The Witch of Black Isle by Keira Montclair

Chapter Twenty-Two

Though taken by surprise by Alva’s brother, Ethan did everything in his power not to flinch.

And he didn’t. Her fingers touched the coarse hairs of his chest and he thought he’d want to pull away, but her soft skin pulled him forward. Her palm was damp with sweat, but her gaze had locked onto his and they wouldn’t break their trance.

He stared into her brown eyes and suddenly realized what love was. This was a woman he loved with all his heart. He’d trusted her with the one fear that had crippled him for so long, and he now knew that she would never hurt him nor embarrass him. She would never use his shortcomings against him.

As they remained standing in front of the screaming crowd, another realization struck him. He’d been waiting for Jennet Ramsay all his life. True, he had always been a wee bit different, but his mother had often told him there was a lass out there for him. They just needed to find each other, and now they had.

The love he saw in her eyes also warmed him.

He loved Jennet so much that he would do anything to guarantee her safety. He would marry Cori if that meant Jennet could leave in peace.

He considered it a small sacrifice after the pleasure he’d experienced from being part of her life, even if for only a short time.

He loved Jennet, so he’d marry Cori.

Alva shouted, “Flinch, you bastard! She has to die!”

Then chaos broke loose. An arrow sluiced through the air, catching Alva in her chest, followed by another one to Slim, hitting him right between his eyes. Ethan grabbed Jennet and pulled her close, but he was set upon by a mob of ten men, the crowd now out of control. He tried not to let her go, but she was pulled from his grip in the ensuing madness.

His eyes searched the area, but all he saw were men beating on anyone with a Matheson plaid. More arrows were fired, but not enough.

Where was Jennet? Where the hell had she gone?

Then he saw her. Ludan had grabbed her and was dragging her down the platform toward the boat. Another man held her while Ludan tied her hands and tossed bricks into her pockets. She bit the man who held her and kicked Ludan hard, but with her hands and feet bound, there was little she could do to free herself. They tossed her into the boat, and Ludan pushed off while the other stayed back. “Kill the witch!” he yelled as he shoved the small boat into the firth.

“Fight, Jennet. I’ll come for you!”

He fought and fought, taking blow after blow only because he wasn’t able to reach for his dagger. But then something miraculous happened. The air filled with arrow after arrow, sluicing through the night air, whistles drowned out by screams and howls as weapons found their targets.

A loud voice he recognized carried over the retreating crowd. “How dare you touch my niece!” Logan Ramsay had arrived with his archers.

Ethan put his fist into two faces, two others were struck by Ramsay arrows, and the remaining four or five took off on a dead run.

Ethan headed straight for the firth. He took a shallow dive off the end of the dock and headed toward Jennet. Ludan was furiously rowing the boat, as if he had a hundred boats behind him. Ethan swam harder than he’d ever swum before, his arms cutting through the water in competition with Ludan’s rowing ability.

When he drew closer, Ludan finally heard him and shouted back, “She’s going over now. It will be too late, Matheson.”

Jennet screamed every name she could. Ethan,Gavin, Uncle Logan, Marcas.

Ethan was nearly upon them when the worst happened. Though Jennet kicked and fought as best she could, Ludan shoved her overboard. Ethan went after her into the depths, his arms grabbing every which way he could, hoping to find her. Even with his eyes open, he could see hardly anything. Then he felt the brush of hair against him, so he grabbed onto it, but her weight latched onto him, pulling him down with her.

Too many bricks.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind so she wouldn’t be able to grab him. He felt her legs pumping up and down, but she couldn’t do anything against the rope. He forced himself to slow down and reach for the bricks.

One by one he found them and tossed them off until she was free of them. His air nearly gone, he furiously kicked up toward the surface of firth, his grip strong as he pulled Jennet with all his strength. He realized he was fighting alone and suddenly remembered the ropes on her legs, so he stopped to reach down and loosen them. Now Jennet kicked alongside Ethan toward the surface, both pushing themselves to the limit, and then past.

Ethan broke through, gasping fiercely as he pulled Jennet up next to him. He rolled onto his back to support her as he tugged the loose ropes free from her hands.

Looking around, he saw the boat a short distance away. He helped Jennet along as they swam to it and latched onto the side, still gasping for air. He pulled seaweed from her hair, and they smiled at each other, thankful for their lives. Ethan leaned in and kissed her hair, squeezing her shoulder and pulling her close to embrace her. He no longer had to fear touching Jennet. He then lifted her into the boat, and she squealed before she realized Ludan was dead, an arrow straight to his heart. Ethan heard his brother’s voice coming from another boat not far away.

Ethan managed to climb into the boat without tipping it over, thanks to Ludan’s weight, and as soon as he sat, he tugged Jennet onto his lap and held her from behind.

“I wish to never stop touching you, lass.”

She glanced up at him first, then threw her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “I can’t believe how fast those bricks pulled me underwater. Many thanks to you, Ethan, for coming after me.”

“’Twas my pleasure, lass,” he said, returning the hug and setting his chin on the top of her head. “I feared I would flinch, but I didn’t. I know why. You are the one my mother always said I would meet someday. The one who wouldn’t mind my little quirks and would have quirks of her own.” Another boat came after them as they sat stagnant on the water, the oars having floated far away. “I think Marcas is on his way.”

Jennet lifted her head but remained close with her weight against him. He could feel her fine tremors.

He wasn’t ready to let her go.

Marcas came near the boat and said, “You are both hale? Jennet? Your uncle is yelling like a wild man.”

“I am fine, thanks to Ethan.”

“Here, tie this rope and I will pull you in.”

When they arrived on shore, the Ramsay and Matheson warriors all cheered. Brigid and Tara had just arrived and were in the back, still on their horses. Padraig met Jennet first. “You nearly sent Uncle Logan into another one of his fits when he heard the chanting. What the hell happened that they would think you were a witch?”

Logan came up to them once they were back on shore. Ethan held Jennet’s hand and led her back to safety, making his way through the warriors, checking the dead and wounded. Matheson and Ramsay warriors were taking care of their wounded and tying up the enemies, loading them in carts to take to Milton Castle. Logan held out a Ramsay plaid for her. Ethan took it and wrapped it around her shoulders. She stopped him and said, “Wait, please. I want this dreaded coarse garment off me first.”

Ethan helped her peel it away from her night rail, and she tossed it back toward the firth. “It should be burned, never to be used again.”

Logan arched a brow at her and asked, “A witch? Truly? I know the daft man Bearchun thought so, but how did you convince these people you were a witch?”

“I don’t wish to talk about it now, Uncle, but many thanks for coming to my rescue.” She shivered and fell back against Ethan. “I just wish to go back to Matheson Castle. You don’t have bad news about Papa, do you?”

“Nay, just that he’s the same and feels horrid about how he treated you. We’ll chat on the morrow. You need to get to a hearth.” Then, noticing another man in the group, he stopped for a moment. “Grant, what the hell are you doing here?”

Padraig shrugged his shoulders. “I was out wandering and found my cousin traveling with a strange man. Thought I’d check it out.” Then he chuckled, holding his arms out wide. “And here I am. Never left.”

Logan mumbled, “Wandering. What the hell does that mean? I’m not ready to hear the whole story yet. Later. But you’re still here. Must be a lass who caught your eye.”

Padraig said, “Mayhap there is.”

Ethan settled Jennet on his horse and climbed up behind her. Once they set off for Matheson land, she leaned back against him, and he was quite content.

He tried to push the reality of his love aside, because it meant also coming to terms with the fact that he would not be allowed to marry her.

***

Once they made it back to Matheson Castle, the group celebrated in the great hall. Ramsay men and Matheson men congratulated each other on a successful mission, while serving lasses hurried through the hall handing out meat pies and goblets of ale to all those inside. Jennet found herself shivering next to the hearth, wrapped in a large fur, her gaze locked on Ethan as he made his way through the crowd. Everyone congratulated him on saving Jennet, but his focus was on making sure she was alright, so he kept returning to check on her. All she could do was nod because her teeth chattered so much.

Brigid sat next to her and said, “Ethan does care for you. No one would do what he did unless he had strong feelings for you. I have to admit, I was frightened to my core for you, but I knew in my heart they would come through for you. I have to say that when I heard my father’s bellowing voice, I did feel better. The numbers evened out with the addition of the Ramsay warriors.”

Tara stood in front of her. “You must have been so frightened when you went over the side of the boat.”

All Jennet could do was nod. She preferred not to think on it because the memory brought up the fear she’d felt, the pain of being underwater and desperate for air.

Tara said, “You poor thing. You’re shivering. I’ll get you some of Jinny’s herbed broth to warm your insides.”

Nodding again, Jennet hoped she could hold the mug steady enough to swallow.

Her uncle came over after she’d had enough broth to slow her tremors. “Jennet, that was foolish of you. You’ve always been the one who acted with reason. Why would you go out alone, and how did you make it all the way here on your own?”

“I’ll not argue with you because you’re right. I’m sorry to have dragged you away from Ramsay land again, but you weren’t there. Papa nearly hit me, and it would have been a blow hard enough to knock me to the floor. And the look in his eyes was so hateful…”

“Not hateful but angry. In his eyes, you denied him. He told you not to do it and you went ahead without his permission. You do recall that he was chieftain of the clan before Torrian. Chieftains are accustomed to having their orders followed and not questioned.”

“True, I hadn’t looked at it that way. He feels badly about it?” The weight of that experienced lifted a little with this new perspective.

“Aye, he does.” Then her uncle asked, “Will you stay here?”

“Nay, I have a new theory, so I’d like to go home again, but not for a day or two. I couldn’t handle it until I rest. ’Tis nearly dawn now. I cannot leave this day. Will you wait another day for me, Uncle?”

Uncle Logan leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Of course I will. I’m happy to spend another day with Brigid. A day or two, no more.”

Someone she didn’t recognize came in to speak with Ethan. He followed the stranger out of the hall, not even glancing her way, his face serious. Her gaze scanned the crowded hall. Ethan was gone, Brigid chatted with her sire, Tara was wrapped up in a conversation with Shaw.

Alone again. This was her life in Black Isle. There was no reason to stay in the hall. It was full of Ramsay warriors and Matheson guards, all talking about the battle, the same way all men seemed to be when they came out victorious over the enemy. She wished she shared their sentiment.

Exhaustion overtook her, so she decided to find her way to her chamber and get a good night’s sleep. Perhaps everything would be better in the morn.

Right now, the only thing that mattered was rest.

Climbing the stairs, no one noticed her as if she melted into the wall. When she finally pushed open the thick door to her chamber, she let out a heavy sigh that nearly led to tears, but she held them at bay. Her head would fill with fluid and she’d be unable to sleep if she gave into it.

Stripping and stepping into a clean night rail, she rinsed her mouth and took a few swigs of a bottle of wine on the nearby chest, then fell into bed.

She missed Bethia and her mother. A light knock caught her as she yawned, and she mumbled, “Come in.”

The door opened, a shaft of light from the torch in the passageway lit up the chamber enough for her to see who it was.

Brigid. She closed the door softly and crept over to the beds, setting a candle down on the chest she’d carried with her.

“What’s wrong?” Jennet asked.

“Naught.” Brigid dropped her gown to the floor and donned a night rail she had carried under her arm, then pushed Tara’s bed over against Jennet’s bed. “If we put them together, all three of us can sleep here this eve.”

Jennet had no idea what had come over her cousin, but she was too exhausted to ask. She let Brigid continue, muttering away as she often did when she was upset. Jennet quieted when she was distressed while Brigid rambled on and on.

Brigid chattered on, “Jennet, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. When I saw you standing there with bricks in your pockets near the firth, I nearly vomited all over my poor horse. What have I brought upon us? Granted, I didn’t kidnap the three of us, but I fell in love with Marcas and we stayed, and now you and Ethan are together, and Shaw and Tara are fond of each other. Have I brought us to a bad place in Black Isle?”

“Nay,” Jennet managed to say. “You are happy and I am happy for you.”

Brigid lay down so she faced Jennet, bringing the coverlet up over her lower body. She held one hand out to her cousin and said, “I wish to sleep like we used to. Please.”

Jennet smiled. “And your husband approves?”

“Aye, he does. I told him I needed to spend the night with my favorite cousin, the one who always protected me before Marcas came along, the one I trusted more than any other, the one who listened to me and supported me. The one I loved and could always count on to make me smile. The one who carried us through many frightful times as we grew up, who stayed by my side no matter what.”

Brigid sniffled and said, “Forgive me for not being by your side when you needed me.”

Jennet was surprised but warmed by her words. Their relationship had been special, more special than she could describe.

Brigid held her little finger out to Jennet with a smile. “Please?”

“Are you sure Marcas approves?”

“Marcas will be up most of the night talking about their win this eve. I told him I needed to be with my special friend. He agreed.” She nodded at her finger.

Jennet held her hand out and hooked her little finger with Brigid’s, the way they used to fall asleep together every night. Jennet had thought of it as a protection against either of them being stolen from their bed. When the villain stole one away, the other would know of it.

“I love you, Jennet.”

“I love you, Brigid.”

Perhaps things would turn out all right after all.

***

Jennet made the decision to return home the next morn and hugged her cousins once. “Forgive me for leaving so quickly, but I must see my sire, see if I can help him.”

Uncle Logan was still shouting at Marcas. “Twice we’ve had to come up here to save your clan’s arse near the firth. Mayhap I’ll leave ten warriors here this time to help you train. I don’t wish to have to start my next visit to Black Isle at the firth like I did this one, Matheson.”

“You know we’d appreciate a few warriors until we can build our clan again. Our food stores are plentiful with lots of ale, so we can feed them well,” Marcas said.

“I’ll have a chat with Maule and he can choose who will stay.” He moved back to the warriors. “Half an hour, Jennet, then we leave.”

Ethan came to see her and said, “Might I have a word with you before your departure, Jennet?” Grateful he’d come, she said to her cousins, “I’ll see you soon, I’m sure.”

Ethan guided her over to some trees a distance away from the stables where they could speak in private. She limped a bit because of an injury to one foot, but she managed. Ethan didn’t look much better. They’d had little chance to speak in private once the festivities in the hall had begun the night before, but she’d been too exhausted to have much of a conversation anyway.

Truthfully, after the event, she didn’t wish to go far. She’d had enough of being taken captive. She’d learned from her uncle that Cori was still on Milton land, Alva clinging to life and cursing because she’d lost her brother. Nothing had turned out the way they’d expected.

Ethan took a deep breath, and Jennet didn’t like how he was now looking at her. Before his eyes had been filled with love, and she believed they’d stay like that, now that they were clear of danger. But perhaps she was missing something, because Ethan was not the picture of giddy young love in this moment.

“You know I have verra deep feelings for you, but things have come to light after the situation, and I can no longer ignore them. Understand that when I decided to pursue you, one of the pledges I made to my brothers was to protect you. Unfortunately, there is only one way for me to keep my word on that at this point.”

She didn’t like this at all, an odd foreboding telling her to run now because his words were not going to be pleasant.

“The chief of Clan Milton sent a messenger last eve to let me know he expects me to hold up to what I promised last night. He wants me to marry Cori within a sennight.”

“What?” Jennet asked, confused.

“Do you recall when I first came into the crowd last eve? I said for them to let you go, and I would agree to marry Cori. They are expecting me to hold to that offer. They set you free, so they expect me to do what I offered.”

“’Tis ridiculous, Ethan. They did not set me free. They tried to kill me, and if not for you, I would be dead. They cannot expect you to hold to that.” This explained the stranger she’d seen escorting him out of the hall last eve. It had been someone from Clan Milton.

“But my promise has always been to protect you. The best way for me to do that, to prevent this from happening again, is for me to marry Cori. I don’t think the Milton chief or Alva will let this go. They lost Ludan and Harry among others and are quite upset, blaming you.”

She was so stunned she couldn’t speak, but she wasn’t in a position to argue with him. She had to take this news to her father, and she had to take what she’d learned from Ethan’s wound to heal him the same way.

“If ’tis what you wish to do, Ethan, I accept it.” She didn’t wish to accept it, but how could she ask him to marry her? That was not how things were done. The man chose his wife, and Ethan had chosen his. Jennet’s feelings were inconsequential, as usual.

Then he surprised her by stepping forward and taking her in his arms. It was painful for her to feel his warmth, knowing it would be taken away from her. She wanted to push him away, but instead she leaned into him, resting her forehead against his chest. She would miss him dearly.

“I want you to know that I love you, Jennet. This situation brought that realization to me, though ’tis hard for me to explain it. Just know that I will always be grateful for having you in my life for such a short time.” Then he set her back, set his finger under her chin, and kissed her. It was awkward but sweet, and she would remember it forever.

She would remember him forever.

“Goodbye, Ethan.” She had more to say, but she couldn’t speak the words.

I love you too.