Page 71 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
“Aye.”
“Update?” Logan asked as he grabbed an ale for himself and handed one to Connor before taking a seat.
Lennox filled them in on what they’d found.
“Meg is with her sister on MacQuarie land?”
“Aye.”
Logan said, “Fair warning. The baron is at Oban, asking questions. I suspect he’ll find his way here in a day or two.”
Lennox cursed. “Meg does not need any more trouble at the moment. She has enough to deal with.” Hellfire, but that evilbastard was going to come for her. He feared it would happen, but what did he know of English barons? Something inside him stirred, his heartbeat increasing at the thought of that fool getting his hands on her. He couldn’t lose her.
He wouldnotlose her. But he wasn’t sure exactly how to handle this situation.
“She just found her sister,” Logan said. “Shouldn’t she be celebrating right now?”
Dyna grinned, her eyes bright as if she truly could tell what he was thinking. “You handfasted with Meg, Lennox. True?”
“True. I thought she’d never leave my side, but she insisted on some time alone with her sister. After all she’s been through, I couldn’t argue with her. As soon as she settled in her sister’s chamber, she fell fast asleep.”
Eli approached and said, “Spit and slime, after all the poor lass has been through, I don’t blame her.”
Logan stared up at his granddaughter. “Besides getting captured and putting an axe in someone’s head, what else has she been through?”
Eli gave an unladylike snort. “Besides the ugly troll she killed while she was with the fever, then she had to fight off four men in Drimnin. Or were you not listening, Grandsire? She put another axe into a man’s chest when she was but a day away from being delirious with fever.”
Dyna cut in, “The lass has not been trained in battle like we have. She’s only used her axe on animals before. I’ll never forget my first kill.”
Eli chuckled. “After my first kill in battle, Alaric had to come and get me. I was screaming in the middle of hundreds of dead bodies in Skaithmuir.”
“You killed more than one, granddaughter, so I was told.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m telling you it was difficult for her.” She crossed her arms and glared at her grandfather. “Are you that old that you don’t recall your first one?”
Logan snorted. “I’ll agree she’s seen some challenges of late. And now the baron is on his way. Guess you have somewhere to go, MacVey.”
What the hell was he to do now? Run back or leave her be until she was ready?
“Can you give me some advice about this, if you please? I spent some time in Europe, but I have no idea how to handle an English baron. Other than putting my sword through his heart, I don’t know what else to do to stop him. That would be the best way, but then I’d find myself in gaol.”
Connor said, “Nay, King Robert supports his people, especially his nobles. He especially hates it when they come this far across the border to attack people. If he threatens you or her, put your sword through him. You have the right.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that. Do they believe in handfasting? She’s mine and you know what that means. Will he?”
Alasdair thought for a moment, then said, “I dealt with a few characters before I married Emmalin. The English are stubborn fools. He’ll not like it if he thinks you bested him. And if he does get her, if even for a short time, he’ll make her pay for her believed shortcomings.”
Lennox ran his hand down his face, then got up to pace. He didn’t like this situation, though he wasn’t surprised by it. It had taken him a long time to find the woman he wished to spend the rest of his life with, and Meg was the only one for him. He’d not give her up, but how much blood needed to be spilled?
Logan said, “If I were you, I’d go drag her arse back to your castle where you can protect her.”
Dyna swatted his arm. “Drag her back? What the hell, Logan?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Well, I’m going to disagree with you. Right now, she needs her sister. She’s lived through a fortnight of sheer terror. Tamsin is the calm she needs right now. Lennox, you must let her go. She’ll come back to you.” Dyna gave an emphatic nod to accentuate her point.
“And if the baron gets to her first?” Logan asked.
