And I was not afraid to confront it.
Brann’s look hardened, his gaze sharpening, knifelike. His lips curved. “That was not my first murder, or my last.”
I am not bothered that you know, he might have said.
“Though I must say that with your mother I took particular pleasure in—”
Collin’s fist smashed into Brann’s mouth. With a yelp, I jumped out of the way as their bodies collided and wrestled one another to the floor. In a matter of seconds Collin had the advantage, his fist pummeling Brann’s face. Beneath this commotion, I heard another sound.
I whirled around and faced five members of Brann’s council advancing on us, three with knives aimed at Collin, one already drawn back in an attitude to take aim.
“Stop,” I cried, then flung myself between Collin’s back and the men. I threw my hands out wide, as if that might somehow increase my chances of blocking their attack.
“Katie, move!” Collin jumped to his feet and pushed me aside, making himself an even easier target. Behind him Brann started to rise.
“Stop it! All of you,” I commanded. “Put those blades away,” I ordered. “And you—” I turned my attention to Brann, who staggered and wiped his split lip with the back of his hand. “Are you such a coward that you can’t fight one man to another without having half a dozen men at your back?” More foolish words, but bravado was my only weapon.
Collin had other ideas. One hand moved slowly toward his middle and the pistol hidden beneath his shirt.
“Touch your weapon, and my men plant their knives in Katherine’s chest.” Brann’s voice was deadly, certain. This was no bluff. He still wanted to use my abilities, but he was also willing to be rid of me if it came to that.
Collin’s hand froze where it was as three dirks swiveled toward me.
My heart pounded beneath my dress, and a sheen of sweat broke out along my forehead. My mind scrambled frantically for what I might say to get us out of this impossible situation. Slowly I turned from the men and their knives and faced Brann.
“Haven’t you been haunted by my mother’s ghost enough?” I’d no idea where the words had come from but did not mistake the brief flash of terror that crossed his face.
A tense silence followed my question. Behind me I sensed five pairs of eyes on Brann, awaiting his command. Collin stood motionless, his clenched fists hinting at agony and frustration. If his purpose was to protect me, I could imagine how helpless he felt being unable to do anything in that regard. It was the perfect opportunity for Brann to kill us both, and I couldn’t see why he would not. It was all I could do not to squeeze my eyes shut and wait to feel the metal pierce my flesh.
Instead I forced my gaze to Brann’s and held it firm. And, as with his flicker of discomfort a moment earlier, I felt his unease. I was making him nervous.
“Witch,” he whispered with venom. “Just like your mother. I should burn you at the stake.”
“You would curse yourself more.” More words before I’d fully formed the thought. My voice sounded surprisingly calm, though my insides clenched with dread. I kept my gaze locked with Brann’s, knowing somehow that if I broke mine first, he would break me.
“Put your knives away,” he ordered suddenly. “All of you. You too,” he shouted to Donaid and Hugh, who stood off to the side. I’d forgotten they were here, that Collin and I were not completely on our own. Inwardly I sighed with relief while wishing for a chair to drop into.
Now what? The danger was far from over. I felt I must say something more. Nothing came to me this time, so I did the best I could on my own. “Collin and I have come here to help, to—”
“Liars,” Brann shouted, his voice reverberating off the high stone and timbers of the hall. “You’re little better than thieves, trying to convince me to hand over money from some imagined dowry.”
“It wasn’t imagined.” Breathing heavily, Alistair charged through the doorway. “Though it is missing.” With a canny eye he took in the scene and slowed his pace and joined us, not so discreetly replacing his own dirk at his waist. He looked from one person to the other, his gaze lingering on Collin, Brann, and finally me. “Heard from one of the servants there was some trouble up here.”
“No trouble.” Brann readjusted his shirt and ran his fingers over his split lip. “I was just about to offer to show Katherine the accounting of the past few years. If the MacDonald still wants to trail after her like a lost pup, he can come too. You can see for yourselves that Liam left you nothing.”
I placed a restraining hand on Collin’s arm, lest he lose his temper again. If he did, I was bound to lose mine as well— with him. Now that the moment of danger had passed, my fear transferred rapidly to anger, fury even, with Collin that he had been so careless.
“Follow me.” Brann led our entourage toward the back of the hall.
I cast a fleeting look at Alistair, wishing we might talk to him, or that he would speak to us of the dowry, other than to acknowledge that it had existed.
Brann marched down the steps to the castle kitchens. Collin and I followed, a few of the others trailing behind. We made our way through the long, narrow room to the gardens outside.
“If it’s records you’re after, you’ll see the truth soon enough,” Brann declared.
Collin muttered what I supposed to be a Gaelic curse beneath his breath. “As you’ll soon see what it’s like to have MacDonalds beating down your door.”
Chapter Nine
Brann led us behind the castle across another muddy path to a cluster of stone buildings that showed the centuries that had passed since their creation.
“Edan was your grandfather’s solicitor,” Brann said, explaining what Collin and I knew already. “He left around the time your grandfather passed away— rather suspicious,” he added. “Who’s to say he didn’t harm the old man and then take off with the money himself— if it was even there to begin with?”
Neither Collin nor I responded. It felt too much like Brann was baiting us, hoping we’d make a mistake and say something about Edan or his whereabouts.
After a moment had passed, Brann continued. “At one time we’d another man who had taken over the position. If he’s still around, perhaps he will know something of this supposed dowry. Though should you find it, there would be conditions, as with any dowry.” Brann threw a look over his shoulder at me. “As laird it is I who should have had a say in your choice of a bridegroom.”
Again, Collin and I let his comment slide, though there were any number of responses we might have given, each of which would not have been well received. Brann was not laird.
For the moment, there were more pressing worries. I knew Edan was definitely not anywhere nearby, it being impossible for him to have traveled to Edinburg and back in just five days. No doubt his replacement would profess to know nothing of the dowry. So why was Brann bringing us here now, on this fool’s errand?
Perhaps we were heading for some carefully laid trap. I reminded myself that Hugh, Donaid, and now Alistair were here with us. And it was the middle of the day. If Brann hadn’t done anything at the castle, he was unlikely to try anything now. Still, the feeling of unease persisted.
What is it? I begged my subconscious to make known any danger, but my mind remained frustratingly blank.
As expected, when we reached the building, Edan was nowhere to be seen. His replacement was also not to be found, with no notice left of when he might return. The door was locked as well, with weeds growing up around the front and a thick layer of grime on the window that made it appear the building had not been in use for quite some time, years perhaps.
Brann shrugged as if to say, “I told you so,” then turned from the grimy windows.
“It is apparent no one has been here for a while. Your grandfather was careless that way, allowing his estate to be poorly accounted for. He didn’t leave me much to work with, so I’ve not bothered with precise records myself.” Brann kicked at a loose stone near the door and cast a d
erisive look toward the shoddy building. “Something else really ought to be done with this.”
“Aye. Burn it to the ground and bring in more sheep,” Collin said.
Brann chuckled, an evil laugh that showed he found little amusement in Collin’s jest. “Too near the castle. Not good grazing. But it might make a decent home for the two of you when it is proved the castle still belongs to me. While I’m not keen to have a MacDonald living among us, Katherine’s talent might be worth negotiating a place for you here.” Brann paused, shifting his beady eyes from me to Collin. “Then again, why should I have to negotiate at all when you’re not welcome with your own clan, especially with your wife’s promised dowry no longer part of the bargain?” Brann gave a dark laugh, then turned and left us, standing in the mud in front of what appeared to be a long-deserted dwelling.
I waited until he was well away before speaking.
“What now?” I asked, my gaze swinging around the tight circle from Collin to Alistair, Donaid, and Hugh.
Alistair spoke first. “It’s doubtful you’ll find any answers here.”
“Where will we find them?” Collin’s tone was as angry as I’d ever heard, though directed at our greatest ally here.
“If I knew, I’d tell you.” Alistair scratched his head. “Brann was truthful when he said the old laird was sequestered most of his last years. I heard tell of the dowry, but I wasn’t the one he trusted with its whereabouts. Trouble is, I’m not sure who was.”
Finlay. He knew something— whether from a conversation with my grandfather or from a vision of the future. He was our best hope for finding the money anytime soon. And he was gone.
Collin let out a frustrated sigh. “We might as well go through what records are here.”
“I’ll leave you to it.” Alistair clapped a hand on Collin’s shoulder. “Keep your temper. It’ll help you keep your head attached.”
“Thanks.” Collin sounded anything but grateful.
Impulsively, I stepped forward and gave Alistair a hug. “Your arrival was timely, and I thank you for it.”
“Thank ye, lass.” He didn’t blush as Finlay had when I’d kissed his cheek, but he smiled so that I could tell the gesture had pleased him. “Watch each others’ backs, the both of you.” He raised a hand in farewell as he walked away, reminding me of when we had parted at the moor on our journey here.
“We will,” I promised. Collin gave the usual Scots’ grunt. He was already busy trying to get inside, fiddling with the doorknob.
“Isn’t it locked?” I asked. Brann had gone so far as to lift his hands to the filthy window and peer inside.
“Keep away.” Collin took the stone Brann had kicked from the path, then stepped back and threw it at the window. The glass shattered easily. “It’s not like Edan is going to be coming back here,” Collin said. “He’s been gone since your grandfather’s death. Finlay said to search high and low, so we’ll try here as well.”
“Finlay?” Hugh’s brows rose, and he perked up. “What else did he say?”
“Many things.” I gave what I hoped was an enthusiastic smile to Hugh. “The man is a brilliant poet. He regaled us with tale after amusing tale during our journey here.” I prattled on, feeling the need to cover Collin’s blunder. Had he forgotten that no one was to know of Finlay’s presence at Liusaidh’s, or of his part in transporting the documents to Edinburg?
“The very first words he spoke to me were about my hair— ‘like a field of dry heather,’ he said. I wasn’t quite certain it was a compliment, but the words, at least, sounded lovely.”
“Eyes like the sky afore a storm.” Collin, busy removing broken glass from the window frame, paused long enough to glance at me.
You have no idea. There was a definite storm brewing inside of me. From the moment Collin had leapt past me to launch his attack on Brann, from the way he’d pushed me aside and made himself an easy target, to his careless words endangering Finlay, my fury had been building. Even his continued obsession with finding the dowry was starting to grate on me. Ian and the MacDonalds simply might have to live without it.
As our gazes locked, I inhaled deeply, reminding myself that Collin wanted that money not for himself, but for his people. But what about my people? Who had we come here to help?
Finding it will help the Campbells, Collin’s look seemed to say.
Perhaps, I answered silently. I still didn’t like the idea of appeasing Ian, but neither did I relish the possibility of seeing him again, if what Collin feared was true and he intended to come here. We had our hands full enough with Brann.
Our wordless conversation over, Collin returned to his work, and I to mine.
“Finlay is my uncle,” Hugh said. “We didn’t realize he was going to bring you home. It was all done in secret, you see.”
Mostly in secret? Someone outside of the group of loyal clansmen had known of the plans to bring me back. Malcom, the man who’d kidnapped me on our journey here and had then been killed by Collin, had been in contact with Brann and likely working with someone else among our group. That we still didn’t know who was yet another worry.
“Your uncle added levity to our journey,” I said. “He has a verse for everything. ‘Marry in June when the roses grow and oe’r land and sea you’ll go,’” I said, doing my best Finlay imitation.
Hugh barked out a laugh. “Not bad. But don’t be too impressed by the verse. That one is an old proverb. There’s one for each month of the year. Not much truth to any of them.”
“Of course not.” But we had traveled far, over land and loch at least, if not the sea itself.
Collin broke out the last of the glass and crawled through the window. A minute later he opened the door.
“Come inside, Katie.” He held his hand out, helping me over the buckling threshold.
Hugh and Donaid started to follow, but Collin stopped them. “I’ll feel safer if you both wait outside. Donaid, go around back and keep an eye out. Hugh, if you’ll watch the front, Katie and I will have a look around here.”
“I’ll give a low whistle if there’s trouble.” Donaid puckered his lips, making the sound we were to listen for.
“I’m not much for whistling,” Hugh said. “But I’ll cough loudly or rap on the door if trouble’s coming.”
Collin nodded his appreciation. Having dispatched our guards, he closed the door to Edan’s deserted quarters behind him, leaving the two of us alone in the dusty, cobwebbed room. No sooner had the door shut than he rounded on me.
“What were you thinking, throwing yourself in front of me like that? I’m the one who is supposed to protect you, not the other way around.” He flung his hands about, nearly shouting.
“You won’t be able to protect anyone if you’re dead,” I countered. He’d no right to be upset with me. I, on the other hand, had every right to be angry. “What were you thinking, attacking Brann like that?”
“How could I not? He was speaking of your mother.” Collin began pacing footprints across the dusty floor. “A subject you ought not have mentioned.”
I cringed inwardly, recognizing his point as valid. “I am sorry about that.”
“Mmph,” Collin muttered. On his second turn around the room I caught his sleeve and stopped him.
“Brann won’t kill me. You know that as well as I. He’d rather use my gift, and for some reason he’s wary of it— or me. But you... he’d be more than happy to dispose of you. You mustn’t anger him. Just as you told me not to raise Ian’s ire, you must do all you can to appease or at least avoid Brann— for now.”
Collin lowered his voice to a whisper. “I should like to kill him and be done with it.”
“Was that what Grandfather asked of you? Was that what he foretold? To begin here with murder?”
“I don’t know what he’d planned.” Collin pulled away from my touch. “Only that I must protect you at all costs. Forgive me if I felt that included sparing you from hearing the details of your mother’s death. Though you all but as
ked to hear them, bringing that up to Brann as you did.”
“I said I was sorry.” How many times did Collin expect me to apologize? “And I know the details. I was there.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to relive them over and over.” Collin stepped closer to me once more. He grasped my arms in a way that seemed anything but loving. “And you’re wrong. Brann would kill you. He would have when you were a child, had I not been there to protect you. He will now, if he feels you are more trouble than you’re worth.”
“He wants—”
“Yes,” Collin agreed. “He does want to use you, in more ways than you can likely imagine or should. I’ve seen the way he watches you. His greed is about more than your gift for knowing the future.”
“Then let’s leave this place,” I pled. “We are up against too much here. Even if I’m granted ownership of the castle, what reason do Brann and the council have to leave? None. And every reason to do away with both of us.”
Collin released me and took up his pacing again, one hand held to his head. A bruise was starting to form on his left cheek, where Brann had landed a punch. Other than that, Collin appeared unscathed from the incident. I, however, felt shaken to my core. The thought of something happening him, and then of being left alone in this wild and dangerous place...
“I don’t want to lose you, Collin.” I waited to speak more until he was the farthest away from me on his track around the room. “I can’t imagine my life before you came or see any future without you. I want to help my family, but more than that, I want to be with you.”
“Don’t you think I feel the same?” He crossed the room in half the steps it had taken him before. This time when he took my arms it was to pull me into his and crush me against his chest. “Dear God, Katie. I was so frightened. Three knives aimed at your heart—”
A Promise for Tomorrow Page 8
