Page 3 of The Lone Wolf's Bride
‘Hamish could you not free him on account of our friendship,’ pleaded Ailsa with a soft smile.
She had to do something or these two would end up killing each other. Many years may have passed since she had last seen Hamish, life had been good to her and her beauty had only intensified with her contentment. She employed the full force of it now, fixing him with her stunning green eyes while placing her hand on top of his.
‘It is good to see you after so long, and you have not changed a bit,’ Ailsa murmured through gritted teeth. ‘Hamish you always had a good heart and a forgiving one. Remember all those times you forgave me when we were young and remember how we were both punished for our indiscretions, which as I recall, were mostly my fault.’
‘Nay, if it was on your account that I received many a whipping Ailsa, I was happy to do it,’ he replied, patting her hand where it lay on top of his. He held her eyes for a moment, the old desire swirling there and making Ailsa’s flesh creep. How had her beloved friend become this cruel, selfish thing before her?
Softly stroking her hand and not deigning to look at Duncan he said, ‘You need to check this mongrel of yours, Campbell. We will not suffer him to plunder Clan McDougall as you plundered the MacLeods.’ His words were greasy with innuendo.
Duncan’s anger bubbled over. ‘Why you…’
‘Enough,’ shouted Angus. ‘Wait outside and I will give you an answer shortly.’
As they left Ailsa turned and looked desperately at Murry, who was watching them go with fear in his eyes. He didn’t want to die today. Surely this couldn’t be the last time she would see him alive?
***
They waited outside by the horses, Ailsa wracked with worry and Duncan, angry to the point of exploding.
‘If that fool escapes having his neck stretched by Hamish, and if we ever get out of this infernal place, Murray will feel my boot in his arse when we get home.’
‘Duncan your temper will not serve us now. Hold fast to your patience for all our sakes. Angus may be a liar and an inconstant ally but he’s no fool. He wouldn’t dare defy you openly for he knows you would never forgive such a slight, and he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his days in fear for his life.’
‘True, but Hamish hates me, as I hate him. He’ll not fight our cause. He would hang Murray just to wound me, no matter that he still lusts after you. The man had his hands on you Ailsa.’
‘Well, if I can endure it for Murray’s sake, then so can you.’ Ailsa pinned her hopes on the fact that there had always been a considerable rivalry between the brothers and if Hamish McDougall wanted Murray dead, then it was likely Angus McDougall would do the opposite.
There was shouting and cursing behind them and suddenly Murray was thrown to the floor at their feet. One of Angus’s henchmen growled, ‘My Laird has a message for you. You are to replace the stolen cattle twice over. He assumes you know the correct number and that you will honour this agreement fully and without delay.’
‘It will be done.’ Duncan grabbed Murray by the scruff of the neck and pushed him up onto Ailsa’s horse.
‘If it is not done then we will seek this one out, or another of your clansmen, we care not which, and we will take payment with a life instead of cattle. And this is a promise. If your bastard comes onto McDougall lands again, we will open his throat.’
Duncan mounted his horse and pulled Ailsa up behind him. They rode away quickly, Ailsa worrying the whole time that Murray would not have the strength to stay in the saddle for he looked so weak. But when they got well clear of the castle Duncan rounded on him.
‘You may drag yourself into trouble Murray and almost hang from the McDougall’s walls, but to take the others with you, to put them all in danger. Were it not for Hamish’s slimy fondness for Ailsa you may be dead now. And I have been forced to humble myself before a man whom I despise, one who is not my equal.’
‘I am sorry to be so troublesome,’ Murray spat back.
‘Careful lad, don’t push me.’
‘Look I did it because they hurt us, they stole from us…’
‘I don’t give a fig for why you did it, it wasn’t under my orders, I know that. I would gladly humble myself before that filth Hamish McDougall if I thought for one moment you would learn something from it. You led those lads, they were in your care and you led them ill. You think you are a man at sixteen but you have many lessons to learn before that is true. Obedience is one of them, remorse would be another.’
Murray turned his horse away.
‘Where are you going you young fool?’
‘Far away from you and from your rules.’
‘Come back here.’
‘Why should I? I am nothing but a burden on you.’
‘Son, you will come back this instant and face the consequences of your disobedience.’
‘I am not your son,’ he bellowed. ‘I am not your son and I never will be.’ There was nothing but raw anger on Murray’s face as he turned his horse and sped off.