Tomas’s head was spinning. He could hardly believe tonight’s turn of events and he needed to discuss it with Drew and Ethan. It was late and he assumed they’d gone to bed, but this couldn’t wait.

He first knocked on Ethan’s door.

Ethan answered it within seconds, pulling his clothes on, his sword belt in hand. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing. I mean nothing that ye need yer weapons for, but something has happened that I need to discuss with ye and Drew immediately.”

“Give me just a minute. I’ll finish dressing.”

Then Tomas knocked on Drew’s door and was met with a response so similar to that of Ethan’s he couldn’t help laughing.

“Finish dressing, put yer weapons away, and come to my chamber. We need to talk.”

By the time he had candles lit, they were both present. “Sit down. This will take a while.”

He told them the story Ruthven had. Only he was able to interject his personal opinions of how colossally stupid Ambrose had been. When he told them about Ruthven’s desire for him to marry Vida, both men broke into spasms of laughter.

Ethan was the first one to regain enough control to speak. “God’s teeth, Tomas, this is the most perfect possible revenge. The stable hand who was his whipping boy has now become his savior and will be the Laird of this clan.”

Tomas shook his head. “Part of me wants to finish him completely and take the heart of his heart to Duncurra.”

“Ye can’t do that,” admonished Drew.

“I know,” said Tomas. “Taking Vida away from her father and her people would be every bit as bad as it was for Ambrose to send Lady Katherine away.”

“What are ye going to do then?” asked Drew.

“I’ve been thinking. The amount Ruthven owes Lindsay is huge, but he has most of it. The problem with simply marrying Vida is that if Lindsay catches wind of it, he could block it legally and if Ambrose can’t pay the full amount, the sheriff could force Vida to marry Lindsay.”

“Then we have to figure out a way to get the money before that happens,” said Ethan.

“Aye, that is exactly what I was thinking.”

“I’m sure Laird MacLennan would help,” said Drew.

“I expect he would. Between him and my parents, it shouldn’t pose a problem. But I need to send a message to them immediately so they can have time to gather it and get here.”

A grin split Ethan’s face. “Besides, yer mother would be furious if she weren’t here for yer wedding.”

Tomas frowned. “About that…”

“What about it?” Asked Drew. “Don’t deny that ye adore Vida. And now her papa has practically begged ye to marry her.”

Tomas nodded. “I know. And I would love to marry her. But not like this. Not as my mother had to do.”

“I thought there was no other option,” said Ethan.

“There wouldn’t be, if her father couldn’t pay the full debt. But we know, with a little help from the MacIans and the MacLennans, he can. If she marries me, I want it to be her choice. I’m going to talk to her first thing in the morning and tell her everything.”

Drew frowned. “It will kill her to find out what her father’s done.”

Ethan nodded. “He’s right, it will. Maybe it’s better to try to spare her a little of the pain.”

He understood why his friends thought that, and their hearts were in the right place, but they were wrong. “I know it might hurt her. In fact, it most assuredly will hurt her. But I’ve gotten to know Vida over the last few weeks. She is extraordinarily smart. I have yet to win a game of chess.”

“Ye’re jesting,” said Ethan. “I can almost never beat ye.”

“I can’t either,” said Drew.

“So ye understand what I mean. But the first night we played, she was three moves from checkmate and she threw the game. I made her go back and make the correct move. Even now, she seems unsure and embarrassed every time she wins. She is probably the only reason Cotharach has remained afloat for the last few years—even Ambrose admits that. But she always acts in her father’s name and gives him the credit. For the love of all that’s holy, she was the one who felt guilty that the men-at-arms lacked skills.”

“How could she be responsible for that?” asked Drew.

“Because she has spent most of her life managing her father. Helping him control his anger, not to mention his bouts of stupidity, while not injuring his pride. Learning all of this is going to shatter her. But she deserves to know so that she can be the one to consider all of the options and then make the choice for herself. If it is her choice, I would like nothing more than to marry her. But if it isn’t, she doesn’t need to be forced. We can give her another option.”

Both of his friends agreed. It was for the best.

“So, I need the two of ye to get home as soon as ye can.”

“Both of us don’t need to go,” said Drew. “Ethan can deliver the message to Laird MacLennan on his way to Duncurra.”

Tomas shook his head. “Nay. One of ye traveling alone is too much of a risk. It’s possible Lindsay has men watching to stop anything Ambrose might have planned. I doubt it. I suspect he thinks Ambrose is too stupid to find a way out, but we can’t risk it. In fact, once ye reach Laird Carr, I’d prefer if he’d allow several men to go the rest of the way with ye.”

“Very well,” said Drew. “We’ll leave at first light. With any luck, we’ll be back with a few coins and yer parents before Christmas. But ye know, it will give away yer identity.”

“I know. I’m going to tell Vida anyway. We’ll figure out what to tell her father.”

Ethan clasped his hands together in supplication. “Oh please, please, don’t tell him until we get back. I want to see the look on his face when he realizes who is actually saving his arse.”

Tomas chuckled. “We’ll see.”

~ * ~

Tomas was up before first light to bid farewell to his friends. He’d figure out something to tell Laird Ruthven about their sudden departure. Then he went to the great hall. If the day went as it usually did, Vida would be up soon, well before her father. Tomas would take her to the chapel, so they could have privacy.

He didn’t have to wait long.

She entered the hall and her face lit with a smile when she saw him. “Good morning, Tomas. You didn’t come back last night.”

“I’m sorry. I would have liked to, but yer father and I had a great deal to discuss. It was late when we finished.”

Her brows drew together. “That sounds serious.”

“We did talk about some serious matters and I would like to discuss them with ye.”

“Why didn’t Papa just ask me to come too? He could have told us both at the same time.”

“Aye that would have been nice, but to be perfectly honest, there are some things he doesn’t wish ye to know. However, I think you must be informed. Ye are truly the one who runs this clan, not him.”

“Nay, ye’re wrong. He’s Laird Ruthven.”

“I know.” He gave her a sad smile. “And ye just threw a chess game.”

She tilted her head to one side. A look of confusion on her face. “I don’t understand.”

“Vida, ye have done a very good job of making yer father, and maybe a few other people, believe he runs this clan. But most everyone here knows the truth. Like me, they notice when ye throw the chess game, when ye do something that allows him to get the credit.”

She blushed and shook her head. “You misunderstand…”

“Nay, I don’t. Come with me now, please. This is extremely important. I’d let ye break yer fast first, but I must talk to ye before yer father comes down for the day.” He held a hand out to her.

“Where are we going?” She took his hand.

“To the chapel. It’s the most private place I know of for this conversation. But first ye need to go get a mantle.”

“If ye really want to avoid my papa, I can’t. I heard him moving around his chamber as I was leaving mine. He might be down any minute.”

Tomas smiled at the thought of holding her close to keep her warm, but this was going to take a while and the chapel would be cold. “I’ll fetch something to keep ye warm then. If ye hear yer da coming, hide.”

She smiled and nodded, her eyes sparkling, perhaps at the idea of a wee bit of mischief. Was it possible that this remarkable woman could possibly become his?

He ran up to his room, grabbed an extra plaid, and was back down in moments. He wrapped it around her, covering her head against the frosty morning wind. Seeing her wrapped in his plaid caused the heat to stir in his belly. This was what he wanted, to care for her, love her, and keep her safe forever.

Once they were in the chapel. He asked her to sit with him on a bench. “What I’m about to tell ye will be hard to hear. I can’t tell ye the truth and make it any easier. It is vitally important and will influence the rest of yer life. I promise ye. But if ye don’t want to hear it, I’ll respect that.”

“Ye’re scaring me.”

“I’m sorry, but I need to know, do ye want me to go on?”

“Aye, of course I do.”

“Very well.” He took her hands in his and told her everything he’d learned up to the moment he left her father’s solar last night.

When he’d finished, tears stood in her eyes. “You shouldn’t have to marry me to fix my father’s mess.”

He gathered her in his arms. “Oh nay, lass, I want nothing more than to marry ye.” He cupped her face in his hand and kissed her tenderly. When he pulled away, she looked so very young and fragile, it caused his heart to ache. “Of course, I want to marry ye. Never doubt that. And if it is yer choice to, I’ll be a very happy man. But I didn’t think it was right to force ye into this. Ye’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever known. Not telling ye everything, not letting ye consider all of the consequences and make this decision yerself, would be wrong, regardless of what I want.”

“I do want to marry ye, Tomas. But I’m afraid. What if Naughton Lindsay does learn of it? Papa can’t pay, and I’d be forced to marry him.”

“My precious lass, put yer mind at ease. I can get the remaining money.”

“How?”

“That is another story that I’m afraid isn’t going to be easy to hear. But if ye wish to marry me, ye must know.”

She nodded. “I’m not sure it can be any worse.”

Tomas sighed. “I fear it is. Do ye remember when ye told me yer uncle Ainsley died with no children?”

“Aye. My papa wouldn’t be laird otherwise.”

“Well, that isn’t quite true. Yer uncle had a daughter. Her name is Katherine.”

Vida frowned. “Her name is Katherine. She’s still alive.”

Tomas laughed. “She’s very much alive.” He told her the story of Ambrose trading Katherine’s title and lands for a larger dowry in coin.”

Vida’s hands flew to her mouth, a look of utter shock on her face. “Oh, dear God…my father did essentially what Naughton Lindsay is doing. He bought the title of Laird Ruthven using a forced marriage.”

“Aye. I’m afraid so, although I’m not sure he sees it that way.”

“Tomas, this is awful. How is that you know this and for the love of God, why did no one ever tell me?”

“According to Moyna, no one ever told ye because yer father forbade it. And the reason why I know about it in the first place is because I was here when it happened.”

“How could you have been here?”

“I was a member of this clan. I was born here. My parents died when I was very young. I lived with my grandfather who was the stable master. When I was old enough, I worked as a stable boy. My grandfather died just before I turned seven.” He saved her from the worst part of the story, the details of her father’s cruelty. “I had no one, so when Lady Katherine left, she took me with them.”

“But ye’re a Carr. Did they leave ye with Laird Carr?”

He smiled. “Nay, I’m a MacIan. They adopted me.” He told her why he was with Laird Carr and why they decided not to let her father know the truth.

“So, you’re a MacIan. You’re my cousin’s son.”

“Her adopted son, but aye, I’m a MacIan. I sent Ethan and Drew to the Highlands this morning with a message for my parents. I’m certain they’ll bring the funds needed to completely pay off the debt.”

“But why would Katherine do that, after what my father did to her? Why would she help us?”

He smiled broadly and kissed her temple. “Tell me, my sweet lass, if the situation were reversed, if ye were Katherine and she were ye, what would ye do?”

She smiled. “I’d bring the gold.”

“Why?”

“Because I love my clan and in the grand scheme of things, it is for them.”

“And that is exactly why my mother will. She loves this clan. It is also why I stayed. I was raised as a MacIan, but these are my people too. And if ye’re still willing to marry me after learning I was the stable boy here before ye were born, I swear to ye, I will always consider the needs of the clan above all else.”

“Of course, I want to marry ye. Tomas, I love ye. No one has ever treated me like ye do.”

“Even though I just shattered a number of illusions for ye?”

She chuckled. “Partly because ye did that. Ye valued me and my opinions and feelings enough to tell me the truth.”

“I love ye too, Vida. I tried not to because I didn’t think ye could ever be mine, but I couldn’t do it. I love ye with everything in me.” He leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss. She opened her mouth to him, warm and inviting. He deepened the kiss and became lost in her. A noise finally penetrated his brain and he ended the kiss.

The noise was Father Michael clearing his throat.

“Uh…Father…good morning.”

Embarrassed, Vida tucked her face against Tomas’s chest, looking as if she wanted to disappear.

The priest smiled. “Aye, it looks as if it’s a very good morning.”

“We just came here for a bit of privacy.”

“I see.” He looked completely amused.

“I mean, there were some things I needed to talk to Lady Vida about.”

The priest nodded. “Excellent. I was hoping you’d have the sense to do that. Do you need a little more time…to talk?”

“Just a minute, if you don’t mind,” said Vida, surprising both men.

“Not at all, my Lady. I’ll take a short walk and be right back.” He left the chapel.

“Vida, my love, I think I’ve told ye everything I know.”

“Aye, but there is something I think we still need to consider.”

“What’s that?”

“If my father finds out who you really are, that the MacIan’s adopted you and that they are on their way here with enough coin to help pay off the debt, he might change his mind about allowing us to marry.”

“I hadn’t thought about that.”

She smiled. “I know how my papa’s mind works…at least most of the time. Let’s allow him to act on what he believes to be true. At least for a while.”

“Vida, he’s bound to know something’s up when my parents ride through the gates.”

She laughed, the sound fanning the flame of desire that had begun to burn in his belly.

“Let’s worry about that when it happens. I think it is better to keep Papa in the dark until the funds actually arrive.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

He kissed her again, only letting her go when one more time they were interrupted by Father Michael.

“I thought ye were going to talk,” he said in mock exasperation.

“I’m sorry, Father. But how can ye blame me. I have a beautiful woman in my arms. I’d be an embarrassment to Highlanders if I didn’t kiss her.”