Keegan sent one of the guards to purchase more whisky while Dirk, Isobel, Rebbie and a few of the others went to speak to her cousin about their party staying the night.
Rebbie returned, reporting that Isobel’s cousin had welcomed them to stay and had four empty rooms with beds for their use.
The women disappeared inside the manor house, as did Dirk and Rebbie. MacMillan carried Lady Patience inside because of her wrenched ankle.
Keegan and most of the other men waited outside, on the lookout for Haldane or any of his party who might have followed. Since Keegan didn’t know the new men Haldane had enlisted, ’twas even harder to spot the knaves. He simply didn’t allow anyone near the house. The five-foot stone wall around it might deter petty thieves, but it was too low to provide much defense. The wooden gate was sturdy but open. Hopefully, it would be locked at night. If someone wanted to attack, ’twould be too easy to take over the house. Their guards would have to take shifts tonight, securing the perimeter.
The door of the manor house opened. MacMillan exited and approached him, a frown contorting his dark brows. “Lady Isobel wishes to see you inside.”
Saints.Was Dirk worse?
“You and the other guards need to secure the perimeter of the house,” Keegan said.
“Aye, we’ll be on the lookout for the bastards.”
Keegan strode toward the entry, and a servant opened the door.
Isobel awaited him, just inside. She was pale, her brown eyes too large. “Dirk wishes to speak with you upstairs.”
“Very well.” Cold dread weighed heavily in Keegan’s chest. “Is something wrong?”
“Nay. He is the same but wanted to talk to you.”
She walked with him up the straight stone staircase, opened the door to the bedchamber, then left.
Keegan entered the room, lit by the late evening sunrays that sliced through the clouds, to find Dirk reclining in a large bed, his leg propped on pillows and several more behind his back.
“How are you feeling?” Keegan asked, moving forward.
“Like my leg is shot full of holes. ’Tis hard to believe there is only one through it.” Dirk took a sip of whisky from a small goblet. “Have a seat.” He motioned to a straight wooden chair by the bed, then poured Keegan a dram of whisky in another goblet.
“I thank you.” Keegan sipped the fiery liquid. “I’m certainyou’ll be back to your old self in a few days.”
“Aye. ’Tis not the first time I’ve been shot with an arrow. I took one in the shoulder early last fall in Perth.”
Keegan dropped into the chair by the bed, relaxing a bit since Dirk wasn’t as bad as he’d feared.
“I want to thank you for protecting Isobel during the skirmish,” Dirk said. “She means more to me than my own life.”
The sincerity in Dirk’s pale blue eyes, as well as the obvious and profound love he held for his wife, stalled out any words Keegan might say in response. He gave a brief nod.
“If anything happens to me, promise me that you will protect her,” Dirk said, his eyes fiercely intense.
“Och.” With the sound, Keegan released some of the pressure in his chest. “Naught is going to happen to you, cousin!”
“If it does. Promise me.” Dirk’s gaze remained piercing.
“Aye, of course. You ken I would protect both you and Isobel with mine own life.”
“I thank you. That means more than I can say.” He relaxed back a bit.
“I’m certain you will be well in a matter of days. As you said, you’ve been injured many times before.”
Dirk nodded and sipped the whisky again. “Haldane is a menace. I had no inkling he would come back with such a vengeance this spring. I thought… hoped… he’d escaped to the Lowlands where he’d stop his outlaw ways and start a new life. But I doubt he will ever change. He has too much of his devious mother in him.”
“Aye, that he does.”
Dirk inhaled a deep breath and let it out slow. “You’re not only my cousin, but also a good friend, as you’ve been the whole of my life.”
