Part 10 (2/2)
Sin shook his head. ”It's hopeless. They have him and four others tied in the center of the hall where they can all keep an eye on them. Even if we came in through the gallery, they'd see us in plenty of time to kill the five of them, or us.”
”What four others?” Maggie asked.
Braden went cold at her question. Oops. In his concern for Lochlan, he had let that other little tidbit slip his mind.
He turned sheepishly to Maggie. ”Did I forget to mention the small fact that Fergus has all four of your brothers tied up with Lochlan?”
She narrowed her eyes on him. ”What?” she roared. ”What do you mean-”
”It's all right, Maggie,” Braden a.s.sured her. ”Nothing will happen to them.”
”Why didn't you tell me?”
”I didn't think it would change anything.”
”Well, it certainly does! I'm not going anywhere until they're safe.”
Maggie faltered as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Once again, she was caught. ”I have no way to get them out, do I?”
Braden shook his head. ”Not unless you throw open the door to the kirk and lead the women home.”
She sighed. ”Then we'd best follow my original plan.”
”Then I go with you,” Ewan said.
”Oh, aye, that'll work well,” Sin said sarcastically. ”If there's one person the MacDouglas would rather lay hands to than Maggie, it's you. Good plan, that.”
”Could you please refrain from sarcasm?” Ewan snapped.
”Could you please refrain from fighting?” Maggie inserted. ” 'Tis a wonder any of you survived childhood.” She glared first at Sin, then at Ewan.
”I knew I should have stayed in England,” Sin said under his breath. ”But no, I just had to come back with Braden and had to stick my b.l.o.o.d.y nose in where it doesn't belong. If I had any sense, I'd go back home right now and leave all of you to your idiocy.”
Braden ignored him. ”Ewan, you keep Maggie's ring, and at week's end, hand it over and save Lochlan.
That should keep the men from doing anything against the MacDouglas or his men until we can reach the MacDouglas. When you free Lochlan, tell him what we're doing and make certain he doesn't lead any kind of attack against the MacDouglas unless he's sure we're dead.”
His eyes full of reluctance, Ewan nodded slowly.
Braden clapped him on the back. ”Maggie and I will leave just after dark.”
”What should I do if the women miss her over the next four days?” Ewan asked.
”Tell Mother what we've done in the morning. She'll help you keep the women from getting suspicious.”
”Just remember,” Maggie warned, ”you have to give us the whole four days to reach the MacDouglas. If you let the women out sooner, one of the men might attack the MacDouglas, and it could get us killed before we even reach the castle.”
Ewan's face belied his fear for them, but finally he agreed.
Sin growled in his throat. ”I suppose this is where I toss my gauntlet in to join this suicide escapade.”
Braden arched a puzzled brow. ”Meaning?”
”I can't very well let you go alone, little brother. In the highly likely event the MacDouglas decides to kill the two of you where you stand, you'll need another sword.”
”Oh, here's where I get to be sarcastic,” Ewan said. ”Can I point out how much you'll stand out wearing English clothes as you prance across MacDouglas territory?”
Braden nodded. ”He's right, Sin.”
The glower on Sin's face would have quelled Goliath. ”I'd sooner wear a kirtle than put a plaid on this body.”
”Well, then, you'll have to stay here,” Braden said.
”I'll be fine in my own clothes.”
”Nay,” Braden said firmly. ”I'll not chance it. I couldn't save Kieran when he died any more than I could keep our father from sending you to the English. But this I can stop, and I will. I'll not lose another brother. Not so long as I live.”
Sin's glare intensified as he tapped his thumb against his thigh in agitation. ”You know, there's this voice in my head that keeps telling me to return to England. No doubt I'm going to wish I'd heeded it.”
His lips curled, Sin turned to Ewan. ”Find me a d.a.m.n plaid and I'll wear it.”
Braden stifled his laughter at the look of repugnance on Sin's face.
”Now that we have that settled,” Braden said, ”the next question is, how do we find our way across enemy lands and into the very heart of the MacDouglas's territory?”
Maggie smiled. ”I'm so glad you asked.”
Chapter 7.
Hours later, as the sun set over the lush, rolling hills of the Highlands and darkness stretched across the land, Maggie stood in the small courtyard behind the kirk. The entire area was enclosed by shrubs and roses that Father Bede spent most of his days lovingly tending. And those roses smelled wonderful in the early twilight.
A solitary bench rested against the far wall and if she listened closely, she could hear the voices of the women in the nearby dormitory. Faint laughter rode the wind and brought a smile to her lips.
It was beautiful out here, and she loved her blessed Highlands. Even though the sun had descended over the farthest hill, a dapple of pink, purple and magenta played across the dark blue clouds as the first stars of the night came out to twinkle. A pleasant chill settled on the earth and the night animals began their soft, gentle serenade.
Maggie had seen the evening descend thousands of times in her life, but never before had it struck her quite the way it did tonight. It was then she prayed that when all was said and done, she'd be back to witness another beautiful sunset from MacAllister lands.
A few weeks ago, when she had devised her plan, she'd had no idea that it would lead to this. Any more than she'd guessed Braden MacAllister would step forward to be her defender in this strange sequence of events.
He was a good man, to risk his life for her. And though he had told her he was only doing it for Anghus, she liked to think that maybe there was more to it than that.
Perhaps he would even be a little sad should something happen to her.
What a silly fool you are, thinking such thoughts. The man has better things to worry over than a plain, dowdy la.s.s like you.
<script>