Page 55 of Highlander’s Sweet Poison

Eagerly, Kylie moved closer. “Alan challenge Graeme yesterday, and Graeme accepted. He pushed it off on the account of Christy, but then he saw Annella’s bruise. He told Duffie to make certain Alan was ready this afternoon.”

Jillian had noticed the bruise too, but with everything going on, she hadn’t had a chance to ask about it.

Alan. A chill swept through her. Alan was skilled with a sword. More skilled than Graeme? “A challenge against a laird is to the death.”

“Not always,” Kylie said quickly. “Duffy mentioned that he had given Alan too much leniency. The challenge is not to the death.”

“It doesnae matter. Alan will kill Graeme. I broke his nose when he touched me, and I thought he would kill me for it. He cannae stand that I am back. He will kill Graeme to see me punished.” She clawed at her throat as a lump formed. “Ye two go back to the children. I need to stop Alan. He willnae fight fair, I know it.”

“What are ye going to do?” Kylie asked.

“I dinnae know. Something. Perhaps I can get to Graeme before the fight or speak to the council. Some way to get this called off.” Her eyes widened. “Art. Art is Baldie’s son. He’ll talk to his father for me.”

“Jillian, Baldie hates ye,” Alexina reminded her. “He wilnae lift a finger to help ye, even for his son.”

“I have to try.” An idea hit her. “I’ll return to the loch. In return for stopping the challenge, I will leave. The MacSeaver clan can breathe easy again, and Graeme will be safe. I’ll be back.”

Before the girls could talk her out of it, Jillian turned and raced toward Art’s house. The village was quiet. Everyone knew about the challenge.

Everyone but her.

“Art!” Jillian yelled as she ran. “Art!”

The door opened before she reached it, and he walked out with a panicked look on his face. “Jillian? What is it?”

“The challenge. Ye must ask yer parents to stop the challenge!”

“Easy, Jillian,” he said as he opened the door wider. “Come inside, and we will speak.”

Tears streaked down her face as she hurried inside; she was falling apart. “I am so sorry, but I just heard about the challenge.”

“The challenge,” Art repeated. “Alan challenged Graeme. I had heard something about that, but why does it have ye worried? Alan doesnae have half the skills Graeme does.”

“Alan will cheat, Art. We both know this. Yer father and the council can stop it. He wants me gone, and I will go. Tell him that I will return to the loch if he calls this challenge unfounded.”

“Return to the loch? Jillian, what are ye going on about? My father doesnae want ye gone.”

“Art.” Jillian fell to her knees as the tears streamed down her face. “Art, please. There is no need to pretend with me. We both know yer parents hate me although I have no idea why. I love Graeme. I love my husband. I will do anything to see him live, even if it means that I never get to see me again. Ye have to help me, Art. Please.”

He turned, and for a brief moment, Jillian thought all hope was lost. If Art wouldn’t help her, then who would?

“I hear ye, Jillian,” he said quietly. “And I will help ye.”

“Ye will?” Her body warmed, and she started to stand.

When Art turned, there was a large ceramic tankard in his hand. A gleam of fury flashed in his eyes, and he brought it down right on top of her head.

27

It hadn’t taken long for word to spread about the challenge. MacSeavers circled the arena in anticipation and murmured among themselves. No one dared bet on the challenge because everyone knew the outcome.

It made Graeme wonder just what Alan was thinking. He’d never been trained as a warrior. He didn’t stand a chance, and after seeing the bruise on Annella’s face, Graeme feared what would happen when Alan lost. Would he take his anger out on Annella and blame her for ruining his original plan?

Graeme couldn’t let that happen. Not after all that Annella had been through. If Alan yielded, he would not die today, but he would be escorted to the border.

Enough was enough.

“Ye dinnae have to do this,” Tearloch said in a low voice as he handed Graeme his sword. “No one should have even allowed Alan to challenge ye, and after what Jillian did today, the clan is more than happy to have her as a mistress. No one would dare speak out against her.”