Ailen grabbed Brenna, dragging her up from her spot by the stream. She tried to fight him, but he was much stronger than she.
“Don’t hurt her,” Helene yelled. A dirty hand covered her mouth in response.
“Keep yer mouth shut and ye’ll nae be hurt,” the smelly one said.
“What do ye want?” Brenna cried.
“We want ye.” Ailen laughed.
Brenna struggled again, trying to free herself, but Ailen had her in his iron grip. Helene did her best to stay calm. There had to be a way to at least yell loudly enough for Dougall to hear them. Where was he? Why hadn’t he come to look for them yet?
The unnamed man removed his filthy hand from her mouth just long enough to toss a rope to Ailen, who apparently intended to tie them up. With her captor’s grip loosened, Helene took the opportunity to stomp on his foot and spin out of his grasp, running towards Dougall and the men. “Dougall! Dougall! Help!” she yelled as she was tackled from behind by the smelly one. She wriggled and squirmed to get out from beneath him.
“Get off of her,” Brenna yelled. “Leave her alone.”
Helene felt herself being dragged across the ground by the ankle. She kicked with her free leg and made contact, which was followed by a loud thud to her right. She struggled unsuccessfully to see through the hair covering her eyes. Sounds of running, then a cry of pain were followed by silence and then a pair of gentle hands lifted her to her feet.
“Helene, are ye hurt?” The sound of Dougall’s voice let her know she was safe. The danger they’d been in suddenly hit her and tears began to fall. “All’s well. I’m here.” Dougall cradled her in his arms.
“Where’s Brenna?” Helene’s voice trembled and she was shaking uncontrollably.
“Logan has her,” Dougall reassured her.
“Yer fine, lass. I’ve got ye,” Logan could be heard saying to Brenna. “I chased him down and got him. He’ll nae be bothering ye ever again.”
Helene pulled away from Dougall, glancing around to see Ailen and his dirty friend dead on the ground. She gasped, covering her eyes. “Come, Helene. Dinnae give these two another thought.” He led her away and back to the horses. Logan and Brenna followed and for once, Helene noted she wasn’t trying to push him away.
That nightas they lay in each other’s arms, Dougall couldn’t believe how close he’d come to losing Helene and his sister. He’d given them both a good talking to once they’d calmed down and Brenna admitted it had been her idea to go as far as they had. He couldn’t be angry with them. It was a sad fact of life that there were people in this world who preyed upon those weaker than themselves.
“Helene, ye gave me quite the fright today,” he said.
“I’m so verra sorry, Dougall. I should never have let Brenna go as far as she did.”
“’Twas nae yer fault, love. I’m just happy ye were able to cry out for help and that we heard ye.” He held her close and vowed to himself that he’d never let any harm come to her as long as he lived.
Chapter 5
Castle Treun was easilyas large as Breaghacraig and its setting was equally as beautiful. It sat on an island connected to the mainland by a long stone bridge. When the tide was out, one could easily walk to the gates of the castle, but it would be through thick mud, with a climb up the stone embankment. As the bridge was the best way to enter, the castle was pretty well protected, with the exception of a water approach. Dougall explained that the castle lookouts always kept an eye out for approaching boats as well as anyone coming by way of land.
The MacKenzies were the actual owners of the castle and it was merely being watched over by the MacRaes, who had lived here for quite some time. They had a close and mutually beneficial alliance with the MacKenzies and despite Paddraig MacRae’s irascible side, he was a very good ally to have.
Dougall, not wanting Helene to be caught off guard, explained his father to her. “He’s not an easy man to get along with. He has a verra short temper and is easily put in a mood. Despite that, he has always been a fair man. At least with the other clan members.”
“What about with you?” Helene asked.
Dougall exchanged glances with Logan. “He’s me Da and he has always expected the verra best from me. I was never allowed to fall short.” He hoped that would put an end to those kinds of questions. “Now, shall we?”
They’d stopped just shy of the bridge, allowing Brenna and his brothers to go on ahead. He wanted Helene to have a moment to take in the castle and its surroundings, before they began moving forward again. He had a huge knot in his belly. The thought of seeing his father again wasn’t sitting well with him. He hoped bringing Helene along with him wouldn’t prove to be a terrible mistake.
The silence was broken by the clip clop of the horses’ hooves as they crossed the bridge. Once through the gate they found themselves in the midst of organized chaos inside the inner courtyard. Logan took the lead and Dougall followed along with Helene at his side.
“Dougall MacRae! As I live and breathe, I never thought to see ye again.” A middle-aged woman with a soft, pretty face emerged from a doorway as they passed.
“Aunt!” Dougall leaped from Broch’s back and was at the woman’s side in the blink of an eye. He took her in his arms and hugged her, not wishing to let her go. This was his mother’s twin sister, Saundra. They were identical and the sight of her brought tears to his eyes as fresh memories of his mother’s passing came back to hit him hard. He pulled away, taking her face in his hands. “’Tis so good to see ye.”
“Why are ye back?” Saundra asked, a wary look in her eyes.
“Father sent Logan fer me. He said I was to come immediately.”
