Highland Storms (38 page)

‘
I’ve nothing against your husband, cousin, but because he’s a nicer man, he’s not as ruthless as his father. Believe me, I doubt Seton will let his son stand in his way. He means to have Marsaili and now he thinks I’m out of the way, he’ll stop at nothing to achieve his aims.’ He rubbed his face to try and erase some of the tiredness and tension he was feeling. ‘Any idea where he’d take her if he wanted a speedy wedding ceremony? If he’s managed to spring her out of gaol, that is.’

‘
Bailliebroch,’ said Flora without hesitation.

Brice stared at her. ‘Why? I thought it was a ruin and it doesn’t even belong to Seton any more.’

‘
The people there are still loyal to him, I’ve heard tell. He’s their laird. That would include the priest, who owes his appointment to Mr Seton’s late brother.’

Brice stared at Flora with new respect. ‘That makes sense. Thank you.’

Colour rose in her cheeks, making the pockmarks less noticeable. Brice saw Ramsay staring at her and nudged his uncle to bring him out of his trance. ‘Come on then, let’s be on our way. There’s no time to lose. We’ll go north, then west, in the hope of meeting Seton along the way. We’ll have to try and travel his journey, but in reverse if we can.’

‘
Huh? Oh, yes, very well.’ Ramsay stood up, then hesitated. ‘You go and see about the horses. I, er, just want a quick word with Miss Kinross about Ida. Make sure she’s fine, you know.’

Brice grinned and cuffed Ramsay on the arm. ‘Oh, I know all right. But don’t be long.’

He ignored Ramsay’s glare and headed for the door.

‘
Deuce take it! We’ll have to stop, father. My
garron
’s gone lame.’ Iain’s voice cut through the silence of the late afternoon and made both Marsaili and Seton turn to look at him.

‘
Oh, for the love of … I don’t believe it.’ Seton swore under his breath.

‘
Well, I told you this old nag wouldn’t make it far. He’s had to carry a double burden for two days now. Is it any wonder he’s tired?’

‘
And I told
you
we should have stolen another one when we had the chance.’

Marsaili heard the impatience in Seton’s voice, but couldn’t help being glad about the interruption to this seemingly interminable journey. She hadn’t wanted to say anything, in case she angered Seton, but she was exhausted and parched. Not to mention starving.

‘
I’m not a thief, unlike some people,’ Iain retorted, jumping down from his horse and helping Eilidh off the rump. ‘We could have bought one, or at least part-exchanged this for another.’

‘
We needed the money for other things. Would you have us leave Marsaili in that stinking place?’

‘
I’m sure there was enough for both matters,’ Iain maintained stubbornly, then added, ‘Why don’t we stop here for the night? Since I assume we can’t risk going into any of the towns, here’s as good as anywhere. And maybe my horse will have recovered by morning.’

Seton shook his head. ‘No, we haven’t gone far enough yet, we need to press on. But perhaps a short rest will do the trick.’

‘
But it’ll be dark soon,’ Iain protested.

‘
So? There’s almost a full moon tonight.’

Marsaili’s heart sank. Dusk wasn’t far off and to her it felt as if they’d been riding for ever. Her entire body was sore from being bumped up and down continuously and her fingers stiff from holding onto Seton so she wouldn’t fall off. She really didn’t want to continue.

They left the track they’d been following and entered a small forest, weaving among the trunks until they came to a clearing where a burn burbled its way along the middle. Marsaili jumped off the horse, stumbling slightly since her legs had gone a bit numb as well, then stretched her cramped muscles.

She glanced at Eilidh, who had walked a few steps behind Iain without complaining. Away from the prison, Marsaili could see even clearer what a terrible state the poor woman was in. Her clothes were in tatters, filthy and mud-stained, and her hair hung about her face in listless hanks. Marsaili longed to dunk her, clothes and all, in a tub of water and scrub for hours, the way she would the laundry at home.

To his credit, Iain hadn’t complained, even though Eilidh stank to high heaven. She must have been aware of this herself, because Marsaili heard her mutter an apology to him. ‘I’ve tried no’ tae sit too near ye. Wouldnae want ter ruin yer clothes, an’ all.’

‘
It is no matter,’ Iain said, smiling kindly. ‘I’m glad if we managed to save another soul from such a hell-hole. No one should have to suffer that. Just out of interest, what did you do to be put in gaol, if you don’t mind me asking?’

Eilidh sank down onto a nearby stone, as if her legs were too weak to hold her. Without proper nourishment for weeks on end, they probably were, Marsaili thought. ‘I stole a couple o’ bannocks,’ Eilidh admitted, her head bent. ‘But I swear it was only because I was desperate. I hadnae eaten for twa days and couldnae find work onywhere.’

‘
Oh, wonderful, now we’re harbouring a criminal too,’ Marsaili heard Seton mutter, but thankfully she didn’t think his words reached Eilidh, who was closer to Iain.

‘
Don’t worry, Eilidh,’ she said to her new friend, ‘I’m sure we can find you some work at Rosyth, can’t we Mr Seton? The laird won’t turn anyone away.’

‘
She can go there herself and ask,’ Seton replied. ‘You and I won’t be going anywhere near Rosyth if I can help it.’

‘
What do you mean?’ Marsaili raised her head to stare at him, a feeling of foreboding rising inside her.

Iain frowned at him as well. ‘Yes, what are you talking about, Father? Of course we’re going to Rosyth. I promised Kirsty we’d bring Marsaili straight back.’

‘
What do I care about your promises?’ Seton sneered. ‘Your wife can come and join us at Bailliebroch if she has a mind to, but she’ll have to live under my rules there.’

‘
Not that again.’ Iain groaned. ‘Father, we’ve been over this and you won’t get it back. Especially not now the Englishman has double-crossed you. Do you honestly think he’s to be trusted?’

‘
There are others who can be bribed as easily. Be that as it may, Bailliebroch will be mine. I’ll just have to find where the laird hid my money.’ He cast a sour look in Marsaili’s direction. ‘You’ll know, no doubt, so you can show me.’

‘
Me? Why would I know? And I’ve no idea what money you’re talking about anyhow.’

Seton walked up to her and backhanded her across one cheek. ‘Enough! Do you take me for a fool, woman? I saw the way the laird was making sheep’s eyes at you and do you deny going off to rescue him from Sherringham and his men? You and that mangy hound of yours.’

Marsaili was too stunned by the slap at first to respond. Then anger welled up and she put her hands on her hips as she replied, ‘How dare you hit me, you miserable excuse for a man? Even if I did know anything, which I don’t, I wouldn’t tell you.’

‘
We’ll just see about that.’

Iain, who seemed as shocked as Marsaili at this turn of events, stepped forward with a scowl. ‘Now see here …,’ he began, but was cut off by the sight of his father taking one of his pistols out of his pocket. Seton aimed it straight at his son’s heart.

‘
This is where you choose your allegiance once and for all, Iain,’ he said, his voice deadly serious. ‘Either you want your inheritance, in which case you’ll do as I say and not interfere, or I shoot you now. If you’re not completely committed to your birthright, you’re no longer my son and no use to me. Do you understand? It’s your choice.’

Marsaili waited with bated breath for Iain to come to a decision. She didn’t want him to be like Seton, not now he was married to Kirsty, but on the other hand she definitely didn’t want him dead.

It was an impossible choice.

‘
Wait, captain, there are fresh hoof marks here on the verge. And look, horse droppings too. They may have gone this way.’

Sherringham turned his horse and rode back to where one of his men was pointing at the ground. They’d been riding for the best part of two days, with only two confirmed sightings of the Buchanan woman and her rescuers. He was tired of this chase and wanted a meal and a comfortable bed for the night, but he wouldn’t rest until he had her back.

‘
You could be right,’ he conceded. Silently he added to himself,
Thank the Lord the woman has such vivid hair or we’d have missed that last turning
. The yokel they’d spoken to had said he couldn’t be mistaken and it would seem he was correct.

‘
Very well, dismount and proceed with caution. I want to follow the hoof prints in the soft moss if possible. They can’t have gone far. Complete silence from now on, that’s an order.’

He’d find the bitch if it was the last thing he did. And then he’d deal with the arrogant Jacobite.

‘
Are you sure this is the way he’d take to Baillie-whatever-it’s-called?’

Alex rode up next to Brice and peered at him in the deepening gloom. The day was nearly over and Brice knew they would have to stop soon or they’d risk injuring the ponies. He swore silently.

‘
Yes, Kirsty’s directions were clear, but we’re still a fair way off. We have to press on for just a bit longer. I’m sorry.’

‘
Don’t worry, I was only making sure.’ Alex never complained and Brice thanked God for this small mercy at least. The youth had certainly proved his worth during the last few days and when this was all over, Brice hoped Alex wouldn’t leave in a hurry. He’d come to appreciate his company.

They’d headed north first, then west past Rosyth and Bailliebroch, stopping only to ascertain that Seton hadn’t arrived at either destination yet. Kirsty had told them there was a highland path that led south-west from the edge of the Bailliebroch lands, straight towards Inveraray.

‘
If Seton’s in a hurry, I’m sure he’d travel that way,’ she’d said. Brice sincerely hoped she was right.

‘
Brice, this is madness.’ Ramsay rode up on his other side. ‘We don’t even know if the man was heading this way. Shouldn’t we have gone to the gaol first to check if Miss Buchanan is still there?’

Brice shook his head. ‘No, Seton will have found a way to get her out. He wants her badly. If he was in cahoots with the Englishman, he’ll have her free in no time. If not, he’d spring her out somehow. Trust me, I know the man by now.’

Ramsay sighed. ‘Very well, but I hope you know what you’re –’

He was interrupted by the loud crack of a pistol shot and all three of them stopped to listen as it was followed by a piercing scream. Brice pointed to the left. ‘It came from over there. What if it’s …?’

‘
Don’t be daft, man. If Seton wants her as much as you say, why would he shoot her?’

Brice spurred his mount into a gallop and headed for the nearby trees. Ramsay was right, but he had to check just to make sure. And if it wasn’t Marsaili, then some other poor soul was in deep trouble.

Chapter Thirty

Marsaili stared in dawning horror at the large patch of red staining Iain’s shoulder. Eilidh screamed again, clearly frightened out of her wits, but Seton aimed his other pistol at her and told her to shut up. ‘If you don’t, you’ll be next,’ he warned. Poor Eilidh blinked, but closed her mouth, only emitting a series of hiccoughing sobs.

Marsaili rounded on Seton. ‘Have you lost your mind? Your only child? How could you?’

She’d admired Iain for standing up to his father, although she guessed he’d never imagined Seton would actually pull the trigger. But then, neither had she.

‘
He’s no son of mine, I told you. He has no pride in his clan, no loyalty, no guts. I doubt there’s any Seton blood in him at all. My wife must’ve been unfaithful.’ A low growling noise came from Iain’s direction and Marsaili saw him stagger to his feet, his expression murderous.

Seton waved the pistol in his direction. ‘Stay back,’ he warned. Iain hesitated, then sank back down onto a nearby rock.

Marsaili shook her head at Seton. He was clearly mad, but also dangerous. She tried to edge away from him, but he was quick to turn the pistol on her. ‘Don’t even think of moving,’ he snarled. ‘This time you’re coming with me. We’ll be married as soon as we reach Bailliebroch. I’ve waited long enough.’

‘
Never,’ she hissed back. ‘I’ve told you my answer and I won’t change my mind, no matter what you do. You can’t force me into wedlock, the minister says a woman has to be willing. I’m not.’

‘
There are ways and means,’ Seton smirked.

Marsaili ground her teeth in frustration. ‘I don’t understand why you can’t take no for an answer. What’s the point of marrying someone who doesn’t want you? Where’s the joy in that?’

His eyes turned darker with desire as he raked her with his gaze from head to toe and back again. ‘But there’s none so bonny as you, is there? You’re a prize worth having and since I don’t want to share, marriage it’ll have to be. Besides, it’s the principle of it now. You’ve defied me for too long. As my wife, you’ll have to do what I tell you for the rest of your life, I’ll make sure of it.’

She shook her head. ‘I won’t agree, I tell you. If you try to force me, I’ll kill myself.’

‘
I won’t give you the chance.’ He walked over and grabbed her arm, pulling her towards his pony. ‘Come on, we’ll leave these two here. We don’t need them. You,’ he pointed at Eilidh, ‘help him if you want, or go, I don’t care. But don’t you dare follow us.’