Agony bore through him, making mounting seem an impossible task. Dizziness assailed him and he caught against the horse and saddle. The bandage on his thigh felt saturated with hot blood.

"Struan!" he shouted at his sword-bearer, and though he tried to hold onto the saddle to keep upright, he felt himself sliding to the ground as all around him went black.

***

Torrin dreamed he was searching for Jessie in the night. Someone had stolen her away, MacBain or Haldane, he wasn't sure which. But all was dark, and he couldn't see. He couldn't find her.

"Jessie!" he yelled.

A strong hand on his shoulder pushed him back. "Torrin. She's not here right now."

"Iain?"

"Aye."

"Where is she?" Torrin opened his eyes to see that he lay in his own bedchamber at Munrick, a few candles lighting the dark room.

"Still at Dunnakeil."

Burning pain consumed his leg and his lower back. The skirmish. He remembered killing MacBain.

"You lost too much blood in a short amount of time," Iain said. "You were not fully recovered from your earlier injury when you got these."

"Aye." He well knew that, but was he going to survive? Would he ever see Jessie again? He slid down into the darkness yet again.

Chapter Seventeen

At Dunnakeil, Jessie forced herself to eat supper at the high table. Though her family and friends surrounded her, she was intensely lonely. Torrin had been gone four days, and she missed him terribly.

One of the guards rushed across the great hall to the high table. "The MacKay guards who went south with MacLeod are returning. We saw them in the distance," he told Dirk.

"Why are they coming back so soon?" Dirk shoved up from his chair and strode quickly across the great hall with the guard. Several others followed, including Jessie and Isobel. Was Torrin returning, too? What had happened? The MacKays had planned to travel south with Torrin to show him where Nolan was buried. They wouldn't have had time to do that.

When the soldiers rode through the portcullis, she was shocked to see two dead bodies, completely wrapped in plaid including their heads, lying stiff and straight, tied to the horses' backs. A cold chill shook her, and tears filled her eyes.

"Who is this?" Dirk demanded, motioning to the dead bodies. "What happened?"

"Henry and Ross," Dougal said, his blue eyes pain-filled. "MacBain and his clan attacked us just this side of Munrick. 'Twas a terrible skirmish. One of the MacLeods was killed, too."

Nay! Jessie hurried forward. "Who?"

"The one they called Luag. Chief MacLeod was injured badly."

Icy fear poured through her. "Nay," Jessie whispered. Isobel put an arm around Jessie and held her close.

"MacLeod has two wounds and lost more blood. Iain told us that he was out cold for most of the night while we were there, and he has a fever."

Devastation crashed in upon Jessie, making her feel as if she were suffocating. "Saints," she hissed, her heart breaking. Tears filling her eyes, she felt herself trembling, but was unable to stop. She was so far away from him when he needed her.

"We killed eleven of the MacBains," Dougal continued. "Chief MacLeod killed Gregor MacBain."

Jessie pressed her eyes closed. She was glad that bastard MacBain was dead, but more importantly, she had to see Torrin. Having so many severe injuries only weeks apart might be more than his body could deal with.

After Dirk gave his men orders, he headed toward Jessie.

"I have to go to Torrin," she said.

Dirk nodded. "I'll take you. We'll leave at first light. I'm glad you weren't with him. You could've been killed."

That was true, but she wished she was at Munrick now. It had likely been two days since Dougal and the other MacKays had left Munrick. Had Torrin grown worse during that time? Was he still alive?

***

"Dirk and Keegan will keep you safe," Isobel told Jessie in the solar that night.

"Aye." Too nervous to sit, Jessie paced before the fireplace, wishing they could leave this very instant, though she knew they couldn't travel very well in the dark. Too dangerous.

She had packed a few changes of clothes and had the servants prepare foods that wouldn't spoil during the trip. She prayed they could make the journey quickly for she had to reach Torrin as soon as possible. Flora would go, as well, and take her healing herbs. Jessie didn't know how skilled the healers were at Munrick. Aiden was going to take care of her puppy, Greum, so she didn't have to worry about him.

"I pray Torrin is much improved by the time you arrive at Munrick," Isobel said, sitting on the settle, her dark eyes worried.

Jessie nodded. "It kills me not knowing how he is at this very moment."

"I pray there will be no more attacks," Seona said. She turned from the window, tears in her eyes.

"Indeed." Isobel faced her. "Are you well, Seona?"

"Aye. But…" Seona wrung her hands and averted her gaze.

"What is it?" Isobel joined Seona at the window and took her hands.

Seona swallowed hard and smiled through her tears. "This may not be the best time to tell you this, but… I am with child."

"What?" Isobel exclaimed, then hugged Seona. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I only learned of it this morn. I wasn't feeling well and Keegan sent Nannag in to check on me. She thinks I am with child."

"Saints!" Isobel said. "Keegan does fast work."

Jessie forced a smile and embraced Seona. Though she was truly thrilled for her, she was still too devastated by the news of Torrin's injuries to give a real smile. "Congratulations. I'm happy for you and Keegan." She pulled back. "I'll ask him and Dirk to stay here for their own safety. You both need them now more than ever, since you will soon be parents. The MacKay guards and a couple of Keegan's brothers can take me safely to Munrick."

"Nay! Dirk wouldn't hear of it," Isobel said.

"I'm certain they will be safe and fight off any attackers," Seona said, though she still looked worried. "They did on our long journey across Scotland."

Isobel nodded. "Dirk and Keegan are two of the best at fighting."

"I just pray that we make it in time," Jessie whispered.

***

Two days later, Jessie and over twenty of the MacKays traveled south through the rugged granite mountains and along the green moors, interspersed with lochs and bogs. She had gotten little sleep the previous two nights, being terribly worried about Torrin. Last night, they'd stayed in Scourie with Lewis MacLeod, a friend of Dirk's.

Today, she rode between Dirk and Keegan. Half of the MacKays rode in front of them and half behind. Uncle Conall, Dougal, and Little Conall accompanied them. Jessie had also brought along her young maid, Dolina, and Flora.

Heather bloomed on the hills but Jessie barely noticed. Though she normally loved looking at the purple heather, all she could think about was taking a walk through it with Torrin. Tears filled her eyes. Annoyed, she wiped them away and hoped the men didn't notice. Dirk and Keegan would understand, of course, but she didn't want to appear weak.

She knew the two would much rather be back with their wives at Dunnakeil.

"I thank you both for bringing me," she said.

"No thanks needed," Dirk said.

"Indeed," Keegan agreed.