Highland Sanctuary (3 page)

Her moss-green eyes watched him, assessing his character. She wiped at the tears staining her cheeks. "We must have hit somethin'. The wagon nearly tipped over. She fell from her seat and hit her head."

Gavin bent to his knees, surveying the unmoving lass and felt for a pulse in her neck. It beat steady. Her skin was warm and smooth. She was much younger than her concerned friend. "Have ye checked her head for bleeding?"

"It only happened a moment ago. I first tried to wake her." Alarm crossed her face as her eyes widened, and she grabbed the girl's hands between her own. "I do wish she'd wake. 'Twould put my mind at ease. She's my daughter . . . my only child." Her chin trembled.

"May I?" Gavin gestured toward her daughter. "I'd like to check her head for bleeding or lumps."

"Aye." She nodded. "Serena took many falls as a child. She was always so free-spirited. But I've never known her to be out this long."

Serena.
He liked her name. It was different. Lying here, she looked serene. Although her skin was pale, he could tell she had spent time in the sun. Her dark lashes curled against her skin. Light freckles lay across the bridge of her nose. He took a deep breath and eased his hands in her black hair. It was thick and free of curls, reminding him of black velvet, though it felt more like smooth satin.

"It's right here." He found a bump forming on the right side of her head above her ear. "'Tis only a slight knot. I'm sure she'll be fine." Gavin glanced at the full wagon. "There's little room in yer wagon. Would ye like me to carry her to my horse?"

She graced her knuckles over her daughter's cheek. "I'm verra thankful for yer assistance. We live in the Village of Braigh about a mile ahead. Would ye mind carrying her there? We were just returning from the town market."

"We'd be honored," Gavin said. "We're on our way to Braigh Castle. Is yer village near the castle?"

"Aye." A smile brightened her worry-filled eyes. "Only a half a mile further beyond our village would be my guess."

Gavin crooked his finger toward his men, singling out Roan. As his friend dismounted, Gavin realized how much his tall frame would benefit them. His long blond hair was tied back at the nape. One thing he and his men lacked over the course of their travel was proper grooming. He hoped their ragged looks and overgrown beards wouldn't offend or frighten the lasses.

"I'm going to mount my horse, and I need ye to lift her to me as gently as possible."

"I got 'er." Roan said, bending to one knee and slipping an arm beneath her neck and behind her knees.

Once he was settled upon Sholto, Gavin secured the reins and held out his arms. Roan raised her up. Gavin settled her across his lap, hoping she would be comfortable and the ride wouldn't jar her wounded head too much. It helped that she wore a simple brown gown.

"Careful," her mother said, wringing her hands.

"Serena will be safe. Would ye prefer to drive the wagon or would ye like for one of my men to take over?" If she was too upset, he didn't want another mishap to befall them.

She shook her head. Pieces of hair loosened from her braid. "Nay, it helps me to have somethin' to do. Let me know as

soon as she wakes. My name's Evelina Boyd, and I'm verra thankful for yer help."

Leith assisted her to better secure the horse to the wagon and checked the condition of the wheels. Once he and Roan were mounted on their horses again, they began a slow pace to match Evelina's wagon.

The men conversed in quiet tones. A bird flapped its wings above them and sang. A gentle draft kept the air from being too warm. The sun hid behind white clouds and burst out in brightness every once in a while.

Gavin looked down at the bonny lass in his arms, breathing in the feminine scent of heather and juniper. The aroma stirred forgotten memories of another lass he'd tried his best to forget. If she had lived, he'd be a married man by now, mayhap the father of wee bairns. To his bitter disappointment, his life had taken another route, which led him and his brother all over Europe to escape his grief and guilt.

"Could that be a patch of woods down yon in the glen?" Leith rode up beside Gavin and shielded his hand over his eyes.

"Looks like it." Relieved to be distracted from his thoughts, Gavin looked where his brother gestured. "That must be Braigh Castle."

Situated on a long, narrow rocky cliff sat a magnificent stone fortress that looked to be king of the sea. A wide tower stood tall above wings that stretched out on each side. "From here, it doesn't look like it needs to be restored," Gavin said, admiring the view. "How will we ever be able to improve upon it?"

"Ye're here to restore the castle, then?" Evelina rolled the wagon to a stop beside them.

"Aye." Gavin nodded, careful not to reveal the other reason they were there—to protect the new laird, his castle, and

the village. He wondered how much Evelina and Serena knew concerning the truth behind the elder laird's death.

"The massive keep is at least two centuries auld and Vikings have attacked it on several occasions," Evelina said.

"Were they ever successful?" Leith asked.

"I don't think so." Evelina shook her head. "But I don't know the whole history." She glanced at Serena in Gavin's arms. "Will the restoration take long?"

Gavin shrugged. "We won't know 'til we see the damage."

"Oh." Her gaze shifted back to the castle as she pondered his words. Her expression tensed as the lines around her eyes and mouth deepened. She cleared her throat. "I suppose that means ye'll be here for quite a while then?"

"Aye." He nodded.

A strange silence followed. An eerie forboding crawled up his spine. He couldn't help sensing she didn't welcome their presence. He scratched his temple.

"Back in the town of Braighwick people called it the Village of Outcasts," Leith said. "Why?"

"Ye'll see soon enough." The warmth in her eyes faded to a reserved caution as she clicked to her horse and started forward.

As they approached the only patch of woods in the area, Gavin braced himself for what could earn this place the odd name. They crossed into the shade of the birch and hazel trees dotted among the dominant forest of pine. Brown needles cushioned the ground in a blanket of comfort, much like the serenity of snow he loved in winter. The fresh pine scent surrounding them appealed to Gavin as he breathed.

Small dwellings were scattered throughout the woods, made of stone and packed with peat bothy, straw, heather, and moss. The turf roofs contained a simple hole for the smoke that rose from the center where they built their fires. If the inside of these cottages were like the ones that belonged to his father's tenants at home, most were one-room dwellings with a dirt floor. The family slept on one side, while their cattle passed the night on the other. Having grown up in the luxury of his father's castle, it was hard to imagine enduring conditions such as these as a way of life.

A few people opened their doors to watch them pass. Compassion hit Gavin with a force he had not expected. Their clothes were worn through and tattered in places. Most were barefoot. Filth and grime covered their faces. The Boyds seemed out of place here with their clean clothes and appearance. Yet, in spite of these people's poverty, their eyes glowed with a passionate joy he couldn't fathom, not the listless melancholy one would expect.

"This is ours." Evelina stopped in front of one of the rectangular hovels. She secured the reins, set the wagon brake, and climbed down.

A
s Evelina's feet landed on the ground, the wooden door swung open and Gunna poked her gray head out. "What on earth?" Her face wrinkled in concern. She narrowed her gaze and patted her tight bun in place. "Evelina? Is it ye?"

"Aye, Gunna." Evelina knew the poor woman couldn't see their faces. Over the years her eyesight had grown worse. Evelina feared she would soon be blind. "Serena had an accident and these men have helped me bring her home," Evelina said over her shoulder as she rushed to Gavin. "I'll show ye where to take her."

Gavin handed Serena over to Leith so he could dismount. "Oh, dearie me. How bad is she?" Gunna stepped outside, wringing her hands in distress. Her plump form blocked the entrance.

"Gunna, let us by," Evelina said. "He's trying to bring her in."

"Beg yer pardon. I didn't mean to get in the way." She touched her hand to her chest and moved.

Evelina followed Leith inside with a silent prayer on her tongue. She made the sign of the cross, touching her forehead, chest, and each shoulder.

"Ye can lay her here on my bed." Evelina pointed to a small box bed in the corner of the one-room cottage with an identical bed beside it. As Leith laid Serena down, she stirred, moaned, and rolled over without waking. Evelina's heart pounded against her ribs, a glimpse of hope in the slight movement stretching her faith. "I'm afraid the loft where Serena usually sleeps would be too difficult for ye to carry her up the ladder and for me to attend her."

"Good idea," Gavin said, stepping inside. His gaze slid to the wooden ladder nailed to the wall that led to the loft. He peered at the oak table with wooden chairs by the fireplace. She wondered what he thought, then dismissed the concern. Serena was the priority.

"Is there aught else we can do?" Gavin asked.

Evelina walked over the dirt floor to the end of the bed and removed her daughter's shoes. She pulled a blanket over Serena. "Would ye find Tomas for me?" Evelina straightened. "He should be at the kirk. If not, he might be tending to someone in the village. Just ask around for him."

"What does he look like?" Gavin asked.

"He's bald." She paused, realizing that wasn't entirely true. "Well, maybe a wee bit on the top." She patted her own head for emphasis. "He's average height, thin, and I'd say middleaged."

"I'd be obliged to find him for ye." Gavin stepped back toward the door.

"And he's probably wearing a brown robe with a rope cord around the waist."

"He's a priest?" Leith asked.

"Aye." She nodded.

"Do ye plan to have her last rites read?" Gavin glanced over at Serena, concern apparent in his eyes as he raised a brow.

"Tomas is both priest and physician in our village." Evelina tucked the covers around her daughter.

"We'll be happy to find Tomas for ye." Leith said, grabbing Gavin's arm and leading him out. "Come on, Gavin. We'd better be on our way."

"Thank ye for yer aid." Evelina said to their retreating backs. Once they were gone, Evelina sighed and dropped to her knees. "Gunna, Serena had another fit. This one was the worst I've seen. We've got to pray she comes to—and soon."

"Once I find the physician, I'll join the rest of ye for supper." Gavin slapped Leith on the back.

They parted ways while Gavin headed to the only wooden building in the midst of the village with a crooked cross leaning to the right above the entrance. He walked up the four steps and opened the door aged with splintered wood. Rusted hinges groaned. No windows. The little sanctuary appeared as dark as tree bark. He blinked, allowing his eyes time to adjust.

"Hello!" Gavin called. Silence. "Tomas?"

Rows of benches ran on each side of the sanctuary creating an aisle up the center. He listened, but no sound save his own cautious footsteps greeted him. "Tomas, if ye're here, Serena Boyd has fallen and needs yer help." If the physician-priest was hiding, Gavin hoped he would show himself once he knew why Gavin sought him.

Gavin waited a few more seconds and walked out. As he bounded down the steps, he wondered where he should go next. He had no choice but to make an unexpected visit to each resident of the village until he found Tomas. Peering through the woods, he saw another dwelling to the right. He walked toward it, ducked beneath a low branch, his boots crushed over pine needles, cones, and fallen twigs.

A hand-carved slate that read "Cobbler" hung outside a small cottage. It didn't look like a cobbler shop. Gavin took a deep breath and knocked. No one answered. Hammering continued from inside. Mayhap they couldn't hear him. He pushed open the door as bells jingled from a string. The room was wide-open with a long table on each side. Shoes and boots for ladies, men, and children were stacked in neat rows across the carved shelves along the walls of the shop.

The cobbler worked on a pair of soles with his back to the entrance. Gavin cleared his throat, but the man didn't move from his practice.

"May I help ye, sir?" A young lass appeared through a long blue curtain from a back room and hurried toward him. Her soft brown eyes gaped up at him in curiosity. She couldn't have been more than ten and six. When she leaned forward with her hands clasped in front of her, long brown hair fell over her shoulder, down to her waist. She blinked, her eyelashes curling.

Gavin glanced over at the cobbler, who was still oblivious that anyone had entered his shop.

"Da is deaf ." The lass followed his gaze. "That's why I attached the bells to the door, so I'd be able to hear while I tend to other chores. I'm Lavena, so do ye need some shoes made?"

"Nay, I'm looking for Tomas. Have ye seen him?"

"How do ye know Tomas?" She tilted her head. "Ye're new to the village."

"True. I don't know him. We ran into Serena and Evelina on our way to Braigh Castle. Serena was hurt and Evelina sent me to find Tomas."

"I hope she'll be all right." Concern flickered in her eyes as she blinked and shook her head. "I've not seen 'im, but let me see if either of my sisters have." She turned. "Rosheen! Birkita!" Gavin's ears rang, unprepared for the way she bellowed their names, quite a booming voice for such a young female of her small stature.

Another lass appeared through the curtain carrying a worn book with her finger pressed in the center of it. Her hair was a shade darker than her sister's. She smoothed her free hand across her gray wrinkled skirt and straightened to her full height, which was quite tall. "Birkita, this man is looking for Tomas. Did ye see him on yer walk earlier?"

"Nay." Birkita shook her head.

A third lass popped through the curtain and shoved her plump hips between her two sisters to make room for her grand entrance. A displeasing frown marred her forehead, as her dark eyes shifted to Gavin. "I heard, and nay, I've not seen 'im." She was shorter than the other two, and while she was heavier, Gavin could tell by her smooth, round skin that she was the youngest. Her dress pulled against the extra flesh folding around her neck and arms. "Why do ye want Tomas? Who are ye?"

"Rosheen, mind yer manners." Lavena scolded. "She doesn't trust strangers verra easily. Please forgive her rudeness. Ye must give Tomas my best when ye find him."

"Of course." Gavin said, backing up. He couldn't escape this odd place soon enough. He bumped into a solid figure who grabbed his shoulder.

"Ah! We've a customer, do we?" A man shouted in his ear. "My name's Girard, and I'll be glad to assist ye with a fine pair o' shoes this day."

Gavin resisted the temptation to poke his fingers in his ears. His sister had a brother-in-law who couldn't hear, but he didn't go around shouting like this man. He looked at Lavena for assistance. As if sensing his discomfort, she went to her father and removed his hand from Gavin's shoulder and shook her head.

"Oh, he's not 'ere for business?" Disappointment wrinkled his frowning expression. "Then why is he 'ere?"

Gavin closed his eyes. The cobbler's voice echoed through his head.

"Thanks for yer assistance." Gavin took advantage of the moment and made his escape. Outside, he breathed deeply and rubbed his sore ears. The refreshing pine scent gave him renewed energy. Determined to keep his word, he hurried to the next dwelling.

"Hold it up higher, Quinn. How ye expect me to get the wheel on if ye don't?" A whiny male voice complained.

A huge man who must have been close to eight feet tall held up a wagon, but as soon as he noticed Gavin, he lowered it. "We've company, Beacon." His deep voice sounded as menacing as he looked.

Gavin gulped. As a warrior who had been in his share of battles, he rarely quaked at the brawn of other men, but this man was a giant. He forced a friendly smile, knowing it was too late to turn around and retreat. Besides, cowardice wasn't in his blood.

"What do ye mean?" The other one stepped out from behind the cover of the wagon, rolling a wheel taller than himself. Gavin blinked at the wee man, standing no taller than three

and a half feet. "What are ye staring at? Haven't ye ever seen a dwarf before?" He pulled out a short sword and held it up.

"Nay, Beacon. Calm yer temper." He laid a large hand on the dwarf's head.

"Afternoon," Gavin said with a nod in greeting. "Evelina sent me to find Tomas. He wasn't at the kirk. Do either of ye know where he might be?"

"What have ye done to the Boyds?" Beacon thrust his sword at Gavin, but he was too far away to touch him.

"Ye're a stranger." Quinn stepped forward, placing his fisted hands on his hips. "How do ye know Tomas?"

Gavin launched into the story of Serena's injury. Afterwards, Quinn shook his head. "We haven't seen Tomas since this morn. But he mentioned he might visit Kyla this day."

"Who is Kyla?" Gavin asked.

"The village seamstress." Quinn scratched his brown head. "He worries 'bout her. She's not been the same since losing her husband and bairn to the fever."

"Fever? How long ago was that?" Gavin wondered if there might be some contagious disease spreading through these people. Mayhap that could explain the madness.

"At least a year ago." Quinn shoved a thumb over his large shoulder. "She's up this way. We can take ye there, if ye want."

"What?" Beacon looked at him, lifting a palm up. "We don't have time for that. We got work to do."

"Beacon, this wagon wheel will be waitin' when we get back. No reason why we canna help out. Ye're gettin' difficult in yer auld age."

"Auld age?" Beacon sheathed his sword at his waist and raised a wee fist at his giant friend. "I'm five years yer junior!"

"Let's go find Tomas." Quinn stepped over Beacon, ignoring him. Each heavy footfall he took pounded the earth.