Page 67 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
“Calm your arse down. Don’t you think it’s time that you recognize your sister is an adult?”
“She’s not. She doesn’t think like one. Our father spoiled her and …”
“One of the men who stole the bairns was her attacker. She listened to all the tales, said naught, and left after you did. She hid and followed the other groups to MacQuarie land, and Sloan knew her well enough to wait for her to leave so he could follow. And they’re way ahead of you, so there’s no sense in you going after Eva. There are two score Grant guards at MacQuarie Castle as you know. Thane and Sloan will both watch over her.”
“How the hell do you know all this, Ramsay? You’ve been here from the start.”
Logan smirked.
Meg approached and Lennox turned around, looking bewildered. “Did you know that Eva was going after her attacker on Ulva?”
“She did? Go, Eva!”
“What the hell does that mean? She’ll be attacked again, Meg.”
Logan said, “Nay, she won’t. She’s got the fire in her eyes this time, MacVey. You’ll not stop her until she gets her just due. And she deserves a slow one.” He smirked and said, “I know a few others who got it when they needed it. Let her go. Sloan’s following her.”
“But she can’t protect herself! And how do you know Sloan went after her?”
“You are blind, MacVey.”
Meg laughed, then kissed her husband’s cheek. “Do you recall the other day when I asked you for a new target board for my axe throwing? It was because your sister destroyed it. I taught her how to throw axes, and she ended up being pretty good at it.”
“But she doesn’t have any axes with her.”
“There were a few missing when we left for Duart.”
Lennox stared over the water. “Eva? An axe thrower? What the hell!”
Logan laughed and said, “Don’t feel bad, MacVey. Gwynie did the same to me when we were first married. Enjoy it and let Sloan take care of your sister. I promise you he will. Then he’ll come flying back here when Dyna tells him his castle is under attack.”
Lennox set his hands on his hips and said, “That explains where Sloan is, but where the hell is Rinaldo?”
“That’s my question,” Logan replied, his gaze scanning the sea again. “I don’t trust that man. He’s naught but trouble.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Maitland
“Boats! I see two of them coming from Ulva. They have to be in them.” Maitland paced back and forth on the beach in front of MacQuarie Castle. They’d seen a few small fishing boats, but there had only been one or two men in each.
Thane moved over to the edge of the water and peered across. “I think it is them. I would say stand back so they don’t see us here watching. I don’t want them turning around and waiting until it’s dark.”
Alasdair moved back, then asked, “Aren’t we getting in the boats? I say we meet the bastards in the middle of Loch Tuath. I’m not afraid to fight in a boat.”
“Naaaay!” Maitland bellowed. “You step in that vessel, and I’ll drag you off it, Grant.”
Every face turned to stare at him, and he could feel himself blushing. “Maeve can’t swim, and if you jar that boat and scare her, our son could go overboard. He’ll drop like a stone.”
Alasdair paled, scratching his scruffy beard. “Sorry, Menzie. You’re right. What about Sandor and Tora? Can they swim at all, Dyna? This is an aspect I hadn’t considered.”
“Sandor could keep his head above water for a few moments. Tora could swim from here to that rock over there, but neither one could swim from there to shore. Maitland’s right. We can’t tip the boats over. Eva and Sloan can’t go for four bairns and an adult. And any battle between men on boats will threaten one or the other to capsize.”
Connor said, “Thane, you know the water better than any of us. Your suggestions?”
“Get Eli out here. We need archers. I’d let Dyna and Eli in the water—two lasses won’t threaten them or draw anyattention. Keep the quivers on their backs, and they’ll never see the bows until it’s too late.”
“That’s a long way for accuracy, Thane. And we have six people we don’t want to hit.”
