Hiding Katherine by GG Shalton (reading women .txt) 📗

news. The guards have spotted a riding party. They should be here within the hour.”

Katherine touched her stomach to try to settle it. “Oh, thank God. It’s torture not knowing.”

Marion reached out and rubbed her shoulder. “We must pray for good news. Come and join me in the chapel.” Katherine followed her with a few of the other women. They prayed for the men’s safety and then returned to the great hall to wait for the party’s arrival.

Chapter 18

The riding party was large, which gave hope that the battle was over. The army was probably not too far behind. If there were only a messenger, then the party would have been much smaller. The horn sounded that they had reached the gates and the villagers gathered to welcome them home. Katherine stood outside beside Marion and a few of the other wives waiting for news.

Katherine saw Jakub enter the gates alongside a few of his brothers. Their faces were serious, and she knew immediately there was something wrong. Her eyes scanned the men entering behind him, frantically searching for Ian. Where was he? Not able to move, she stood in her spot as Marion walked to Jakub. He whispered in her ear and Marion fell to her knees. The other women started crying and the group slowly turned around to look at Katherine. Her face drained of blood as her heart hammered in her chest. Marion wailed and a few of her sons lifted her up and tried to comfort her.

Jakub walked over to Katherine. She shook her head, not wanting him to say it. Somehow, if she did not hear it, then it was not true. He opened his arms and pulled her against his chest. “Forgive me for not being able to save him.” She let out a sob and couldn’t catch her breath. It was too much, and blackness surrounded her.

“Katherine, wake up.” She heard a voice that sounded like she was in a cave. “Katherine?” She opened her eyes to Marion and Jakub standing over her.

“Where am I?” She sat up startled and scared.

“Relax. I carried you up to your chamber. Take a drink.” Katherine accepted a cup of watered wine from him and took a big gulp.

“Tell me what happened.” Her fingers were shaking, and Jakub held the cup steady for her. Marion sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes were already swollen as tears still dripped from them.

Jakub tried to compose himself as he patted her hand. “It’s too soon.”

Katherine protested. “Please don’t treat me as a child. I need to know what happened.”

He paused with hesitation seemingly changing his mind before speaking. “Very well. I will tell you,” his voice cracked. “We were ambushed by one of the rebel groups. It was chaos and we were not prepared for so many of them. It quickly became every man for themselves.”

Katherine inhaled sharply, and he paused to look at her. “At one point, we started retreating and running away, but there were more waiting for us by the ridge.” He ran his hands over his face, visibly tortured. After a moment, he continued. “We ran across the ridge looking for an escape. I was beside Ian and a few of our men. We came to a cliff as it was getting dark, and we could hear the rebels coming up behind us. I jumped to the side landing on the ledge. I thought they would follow me, but I couldn’t see them. I crawled to an alcove near the cliff hiding under it. After a few moments, I saw them all falling past me into the ocean.”

Katherine cried, “You saw Ian?”

Unshed tears filled his eyes. “I did.” He let out a groan. “It tore my heart out to see my little brother fall past me into the ocean. I couldn’t save him.”

Katherine grabbed his arm. “Maybe he survived?”

He lowered his head. “I thought the same at first. He is a strong swimmer. I waited all night for the rebels to leave so I could go below and check. When I was able to climb down and reach the shores, the rebels were burning the bodies. I waited until they left and went to the burnt ashes. I found his necklace.”

Katherine struggled to breathe again. Taking quick breaths, she panicked and held her chest. Jakub reached out and rubbed her back. “Take deep breaths, Katherine. Ian would want you to take care of yourself. I promise I will keep his memory alive. I wish I could have at least brought you his body.”

He wrapped his arms around her as she cried into his chest. He stroked her hair and sat with her as his mother leaned against his other shoulder. After a few minutes, a knock on the door separated the three.

A maid entered. “So sorry, laird. A woman below is asking for Miss Tolland. She said she is her sister.”

Katherine wiped her face. “Please tell her to come up here.”

The maid nodded and walked away. Jakub leaned down. “I will come see you later.” Katherine nodded, and Marion left with her son.

Deanna entered the room with her mouth open, tears falling from her eyes. “Oh, my baby sister.” She ran over and embraced her. Katherine couldn’t even speak and just sobbed in her sister’s arms. “Dorian just told me what happened. I was on my way here to see you and just found out the news.”

“Please just don’t say anything. Just come lay beside me.”

Deanna lay down beside her rubbing her back. A few minutes later, the healer came into the room. She held a cup in her hand. “Excuse me, the laird sent me up with something to help her sleep.”

Deanna accepted it and helped Katherine hold it, so she could drink it down. Katherine fell into a deep sleep and only woke twice in three days. She was unable to attend the memorial service for Ian. No one asked questions, they all thought it would