, Kate. Bonnie hasn’t stopped singing your praises
since I came home this morn. Thank you for all you’ve done for her.”

“How
could I not help her? It’s nice to meet you also. Are you excited about your marriage?”
Kate smiled at the lovely young lady. The sisters didn’t look much alike,
because Laila’s dark hair gleamed, while Julianna’s was much lighter.

Laila
smiled. “Oh, aye, I fell in love with him when I was five and ten. It has taken
me a long time to get him to propose. I had faith though, and used every wile
to snare him.”

She
laughed at Laila’s lightheartedness. “What’s your intended like?”

“He’s
splendid. When I was younger, I would sit and watch him all day. He’s very
handsome. Finally, he took notice of me.”

“I’m
glad you succeeded, if it’s what you really want,” Kate said.

“He
has the gentlest nature. I’ve never heard him yell once, but he’s a warrior
like the others.”

“Well,
Brendan yells all the time and always scowls.”

“Oh
my, I had heard that you wed Brendan, you poor lady.”

Kate
laughed at her concerned look. “Aye, but I really don’t want to be. Ah, be wed
to him that is, and he used trickery to gain my hand.”

Laila
giggled. “I’ve known him for a long time, and can certainly understand why. Who
wants to be married to a man with a permanent frown?”

“Oh,
will you two cease, he’s not that bad.” Julianna pushed her sister’s shoulder
and for that, she received a grin. “All right, I admit, he is rather hard to
get along with.”

They
moved to the table and sat down. Kate poured them each a drink, and saw Trixie
reenter the cottage. “Brendan doesn’t deserve the problems I’ll bring to him.”

“Oh,
dear, it sounds like Kate is in dire need to talk. Come, tell us, Kate, what’s
wrong. We are your friends. We shall hold your confidence.” Laila set her cup
down and nodded.

For
some reason, Kate saddened at that. They were her friends, and she felt so
connected to them. Julianna took her hand, and Laila moved closer to her.
Suddenly, the wall she’d built up came crumbling down.

“My
guardian wants a medallion that my father sent me from his excursion to Egypt.
I’ve been given a month to return with it. If not, he’ll send his soldiers to
my father’s keep and will kill all our tenants. He also said he would find me.”

“He
sounds evil.” Laila took her other hand, and they each tried to comfort her.

Julianna
squeezed her hand. “He is evil, Laila. He took my baby.”

“I’m
going to have to take it to him. I cannot chance him besieging my home. I’m not
sure how many soldiers he has, but it’s likely many. His forces are second in
number, under Lord de Guylet’s. I believe he killed my father for the
medallion.”

“That’s
ghastly. Why does he want the medallion? What is it? It must be worth a fortune
for him to be so interested in it.” Laila leaned back and looked to ponder it.

Kate
reached for the wrapped medallion in the center of the table. Funny, she’d left
it wrapped lying on the table, but it was uncovered. She handed it to Laila.
“There’s a map inside.”

Laila
studied it for several moments. “It looks ancient, and the locations are
probably not even there any longer. It’s in all likelihood useless.”

“What
do you mean useless?”

“I
read all sorts of historical literature. Colin often brings me tombs and
pamphlets back from Edinburgh. Men have found ruins of temples in the holy land
during the crusades. If this is a map of such a place, it’s likely covered by
hundreds of years of sand or already pillaged or sacked.”

Kate
laughed so hard, tears came to her eyes. “Then I’d gladly hand over the map to
Richard, but it makes me feel saddened to know my father might have died for
this scrap of a map. My father’s squire told me that he was killed shortly
after showing the medallion to Richard.”

Julianna
rose and moved around the table to face her. “Kate, don’t make the same mistake
I made. When I first met Colin, I too had a situation that I needed to resolve.
I would have faired better had I just told Colin about it from the start.”

“I
have told Brendan about it, but there is nothing he can do to help me. I must
find out what happened to my father, and if indeed Richard truly killed him.
Only then can I think of my future.”

“Don’t
be so sure, Kate. Brendan is an intelligent man.”

Kate
didn’t want to admit that she couldn’t get herself to trust him. No one could
help her with this situation. Richard wanted the medallion, and she had the
means to stop him from hurting many others. She had to remember that, and do
what she could. If she couldn’t find a way to gain an audience with King Henry,
then she had to confront the devil himself.

She
changed the topic. “I haven’t met George yet. Bonnie told me that you had a pet
goat. Mayhap I should ask Bonnie to introduce me to him.”

Julianna’s
face saddened. “Oh, don’t do that, Kate.”

“Why
ever not?”

“George
died when Bonnie was missing, he was old. I haven’t had the heart to tell her
yet. She will be very upset when she hears and I’m hoping she doesn’t realize
it for a long time.”

“Oh,
how horrible. Bonnie said he liked to eat your tablecloths and that you smacked
him. I looked forward to meeting the animal.”

“Aye,
I miss him. He became endeared to me. When I first came here, I couldn’t stand
him. He kept entering the keep, and I kept ousting him. We were good friends in
the end.” Julianna dabbed the corner of her eye.

“I’m
sorry, Julianna.”

As
if they conjured up the little minx, Bonnie came running through the doorway.
They stopped talking and watched her hug Kate. Her eyes shined with mischief,
and Kate wondered what she’d been up to.

“Kate,
I saw Sean on the corral fence, his feet hung over the side, so I snucked up on
him and tied his boots together.” Bonnie grinned at her fete.

“You
did? What did he do?”

“He
didn’t know ‘cause I was real quiet-like. Then when they were knotted good, I
shoved him off the fence.” She giggled.

Kate
and Laila laughed.

Bonnie
smiled wickedly. “He tried to chase me, but he couldn’t run ‘cause you know
why?”

Kate
grinned. “Nay, why?”

“‘Cause
his boots were tied together.”

“You’re
such a clever girl.” Kate ruffled her hair, laughing again.

“I’d
watch your back if I was you,” Laila chimed in.

“Aye,
he’ll want to pay me back for that.” Bonnie’s smile disappeared when she
noticed that her mother frowned.

Julianna
gave her that motherly look. The kind that meant, she was indeed in trouble.
“You know what you need to do.”

Bonnie
nodded solemnly. “How long do I gots to sit there, Mama?”

“For
the rest of the day and you’ll apologize to Sean later.”

“Aye,
Mama.” Bonnie left and they knew where she was going—to sit in her father’s
chair.

“How
is it she speaks English so well, Julianna?” Kate asked.

“I
often spoke to her in English, because it was a habit. When she learned to
talk, she didn’t stop. She babbled morn, noon, and night in Gaelic and English.
I thought Colin would leave our keep to reside in the barracks. He asked me if
all children spoke incessantly.” She laughed.

“She’s
just like me, when I was a child.” Kate smiled then sighed. “I used to get into
all kinds of mischief.”

“God
help us all,” Julianna retorted.

Laila
giggled at her sister’s tone. “Why do ye say that?”

“Because
now we have two hellions in our clan, one was enough.”

*****

Brendan
MacKinnon was at his wits end. He sat in the meeting, half-listening to what
his brother was saying. When Bonnie entered the hall, and went directly to
Colin, she sat on his brother’s lap. Brendan knew the lass had done something
wrong, and could tell she was troubled by her severe expression.

“Hello,
Button. What are you doing here?”

“Mama
said I have to sit in the chair.” Bonnie touched her father’s face, and Brendan
knew it was a ploy to distract him. Hell, she’d used the same tactics on him
time and again.

“I
suppose ye want to let your mother tell me what you did?” Colin grinned at him,
hugging his daughter close.

“Aye,
Mama will tell you.”

Colin
nodded, and then resumed his discussion. “Kate’s a stubborn lass to be sure.”

“Don’t
I know it, Colin. I’ve tried to get the blasted man’s name, but she’ll not say.
She won’t speak to me now, and hardly says a word to anyone. I’ve ruined it,
mucked it beyond repair, Colin. How am I supposed to fix this when she won’t
even look at me?”

“I
feel for you, Brendan, and wish I had some useful advice. I received a missive
from Henry, and he’s coming for a visit. We’ll find out the damned guardian’s
name soon enough. Let us enjoy Laila’s wedding. Henry should arrive soon after.
It won’t be long now.”

Bonnie
shifted her father’s face to look at her. “Honey’s coming?”

“Aye,
he misses ye. Shhh, lass, I’m talking to Brendan.”

Brendan
almost laughed. He hoped his own daughter wasn’t such a hellion as Bonnie was.
The thought of having his own child made him smile. “I’m going to try and
reason with her. I’ll see you later.”

He
went to their cottage, but Kate wasn’t there. She must have had company,
because cups sat on the table. Brendan took a seat and lifted the medallion.
This piece of gold was causing many problems for him and Kate. He felt
reassured, knowing Henry would soon give the name and he could enact his
revenge on the churlish-dog. His hand tightened around the object.

Brendan
decided to do some training to take his mind off his wife. He spent the rest of
the day, trying his sword and working on his maneuvers. That night, after he
returned from his training sessions, he reassured himself that she hadn’t left.
He entered quietly, moving like the wind—unseen and unfelt. When he saw Kate
sleeping peacefully in their bed, the tension eased from his body. He quickly
shed his clothing and lay next to her.

During
the long night, he watched her and contemplated their issues. The lass was
riddled with flaws. Aye, she was stubborn, obstinate, and adorable. She cried
all the time, and couldn’t remember a person’s name if she’d etched it on her
arm. Damn it all, he was in love with his wife. It struck him like a boulder
hitting his hard head, and though he’d denied it, he couldn’t fight it any
longer. He promised himself there and then that she wouldn’t weaken him then
contradicted his thought. If anything happened to her, he’d hold himself
culpable. He must protect her at all costs.

His
whole life was of warring. All he did each day since he’d turned five was train
for war. He wasn’t one to dally over enjoyments such as women or ponder a
family. Why did he feel so damn bleak then? He had nothing to offer the
beautiful woman lying in the bed. He wasn’t a laird—just a soldier. Why would
she love him? Somehow, he would convince her that she belonged to him. He was
nothing without her, nothing but a soldier. There were plenty of them to go
around, though he was a superb warrior. Nay, he was nothing without this woman.
Brendan rose, kissed her lightly on her head, then left the cottage, just as
sun streaked the gray sky with its morning light.