Page 97 of Promises to Keep

“Oh right!” I ran for the keys. “Who has the keys?”

Hayley yelled, “Me! Follow me!” She and I ran out and climbed in the truck, Lochie jumped in the bed, crouching, as Hayley drove us at top speed into the middle of the storm, with a high buffeting wind, and a torrential rain whipped up from the nearby lake and the gray clouds of the day.

The windshield wipers made a loud flap flap flap. We pulled up to the clearing with rain pouring down, the wind whipping, and two drenched people lying in the mud. Beside them was a horse that shifted, rocked, then stood.

Lochie jumped from the truck bed, wind buffeting him sideways, he fought against it to reach the bodies. I forced open the door and jumped out into the storm and followed him.

I knelt down beside Magnus and smoothed his hair back from his face. He was alive, just semi-conscious, but beginning to stir. I unclasped the chin strap on his helmet and pushed it off his head.

In the mud beside him a person was facedown.A woman? Lady Mairead?She seemed too small, and was wearing what looked like was once a white night dress, but was now covered in mud. Most confusing, her hair was grayed at the roots, about five inches out… I pushed her shoulder, because I couldn’t believe I was really looking at Lady Mairead, lying in a mud puddle.

I shook Magnus’s shoulder gently. “Babe, wake up, please...” He spluttered awake.

I burst into tears and collapsed against his bullet-proof vest. It was suddenly very clear that this had been dangerous, and my nerves were jangled, we had been waiting, he hadn’t come home with the others, Quentin had been shot, and… and…

His arm went up around me. “Kaitlyn, are ye cryin’ because ye’re happy tae see me, or because I died? Please let it be the first.”

“The first.” I wiped my face on my arm, put my elbows down beside his ears and kissed him. Then I wiped rain from his face with my fingers and kissed him again. The storm was dissipating, the deluge over, now just a light sprinkle, but it was too late, we were soaked through.

I glanced over at Hayley, nudging Lady Mairead with her toe. She whispered, “Hey, Mags, what’s up with Meemaw?”

Lochie said, “Och, she is near lifeless.”

Magnus said, “She has been through a fuckin’ ordeal. How is Quentin? Did Fraoch and James make it home?”

I said, “Quentin is awake, his shoulder is wounded, but looks like it will heal, Fraoch and James are home, safe.”

“Did Sunny make it?”

“Sunny is standing under that tree.”

Lochie said, “Lady Mairead, are ye well enough tae move?”

She moaned, “I daena think I can ever be well enough again.”

“Och, ye are a tragedy.” Lochie hefted her up and carried her tae the truck.

I pulled Magnus up, he stretched his back and said, “Ye go ahead, I will ride Sunny tae the house, he has had a long day, we ought tae talk it out.”

Everyone was shocked at the state of Lady Mairead.

Lochinvar carried her into the house and a hush fell over the room.

He said, “Dost we hae a bed for her?”

Emma pointed down the hall. “We have the guest room at the end.” All of us looked at each other as he carried her down the hall.

I shook my head. “I don’t want to be the person to take care of her, please don’t make me.”

Emma said, “I know, I get you.”

Sophie said, “Tis my turn, I will help her.” And she followed Lochie to the guest room.

Beaty said, “Quennie, I just remembered that her room daena hae shampoo and... promise me ye winna die while I go help with Lady Mairead.”

He chuckled. “I will not die, this is a scratch Beaty, I’m going to be fine.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Nae Quennie, ye must be a wee bit injured, ye cannae die, but ye ought tae let me take care of ye.”

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