Part 8 (2/2)
She searched through her mind, but only one possibility came to her.
As much as she hated to admit it, she needed Braden. He was the only one she knew of who could find a possible solution. If ever there had been a man born to negotiate, Braden was he.
But it stuck in her craw that she would have to go begging an answer from the devil's own. Even now she could see that c.o.c.ky walk of his. The arrogance.
He thought himself infallible and now she would have to play into his ego.
Still, she had no choice. Her brothers' lives and those of the other clansmen depended on her.
Stiffening her resolve, she went to find the scoundrel rogue.
Chapter 6.
Braden walked the well-worn path back to the kirk as he thought over what had happened and what he had left to do. The evening sun was just starting to set and if he weren't so aggravated, it would be a peaceful, cool evening. The kind of evening best suited for finding a willing maid and pa.s.sing the quiet hours of the night.
But tonight there would be no willing maid in his arms breathing sweet, blissful sighs in his ear.
Tonight he would have to deal with Maggie. And worse, Maggie's obstinacy, for he held little doubt what her response would be when he asked her, yet again, if she would surrender her women to Fergus and his bunch.
It would be as futile as asking the sun not to rise. Or the walls around him to breathe.
Clenching his teeth, Braden wanted to start knocking heads together. Was there no end to the frustration?
Why couldn't someone, other than he, be reasonable?
What had Fergus been thinking when he had decided to go after Lochlan anyway?
When Braden entered the small chapel to find his other two brothers, he swore he could feel his blood starting to boil. His every nerve tense, he needed all his strength not to slam the chapel door and rattle its hinges.
The setting sun filtered into the room through the two large stained-gla.s.s windows that showed the birth and death of Christ. A myriad of colors dappled the old stone floor as he made his way toward the back of the kirk.
There was an iron stand for candles to the left of the nave, where his brothers were working. Sin held a ladder while Ewan stood on the next to the last rung repairing the ceiling. Braden headed for them, then quickly told them the latest bit ofwonderful news.
”Are you serious?” Sin asked as soon as Braden finished his tale.
Ewan descended the ladder. ”What do you mean, they've taken Lochlan captive?”
”You heard me,” Braden said. ”As soon as Fergus left here, he went 'round to the homes, gathering up men and inciting them. When Lochlan returned to the castle, they seized him.”
”Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!” Ewan roared. ”Give me a sword and I'll-”
”What?” Sin asked, interrupting him. ”Bleed all over them? I realize you're quite a bit larger than the average man, but we're still just three against how many?”
”Two score in the hall even as we speak.”
Sin shook his head. ” 'Tis too many to fight.”
”Sa.s.senach!” Ewan spat.
Before Braden could blink, Sin grabbed Ewan's collar and jerked his head until their gazes were locked.
The black, evil look on Sin's face would have made any other man wet himself.
”Don't youever insult me again,brother ,” Sin said, his quiet voice carrying the wrath of h.e.l.l. ”You forget which of us was cast out of Scotland into the hands of our enemies. I was fighting for my life while your lily a.r.s.e was being coddled by a doting father and loving mother. If you've a desire to learn firsthand what I was taught, then grab your precious sword and meet me outside.”
For the first time in his life, Braden saw uncertainty creep into Ewan's eyes.
And Braden had had enough. Growling at Sin, Braden separated them by prying Sin's grip from Ewan's s.h.i.+rt and stepping between them.
”Jesus, Mary and Joseph, is there not a single soul in the whole town who can go more than a second without letting their emotions get the better of them? Leave him be, Sin, or I swear, in the mood I'm in, I'll tear your head off your shoulders and use it for a footstool.”
Sin's face was a mask of utter disbelief as he looked skeptically at Braden.
Few, if any, men had ever stood up to Sin for fear of the knight's honed skills and short temper. And if Braden hadn't been so angry, he would have laughed at the expression on Sin's face.
However, at this moment, Braden couldn't find much humor in anything.
Recovering his stoicism, Sin said sharply, ”Believe me, there is nothing more I would love than to stain my sword red with Scottish blood, but should we storm the castle, the first casualty would be Lochlan.”
Braden nodded. ”They said as much before I left.”
A tick started in Sin's jaw while he thought the matter over.
When Sin spoke again, his tone was ominous. ”Let us not forget that we are dealing with men here. Men who are h.o.r.n.y and hungry. In their state, they are capable of most anything.”
”So, what are we to do?” Braden asked.
Sin stroked his chin in thought. ”How much time did they give you?”
”Four days. If the women aren't out by then, they'll kill Lochlan and storm the kirk.”
”Four days,” Ewan repeated. ”Well, it gives us time to poison the lot of them.”
Sin gave a short half laugh. ”Remind me to take you along on my next siege, little brother. I like the way your mind works. However, if we poison the men, then we'll have the women out to kill us for the deed.”
”He's right about that,” Braden concurred. ”After all, they're hiding in here to protect their men.”
Silence settled between them as each tried to think of something to end the stalemate.
”I'm afraid we have no recourse,” Sin said at last. He met Braden's gaze. ”You'll just have to complete what you started. Seduce Maggie.”
How simple that sounded. If it were anyone other than she, Braden had no doubt of his success. But at the moment, her seduction was nearly out of the question. ”It's not quite so simple a matter anymore.”
”How so?”
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