Page 72 of My Highland Warrior
“Rhona, stay where you are—dinna move!” With all of her strength, Magdalene pushed backward and fell to her hands and knees inside the parapet, the nursemaid tumbling to the ground behind her.
Yet Grania didn’t stay down, but rushed at Magdalene even as she rolled to one side…the nursemaid pitching forward.
Her terrible scream following her all the way down to the ground until it ended with a sickening thud.
Magdalene gasped for breath as Rhona ran crying to embrace her at the same moment Gabriel rushed through the doorway onto the roof.
His face white. His eyes filled with fear of what he might find—only to lunge for her and Rhona, and sink to his knees to pull them into his arms.
“It was Grania all these years…Grania,” Magdalene whispered against his ear, his face as wet as her own.
He said nothing, only hugged her fiercely and Rhona, too, the wind whistling around them.
* * *
“Promiseme you’ll never step foot atop any of the towers unless I’m with you,” Gabriel said sternly as the great hall resonated around him with people sitting down to breakfast.
“Aye, Uncle,” piped up Keira, seated opposite him at the head table.
“Oh, aye, Uncle,” added Rhona, looking quite somber from where she sat next to her older sister. “I didna like it at all—”
“Ah, Rhona, you’re as brave as can be tae have climbed up those steps! You saved my life!”
Gabriel watched as Magdalene jumped up from her chair to hasten around the table and give Rhona a big hug, though the child looked doubtful.
“I-I did?”
“Aye, with those fine lungs of yours! When I heard you cry out, it gave me the courage tae fight even harder—och, sweetheart, let’s not talk of it anymore. It’s a sad thing that’s happened for so many years, but Grania is at rest now, God forgive her. And we’ve no more MacLachlan family curse tae worry about, aye, husband?”
Gabriel nodded, though he still felt a catch in his chest that he had come so close to losing Magdalene, much in part to her wildly impulsive feat atop the parapet—though he loved her all the more for it!
He didn’t want to talk about it anymore, either, and he sensed it would take some time for Rhona to put what she had seen behind her. Yet children, thank God, were resilient…and his clever and courageous wife so kindhearted and loving, he knew both girls would thrive under her care.
Och, no more jealousy-crazed nursemaids as long as he was earl of MacLachlan Castle and whatever other stronghold and lands King Robert had bestowed upon him!
As Magdalene settled once again into the chair next to his, he leaned toward her, keeping his voice low as Keira and Rhona dug into their oat cakes drizzled with honey.
“In truth, wife, I meant those words about the towers for you as well.”
“I know, Gabriel. I promise I’ll never venture there again unless you’re with me tae hold my hand. I’ve a great fear of heights, remember?”
He saw teasing in her stunning sea green eyes but so much love, too, that his breath stilled as she leaned toward him and pressed the sweetest kiss to his lips.
His beautiful, brave, beloved—aye, and a wee bit mad, too, Magdalene.
Dumbarton, Scotland, Three days later…
“It’s good news, Reverend Mother?”
Nodding at Sister Tabitha, Sister Agnes sat by the fountain and watched the messenger sent from MacLachlan Castle mount his horse and prepare to ride out through the convent gates.
As if it were that same afternoon only a few weeks ago, she could hear the merry sound of Magdalene’s laughter as she had splashed and frolicked at this very spot while the nuns had watched in dismay.
Wringing their hands. Sending prayers heavenward. Wet from head to toe from their thwarted efforts.
Their poor lunatic charge dodging all efforts to catch her…except Magdalene hadn’t been a lunatic after all.
She was sane and whole and happy…so happy that she had wanted to share her joy by sending a messenger to the convent with the wonderful news.
She had asked for forgiveness, too, for all the trouble she’d caused them—and explained what lay at the heart of her ruse, which made Sister Agnes murmur a prayer for Debora, may she rest in peace.
Sadness turned to happiness, grief to joy.
Aye, God was good.
Smiling, Sister Agnes rose from the bench and went to the fountain where she dipped her hand into the cool water, filling her palm, and tossed it high in the air.
The droplets sparkling in the sunlight and then raining down upon her, which made her shake her head, thinking of all of Magdalene’s antics…and laugh.
