Page 87 of Sins of a Scot
“In her defense,” Owen interjected, “Iseabail feared fer yer lives. In fact, she did up until the moment ye were both brought tae Laird Sutherland’s study.”
Iseabail then went on to recount what occurred, from Owen imprisoning her in the dungeons of his father’s castle, to the journey they had taken and all the excitement along the way. She carefully omitted any feelings they shared. She wasn’t sure her father was ready to hear that yet.
But when she was finished, her father looked from Owen to Iseabail and back again.
“And now, ye are in love with me daughter,” he said plainly.
Owen’s jaw dropped, and Iseabail felt her face flush bright red. She was only glad that the cell they were being kept in was not brightly lit, and thus, none of them could see her embarrassment.
Hamilton smiled. “It is very evident, in fact, that the two o’ ye feel deeply fer each other.”
Owen was still struggling to find words to reply when Iseabail nodded. “Ye are right, Faither. We dae love each other. In fact, Owen even saved me life on this journey more than once.”
“Aye, but ye repaid the favor by saving mine,” Owen added.
“And then, ye saved mine again,” Iseabail replied. “So, now, I am back in yer debt.”
Owen was about to say something else when Hamilton let out a low chuckle. They all looked at him as he continued with his laughter. “I think the gods brought ye two together, fer it is very obvious ye are well-suited.”
Iseabail grinned then, and Owen smiled along with her. She was about to tell her father that he was not the first to tell them that, when they heard heavy footsteps approaching from the corridor outside. All smiles dropped from their faces as they turned expectantly toward the door.
The key turned in the lock, and then the door burst open. Iseabail took a step back, and all three men stood in front of her. It made her heart swell with pride that they were so protective.
“And now,” Laird Sutherland declared, taking several strides into the cell, and clearly more than pleased with himself, “I hold all the power.”
Thrusting his arm out, he opened his hand, revealing the crystal sitting in his palm. The healer’s words returned to Iseabail then, and she wondered if they might see just one more miracle. Ada had told her that she was never to touch it, for it would be fatal to her because of her gift. Would it be the same for the laird? If it was, she only wished, though it was a dreadful thought, thatwhatever would happen to him would occur sooner rather than later.
“Ye have what ye want,” Hamilton spat. “Now, it is time tae keep yer side o’ the bargain.”
Laird Sutherland sneered and looked at Hamilton derisively.
“Nae all. There is one last piece that is yet to be completed. When I have married yer daughter, and only then, will I let ye all go free.”
“Ye’ll never have her,” Hamilton bellowed. “Dae ye hear? Never.”
But Laird Sutherland ignored him as though he were a child. Instead, he glared through the men and looked Iseabail directly in the eye. She gasped, waiting for the pain to come, but to her surprise, she felt nothing.
“I am the most powerful man on earth,” he growled. “I will have what I want, and there’s nae anything anyone can dae tae stop me.”
With that, he turned on his heels and stormed out of the room. Once again, the door slammed shut, and as they all stood there, silent and shocked, the echoing footsteps faded to nothing.
“We have tae get out o’ here,” Owen said determinedly. “I dinnae ken about ye, but I dinnae plan tae stay around tae watch that madman dae as he wills.”
Keane shook his head. “There’s nay chance o’ escape. We’ve tried.”
“Aye,” Iseabail added, “but ye didnae have me.”
Keane beamed a broad grin at his sister, and then nodded. “That’s right. We didnae. So, what’s the plan?”
“We should wait until night fall,” she replied. “It’s our best chance.”
“I saw a few small doors on our way in,” Owen added. “That means tunnels. If we could escape through those…”
“Ye mean like I tried tae dae?” Iseabail smirked.
Owen grinned back. “Aye, exactly.”
While Hamilton and Keane looked confused at the inside joke, Owen and Iseabail continued to smile at each other. Maybe, after all her worry, there might be a chance for them in the future after all. It was all her heart desired – to be able to spend her life loving this man for as long as they lived.
