Page 24 of The Best of Madeline Grant

She blinked. “Alex?”

“Nay, not Alex.”

At first glance, the man bore a remarkable resemblance to her husband, right down to the same gray eyes. On closerinspection, she realized that he wasn’t as tall as Alex, and he had a mole on his neck that her husband didn’t have, but he definitely could have been a brother. Did Alex have one she didn’t know about?

“Who are you?” she asked. “And why do you look so much like my husband?”

“My name is Alasdair.” He set her feet down in the snow and her knees buckled, but he caught her. “And you are not the first to compare me to Alex Grant.”

“Alasdair, you need to get her inside,” the second man interrupted, his red locks swirling about his face. He had the greenest eyes she’d ever seen.

The blond man then came up to her right side and took her elbow. “Here, I’ll help you inside. Then we’ll start a fire and cover you up. You must warm up immediately. You were out too long in this storm.”

“Who are you?” Maddie asked, staring up into his crystal blue eyes.

“You may call me Els, short for Elshander. Now, inside.”

Maddie felt no need to resist these men. Something about them was familiar somehow, and she felt no fear around them. Though, given how weak she felt, she wasn’t sure she could fight them even if she didn’t feel such peace. Her mother had always told her that she should follow her instincts in life, that they would never fail her.

Right now, her instinct was to do whatever these four men suggested. Being alone on unfamiliar land was far from safe, and this group offered her the only alternative at present, so it was probably best to go along with them.

The men helped her inside a cave. It was not as large as the one she’d left behind, but it still would protect her from the wind. The fourth man took her horse and led the beast aroundthe side of the outcropping, presumably where it would be protected.

Els led her to a rock where she could sit down. When she did, she felt as if she became even heavier somehow, as if her limbs were slowly filling with stone. Her shivering hadn’t abated yet, and even though she was protected against the wind, her fingers and toes were turning numb, and her thinking slowed. Had she fallen asleep and dreamed this group?

She didn’t know what to believe anymore. A day ago she’d been in her great hall with her family and friends, enjoying her bairns. Now she was lost in a storm and alone.

Then the red-haired man brought in a stack of dry wood, piled it on the stone floor, and blew on it. The kindling blossomed into flames.

She gasped. “How did you do that?”

He smiled at her. “I only lit the fire.”

“But how ...” Maddie trailed off, wondering if her tired eyes were playing tricks on her. She felt heavy and cold, even with the fire beside her. Mayhap her exhaustion was causing visions.

“And what is your name?” she asked instead.

“Alick.”

“Where did you hail from, Alick? What clan?”

“That doesn’t matter,” Alasdair interrupted. “What does matter is that we get your body warm. We have some cheese for you, for sustenance. You must build your strength back. You’ve lost much.”

She took the hunk of cheese and took a bite, moaning at the sweet taste of it. “This is delicious,” she mumbled between chews. When she finished, she asked, “Where am I?”

Els said, “In a cave nearing Ramsay land. Alex will find you, but it will be a bit yet. In the meantime, we’ll wrap you in furs, get you something to drink, and keep the fire going. We will do what we can, but Alex must do the rest. He is your protector.”

“The rest? What must Alex do?”

“Worry not. Just rest and think of how soon you’ll be with your bairns again.”

Alick came forward with a pile of furs and arranged them in such a manner that she could lie down, something that was oddly enticing even though she’d woken from a nap just a few hours before. As if reading her thoughts, Alick said, “Aye, the cold has drained you and all your will. The storm has a force to it that you cannot see. But it has also drained your belief in your husband. The two of you are so powerful together. You will build a formidable clan, but you must join together to do this. We’re here to see that it does happen, that nothing will get in the way. You need rest. Sleep until Alex finds you and warms you.”

She didn’t understand all he said—how could a mere storm have power over her will?—but something in her simply trusted his advice. And what did he mean by what they would do, about building a powerful clan? How could he know what would happen years from now?

At the moment, she could not think on this puzzle any longer because she was tired. Too tired, too cold, too worried, too everything ...

So she rested herself on the warm furs with a sigh, lying on her side and tucking her legs up tight to her chest. Alick covered her with furs, and she closed her eyes, more tired than she could bear.