Chapter Two
They had placed Andie on a lounger. At seeing her black eyes, bruised cheeks, torn dress, and the other collection of miscellaneous bruises, the men exchanged looks at one another. Blood had caked on her lips from where they’d cracked.
Gavin’s eyes narrowed on her wheat colored hair.
“Papa, she saved me,” Riley said, standing next to Gavin, who was looking down at Andie.
He couldn’t stop staring at her- her hair, her height, and her face. She looked so much like Sarah.
“How so?”
“She went to her room to get her poppet and heard me. I was stuffed in a trunk and she took me out, promising to return me home. She didna have much food or water, but what she did have, she gave to me.”
Gavin looked disturbed as he quickly glanced down at his son for a quick verification of his sincerity. He returned his cold gaze to the woman now regaining consciousness.
Andie was moaning.
“Wake up,” Gavin said impatiently.
She opened her eyes and stared at him. Quickly, she got to her feet, but her head began spinning. She held onto the wall for support.
Her eyes. Something in him tightened. Those were Sarah’s eyes- honey-colored eyes. Coldness rushed through his veins.
Hair of wheat and eyes of honey.
“So yer father is dead?” he asked, almost disinterestedly.
“Aye.”
“Why should I give ye aid, when yer clan has burned some of my clan’s cottages?”
“What?” she asked, massaging her temples.
“Aye. The fires were set by yer clan, as a distraction while they took my son,” he said bitterly.
“I doona know what ye’er talking about. I’ve come to ye seeking aid. My clan has been under attack for several days now. My cousin, Alistair, has been battling for control and he’s winning. By now, he’s probably won. My father was felled on the battlefield and later died,” she said, nearly choking on the emotion. “My cousin wants to be laird. Why he took Riley, I doona know.” She stopped, trying to slow her racing thoughts. Anger welled in her and she said, “My father would never do the hideous things ye now accuse him of!” she hissed, her voice strong and defiant.
His eyes flashed, so briefly, she thought she had imagined it. Andie looked at him closely.
The Dark Wolf was handsome. He had long black hair and pale silver eyes. His face was very pleasing. She wondered how he had gotten the scar on his chin. He was tall with broad shoulders that seemed to never end in breadth. His pale eyes held secrets and reflected his soulless, dark existence. She had heard stories about him from her father, stories about his power, his skill, and his rage. He was the most powerful laird in Scotland, and the most deadly.
“I’ll only speak to the new laird. I’m assuming Andie will be the new laird.”
“Yes. My father has named-”
“I’ll only speak to him. What’s yer name? Which are ye? Ailis? Tanna? Beth? There were so many, I scant remember,” he said dispassionately. His gaze was watchful, predatory. His eyes sparked silver glints.
“With yer attitude, ‘tis surprising ye remember anything a ‘tall,” she hissed.
“I’ll remind ye that ye are in my hands now. Respect may get ye better treatment,” he growled.
“Respect for someone who has none for anyone else?” she asked, her voice raising in pitch.
“Yer name,” he demanded harshly.
“My name is Andie. Andie McBride.”
He laughed, almost sounding as if he were growling. He looked at her, narrowing those pale eyes.
“Impossible. Andie’s a mon’s name, the name of yer brother. What game do ye play?”
“My name is Andie. I am Andrew’s youngest. I have no brothers.”
“I grow impatient, woman,” he grated out ruthlessly. “It’s a mon’s name. Andrew named his youngest after him.”
“Nay! Well, yes!”
Gavin looked as if he were about to pounce on her, looking at her as if she were losing her mind.
“Well, which is it?”
“He did name his last born after himself, but it wasna a baby boy, but a baby girl. I turned out a girl, another daughter for him.”
“What is yer real name? This is the last time I’ll ask.”
“Andie!” she yelled.
Gavin looked at her pensively for several seconds and decided she was telling the truth.
“Ye have a mon’s name? Ye are Andie?” he asked again, blankly.
“‘Tis spelled with an ‘ie’ nay a ‘y’!” she said, looking at him with her head tipped to the side in attitude.
What she thought was something akin to laughter, escaped from his lips. “I’ll be damned.” She looked at him mesmerized- his eyes sparkled now, instead of throwing icy daggers her way.
“Ye already are,” she hissed.
“Ye’ve got sharp claws for being a woman. But why should I expect anything different from one?”
She ignored the taunt, but sneered all the same as she crossed her arms. “I have been named the next laird. Whether Alistair knows that or nay, I doona care. All I know is that he wants to wed me, to strengthen his hold on the clan,” she said, her voice weak.
“Ye, a woman, the next laird? Andrew must have been ill,” he said, his gaze unnerving. His eyes were cold again.
Her face became red with anger. “Doona speak of my father in that manner!” she yelled, her voice wavering slightly. Tears formed in her eyes and Gavin felt unusually contrite.
“I apologize. Yer father was a good mon,” he said, and she heard the sincerity in his deep voice.
“Yes, he was,” she said, her voice a bare whisper.
He continued to stare at her, realizing she must have been through an ordeal. “What happened to ye?”
She shook her head, looking at Riley.
“Ewan, take Riley to Edie. He needs to be placed in bed,” he said and Riley looked as if he was going to object. His eyes were droopy, so he just took Ewan’s hand. At the door, he turned around and looked at Andie.
“I didna know yer face looked like that, Andie. Will ye be alright sleeping alone- without me to keep ye safe and nay scared?” he asked, innocently.
She walked over to him and squatted down in front of him. She couldn’t hide her grimace of pain. “Well, Riley, ye protected me so well last night and I didna feel scared at all, but I’ll manage tonight. Can I go to ye if I feel scared, though?” she asked, brushing a stray lock of hair off his forehead.
“Aye, ye may come to me. Papa will tell ye which chamber I’m in.”
“Thank ye, Riley. Good night.”
“Good night, Andie.”
A flashback of Sarah ignited Gavin’s anger and it rushed through his body like venom. He clenched his jaw to stay the anger. He opened his glacier eyes and looked at Andie again. After Riley left, Gavin walked over to a table. He got water and brought it to her. She slowly sat back down on the lounger and drank all of the water.
She had let his son drink the water, at her own sacrifice.
“So what happened to ye? Did a pack of wild animals maul ye?”
She had been looking into his soulless pale silver eyes again and looked down. She inhaled a shaky breath. He studied her closely, looking for any signs of dishonesty. She brought her hand up to her temple and rubbed it again. He saw her hand shake.
“He murdered my family. All of them,” she whispered flatly, emotionlessly. She angrily pulled her hair back.
“They’re all dead?” he asked, his voice without inflection.
“Yes! He violated and killed my sisters and mother. I saw them,” her voice broke. Her hand still shook. She wasn’t going to cry, damn it. “I was in a room where my father had asked me to hide when my sisters and mother were taken. I saw from a window,” she said in a strangled whisper, looking into nowhere, a far away look in her amber eyes. “I saw his men drag them out and…” she couldn’t continue. Her voice had been trembling. She struggled to breathe for a couple of seconds, as the panic seized her.
Gavin still stood there in watchful silence. There was more she was not telling him.
“And my father,” she whispered louder. She cleared her throat. “He’s dead. All of them are dead!” she said, bringing her hand to her temples again. “Brutal, brutal murders.”
“How did ye escape death?” he asked, narrowing his brooding, pale gaze.
“I hid in that room. I saw my father fall during the fight. I went down to help. I couldna lose him, too,” she said, but her voice wavered again. She inhaled a gulping breath of air. “I believe that Alistair saw me helping my father off the field. I was in the room with my father, until he ordered me out. He wanted me to go to our allies. I went through a secret passage, a passage only known by the laird of our clan. When I reached the door, a man caught me in the passageway,” she said, her voice rising. “Alistair was there to open the door for the man. My cousin told me that I was meant to die. Now, though, he says that my survival was God’s plan.”
“God’s plan?”
“Aye.”
“For what?”
“To wed him,” she said solemnly. She shuddered with disgust.
He watched her carefully, looking for signs of deceit. “It’s late. Ye look like ye havena slept.”
She gave a small laugh.
“I havena. Riley slept in front of me while I leaned against a tree, and I couldna fall asleep. My family’s images haunted me. Besides, it was too dangerous for me to sleep. It would have made us vulnerable and I needed to look out for Riley. For us,” she said, looking into his empty steel-colored gaze.
He looked into hers, and saw sorrow and sadness.
“Shall we put her below, Gavin?” asked one man to her left.
“Nay. Give her a chamber above stairs. Ask one of the servants to prepare a chamber.”
Andie quietly stood, rubbing her temples. One man got immediately behind her and pulled her arms behind her back. She cried out in pain.
“What are ye doing?” she asked, the pain of the vice grip obvious.
“Let her go. She’s nay a prisoner. She’s an ally,” Gavin said, watchful of her again.
Quietly, she followed one of the men out of the room. She moved her arms slowly, trying to take the sting away. Her back was rigidly straight. He kept an eye on her as she departed.
There was just something about this woman.
Honesty?
Nay, he shook his head. None of them were ever honest.
“Papa?” Riley asked, tugging at the plaid covering his father.
“Papa?” he said again in a louder whisper.
Gavin bolted upright, got out of bed, and grabbed his sword. All this, within the span of seconds.
Riley giggled. “Papa!”
Gavin looked down at his son. “What are ye doing here, Riley?” his voice deep, from sleep.
Riley grew serious. “It’s her, papa. Andie,” he said, his eyes round with fear.
“What’s the matter?” Gavin asked, tensing.
“She’s screaming! I think someone’s in the room with her,” he said, frightened. “I wanted to go in to save her, but I thought to come to ye to get more help.”
Gavin immediately was in stealth mode. It was impossible to penetrate his castle. But still, he had an unnerving thought- what if she had snuck someone in?
Traitor.
“Ye did well, Riley. Stay here. When I come back, ye may leave to yer chamber. Nay until then.”
He hastily wrapped his plaid around his waist. Gavin held his sword in his hand as he angrily exited the room. He walked a couple of doors down to Riley’s room.
Then he heard her.
She was crying out in agony and pain. Then she was having a conversation. Her voice grew louder again.
“Get off me!” she yelled loudly.
He rushed in the room, only to find it empty. She was in the throes of a nightmare. Gavin walked over to the side of her bed. She was restless, her hands flailing around. The pale moonlight gliding in from the window allowed him to see her sweat-drenched body and flushed face.
“I’ll nay wed ye, Alistair! Never,” she said, and her hands went to her face, clutching her cheek in her sleep.
He saw her poppet and walked over, grabbing it. It was a little girl, an obvious attempt to replicate Andie. She had a rose in one hand and a sword in the other. Odd.
“Andie?”
“No, Alistair. Get off!”
“Andie,” he said more forcefully.
She sat up, gasping loudly. Her chest heaved from her breaths. She grabbed her dirk that had been returned to her and held it in her grasp. Gavin was impressed.
“There`s nay threat, Andie.”
She focused on him, and slowly, her hand dropped onto her lap.
“What are ye doing here?” she asked, breathless, confused.
“Ye scared my son. He thought someone was in the room with ye,” he said with annoyance.
She shook her head. “Nay.” She paused for a second. She still sat upright, when she said, “Goodnight.”
He stared at her a long minute. “What did he do to ye?” he asked, slowly, watching her.
“What are ye talking about, Maitland?” she asked, evasively.
“I think ye know what I’m asking, Andie. Ye didna tell me the full truth.”
“What d’ye want to know?”
He already knew, but he wanted to hear it from her. Yes, Gavin knew he was a bastard.
“Why do ye have so many bruises?”
“They’re pre-marital presents.”
“From who?”
“My betrothed,” she said, laughing emptily.
“What happened?” he asked again, standing there, staring down at her. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
Andie looked at his massive, rippled chest. She didn’t know men had so many muscles, or that they grew this large. She broke free of those thoughts, inhaled, and looked away.
The light from the candle provided little illumination but he saw her features. He saw the pain in her eyes, on her face. He saw her wheat colored hair and honey colored eyes. Fury pumped within him again.
“He wanted to spoil me. He knew he couldna wed me right away, and he didna want me to run away to find help, or even chance a mon coming to champion my cause. So he wanted to spoil me, so that no other would want me,” she whispered.
Her chest heaved at the memory. She remained detached, though, barely any emotion showing through.
“He hit me- a lot. They forced me on the floor. He had a mon hold my arms above my head, while another held my legs open, pinning me down. He got over me…” she said, letting her voice stop when it quivered.
He could only imagine what she went through. How very painful and humiliating, he thought. A bit of rage sparked within him, only this time it was aimed at her cousin.
“How did ye escape?”
“My father’s first in command came through the passageway, with great timing,” she smiled sadly, looking down at her hands, grimacing. She bit her lower lip. “Just a second more, and Alistair would have succeeded,” she said, still looking down at her hands. “He was like another father to me and my sisters.”
“Who?”
“Bryce,” she smiled, remembering. “He came in through the door, and fought all four men in the room, including Alistair. He told me to run and get out, and I did! I was such a coward. How could I let him meet death like that- alone!” She broke off, calming her emotions. She sniffled and inhaled. “Now I have no one, Gavin,” she said, closing her eyes painfully. “Everything has been taken away from me. My sisters, my mother, my father. Now, Bryce.” She shook her head, opening her eyes again. Her honeyed gaze was tormented. “What have I left? When I left with Riley, Alistair was destroying my clan. Burning cottages, beating clansmen, violating the women.”
He saw the pain in her eyes. Sad- it made him feel sad. Another feeling? When was the last time he felt anything other than rage and cynicism?
“Ye’re alive,” he said.
She shook her head. “Nay. I’m dead. Everything I love is gone.”
She looked away in sorrow. He saw her face fall again as the memories flooded back to her.
“I wish I had died with them,” she whispered. His eyebrows furled in surprise. Another moment elapsed, before she said, “I’m sorry I woke ye and Riley. I’ll try to be quiet,” she said, staring at him.
He nodded, not certain of what to say. “Sleep well,” he said, making his way to the door. He felt awkward with her.
“Sleep well,” she said quietly, sinking back into the bed again.
Gavin made his way back to his chamber, thinking about what she had told him. He felt the stirrings of protection come over him and shrugged it off. He would feel the same about any one of his allies.
Walking back to his chamber and opening the closed door, he stared at his bed. Riley had fallen asleep. He went over, picked Riley up tenderly, and walked to Riley’s room. He placed Riley in his bed and stared down at his son for a moment. Gavin was satisfied that his son looked hale and unhurt. He left and passed by Andie’s room. He slowly and quietly opened the door. She was crying uncontrollably, now that she was alone. She was clutching her poppet.
How old was she? He tried to remember. He had been, what, how old? Nine? He remembered his father chuckling, finding out that Laird McBride had had another bairn and named it Andie.
“Finally, an heir. Andie. Named ‘im after ‘imself!” his father had said. That had been nearly twenty years before. She was almost twenty. She was far too young to go through this, he thought. He looked at her again, his heart constricting. Gavin shut out the emotion as he quietly shut her door.
He walked back to his room, vowing to finally get some sleep now that his son was safely back at home.
Gavin walked over to his son’s room in the morning. He needed assurance that his son was safe. Once in front of the door, he opened it.
He wasn’t there.
Panic seized him.
She took him. Damn her. She was a traitor.
He marched to her room and opened the door, stunned silent and motionless at what he saw.
His son was sleeping with her. She was lying on her side and Riley was in front of her. She had him enveloped in her arms, almost like a mother’s caress.
Gavin’s heart skipped a beat, flipping in his chest. He quickly steeled himself against that feeling. He knew his son missed having a mother figure. His expression hardened. Rage seethed within him, remembering Riley’s mother, traitorous, conniving bitch that she was. He touched the scar on his chin, remembering that day he saw her for who she really was.
Andie stirred and looked at the door, covering her arms protectively around Riley. Gavin saw the fear and strength of her protection in her gaze.
Like a mother wolf protecting her pups.
Like a real mother would, only she wasn’t Riley’s.
She relaxed, seeing Gavin. She smiled tentatively, placing her index finger over her lips- her full, plump, bruised lips. Heat flared, centering around his groin.
Riley stirred awake and he followed Andie’s gaze.
“Papa!” he said excitedly, and Gavin smiled at him, coming into the room.
He looked to Andie, his smile fading instantly. “If ye require privacy, I’ll leave.”
She shook her head no and ruffled Riley’s hair. He giggled. “Nay at all,” she said smiling.
It looked to Gavin as if they had become fast friends. It was an unusual occurrence because Riley never took to anyone- especially to a woman.
Not since his mother.
He studied her face. She had bruised and split lips. Her cheeks were blue and her left eye was bruised. She looked as if she’d been savagely beaten.
“Papa, did ye know Andie knows how to wield a sword? She has her own!”
Surprise, mixed with doubt, entered into his eyes.
“Riley,” she warned.
“Aye. I didna believe her at first, but she told me her papa showed her since she was young. And she can even use a bow and arrows!” he said excitedly.
Gavin’s eyebrows rose slightly, mocking her, as if that were absurd. Andie saw the look on his face and her ire grew. Pompous ass! Well, she would prove it to him.
Gavin spoke to his son. “Why doona we let Andie dress, Riley?”
Andie shook her head. “‘Tis no needed, Gavin. I have on what I came here with.”
Gavin nodded, understanding. “I’ll have a servant bring ye something.”
Riley turned to Andie. “Ye arena going anywhere, are ye Andie? That mean mon is still out there,” he said worriedly.
“Nay, Riley. I’ll be here, for now, until I return back to my home.”
Riley smiled, satisfied for the moment. He skipped over to his father.
“Andie, want to see my chamber? Papa just put a sword on the wall for me. It has a lot of family his-story,” he said.
“History,” his father corrected.
Andie smiled. “Aye, I would like that verra much. Give me a minute and I’ll be right there.”
As Gavin and Riley exited the room, Gina passed by. “Gina, Andie McBride is staying in that chamber. Have a bath brought to the chamber and some fresh clothes. Andie is young, rather small but tall,” he said as an after thought. Gina bobbed her head and curtsied. He hoped that Gina would know what size garments to get her.
Riley and Gavin were in Riley’s room when Andie entered, still in her battered clothes.
“Amazin- this is a verra nice chamber, Riley,” she said, smiling at Riley.
Gavin noticed her curves, her hips, her breasts, her everything. He hadn’t been able to see her all that well last night, but he saw her now and his body responded violently.
Riley showed her his many small collections- from worms, to butterflies, to other insects Andie found repulsive. Gavin stared at her, noting that although she found these items revolting, she masked it for Riley’s sake. He almost found that humorous.
“I think Andie may want to bathe now, Riley. Let her return to her chamber,” Gavin said, eyeing her.
“Will ye play with me later?” he asked hopefully.
She didn’t have the heart to deny him. She smiled. “Yes, Riley.”
“We need to have a talk after ye finish yer bath, Andie. Ye and my men. We need to understand what’s happened to yer clan,” he said, and saw the grimness return.
She nodded. “For someone who thinks my name is a mon’s name, ye certainly have nay qualms saying it,” she said.
“In my head, I hear Andrea, nay Andie,” he said and couldn’t help smiling at her look of annoyance.
“That’s the first time I see ye smile, Gavin,” she said, shocked.
“‘Tis rare. Doona get used to it,” he countered, his smile falling.
She left the room and entered her own. She was happy to see a tub there, filled with deliciously warm water. She took a bath, using the soap provided. She washed her face and hair. After what felt like the most luxurious bath she’d ever taken, she felt very refreshed. Now for the clothes, she thought. Walking over to the bed, Andie stopped mid-stride.
There was a man’s plaid and a large tunic. She started laughing. She shrugged. These would have to do.
Gavin was seated with his men in the large great room. He was explaining what had transpired the night before for those who didn’t know. Riley was sitting on his lap, as usual.
Andie stopped at the top of the stairs. The room was so devoid of color. Everything appeared to be grey or brown. Dingy, she thought to herself. There was one massive table, where Gavin sat at the head. The table was off to the right in the back of the room. There was a great opening that led to the sitting area. In the sitting area, swords hung over the massive hearth. Chairs and lounges had been placed in front. There was so much lacking: no colors, flowers, or rushes.
Gavin noticed all of his men looking over his shoulder as he spoke, and it was annoying him.
“The meeting is here,” he said sternly, and all of their gazes returned back to him.
He kept talking and stopped again when he saw their attention drifting. Annoyed, he looked back and almost fell out of his chair.
She was at the top of the stairs, examining the room below. Andie had men’s plaid on, and Gavin could see her knees! It was really tight on her, showing off her backside. And the tunic! Lord, it looked like a second skin, he thought. She had gathered it into a knot on her side, he assumed, because it was too large.
Andie turned towards him to descend the stairs. She smiled and he scowled. Gavin’s gaze went to her full breasts. He felt himself heating. Overheating.
What was his problem, she thought. He never smiled- the louse. Such a pain in the arse, she thought. Not even a day she had known him, and she already had him pegged as a grumpy man.
By the time she’d descended the stairs, carefully doing so because of her short plaid, he was there waiting. He took her by the arm and pulled her aside.
“What are ye wearing?” he snarled.
“This is what was left in my room for me, Gavin. Get yer hands off me!” she said angrily.
He looked at her up and down, and called for Gina. Gina came in running at his bidding.
“Gina, what is the meaning of this?”
“Of what, laird?”
“I asked ye to give Andie McBride clothes. What is this?” he asked with a wave of his hand.
“Laird, I thought she was a mon! With a name like Andie,” Gina stuttered, flustered.
Andy looked indignant.
Gavin looked amused.
When Gavin laughed, his men looked over to where Gavin stood, surprised at the noise emanating from their laird.
“It’s spelled with an ‘ie’ nay a ‘y’,” she said, her face growing red.
“I’m truly sorry, milady,” Gina said, flustered still.
“Nay, ‘tis alright. Ye didna know better. What’s yer name?” she replied, laughing.
Gina tentatively smiled. “Me name’s Gina.”
“‘Tis verra good to meet ye,” Andie said, taking Gina’s hands and patting them. Gina was taken aback at Andie’s warmness. Gavin was also surprised.
“What’s the matter? Did I offend ye?” Andie asked.
Gina immediately turned redder. “Nay, mistress, ‘tis jost that ye’er verra friendly with me.”
Andie looked confused. “Well, sure. Why wouldna I be?”
“Well, I am a servant, mistress.”
“Nonsense, Gina. And I insist ye call me Andie, please.”
Gavin was surprised by Andie’s gentleness and kindness. The women he’d bedded barely spared a glance at the servants, despite them having been from the same class.
“But ‘tis a mon’s name,” Gina said, actually perplexed. Then she excused herself.
Andie blew up air, ruffling her still damp hair. Gavin noticed the curls forming in her rich, wheat-colored hair. He looked at her eyes- her honey-colored eyes.
Hair of wheat and eyes of honey,
Defeat will come in stealth,
Blind ye will be, for she will be bonny.
Fool you she will, with her lust of title and wealth.
“We’ll have the meeting now, Andie,” Gavin said, clearing his throat.
“Yes,” she said, and walked over to where the men sat.
All of his men were staring at her- her legs, bare knees, her chest, and her backside. Gavin saw pure lust in their eyes. Feelings so unfamiliar to him rose to the surface. He slammed his hand down on the table, getting their attention. Andie looked up at him in surprise. He looked at her and grew angrier. She had no idea that his men were lustily leering at her.
Andie sat at the table, taking a seat next to his, and waited. She was careful to hide her reaction to Gavin’s outburst.
Gavin took his seat and looked to his men. Riley walked over to them and Gavin backed up to let him sit on his lap, but it wasn’t Gavin he went to, it was Andie.
She pulled back unconsciously to allow him to sit on her lap, and wrapped her arms around him, as if it was an everyday thing. Gavin grew pensive. His son was becoming entirely too close to that woman.
“Men, this is Andie McBride.”
There were audible grumblings of shock.
“This is Andie McBride? McBride’s youngest? His son?” Kurt asked.
Andie pursed her lips together in annoyance. Gavin almost cracked a smile. Riley giggled.
“Laird McBride,” she corrected.
They all stared at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“Ye think ye’re laird? They musta slapped ye hard, hinny, to get those bruises. Knocked all sense out of ye! I can slap some back into ye. ‘Twill be my pleasure tae take ye outta yer fantasy and inta mine,” Harold laughed, leering at her.
Andie mouth gaped open. Gavin was about to stop his men’s rude behavior, when Andie took Riley off her lap and set him on his feet. She rose up from her chair and looked at them.
“Let us understand one thing here,” she said, pausing until she had all of their attention. “I willna tolerate anyone’s insults. I am laird of my clan and my father named me so. Anyone who’d like to challenge me, I’m game. Until then, keep yer lips shut. And as for ye,” she stared hard at Harold. “Come near me with yer little dirk and I’ll cut ye down with my sword,” she said through her teeth.
The men erupted in laughter at Harold’s expense. Gavin wanted to laugh, but he was more concerned about the tension. This wouldn’t do. He thought little of women, but to say something akin to violating one was an entirely different issue.
“Let us continue the meeting,” Gavin said. He introduced the men seated at the table and then they began, again, reciting the facts of the McBride assault.
“We’ll have to wait,” Kyle said, after they’d related the details.
“Nay, we canna. My clan is being murdered. Their cottages are being set on fire. They violate my women!” Andie said passionately.
Riley grabbed her forearm in an effort to calm her. She looked down at his face and saw his worry. She took a closer look at his eyes for the first time. They weren’t brown, but hazel. “I’m sorry,” she said. She kissed his forehead and ran her fingers through his brown hair absentmindedly. Gavin saw her actions. She was the nurturing type, he thought blandly.
“I’m sorry, McBride, but ‘tis nay a good idea,” Kyle defended. “We need to know more about him.”
“Know what? He’s burning everything. He treats my clan like animals. He treats my women like whores,” she said, covering Riley’s ears now. “He did this to me,” she said indicating her face. “He did this to my sisters! My mother! My women! Violated them! Then, he slaughtered them. I willna let it happen anymore!” she said through gritted teeth, and let go of Riley’s ears. He looked up at her in confusion. She smiled down at him in an effort to reassure him.
“What makes yer clan so special? Yer clan set our cottages on fire,” Harold grated out.
“It wasna my clan. It was that devil, my cousin,” she responded, her gaze pinning him in his chair.
“We canna go immediately. I’ll send for my men. When they get here, we’ll go,” Gavin said.
“Why canna we go immediately?” she asked, her voice rising.
“Because I have sent men out to the McArylls and the force I have kept here is solely to protect my clan,” he said almost angrily, not liking her questioning him.
She paled. “But ye have a thousand men in yer ranks, Gavin. How long will it take then?”
“I always leave a minimum number of men here, Andie. I have sent many over to the McAryll,” he said, looking at her hazel eyes. “Their land is several days away. It’ll take four or five days to reach them and another day or two to finish helping the McArylls. Then it will take another four or five days to return here. Once here, they must rest for a short time before they’re sent on another march.”
She looked at him for a long moment. “A fortnight? We canna wait that long, Gavin!” she said, her voice strangled.
“It has to be so, Andie.” He gave her a harsh look. “Let him think he’s won, and then we’ll come and surprise him,” Gavin said. She looked at him sternly.
“I’ll go to other allies,” she said, lifting her chin.
He shook his head. “Many of the lairds have done the same. Clan McAryll is a small clan. The Kerrs are causing trouble for them.”
She sighed and groaned. She looked at him and nodded. Ewan came in then, looking at Gavin.
“What’s the matter, Ewan?”
“There’s a mon outside. He wants to see McBride,” Ewan said, looking at her now.
Men came rushing in, trying to stop the large warrior. Andie placed Riley on his feet and stood up. An excited utterance came out of her throat and she ran for the warrior.
“Lord, thank ye!” she said, running into his arms.
Gavin’s rare emotions came back as he saw her running to the stranger. Something made him want to fight the man who now touched her. Was this a love interest of hers? He was seething with barely contained rage.
The stranger gathered her in his arms and hugged her close. She began to laugh with tears in her eyes. “Bryce! I thought ye were dead! What happened?” She said pulling back.
“When I fought Alistair, after ye left, they made him retreat. I knew ye had gone seeking allies, and couldna let ye travel alone, so I retreated, also,” he said, looking down at her. “Are ye alright, Andie? Why did ye come here, instead of the McKendricks as yer father instructed? I went there and nearly lost my mind when he said ye werena there! I came here, on a whim.”
“Deal Lord,” he whispered, lifting his palm to cup her beaten face.
She grabbed his hand and gave it a kiss. She let it go and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m fine.” She paused. “Alistair kidnapped Laird Maitland’s son, Riley. I found the poor bairn in my trunk! When he told me that his father was the Maitland, I came here instead. They’re closer anyway.”
“I’m nay a bairn!” Riley yelled, running up to her. His little nose was wrinkled, offended. She sighed and smiled at Bryce. She squatted down to his level.
“I’m sorry, Riley. ‘Twas a slip of the tongue. Ye arena a bairn,” she said, grabbing his nose. He giggled. “I want ye to meet a mon who’s like a father to me,” she said, her voice strained. “This is Bryce.”
“Hello!”
“Hello, there, Riley. Ye’re a big lad. How old are ye? Eight? Nine?” Bryce said, winking at Andie.
Riley laughed, poofing his little chest out. “Nay, I’m six.”
“Such a big lad for only six,” Bryce said.
Gavin approached, then. “I’m Gavin Maitland,” he said, nodding.
Bryce nodded back. “Bryce Campbell,” he said.
Gavin asked Bryce to join them, and then asked the servants to bring ale and food for him. Bryce took a seat next to Andie, who, again, had Riley on her lap. They told Bryce what they’d decided. He agreed with the plan.
After the meeting, the group broke, returning to their own affairs. Bryce finished his meal and went upstairs to the room he would stay in to bathe. Riley also left, saying he needed to find something he had lost. All the men had dispersed to their daily activities, and Andie decided to take a walk to clear her head.
Andie was walking outside and looked at the sky. She was a hundred feet or so from the castle, when she heard a twig break behind her. Riley, she thought smiling, and turned around. It was Harold, and when she looked into his eyes, goose-pimples covered her skin.
“Come to apologize, have ye?” she asked.
“Nay, McBride,” he said, looking at her body. His leer made her sick.
“Then leave,” she said, and turned her back on him.
He rushed up behind her and grabbed her hair, pulling her head back.
“Let me go!” she growled through her clenched teeth.
“Nay. I wanna show ye just how big my dirk is, since ye think it small,” he taunted darkly.
“A mon who has to speak of the size of his dirk, doesna do so because ‘tis large.”
His response was to pull her head back further.
Suddenly, Andie stomped on his toes with all her strength. He stepped backward, in shock and in pain. She drew her sword from its sheath at her side and held it up to him.
“Fight like the mon ye claim to be but arena,” she said tauntingly. He drew his sword and rushed forward.
The two began sparring. She blocked his blows and he blocked hers. Her sword was smaller than his and not as heavy, but it functioned well for her. Her father had it made for her after many trials and errors. Finally, they had come up with a weight and length that would combat heavier and longer swords, while allowing Andie to wield it.
She saw an opening and jutted her sword forward. Harold’s sword fell to the ground and so did he. Andie stood above him, the point of her sword aimed at his throat.
“I’ll be damned,” Gavin said surprised. Bryce nodded in pride. Riley jumped up, clapping in glee.
They stood a fair distance away, watching the two. Riley had seen Harold following Andie, and so he had run to his father to tell him about it. Gavin had witnessed the whole thing from the moment Harold confronted her until the moment he fell. He had wanted to intrude but was held back by Bryce.
“Let her be. She can defend herself,” Bryce had said. Gavin had scoffed silently, but now he saw Andie in a different light.
She was tough.
“She was taught well by her father,” Bryce said, laughing at Gavin’s face.
“Doona sniff up my skirts again, Harold,” she said, looking down.
He actually smiled. “Nay, laird, I’ll nay.”
She looked at him another moment and left him there on the ground, lusting after her more now that he had witnessed her talent.
Gavin stalked towards Harold and hauled him up harshly. He forced him backward and slammed him against the castle wall, some hundred feet back. He held him off the floor, with a hand at his throat.
“I never want to see ye treating her, or any other woman, like that again. Maitlands doona attack women. Doona. Even. Look. At. Her. Is that clear?” he asked through clenched teeth.
Harold looked contrite. “Aye, laird.”
Gavin slammed him against the wall again before releasing him. Turning to leave, Gavin saw Andie sitting underneath a tree, leaning on it. He wanted to talk to her, but wouldn’t let himself. Instead, he went upstairs to speak to the only person who could give him clarity- Althor.
“Come in,” Althor said, knowing Gavin was outside. Gavin walked in, not having knocked.
“I know why ye come, young laird. Ye willna like my answers, though” Althor said.
“What?” Gavin asked. “What willna I like?”
“That she’s nay like the women ye’ve known, lad. She is above them, and it bothers ye that she doesna fit into the mold of the women ye hate.”
Althor laughed at the look on Gavin’s face.
“My clan believes ye to be a seer. ‘Tis a wonder at all why I allow ye to remain in this castle,” Gavin said bitterly.
“I told ye that ye wouldna like my answers. And ye allow me to stay here because my sire and grandsires afore me stayed here, under the rule of yer ancestors.”
“Yer just an old mon, Althor. All women are the same. They’re all the same. Sarah was no different, and neither is she,” Gavin said, indicating Andie with a jut of his chin, looking out through the window.
Hair of wheat and eyes of honey,
Defeat will come in stealth,
Blind ye will be, for she will be bonny.
Fool you she will, with her lust of title and wealth.
“Ye’re a fool if ye believe that,” Althor said, walking through his crowded room.
Ornate fabrics of different colors hung in the room. A large pot brewed a foul smelling liquid. He was a seer and one of the clan’s healers. Greida was the other seer. Several small labeled sachets were filled with herbs and lined the shelves of the room.
“Riley never takes to strangers, much less to women, after the incident with his mother.”
“Incident. ‘Twas nay an ‘incident’, Althor. ‘Twas nearly murder,” he snapped.
“Nay all women are like her.”
“All the women I’ve ever known were like her.”
“Yer mother wasna,” he said.
“I never knew my mother. She died having me, or did ye forget?”
“Nay, I didna. But she was a good woman, Gavin, and wouldna approve of ye so bitter towards women.”
“‘Tis nay important, Althor. I disturbed ye for naught,” Gavin said, striding out of the room angrily.
Althor steepled his fingers, smiling. Aye. He’d known the Laird wouldn’t like his answers.
Andie stayed outside, contemplating the changes her life had undergone in two short days. Restless, she now walked towards the castle.
“Gabriel,” she called out.
The large warrior stopped and looked at her, impressed that she remembered his name.
“What did I say now?” she asked, irritably.
“‘Tis just that ye remembered my name,” he responded.
She exhaled up again, causing her hair to move. “Why is that such a marvel here? Does no one remember anyone’s name?” He just smiled at her. She continued. “I know ye’re Gavin’s brother. Have ye seen him?”
“He’s upstairs, Andie.”
“I’m sure he’s practicing the many different poses he can make while frowning,” she mumbled.
“What?” he asked, a smirk visible on his lips.
“Nothing. Excuse me,” she said, walking inside the castle.
He watched her go inside and laughed. She was a spitfire.
Just what his brother needed.
Gavin was in a meeting with Shaun, his second in command, when he saw her walk in. Immediately, his body tightened up.
She was a beauty, though he loathed admitting it.
She waited patiently until he finished speaking with Shaun. Gavin dismissed him, and as Shaun walked by Andie, he nodded an acknowledgment to her, saying, “Laird McBride.”
She nodded back and said, “Good day, Shaun.”
Surprise lit his eyes. She rolled her eyes Heavenward and ran a hand through her hair, irritated.
“Just how long does it take for yer clansmen to learn names?” she asked him.
“What?”
“Nevermind. Good day to ye,” she said and walked towards Gavin.
Gavin had the urge to laugh, but didn’t give into it. He nodded to her to sit down. She did and he saw a hint of weariness. The events of the last couple of days were catching up with her. She was far too young for this, he thought, and then immediately extinguished the protectiveness he felt towards her. Such a foreign feeling had no place in his life.
“Ye need to talk to me?”
She sighed.
“I canna wait to take my clan back from Alistair’s grasp, Gavin. I’ll wait a fortnight and no more. I canna allow him to do to my clan, what he did to my family,” she said, her voice strong. She felt so helpless, so powerless.
“It’s alright to mourn them, Andie,” he said, not knowing why he said something so unlike him. Was he actually trying to offer her comfort?
She shook her head, resolve coming into her eyes. “Nay, I’ll nay mourn them, Gavin. Too much depends on me now, for me to lose my senses.”
He studied her for a second and she turned her head to return his gaze. Her eyes were a warm honey, and he was beginning to get lost in them. He tried to snap himself out of it. The last time he got lost in a woman’s honeyed gaze, he’d nearly lost all that was precious to him.
“I saw ye today,” he said. “With Harold,” he added.
She snorted. “Harold. Mannerless, arrogant, and infantile,” she said. She narrowed her eyes, remembering, and asked, “Just what did ye see?”
He looked at her for a long moment, and laughed. Riley came in just then, and he ran over to Andie and climbed onto her lap.
“What are ye laughing at, Papa?” He asked, looking up innocently with a sweet smile on his face.
“Well, Andie and I were just discussing her, ah… words with Harold,” he said, smiling at the look of irritation she gave him.
Riley bounced on her lap, clapping in laughter. “Yes, Papa! That was so funny! I told ye she can wield a sword,” he said excitedly.
“Yes, she can,” he said, narrowing his eyes to study her bruised face. “Riley, why doona ye leave us for a while. Andie and I have things to discuss.”
Riley hung his head down, disappointed.
Andie grabbed his chin and made him look at her. Gavin watched, tensing. She’d better not hurt him, he thought. Gavin coiled tightly, ready to pounce.
“‘Tis nay for all that, Riley. I promise ye that we’ll go outside soon, like I promised ye before,” she said, twinkling his nose.
Riley smiled. “We’ll catch some fish from the loch?”
“Aye, if that’s what ye wish. But ye put on the bait,” she said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
“Why?”
“Because that’s disgusting!” she said.
Riley giggled. “Ye’re such a girl, Andie!”
“Aye, that I am Riley,” she said, ruffling his hair.
“But with a lad’s name!” he said, giggling and jumped off her lap. He skipped out of the great room, leaving Andie to Gavin’s inquisitive stare.
“He really likes ye,” Gavin said reservedly.
She looked up at him, from where her eyes had locked on Riley’s retreating form. She smiled and Gavin suspected it was genuine. Andie, on the other hand, noted that he seemed almost displeased with that fact.
“He is a darling boy. So full of life, love, and happiness,” she said, smiling. “‘Tis the kind of boy I would want to have one day.”
A perfect performance, he thought. Perfect words.
“Ye doona look much older than him.”
She laughed and he found it irresistibly attractive. It was a light, melodious tune. Sheer music. She looked at him and pulled her hair back in a sensuous, innocent way, with her long, elegant fingers. “Yes, and ye’er so old, ye’er twice my age, Gavin.” She laughed, her eyes twinkling.
He studied her a long minute, and then he cracked a smile.
“It is rare, ye know?” she said, looking at him through veiled eyes. He found himself eager to hear another taunt or outrageous comment come out of that sensuous mouth.
“What is?”
“Yer smiling.”
“I doona smile,” he said, his smile falling. He suddenly turned serious.
“I can see that,” she said just as seriously.
He studied her again, his eyes roaming her face. “There is one thing that I canna understand, Andie,” he said, his eyes narrowing.
“Only one thing?” she muttered.
He asked her to repeat her comment.
“Nevermind. What is it ye canna understand?”
“If ye battled Harold so well today, why didna ye do the same with yer cousin?”
He saw her close-up and retreat within herself immediately. The lightness he had seen in her gaze was weighted down. She looked away, distancing herself.
“I couldna,” she sighed. “I couldna do anything. Couldna think, couldna breathe, couldna react. I had just said goodbye to my dying father.” She looked back at him and saw the doubt in his frigid glacier stare. “Why? Ye believe that I’m a traitor still?” she asked evenly. She was proud of the fact that her voice had not wavered in the least.
His silence was all the answer she needed.
“Excuse me,” she said getting up.
“Where are ye going?”
“Well, ‘tis nay any of yer concern, is it? I’m going to get Bryce and we’re leaving,” she said, pushing her chair in. She turned and began walking towards the door.
“Stop,” he commanded strongly.
She kept walking in pure defiance. He took long strides to her hurried short ones, and caught up to her. Gavin grabbed hold of her elbow and turned her around. Andie’s honeyed eyes were now a deep, smoldering amber. Her face was red.
“Let go of me, Maitland,” she said in a ferocious whisper.
“I want yer answer,” he returned, just as viciously.
“Ye’ll nay have it. Doubt all ye want, but Bryce and I are leaving,” she said, wrenching free of his grasp.
“Where are ye going?”
“That’s none of yer damned concern, Laird,” she said, dismissing him as she turned around to leave.
He grabbed her again. “I want an answer!”
“Ye’er nay getting one!”
He held her hands behind her back and this forced her neck to bend backwards to look in his eyes. She was taller than the average woman, but still nearly a foot shorter than him. She didn’t lack the curves that most women with her height did. He liked that.
Andie’s mouth was open as she breathed heavily. Shear outrage was obvious and she made no effort to hide it. No coyness, no pretense, just pure hot rage showed on her face and it ignited a fire within him so fierce, he could not help himself.
Gavin dipped his head and kissed her. She knew what he was about to do, but could not back up. His warm lips fastened on her plump ones and he began feasting on her mouth.
“Sweet Andie,” Gavin said, devouring her mouth. He moaned, and with that, her memories rushed forward like an unwanted blaze of fire. Her thoughts took her back to the secret passage, to Alistair. She immediately began to tremble violently. She couldn’t stop shaking. Tears came to her eyes, as she made a wounded sound.
Gavin pulled back, his worry evident on his face. “What’s the matter?”
She was almost in shock. Her eyes were unfocused and she froze up. He assumed her memories were assaulting her.
Sadly, he had his answer to the question he had asked. She hadn’t tried to stop Alistair, not only because she was held down, but because she became too terrified to do anything. Her fear had paralyzed her.
He released her and she grabbed her breast. Thinking that odd, he asked, “What’s wrong, Andie?”
“It throbs,” she said, her voice distant.
“Why?”
“He bit me.”
He looked at her and couldn’t say another word. He could only imagine what she went through. Her cousin was a savage, a beast, and he wanted to get his hands around his neck. He experienced no other emotion other than shear outrage that a man would treat a woman so, even if women were whores and traitors.
Gavin led her to a lounger. Andie had begun trembling violently. He gave her some water but she didn’t understand what to do. He brought it up to her lips and made her drink. The tears ran down her face freely now. He felt guilty. God, he hated feeling like this. He hated feeling anything at all.
“I’m sorry,” he offered, feeling awkward when his voice said those words. “Andie? It’s alright. Ye’er nay with Alistair, ye’er here with me.”
Her breathing grew calmer and she blinked, turning to look up at him. Her eyes were almost yellow from the shedding of her tears. He saw green flecks in them.
“Ye’er alright, Andie.”
Though her trembling had subsided considerably, her face did him in. She looked scared and vulnerable. He brought her within the circle of his arms. She rested her head against his massive, strong chest.
How long had it been since he had comforted a woman? He barely remembered how.
“Two years,” Althor said, coming into the room. He handed Gavin a goblet with liquid in it. “Make her drink this.”
Gavin gave a derisive snort, but helped Andie drink the solution.
“She has a pure heart, Laird. Doona doubt her any longer.”
Andie snapped out of her shock and found herself in Gavin’s arms. “What happened? Why do ye have yer arms around me? Let me go. I need to get Bryce and leave.”
“Nay Andie, I apologize. I doubted ye unnecessarily. Please stay,” he said, slowly and awkwardly.
She studied him closely, looking for any reason to doubt his sincerity. After seeing none, she nodded her head. Suddenly, she looked to her right and saw Althor.
“I’m Andie-”
“Laird McBride, yes I know. I am Althor,” he said.
Andie thought he was wearing very loud colors, which looked odd in such a grey, dingy place such at this castle.
“Aye, I agree. This castle is dingy and does need color,” he said, laughing.
Her eyes grew wide and Gavin sighed heavily.
“He’s the clan’s seer, or so he claims,” Gavin said wryly.
Andie quickly rose and rushed to him. “Can ye see my clan, Althor? How are they faring?” she asked, anxiously.
Althor shook his head, sadness in his eyes. “Nay, Laird McBride, they doona fare well. Many have been murdered. Yer father’s body-”
“What? What about his body?”
“Althor!” Gavin warned in a menacing growl.
“She needs to hear the truth, Laird.” Althor cleared his throat and said, “They have his head on a stake and are burning his body.”
“Is that how he treats the dead?” Gavin asked, outraged.
Bryce came forward then. “Aye. And treats the living worse.”
She let out a strangled sound, running out of the castle.
“Andie!” Bryce yelled after her.
“Leave her be,” Althor said to him. “She needs her time. Alone.”
Andie ran to the stables. She quickly mounted a horse that had been munching on his food and stormed out, not noticing the dark sky that threatened to release its rain.
Back at the castle, Bryce hurried forward to go after her despite Althor’s advice, but Gavin stopped him. “I’ll go.” He turned to Althor. “Did ye have to tell her all that?”
“I see the truth and I tell it,” Althor said. Gavin gave him a harsh glare, snorted, and sprinted to the stables. Bryce didn’t object, although he wondered why the laird was going after Andie.
“Because, though he only feels intrigue for her, intrigue is enough to sustain him for now.”
“What?” Bryce asked, his eyebrows shot up in question.
Althor laughed. He did get a kick out of reading other’s thoughts.
Gavin mounted his warhorse and set a neck-breaking pace. He rode out but saw no sign of her. Where was she? She couldn’t have gotten far.
The rain began pelting down. “Damn it,” he swore. She really needed a stable head; she was too emotional now. He had a feeling she always had knee-jerk reactions.
Gavin turned towards her clan’s direction. The rain was unusually cold and coming down hard. He couldn’t see if there were any tracks left behind, and so he made his horse run faster.
“Andie!” he yelled out, his voice deep. He kept going forward.
“Andie!” he yelled again, looking around. His hair was soaked and hanging long.
Why was he looking for her? Why didn’t he just let Bryce do this? He was never one to coddle women when they threw their tantrums.
He saw the horse tied to a trunk. Andie was sitting in front of the loch, still on his land, soaked. Her knees were brought up against her chest and she rested her chin on them. Rain kept its assault on them but she was oblivious to it. She stared at the loch unresponsively- as if it were an ordinary bright sunny day.
He approached her slowly. She was trembling violently again. Her clothes were tightly sticking to her body.
“Andie?” he asked, slowly.
“Leave me,” she whispered.
He sat next to her, undaunted. “Nay, I willna. Ye’ve come to me for help, and ‘tis what I’ll give. Yer father was an ally, and he would have never left any of mine in need.”
“Nay, my father wouldna have,” she said solemnly.
He stared out at the loch, too. The rain slowly simmered into a light drizzle. The fat pelts of droplets were now a fine mist.
“‘Tis too cold here for ye,” he said. Looking sideways at her, he wasn’t sure whether the droplets on her face were because of the rain or her tears.
“I wasna crying.”
He looked at her just like he did when Althor ‘read his mind.’
“Are ye a seer like Althor proclaims to be?” he said in a humorless laugh.
“Nay,” she said simply.
“We should travel back towards my castle now,” he said, and something tugged at him. His instincts prickled him. He immediately got up and swung around, sword unsheathed and in his hand. It was all done in one graceful movement. She inhaled sharply, taken aback at his power and speed.
“What is it?”
He gave her a look that told her to be quiet. His pale eyes were even paler now. She saw the lethal power within their depths. His muscles rippled under his bronzed skin. His stance was solid, legs braced apart. She was certain that his body increased its bulk. His shoulders were wide. His chest was expansive. His face had a murderous calm about it, waiting for the enemy to come to him rather than he go to the enemy. Aye, this was the legendary Dark Wolf.
Andie shuddered. He was a very formidable opponent, one she was glad to call an ally.
Leaves rustled, but the noise came from behind him.
Andie had her sword unsheathed and was approaching him. He tensed, thinking it was a trap.
From her.
His eyes grew doubtful and deadly.
“Maitland, ye really need to learn how to trust more,” she said, exasperated. She walked to his side and waited.
A tall red haired man appeared. Gavin kept his strong stance, while Andie sheathed her sword and walked to the stranger. Gavin grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
“Where are ye going?” he asked, not knowing whether Andie was friend or foe. Was she ensnaring him in a trap?
“This is Charlie, Gavin. Charlie, this is-”
“The Dark Wolf,” Charlie finished, nodding towards Gavin.
“What are ye doing here?” Andie asked, looking at him fretfully. She moved away from Gavin. “I thought ye were going to stay until I gathered more aid from the allies.”
“Our ranks have weakened, Andie,” Charlie said, still eyeing Gavin.
“How many remain,” she asked, anxiously.
“Just who ye see here, Andie,” he said pointing behind him.
It took her no longer than a few seconds to do a quick estimate.
“Fifty men remaining? No, Charlie, that’s impossible! We had over two hundred men! What happened?” Andie said, her voice fraught.
“We’re forty strong, now, Andie,” Charlie corrected.
Gavin still stood with his legs braced apart staring at Charlie, but sheathed his massive sword.
“How many soldiers did Alistair have when he began the rebellion?” Gavin asked.
“About fifty,” Andie said, unconcernedly, staring at Charlie.
Gavin thought about that for a minute. Only fifty men were able to overpower two hundred McBrides?
“Charlie, we’ve lost all those men? What about the women?”
Charlie looked away a second and turned his green eyes back to her.
“Some have been killed, Andie. His men violated some of them, beat others.”
“No! Charlie, no!” she said breathless, her hand covering her mouth. He had killed women! Rape was certain where her cousin was concerned, but murder?
“How did ye know to find her here?” Gavin asked, his eyes studying Charlie.
“I didna. I first thought ye dead,” Charlie said, looking at her, and continued saying, “but then I heard Alistair rambling about ye and knew ye had escaped. I saw Bryce before he left to find ye, and was relieved he was alive. He told me that ye were going to the McKendricks. I went there and the McKendrick told me he hadna seen ye.”
“He didna tell ye about Bryce being there before?” Andie asked.
Charlie shook his head no, his green eyes looking down for a moment, and then he looked back up at Andie. “Nay, he didna. But were I him, I wouldna have either.”
“Why do ye say that?”
“He knew ye were McBride’s daughter. He may have been suspicious having so many ask about ye. He knew Bryce but I’m nay sure we’d ever met. After seeing him, I went back to see how the men fared. I gathered them, and here I am now.”
Andie shivered, still drenched. She was thinking about everything, sadness in her eyes.
“Andie, we need to get back,” Gavin said, moving towards the horses. He untied Andie’s horse and did the same to his warhorse. He mounted his steed in one fluid motion and waited for Andie to do the same. It was a little difficult for her because she was soaked from the rain. Once Andie was mounted on her horse, she looked at Charlie curiously.
“Why did ye nay get horses, Charlie?”
Another in the crowd of men replied. “‘Twas a bloodbath, Andie. We needed to leave there while we still had this many men in our ranks.”
Andie nodded, sadly. “Thank ye, Peter.”
Gavin looked at the man closely, then he looked to all of them, and lastly to Charlie. He would have to make accommodations for them, for the time being.
“Let’s go,” Gavin said, moving ahead and all followed.
As Gavin rode, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more going on than what was at the surface. Andie would probably criticize him for being untrusting. He had trusted the wrong person before and that mistake had nearly cost him everything- his son.
He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.