“How are ye feelin’, Duff?” Maggie walked into the bedchamber with Reed at her side, wanting to check on her brother. He lay in bed with his shoulder wrapped up. A handmaid had been sitting with him. Maggie nodded, and the girl got up and left the room.
“I’m hungry,” said her brother.
Maggie laughed and sat down on the edge of the bed, running a hand through her brother’s hair. “I’d say that means he’s almost back to normal, wouldna ye, Reed?” She looked back to see Reed staring out the window. “Reed? Did ye hear me?”
“Umph,” he grunted, seeming to be far away.
“Reed, I kent ye’d save me from the pirates,” said the boy excitedly. “And I canna wait to go back to the Highlands and continue my lessons in sword fightin’. I want to be a Reckless Highlander like ye someday.”
That got Reed’s attention. He turned around and in three strides was across the room. “Nay, I never want to hear ye say that again.”
“What did I say?” asked the boy, pushing up on the bed to a sitting position.
“Ye dinna want to be reckless because it’ll only cause trouble and heartaches and hurt the ones ye love.”
“What about bein’ a Highlander like ye?” he asked. “Is that all right?”
“I’m no’ a Highlander,” said Reed, shaking his head. “I’m no’ even a Lowlander.”
“What are ye sayin’?”
“I’ve just been foolin’ myself my entire life,” said Reed. “I thought I was Scottish, but I’m a bluidy Sassenach.”
“An Englishman?” asked Duff.
“Ye ken that,” Maggie told her brother. “Reed’s mathair was an Englishwoman and his faither is the English king.”
“So does that mean ye’re goin’ to stay in England and pay fealty to King Edward instead of goin’ back to Scotland?” asked Duff.
“I dinna ken what I’m goin’ to do right now, lad.”
“But I want to live in Scotland.”
“And that’s where ye and Maggie belong,” said Reed, glancing back out the window.
“Duff, Reed took me back to our clan and childhood home,” said Maggie softly. “I saw my uncle and clansfolk that I thought were dead. I also visited the graves of our parents and aunts. I want to take ye there – I think it’s time. I’m only sorry I’ve kept ye away for yer entire life.”
“Will Reed be goin’ with us?” asked Duff. The boy idolized Reed. It would break his heart if Reed decided to stay in England. Maggie wanted to go back to live in Scotland, too. But she was Reed’s wife now and would have to abide by her husband’s decision, no matter what he decided.
“I dinna ken,” she said, her heart going out to Reed. Things were not over with yet. He still had some major decisions to make. “Reed is my husband now. The right thing to do is to live wherever he decides.”
“Choose Scotland, Reed, choose Scotland!” Duff was so upset he tried to get out of bed, but Maggie settled him back down atop the pallet.
“I think ye need to sleep now,” said Maggie. “I’ll have the handmaid bring ye some food as soon as ye awake.”
“I dinna want to sleep. I want to practice the sword fight with Reed.”
“Ye heard yer sister,” said Reed. “Now, show some respect. If ye are goin’ to be a warrior, ye need to ken when to rest and heal. It’ll do ye no good if ye’re too weak to pick up a blade.”
“Aye, I’ll sleep for now,” said Duff. “But promise me as soon as I’m better that ye’ll continue to teach me the sword fight – in Scotland.”
“I’ll no’ make a promise I may no’ be able to keep. Now shut yer eyes and also yer mouth,” said Reed, storming across the room and out the door.
“What’s the matter with Reed?” asked Duff. “Did I say somethin’ to make him angry?”
“Reed has a lot on his mind lately,” Maggie told him, tucking in the blanket around him. “I’m sure he’ll continue to teach ye the sword fight as soon as ye are healed.”
“In Scotland?” asked Duff.
“I dinna ken, Duff.” Maggie stood and strolled across the room. She looked out the window to see Reed heading toward the stables. She’d avoided Scotland for the last ten years and, now, wanted more than anything to make it her home again. But if Reed decided to pay fealty to Edward like his brothers, they would have to make England their new home instead. Her heart ached for her homeland, for her brother, and also for Reed. But it ached the most for the memories of her dead parents and siblings, her childhood, and getting back to her clan. She wanted to right her wrongs and continue to face her fears just like Reed had taught her to do. But now she had to face her biggest fear – that she would have to choose between her homeland and the man she loved.
* * *
Reed stormed into the stables, ignoring the baron’s men who filled the courtyard, heckling him as he walked past. He had to get away from Whitehaven and everyone. If he didn’t, he was going to do something else reckless, and he couldn’t risk it. He didn’t want to cause any more trouble for his family.
It bothered him immensely that Summer was going to marry the wretched baron. She was his sister and he wanted to protect her from men like Lord Norbert. However, he’d just bit his tongue and let the alliance develop as planned. He hadn’t a choice in the matter. If the baron were left without a bride, Maggie would be left without a husband, because there was no doubting the baron wanted Reed’s head on a pike.
By giving Summer to the baron, it was like losing his family all over again. Reed would never be welcome in the baron’s castle, and would probably never have a chance to see Summer again. This was all happening too quickly. He’d just found his family and was reunited. He didn’t want to lose them again so fast.
“Reed, what brings ye here?” Ross looked up, having been talking to the stable boy who was brushing down a horse.
“I need a horse,” said Reed. “I’ll take this one.” He reached forward and grabbed the horse’s reins.
“Nay, I can’t let you have it,” protested the stable boy.
“Why no’?” asked Reed. “Just tell my brathair I’ll have it back to him tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” asked Ross. “Are ye goin’ somewhere?”
“I need to get away and think. Now give me the horse.”
“Reed, leave the boy alone,” warned Ross. “And calm down and think before ye do somethin’ reckless.”
“It’s no’ reckless. I just need to borrow one of Rowen’s horses. He’ll understand.”
“Rowen might understand, but I’m no’ so sure about the baron,” said Ross.
“The baron? What does he have to do with this?”
“It’s the baron’s horse,” said the stable boy.
“I dinna ken.” Reed put his hands in the air in surrender and backed away. Then he looked over to Ross. “Thank ye. I almost did somethin’ reckless again and this could have been terrible.”
“Dinna let yer emotions control ye, Reed. I’ll get ye a horse and tell Rowen about it. Take some time down by the loch and clear yer head.”
“Thank ye,” said Reed. “And tell Maggie for me that I’ll be back, so she doesna think I’m abandonin’ her.”
“Shouldna ye tell her that yerself?”
He should and he knew it. But he was afraid she’d either stop him from going or convince him to stay the night with her instead. She’d try to help him and he didn’t want anyone else helping him. He needed to work things out in his life by himself. He had some decisions to make that he would have to live with the rest of his life. It was only a matter of time before Edward tracked him down. Edward would pull him into the web he weaved and Reed didn’t want that. He wasn’t as easy to control by greed like his brothers.
He rode out of the castle and took the road toward the loch. Thor made circles in the sky above him leading the way. Seeing trouble on the path ahead, Reed slowed down, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. It looked to be a horse and wagon in the road. The wagon was stuck in the mud with one of the wheels unattached from the crossbar. A little elderly couple was trying to fix it. He smiled and went over to help them.
“Can I give ye a hand?” asked Reed, hopping off his horse before they had a chance to answer.
“I told him to go around the mud but he went right through it,” said the woman, standing with her hands on her hips.
“I don’t like to be told how to drive a cart,” the man answered.
“If you had listened, we wouldn’t have lost a wheel,” rallied the wife.
“I’ll help ye. Dinna fash yerself.”
“But . . . you’re a Scot,” said the man seeming uncomfortable by his presence.
“Not really,” said Reed, taking hold of the wheel and using his force to push it back into place. He picked up the tools the old man had been using and tightened the wheel so it wouldn’t fall off again. Then he put the tools into the back of the cart. “That should hold until ye get to the next town.”
“We’re not going to a town, we’re going to Whitehaven Castle,” said the woman.
“Whitehaven?” Something seemed familiar about the old woman, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was.
“We’ve been invited there by Lady Annalyse,” the man told him.
“How do ye ken her?” asked Reed curiously.
“My wife used to be a midwife,” said the man.
“That’s right,” answered the woman. “At one time I helped birth Annalyse’s sister’s babies. I helped her raise them, too, for a while before we married and moved away.”
“Shhh, don’t tell the Scot so much,” warned her husband.
“Why not?” asked the woman. “He has a good face and I trust him. I almost feel as if I know him.”
Suddenly Reed knew who she was. “Were the babies triplet boys?” he asked.
The woman looked up in surprise. “Yes. How did you know?”
“What happened to the woman who gave birth?” asked Reed.
“The babies were too big – especially the last one born,” said the midwife, shaking her head. “That last one was so big it got stuck, costing the woman her life.” His heart sank. He had to know which one of them caused their poor mother’s death.
“Did the last baby born have . . . red hair?” He hadn’t thought things could get worse lately, but he was wrong.
“Yes, he did.”
“Yer cart should be fine now,” he said getting back on his horse.
“Do I know you?” asked the woman, cocking her head to try to get a better look at him.
“I dinna believe anyone really kens me,” he answered.
“We don’t have much, but I would like to repay you for your help,” said the man.
“Nay. Ye have already given me more than I need.” He rode toward the lake feeling even more miserable than he had before he left the castle.