The Scot's Quest - Keira Montclair Page 0,66
she said.
But who was the other man and where had they gone?
***
Alex groaned and lifted his head, but the pain was too much for him. He was on a pallet in a small hut, and he thought he was alone. He recalled the battle, the lightning, but then something unanticipated had happened, putting a hitch in his plan.
Someone had struck him in the back of his head. Everything had turned black until now.
The pain in his head was so severe that he shut his eyes again, drifting into a dream that brought him pleasure.
Maddie stood in the loch, her back to him, dressed only in her chemise. Trembling from the temperature of the water, she glanced over her shoulder at him, her golden hair falling around her shoulders, the blue of her eyes visible from the distance.
“Alex, could you help me, please? The fabric is stuck in my wound.”
He’d brought her to the loch to wash off her wounds, the ones her own brother had inflicted on her. Although they’d had many sweeter moments, this one was etched into his mind as one of the most important moments of his life because it was then he’d made his mind up. It was then he’d decided Madeline would be his wife. He remembered wondering if she’d give him a son or perhaps lassies.
“Alex?”
“Aye, I’d be pleased to help you, but you may wish to turn around. I must remove my plaid as ’tis the only one I have.” He’d said it to guard her tender sensibilities, her innocence, as he waded into the water behind her. But when he took the soap from her hand, preparing to wash her, she said his name again.
“Alex?”
“Aye, Maddie?”
“You must push yourself to remember other things,” she said, her tone turning urgent. “There is something you must recall. I know ’tis there in your mind, and you must pull it out. Things are not as they seem.”
“Maddie? You’re confusing me. I’m here to help you wash your back.”
“Alex, ’tis a memory of our time together that you chose to revisit so I could come to you. Please don’t forget that I can only be here for a short time. ’Tis verra difficult for me to appear to you.”
“Why did you come this time?” he whispered, turning her around so he could gaze into her glorious blue eyes. “Can I not join you? I think I’m ready. ’Tis my time, nay?”
“Nay, Alex,” she said, her tone intent. “Not yet. Don’t you see? The spectral swords aren’t only intended to project John—they need you. You are the one who’ll guide your bairns and grandbairns through this terrible time in Scotland. Your clan and your country need you. Not yet, but do not worry. When your time comes, I’ll be here waiting for you. Just a few more years.”
“Maddie, I’m tiring…”
Her fingers came up to his lips to silence him. “It’s not as you think. Busby is not out to get you. Hamish is.”
“Hamish? But why?”
“Hamish wanted me, and I rejected him. Now he wants revenge. He’ll try to get it through Dyna. Go!”
Maddie kissed him and walked off into the distance, giving him a small wave as she disappeared.
“You have to save Dyna,” she said, her words pounding through his head.
He opened his eyes, driven by Maddie’s last sentence, savoring her presence but forcing himself to search his surroundings.
He watched as Hamish and Busby entered the hut, Hamish behind the sheriff.
Hamish carried a large boulder. He lifted it and brought it down upon Busby’s skull.
Killing him instantly.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dyna was frantic. They’d met as a group and agreed to split up, Loki taking his men toward his land to search for Alex while Dyna and her cousins headed toward Grant land. Those were the two major paths this far in the Highlands.
Busby and Grandpapa had to be on one path or the other.
Unless they’d taken him down some little used side path, although no one wanted to address that possibility.
“We’re stopping on Grant land, Dyna,” Els said. “I know you don’t want to, but mayhap your sire or mine discovered something after we left. We could use a good meal before we move on to the next battle.”
“There’s also a chance Busby took him back toward Grant land, hoping to extort the use of our guards. They’ve tried it before. We don’t know his intent. We will spend one night there, then move on.” Alasdair cast a pointed look her way. Did everyone know what her plans would