Page 36 of The Best of Madeline Grant

Her mother took a step back, her hands still on Kyla’s shoulders, and asked, “You are hale?” Then she paused, brushing the hair back from her face, and Kyla knew why. “Oh, Kyla.” Her mother had noticed her face—the swollen eye and the horrible bruises on her cheek. Maddie’s hand reached up to touch her, but she didn’t. “I know exactly how you feel, lass. I’m so sorry.” She could see the tears falling in rivers down her mother’s cheeks.

“Mama, I’ll heal. Do not worry.” She kissed her mother’s cheek and rubbed her arm, hoping her dear mama wouldn’t collapse in front of her.

“I was so hoping your father would get to you before anything happened.”

Aunt Brenna, who had followed Maddie out the door, motioned to Brodie. “Bring her inside so Jennie and I can check her over. I want to look at her foot.” Aunt Jennie had come outside with her and she nodded her agreement.

Her uncle carried her up the steps, Gillie trailing behind him. Once they made it to the hearth, the lad peppered her mother with his questions. “Are you Kyla’s mother? Finlay and I saved her.” He took Maddie’s hand and tugged on it. “We got her out while Simon and the Buchan were arguing.”

Her mother turned around, brushed her tears away, and asked, “Who is this?”

“I’m Gillie. I helped Finlay. He said if I helped him I could go to Grant land. And I met Alexander Grant and he said I couldcome along and be Kyla’s protector and then I could go to Grant land. I can be in your clan.” The hopeful expression in his gaze was sure to affect her mother.

Her mother stopped and patted his shoulder. “My thanks, lad, for protecting my daughter. I think you must have built up a big appetite working so hard. Would you like something to eat, mayhap a meat pie?”

“Do you have an extra one? I’ve not had a meat pie since Mama and Papa passed. My mama used to make the best mutton pies. What kind do you have? But I love them all, so any will do.”

Kyla glanced at her mother and saw the new tears gathering in her eyes just at the thought that a lad had lost both of his parents. Her mother had such a soft heart, and she was sure to watch over Gillie for some time.

Uncle Aedan entered the keep just then, and he must have overheard Gillie because he said, “Here, come along with me. I’ll show you the warrior’s meal we have just for you.”

Kyla said, “And something sweet, Uncle Aedan.”

Aedan nodded, and the two went off together. Brodie set her down in a tufted chair in front of the hearth, squarely in front of the warm fire there.

“The heat feels good.” She shuddered at the memory of Davina’s cold tower.

Aunt Brenna took over. “Kyla, I want you to tell me all the places you hurt, and how you gained each of your injuries.”

Once she sat in the chair, she said, “I’m verra tired, Auntie.”

Uncle Brodie said, “She slept most of the way here.”

“Her body needs to heal,” Aunt Jennie said. “We should check her foot before she sleeps, Brenna. If ‘tis broken, we’ll need to straighten it.”

Her mother said, “Brodie, why don’t you and Nicol go with Aedan? You can find something to eat and get some ale for the guards outside.”

Once they were alone, her mother whispered, “How badly, Kyla? Did they steal your maidenhead?”

“Nay, Mama. The thing that hurts the most is my foot. My hip is also sore, but not too bad. I have a headache from the fist I took, but ‘tis tolerable. I just cannot stand.”

Aunt Brenna removed her boot and assessed her foot, turning it and prodding it as gingerly as she could. She then checked her head and her eye, her aunt’s quiet mannerism soothing her in a way she could not explain.

Kyla decided this was as good a time as any to tell her mama about Finlay. “Mama, I know I shouldn’t have gone. ‘Twas foolish on my part, but I was truly worried about Davina. The note was a trick to get us there. I was verra naïve and I apologize. Finlay helped only because I insisted, so do not fault him. I love him, Mama.”

Her mother’s gaze lifted to hers, a small smile spreading across her face. “You do?”

“Aye. Spending so much time with him made me see him in a new way. He’s kind and he makes me laugh. If it hadn’t been for Finlay, I would still be under the control of those awful men. He and Gillie watched over me. He did his best to protect me, and they beat him for it. He asked Papa for my hand before Uncle Brodie brought me home.”

“He did?”

She’d never seen such a surprised expression on her mother’s face, but it was one of happiness. “Can you believe it, Mama? I’ve finally found someone wonderful to love.”

“And what did your papa say?”

“He said he would think on it. Finlay said he wishes to prove he’s worthy of being a Grant. He thinks ‘twas all his fault, but Iconvinced him to go. I would have found another to take me if he did not.”

Aunt Jennie sent some lads off to set up a tub in one of the chambers. “And what did you have to say about this proposed marriage?”