Page 2 of The Iron Highlander
“Of course nae,” Kate replied. It was almost impossible for her. The Laird made sure he had servants with her whenever she went into the town. They would report back to Max if there was a man who had come up to her, looking to get her attention. If the men were of a poor household, then McGowan would send some of his servants to go rough up the man, forcing him to stay away from Kate, and if they had an estate, then McGowan would go by himself and let them know that Katherine was not for anyone.
“Good, the servants have said the same. So let me ask ye, Katherine, why do ye think I have nae given ye out? Ye would fetch a handsome dowry, so why havenae I? I deserve it, after all I have done for ye and yer sisters, raised ye as my own daughters, fed ye, clothed ye and gave ye shelter. I believe no one would have any issues if I did that, because I am indeed, yer new father figure.”
Kate grunted, “That ye are, Laird McGowan.”
“Good, so ye understand then,” said Max, turning back to the window. “Ye understand why it is ye I must make my bride.”
Kate looked right at him, frozen from what she had just heard. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard that.”
“We will have our wedding a fortnight from now. I will have the necessary arrangements made, and in the meantime, I want ye to study and learn how to behave like a proper lady. Ye will be the Lady McGowan, and there are certain things which ye need to learn. Isla will walk ye through these things and make sure ye are ready for the wedding.”
“Uncle!” Kate yelled. “Max, it’s me! What are ye saying?”
“What do ye mean?” Max asked, turning back to face her.
“Katherine, yer niece. Ye just said ye want to make me yer bride. I am yer niece, we cannae be together, ye have taken me for someone else, I’m sorry.” Kate replied, speaking quickly.
“What makes ye think I am wrong? This is my duty and my desire. I want to make ye my bride.”
“But ye are my uncle!” Kate argues.
“And fathers make daughters into wives. This is the way I have planned it to be.”
“But Max…”
“Silence, ye dobber! Yer faither died and left me in charge of ye, and I can do with ye as I want to! I have decided to keep the blood of the McGowan in the family, and that starts with ye, whether ye like it or nay. Ye do not get a say in this, and if ye want to, ye will pay back for every single dime I have spent on ye, and yer sisters to buy yer freedoms back!” Max walked the length of the room. “Do ye nae see the advantages of us getting married? A stronger bloodline, a safer one, where the future of the McGowan name is safe.”
Kate backed away, shaking her head as she felt the tears come to her face. She watched as the man ranted on, spewing all of the nonsense that lingered in his mind. He was truly off his rocker if he believed that she was going to marry him. “But I daenae love ye, Max,”
“Ye will learn to, as ye will learn so much more. Ye will learn to.” Max smiled at her; his teeth bared in what looked like a maniacal grin. “Ye daenae get it, do ye? I have waited for ye to mature so we can have this moment, and now that ye have, nothing will stop me from having this. Nae a damn thing, Katherine.”
He rubbed his hand against her cheek, and when she pulled away, he slapped her across it, stunning her. It was a soft blow, but one which she had not expected, and so it sent her reeling.
“Ye will nae behave that way to yer husband, nae under my roof. Ye have to understand the ways which ye have to behave, and ye must behave accordingly, otherwise, there will be con…”
“To hell with ye, Max! Ye flippin’ bampot! I will have nothin’ do with ye! Ye terrible, terrible person!”
“Ye think ye have a choice in this? The date is set and everything is in motion already, Katherine. I will have ye as my bride in a fortnight, and ye cannot do a damn thing about it. I will take this as a filthy wench unable to control yer emotions on one night, but ye behave like this again, and I’ll give ye a proper beating myself. Ye can count on a Laird to put his Lady on the right path.”
Kate stared at him, unable to comprehend what she had just heard. How had this been his plan all this time? How could a man who had raised her suddenly want to go to bed with her? It was wrong, and she would not have it, she could not have it.
“I will leave then. I will leave the McGowan estate, and ye can find yer bride elsewhere! Because I would rather die than agree to lay with ye Max! Ye piece of scum; ye have no shame! No bloody shame!”
Kate turned and began to leave, rushing for the doors. The tears came as she got to them, and just as she began to pull them, Max called out to her again.
“Katherine, if ye leave my estate, I will not stop ye. As much as I want ye to be mine, I do not have the time for such petty chases. Make the right choice now and stay. I will make sure yer well taken care of, and everything ye need will be at yer disposal as my Lady. I promise ye that.”
“I’d rather die, Max.”
“Alright then, but if ye leave, I’ll just have to force yer sister Freya to marry me.”
Chapter 2
Kate froze,turning back to stare at her uncle. He had asked her because Kate was the oldest of her sisters, but if she refused, he would take Freya as well. The last thing she wanted was to put Freya in the arms of a man like that. They had endured under him for so long because they had no other choice, and he was the only family they had left, but with what he was proposing, it was worse than death.
“Ye leave that wee lass alone, I dare ye. Ye lay a finger on any of my sisters and I’ll make ye regret it.” Kate fired back, baring her teeth in an animalistic rage.
“Ye live under my roof. A few days without food and a place to sleep would make ye change yer mind. In fact, I would leave ye to all of the pleasures ye need, and punish them for yer own refusal. I’m sure that ought to make ye change yer mind, Katherine.” Max added with a smile. He ran his finger across his chair and pointed to the one next to it. “I offer ye the Lady of McGowan, Katherine Sweeney, take it now, or be forced into it.”
