Page 23 of A Laird and a Healer

“Nessa, ye are good at these things. Is there a way tae escape?” Tara asked, trying to shift the conversion to something more practical.

“I dinnae believe sae, nae for years anyway. I’ve tried all the stones and none of them are loose. There are nae gaps in the floor, nae even for a mouse. The only way out is the door.”

“And that’s being guarded religiously,” Caroline added. “I noticed that the key is attached tae a string around the guard’s waist.”

“Perhaps there’s a way for us tae get the guard’s attention. What if we told him that one of us hae fallen ill? When he comes in, ye could try and detach the key,” Tara suggested.

“Even if we did, what’s the point? We would be back in the forest again, and he would come after us. He’s hardly gaeing tae let his bride escape,” Nessa said pointedly.

Caroline exhaled deeply, shaking her head. “It’s hardly as though I like the situation,” she muttered.

“Ye could hae denied him. Ye ran away from home because ye dinnae want tae be forced intae marraige, but now ye accept it willingly?”

“Nae willingly. I accepted tae save ye. And I hope that I can still save ye. I will dae everything in my power tae make sure ye and Tara are safe.”

“Or maybe the Laird hae won ye over. Is that it? Are ye ready tae abandon our quest for freedom because ye hae seen a side of the Laird that ye like?” Nessa taunted Caroline.

Tara gasped and rebuked Nessa, while Caroline threw her hands up in the air. The truth was that the remark did hit quite close to home, but, of course, she wasn’t going to tell Nessa and Tara about the touch she and Ryan had shared, nor the lingering look that passed between them. Naturally, partly this was because she didn’t know what to make of it herself. It wasn’t long after this that Ryan had changed his nature again and become more bestial.

“It’s naething like that, and ye would know that if ye listened tae me,” Caroline said.

“Then tell us because it seems as though ye are starting tae keep secrets from us. Is there anything else that we should know?”

Every word that Nessa said dripped with hostility. It was hard to believe that a few hours before this they had been locked in an embrace, weeping together. Their love ran so deep that it did lend itself to hostility as well.

“I am nae keeping anything from ye. I intended tae tell ye when we returned tae the castle. I dinnae see that there’s any way tae get out of it. But things hae changed. I learned why he wants tae marry me.”

“Why?” Tara asked.

Caroline took a deep breath. “It all gaes back tae Da. Apparently there was a battle and Da killed the old Laird Knox, and Ryan’s brother. Ryan was just a lad, a wee bit younger than ye, Tara. Ever since that day he swore revenge on our clan and when we arrived, well, he sensed an opportunity. He wants me tae provide an heir for him sae that he can wrest control of the clan away from uncle.”

Nessa and Tara fell silent. Caroline’s legs ached. There was a dull throbbing sensation in her head as well. She rubbed her temples, but the crown of tension didn’t seem to dissipate. She felt her way to the bed, bumping into the frame of it before sinking onto the hard mattress. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths.

She was still reeling from her encounter with Ryan and all the strange, conflicting emotions that arose because of it. In one moment she thought about the way he held her cheek and tenderly asked her why she was so kind to him; then in the next she saw him storming towards her, rage flaring in his eyes, pressing her against the wall and telling her that there was no escape. Which was the true Ryan? Could they both be real?

“Then it’s even more certain. We need tae find a way tae escape before the wedding,” Tara said with an urgent tone to her voice.

“Maybe he can gae and fight with uncle, and they will both kill each other,” Nessa said, taking no joy in contemplating two deaths.

“I believe Ryan is daeing this sae he will nae hae tae fight,” Caroline replied.

Nessa scoffed. “Ye think uncle is gaeing tae give up the clan without a fight? If Ryan thinks that, then he’s a bloody fool. Ye should hae let him die, Caroline. We would nae hae been in this situation if ye hae just let that bandit run him through. What were ye thinking? Ye could hae prevented yerself from haeing tae be his wife.”

Nessa didn’t sound angry anymore, it was more that she was dismayed and rued that things had not worked out differently.

“I was nae thinking, that was the problem. I saw a man in danger of being stabbed in the back and I just… I just reacted. It seemed like the right thing tae dae at the time. He hae come tae our rescue after all,” Caroline remarked in a weak voice.

“Aye because he wants ye as his wife. It’s nae as if he did this out of the kindness of his heart. I’m nae sure such an emotion lives within him.”

“Dinnae speak like that, Nessa,” Tara interrupted, “Caroline did the right thing. We cannae simply let people die if we can prevent it. It’s nae noble.”

Nessa waved a hand in the air. Caroline could just about see the movement amid the darkness. “Ach, ye need tae learn a lesson from the wild. It’s all about survival. That’s what our lives are now. It’s what they hae been since we left home. We cannae afford tae be noble because that’s how we end up like this.”

“I’m sorry,” the words dropped out of Caroline’s mouth like heavy stones. “I dinnae mean for this tae happen. I dinnae know it would be like this. I thought we would find kindness and shelter. I thought we could find a new beginning. I promise that I will dae everything in my power tae see that ye are safe. I dinnae care what I hae tae dae for Ryan. I will dae anything he wants as long as ye get tae enjoy yer lives.”

The softness and vulnerability that was evident in her voice elicited sympathy from her sisters. Nessa set aside her anger for the moment. She and Tara moved closer towards Caroline, and they all embraced again. Caroline closed her eyes and enjoyed the solace of being with her sisters. She didn’t know how long she had left to enjoy quiet moments like these.

“We still need tae escape. I appreciate ye offer, Caroline, but ye dinnae need tae sacrifice yerself for us. We are all adults now, and we can make our own decisions. As ye said, whatever fate awaits us, we will meet taegether. While we are here, we should try to find a way tae escape,” Tara said with surprising maturity.