Page 189 of Claimed Highland Brides

LOOSE ENDS

Daividh led his team through the marsh by the side of the road, using the grass as cover in case Gilroy had men posted on the road, waiting to see if Barclay had backup. He had a bad feeling about the whole arrangement. What he knew of Gilroy was that the man was dishonest and disingenuous. It was clear from the dishonorable way he was choosing to conduct himself.

He remained alert and watchful, ready for anything.

Suddenly a man darted out from between two bushes and took off. Daividh immediately signaled for two of his men to go after him. Meanwhile, he quickened his pace to the cottage in case that man taking off was some sort of signal.

As he came closer, he heard shouting and broke into a run. The door of the cottage was bolted shut and locked with a chain. It would take some time to break it open.

“Barclay? Aileen?” he called out.

“Daividh! Thank heavens. Get us out of here! Aileen has been bitten by a snake. Be careful out there. It went out the window.”

“Window?” Daividh immediately began to circle the cottage until he found the open space. He peered into the room to see that Aileen’s gown was pulled up almost to her waist and her leg was bare. Barclay was crouching over her.

Quickly he whipped his head out of the room. “Oh!” he shouted in surprise and embarrassment. “Is this really the time for tha’? Can ye no’ wait until ye’re home?”

“Wha’?” Barclay looked around in puzzlement. “What are ye on aboot? Please, Daividh, we dinnae have time to waste. She is poisoned!”

“Och aye?” Daividh risked another look. “Ye mean on her leg then?”

“Aye.”

Daividh nodded. “I’ll send one o’ my men for a healer while I get the door open.”

“Aye, thanks. Please, hurry!”

Daividh hurried back to the door, examining the lock closely. He had several weapons on his person, including a small ax. He extracted this and proceeded to swing at the chain, over and over, while Simon kept an eye out, and one of his men ran to where they hid the horses so that he could ride hell for leather, to find a healer.

It took an excruciatingly long time before the chain cracked, and they were able to open the door. Daividh was the first through, getting to his knees beside his sister-in-law and staring worriedly at the wound on her leg, which had swelled to almost twice its size.

He and Barclay exchanged worried glances, watching the sweat pour down Aileen’s face in unending rivulets with fear. Daividh shot to his feet. “I’ll get some water and a cloth. We can make her comfortable, at least.”

He walked out, searching for a well, and was in time to hear approaching hoofbeats. Hand on his sword, he whirled around to see the man they’d sent for a healer riding back, accompanied by a second horse.

“That was fast,” Daividh said even as he sighed with relief. He was not surprised to see that it was Aifric who accompanied his soldier.

“I felt something was wrong. Where is she?”

Daividh pointed to the cottage with his chin. The soldier—Peter Farrell, one of Simon’s deputies—came to stand beside him. “I found her at the inn, waiting for me. She simply asked me who was hurt.”

Daividh nodded. “She seems to have an instinct for it.”

“Is it magic d’ye think?”

Daividh looked at the deputy and smiled. “I dinnae think. I just thank the heavens she’s there when we need her. I leave the believing to the church folk, ye ken?”

“Aye.”

They followed the healer into the hut, where they found her reassuring Barclay. “Ye did a good job o’ sucking oot the poison. In any case, if ’twas an adder as ye say, they rarely kill full-grown adults.”

Barclay’s brow furrowed further rather than clearing. “But they can?”

Aifric shook her head. “We wilnae let it. Now hush and let me work.”

Barclay moved away to give her room. “Please save her. I shall be in yer debt forever if ye do.”

Aifric waved him away. “No need for tha’. Now hush.”