Keegan hoped the weather would hold so they could reach Dornie before nightfall. He would breathe a lot easier when everyone was out of danger.
What dampened his mood was the pain Dirk was in, even though he tried not to show it. Two of his men, one under each arm, helped him board the ship while Isobel looked on with a worried frown.
Keegan surveyed the area again, especially the stone-dotted green hills around the northern and eastern edges of the village. Haldane and his men had a habit of hiding on hilltops and raining down arrows.
MacMillan carried Lady Patience on board. She and four of the MacKay guards were prone to seasickness, and this was one reason they’d traveled overland thus far. Also, none of the MacKay birlinns or galleys was large enough to accommodate their entire party plus horses. But now they needed to reach Isobel’s brother’s keep, Teasairg Castle, as soon as possible for everyone’s safety and so a healer could treat Dirk’s leg.
Keegan escorted Seona to the small, wood-framed captain’s cabin, where the women would remain until they reached their destination. When Seona’s gaze met his for that brief moment, he saw glimpses of secret yearnings in her eyes. He hoped they were the same yearnings he had. After what she’d said last night, he believed they were. He gave her a brief smile and took his leave.
On deck, he and the other guards kept an eye out for enemies until the ship sailed out of the harbor. Maybe Haldane and the few men he had left were off licking their wounds.
Keegan was thankful the sky remained clear most of the day with no severe weather in sight. The gentle but persistent wind in the galleon’s giant white sails propelled them the fifty or so miles south, between the Scottish mainland and the Hebrides. At first, the islands and their jagged mountains were hazy blue in the distance, but once they sailed closer, the green hills speckled with white sheep and black cattle were clear. He recognized the largest of these islands, Isle of Skye, for he’d visited a few years ago with Da and Uncle Griff, the former chief.
Keegan wished Seona could join him on deck so he could point out the picturesque mountain ranges, the Red Cuillins and the Black Cuillins, but ’twas much safer for her to remain inside the cabin.
The sun was low in the sky when the oarsmen paddled through a few narrow straits and along Loch Alsh. Keegan was glad they were almost to their destination with no sign of trouble. Of course, this was only a stopover, for he was tasked with taking Lady Seona home. A sinking dread settled into his gut.
The ship anchored just off shore from Teasairg Castle, in the middle of the loch, and they took smaller boats to the sea gate. Keegan, Seona, Dirk, Isobel, three guards and an oarsman were in the second boat.
Once they docked and the sea gate opened, Dirk hobbled up the narrow stone steps under his own power. The guards and Isobel followed. Keegan made sure he could catch Seona if she stumbled on the uneven steps. At the top, Dirk was breathing hard and his face was ashen. Although he wasn’t moaning in pain, Keegan knew he was feeling it.
Chief Cyrus MacKenzie, frowning darkly, and his brothers, met them in the cobblestone bailey.
Cyrus eyed Dirk’s lower leg below his plaid. “Saints! What on earth happened?”
“Arrow through the calf,” Dirk said. “’Twas one of Haldane’s men. We had a couple of skirmishes during our travels.”
“Show them up to Isobel’s chamber,” Cyrus told the maid standing nearby, then he turned to one of his men. “Go find the healer and send her to Isobel’s room.”
“Aye, m’laird.”
Isobel briefly greeted her brothers while the rest of their party disembarked from the small two-oared boats. Two guards helped Dirk across the bailey and toward the entrance to the keep.
Leaving Seona with Isobel and Patience, who were surrounded by several MacKay guards, Keegan followed Dirk and the two men into the corner of the almost empty great hall. He trailed after them up the narrow turnpike stair and into Isobel’s old chamber to make sure the room was safe.
The maid rushed to the small hearth to start a fire while the two guards helped Dirk into the large bed. He sank into what had to be a thick featherbed. Even if Keegan hadn’t known this was Isobel’s bedchamber from when she was a lass, the lacy curtains and abundance of floral embroidered pillows would’ve made it clear.
“I thank you, lads,” Dirk mumbled, his words slurred.
“M’laird.” One of the guards dipped his head. “We’ll wait in the corridor.”
“Uh-huh,” Dirk grunted, his eyes closed.
“How much whisky have you had?” Keegan asked.
“Enough.” Dirk forced a grin but his face was sweaty and pale from the exertion and pain.
Keegan had checked on Dirk several times throughout the day where he’d been lying in a hammock style bed used by the sailors. Half the time, Dirk had been sleeping, most likely due to the whisky, or because he’d lost sleep the night before. At least, if he was asleep, he wasn’t feeling pain. Keegan hoped the MacKenzie’s healer could help Dirk recover.
Rebbie entered the room, his dark eyes concerned. “How is the pain?”
“No’ so bad.” Dirk winced as he moved his leg.
“You’re a bold-faced liar, my friend, but I’ll overlook it this time.”
“Aye, you’d best do that.”
“I’ll send Isobel in. She’ll cure what ails you.”
Dirk actually grinned at that. “Both of you… update Cyrus on everything that’s happened.”
“We will,” Keegan said. “Get some rest.”
“Aye.”
Keegan and Rebbie left the room, bypassing Isobel, her two maids, and an older woman, perhaps the healer, just as they arrived. At the bottom of the steps, MacMillan approached, carrying Lady Patience, her face white, eyes closed tight, and her hand pressed tightly against her stomach. Keegan cringed, imagining how miserable her extreme nausea must be. But MacMillan was taking good care of her. Keegan suspected the guard did not mind helping her. In fact, he seemed rather taken with the lady and was greatly protective of her.
Seona followed a few feet behind them. When her eyes met Keegan’s, she gave him a brief, shy smile. He had come to depend on those to lighten his mood. He winked in return. Even in the dimness, her blush was evident.
“How is your aunt?” Keegan asked, glancing at MacMillan carrying her up the steps.
“Not so well.” Seona shook her head. “She’s very seasick and her ankle still pains her.”
“I hope she recovers from both ailments quickly.”
“I thank you. She will be wondering where I am.” Seona hastened up the steps.
He stared after her, wishing they could’ve talked longer about… anything. The topic didn’t matter to him. He simply loved listening to her light, feminine voice and looking into her eyes.
He caught up to Rebbie and they headed toward the great hall. “Lucky bastard,” Rebbie mumbled.
“What?” Keegan asked, even though he knew what Rebbie was referring to.
“I saw the way she looked at you with that seductive smile.”
Keegan couldn’t help but grin in response. “She is lovely.”
“And you are smitten, my friend.”
“Guilty as charged.” Keegan only hoped he would find another opportunity soon to talk to Seona and spend some time with her. Their kiss the night before, combined with that revealing conversation, had kept him awake most of the night.
***
Seona entered the chamber Hugh MacMillan had carried her aunt into. Patience now lay on the bed and the guard waited a few feet away.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, m’lady?” he asked.
“Nay. I thank you, Hugh, for all your help. I don’t know how you put up with me.”
“Och. M’lady, ’tis no hardship. Would you like me to get a fire started?”
“Nay. Millie will do that. Where is Millie anyway?”
“Here, m’lady.” She rushed in from the corridor along with their other maid, Edwina.
MacMillan left and the two maids fussed over Lady Patience, preparing her for bed.