Page 45 of A Laird and a Fugitive

“And I can help the healers. Nessa is right. They were only here for us, and it’s nae right that others should fight on our behalf,” Tara said.

Caroline added to their defiant looks. “We speak sense, Ryan. This is our fight, tae. Ye hae tae let us be a part of it. If ye respect me at all, then ye will allow use tae come with ye.”

For a moment, she thought that Ryan was going to listen to her. There was a glimmer in his eyes that suggested he might actually grant her request, but then he gritted his teeth and shook his head.

“It’s tae dangerous. He will be looking for ye. At least if we take the fight tae him, then he cannae sneak behind us. Stay here. Ye will be safe. I will come back for ye. I promised tae protect ye and that’s exactly what I am daeing. Ye wanted me tae stay true tae my word, Caroline. Ye cannae expect me tae break it now.”

His words flew as swiftly as arrows, and Caroline was left reeling by the intensity in his eyes. He snapped his fingers and called a few guards over, assigning them to protect Caroline and her sisters. Nessa and Tara huddled close beside her as Ryan stormed away, bellowing for his guards to gather beside him as he planned the attack against the Gilmour clan.

She thought of it as her clan, but she wasn’t so sure any longer. The men who had thrown their lot in with her uncle were doing things that went against all the values her father had espoused. But the clan was bigger than the army, she reminded herself. It was made up of the servants, the healers, the children, the ministers, the hard-working villagers who broke their backs every day to eke out what little they could from the land. Ultimately, these were the ones who were going to suffer the most.

“There hae tae be something we can dae. We cannae just stay here,” Nessa exclaimed, forming tight balls of tension with her hands.

“I’m afraid that’s exactly what we hae tae dae. We cannae join the army. The Laird hae given his orders, and we must obey,” she said, glancing at the guards.

Her mind worked fiercely, trying to think of a way that she could escape and fight against her uncle, but Ryan had seen to it that their safety was paramount. And wasn’t that what she had wanted for him all this time?

Caroline, Nessa, and Tara were locked in again. The guards were outside their door. It didn’t really matter that this time it was for their own protection. They were still captives, still prevented from doing what they wanted.

“What’s gaeing tae happen? Why is Uncle daeing this?” Tara wondered in a small voice. She had her knees drawn into her chest and was hugging them tightly.

“I’m afraid that he’s worse than we thought,” Caroline said, and explained about how Ryan had a spy, and how he suspected her uncle of poisoning their father.

Nessa cursed under her breath, and Tara put her head in her hands.

“I bet Ken hae something tae dae with this as well. He’s a lot like his Da,” Nessa claimed bitterly.

“I cannae speak tae that, I only know that the clan hae been twisted from what Da wanted it tae be. If this is true, then Uncle hae poisoned the minds of the soldiers as well as Da. And it’s gaeing tae cost them their lives.”

“That’s if Ryan wins. Hae ye thought about what’s gaeing tae happen if he loses?” Nessa inquired.

Caroline felt fear shooting through her. No, she had not considered that possibility at all. If that happened, then her uncle would march smugly into Knox territory and claim it as his own. He would come into this Keep, and tear them from the room, and all would be as he intended from the very beginning. He would take her as his bride, and this time there would be no escape.

Fear clung to the back of her throat in the form of bitter bile. An uneasy feeling swam in her stomach. She closed her eyes and prayed for Ryan’s well-being. Her freedom relied upon his victory, but she also wanted him to return because she loved him. She didn’t want this to be the end of their marriage because they had only just started to try in earnest.

“I’m nae gaeing tae gae down without a fight,” Nessa declared. “Whatever happens, I’m gaeing tae find a way tae get a sword in my hand, and I’ll fight until my throat is cut.”

“Dinnae sae that!” Tara exclaimed.

“I’d rather die than live with our uncle. Whatever fate he hae waiting for us, it’s worse than death,” Nessa continued.

Tara began to sob. Caroline couldn’t even console her. For however fiercely they fought, it seemed as though they were destined to meet a grim fate.

Tension tightened in Caroline’s stomach. She wondered if she was being spoiled. After all, she had taken her sisters away from home in order to keep them safe. Wasn’t that exactly what Ryan was ensuring? Yet, it seemed wrong to be so far from him, to have so little to say in their own fate.

The scales of destiny were dipping back and forth. Either Ryan or Gorram would win, and the victorious man would decide whether she was happy or filled with sorrow. She wrung her hands together, wishing there was a way to influence the outcome. Nessa was pacing, simmering with anger, while Tara was sitting with a pensive look on her face, clearly worried about the worst.

And then, out of nowhere, a note slipped under the door. Nessa stopped pacing. Tara’s sobs paused. Caroline stared at it. Her brow crinkled. She walked towards it and picked it up, unfolded it and then gasped, almost dropping it as she recognized her uncle’s penmanship.

Dearest and fair Caroline,

I hope this letter finds you well. I was most displeased to learn of your treachery. To know that you and your sisters have abandoned your blood and clan in order to live under the roof of our enemy leaves me dismayed. And I had such plans for you as well.

To think that you would choose a Knox barbarian over your own family… Clearly, you inherited too much foolishness from your father. I will not tolerate this behavior from you. Your place is with your clan. You belong to me. Return at once, and no more blood needs to be shed. Call that dog of a husband off and annul the marriage.

You are to be my wife. We are to be married and all the villagers will be there to celebrate. If you don’t, then they won’t be celebrating at all. Instead, they will be clutching their throats as they die. I will poison them all if you do not do as I wish.

Either marry me, or condemn the people your father cared about so much to a painful death. And believe me, I am well versed in the art of poisons. Their deaths will not be pleasant. And if you think this is an empty threat, consider that I would do anything to prevent our clan from falling into the hands of this Knox brute.