Page 21 of A Fearless Rebel

Instead, she was greeted by the most interesting sight. Men were erecting tents outside the walls. Hammering and sawing began in earnest, while others set up what would be a huge bonfire.

Several carts traveled toward the keep from the direction of a village and the guardsmen atop the gates waved down to those beneath, seeming to call out greetings.

A horrific thought came to mind. Was the bonfire for her? Was she to be burned at the stake as entertainment for the people who were gathering?

What better way to repay her father for what her clan had done. It could be that the men who’d ridden by the cottage earlier had, indeed, seen her and set all of this in motion. Keithen had then been sent to lure her here.

Her hands shook. She was inside the keep and probably locked in the chamber. After grabbing her cloak, she took measured steps to the doorway. Even if she could open the door, of course there would be a guard outside in the corridor.

When her fingers grasped the door handle and it opened freely, she let out a long breath. Ever so slowly, she opened the door and peered out.

The corridor was devoid of anyone. Strange. Perhaps it was part of the game. She was prey after all.

“And who might ye be?”

Ava whirled around, finding herself face to face with Lady Fraser, whose eyes looked like they were about to pop from her head.

“Oh, goodness,” both said at the same time.

Just then, a chambermaid and a guard came around the corner. Both stopped in their tracks. The guard pulled a sword and pointed it at Ava.

Ava drew hers and took a defensive stance.

The chambermaid screamed, which caused more guards and other people, including the laird, to come running.

*

Ava had never seen so much pacing in her life. Obviously, it was a Fraser trait. Laird Fraser paced up and down the side of the room, while Keithen paced across the center. Lady Fraser sat next to Ava with her hands clutched in her lap.

They’d moved to the sitting room, where they’d waited for Keithen, who’d returned from the kitchen with a tray of food to find that she was no longer in his bedchamber.

“Of course, ye must marry immediately,” Lady Fraser said to no one in particular. “Ye were found in my son’s bedchamber. News will get to yer father eventually.”

Too hungry to think, Ava reached for another slice of thinly cut meat and buttered bread. While eating, she studied the dynamics in the room. Just then, an older man entered and stopped short at seeing her and looked to the laird.

“Is this her?” He looked to Ava. “I am the village vicar. Are ye Miss Ava Mackenzie?” His gaze moved from her to the laird. “Is this lady here of her own will?”

“Sit down, Jonah. We must think,” Lady Fraser snapped. “Of course, she is not here by force. She was brought here to hide by my foolish son.”

The vicar glared at Keithen who blew out a breath and glared at Ava.

“They must marry immediately,” the vicar pronounced. “Immediately,” he reiterated.

“I agree,” Lady Fraser said.

The laird neared and met Ava’s gaze. “I am afraid it is the only way to keep yer father from accusing us of kidnapping ye.”

“I can explain to him…” Ava started, but stopped speaking at realizing her father would never believe a word she said.

“Are we to be star-crossed secret lovers who snuck away to marry?” Keithen’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “I am sure he will not be pleased whether we marry in secret or not.”

“Nonetheless, my mind has been made up.” Laird Fraser motioned to the vicar. “Now, if ye will.”

The vicar cleared his throat, his pleasant face softening as he looked to Ava. “Ye should not have run away with a man if ye did not wish to marry.”

Her back teeth ached from biting down so hard. “Perhaps he should not have dragged me away if he did not wish to marry.”

Everyone turned to Keithen who returned a bored look. “If it must be done, let us get on with it. Her disappearance cannot be kept secret for much longer.”