The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain (Clans of Mull #2)

Chapter Five

Thane

Thane stood on the beach not far from their castle, laughing as Tamsin participated in a game with Alana, Magni, and Lia. They were playing catch me in the water.

“My do it? Pweez?” asked wee Alana, already soaked from head to toe.

“We’ll move in, Magni. Give her a chance.” She turned to her daughter, bending down to her level. “All you have to do is touch us and you will win, lassie. That’s the game,” her mother said, chuckling as her daughter headed straight for her.

“I get you, Mama.”

Tamsin ran away from her, but slowly, so her daughter could catch her, if Thane were to guess. He’d never known such happiness as the day Tamsin entered his life. Well, once she’d gotten away from that cruel husband of hers. Alana was as sweet as could be, and watching Tamsin with the three bairns warmed his heart.

He’d once wondered if he even had a heart to warm. No more. She’d warmed every part of him until he’d fallen in love with her. Something that had pleased his sister as much as anyone. Mora had whispered to him, “I knew it. You are perfect together, Thane.”

Brian had drawled, “Good. Now mayhap we can allow some lasses around once in a while. I’d like to marry someday.” Thane had hated their mother so much that he refused to allow women in the keep, except for them to share in a meal. Things changed after he met Tamsin, to his siblings’ delight.

Mora came flying down the beach and shouted, “Get me, Alana! Come catch me!”

Tamsin whirled around to see Mora, then tripped and fell into deeper water, going under with a sputter. Thane nearly got his boots wet to chase after her, but her confidence in the water had grown much, thanks to his help. Instead, she popped her head above the surface and said, “I’m fine, Thane!”

She giggled as Alana launched herself at her mother with a squeal. “Got you, Mama.”

“You did get me, sweetum. Now go for Magni.”

Lia made her way back toward Thane, saying, “I have a chill. The water is a wee bit cool.”

Thane said, “I’ll stay out with you, Lia. They can have their fun. I still don’t trust the area.” He glanced over his shoulder, pleased to see Brian talking with another guard, Bearnard. Thane wouldn’t go anywhere outside the walls without guards.

Lia said, “We are all happy now, and I thank you for that, my lord.”

“You are a large part of that happiness, little lady.”

“Aye, but please understand that some things must happen. In order for everything to work the way the heavens wish, things often go awry. Fear not—all will be well, eventually.”

He scowled, wishing to ask for more of an explanation for such an odd comment, but he sensed something behind him. A sudden chill ran up his spine because he knew it was more than the slight rustle of a squirrel scampering in the leaves. The vibration in the ground of large animals was too heavy and came from far away.

“Tamsin, get Alana and come here, please.” He wasn’t going to wait to see what it was.

A wee puppy ran straight toward them, drawing Alana’s attention. Her chubby legs churned toward the animal, and her giggles carried everywhere, even over her mother’s shouts for her daughter not to chase after the small dog. Thane was about to go after her when he heard shouts from Brian. Several mysterious horsemen came at them from three different directions and they wore no plaids, an indication of someone not of the isle. Who they were and what they were doing near his land he didn’t know, but he wouldn’t wait to find out. He had to get the wee ones to safety first.

“Go to the keep, Magni. Grab Lia and get on the horse and go!”

Tamsin screamed but was caught in her gowns. “Alana, nay!”

Thane went after Alana, reaching her just before one of the horsemen did, scooping her up with one arm. His weapon was at the ready, and he swung his sword so hard he nearly took off the man’s arm, causing him to drop his weapon.

“Mora, run!”

Mora had her bow at the ready, firing as she hurried toward the castle while Brian and the other guard went after two men.

Thane grabbed Alana out of the path of the next intruder, then turned to Tamsin and pulled her close to him. He turned around to look for the others, though he only had two hands. “Magni, hurry!” But his warning was too late, and he was too far away to stop the bastards.

Two men grabbed Magni and Lia, then took off into the woods.

“I’ll protect her, Thane. Do not worry!” Magni shouted after them.

Brian and Bearnard headed after the two men with the bairns.

Thane tossed Tamsin and Alana on one horse, slapping the animal’s flank to send them toward the castle gates, then mounted his own steed. He set off toward the castle and leaned over to grab his sister just before another charging horse reached for her. He swung her up roughly, but he caught her, and she hung on tightly. Once she was behind him, the other man turned tail and left.

“Brian, I’ll be right behind you.”

He had to get Mora, Tamsin, and Alana safely inside the curtain wall before he could leave. Who were the men? He’d just begun to feel safe again after the failed attack on Duart Castle. Killing MacDougall and Raghnall Garvie hadn’t put an end to their terror.

What the hell did they want with the bairns?

Once they were inside the gates, he spoke to Artan, “Let no one in. I’m going after the men who stole Lia and Magni. Do not leave here, Artan. You are in charge.”

Mora hugged him. “Please save them, Thane. We need Magni and Lia. They are such an important part of our clan.”

He helped Tamsin down and she cupped his cheeks. “Many thanks to you for Alana. Now go save those wee ones.” She gave him a quick kiss and he left, glad to hear the gates close behind his departure.

Where the hell would they be taking the two?

He found the path where Brian and Bearnard had gone. It took nearly half the hour to catch up with them, but they had both stopped in a clearing, scanning the area.

Bearnard was shaking his head. “Chief, they disappeared. I have no idea where they are. We saw one horse, but they split, and we must have followed the wrong one.”

Brian rubbed his chin. “What do we do now?”

Thane searched the area briefly, then said, “We go back. I’m leaving you all at the castle to protect what is ours. To protect Mora and Alana. Get all the guards’ families out of their homes and bring all the women and bairns inside the keep. There’s room. We must warn the others that the men looking for lasses are back. I’ll go to Clan Grantham to see if anyone else has had trouble. We need more men than we have.”

On the way back to the keep, all he could think of were Lia’s last words to him.

Fear not—all will be well, eventually.

How he prayed she was right.