His father sounded as if he had grown tired of the hunt. If that was so, what had he truly done to see the matter ended.
“How do you truly know it was the MacWilliam bairn?” Rannick asked, needing more of an explanation that his father had previously given him.
“After a lengthy search, we found where Gunna was hiding. When we arrived there, we found an old woman. She told us that the woman we looked for left shortly after she buried a bairn. An illness had taken the barely month-old lass. The grave was searched, and the remains of a tiny lass found. The woman also described Gunna perfectly and told us that Gunna gave her coin to hold her tongue so no one would disturb the grave. We needed no coin to convince her to speak the truth.”
“What happened to Gunna?” Rannick asked.
“An effort was made to find her, but it was as if she vanished, not a trace of her could be found. It was over and done and I was glad to put it to rest.”
“But it wasn’t put to rest, Da. The curse continues to haunt and hurt and how you expect, or even want me to have a son or daughter that would suffer the same fate is something I cannot understand.” He stopped his tongue from finishing the thought in his head. Nor do I intend to do so.
His father’s shoulders slumped along with his head. “I kept hoping that with time the curse will wane until nothing was left of it.”
“Did you ever want to right the wrong done to your friend?”
His father raised his chin with effort. “I pray that you are never placed in the situation that I and your friends’ fathers faced those many years ago. Brochan was a stubborn man. He would not even listen to reason when he insisted on marrying a peasant. His father and mother would have never allowed it if they had been alive. But he insisted he was in love and that nothing else mattered.”
“You wed me to a peasant,” Rannick reminded, the thought that he might never have met Bliss if things had been different a sharp pain to his heart.
His father sighed heavily. “I truly am sorry, son, that I could not have done better for you, but I had little choice.”
“Then you should know that I would have no other woman but Bliss. I have found with her something I thought I never would with a wife—love. She is the most caring, loving soul I have ever met.”
“You love, Bliss?” his father asked as if he did not quite understand.
“More than she will ever know and I would give my life to keep her safe.”
“I can almost hear Brochan laugh at the irony of it,” his father said, turning his head away but not before Rannick caught a glisten of tears in his da’s eyes. “I recall Balloch doing the same, claiming he loved a peasant, but his father wisely put a stop to it.” With a cough that almost drowned out his sniffle, he turned back around to face his son. “I hear the people are pleased with Bliss’s healing skills.”
“Bliss is a knowledgeable healer, Da, and she has the kindest heart. You cannot help but trust her.”
“I would agree since so far she is proving true to her word, and I have no doubt she will see our bargain fulfilled.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Rannick asked.
“A bargain is a bargain. She fulfills it or else,” his father warned. “Though I have little doubt I need to worry about that.” He grinned. “The servants talk about how much time you both spend in your bedchamber. I am sure Bliss will have wonderful news for us soon.” He stood. “I will have Lawler bring Bram and Damia here so you may speak to both of them.”
Rannick left his father’s solar shortly after he did. This Bram and Damia could have news Bliss may want to hear, whether good or bad, he would keep neither from her. He didn’t want to wake her if she still slept, but she would be disappointed if he didn’t. He was glad to find her in the Great Hall.
“Where do you go?” he asked, seeing she wore her cloak.
“To see if anyone is at the cottage and is in need of healing,” she said, going to him with a smile.
Her smile always lightened his heart, and he extended his arm as he always did to welcome her with an embrace.
“I think you should come with me. I am going to question a man and a woman. Odran sent the man and Brogan sent the woman. I thought either of them may have news about your sisters.”
Bliss hugged him tight. “That is wonderful news. I cannot wait to speak with them.”