Page 96 of Cottage in the Mist
Bram felt some of his elation vanish as he recognized the concern in the other man’s face. Lily had said that they were just friends. That Jeff was in love with his wife. God’s blood, the man had said as much himself. But suddenly Bram wasn’t as certain. “We had a long talk. Among other things. And all is well between us. Better than that, in truth. Last night we pledged our lives to each other.”
Jeff studied him carefully for another moment or so, and then his lips turned up into a smile. “Then I can understand the cause for celebration.” He took the cup that Alec offered and lifted it toward Bram. “To you and your Lily. She loves you more than you know.”
“Ach, I think I’ve an idea of it now. And more importantly, I realize just how much I love her.”
“Then what are you doing lollygagging around here with us?” Ranald asked. “Go to your woman, man.”
Bram shot a questioning glance at Iain.
His cousin smiled. “Go on with you, then. We’ve an hour or more until we’re ready to go. Time enough for fighting. Take a moment and savor what it is you’re fighting for.”
Bram handed Ranald his cup and turned toward the woods just as Dougan Macniven burst into the clearing. “Frazier’s escaped,” he bellowed without pretense.
In an instant, anger replaced jubilation and Bram swung to face the man. “What do you mean he’s escaped? I thought you had men guarding him.”
“We did,” the big man replied, a great gash gaping above his left eye. “But they took us by surprise.”
“They?” Alec asked, as he and Iain moved to flank Bram on either side. “How many were there?”
“Three,” Dougan said. “Two of them caused a distraction and I’m sorry to say we fell for it. While we fought them off, the other man snuck in behind and managed to free Frazier. By the time we realized the ploy it was too late; they had us by the bollocks. Killed Timothy and knocked me out cold.”
“How long ago?”
“I dinna ken.” The man blew out a long breath, swiping at the blood dripping into his eye. “Long enough to get away, I’m afraid.”
“Bloody hell.” Bram’s eyes moved toward the woods and the river.Lily. He started forward, then froze as his worst nightmare materialized in the form of William. He was limping, and even from here, Bram could see the sorrow on the young man’s face.
“She’s gone,” William gasped as he stopped in front of Bram, bent at the waist as he struggled to breathe. His plaid was stained with blood, and he held a hand to his side.
“Are you injured, lad?” Alec asked, coming forward to offer an arm.
“I’ll live,” William said. “All that matters now is Lily.”
“Is she… is she…” Bram couldn’t bring himself to say the words, and he felt Iain’s hand on his shoulder.
“Nay,” William was shaking his head. “She lives. But they’ve taken her.”
“By God, I swear I’ll cut my uncle’s heart from his body if he hurts a hair on her head.” He jerked free of Iain’s grasp and turned toward the horses.
“Hold.” Iain’s voice held him in place, if only because he knew his cousin would never do anything that would endanger Lily. “We need to understand what’s happened before we take action.”
“It’s clear enough to me,” he barked, agony searing through him like a brand. “The bloody Comyns let Frazier get away and now, no thanks to William, he has my wife.” From the haze of his rage he saw William flinch and, despite his despair, knew a moment of regret. “I’m sorry. I’m angry. I dinna mean to lash out at you, lad. I know you wouldn’t have let them take her if there was anything else to be done.”
William still looked miserable, but Bram knew there was nothing else he could say that would ease the lad’s remorse. Still he had to try. Had to at least be honest.
“If this is anyone’s fault, ’tis mine. I should never have left her.”
“You couldn’t have known that any of this would happen,” Alec said, his expression as grim as Bram’s no doubt was. “I would ne’er have expected them to have the bollocks to come right into our camp.”
“We were vigilant, Alec, I swear it.” Dougan looked to Bram. “And we fought with valor. ’Twas just too much of a surprise.”
Bram nodded, unwilling to totally absolve the man, yet certain even so that none of it had been intentional. “It still remains that they have Lily and we have to go after them.”
“Agreed,” Iain said. “But we cannot go off without knowing the whole truth.” He turned to William, who was being patched up by Geordie. “Tell us exactly what happened.”
William swallowed as the healer tied off the bandage, then turned his attention to the assembled men. “I was standing at the edge of the trees. Lily was dressing and I dinna want to see… I mean, she needed her privacy.”
“And then?” Ranald asked, his frustration clearly matching Bram’s.
