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SILUS MACCLURG WAS more than suspicious. He was convinced Kadick told Neil about the fire. And because it consumed his every thought these days, he hardly noticed that Nora happily went to ride behind another man. Clearly, he could see the futility in falling in love now anyway. Without thinking, Silus brought his hand up and clutched his neck. Somehow, he had always known death...when it came...would come by way of a slit throat.
In the evening, Donnahail grabbed Kadick’s hand and led her away from the others. When he came to a tree, he leaned against it and gave her his most serious look. “I have given it careful consideration and the answer is yes, I will marry you.”
“Oh that again.” She rolled her eyes and dropped his hand.
Before she could move away, he wrapped both his arms around her. “One day you may regret not listening to me, lass. I am serious now.”
She lifted her suspicious eyes to meet his. “I thank you for getting me warm, but as I have already said, I cannot marry you and that is an end to it.”
Donnahail pulled her just a little bit closer. “Why?”
“I already told you, you are too handsome to have a marked wife.”
He gently kissed her lips and watched the surprise in her expression. “Now you will tell me the real reason.”
She took a deep breath, put her hand on his shirt and began to examine the threads of it with a weaver’s eye. “No one will say what happened to my other mother; you know the one who gave birth to me. I overheard two lasses talking once. One said the mark was because my mother ate too much salt while she was with child. Another said, nay it was the turnips. Turnips it very well could be, you see, because my mark is that same purple color. But what if I...I mean to say, if I married another lad it would not matter so much, but you...”
“But you love me?”
Again she rolled her eyes. “I do not know if I love you, but I do prefer you more than any other and, well, what if I give you a son with my same mark?”
“Everyone I know eats turnips without having marked children. But if it suits you, neither of us will eat them while you are with child.”
“Or salt?”
“Well now, that is asking a bit much. We hardly ever have salt and food is so dreary without it.” He lightly kissed her again and she acted as though she didn’t notice. He wondered if he dare go farther.
“Do you truly think it could have been the salt?” she asked.
“I like Millin’s idea that you were kissed by the angels.”
“Kissy Kadick?” She slumped against him in total defeat. She should not have brought that up and deeply regretted it. It felt so good to have him hold her and what a comfort to share her deepest hurt with someone who cared. Millin used to hold her often, but it wasn’t the same. Donnahail’s arms were so warm and strong, she believed nothing in the world could ever hurt her again. Perhaps she did love him.
“Kadick.”
“What?”
“If giving up salt will convince you to marry me, then I suppose...I could...”
She giggled. “You cannot say it, can you?”
“Well ‘tis salt, after all. I would sooner give up water or even wine than salt.”
She wiggled out of his arms and started back, her voice raising a little more the farther away she got. “Come to think of it, I am not willing to give up salt either. That’s an end to it then—no marriage and no children. I feel better already.”
Donnahail closed his eyes and shook his head.
*
HIS HORSE WAS SWEATING and so was he when darkness began to fall. High humidity signaled rain that would add to the discomfort, but Brendan was worried and so pushed himself and his horse to the edge of endurance. By the time he stopped to let the horse rest, he was exhausted.
Yet he feared if he let himself sleep, he would not wake up for hours and every hour was precious. He thanked God a couple of times for the full moon, splashed water on his face and neck, and as soon as the horse looked rested, he mounted and kept going, albeit at a much slower pace in the dark.
One hour faded into the next and he was caught completely off guard when he nearly rode his horse into a small gathering of sleeping men. As quietly as he could, he backed the horse up and as soon as he was able, turned and slipped away. Thankfully, none of the Kennedys woke up.
From that time forward, he was much more alert. It would not do to get killed and never deliver his message to Walrick, nor was it a good time to die now that Greer was finally his.
*
IN THE HOUR JUST BEFORE dawn, Brendan turned the latch on Walrick’s cottage and pushed the door open a couple of inches. “Walrick?”
At the sound of the latch click, Walrick was wide-awake and already had his hand on the handle of his sword. Slowly, he eased a sleeping Steppen out of his arms and sat up. Then he got to his feet, pulled his sword and used the tip to open the door a little wider.
“‘Tis I, Brendan.”
“What?” Alarmed, Walrick set his sword down, quickly wrapped a plaid around his waist and stepped out. “What is it, what happened?” he whispered, pulling the door closed behind him.”
“They are safe, but the clan is in danger.” So tired he could hardly keep his eyes open, Brendan glanced around to make sure they were alone. “Kadick said someone tried to burn her alive before you came to live with them and the guilty were never discovered.”
“Walrick ran his hand through his tousled hair. “Why have we never heard of this?”
“That is what Neil wants to know. Kadick says she thinks it was Gelson who put the fire out.”
“But Gelson has not said a word.” He began to glance around too and then opened his door back up. He peeked in to make sure Steppen was covered and then motioned for Brendan to come inside.
Steppen’s eyes were wide in the early morning light and Walrick hurried over to ease her mind. “‘Tis not serious...at least not yet.” He quickly kissed her and then went back to sit at the table opposite Brendan. “Start at the beginning.”
Brendan did as he was told and watched the worry lines increase in Walrick’s brow. “Neil and Donnahail keep her well protected, but surely others have noticed. Neil took some of the MacClurgs with him, you know.”
“And if the MacClurgs suspect Kadick has told, then they might try to kill her again?”
“Aye, that is what I think. Neil had to make up an excuse to send me back to warn you. He said to send more MacClurg lads. The more he has with him, the less he will worry about everyone here.”
“How many days are they from home?”
I think he might wait where he is. He was worried about the Swinton clan trying to take our lasses. I made it here in one day and night, but I rode hard and had the moon to light the night. He wants you to send Gelson and not speak to him of this. He wants to know why Gelson did not mention the burning in all these months and he wants to see the lad’s eyes when he hears the answer.”
Walrick nodded. “Gelson is a good lad. I am distressed he has never said of this.” Walrick leaned back in his chair and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
“Neil wants you to tell Glenna that Donnahail has fallen in love with Kadick. Greer says Kadick is delightful and everyone loves her wit.”
“I will tell her, you need to rest.”
“I must go back with the lads. The Swintons tried to take Greer when they were on their way to England.” Brendan tried to blink away the droop of his tired eyes. “Neil said to tell Glenna to be careful, he cannot live without her.” Brendan closed his eyes again and laid his head on the table. “Fire, Walrick, fire could kill us all.”
