Page 34 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
“It was my pleasure, Maeve, but I must take my leave.” She nodded to Maeve, then to Sloan, and retrieved her mantle, heading out the door faster than anyone he’d ever seen.
Maeve asked, “Did I say something to upset her?”
“Nay, I did. She’s fine. I’ll follow her out,” he said. “Is Logan here?”
“He left but said he’d be back within an hour. He should be back soon,” she said, lifting her son.
“He’s a big boy, Maeve. He’s growing like the thistles on a sunny day in summer.”
“He is.”
Sloan took his leave, keeping a distance behind Eva. He could see he’d upset her, and she was probably headed back to yell at her brother, but that was none of his business. How would he have guessed that Lennox would not have told her that he’d promised for her?
Eva motioned to one of her guards and the man retrieved her horse as they readied to take their leave. Just what he’dexpected. They opened the gates for her, surprised to hear some bellowing on the other side.
But Sloan was more distracted by what he saw out of the corner of his eye. His brother. “Rinaldo?”
He moved over to the area behind one of the stables, a group of guards discussing something. “Rinaldo. What are you doing here?”
Broc said, “Listen, Rankin. We are not trying to be disrespectful, but we cannot give you any guards at this time. My uncle is considering bringing more Grant guards across the water. We have none to spare with all that is happening.”
“I don’t understand,” Sloan said, his gaze going from his innocent-looking brother to Broc and then the others.
“Rinaldo is looking for guards. Did you not send him here?” Broc asked.
Rinaldo said, “Sloan asked me, but I must have misunderstood. I’m going home now, Sloan.”
Rinaldo found his horse and disappeared before Sloan could stop him. “Broc, I did not send him here.”
Broc said to the others, “Head to the lists. I’ll meet you there.” Once the other guards were out of hearing distance, he said, “Your brother changes like the wind.”
Sloan tipped his head, confused by Broc’s comment. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“One moment he is acting seriously about hiring guards, and the next moment he acts like he has no idea what he was just doing. Is he usually that way?”
“Nay.” Sloan wished to ask for more of an explanation, but he caught Logan’s voice at the gate. He’d have to deal with Rinaldo at home.
“Is Rankin here? I need to see him.”
The guard said, “Aye, by the stable.”
Logan approached with his wife. Once they came inside and Eva’s group departed, Logan caught his eye and said, “Hold up, Rankin. I have news for you.”
Sloan waited, anxious to hear what his news was. Logan helped his wife down and then arranged her new contraption so she could walk inside on her own.
“That’s quite a creation. Who made it?” Sloan asked, impressed.
“My niece and her husband. Brigid brought it with her.”
“Logan, I’m going inside. Tell Sloan what we’ve learned.” Gwyneth cast a glance Sloan’s way and said, “I don’t like any of it.”
She went toward the keep, Brigid coming around the side of the castle and joining her mother. Logan pointed to an area where they could speak privately.
“The man said you’ll not be attacked soon. There’s someone not far from Kilchoan who is planning to take over the isle but not in the next couple of moons. They’re busy gathering forces now. You need not worry, but then he also said there is some fool, who no one believes has the necessary forces, who plans to attack you first, then battle the other clans, but the man on Kilchoan said he doubts the other has the abilities. Says the man is daft.” Logan crossed his arms and studied Sloan before he finished. “That’s not what worries me.”
“There’s worse?” Sloan couldn’t imagine what could be worse, but he needed to hear it, whatever it was.
“Aye. He says there are men who are looking for two things.”
