Highlander´s Enemy: A Historical Scottish Romance Novel

by Matie Cole

  “I understand what is happening here, better than you know,” Mason replied. “I am not being distracted by anything. You are the one who is being clouded, Ethan. I will not let people be killed because of your hatred.” Ethan snorted out angrily, refusing to accept what Mason was trying to tell him. “If you have nothing else to contribute then I suggest you leave because I have plans to make.”

  “I have contributed plenty, thank you very much, and you know it, Mason.”

  “You have always contributed a lot, but this time I think I need to work things out alone.”

  For a second, Ethan looked like he had much more fight within him. Mason braced himself, waiting for another round of yelling, but in the end, Ethan shook his head, seeming to sense that it was absolutely pointless, and he walked away. There were words muttered underneath his breath, Mason caught the sound, but he chose not to push the fight any further. There was nothing else that needed to be said.

  Ethan was not going to agree with him, he was not willing to even try to see it from his point of view, over time he had become so clouded, so poisoned by his anger, it was twisting him up and turning him in to a person that he did not need to be. He had not always been like that. It was recent.

  For a moment, Mason wondered if it was the same with George Windsor. If the power and hatred circling around in his heart had transformed him in to this evil man who would say such dreadful things about his own child. And if that was the case, would anything stop him? Would this war end?

  Mason needed this war to end more than anything else in the world. He did not want it to continue, but without blood being shed would that even work? If George kept coming after him then maybe he would have to fight back and Ethan would be correct. Bethany would not want it, surely. Even if she was not on good terms with her father, she would not want him dead. She could not.

  He had been so focused on the next move, on getting his son back, that he had forgotten about the bigger picture for a while. He had forgotten that this was all going to erupt if he did not control it. As soon as Jackson was back with him things were not going to end, more would happen, and the Scottish needed to be prepared for it. Mason had to make sure that his men were prepared so that no one would die. Ethan might not have said a lot that was worthwhile, but he had got Mason thinking. For that he would have to thank him, when he had calmed down enough to be reasonable. Knowing Ethan’s mood, that would take some time. Maybe even hours, possibly days, but Mason would wait.

  Chapter 10

  “W here is everyone?” Bethany asked her good friend, Marie, as she skipped through the hallways, feeling lighter than a feather as she explored her new home, still learning new things every single day about this wonderful Scottish castle. “It is very quiet; don’t you think? There are normally people everywhere...”

  “There is a big meeting today,” Marie told her. “A strategy meeting. You know, about Jackson.”

  The mention of Mason’s son made Bethany’s blood run ice cold. She knew that was always going to come around, but things had seemed so relaxed over the last few days that she had allowed herself to forget that this was all so much bigger than her choosing to remain here in Scotland. This was a war and it was continuing on around her and perhaps always would do. Unless something stopped it.

  “I could help them.” She clung to Marie’s arm hard in fear. “No one knows my father’s castle better than me. I could give them some tips on the best way to do things. I could be of help to them...”

  When Marie did not give her the welcoming smile that she was expecting because it was a brilliant idea for her to assist Mason and everyone else, Bethany shot her a curious look. She needed her to explain.

  “I do not want to over step, Bethany...” Bethany shook her head because her friend knew by now that she could say whatever she wanted to in front of her. She appreciated the honesty after living without any for such a long time. “But I do not think that they will appreciate you in the meeting.”

  “Because I am a woman, or because I am English?” Bethany asked, incredulously.

  “Perhaps both,” Marie answered honestly. “Men like to keep war between themselves.”

  Bethany took that on board for a moment and really listened to the words spoken, but in the end knew that she would be beneficial to them if they would listen to her. And, Mason would. He had shown her nothing but respect since she had agreed to stay as his equal and she knew that would continue.

  “I think they will appreciate what I have to tell them,” she declared happily, confident, knowing that what she had to say was right. She even had a plan forming in her mind that would keep Mason and the other men safe from her ruthless father. It could even keep them so hidden that they could get Jackson out before any of the English noticed, ensuring that everyone remained safe. Perhaps there would be consequences afterwards and the war would continue, but Jackson would be safe and that was a start. “Take me to the meeting room, Marie. I need to get my idea across to them right away.”

  “Are you sure about this, Bethany? Because, I do not want to get you in any kind of trouble...”

  “I will not be in trouble for this. You will not be blamed. This is something that I need to do.”

  Marie was not sure what would happen when she took Bethany towards the meeting room. She had no idea how the men would react to this Lady trying to take over and offer advice, but she was more than willing to help her if that was what she wanted. She leaned against the door and listened in once Bethany was inside, hoping that the Lady would be able to make the change that she so desperately wanted to make. But as soon as she heard Ethan’s yelling, she stepped away from the door in sheer terror.

  “Why are you here?” Ethan screamed, anger welling up the moment that he spotted Bethany. How dare she make an appearance in the meeting room? This was a place for men alone. “I do not know how things are done in England, but in our country, we have respect. Women do not get in the way on men’s business.”

  “You are discussing getting Jackson back, are you not?” Bethany retaliated without missing a beat. She had a brand-new confidence surging through her veins now and she was not about to let Ethan knock that out of her. “And you will have to go to my father’s castle to get him. Who knows that place better than me?”

  “You know it because it is your home,” Ethan sneered back. “So, why would you help us?”

  “I do not agree with how my father has behaved.” She offered Ethan, and everyone else who did not yet trust her, a one shouldered shrug. She knew that she could seem untrustworthy to them at the moment, but over time she would prove herself, starting with this right now. “I know that he has been a bad person, I have been on the wrong side of his treatment as well. I do not like the idea of Jackson being stuck in that prison cell. I do not like the idea of any of you getting hurt to rescue him. I want to help.”

  The room flooded with silence, aside from snorting nasty noises coming from Ethan who clearly did not give a shit about anything that she had just said. He did not want to believe that a woman, and an English woman at that, could help the army that he had been working with for his entire life.

  “I know that you might not trust me.” Bethany addressed Ethan directly. “And I understand why. I perhaps would not immediately trust myself either, but you will see that I want to tell you the truth. If you let me, I will draw you a map, and I will also tell you how to get in to the underground tunnels. The tunnels that my father is unaware of and can lead you towards the dungeons where Jackson is locked up. That is something you will not be able to do without my help. I can really help you with this.”

  A rumble of chatter erupted around the room, but Ethan said absolutely nothing. He stared Bethany down like he expected her to back down completely. She was sure that look had probably affected everyone in the past, but Bethany did not have anything to lose. She would face Ethan head on.

  “You will help us find a way?” Mason asked, suddenly right beside her. His soft warm voice m
ade Bethany finally feel at ease, which brought a happy smile to her face. She knew that Mason would trust her and she was right. “You will help us to get my son back? Because that is all that I want.”

  “I will help you,” she agreed. “And I really do know about underground tunnels which my father is not aware of. He has not ever known about them as far as I have been aware. They will really help you.”

  “You can not honestly be listening to her?” Ethan yelled. “Mason, you are taking your feelings too far this time. Just because you think that this English lady is pretty, do not be fooled by her.”

  Bethany did not know how to take that. She was pleased that Mason did not think of her as ugly in the same way her father did, but she did not want people to believe that she was fooling anyone.

  “I am helping, not fooling,” she insisted, but to no avail. Ethan was no longer paying her any attention. She might as well have not been in the room for all the good her words were making. “I want to help.”

  “You can not believe her, Mason,” Ethan yelled over the top of her. “You just can not. She is English, her loyalties will always be to her country, not to you. She is not even your wife.”

  “Ethan, that is enough,” Mason snapped back. “I have heard all of your concerns, over and over again. I understand where you are coming from. I do. But Bethany is offering us help. She will be able to give us an insight in to the castle that we will not have otherwise. Without her, we have nothing. This is our best chance and I am not about to pass it up just because you have a prejudice.”

  “This is not about prejudice. It is not about me and you. This is about the war...”

  “Ethan, you need to leave the room right now. This is not a place for you to air your grievances in such a terrible way. This is time for planning and working out what we will do next. Now, I intend to at least listen to what Bethany has to say because if there are tunnels underneath this castle then they can assist me in getting my son back without anyone getting hurt. That is important to me, and I believe that it is important to other people as well. Since it does not seem to be important to you, I need you to leave.”

  “Do not make out that I am the bad guy here,” Ethan shot back. “I seem to be the only person who really cares about putting our clan first. But since no one agrees with me I will leave.”

  There was more muttering as Ethan left the room, but this time Mason knew that he could confidently hold his head up high because he has done the right thing. Bethany’s offer was the best thing that he could have hoped for, it was all that he wanted to hear, it was a solution to every issue. He believed and trusted in her, he knew that he could take her words and roll with them because she wanted him safe and well. He could sense it. She liked him. Maybe she even liked him as much as he liked her.

  As they shared a smile, he really felt like that was the case. She was looking at him like he was special, incredible, wonderful which was exactly how he felt for her as well. He knew deep down in his gut, which had never led him wrong before, that she wanted him and the Scottish to thrive.

  “So, Bethany,” Mason said as soon as Ethan has stormed from the room. “You are going to show us how to get in to these tunnels? Will you draw us a map? Is that possible?”

  Bethany did exactly what Mason commanded of her, with everyone else in the room watching her with intense interest. Since they had seen how it went when Ethan questioned her and Mason, no one else wanted to comment out loud. They would much rather trust what Mason seemed to believe was right.

  Bethany was not utterly convinced that she was doing the best map drawing but art had not ever been her strongest suit. As long as the men could understand her directions then it would all be fine. And they really seemed to. Particularly Mason, he could not have been more grateful if he tried. He continually complimented her and thanked her the whole time, which filled her more delight and excitement every single time. She could feel a closeness growing between them, a bond like no other, and it thrilled her. Something was happening, changing in the air, bursting and growing between them. She did not want to fight it anymore, she wanted to lean in to it, to finally see if he really did think that she was pretty.

  As they caught eyes, she knew that she was blushing once more, that her cheeks were flaming with redness, but that only made Mason grin wider. It was obvious, the feelings were growing between them, increasing by the moment. It was amazing that no one else seemed to notice it, that they carried on as normal, that the atmosphere was not swallowing them up whole as well. It seemed to only be affecting Bethany and Mason which convinced them more than it was something real and intense, something that they could no longer ignore however hard they tried.

  Chapter 11

  T he concerns continued to roll in for a very long time. Mason was starting to get to the point where he was not sure if they would ever come to an end. He had listened to every single person and he understood why they might feel in a similar manner to Ethan, even if not a single person was being as out right as he had been, but he had no such worries. He knew that Bethany was going to help them all.

  “I appreciate every single word,” he finally boomed out as he grew weary of listening to their words. “And I understand your concerns. I will take everything that you said on board. Ethan as well. You know that I do not act against the wishes of the people, but this time, I think that Bethany can help us. You only see her as an English lady, none of you have spoken to her and seen that she truly does want to help us.”

  There was a slight murmur. Mason was not totally convinced that his men agreed with him yet, but he figured that over time they would come to understand. If they only gave Bethany a chance then they would see her in the same way that he did. They would see that she wanted to be in Scotland with them all.

  “I understand why this might make you doubtful,” Mason continued. “But you will soon be able to see that the plan I eventually come to follow through on will be the most beneficial to us all.”

  He waited to see if anyone else wanted to complain some more but it seemed that he had managed to word things in a way that gave everyone something to think about rather than complain about. With some luck, they would eventually come to understand Bethany in the same way that he did. Once he had everyone on the same page, this whole plan would come together a lot better.

  “Well, if there is nothing else that anyone needs to say, then I call this meeting to a close for today. I will continue to meet with you all over time to ensure that everything is set up in place. Then if you continue to have concerns, we can address them one on one. Does that sound like it will work?”

  “What about Ethan?” someone asked quietly from the back of the room. “What about his problems?”

  Mason sighed heavily, the weight of this situation bearing heavily down up on him. “I will speak with Ethan and deal with his issues separately. I do believe, as I am sure that we all do, that Ethan wants what is best for the clan. However, not everyone in England is against us and wants to take our lands. I believe that to be George Windsor’s mission alone. His men will fight for him, because he is their leader, but they do not necessarily think that way.”

  Mason’s men considered this quietly for a moment. In a lot of ways, they all found it a lot easier to think of every English man, woman, and child as the enemy, but Mason had a point. That war had been started by George Windsor and not by the entire country. And as for his men, they just followed orders.

  Mason could see that his words had affected everyone, so he sent them away hoping that his words would give them a lot to think about, eventually turning them around to his opinion too. Bethany had made a bold decision to interrupt the meeting, to offer them her knowledge, it was not something that needed to be done but she put herself out there for them anyway. For him, it felt like. The other men would see that.

  Perhaps Ethan was going to be another matter. Mason was not sure how his friend would over come his hatred, but Mason would be sure to spend some quality time with
him once he had calmed down. Getting Ethan, his right-hand man and best fighter, on his side was going to be important.

  But for now, Mason could enjoy the time alone in his meeting room with the map of her father’s castle that Bethany had drawn for him. He could tell that she was nervous as she mapped it out for them all to see, that she could feel the intensity of the pressure as everyone watched on, but she had done a perfect job. They now knew exactly how to get to Jackson. He could put his finger on the area where his son was being kept and feel him there. To Mason, that was one step closer to having him back.

  “I will come for you, Jackson.” He hoped that his thoughts and wishes would help his son. He wanted Jackson to know that he would never give up on him. “I am coming for you, with the help of Bethany.”

  Mason’s fingers trailed lightly over the drawing, he touched the map as softly as if he were touching Bethany herself. Seeing her today, stand up for herself, when she really did not have to... witnessing the intensity of her bravery, it only made him yearn for her so much more. Mason knew that he had fallen for Bethany, that she might have fallen for him too, and he wondered how long they would be forced to fight their feelings for one another, to act like they were not there.

  If the English and Scottish were not fighting one another always, he would have claimed her as his own already. He would have taken her soft cheeks in his hands and kissed her, carried her to his chambers, made her feel like an incredibly special woman in the bedroom, and then he would have married her.

  She was beautiful, incredible, how anyone could ever say anything else to Bethany had Mason baffled. She was an angel to him, so stunning that she might as well have been a fantasy, a dream, not real. If he had not brushed against her skin on more than one occasion then he might have assumed himself insane and inventing her to be the perfect woman just for him. That was how he saw her.