Part 10 (1/2)

When had things gotten so complicated?

Well, it didn't change anything. It just gave her less time to work a miracle. And by G.o.d's will, she would have her miracle. Or die in that effort.

At least four days gave her time to reach the MacDouglas.

She hoped.

”Here, take this.” She pulled from her little finger the ring that her father had given her on her tenth birthday. It was a thin gold band that had the impression of tiny wildflowers on it. All the women of the clan knew it to be hers, and in her absence, they would know it spoke for her.

”At week's end, give my ring to Pegeen and tell her to take the women home.”

Braden held the gold band in his hand. Her warmth still clung to the metal. It was such a tiny piece of jewelry, so frail and delicate, and yet at the same time strong and unbending. It reminded him much of its owner.

He remembered a time, long ago, when he and Maggie had been friends. When she had actually saved him from being ambushed by a group of the clanswomen who had been lying in wait to mob him on his way to her house.

He couldn't honestly remember a time in his life when he hadn't known her and her stubbornness.

He'd never before thought about just how much of his past she was. Not until he thought of her marching off to the MacDouglas and getting herself killed.

For some reason, the thought of her death stung him far more deeply than it should.

Braden handed the ring back to her. ”Do you honestly think I'm going to stay behind and let you brave the MacDouglas on your own?”

”Of course. They would be suspicious of a man they didn't know, but a woman-”

”Would stand out mightily, since all of their women are in hiding. Is that not right?”

Maggie opened her mouth to speak, then snapped her jaw shut. She'd forgotten all about that. Her journey to MacDouglas lands wouldn't be so easy this time. They would be suspicious of any stranger, and as a lone woman in their midst while their own women were shunning them...

It didn't bear thinking on.

”And might I point out,” Braden continued, ”that if they ever figure outwho you are, your life will be worthless. No doubt they all know your name by now and curse it with every breath they take.”

”Very good points,” she said, her mind whirling as she sought to think of an alternative.

There wasn't one.

She would merely have to alter her original plan of reaching the MacDouglas. ”I shall have to dress as a lad, men.”

”Alad would never be traveling alone,” he said. ”You'll need someone to go with you.”

How she wished she could have an escort, but if anyone found out Braden's ident.i.ty... Well, she didn't want to think what the MacDouglas clan would do to the brother of their enemy.

She had started this alone and she would finish it that way. ”Braden-”

”Nay,” he said firmly. ”I doubt the MacDouglas will listen, and when he demands your head for it, you'll be needing someone to get you out of there.”

”You can't fight all of them.”

”You'd be amazed what I can do when my life is at stake.”

Actually, she wouldn't. She had seen him train enough to know quite a bit about his abilities to protect himself and others.

Still, the fact that he was willing to risk his life for hers meant quite a bit to her. Braden might be an arrogant man, but he usually wasn't a foolish one.

”Why would you risk your life for me?” she asked.

”I have no idea. But come, we need to find you some clothing and give Ewan your ring and instructions.”

”Are you mad?” Ewan asked after they had found him outside the kirk, putting the ladder away in a small shed.

”Is who mad?” Sin asked as he joined them.

Ewan turned to Sin with a disgusted look. ”Braden is going to take Maggie to see the MacDouglas so that she can talk the MacDouglas into stopping the feud.”

Sin whirled to face Braden. ”Are you mad?” he asked in disbelief. ”He'll have you impaled before you get halfway to his castle.”

”Nay, he won't,” Maggie said, then she laid out the plan for them.

When she had finished, Sin shook his head. ”It'll never work.”

”Forgive me,” Maggie said softly. ”I don't mean to be rude, sir, but I don't even know who you are, and I have no idea how this matter concerns you.”

”He's my brother Sin,” Braden said softly in her ear.

Maggie's eyes widened and she formed a small O with her mouth. Everyone in the clan knew the terrible tale of how Sin had been taken forcibly from the castle.

And even worse, the story of how, as the king's men were struggling to force the youth on a horse, his father had turned his back to them, then coldly closed the door and left his son to his enemies.

The instant the door had shut, Sin had stopped struggling, stiffened his spine, and ridden off with the promise that he would never return.

Anghus had been there when it had happened, and the tale had always haunted her. How could any father just turn his back on his blood and let him go?

Now she regretted her harsh words to him. No doubt, Sin had heard worse, but she didn't want to add any more to a man who had suffered so much.

”Forgive me,” she said to Sin, ”but it's been quite some time since last we met.”

Sin gave an almost imperceptible nod, but said nothing.

And now that she knew who he was, she asked, ”How do you know my plan won't work?”

A wicked, almost evil smile curved Sin's lips. ”Because when it comes to planning attacks, I have no equal. If I say it won't work, you can wager your life on the fact that it won't. I've never been wrong.”

A chill went down her spine. There was something hidden in those words. Something that scared her.

”Speaking of plans,” Braden interjected, ”how did the reconnaissance go with Lochlan?”