"What is it?" Colin asked, an ache in the pit of his stomach.
"A large swollen knot on the back of her head." He withdrew his hand and looked at his fingers. "But no blood. Whatever hit her did not break the skin."
"I wager he had her rolled up in that damned sooty canvas I saw outside," Colin growled.
"Without doubt."
"Kristina?" Colin gently picked up her hand and ran his fingers over her arm to see if it was broken.
Cyrus felt along her other arm, then pulled up her sleeve to reveal her upper arm bent at an odd angle. "A broken arm. No telling what other injuries."
Colin cursed and ground his teeth, glaring back at Holme's bloody body beneath the shelf. "That bastard."
Using a sash, Cyrus bound her broken arm to her body to prevent further injury to it. "Do you want to check her legs to see if they're broken?"
"Aye," Colin said, praying they weren't.
"We must get her back to the castle quickly so the healers can help her. We'll make sure the horses are ready to go." Cyrus and Fraser left, while two of the MacKenzie clansmen helped Ralston limp outside.
"Can you bring the plaid blanket from behind my saddle?" Colin asked Bryce, the only man remaining.
"Aye." He hastened out the door.
Colin lifted the smock's hem and pressed his fingers along Kristina's cool, pale legs, finding no obvious broken bones or any other injuries, thank the saints. He drew her smock down again. He needed to get her wrapped up and warmed as soon as possible.
Bryce returned with the wool blanket.
"Her legs appear to be unharmed. I simply hope the ride back to the castle doesn't worsen her injuries."
"We'll have to be careful," Bryce said.
Colin felt as if his soul were rent in two as he carefully wrapped Kristina in the blanket, lifted her from the floor, and carried her outside. The other men rushed around him, dragging Holme's body from the kirk, rounding up the horses, and getting their prisoners ready to take back to Rhodie. Three Camerons would hang back to notify the local village and minister of what had happened in the kirk and help clean up.
Colin stood by his horse, looking down into Kristina's pale, impassive face. "Please, God, keep her alive," he whispered. "I love this lass more than life itself. I cannot live without her."
***
A half hour later, Colin and the search party arrived back at Rhodie. Thankfully, no more smoke trailed toward the sky, but the castle mattered little to him compared to Kristina. He simply hoped no one had been injured or killed.
Two of the MacKenzie clansmen had raced quickly back to the castle and notified everyone of what had happened, so the healers would be prepared for both Kristina and Ralston.
When Colin entered the bailey, Neacal waited near the entrance steps, ready to take Kristina from him. He frowned with concern. "She has not awakened?"
"Nay." Colin handed her down to him, then dismounted. "Was anyone hurt in the fire?"
"Naught serious."
Anna rushed down the steps toward them, tears in her eyes. "How is she?"
"Still knocked out from the blow to the back of her head. I'm taking her to my bedchamber. Can you tell Deidra we're here?"
"Aye," Anna said. "We'll be right up."
Colin took Kristina in his arms, carried her into the keep and upstairs to his room. The smoke scent was not as strong here, and a warm fire burned in the hearth. He gently laid her on the bed.
"Kristina?" he murmured.
When she still didn't respond, his gut knotted.
