Page 42 of A Laird and a Healer

“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.

I will end this once and for all. I will make a widow of you, and we can dance around his body at our wedding.

I will see you soon, my bride; otherwise, you will soon hear of the tragedy that will befall the people. There will be no clan for Knox to take.

Regards,

Gorram

Caroline’s heart was in her throat as she passed the letter to Nessa. Tara rose to her feet and peered over her sister’s shoulder, gasping as she read the words.

“He cannae mean this!” she said.

“Oh aye, he means it,” Nessa replied darkly.

“It’s clear now that he was behind Da’s death. These references tae poison, they cannae be by chance. He killed Da! He stole the clan,” Caroline stated as clarity of thought seized her.

“And now he wants tae steal ye as well. Caroline, we hae tae dae something tae stop him. We cannae stay here and let him poison the people.” Nessa’s face was burning with anger.

“There may nae be a way tae heal them even if we get tae them in time,” Tara added.

The pressure of time was against them. Ryan was running into a battle with a man who had nothing to lose, and was prepared to rush towards the very limits of his savagery in order to prevent his clan from falling into enemy hands.

And Caroline was the key. She could end it all by giving herself to Gorram and taking on all the misery of the world. Her stomach churned. She ran to the door and hammered on it until the guard opened it.

“Who delivered this letter?” she inquired, snatching it from Nessa and holding it in the guard’s face.