The Scot's Pursuit - Keira Montclair Page 0,69
marry Osbert Ware instead.”
“That I did hear about. So your uncle approved?”
“Nay, but he said he’d think on it. Talk to my sire. But when Alick and I were out walking, we came across a chapel, and we decided it would be best to marry at once rather than risk being parted. So we did. Forgive us for doing it alone, but the circumstances… My father thinks he forced me to marry Mr. Ware, but I was already married. I was able to escape him before nightfall. Thank goodness Alick and I married when we did, or I would be married to an old man with six bairns. I hope you’ll forgive us.”
“My dear, I live in the Highlands,” Kyla said with a warm smile. “I’ve known of many quick marriages and handfasting. You do what you must. Welcome to Clan Grant, daughter.” She reached for Branwen’s hand and squeezed it. “I was hoping my son would find a wonderful woman to marry, and it seems he has.”
Branwen wanted to hug the woman, but instead she squeezed her hand back and said, “Many thanks to you. I love your son verra much. We married quickly, but we both knew what our hearts wanted.”
“Who married you? I know most of the priests in the Highlands,” Kyla said.
“Father MacKenzie. I was surprised he was there because I have not seen him in a while, but we’ve known each other for some time. He agreed to marry us without witnesses due to the war.”
Kyla gasped, something flashing in her eyes, and she and Jep exchanged a look.
“What is it?” Branwen asked. “Do you know him?” Why were they acting so strangely?
Silence hung in the cell for a moment, and then Kyla finally said, “I did when he was alive. I had heard he passed two moons ago.”
Branwen froze, her eyes moving slowly from Kyla to Jep. She knew the priest had been ill, but she hadn’t thought to mention it to him at the chapel. He’d looked so well. She’d never heard anything about him dying. “Jep?”
“Father MacKenzie was your mother’s favorite priest. She adored him and…” He stared up at the ceiling before bringing his gaze back to Branwen’s. “I’d heard the same, that he had passed.”
“Mayhap ’twas a relative of the one we know,” Kyla said, glancing at Jep, who hastily nodded, “Brothers sometimes look exactly alike.”
Branwen was too exhausted to argue with them. She’d seen him with her own two eyes, listened to him talk, held his hand on one occasion. The man was clearly not dead. They must have heard wrong.
Jep took an oatcake out of his pocket and offered it to Kyla. “They probably have not fed you well. Would you care for a bite or two?”
Kyla’s hand moved up to her head and massaged her temple. “Nay, I’m not hungry, but my thanks to you. Wait a moment. Dyna. What happened to Dyna and where are the others?”
“Alick followed us.” She stopped for a moment. “I should explain that your father said that neither your husband nor your son should go with us because they would be too emotional. Finlay and Alick agreed but followed us a short distance to be there to assist us once we were able to move you out. They were watching our horses. But Alick came too close so Dyna went back to see what he wanted. That was when my father grabbed me and pulled me inside.”
Kyla smiled. “’Tis good news.”
“It is?” she asked in disbelief. The only good news she could take from the situation was that Kyla seemed pleased to have her for a daughter.
“Aye. Dyna and Alick both know you were taken, and they probably went back to my father and the others. They will get us out. They now know exactly where to find us.”
Jep cleared his throat. “Well, that could be a problem.”
They both turned to look at him. Branwen had no idea what he was referring to.
“They’re gathering men to go after the Bruce in Lorn. They’re expecting to gain a large amount of warriors along the way. I didn’t hear about it until a few hours ago. I’d seen more warriors about than usual, some of them Englishmen, but I didn’t know why. Now I’ve heard that Robert the Bruce is coming this way. Seems he’s seeking vengeance against the men who harmed his family. Macdougall, Galloway, Ross, and others. Has Thane done something to offend Bruce?” He paused, and when neither of them