Page 29 of In the Highlander's Bed

“It’sher,” Maggie told him, pointing a finger at Constance. “She has a devil’s heart.” She spoke rapidly, the words tumbling out of her mouth. “I saw her coming in my dreams. There was water there. Everywhere. We were all afraid and yet she stood there without fear. She will use dark arts to destroy thee. She’ll end it all, Gordon.End it all.”

Eyes widened at these words, and Gordon could have cursed. His clansmen were superstitious—after all, wasn’t that why he wanted the sword?—and Maggie’s fit did not bode well. Perhaps he should have tossed her out.

Constance stood still, as if carved from stone. Gordon didn’t know what she thought. He spoke calmly. “You are full of malarkey, Maggie. Your mind is playing tricks.”

Maggie jutted her chin forward, ready to refute him, but Gordon cut her off. “Enough. I’ll not have you scaring the children.”

At the mention of the last word, Maggie’s anger fled. She physically changed before his eyes. Her body seemed to lose all energy as she shrunk down. What was left was a puzzled old woman who looked around as if just now realizing they had an audience. “Where’s my Patty?” she asked in her rattling voice. “I’ve lost my Patty.”

Gordon picked up the rag doll. “Here she is, Maggie, and she’s been crying for you.”

“Och, my Patty crying?” Maggie took the doll into her arms. She started rocking back and forth, sniveling and saying, “I scared you, didn’t I, lovely one. I scared you.” She began to weep, her body shaking with soft sobs.

Gordon straightened and looked aroundthe crowd until he caught sight of his sister. Fiona stood back, away from everyone. She was dressed in her habitual black, the Lachlan tartan around her shoulders. She had not come forward to greet him. She never did.

She’d joined their number two months ago. Gordon had hoped that being here with the clan would help Fiona. Instead, she stayed well away from everyone, her features tight and pinched…accusing.

Well, the time had come for him to give her something to do.

“Fiona, take Maggie to her hut. See that she has a cup of cider. You’ll find the jug in my quarters.”

“Cider?” Maggie said, her round face now a wreath of smiles. “What a lovely gift. Why, a nice cup of cider is exactly what I need. Patty would like one, too. May we have two cups?”

“Two cups would be good,” Gordon answered. He looked to his sister, who had not moved. “Fiona?”

She pulled her shawl tighter around her body. She was thin. Too thin. At nine and twenty, he was six years older than Fiona. Her mother had been his stepmother, his father’s second wife. That explained the rich mahogany of Fiona’s hair and her wide brown eyes. He and she hadlived very separate lives. They continued to do so in camp.

Just when Gordon thought she would publicly refuse him, she came forward. Offering her hand, she said, “Come, Maggie, we shall see you comfortable.”

“And let me have cider,” Maggie agreed with childlike anticipation.

“Yes, as much cider as you wish.” There was little emotion in Fiona’s voice.

Gordon watched them leave.

It was Emma who spoke. “She’s not growing any better.”

Did she speak of Maggie…or of his silent, stone-faced sister?

He decided to pretend it was Maggie because Fiona wasn’t a topic he wanted to discuss.

“She has nowhere to go, Emma,” Gordon said. “And sheisone of us.” He raised his voice as he spoke so that all could hear. “We are a clan, and that means we take care of our own. We stand together and then no one can stand against us.”

Silence met his words. He could see from the expression in their eyes that they wanted to believe…and yet feared he might ask more than they were willing to give.

It was Thomas who answered. “Aye,” heagreed, his robust voice giving the others courage.

“You are right, Gordon,” one said.

“Clansmen,” echoed another.

“We take care of our own,” Gordon reiterated. This time his words were seconded. This time they showed spirit.

Gordon turned to Emma Reivers. “I know Maggie isn’t right in the head, but would you leave her behind?”

Wisely, Emma didn’t answer that question.

Turning to Constance, Gordon said, “No harm will come to you from her, or anyone else, while you are undermyprotection.”