Six
“Alas, ye join us.”
James grimaced. “I came as quickly as I could, Da. I was concerned about the tone of yer missive. What’s amiss?”
Douglas snorted. James sat, all indications revealing that nothing good would be revealed.
“The focking Kerrs.”
James nodded to a servant who gave him ale.
“What about them?”
Douglas sighed, a vein working in his neck. “Understand this, son. ‘Twas the last option I had to hail yer return. I know ye like that Ramsay lass.”
“Like is a bit mild of a term, but yes, ye’re correct about Katie. What about the Kerrs?”
“The pact, son. The alliance.”
James lowered his head and locked eyes with his father.
“What about it? Our clans dissolved it. Long ago, I might add.”
Douglas saw the rising anger in his son’s face. Frankly, he was known to have a temper, but James’ rivaled the heat of hell.
“Apparently, good ol’ Boyd Kerr has a short memory, Son.”
James snorted before taking a haul from his cup.
“Then I suggest he begin thinking long and hard to remember before my fists are required for motivation.”
Douglas laughed. “I did miss ye, son.”
“Why is this coming about? After two decades, he decides to enforce an alliance that no longer exists except for in his mind for what gain?”
“Ye know the Kerrs are a smaller clan, James. They have always sought to unite with larger and more powerful ones. Ol’ Boy Boyd is paranoid one, aye?”
James nodded.
“The original intent of the pact entered into prior to yer birth was to unite with them when the Ramsays were growing in power and numbers. The rivalry amongst us flowed long and deep, and my father and his father instilled in us the necessity to stay vigilant of the Ramsays. Boyd and I entered into the pact, even though Malcolm assured us they had no intention of conquering our clans. When the Ramsay growth ceased and stabilized, we saw that the Ramsays would maintain to their vow of peace. Boyd and I agreed that we could dissolve the pact and that a formal unity between us was no longer necessary.”
“Aye, Da. I know this. What then has him worrying so, that he would claim such an absurdity as to attempt to enforce the dissolved pact?”
“Ye.”
“Me? What of me?”
“Word has reached him of yer interest in Katie.”
James’ nostrils flared and his jaw worked back and forth.
“Lord, word travels faster in the Highlands than amongst old gossiping women.”
Douglas nodded.
“So he feels threatened? Is that it?”
Douglas nodded again.
James stood up. “My intent is clear, Da. I will marry Katie once she is accepting of a union.”
“What d’ye mean, son?”
“Ye know what she experienced and survived. I would not force her to join with me or allow her to be joined with anyone she doesna wish. I will wait however long. If she wishes to wed me, wed her I will.”
Douglas looked at his son pensively.
“Let us attempt diplomacy.”
James shrugged. “We can attempt it, but he willna force upon me a rescinded agreement.”
Douglas nodded. “I’ll invite him so that we may speak to him. Let us assure him of safety no matter who ye seek to marry.”
James snorted before throwing back the last of the ale.
The pact.
His father had entered into an agreement with Kerr that their first born son and first born daughter, whoever had which first, would marry. They believed that this would form a strong alliance. James was born near in time to Athyn. A few short years later, Kerr’s wife had Fiona.
James and Fiona were supposed to have been married.
Maddie still hadn’t been conceived as James was many years older than his sister. The pact had already been well-dissolved when his sister was born, whose birth had been unknown to him and his father. James must have been nearing ten.
It would not have mattered had they known of Maddie. Athyn would not have been a good match. Athyn’s life had always been complicated by a difficult relationship with his father, so difficult, he eventually parted from the clan. He’d never had issue with Athyn, finding him in the right of things after seeing Boyd’s unsound mind unmasked several times.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose, exhaling.
How long would this take? How long would he be away from his Katie?
He’d stayed with the Ramsays for over two months, and he’d grown wonderfully used to seeing Katie daily.
An ache began in his chest and he snorted. No one would ever accuse him of sentimentality, but there was something about the lass that made him feel emotions he’d never experienced before her.
Call it his awakening.
The desire for her to be in his life as his wife grew every day.
He would destroy anyone who erected barriers between him and his Katie. The Kerrs feared the Ramsays, but Boyd would be wise to fear him.
James stared at the fire, trying to calm the anger that rose up within him, forcing him to be patient when he most assuredly was none of the sort.
All he could think about was that he’d left his stòr so that he could address a pact that had long ago been repudiated.
James was not one to bow to anyone. He was born a leader to be a leader.
He was also born without patience. The few patience he’d been given was used for his Katie and his courting her.
Boyd Kerr was under a delusion if he believed for a moment that James would give thought to marrying his daughter.
James would marry no other except his stòr.
Just how long would it take for Kerr to come to that realization was another issue altogether.
“We’ve one more problem to discuss.”
His father turned curious eyes to James. “What?”
“The Wyntons.”
His father’s face hardened.
“What about them?”
“We need to avenge Maddie and Katie. I doona wish to wait any longer.”
His father’s eyes narrowed further. James knew that contemplative look.
“What occurred?”
James shook his head dismissively.
“We’ve waited long enough.”
Douglas nodded. “Aye. But there’s something else.”
James sighed. He promised Katie that he’d not tell her family.
His father was not in that grouping.
James fisted his hands as the rage consumed him. His vision blinked with fury.
“Those focking bastard brothers.”
“And yer Katie.”
There wasn’t any easy manner to tell anyone what he had to say, so he just said it.
“It was all three.”
“What was all…”
Douglas stopped speaking when James stared at him without speaking.
“All three?”
James growled. “Revenge is ripe.”
Douglas’ eyes hardened and he gripped the he hilt of the sword on his side.
“Let us beget what is due and send those bastards back to hell.”