Despite her nap during the day’s ride, she yawned as soon as she settled the blankets over her and Alaric. ’Twas important to keep him warm. She could feel him shiver.
For a long while she lay in the darkness, watching and listening to Alaric. The fires died down but were tended through the night by the posted guards. Eventually she could keep her eyes open no longer.
As she drifted into sleep, she realized that on the morrow, she would begin a completely new chapter in her life. And she wasn’t sure quite what to make of that.
CHAPTER 7
When Keeley opened her eyes, all she could see was the broad chest of a man. Warmth surrounded her, as did two steel bands she finally figured were arms. She let out a sound of exasperation. So much for keeping her distance from Alaric McCabe. During the night he’d pulled her against him so that not even a breath separated them.
Resigned to her circumstances, she wiggled her arm between them and ran her fingers over his forehead. She frowned and pressed her lips together in worry. He was still hot. Far too hot for her liking.
She twisted and turned her head, staring up at the sky to see that it had just begun to lighten with the first shades of dawn. Around her the camp stirred and men moved quietly, readying the horses and packing the equipment.
When she caught sight of Laird McCabe, she called out softly to him. He stopped and then walked over to stand over Alaric.
“We must hasten,” she said. “He needs a warm chamber. He’ll not get better until we can see him out of this cold, damp air. His fever still burns this morning.”
“Aye, we’ll leave immediately. We aren’t far from McCabe land. We’ll have him to the keep by midmorning.”
As he walked away, Keeley relaxed against her warrior and allowed his warmth to bleed into her flesh. ’Twas a pleasurable sensation to lie in his arms. She sighed and ran her hand over his chest.
“You must get better, warrior,” she murmured. “Your kin won’t like it if I’m unable to make you well again. ’Tis the truth I’ve suffered enough trouble. I’d like very much to have a peaceful life from here on out.”
“Mistress, ’tis time to go,” Cormac said.
She twisted again to look up at the man standing over her and Alaric. She frowned when she saw his impatience. As if she’d just been content to lie about all day.
She glanced pointedly down to where Alaric’s arms circled her body and then back up at Cormac.
Soon Cormac, aided by Caelen, gently pulled Alaric away and positioned him on the litter that he’d been borne on the day before. Before Keeley could do more than push herself to her feet, she found herself tossed up to Gannon who was already astride his horse.
She huffed in irritation as she bounced against the warrior’s chest. “I do wish the lot of you would quit tossing me around like a caber. I’m more than capable of mounting a horse myself.”
Gannon grinned. “ ’Tis much quicker this way, lass. Just stay where we put you and there’ll be no trouble.”
She sent him a look of disgust before settling into the saddle for the short journey ahead.
The wind kicked up and Keeley swore she could smell snow coming. The sky was cast in gray and the clouds swelled, puffy and ready to drop their moisture at any moment.
She shivered as they rode steadily forward. Gannon pulled the blanket tighter around her with one hand while he guided his horse with the other. She clutched gratefully at the ends and pushed back against him so she could absorb his warmth.
To the side, Laird McCabe halted his horse and issued an order for Cormac to ride ahead and alert the keep of their return. Around her the cry went up from the group of warriors. They’d entered McCabe land.
“Make sure my wife stays in the keep where she belongs,” the laird ordered Cormac.
Cormac sighed wearily and the other warriors gave him looks of pity as he rode ahead.
Gannon chuckled and Keeley turned, eyeing him curiously.
Gannon shook his head. “ ’Tis an impossible task our laird has charged Cormac with, and he well knows it.”
“Is Lady McCabe not accommodating of the laird’s wishes?”
Around them several men laughed. Even Caelen wore a hint of amusement at her question.
“It would be disloyal of me to answer your question,” Gannon said solemnly.
Keeley shrugged. She knew from experience that when women were heavy with child they tended to be more headstrong. Being trapped inside the keep would probably drive any pregnant woman insane. She couldn’t fault the laird’s wife for wanting a bit of freedom now and again.
An hour later, they topped a rise, and Keeley looked down at the dark waters of a loch spread across the valley and butting into the dramatic hills. Nestled in the bend was a keep in various stages of repair, or disrepair, although it looked as if the men were working hard to rebuild the walls.
The McCabes looked as though they were on hard times. While she herself could hardly be considered wealthy, she was self-sufficient and she never went without food.
As if sensing the direction of her thoughts, the laird turned and fixed her with a steely stare.
“You will be well provided for on McCabe land. As long as you do the tasks we’ve brought you here for, you will be amply rewarded with a place to live and food on your table.”
She almost snorted. He made it sound so civilized, as if they’d hired her services. Snatching her from the warmth of her blankets at dawn could hardly be construed as an invitation.
“Will you work through the winter, Laird?” she asked as they rode down the incline toward the bridge that led over the loch and into the courtyard of the keep.
Ewan didn’t respond. His attention was focused ahead, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. It was as though he was looking for someone.
As they neared the bridge, Keeley could see inside the stone wall. Warriors gathered, concern etched on their faces. Behind them, women and children also gathered, silent and waiting.
When they rode into the courtyard, Ewan frowned, and he let out a great sigh. Keeley followed his gaze to where a visibly pregnant woman hurried past the warriors standing at attention. Another man followed closely on her heels, his expression haggard.
“Ewan!” the woman cried. “What has happened to Alaric?”
Ewan dismounted just as the woman reached the litter. “Mairin, you were instructed to remain inside the keep. Not only is it cold out here, it isn’t safe.”
Mairin raised her gaze to Ewan and frowned just as ferociously as he was scowling at her. “You must bring him inside so we can tend to him. He doesn’t look well!”
“I’ve brought along someone who will care for him,” Ewan soothed.
Mairin turned sharply to survey the riders who were slowly dismounting around Keeley. Then Mairin’s gaze rested on Keeley and her eyebrows went up in surprise. Her eyes narrowed and a thoughtful frown spread across her face.
“Is she qualified to tend to Alaric’s injuries?”
At that, Keeley’s back went up and she struggled to free herself from Gannon’s hold. He lifted her down and as soon as her feet were planted on the ground, she faced Mairin with an indignant huff.
“I’ll have you know I’m sought out regularly for my healing abilities. Furthermore, I had no desire to come with Laird McCabe. I wasn’t given a choice! Am I qualified? Certainly. But the question that should be posed is whether I’m willing to tend to Alaric’s wounds.”
Mairin blinked and her mouth fell open. Her brows drew together in confusion just before she rounded on her husband who was glaring holes through Keeley.
“Ewan? Is this true? You abducted this woman?”
Ewan’s lips twisted in a snarl. He pointed at Keeley and advanced. Keeley clamped her legs together to keep her knees from knocking. She wouldn’t show fear even if she was terrified to her toes.
“You will address Lady McCabe with respect. You have two choices. You can accept your fate or you can die. And if you ever show my wife such blatant disrespect again, you’ll regret it. I have no time for petulance. My brother’s life is hanging in the balance. You will tend to him and you’ll not begrudge your duty. Are we clear?”
Keeley’s lips tightened into a line and she bit her tongue to prevent herself from saying what she really wanted. Instead she issued a short nod.
Mairin glanced between Keeley and her husband, clearly befuddled. “Ewan, you can’t just abduct this woman. What of her home? Her family? Surely there’s another way.”
Ewan placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder, but Keeley didn’t miss the gentleness in his gesture. Why, his face even softened. He truly did love her.
Keeley wanted to sigh but held it in.
“While we stand here arguing, Alaric worsens. Go and hurry. Have his chamber prepared so my men might carry him in. Keeley will have need of supplies. Make sure the women give her what she needs for Alaric’s care. She’ll also have need of a chamber. Give her the one next to Alaric so that she will be close at all times.”
There was clear exasperation in his voice, but his expression completely belied it.
Mairin tossed one last look Keeley’s way, and her eyes darkened with regret. Keeley could swear there was an unspoken apology in her gaze. Then Mairin turned and hurried into the keep, shouting for Maddie.
As soon as his wife was gone, Ewan rounded on Keeley, his expression black.
“You will obey me without question, and you will do everything in your power to aid both Alaric and my lady wife when her time is here.”
Keeley swallowed and nodded.
Ewan turned his back dismissively on her and motioned for his men to carry Alaric inside the keep. For a moment she stood there dumbly, unsure of what she was supposed to do.
Gannon nudged her elbow and gestured for her to follow the men inside. He remained just a step behind her all the way up the winding, narrow staircase. He pulled her back to stand outside the chamber door until the men who’d carried Alaric filed back out. Then Gannon ushered her forward.
Mairin and another older woman stood by the fire that blazed in the hearth. The room was still chilled so the fire had just been laid. Ewan stood by Alaric’s bed and he motioned impatiently for Keeley.
“Give an accounting of what supplies you need to Maddie. See to his wound and make sure the stitches haven’t torn.”
She bit her tongue again, tempted to snap back at him that she knew well how to do her duty without him instructing her. Instead she gave a crisp nod and shoved past him to where Alaric lay.
She cupped her palm over his forehead, heartened by the fact he didn’t feel quite as hot as he did earlier. Of course being exposed to the much cooler air outside had probably done the deed, and now that he was within the warmer confines of his chamber, she had to concern herself with his fever worsening.
“Will he recover?” Mairin asked fearfully.
Keeley turned to the laird’s wife. “Aye. I’ll not have it any other way.”
The woman beside Mairin raised her brows. “You’re young to be so arrogant, lass.”
“Arrogant?” Keeley was honestly surprised by the other woman’s assessment. “I’ve never considered myself arrogant. Not when other’s lives depend on me. I find what I do very humbling. I fear all the time that I’ll be unable to provide the care that is needed. But I’m stubborn—not arrogant. I refuse to allow someone to suffer if ’tis within my power to prevent it.”
Mairin smiled and closed the distance between them. She grasped Keeley’s hands and squeezed. “Whether ’tis arrogance or confidence, I care naught. I only care that when I look at you, I see such determination in your eyes that I know you’ll not allow Alaric to die. For that I thank you, mistress. You’ll have my undying gratitude if you set Alaric to rights.”
Keeley’s cheeks warmed at the other woman’s praise. “Please. Do call me Keeley.”
“And you must call me Mairin.”
Keeley shook her head. “Oh nay, my lady. It wouldn’t do. And your laird wouldn’t like it one bit.”
Mairin chuckled. “Ewan’s bark is much worse than his bite. He can be gruff and growly, but he truly is a fair man.”
Keeley arched one brow at the other woman.
Mairin flushed. “What he did was reprehensible. I can’t imagine what he was thinking. Perhaps concern for Alaric blinded him to all else.”
“I imagine his concern for you had something to do with it,” Keeley said dryly.
“Me?”
Keeley’s gaze dropped to Mairin’s swollen belly. “He intends that I remain to deliver your babe.”
“Oh dear,” Mairin murmured. “The man is addled. He cannot go about abducting people because he fears for my safety. ’Tis madness.”
Keeley smiled. “ ’Tis a good husband who worries for his wife. I find after meeting you, I don’t have an aversion to remaining for the winter to see your child safely born.”
“You’ve a kind heart, Keeley,” Maddie interjected. “We have need of a good healer. Lorna passed on some weeks ago and the laird, while skilled with a needle, has no knowledge of herbs and poultices. He has no experience with childbirth either.”