Lucas watched in terror as his wife rushed the Commander. The gut-wrenching cry that came from him as Evans cast her to the ground was all the MacGille men needed to hear before chaos broke. He was immediately released from the hold Evans’s men had on him. He looked briefly behind him as Magnus and old Calum battled the two, giving his friends a nod of thanks he turned all his focus onto Evans.

Everything slowed, blood pounded in his ears. His breath became heated in anticipation of battle. Evans towered over Ella’s body as Lucas rushed him, sword raised. Lucas leapt into the air and brought his blade down on the man’s neck with amazing force and speed.

Evans opened his mouth, but if he let out a cry of pain, Lucas wasn’t able to hear over his own pain and rage. This time he was not too far away to intervene as Evans tried to destroy another person Lucas loved. He grabbed the man by the collar and spun him away from Ella’s listless form. He had no way of knowing if Ella was alive or dead. The puddle of blood forming behind her head was all the focus he needed. Lucas quickly raised his sword again, this time pushing the blade through Evans at his center watching as the life drained from the bastard’s eyes. It was done.

Dropping Evans to the ground, he rushed to Ella’s side. “Please lass,” he whispered. “Stay with me, please.” He felt her chest and she was still breathing. That was good. Ripping his shirt away from his body, he wrapped the wound on her head. Milly came rushing over and knelt beside Lucas. She pushed him out of the way as she examined Ella.

“Run and get Violet,” she said to Kelly who was quick approaching. “We need tae get Ella inside tae a bed. Magnus will need tae help.”

“No I will lift her,” Lucas said. He would be damned before he let anyone touch Ella besides him.

“Nay, ye need tae deal with Evans’s men!” His limbs were like jelly, he knew not which direction to move. Evans’s men be damned, all he cared about at the moment was Ella. “Ye are th’ Laird!” Milly said, slapping him hard across the cheek. “Ye need tae be in charge. We’ll take care of the lass.”

Lucas could only nod. “She is my world, Milly, my whole world.”

“Don’t ye worry brother, I ken.”

He rose and moved quickly to the wall that surrounded the keep. The gates were open, which he thought was odd—Evans had said his men surrounded the keep. He was primed for battle. Not one of the English soldiers would survive this day. They should be pouring in, but when he climbed the first turret, he was surprised to see no one outside the gates and young Mattie sitting on top of a stone lookout, swinging his legs in boredom.

“What dae ye see lad?”

“I was hopin’ for a battle, Laird,” the boy said. “But there were no men here. I think the bastard came alone with just the two my da already got.”

“Aye, looks like it, what of th’ other clansmen, did they have any trouble?”

“Nay, everyone says th’ same. We were ready tae fight, but nothin’.” Lucas looked down at the disappointed boy. He remembered being young and itching for a fight. But now he was relieved, Evans had come with just the two- it was an illusion. He wondered what of his other men. He remembered how the soldiers in the barn had speculated Evans had gone mad—maybe he had lost his commission, stuck out on his own to claim Ella. Ella… The pit in his stomach grew, he quickly bid Mattie farewell, and asked him to close the gates and keep lookout just in case. He had to get to Ella.

It had been two or maybe three hours since Lucas made it to Ella’s bedside, and there had been no change. He had lost track of all time. The day had turned dark, and night had fallen. The wound on her head had stopped bleeding, and it didn’t look deep, which was good. But she was still unconscious. Not a movement or a moan stirred her.

The room had been busy, first Magnus came in and told him the two men who came with Evans and Edina were all placed into cells in the keep’s dungeon to be dealt with at a later time. The men confirmed Evans had sold out his commission, offering instead to split the bounty for any Jacobite soldiers with any man who stayed with him. The men, thinking they would be able to make their fortunes if Evans was right, took the chance. They were the only two.

“And ye think they are tellin’ the truth?” Lucas asked, not caring one way or another. He would see them both hanged for their role in Ella’s injuries. Edina as well. There was no way to reform her thinking now, and he wouldn’t allow her to draw breath and potentially harm Ella again.

“Aye, I see no signs of any more trouble.”

“Good, that’s good.” More time passed. At some point in the evening his mother arrived. She offered a prayer over Ella, and took Lucas’s hand in her own. They didn’t need words. His mother knew the pain he felt. They sat in silence, then she was gone.

It was the maid Violet, Milly, and Kelly that caused Lucas to hit his limit.

“She hurt her head verra badly my Laird.” Lucas barely registered the words Violet was speaking. He looked at Ella, asleep on their bed. She looked like an angel. He lifted her delicate hand and brought it to his lips. She was so warm.

“Is there anything ye can give her tae make her wake up?” Milly asked. Violet shrugged her shoulders.

“Her ladyship had only just begun tae teach me th’ herbs. I’m not sure what will help and what will hurt.” The girl burst into a fresh round of tears. Lucas was tired of tears, he wanted action. Someone had to help him fix Ella.

“When I was sick, before I came back tae th’ keep, Ella gave me a tea. She thought it would help tae wake me. Dammit what was the herb!” He wracked his brain trying to think of what Ella had put in that disgusting, bitter tea. She had forced it down his throat so many times, he thought he would never be rid of acrid taste.

Finally it dawned on him. “Willow bark, she used willow bark! I ken what it looks like, she pointed it out on a walk. It grows near here. I can get it, we can make Ella the tea.” He made to leave the room, but Kelly put her hand on his arm to stop him. Her head shaking. The look on her face filled with sadness.

“Why not? We want her tae wake up don’t we?” Lucas was confused. He knew what Ella used worked on him, why wouldn’t Kelly allow him to get it for Ella? This was absurd. He made his way to the door again, only this time Kelly moved to stand in his way.

“Lucas, willow bark is good for fevers, but Ella hasn’t a fever,” she said.

“But it could work, ye don’t ken that it won’t!”

“Nay, it won’t and we shouldn’t try it, there is something ye need tae know…” She lowered her head. Pausing as if looking for the right words.

“What dae I need to know, Kelly? We hae tae try everything. She is my wife!” He looked at his sister distraught and begging for answers. What was Kelly talking about? Milly hung her head and avoided Lucas’s eyes. “Somebody tell me something! Please, what is wrong with Ella!”

“She’s with child my laird!” Violet’s voice broke through at a fevered pitch. “Any herbs we give her could harm the babe. She’d only just found out. She had been so upset about ye keepin’ long hours and not talking tae her, she was sickly and tired. She’d not even thought it could’ve been a bairn. She was headed tae th’ stables tae give ye a piece of her mind, and tell ye about the babe. That’s why she was there, when… when… everything happened.” Sweet, quiet, shy Violet was shaking with anger. Her finger pointed at Lucas in accusation.

“She’s with child?” He could scarcely believe what the girl was saying to him. He looked at Milly, who simply nodded. Still clutching Ella’s limp hand, he collapsed to the ground in agony. Everything his fault. He was going to lose not only the love of his life, but their first born child.

“Everyone out,” he whispered.

“I’ll not leave ye like this brother. Ella is not dead yet, ye cannot act like she is.” Milly took Lucas into her arms, hugging him tightly. He sobbed against his sister, wondering when she had become so fierce. He would not have made it through this day were it not for her. “Ye need to allow time for her mind tae heal. Lay with her. Hold her. Tell her how ye feel, maybe it’s what she needs tae hear, tae ken there is somethin’ tae fight for.” Milly grabbed Kelly and Violet and quickly escorted them out of the room.

“Ye are my world, lass. Is Milly right, is that what ye need tae hear?” Lucas climbed into the bed beside Ella, taking her into his arms. He drew her close and leaned his head against hers. “Since the moment ye first invaded my dreams, you’ve been savin’ my life. I love ye more than any man ought tae love a lass. I need ye. Please come back tae me. Please…”

He rocked her gently, keeping one hand on her flat stomach, allowing sleep to overcome him.