Maccay left Alis sitting at the table and walked outside, inwardly relieved that she had changed her mind about going to the manor house.

The only reason he had even acquiesced was because he was trying to assuage his own sense of guilt and sympathy for her situation.

And his own growing misery.

He wanted to please her, to make her happy, but in doing so, he knew he was potentially opening a door he didn’t want to open. He had never been conflicted in regard to what the laird needed or wanted from him.

Now, with Alis, things could grow more complicated. He had to abide by the laird’s orders, but at the same time, he wanted to assure Alis that he was supporting her in any way he could. He knew he should have refused outright, but he also understood a little of what she must be feeling. Fearful, her destiny to be determined by everyone but herself, sequestered in his house as if she were a prisoner.

He sighed as he walked toward the corner of the armory and around to the manor house. To his surprise, he found the door open.

Approaching, he glanced inside. There, at the end of the great hall, Sarah and Heather sat at the table near the fireplace. Across from them sat Patrick MacDonald, his face flushed red, that sheriff standing slightly behind him.

Both Jake and Phillip stood at the head of the table, close to their wives, both wearing scowls, arms crossed over their chests.

He paused at the door, not wanting to intrude, prepared to turn around and return home. He felt a tap on his shoulder and quickly spun around, his surprise fading when he recognized Hugh in the darkness.

“What’s going on?” he whispered, stepping away from the doorway into the shadows beside the house.

“Sarah and Heather are giving their statements to that law man. Their stepfather isn’t any too happy,” Hugh replied. “I think he believes that he was going to come here, tell them to go back with him, and they were going to agree.”

“What made him think he had any legal grounds—”

“You kidnapped my daughter!”

That from Patrick MacDonald, and even from outside, Maccay could hear the slurring of his words. Sarah had not exaggerated. Her stepfather was a drunk. Even in dangerous lands like the highlands, and far from the comforts of his own home, he obviously had no qualms about imbibing in his usual habits.

Fool.

“He did not kidnap me!” Sarah retorted, her voice firm and angry. “His brother was severely wounded. He heard of my healing skills—”

“You’re a liar, just as you always were!” Patrick snarled.

Voice raised, Sarah snapped back a sharp retort. “And you’re still a drunkard, same as you always were!”

The cacophony of raised voices soon had the sheriff trying to calm Patrick while Sarah and Heather both berated their stepfather. The laird tried to calm everyone, to no avail. Maccay glanced at Hugh and shook his head.

“Do you see any resolution to this?”

“Aye, I do,” Hugh nodded.

“And that is?”

“Kick his arse all the way back to Kirkcaldy!”

Maccay sighed and shook his head. It didn’t look like Alis would be visiting the manor house anytime soon.

“What are you doing here?” Hugh asked. “I thought you were supposed to be guarding Alis… or Mairi.”

He frowned at his friend. “Not guarding her, Hugh. Just watching over her.”

“Have it your way,” he shrugged. “So why are you here?”

“She wanted to see if she could sit with Sarah and Heather to keep them company, but I see that that’s definitely not going to be an option anytime soon.” He turned to his friend. “Where’s the McGregor?”

Hugh gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. “Camping about a mile to the west. Don’t worry, I’ve got half-dozen men located in the woods around their camp.”

Maccay turned to walk back to his house, but Hugh stopped him.

“Is it true then?”

Maccay frowned. “Is what true?”

“You proclaimed your love for Alis… or Mairi…?”

Maccay hesitated, but only briefly before he offered a short nod. “Aye, I did.”

“And if she has to go?”

Maccay didn’t answer. He had no answer to that possibility. He would just have to deal with—

“I heard them talking.”

Hugh tugged on his shirt and Maccay turned to him as his friend pulled him further away from the door and deeper into the shadows of the trees near the armory.

He allowed his best friend to do so, although he didn’t understand why.

“Heard who talking?”

“The McGregor.”

Maccay’s interest was piqued. “And?”

“Maccay, from what I gather, Alis… Mairi rather, was betrothed to one of the Orkney clan—”

“What?” Maccay interrupted. “An Orkney?” Was it possible?

“Apparently, old Angus McGregor betrothed Alis… Mairi, to Keith, the grandson of the Orkney clan leader.”

Maccay frowned, confused. The McGregors and the Orkneys didn’t get along much better than the McGregors and the Duncans. “Why ever for?”

“Apparently, to join their clans, or build a bridge between them. Join forces to provide greater opposition to our clan.”

Maccay thought about that.

Such practices were certainly not unusual, but he’d never known anyone, man nor woman, who had been forced into such a relationship.

Knowing Alis like he did, he couldn’t imagine that she would’ve liked the arrangement at all.

“She ran away?”

Hugh hesitated.

“Is that why she was out in those woods all by herself?” Maccay prodded.

Hugh shook his head and lowered his voice, his words slow and measured. “No, Maccay, she didn’t run away. When she refused the arrangement, she brought shame to her uncle. He ordered her banished…”

“And?”

“And she was beaten near to death and left in the woods for the wolves.”

Maccay’s growl of anger broke the stillness under the tree. His hands balled into fists, his heart pounded while bloodlust ran through his veins. He stared at Hugh. “Are you sure?”

He couldn’t fathom someone treating Alis this way. Though it was not unusual for men to beat their wives, nor for women to become an easy target for men’s desires, he hated to think that Alis had taken the brunt of something like that. He would never lay a hand on a woman—

“Maccay, calm yourself. You—”

“Does the laird know about this?”

Hugh shook his head. “I had come to tell him, but as you can see, he’s otherwise occupied.”

“He can’t allow the McGregor to take her back,” Maccay muttered. “She refused to bow to the betrothal before. Now, without her memory, you know how she’s likely to react.”

“Aye,” Hugh agreed. “And they’re likely to do more than beat her and abandon her in the woods if they get their hands on her. She’s brought shame to both clans.”

They would kill her. Maccay knew it.

The McGregors were not known for their kindness.

He sighed, trying to gain hold of his anger. He dipped his head, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers. That was all there was to it then.

He wouldn’t let Alis go with them. He couldn’t.

“Are you going to tell her?” Hugh asked, his voice tinged with hesitance.

He lifted his head, thinking about it. He didn’t want to, but perhaps she should know. “Don’t you think I should? Don’t you think she has a right to know?”

Hugh shook his head. “I don’t know, Maccay. What good will it do? Is she better off knowing or not knowing?”

“I think—”

“Keep in mind, Maccay, that this is a delicate situation. It must be handled carefully. I know the laird wants to avoid renewed bloodshed with the McGregor clan, and that’s especially important if they’re joining forces with the Orkneys.” He paused, then asked quietly. “Is she worth the risk?”

“Aye,” Maccay said, his voice firm, looking his friend in the eyes. He wasn’t surprised when Hugh offered a short nod.

“As soon as the laird is available, I’ll let him know what’s happening. In the meantime, I think it’s best that you go back to your house. Wait and see what the laird wants to do about it.”

Despite his desire for Hugh to let Phillip know what was happening immediately, for Alis’ sake, he knew that the laird also had another other serious situation to deal with. And when it came right down to it, Maccay didn’t doubt for a moment that Sarah’s safety and well-being would, and always would, take precedence over a member of an enemy clan, no matter how said member came to be in their midst.

He turned to walk away from Hugh, his heart heavy, his thoughts somber as he realized that Phillip would never risk the safety of his clan for the sake of one woman.

At least not a McGregor.