Chapter Twenty-Six

By the next day, Ev was more herself and Liam relaxed again. He’d worried she might not forgive him. He knew Lach and Cam locked horns with their wives from time to time.

Liam hadn’t expected he and Ev would ever argue. It was a strange thing to be relieved it had happened. It was easy enough to move on, though it had nearly killed him to allow her to apologize. Later, when he was alone, he thought it over and realized why it was important to her.

During drills in the bailey, Liam dodged out of Colin’s way a bit too late and caught a hole in his shirt for his slowness.

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt ye?” the lad asked.

“If ye had, it would have been my own fault, not yours. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“I don’t ever want to be married.” The boy shook his head.

Liam remembered a time when he’d felt the same way. He didn’t need to tell Colin he’d change his mind. Like any lad, he wouldn’t believe it and he’d find out the truth of it soon enough.

He was about to make a move to take down the boy when one of the villagers interrupted. Liam listened carefully to what he shared and nodded. “I’ll be there soon. Can you see that he doesn’t go anywhere until we arrive?”

“He’ll not. He can barely stand,” the man assured him.

Liam frowned and told his men to continue while he went into the castle to find the laird. “We’ve some unpleasantness to deal with in the village,” he said, his voice grim. He’d not go into more detail while they were in the solar with the women and children.

Ev looked at him with a smile, but it dropped when he couldn’t offer her one back.

Liam selected a few of his men to join them and they left through the gates. “What is it?”

“I’ve told ye before that Robert has a heavy hand with his wife,” Liam said. The man had been locked up for beating her and for threatening Evelyn when she’d tried to protect the woman. He’d promised he’d not touch his wife or child in anger again, but it appeared he’d not kept that promise in the worst way.

“I’ve spoken to him about what would happen if we were in this position again. I explained we don’t hold with that treatment of our women. He’s killed his wife.”

It was rare a MacKinlay did something so heinous as murder his wife, but when a man gave in to his drink to the point it consumed him, he was no longer a regular man, but one possessed by a need that could never be met.

Lach let out a breath and nodded. “He’ll need a swift judgment.”

“Aye.” That swift judgment would probably come at the end of a rope. They didn’t have formal gallows, but a sturdy tree and a swift horse would do the trick.

The woman’s body had already been taken away when Liam and Lach arrived. Robert was muttering and throwing punches at anyone who tried to come near.

Liam gave a nod to the warriors he’d brought with him, and they stepped into the fray, quickly overpowering the man and tying his hands behind his back so he could throw no more punches.

“Robert, do ye know who I am?” Lach said loudly, demanding the man’s attention.

“Aye, laird.” He sneered when he spoke the last word. In many clans that would be enough for him to be dispatched. Lach looked at the man with disgust and a bit of pity.

“It’s a sad day when a man is so completely controlled by drink that he cannot abide the laws of his people.”

“She was my wife, to do with as I pleased.”

“Nay. She was a clanswoman, to be treated with respect and honor.”

The man spat at Lach. “Worthless, she was. Gave me a worthless brat, too.”

“His boy is but six years old and he’s tried to put him out for work beyond his years while he sits and drinks,” a woman said from the doorway.

“Shut up, ye bitch.” Robert lunged at the woman but only stumbled and fell. Since his hands were behind him, he couldn’t break his fall and landed on his face. His nose gushed a river of blood, and he moaned a bit before returning to his curses.

Lach frowned and shook his head. “We’ve warned ye more than once. No more warnings shall be given. You are charged with murder and the punishment is death by hanging.”

Lach turned to Liam. “Have my order carried out.” A scribe had been called to document the proceedings. Lach signed and stood out of the way with his arms crossed.

Liam didn’t need to repeat the order to his men. With a nod, they pulled the man up and dragged him outside. Liam turned to follow but heard a whimper in the shadows of the room. He moved closer and found a small boy tucked into a ball in the corner.

“Ho there, lad. Do ye remember me?” he asked Sheamus.

The boy nodded.

“Have you been in the house all day?” Liam asked, praying with all his might the boy had just returned from one of those jobs his father had sent him on rather than having seen what had happened here.

“Aye.”

“You saw what happened? With your ma?”

He nodded and sobbed. “She’s dead. He killed her.”

“He did, and he’s going to be punished for it. He’ll never hurt anyone again. The laird doesn’t allow his clan to hurt one another. Do you understand why he must be punished?”

Sheamus nodded.

“Do ye have any aunts or uncles?”

The boy shook his head.

“I’ll take you to someone who may look after you for a bit.” He found the woman who had spoken up. “Might you be able to take him in?”

“Nay. I’ve no place of my own. I’m sure the Hardys wouldn’t mind one more. They have so many children already.”

Liam gave a nod. He knew where the Hardy cottage was. He knew his men would take care of the hanging without him, so Liam was able to see to the matter of the boy.

In truth, Liam wasn’t one for watching someone die. He’d seen it many times and even caused his share of death on the battlefield, however, protecting yourself and your clan in battle was a very different thing than a hanging. It was too slow, too much thinking of it.

Knocking on the Hardy’s door he rested his hands on the lad’s shoulders, noticing how he shook. Liam crouched down to his level and gave him the wooden rabbit he’d been working on for Gwennie. She’d not mind if he didn’t have one for her today, especially if he told her Sheamus needed it. The two had been fast friends when she’d lived here. “The Hardys are kind people. You don’t have to worry about them hurting ye. Do you understand?”

He nodded and wiped at his dirty face. Something in Liam’s heart hurt for the boy. Even if he was given food and a place to stay here, he was just another mouth needing fed. Another body. How would he receive any attention or love here?

Mrs. Hardy opened the door and looked down at the boy with a frown.

“Might you have room, mistress? This is Sheamus.”

“Would it be temporary? I’ve only a spot on the floor.” Mrs. Hardy had a big heart but unfortunately a small home and a brood of children.

“Aye. I’ll try to find him a place with someone else soon enough.”

Mrs. Hardy smiled and hugged the boy. “Very well. We’ll see you safe for now.”

Liam thanked her and turned to leave, but the boy didn’t release his hand. He bent down again. “I must get back. I’ll see you again soon.”

Sheamus said nothing. Simply put his arms around Liam’s neck and squeezed. “Thank you, sir.”

Liam hugged him back and then stood to go. He turned back once to see the boy wave. Liam needed to do something better than find the boy a place to sleep and food for his belly.

Sheamus MacKinlay needed a home.

After everything was handled with Robert, Liam turned for the castle feeling determined and hopeful. He was certain of what he needed to do and thought Ev would feel the same as he did.

He couldn’t wait another moment. Knocking on the door to the solar, all the women looked up. “Might I have a word with ye, Ev?”

She came out into the hall alone, leaving Gwennie to play with the other children. He led her to their room and closed the door.

“Is everything well? You looked so grim when you came for the laird earlier.”

“It was not an easy morning. Robert beat his wife to death.”

“Oh God. Madra.”

“He was punished for it.” Liam said sparing the details.

She rested her hand on his arm. “I’m sure that is unpleasant.”

“It’s easy enough to carry out the laird’s orders. I’m sure it weighed on Lach to give them.”

Ev nodded and wrapped her arms around him as if she knew he needed her touch to push away the darkness. He held her for a moment or so, enjoying the warmth of her body in his arms before he backed away.

“Poor Sheamus,” she said.

“The lad saw everything. I found him hiding in a corner.”

“He’s a sweet child.”

“Aye. A sweet child with no family. I thought we might bring him into ours. Give him a home.” Liam was so excited he could hardly stand still. “He and Gwennie are already friends. He could be a big brother to help protect her. I daresay I’ll need all the help I can get when she comes of age. She’s sure to be beautiful like her mother. The lads will be persistent.” He frowned at this thought.

“I am just learning my way with my own child.”

Liam didn’t like the way she’d said my, but he let that go. “I want him to be our son.”

“Because I’m not carrying. You said you’d be patient, but my courses come and you’re off to the village to find a child.” She threw her hands in the air.

“You know that’s not how it is. I thought you would be as happy to help this boy as I am. You know I wanted a big family, I just—”

“Thought you’d take on others rather than wait for me to give them to you?” He knew she’d been disappointed that she wasn’t increasing, and he’d not handled it as well as he ought, but this was not like her.

“I can see you’re not in agreement with the plan. I’ve not spoken to him about it, so he’ll not be disappointed it didn’t work out.” Liam bit his bottom lip. “But I want to know why you’re against it, because I’m surprised it was not you who made the offer before I had the chance to speak of it.”

“Liam…” She reached for him, but he stepped back.

“I want a reason we’re not to be the boy’s family.”

Tears glistened in her eyes.

“Tell me why you can’t love him.”

“It isn’t that,” she said as her shoulders slumped.

“Then tell me the reason.”

The tears escaped and she shook her head miserably. “I can’t.”

Rather than rage at her, Liam raced out of the castle and headed for the gate. He found himself roaming across the field where he’d been found all those years ago. A lost soul wandering alone. At times, he still felt that way.

He didn’t want that for the boy. He didn’t want him to grow into a person with a cold heart from a lack of love. It was clear he’d not been treated well so far. He’d seen far too much for someone so young.

Liam would have to hope some other family would take him in and give him the love he needed to grow into an honorable man. After all, the task of taking in orphans didn’t fall solely on Liam’s shoulders.

He was no savior, that much was clear.