Page 100 of Desire of a Highlander

He studied her for several moments. Finally, he answered. “To protect my clan.”

She nodded. “Good. What do you think Ronan wants?”

“My lands.”

“Has he actually said that?”

Silence. She waited. Bryce’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “No. But ye expect me to believe—”

“What exactly did he ask for?”

A flash of annoyance crossed his face. He clearly wasn’t used to being spoken to so directly. “Safe passage for his people.”

“And what did he offer in return?”

Bryce’s jaw tightened. “His own life.”

She held his gaze. “Does that sound like someone who’s come to threaten you?”

For the first time, Bryce had no immediate answer.

She pressed on. “You think he’s returned to challenge you. I know he has a legal claim on these lands. But has he claimed it? Has he told you he wants them back?”

Bryce’s jaw tightened. “No.”

“Then what exactly are you defending yourself against?”

Bryce looked away. Towards the bridge. Towards the refugees beyond it.

“I’m doing my duty,” he said quietly. “To protect my people.”

Protect my people. They were the same words that Ronan had used so often. Perhaps the two brothers were more alike than they realized.

“Exactly.” She nodded. “And what is Ronan’s duty?”

He didn’t answer but his jaw tightened further.

Elodie answered for him. “His duty is those people over there. Don’t you see? Your duty to your people is what brought both of you here. Not old hatreds. Not old grudges and trying to claim what the other has. But because you are both trying to do the right thing!”

He didn’t answer. She could almost see him thinking.

“So,” she said gently, “don’t ask whether you trust Ronan. Ask yourself what you would do in his place.”

He gazed back at her, a faint annoyance in his eyes. “Ye have quite the persuasive tongue, lass. Ye would do well at court.”

Elodie gave a small smile. “I’m just trying to avoid strife. What if there was a way to give both of you what you wanted?”

Bryce crossed his arms and snorted. “And how do ye suggest we do that?”

“Write an agreement. A charter. Whatever you call it. You restore the lands that were originally settled on Ronan, but he swears fealty to you and you keep overlordship of those lands. You guarantee protection to the people settling there. In return, Ronan and his people will work those lands and shore up this border against the rebels beyond. And you get your hands on Henry and Alana Murdoch.” She met his gaze steadily. “Everyone gets what they actually want.”

Bryce was silent for a very long time. Finally, he said quietly, “Ye speak as though settling disputes is yer profession.”

A smile pulled at her lips. “Managing people is my profession. It’s much the same thing.”

He almost smiled back. Almost. “Ye’ve given me much to think about.”

Hope flared inside her. “So you’ll do it?”