Page 2 of Highlander’s Lesser Evil

But for now, he had to find a way of ridding the world of his father.

1

The skies were gray over the otherwise green land, and a chill had settled over the people. Most of them were dressed in threadbare cloaks and torn gloves as they toiled away at the land to prepare it for new growth. Despite the meager environment, they were working with smiles on their faces and whistles on their lips. Theo was covered in dirt and grime as he helped one of the older members of the clan plow through the mud. The last of the snow and frost had melted weeks ago and would soon be ripe.

“That’d be the last row,” Gregory grunted as he walked over and handed him a cup of water. “I thank ye for yer help, Theo. I mean, Laird.”

“‘Tis all right, Gregory.” He was still getting used to being a laird himself, so he couldn’t blame his clan for still adjusting. After all, there was usually fanfare that came with the transfer of power. The elder would die, there would be a funeral, and then a feast as the heir took over. Sometimes the king attended so the new laird could swear fealty, but it was just a formality.

In this case, Theo traveled to court and returned with a letter from the king, giving him the authority to overthrow his father. King Edward had also given him permission to execute him, but it hadn’t been a direct order, and it was a task Theo found he couldn’t carry out.

His people were suspicious. They only knew the son who had carried out his father’s orders. They didn’t know that for years, Theo had been doing his best to undermine his father, so now that he was laird, the reputation had followed. He needed to win them over, and this was how. He would show them that they were on the same side and wanted the same things.

Right now, Theo wanted to know that his people prospered again, and that started in the fields.

And with Loch Moran.

“Laird,” Thomas called from the side of his field. His sword caught the light of the sun streaming through the clouds. Gregory immediately bowed his head and started to lower his frail body to his knees.

“Gregory,” Theo reminded him softly, so he didn’t startle the terrified man, “ye doonae kneel to me, and so ye doonae kneel to the guards. The only kneeling ye are to do is to the king, and I see no kings here.”

The older man nodded, but still couldn’t meet his gaze. Theo clapped him on the back and headed to meet one of his guards. Many of them were growing bountiful off his father’s harsh rule and rebelled when he made sweeping changes over the amount of food goods that came to the keep from the people. He’d put down the rebellion, those still loyal to his father, quickly and harshly so that there were no questions, but Thomas was one of the good ones. They’d grown up together. Thomas was one of the few boys that his father allowed him to play with, and when they entered the guard to train, they remained fast friends.

When Theo needed a right-hand man, he’d asked Thomas immediately. The man agreed staunchly and with some relief when Theo came into power.

“Thomas,” Theo greeted. “Is my brother here yet?”

After meeting his half-brother for the second time last month, he’d agreed to let Hamish meet their father. Few people knew that Patrick MacDougal was still alive and in good health, but Hamish had built his life on the hatred of their father and on Theo as well.

Theo also knew that he wasn’t going to hate the look on his father’s face when he realized that his bastard son, the one he’d nearly beaten to death two decades ago, was now a laird in one of the most powerful alliances in the Highlands.

“Aye, and Lady Grace as well.” Thomas grinned. “Is she really the hellion everyone says she is?”

“That hellion exposed the Lady MacSeaver and the Armstrong boy for the murderous traitors that they were. She isnae a hellion, Thomas. She is a hero.”

“Aye, Laird. They will be here within the hour.”

“Do I have time to bathe and change?”

“I have already asked for a bath to be drawn for ye.”

Theo nodded. “Good man. See to it that Gregory makes it back to his house all right and has food for the next few days.” Many of those in need were still reluctant to come to the keep for their meals even though he’d opened the Great Hall for all his people and not just the guards. Most were still too scared to take advantage.

Thomas nodded, and Theo strode toward the keep. It felt strange to look forward to seeing family, but Theo had not seen his brother since they’d nearly died together at the hands of Lady Beth’s men. He’d been busy since then, bringing news to court and then wedding his hellion bride.

Marriage. Just the thought of it made him grimace. But to see his brother again? He was very much looking forward to that.

With fifteen minutes to spare, Theo, washed and dressed, met Hamish Hamilton and Grace at the steps of his keep. They traveled with only four guards since this was a private affair, but Theo had a feeling that beneath that billowing dress, Grace was armed to the teeth. The jeweled sword that Hamish had made for her as their wedding present hung by her side.

“Brother,” Theo warmly greeted as he walked over and clasped the man’s hand. They were both still getting used to the idea of being a family, but Hamish graced him with a genuine smile. “And the lovely Lady Grace. Do ye regret wedding the ugly one yet?”

Hardly ugly, Hamish growled. Although they shared blood, they were complete opposites—Hamish with his golden hair and dark eyes, and Theo with his dark hair and blue eyes. Theo was a little taller, but they had the same muscular build, and Grace claimed that they shared a chin although Theo couldn’t see it.

Neither could Hamish.

“Ye do realize that when ye fall in love, Hamish will tease ye endlessly about it as revenge for all the torture ye put him through,” Grace said affectionately. Hamish helped her off the horse, and she kissed him on the cheek.

“I have no time for love,” Theo sighed, “so I am afraid that is one revenge I wilnae be able to give ye. But there is another that I can satisfy.”