* * *
At last, the men got to them and pulled away the timbers and slabs of stone. Angus stood and helped Shona to her feet, then shook their rescuers’ hands. When she swayed, he wrapped her in his arms, fearful she would fall. “How are ye, lass?”
“I’m…I’ll be well…I just need a moment.”
She didn’t sound well. She sounded hesitant and confused, much as she’d been while they still were trapped. Being trapped had been bad enough for him. For a delicate lass it must have been utterly terrifying. She’d endured it bravely, but now that they were free, reaction would set in.
He shook off the thought and went about getting them out of the way of the rescuers. They were free and safe, and there was still some daylight left to search the rest of the ruin of the great hall. “Come, lass,” he told her gently, urging her forward with a hand around her waist. It was good he had a grip on her because she immediately tripped over a head-sized rock at her feet. Angus kept her from falling.
“Sorry…” she muttered and took a hesitant sliding step forward.
“Ye must still be fashed. Lean on me. Or better yet…” Angus scooped her up. When she didn’t object, but merely heaved a great sigh, he carried her out of the rubble.
“Please, dinna take me too far,” she said.
He looked for a comfortable place to leave her so he could join the searchers in clearing the debris.
A shout went up, then a name on a cry of rage and grief. “Magnus!”
Angus flinched and heard Shona whisper, “Och, nay,” so softly he almost missed it.
The men must have found a body.
Angus set Shona down on a stump near where other victims of the collapse had been gathered. “I’m sorry, but I must leave ye here.”
She shook her head, slightly. “Go. I’ll be fine. Do what ye can for the rest.”
Angus stepped away from her as Craig arrived and began examining a lad with a broken arm. Shona, sitting nearby, paid the healer no attention.
Despite the urge to stay with her, Angus went back to the ruins of the hall and joined the men working to clear away debris from Magnus’s body. Angus groaned when he saw the condition of the man’s lower leg. Crushed. Then Magnus’s chest rose and fell. He was alive. Unconscious, which was a blessing, but breathing. Still, Angus doubted Craig could save him. If Healer Aileana’s gift was real, he might yet live, even walk again. But Angus couldn’t help recalling his brother’s last day, when Craig and Aileana sat vigil over his too-still form, powerless to help. Jaw clenched, he called for Craig, fully aware the man could do little for this victim.
Craigtskedwhen he saw the damage. “’Twould be best to cut off the limb now, while he’s in a swoon. If he wakes, his screams will wake the dead.”
Brodric arrived to hear the last and shook his head. “Do what ye can for him, but no’ that. Aileana may be able to do more.”
“Like she did for my brother?” Angus demanded, grief and rage welling up, yet again. Then he clamped down on both emotions—hard. They were all as tired and heartsick over this disaster as he. Venting his anguish would help no one.
“This is different,” Brodric insisted.
“Mayhap,” Craig interjected, his tone making his doubts plain.
“If ye cut off his leg and he lives, what kind of life will he have? Dinna do it,” Brodric insisted. “Wait for the healer.”
Angus had heard enough. “Do what ye can until she arrives,” he said and left them after motioning for the others to continue the search. It took two more hour’s hard work before he was satisfied there were no more victims in the remains of the great hall. God had been with them today. Several hurt, but none had died…yet. Craig had even devised a stretcher and moved Magnus, still unconscious, over with the others, so he could care for more of the victims at the same time.
Shona remained where he’d left her, though she’d moved off the stump and sat on the ground with it at her back. He alternated between monitoring Craig’s progress with the injured, checking to see what the men were doing to begin the task of clearing away the rubble, and watching Shona’s hands make small, telling movements. A vision of Aileana, hands poised over Gregor’s body, came to him, forcing him to accept the possibility Shonawashelping the men shift their heavy burdens.
Or she just thought she was.
Angus ran a filthy hand through his hair. Time to get to the bottom of this. Shona heard him coming and stilled before he reached her. One of the men behind him grunted and complained, “Damn it, ye oafs, who let go? This rock just got twice as heavy!” That complaint, added to others he’d heard but ignored while they were still trapped, removed the last of Angus’s doubts.
“Shona, can ye walk with me? I’d like to ask ye some questions.”
Her head moved from side to side, slowly, as if she was still in great pain. “I dinna think so.”
“Verra well, I’ll join ye here.” After a quick glance around to ensure no one remained in earshot, he settled beside her. “If we keep our voices down, no one will hear what we say,” he added as he noticed her frown.
“Do we have secrets to share?” Her gaze seemed focused on the ruined hall.
