Chapter Seventeen
“The poor creature!” Miran couldna believe the condition of the woman Kai had just described. “They keep her in a state of undress to maintain control over her?”
“Aye.” He refilled her cup with wine. They were eating together in her tent, her maids just outside. “And if her mother doesn’t marry the man called Igor, I fear she will be raped and killed.”
The bite of bread she’d just swallowed stuck in her throat. It felt as if she’d swallowed a stone. How could anyone be so cruel? So coldhearted? “These men are soulless.”
“Tis why I offered her a place with us.”
“If ye hadn’t,” she said, “I would have insisted on it.”
“Another reason we belong together,” Kai said as his mouth narrowed with a grimace. “We often think alike.”
Perhaps, but he wouldna appreciate what she was about to say. “I would like to accompany Colin tonight.”
Kai shot up from his stool and started pacing. “Nay.”
“Can ye no’ make an exception this one time?”
His brows furrowed. “Tis not the time to challenge me, Miran.”
She sighed and set her trencher aside. “I am no’ helpless.”
His mirthless chuckle discomfited her. “I never believed you to be. But I am expected to keep you safe—even from yourself if necessary.”
She crossed her arms. “She will need comforting.”
“Aye. And when she’s safely in our custody, you are welcome to see to her needs.”
Why did he always underestimate her skills? Or think she dinna have the sense to take care of herself? She stared at him and frowned.
Kai ran a hand through his hair. “I value your opinion, Miran, and appreciate your need to help rescue her.”
“Ye do?”
“Aye.”
“Thank ye.” At least he understood her need to help. “When will Colin leave?”
“After everyone is asleep. He does not need to draw attention to himself, not in camp or in the village. It could take hours, for the girl did not tell us whether she could escape or not.”
Still, Miran wished to be there, to provide open arms and encouragement for the lass. Though she’d never been abused or denied the basic comforts in life, she’d experienced the bite of fear and loneliness. And leaving her mam… Miran would never do it. She’d suffer through anything to have her mother again. Maybe the lass wouldna show up as Kai seemed to think she would.
“Can ye rescue her mother?”
Kai raised his arms. “I do not know.”
He’d always had answers for her. The situation must be grimmer than he’d described. “Have ye told me everything?”
He shook his head. “I told you everything you need to know.”
She’d leave it at that, for she could see how deeply the conditions at the village affected him. The fact there weren’t enough warriors to overrun the village, kill the offenders, and set the women and children free, would no’ sit well with Kai. A man of decisive action, driven by bravery and honor, she knew he’d find a way to return with a full regiment in the near future. Jamie would probably join him. Pirates couldna be permitted to live freely in the Highlands.
“Let me get ye more fish or bread,” she offered, walking to his side. “Ye hardly touched yer food.”
“I am not hungry.”
“Ye must eat to keep yer strength up.”
He ran his fingers along her jawline. “Knowing you belong to me helps me find strength.”
In a rare display of affection, she took his hand in hers, turned it palm up, and kissed his fingers. He sighed, and she kissed him again. “Ye canna blame yerself.”
“Is that what you think?”
“I see it in yer eyes.”
“You are a wise woman, Miran.”
They spent the next hour quietly, then her maids came back inside the tent.
“Is it so late already?”
“Aye, Lady Miran,” Dedra said. “Ye wanted to get an early start back to Sands Airgid tomorrow. As I am sure all of us do.”
Miran nodded. “Then let us prepare for sleep.” She turned to Kai. “Thank ye, Captain.”
He bowed over her hand. “Guards will be posted outside the tent if ye need anything.”
She watched him stalk out, wishing she could stay with him.
“Are ye going to marry the captain?” Dedra whispered as she unbraided Miran’s hair.
“Why would ye ask such a question?”
“I-I am sorry, milady,” Dedra tried to hide her smile behind a trembling hand. “If ye wish to know, the captain hasna kept his feelings for ye a secret.”
“Nay?” Miran gazed at her, very interested in what she had to say.
“And the men…”
“Aye?”
“I overheard two making a wager.”
“What sort of wager?” Soldiers often did such things to keep themselves entertained.
“I have spoken out of place, forgive me.”
“Nay—I am curious now.”
“Everyone knows Laird Jamie gave the captain his blessing to woo ye.”
Except for Miran! For if she had known her cousin had done such a thing, she would have refused to go on this trip. Furthermore, she would have pursued finding Kai the kind of wife who could make him happy, a submissive, quiet lass. Not her!
“I think ye are mistaken.”
“Nay, milady, for one of the soldiers was in the great hall with the laird and captain the day we left Sands Airgid. He overheard the conversation, I swear it.”
She took the bone comb out of her maid’s hand and continued to brush out her own hair. She wouldna disrespect Kai in front of her maids. But once they were asleep, she intended to visit him in his tent to get the truth from him. Was she nothing more than a reward for Kai’s loyal service? Or was he the only man willing to take her as a wife because she had a reputation for being disobedient? Twould explain why men admired her from afar. The thought made her angry, for she wasna a piece of property to be given away at Jamie’s whim.
“Lady Miran?”
“Aye?”
“Ye are tearing yer hair out! Please, give me the comb.”
Miran looked down, indeed, there was a clump of blond hair in the teeth. She hadna even felt it rip out of her scalp. “I am verra tired, Dedra. Let us go to sleep.”
All of the women settled in their beds, the last of the lanterns put out by Dedra before she laid down. “Good night, milady.”
“Good night,” Miran said, anxious for the moment she’d be able to leave the tent unnoticed.
*
“Doona place yourself in unnecessary danger,” Kai instructed Colin. “Do what you said, wait behind the last cottage. If Tiva doesn’t arrive within several hours, return to camp. Here.” He offered Colin a woman’s wool cloak. “From Lady Miran.”
Colin accepted it. “Thank ye. I feel responsible for the lass. There’s something about her, the way she carries herself, even though I know her spirit has been broken.”
“A pretty face helps,” Kai said.
Colin looked away. “Even if she was a toothless hag, I’d want to do this.”
Kai rested his hand on Colin’s shoulder. “I do not doubt your high qualities as a man. But an attractive woman will make you take risks you normally wouldn’t take.”
“I’d be a liar if I denied it, sir. But I could never hope she’d want me, not after what she’s been through.”
Kai thought of the months he’d spent trying to get close to Miran, to prove himself to her. Aye, he’d been impatient and confrontational at times, unwilling to let her get away with insulting him publicly, but he now regretted some of his choices, like dropping her into the loch… If he could change some of their past together, he would.
“Give her time.”
Colin nodded. “The men have been assigned their guard duties. If there is nothing more to discuss, I’d like to prepare.”
“Go with God.”
Once Colin left his tent, Kai stretched out on his bedroll. Though the journey had been shorter than he expected, he was returning to Sands Airgid with two dozen men and several capable maids. In spring, he’d plan a second trip for recruitment purposes. Until then, there was plenty to do—like planning a wedding and training the soldiers.
He crossed his ankles and folded his hands under his head. If he could, he’d set plans with Jamie to come back to this forsaken village and avenge the loss of the men, women, and children Igor had murdered and enslaved. He would encourage Jamie to send a missive to Earl Sutherland to inform him of the dire circumstances so close to his border. It could not be allowed to continue.
Kai yawned, not knowing how long he’d been lying there before his eyes started to droop. Rarely did he feel so exhausted. But he supposed after weeks of riding and trying to win Miran, he was due a night of rest. He patted the hilt of his sword, still sheathed at his hip. Often times he slept in his clothes, including his weapon belt, a bad habit he’d picked up as a younger man, fighting wars for his father.
One never knew when a nighttime attack would occur, and instead of being caught with no braes on, he’d chosen to be ready at all times.
The heat from the braziers, one at his feet, and one near his head, only quickened his sleep. He gazed at the opening of his tent, seeing two of everything. A definite sign he needed to let his body and mind recover. The last thing he thought about before he closed his eyes, was Miran. Her desire to help Tiva had only deepened his love and admiration for her.
“Good night, sweet one,” he whispered, then was lost to sleep.