Page 55 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
“Two,” she countered, making him smile.
He handed her the plate, and she laughed as they took their seats under the curious and somewhat alarmed gazes of the cooking staff.
They sat amidst the hustle and bustle of the kitchen as though they were servants themselves, enjoying a simple meal and barely exchanging a word.
It was the most content James had felt in days.
CHAPTER 20
As Jamesand Maisie left the kitchen through the back stairs and came out into the open courtyard, they both turned at the sound of a hail from the gate.
Harris was running toward them, a letter in his hand.
“Abingdon has agreed to meet ye to discuss the Campbell issue,” Harris said breathlessly, the urgency evident in his tone. “We may nae get another chance before they kill each other.”
James took a step forward but just at the last moment he turned to Maisie. Her heart leaped.
“I have to see to me clan, but I dinnae wish to leave ye without explainin’ why.”
“Ye have explained,” she said sincerely. “Will ye ask Abingdon about the lands and whether the Campbells can be moved?”
James’s gaze flicked to Harris ruefully. “We have a negotiator on our hands it would seem.”
Harris smiled. “It’s a good idea.”
“I ken, that’s what I want to ask him today. You’re all right with me goin’?” he asked Maisie.
“Of course. As I said, I dinnae wish to stop ye from seein’ yer clan, I just want to see ye on me own time too.”
“Whatever for?” Harris asked. “The man’s a menace.”
Maisie found herself laughing as James gave Harris a withering look, then he turned to her and kissed her briefly. Leaning back and brushing his fingers under her chin.
“I will be back tonight, lass.”
Maisie watched them depart and couldn’t help but feel useless in the wake of their trouble.
Has anyone tried to speak with the families in the day?She wondered.Surely, they could be reasoned with?
If James was speaking to Abingdon about the land boundary alterations, perhaps she could visit the MacCarthys and see if she could make any sense of their situation. James had beenadamant that the feud had only reignited in recent weeks. Perhaps there was a simple explanation for it all.
If I can help him with this, maybe he willnae shut me out so much. I am sure I can help with clan matters, and perhaps that will allow us to work together on such things in the future.
Having made up her mind, Maisie waited until James and Harris were out of sight before she headed to the stables. There were a variety of horses to choose from, but she decided upon a white mare with a beautiful white mane that was the most docile of the group.
She waited for her mount to be saddled, reconciling herself to the fact that she may be on a fool’s errand. She would not attempt anything too drastic, but she would speak with the head of the family and ask what had ignited the fighting.
Soon, she was on her way, watching the two black shadows on the horizon of James and Harris, and she followed in their wake. After a short ride, Abingdon Castle was already in view, and from the direction they had traveled, she knew she could not be too far away.
On closer inspection, however, she realized that the lands around her were vast, and she had no idea where the Campbell and MacCarthy farms were located. She glanced about her, noticing another man on horseback someway behind her, and decided that it might be best for her to ask him directions.
The sun was lowering in the sky as she turned her beautiful horse about and trotted toward him. He was a stocky fellow, and although she could not see his face clearly there was a long scar down his left cheek. She raised an arm to hail him, and he stopped.
She trotted on, about to call and ask her route, but something made her pause. The horse shied a little, her hooves backing away as they came level with the man, and Maisie frowned. As she looked up at him, her stomach dropped.
There was a crossbow in the man’s hand, the arrow pointed squarely at her chest.
Thinking that she must be in the path of a deer that he might be shooting at, she half turned in her saddle as the horse snorted loudly. As she turned back, she saw the man aim andfire.
