Laird of the Mist Read online

  ―I think the Sasunnach have gone,‖ Carrick whispered to them.―Ye stay put while I go and look,‖ he told them, crawling back from the hedge, a bloody tear in his shirt from the plants.

  ―Aye,‖ Hamish whispered.―We will stay,‖ he agreed. Olivia was quiet with terror and merely nodded.

  With precision and stealth, Carrick made his way toward the house. He hid behind vegetation and rocks as he went, his arm aching for a sword and his hand twitching for a pistol.

  ―Cat!‖ He bolted from the shadows toward her. She had recovered enough to attend to Ian, who was still face down on the bloody ground.

  ―Carrick?‖ Cat rose to meet him.―Thank God ye‘ve come!‖ she cried, throwing her arms around him. ―Oh, thank God,‖ she sobbed into his shoulder.

  Carrick held her tight for a moment, then drew back in alarm to look at her.―Ye are bloody, Cat. Where are ye hurt?‖

  ―Not me,‖ she said with urgency.―Ian. We have to help Ian. Did grandda come with ye?‖

  ―Aye, Caitriona, I‘m here,‖ Hamish said as he and Olivia stepped forward. ―Let me take a wee look at him.‖ Hamish knelt beside Ian and began to triage him. Cat had done a fine job using torn strips of wool about his ankles to staunch the bleeding. But the wounds were deep and would need great care if he was to survive.

  ―Who did this to ye?‖ Carrick saw her horribly swollen eye first thing. Anger swelled in him like the fires of hell.

  ―Captain Camden hit me, then cut Ian‘s ankles.‖ Cat could barely say the soldier‘s name.

  ―Caldwell Camden?‖ Carrick repeated.―The one from the castle who tried to take ye?‖

  ―Aye, Carrick, ‗twas he,‖ Cat answered, her mind on what her grandfather was doing with Ian. ―Please, let‘s discuss it later. We must tend to Ian. Please.‖

  ―Just so,‖ Carrick answered her with an arm around her waist and drew her back to him to await Hamish‘s verdict.

  Hamish pulled a stethoscope from his canvas bag and listened.―His heart is strong,‖ he announced with relief.

  ―But Anne,‖ Cat interrupted urgently.―I think Camden murdered her by the barn. You must see to her.‖

  ―I‘ll go,‖ Hamish volunteered.―Just keep him warm. He‘s stable for now,‖ he instructed as he left in haste.

  Hamish was gone only a few minutes. He answered Carrick‘s questioning expression with a slight shake of his head.―No,‖ he answered softly.―She‘s gone.‖

  ―She‘s dead?‘ Cat began to tremble again.―Oh God, no!‘ Tears ran fresh down her face as she tried to pull herself together.

  ―Nothing ye can do for her, lass,‖ Carrick said, sorrow welling within him for the lost girl. ―Ian needs us now.‖

  Cat nodded and drew herself up. ―Ye‘re right. What do we do, grandda?‖

  ―Carrick, help me get him into the house. He‘s lost a great deal of blood and I will need to stitch him. Cat and Olivia, go and set water to boil and find some linen.‖ Hamish quickly directed them, so as not to call attention to Anne. He had, in fact, been so intent on Ian and Anne, that he finally noticed Cat‘s swollen face. ―Caitriona - your face...‖

  ―I‘m fine, grandda.‖ Cat had forgotten her own pain. Resolutely taking Olivia by the hand, she started toward the house.―No need to worry about me, just take care of Ian.‖ Then to Carrick, ―What about the barn?‖

  ―Let it burn,‖ he answered, looking at the sky.―The walls are stone and it‘s going to rain any road.‖

  Cat nodded in answer and tugged Olivia along with her.

  ―Where d‘ye want to put him?‖ Carrick asked as they carried Ian into the hall.

  ―Have ye a large table?‖ Hamish asked.

  ―This way.‖ Carrick nodded, leading them into the dining room. Light from the moon and fire lit the room in gloomy amber. All was intact, though. The soldiers had not touched a thing.

  As they lay Ian on the table, Cat rushed in with linen, followed by Olivia with lit oil lamps.

  ―It will be a few minutes for the water,‖ Cat said, placing the cloths on the table.―They ransacked the kitchen, but everything else looks fine,‖ she reported.―It‘s as if something distracted them in the kitchen...oh…,‖ Cat‘s heart sank.―Anne,‖ she said, tears welling anew.

  ―Aye, Cat.‖ Carrick looked up from adjusting a blanket around Ian‘s torso.―She‘s gone, may she be at peace.‖

  ―Oh.‖ The shock of it caused Cat‘s heart to pound vehemently.

  ―Where is Molly?‖ Carrick was concerned by his mother‘s absence.

  ―Safe in the herdsman‘s shelter with Morag,‖ she answered him, setting candles on the sideboard to increase the light.

  ―Good.‖ Carrick was relieved.―We will go to them in the morning.‖

  ―Here, grandda.‖ Olivia set a tray with two large bowls of steaming water on the sideboard.―What next?‖ She was still shaken.

  Hamish began to thoroughly wash his hands.―Find some alcohol, aye?‖ he told her.―And more lamps if ye can.‖

  ―Right,‖ she said and hurried from the room.

  ―I‘ll need ye to hold him should he wake,‖ Hamish instructed Carrick.―I have the ether, but will use it only if I must.‖ Then to Cat, ―Carrick will assist me, lass. Go see to yer sister and then perhaps put a fire in the sitting room. He‘ll need warmth when I‘m finished.‖

  ―Aye.‖ Cat stood for a moment watching her grandfather‘s gentle hand wash the dried blood from Ian‘s legs.

  ―Go, lass,‖ he urged.―Finish the tasks and take yer sister to sit away from here. The shock has got her.‖

  Silently, Cat nodded to Hamish and Carrick and went to find Olivia, as she murmured prayers of gratitude and desperation.

  ― I did my best.‖ Hamish sank into the soft chair, clearly exhausted.―Now we will have to wait and keep a close eye on him. He‘ll need watching through the night, aye?‖

  ―It‘s fine, grandda,‖ Olivia answered softly as she sat down next to Ian‘s inert figure on the sofa.―I‘ll stay with him.‖

  ―Thank ye, lad.‖ Hamish gratefully received a glass of whisky from Carrick.―I gave him an injection of penicillin for infection and laudanum for pain. I pray they will do. The penicillin is veterinary medicine.‖

  ―Why veterinary?‖ Cat asked between sips of her own whisky. It warmed her and soothed the pain in her face.

  ―I havena license to prescribe since I retired,‖ Hamish regretfully sighed.―So I bought veterinary from a feed shop.‗Twas the best I could do in so short a time.‖

  ―I‘m sure it will be fine, grandda,‖ Cat assured him with a pat on his arm.

  ―How did ye light the fire so quick, ye wee pixie?‖ Hamish looked at Olivia suspiciously. He had prohibited them from bringing twenty-first century items unless deemed absolutely necessary for emergencies.

  ―I - uh - I brought a couple of lighters.‖ Olivia looked sheepish.―I‘m sorry, grandda. I just thought they might be important. I‘ll keep them hidden, I promise.‖

  ―Aye, well,‖ Hamish relented.―It seems ye were right in this case. Do keep them hidden away unless I tell ye, right?‖

  ―Right,‖ Olivia answered.―I just thought it couldn‘t do much harm if we are only here a short while.‖

  ―It seems we will be here a long while,‖ Hamish said thoughtfully.―We canna leave while wee Ian is so poorly, and as I told ye before, there is no guarantee we can go back. Ye must learn to do things in the fashion they do now, ye hear?‖

  ―I hear.‖ Olivia nodded.―I‘ll try.‖

  ―Fine then.‖ Hamish relaxed a bit and looked up at Carrick.―Thank ye for yer fine assistance, Carrick. Ye did a right fair job.‖

  ―I never saw such a thing,‖ Carrick spoke up from his place next to Cat.―Injections? The fine stitching? Ye saved my brother and I am most grateful to ye. Will he walk d‘ye think?‖

  ―‗Tis possible. They did not sever his Achilles, so he should. It will be slow for him for a time, at least,‖ Hamish answered, looking at Cat‘s still swollen
face.―Caitriona, I must tend to ye now.‖

  ―I‘m really fine, grandda,‖ she protested.―I washed it clean and the whisky is helping the pain.‖

  ―Oh, aye,‖ Carrick reproved her.―Why was your face bloody then, when I first saw ye?‖

  ―Oh that,‖ she sputtered. She knew Carrick would be even more furious when she told him, but how could she not?―Camden - he - he tried to take up where he left off that night at the castle,‖ she explained.

  ―He tried to force his mouth on ye?‖ Carrick began to rise from his chair.

  ―Sit down, Carrick,‖ she said firmly.―He did. Ian hit him on the head with a tree branch and I bit his lip verra badly.‗Tis where the blood came from.‖

  ―Ye bit him and tasted his blood?‖ Hamish was instantly alarmed.―Nay, lass. Ye must have antibiotic immediately.‖

  ―‗Tis nothing.‖ Cat tried to wave him off.

  ―Oh aye, nothing.‖ Hamish was indignant.―A soldier‘s blood full of God-knows-what infections? Nay, lass, ye shall have the injection if Carrick has to hold ye down.‖

  ―Aye, Cat, I will.‖ Carrick stood staunchly before her, arms folded across his chest.―Do what yer grandda tells ye.‖

  ―Fine,‖ she said hotly.―Go ahead. Ye know how I hate those damned needles. Just do it quick,‖ she spat, rolling up her sleeve.

  Hamish retrieved his bag and began rubbing her arm with the alcohol swabs he had brought. He filled the syringe and injected the penicillin.

  ―No so bad, was it?‖ Hamish smiled at her softly.―Much ado, aye?‖

  ―Only because of yer gentle touch, grandda.‖ She hugged his neck.―Ye should get some rest now.‖

  ―I‘ll no argue with ye, Cat.,‖ Hamish yawned.―But first, I need to examine ye a wee bit. Look straight at me, Cat.‖

  Hamish picked up a nearby candle and shined it in her eyes. He set it down and felt around her face and head. Cat knew better than to argue at this point and sat still for him.

  ―No concussion, nothing broken,‖ he said at last.―I was worried as ye said ye lost consciousness.‖

  ―I did,‖ Cat answered him, sitting back in the chair.―But I didna think it was for long.‖

  ―Well, other than the nasty bruises and swelling, ye seem to be fine.‖ Hamish stood and smiled at her. ―We‘ll keep a watch on ye all the same, aye?‖

  ―Aye, that‘s fine. Come then.‖ She rose and entwined her arm in his.―Let me take ye upstairs and show ye where to sleep. Be right back,‖ she said to Carrick and Olivia as they left

  .

  Olivia was still sitting by Ian‘s side sipping her whisky from time to time. He has a beautiful face..

  She reached over and gently touched his auburn curls, thick yet soft.

  A scattering of freckles dotted his face. Faery kisses, she recalled from childhood. She had had a few

  freckles on her nose as a child. When teased by her school friend, Emilia, her grandma told her that each

  freckle was where a faery had kissed her. Emilia, who had no freckles, began to cry.―Why don‘t the faeries

  ever kiss me?‖ she whined. The faeries must truly love Ian, she smiled to herself, hoping they were watching

  over him now.

  ―How are ye feeling, Olivia?‖ Carrick broke her reverie.―Are ye up to the task, or would ye like some

  sleep?‖ He sat down next to her and refilled her glass from the decanter.

  ―I‘m fine, thank you, Carrick.‖ She took a sip.―This must be terrible for you, finding your brother like

  this.‖

  ―It is no easy, true,‖ he agreed, warming his glass between his hands.―I ha‘ always tried to protect

  him, but I failed him now.‖

  ―Cat‘s always trying to protect me, too.‖ She touched his arm in sympathy.―But I mostly wish she

  wouldn‘t. She can‘t protect me all the time, you know. She has to live her own life, and I‘ll bet Ian feels the

  same about you.‖

  ―Mayhap.‖ He nodded, thinking it over.―I hope he lives long enough for me to ask him.‖ ―He will,‖ Cat reassured him from the door.―He‘ll be fine. Grandda is an excellent surgeon, even

  under these circumstances. I have complete faith in him. At least I got him to bed, thank heavens.‖ She sat

  with the others and stretched out her legs.

  ―If ye two will excuse me.‖ Carrick rose and reached for an oil lamp.―I must go look for Anne.

  Hamish found her behind the barn, aye?‖

  ―I‘m going with ye.‖ Cat jumped to her feet.

  ―Cat.‖ He grabbed her shoulders.―Ye should stay with Olivia. What I find mayna be pleasant for ye.‖ ―She was my responsibility,‖ Cat argued.―I‘m going with ye.‖

  ―Well, if you‘re going out there...‖ Olivia grabbed her bag and dug through it.―You should take my

  flashlight, not a lamp. Here, I‘m glad I thought to bring it. Don‘t have a lot of batteries, though.‖ She

  extended it to Carrick.―And don‘t tell grandda!‖

  ―Olivia.‖ Cat sighed in exasperation.―Please dinna tell me ye brought yer iPod?‖ ―Well, I...‖

  ‗No.‖ Cat put up a hand to stop her, momentarily allowing her Highland accent to slip. ―I don‘t want

  to hear it. And if you did bring it, you‘d best not let grandda catch you or he will redden your bum, you brat.‖ ―Okay.‖ Olivia blushed, recalling the spankings she deservedly received as a child.―Here, Carrick.‖

  She was still holding the flashlight out to him.―Take this at least.‖

  Carrick set down the lamp and took the flashlight. He had been enamored with it from the first,

  wearing out several sets of batteries before he was satisfied.

  ―Thank ye, Olivia,‖ he said.―Verra helpful.‖

  ―Just sit there, aye?‖ Cat commanded her sister, recovering her speech.―We dinna ken how

  dangerous it may be, so dinna go wandering. Just sit until we return.‖

  ―Oh, aye,‖ Olivia replicated Cat‘s accent, remembering that she was supposed to speak in the same

  manner.―I shan‘t leave Ian.‖

  ―Good lass,‖ Carrick said over his shoulder as he led Cat out, flashlight showing the way. ―I wish ye hadna come.‖ Carrick tightened his hold on Cat‘s arm.―‗Tis no place for ye, Cat.‖ ―I‘ve seen blood before,‖ she replied.

  They had gone halfway round what was left of the scorched barn. The rain had come and the fire

  extinguished, leaving a charred ruin; roof open to the sky. As they reached the back corner, Carrick put out a

  hand to stop Cat.

  ―Stay,‖ he ordered.―I see her. I‘ll go.‖ Carrick made his way to Anne‘s limp form laying a few feet

  away.

  ―Oh, my God.‖ Cat stood behind him, holding her stomach.―Oh, Anne,‖ she whispered at the sight of

  the lifeless girl drenched in blood and rain. Her throat had been cleanly and deeply cut, and her clothes torn

  into ragged pieces.

  ―I told ye to stay.‖ Carrick turned to Cat, who was doing her best not to vomit.―I do wish ye‘d listen,

  Caitriona.‖

  ―I‘m sorry,‖ she managed.―I didna ken...I didna imagine.‖

  ―Ye‘re in my time now,‖ he admonished her.―Ye dinna see much of this in yers, I ken. This land has

  been at war since its beginning and‗tis a tragedy that we ha‘ seen too much of it. Now go to yer sister. I will

  take care of the body and we shall have a proper burial in the morn, aye?‖

  ―Aye,‖ Cat answered quietly.―I‘m so sorry,‖ she said to ―Anne‘s greycorpse.―I‘m so terribly sorry.‖

  With a remorseful look at Carrick, Cat turned away and headed back to the house. She was the reason for

  Anne‘s hideous death. She was the reason they were all here in this brutal time. Would this nightmare ever

  end? And, more importantly, could she ever forgive herself?

&nbs
p; ― Are ye awake, Cat?‖ Carrick whispered, as he pulled her closer to him in the warm bed.―I thought I heard ye say something.‖

  Cat turned in his arms, careful not to brush her bruises against the pillow.―Aye, Carrick. I canna sleep. And ye?‖

  ―No. My mind willna stop. And I find I have a thing I must say to ye.‖ He released her and sat with the headboard against his back.―I pray ye willna take offense.‖

  ―Go on.‖ Cat rose up on her elbow.―I‘m listening.‖

  ―I am concerned for ye.‖ He stared across the room at the banked embers in the grate.―Ye dinna ken how it is here, in this time. Ye dinna ken the dangers. Ye must do as I tell ye.‗Tis for yer own well-being, aye?‖

  Cat thought a moment. She was so used to doing everything on her own, without anyone‘s approval or permission. But hadn‘t she learned a valuable lesson tonight?

  ―I suppose yer right,‖ she admitted.―I am sorry. I am so used to doing things for myself and alone. I didna mean to be reckless. I will listen to ye, I promise.‖

  Carrick sighed and pulled her into his arms again.―In the morn, I wish to hear the story of how ye came here and the events this night. But for the now, believe me when I tell ye that I dinna think ye reckless. In yer time ye have no the dangers as here. Ye are as independent as a cat, as ye are aptly named. I ask ye for yer trust, Caitriona, and to remember ye are no alone anymore, aye?‖

  Cat‘s heart melted at the words of her protector, warrior, and partner.

  ―Aye, Carrick. I am no alone,‖ she answered, snuggling deeper into him. ―And neither are ye.‖

  Low moans of pain woke Olivia in the chair where she slept. Where am I? she thought, as she rose through the fog in her brain. ―Carrick,‖ the moan called and instantly brought her awake. That‘s right, she remembered. Ian.

  ― It‘s okay.‖ She leaned over to look at him.―I‘m here,‖ she whispered, not certain he could hear, but offering comfort. She touched his damp forehead and smoothed the hair from his brow. He must have broken a fever, she decided. A good sign. She lightly drew her fingers down his cheek, unable to resist touching him.