Mary Robb - Down the Rabbit Hole

Ian looked stunned. “How did you know?”

“I overheard your evil scheme.”

“Why, you . . .” As Ian rushed toward her, Beth pulled the knife from her waistband.

“Come any closer, Ian, and you’ll be the one to suffer.”

When he hesitated, Edwina tossed back the hood of her cloak and advanced. “Do you think you can kill both of us?”

“I’ll die trying.”

Hearing the sound of pain and fury emanating from the stag’s throat, and seeing the feral gleam of its eyes, Edwina turned away with a sly smile. “This woman is a bigger fool than your friend Hamish.” She shot a glance at Beth. “You asked about him. He refused to carry out the deed, saying the laird didn’t deserve such a fate. Even now he lies in a pool of his own blood.”

Beth looked in horror at Ian. “And you called him a friend?”

Edwina answered for her brother. “What we do is necessary to carry out the will of our mother. As for you, fool woman, you shall suffer an even harsher death, as you’ll certainly be crushed beneath the hooves of the beast as he fights to the death. You both deserve what you will get.”

As thunder crashed across the heavens, Edwina turned away. Her boot caught the edge of a rock and she lost her balance, falling into the rushing waters of a swollen Highland stream.

With a cry, Ian dropped his weapon and made a desperate attempt to save her, until he, too, was swept away.

Their cries filled the air.

Within minutes their voices were stilled.

Shuddering, Beth turned her attention to the great stag. But as she reached for the arrow protruding from its side, powerful hooves flailed at her hand, barely missing her flesh.

She watched as the animal’s breath came in short bursts, indicating the amount of pain even that effort cost.

“You have to let me remove that arrow, or you’ll surely bleed to death.”

The stag turned to her with a look of terror.

“I know you mistrust humans. Especially now that one has caused you such pain. But you have to trust me. I’m here to help you.”

While she kept her voice soft, she ran a hand along the creature’s sleek hide and felt a quiver, and another low rumble deep in its throat. A warning to retreat? Or an admission of its fear?

“In order to help you, I’ll be forced to inflict a little more pain as I withdraw the arrow. But then, if you’ll let me, I’ll bind your wounds and stay with you until you’re able to find your way home.” She touched a hand to the animal’s head and stared into the pain-filled eyes. “Please let me help.”

As she spoke she took hold of the shaft of the arrow and pulled it free in one quick motion.

The stag gave a howl of pain that could be heard echoing and re-echoing across the Highlands, sending chills along the spine of every man, woman, and child who heard it in the villages below.

“I’m sorry, my love. I can’t bear the thought of causing you any more pain than you’ve already experienced.”

Beth tore the hem of her gown into strips, which she wrapped tightly around the animal’s hide until they were drenched with blood. When she was finished, her hands, her body, even the ends of her hair were soaked with the creature’s blood.

“If I could, I’d take away your pain. But all I can do now is hope that you’re strong enough to recover from this horrible wound.” Beth wrapped her arms around the animal’s neck and pressed her mouth to its ear. “Try to sleep, love. To heal. And we’ll hope that in the morning, you’re strong enough to find your way home.”

There was another growl, softer now, as the big stag trembled.

Exhausted from the climb and the emotional toll of her efforts, Beth huddled against the great beast, tucking the edges of her cloak around him, and fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

The storm had blown over, leaving a fine mist falling from a sky tinged with dawn light. Beth awoke with a start. Instead of the great stag she’d been holding when she fell asleep, she looked down into the face of her beloved Colin.

“You’re alive.”

He made a slight movement, struggling to grasp her hand. “Nay, love. I am dying.”

“But you’ve broken the curse. You’ve survived the night. You can’t die, Colin. Please stay with me.” His hands, she realized, were as cold as ice. His flesh was as pale as the snowcaps that dotted the peaks of the Highlands. “I can’t bear to live without you. There has to be something I can do.”

“It is too late to stop the curse. In order to fulfill Darda’s promise, I must die. But there is a way to thwart her.”

“How? Tell me what to do. I’ll do anything.”

His gaze was fixed on her. “You have already done it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Love, Bethany. Love is stronger than hate. A pure heart is stronger than any curse. If you love me, truly love me, you must know that I’ll never leave you.”

“But you said you’re dying.”

“I am. I must. But that does not mean I’ll ever leave you, love.”

“You’re not making any sense. You’re dying, and you say you’ll never leave me?”

“I give you my word, my beloved Bethany. I will always be with you. And one day, I promise you, your grief will turn to joy.”

She watched the uneven rise and fall of his chest, and knew that he was struggling to remain with her. But his life was slowly fading.

Though it pained her, she knew she needed to be completely truthful with him before death claimed him. “I need to tell you something. I hope you won’t hate me when you hear this. I came here to persuade you, by any means I could, to sell your ancestral lands. I was told to do whatever necessary, to beg, buy, or steal. I even planned on enlisting the help of Ian and Edwina in order to trick you into selling.”

“Is that why you made love with me?”

She felt the quick rush of tears and wiped furiously at them. “Of course not. What we shared was honest. And beautiful. And now that I understand what all this means to you, the price you paid to keep it, I would never make such an offer. I know now that this is, as you said, hallowed ground, and must remain in your possession for generations to come.”

“Then love has truly transformed us both.” A sad, haunted smile touched the corner of his mouth and, though it cost him, he drew her close and brushed a kiss to her lips. “You never said the words. Do you truly love me?”

“With all my heart.” A sob caught in her throat. “I wish I had told you sooner. But please know how much I love you, Colin.”

“I can die in peace now, my love.”

“No! Oh, Colin, no.”

“Though the curse must be fulfilled, I will never leave you. Believe that.”

She felt him take a small breath. His hand went slack. His handsome face looked deceptively peaceful, as though he were merely at rest.

She couldn’t contain her overwhelming grief. Great, wrenching sobs were torn from her throat. And as she gathered him into her arms, she wept until there were no tears left.

Beside the little chapel in the garden, Beth stood to one side as the villagers paused at the fresh mound of earth to whisper a prayer or drop a rose petal onto the moist soil.

The chapel had been abuzz with the murder of young Hamish Campbell, and the rumor that Ian and Edwina, running from the scene, had been caught up in the churning, swollen waters of a stream and had both perished. As yet, their bodies had not been recovered.

It mattered not to Beth. Colin was dead, and whatever the fate of his stepsiblings, it wouldn’t bring him back to her.

When all the villagers had left, it was time for the staff of Stag’s Head Lodge to pay their final respects. Old Maura leaned heavily on the arm of the young serving lass, Glenna, tears streaming down both their faces. Mistress MacKay knelt to place a bowl of the laird’s favorite bread pudding on the grave. Poor Jamie could hardly contain the grief that had him rubbing at his eyes and turning away.