Page 4 of A Fearless Rebel

Knowing Catriona did not wish him to accompany them, Keithen walked out. It was good that Catriona would leave the room. He hoped it was the beginning of her healing.

After their experience, his mother and Catriona would share the horrible bond of being taken by an enemy clan.

Although both women had been released when his father and a large army had ridden out to demand it, it was obvious by their appearances that his mother had been treated well. As a laird’s wife, she’d been kept in plush accommodations and had been invited to join the family for meals. All the while, Catriona had been handed over to the guards to do with her as they pleased.

Other than not killing her, no boundaries had been set.

Now the once vibrant woman was an empty shell. The hollowness in her eyes showed just how little was left. Catriona was forever changed and the only thing Keithen could think to do was to avenge what had happened.

He went to the kitchen and asked to be served a bowl of whatever was left over.

“Ye will have a good meal,” Eileen, the head cook, pronounced, and immediately ordered the kitchen maid to cook something quickly. Within minutes, he had a plate of meat and stewed carrots along with bread and a tankard of ale.

Although hungry, he barely tasted the food. He needed nourishment for his vengeance plan to continue. Every time he saw Catriona, the need to find those responsible for what had happened grew stronger.

No matter if he ended up dead in the end, the men would pay for what they had done.

His mother entered the kitchen just moments later and asked the cook for warm porridge for Catriona and then lowered to sit across from him.

“She didn’t wish to remain outside for long. I have been unable to persuade her to spend more than a few moments out of her chamber. Thankfully, Flora will return tomorrow, and she is especially patient and good with her.”

His sister, Esme, had hired a woman from the village, whose husband had been killed in the Mackenzie attack, to be a caregiver for Catriona.

As he listened, he realized his mother probably felt guilty for the difference in the way she and Catriona had been treated.

“Mother, did ye ask them to bring Catriona to stay inside with ye?”

Lady Fraser nodded. “Over and again. I pleaded for it. I told the Mackenzie that she was family. I thought perhaps they kept her in another part of the house, locked in a room. I never once suspected that she was in the dungeon. Poor child.” Her voice cracked. “And now that man expects us to accept his daughter in our own home?”

Keithen wasn’t aware his mother knew of the decision. Then again, it made sense that his father would have informed her.

“I am not sure how I will ever accept a Mackenzie as yer wife,” his mother pronounced.

Chapter Two

The silence of the forest filled Ava Mackenzie with peace. Throughout her life, it was the one place she could run away to and be alone with her thoughts. Away from the constant scrutiny of others, she didn’t have to worry about saying or doing something that would be cause for scolding or worse by her father.

Absently, she rubbed her upper left arm and winced. Under her sleeve, the arm was purpled from the tight grip of her father’s hand the night before. This time, he’d been especially annoyed at her for not participating in hosting a visiting laird and his wife. In truth, she’d forgotten. So many people came and went without fanfare. Most visited out of fear and a wish to remain in Laird Mackenzie’s good graces.

The events hosted at Mackenzie Keep were never enjoyable. Every minute slogged by as people fought to feign interest.

Every so often, her parents would host an awkward affair. The meals would consist of stunted conversations and constant grandstanding by her father. To make it even worse, he acted as if every dish presented should astound the visitors.

It was sickening, and despite the bruising, she was glad to have missed the entire affair. Now, the visiting laird was gone and the keep was quiet. Her father had pronounced it to be a good day to hunt and had left with a group of men.

Why he hunted remained a mystery to Ava. Her father had to be extremely careful of who he chose as any of the men could kill him and call it an accident. If they all collaborated, there would be no refuting it. Despite the danger, her father preferred to come across as brave and well-liked.

He often claimed that many clansmen asked to go on the hunts and it was hard to pick who to allow each time. The lie was obvious as he seemed to take the same four men.

The hunting party was usually flanked by twenty or more guardsmen, which meant they rarely caught a boar. If anything, the scouts who were sent ahead to begin the search for the beast were probably the ones who either killed the animal or maimed it so that her father could deal the death blow.

Sounds like that of a horse startled her and she scanned the surroundings but saw no one. Once again, there was a nicker, and she leaned forward atop her own mount to look. She’d purposely gone in the opposite direction of where her father and his entourage had gone, so she didn’t suspect it was them.

She pulled her horse to a stop and listened intently. Once again, she heard the sound like that of an animal in distress. With a short sword in her right hand, Ava urged her mount in the direction of the sound. Moments later, she found the source of the noise. A horse’s reins had been caught on a low tree branch in such a way that the animal could not get loose.

Upon dismounting, she approached the animal, speaking softly to it while stroking its nose. The horse seemed to realize she’d help, so other than a few snorts of complaint, it calmed.

“There now, why are ye here alone? Where is yer master?” Ava whispered while tugging at the tangled reins. When it became clear she’d not be able to untie the reins, she used her short dagger to cut them loose from the thorny bush.