The Recruit (Highland Guard #6)(121)

Fortunately, it didn’t come to that. Hawk defied the laws of nature and sailed them into the small harbor in record time. Their ship had been sighted, and his sister was at the shore, waiting to greet them. Instead, she was rushed into service. As there wasn’t time to move Mary, men were sent running for the things Helen would need.

A look of shock broke through the pain when Mary caught sight of Helen. “Your sister? The woman in the stables was your sister?”

Under the circumstances, the look of outrage on her face nearly made him laugh. “I told you it wasn’t how it looked.”

She glared at him until the next pain took hold. He held her hand, letting her squeeze his, her tiny nails digging into his skin as a spasm seemed to envelop her entire body.

He didn’t know how she could bear it. He wanted to shout out his frustration. To kill someone for doing this to her. To take her pain for himself. But he couldn’t. So instead, he stayed by her side, calmly and soothingly trying to ease her suffering.

After all the hard work he’d endured during their long journey, it seemed unfair that Helen arrived in time for three long pushes and all the glory when a few moments later, the future Earl of Sutherland made his appearance. Tiny and wrinkled, the laddie nonetheless possessed a remarkable set of lungs, and his fierce wail had the makings of a formidable future battle cry.

Kenneth was so happy that both Mary and the child were all right that once he could pry his arms from his wife, he enfolded his sister in a fierce embrace. “Thank you.”

A sheen of tears sparkled in her eyes as Helen hugged him back. “He’s beautiful. But you look horrible. Let’s get you all back to the castle.”

He insisted on carrying Mary—who had fallen into an exhausted sleep—and Helen carried the babe as they walked up the beach and through the sea-gate of the royal castle of Dunstaffnage, Bruce’s headquarters in the West Highlands. His fellow guardsman, Arthur Campbell, had been appointed keeper of the castle, and his wife, Anna, had already readied chambers for them.

He didn’t remember much of the next twenty-four hours. Once he’d assured himself that Mary and his son were being well cared for, he’d collapsed in an adjoining chamber and slept most of the next day. He woke and would have gone to Mary, but his sister told him that she and the child were still sleeping. So he took a much needed bath, and recalling his duty, found his way down to the Hall to fill in the king on what he’d learned.

His mission hadn’t been a complete failure. He’d returned the Earl of Atholl into the Scottish fold. But he’d wanted to give them more. “I’d hoped to find proof,” he explained to the king about his theory of the route the English planned to take. “But Felton used my illegal fighting to secure an arrest warrant. I had to leave.”

“Aye, well, we’ll talk about that, Ice.” The king’s mouth curved in a wry smile. “Although from what MacKay and the others say, you earned the name on that journey back. MacKay said it was the most nerve-wracking experience he could recall, but you were icy calm the entire time.”

Kenneth’s mouth twitched. “I did what the situation called for.”

The king laughed. “You did indeed. That is what you are here for, is it not? Although not even I anticipated that much versatility. You did well, Sutherland. If you think there is something to this scouting foray of Clifford’s, that’s enough.” Kenneth looked around the room filled with his fellow guardsmen, surprised to see the universal agreement in their expressions. They trusted his instincts—even without proof. “Once Edward marches from Berwick Castle, we’ll have men ready all along this route. We’ll hit him hard and fast, making sure his sojourn in Scotland is a short one.”

They discussed the coming battle for a little while longer before Kenneth excused himself to check on Mary.

She was sitting up against the back of the bed, holding the baby, when he walked in. His sister was standing there, along with a few other women, but he didn’t notice any of them. His eyes were only for his wife and son. His heart squeezed so tightly he couldn’t breathe. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything more beautiful in his life.

But when he thought of what had happened to her, how she must blame him for putting her in danger, the squeezing knifed. Could she forgive him?

He crossed the room, feeling suddenly uncertain. In the turmoil of their escape and sea journey there hadn’t been time for awkwardness and questions. Emotion had been stripped to the bone. Love, simple and unfettered by complication. But now, the hurt and pain hung in the air between them.

The babe was swaddled in a soft woolen blanket and tucked into her arm. “He looks so small,” Kenneth said, overwhelmed.

“He is,” Helen said. “But he’s a fighter.”

“Will he …” Kenneth’s voice cracked; he couldn’t even let himself say the words.

Helen smiled. “He seems a strong lad. He’s breathing well, and already had a few meals while you slept the day away.”

Kenneth scowled at his sister. “You should have woken me.”

Helen laughed. “You needed your sleep. From what I hear from Magnus, you all had a long night. I don’t think my husband has recovered yet. It will be some time before he wants to go through that again.”

Kenneth wasn’t looking forward to the battle of wills between his sister and MacKay when she became pregnant. Helen was enjoying her position in the Guard, and Kenneth didn’t see her relinquishing it without a fight.