Page 20 of The Best of Madeline Grant

Jake handed over the larger sword, which dwarfed the small girl, but she happily sat on the ground to play with it.

Her children settled, Maddie looked back to Logan.

He arched his brow at her. “You wish to speak with me?”

She lowered her voice so as not to capture the children’s attention. “Aye. And I’ll have your word you’ll not tell Alex.”

“If you say so, but what do you wish to keep from your husband?” He took a sip of broth and set his mug down, his eyes locked on hers.

“I’m going to Ramsay land.”

“Ah,” Logan said, relief tinging the word. “Aye, I think he’ll come around to the idea. He needs to think on it a bit, let it simmer inside.”

“I know my husband. He has made his mind up already and is thinking on it just to placate me. If he refuses, I’m coming without him. I’ll be a day behind you, and I’ll bring the bairns, along with Alice and Mac. If I cannot catch up with you, I’ll stop at one of our allies and ask for an escort of ten warriors. But I’m hoping you’ll wait to see if I’m along. Alex will send an army along once he learns of it, so I’m not worried. He’ll be behind us within half a day. I’m not putting us at risk.”

“Maddie, let him think on—”

“Aye, I’ve asked him to consider it. Have tried asking politely and given him multiple logical reasons. But there are times where my husband is unreasonable.” She cast an eye around the hall, making sure no one could overhear their whispered conversation. “I promise you I’m going whether he wishes to or not. I’m warning you in case I don’t get the chance to speak with you later about this.”

“Maddie, what you ask is too much. I cannot do that to Alex. He’ll string me up by my bollocks.” His face told her he was indeed worried about the possibility.

“It might be worse if he finds out I told you and you didn’t wait for us, and we do this on our own. You can say you found us along the way and had to protect us.”

The door opened and Alex stepped inside, big as life, so she ended the conversation, put on a bright smile, and was grateful for the lads who all headed Alex’s way with a shout.

“Don’t forget, Logan,” she warned.

Because she was going whether Logan and Alex agreed or not.

Chapter Three

Maddie sets her plan.

She wasn’t surprised to see Ashlyn and Gracie already at the bottom of the hill. The first thing they did was fuss over Kyla, so Maddie set her down in the snow in her leather boots, smiling at her bulky appearance. Alice had bundled her in several thick furs, and she looked round, like a wee snowman. Kyla didn’t seem to mind.

Of course, Kyla had broken into a smile on seeing the two lasses. “Shwee, Wacie. Pway.”

Maddie knew Kyla was more advanced than most children her age. She spoke many words that the lads hadn’t mastered until nearly their second year. Alice said it was because lasses were such talkers. But Maddie was certain it was because Kyla would prove to be an extremely bright and clever woman when she grew up. She would prove to be a gentle lady, just like her mother. Maddie smiled and bussed Kyla’s cheek before releasing her into the care of her cousins.

Then she set off to her task. Logan could be leaving as soon as the morrow, so she needed to plan her trip carefully. If she had to leave on her own, she would need two others to travel with her since they’d have to ride three horses, one adult rider and one bairn per horse. Her most logical and first choice would be Mac and Alice.

She didn’t think they’d have any trouble on the first day because Grant land was so deep into the Highlands. Alex kept speaking of reivers, but everyone knew they moved out in the cold of winter and headed back to the Lowlands. Besides, anyone in the area, including reivers, would be afraid of the powerful warriors of Clan Grant. Most who hoped to steal stayed far away from Grant land. Maddie’s party would be off Grant land in a couple of hours, then would head south. If Logan chose to wait for her, then they’d have the protection of the Ramsay warriors for the rest of the journey.

And, of course, she also predicted that half a day after they left, Alex would be directly behind them, raging mad. She’d worry about his temper later—what mattered was that he’d come with warriors to chase after them. And, if she had her way, they’d be closer to Ramsay land than Grant land by then, so the safest plan would be to head to Clan Ramsay.

If he didn’t speak to her for the entire time they were there, she’d have many others to chat with, and the two of them would make up eventually. His anger would soften as soon as he saw his two sisters.

Besides, she’d learned soon enough in their marriage that if she got Alex alone and dropped her gown, shift, and plaid to the floor, he would do nearly anything she asked. True, it hadn’t worked last eve, but he’d yet to refuse her completely.

She rounded a corner in the stables and nearly ran into Mac.

“Oh, your pardon, Mac. I was too preoccupied with my thoughts.”

She smiled, trying to gauge Mac’s mood.

At first he gave her a wide smile, his usual, but then his eyes narrowed. “What have you planned, young lady?”

She nearly snorted, not all that shocked that he knew her so well. “Whatever do you mean, Mac? Can I not just come for a visit?”