Love Letters from Largs: Brodie and Celestina (Highlander Clan Grant Series Book 3) (24 page)

Chapter Twenty-Six

The Aftermath

Celestina, still inconsolable, paced in the great hall. She had just returned from her riding lessons with her father. Learning to ride a horse well had been difficult work, but she was proud of her accomplishments, and she knew it was a skill she needed to live in the Highlands.

Would she ever make it to the
Grants? She had discussed her situation many times with her mother. Her parents had been wonderful. They’d told her they would take her whenever she was ready to go, but not until the worst of the fighting was over.

Her mother
wished to wait until Celestina’s two brothers had made it home; this she understood. But Celestina’s gut told her something bad had happened to someone special in her life, but whom? She changed her mind daily in trying to guess the identity of the injured party. On some days, she believed it to be Loki, on other days it was Brodie, but mayhap it was another of the Grant brothers?

The door flew open and she
twirled toward the entryway. The guard who stood there said, “There’s a wee lad asking for you at the gate, my lady. He is quite scruffy and we do no’ wish to let him in without your approval.”

She dashed toward the door. “Loki? Is it Loki?” Not waiting for
an answer, she charged down the front steps and headed toward the gate, shouting Loki’s name all the way. She must have appeared half-crazed, as everyone inside the inner bailey jumped out of her way.

She was hurrying through the gate when her
father’s bellow reached her ears. “Be careful, Celestina. Please wait for an escort.”

But she could not. She hastened
to the gate, toward the cluster of guards surrounding a small figure, tears running down her cheeks as she moved. “Loki? Is it really you?” She pushed against a guard and fought her way to her dear little lad.

“Missy angel, missy angel!”
Loki’s wee arms flung wide as he threw himself at her.

“Here, now. No reason to make the lady as messy as you
are, lad. Leave her be so you do no’ cover her with your dirt and grime.” One of the guards attempted to pull him away from her.

Celestina waved
him off as she swung the wee lad into her embrace. “’Tis all right. I am not worried about a bit of dirt.”

“Missy angel, listen to me
. Stop hugging me and listen. Please!” Loki begged as he tugged on her sleeve.

Celestina’s gut reeled
as she set him down in front of her. “What is it?” she whispered, afraid to hear of what he had to say.

“Missy angel, ‘tis
Master Brodie.”

Celestina’s vision
blurred and she thought she might faint. Nay, not her husband. She could not lose her husband. They were just getting to know each other. She fought to remain conscious so she could hear the rest of Loki’s story.

“He is hurt, missy. Two Norsemen stabbed him in the leg and he bled and bled. Nicol is taking him home to the Highlands so his sister can fix him. The healer at the camp wanted to saw his leg off, but Laird Alex stopped him. He says Brenna will fix him and save his leg.” Loki hesitated and took a deep breath.

The news made
Celestina stumble, but she righted herself. He was alive.
Thank you, Lord, for saving my husband.
They could handle his injuries, whatever they were. He needed her. She should be by his side. Nay, she
had
to be by his side. She would leave immediately, she needed to make plans, but how would she get there?

“
Come. I will take you there now.”

Loki held his hand out and
as soon as she placed her hand in his, he spun around, heading directly for the path. “Aye, Loki, take me to my husband. He needs me. I will be there for him.” She searched the area for her parents so she could let them know of their plans.

A deep voice stopped
both them in their tracks. “Whoa, lad. You have time to stay for something to eat and for us to help you prepare for your journey, aye?” Her father strode toward them, holding his hand out to Celestina.

She jerked in response to the large hand moving toward her
, reflexively putting her hands in front of her face to defend herself.

Her father pulled his hand back
, an alarmed expression on his face. “Och, lass. I will never raise a hand to you. ‘Tis no’ me. I love you and I am here to help you.”

Celestina
dropped her hands and nodded. This was her father, her true father, and she believed he would never hurt her deliberately.

He offered his hand again,
this time keeping it a fair distance from her. She reached out and grabbed it, sighing in relief. He would be there for her.

Her father whispered.
“Come, my dear, and we will find out all you need to know from the wee one, so we can help you find your husband. Remember, you are no longer alone; you have family to help you.” Her father searched the area for strange horses but found none. He directed his next question to Loki. “Lad, how did you get here?”

Loki’s panting slowed for a few seconds. “I ran.”

Her father’s shocked expression told her just how far they were from the battle. “You ran all the way alone?”

“Och, nay, I had some rides, but I ran from way back there!” His finger pointed
toward the forest and the planting fields.

Ranald MacLaren
strode over to Loki and patted him on the back. “Well done, lad. Now, come inside for something to eat, and we will make a plan. You can no’ make it all the way into the Highlands without a horse and some provisions. See now, look at Celestina. Does she look ready to travel?”

Glancing
from Celestina to The MacLaren, Loki finally answered, “Nay, Laird. I know how important it is for me to take care of Master Brodie’s wife, so I will stay for a bit. And if you could spare me something to eat, I would be much obliged.”

“Good decision. You must be a Grant warrior to think like that.”

“Aye, Laird. I am, and I will be training with the warriors soon.” Loki nodded his head in affirmation.

Celestina was so glad to see him.
She smiled as they traipsed to the great hall, the boy’s wee hand in hers, telling her again all he knew about Brodie’s injury.

She had to get to the
Grant clan to see her husband, but would her parents allow her to leave?

***

Brodie screamed at his sister. “Nay, Brenna, do no’ cut my leg off. I do no’ care if I die. Leave my leg alone.” He fought against the multiple arms that secured him to the bed, hoping to get one arm free to punch someone, anyone, to get his sister to stop.

“Brodie, if we do no’ remove your leg, you will die. The poison has spread up your leg and is headed to your heart. It will kill you. We must do it.”

“Nay!” Finally, one arm came free and he hauled a fist at Logan Ramsay who ducked just in time.

Logan bellowed.
“You whiny bastard! Hold still and let her cut. She knows what she’s doing.”

“
Nay, let me die. I am no good to Celestina without a leg. Alex, Robbie, make her stop!” He squirmed as much as he could to make himself a moving target, anything to prevent his sister from amputating his leg. He glanced to the side in time to see two people arrive, stopping just behind Brenna’s shoulder.

“Mama?
Da? What are you doing here? Make her stop, please!”

His
mother rushed to his side and brushed his cheek with her fingertips. “Brodie, dear, if you do no’ let her, you will be with us. You are too young. You will have many happy years ahead with Celestina. You do no’ need your leg for that. She will give you many bairns if you allow her the chance. Please, my dear. Be quiet and allow your sister to do what she must.”

Brodie swung again.
He stared at his sire. “Da, help me, please! Do no’ let her take my leg!”

A hand grasped his shoulder and shook him. “Brodie, wake up. Brodie, you’re having a
nightmare. Wake up!”

He opened his eyes and found Brenna at his side.
He tried to pull himself out of bed, but she grabbed him. “Stop, what are you doing? Wake up! You are dreaming.”

He bolted up in bed and tugged the sheet away. Both legs were still attached. He sighed and fell back down on his pillow.

“Brodie? What is it?”

He licked his parched lips and stared at Brenna. “I dreamed you were cutting my leg off and I would
no’ allow you.”

“Och, brother, I would no’ cut your leg off unless
there was no other choice. You know our healers only believe in amputations in extreme situations.” Brenna puttered around the room, organizing her tools and linens. “Though ‘twas no’ looking good for awhile, the worst is now over for you.”

“’Tis over?”
He pulled the sheet back to check his leg. “I will keep it?”

“Och, aye,” she
replied as she filled a goblet with ale and brought it to him. “Your leg will heal. Although you did have the fever for quite some time and you may limp for awhile, the poisons are gone. I will no’ be cutting your leg off, I promise.” She patted his good leg and smiled. “I am just so glad you are here. How is your pain?”

“’Tis tolerable.”
He bent his knee and grimaced, then exercised his ankle.
Thank you, lord, for saving my leg.
“Robbie and Alex? Nicol and Tomas? Is everyone in good health?”

Brenna sat on the bed
. “Nicol brought you home along with Logan Ramsay. Alex has returned, but no one has seen Robbie or Tomas. Alex searched the area, but apparently some of the warriors were sent south. The Norsemen were retreating back down the Firth of Clyde and Alexander of Dundonald wanted a group of warriors to return to South Ayrshire.”

“No word at all of Robbie?”

“Alex spoke to King Alexander about it, and he said Robbie was with Dundonald.”

Brodie heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed against his pillow.
If something had happened to him, Alex would have been told.

A knock sounded on the door, and Brenna’s husband, Quade Ramsay,
opened it and stuck his head through the crack. “Guess what time it is, Mama?” He stepped inside with a squalling babe in his arms, then handed the wean to Brenna.

Brenna held her arms out for her bairn, and calmed her daughter before turning to Brodie, “What do you think of your new niece
, Bethia?” The child quieted and stared at Brodie, assessing her uncle with her green eyes before breaking into a toothless grin.

“Och, she is a beauty, Brenna. Congratulations to both of you.” He nodded to Quade. “And
how do Lily and Torrian fare?”

Quade answered, “
They could no’ be more pleased. Lily has a little doll in the form of a sister to play with and Torrian is so excited to be back at the Grant keep in the Highlands. ‘Tis his idea of a wonderful trip.” Quade leaned over and kissed Brenna on the cheek. “In fact, I better go see what the two of them are up to. When I came up the staircase, they seemed to be scheming some amusement.”

After Quade took his leave, Brodie s
aid, “You are happy, sister?”

“More than you could ever know.”
Throwing a small blanket over her shoulder, she sat in the chair at the bedside and fed her daughter, hiding her from view under the blanket.

Brodie adjusted his covers, trying to give his sister the privacy she needed. When he
glanced at her a few moments later, Brenna grinned at him, a sparkle in her eyes. There had been times growing up when he’d felt closer to his sister than either brother. Robbie and Alex had been inseparable, oft leaving him on the outside.

“What?”
he asked, confused by her expression.

“I can no’ wait to meet her.”

“Who? What are you talking about?”

“Your wife
. Celestina. You mentioned her name a few times when you had the fever.”

“Och, you w
ill love her. Celestina is a verra brave lass. Her strength and stamina amaze me. She is no’ here yet, is she?” Brodie’s eyebrows quirked at her.

“Nay, you did no’ want us to send for her. The question in my mind is why you do no’ want your wife here with you. You do no’ want to stay in the Highlands? You wish to live in Ayr?”

“Nay!” Brodie’s shout forced a smile from Brenna. “’Tis complicated. Celestina just discovered her mother still lives and who her true sire is. She had never met him before. I doubt she will want to leave them, and I am no’ so sure I can provide for her and protect her in my condition. Mayhap ‘tis best for her to stay with her family.”

“The woman you
have described to me would want to be here by your side. She can still visit her parents, but she would no’ forsake her husband. I think you should allow Alex to send a messenger to her.”

Brodie huffed as he
considered his sister’s words. He didn’t have the heart to pull Celestina away from her home and her parents yet. He had to give her enough time to get to know them, to decide where she wanted to spend her life.