Page 57 of Highlander’s Mercenary Lass

Fiona looked at her blankly. "I dinnae ken what ye mean, Grace," said Fiona, blinking.

In the dim light, Grace wondered how Fiona could even sew. The late fall afternoon had given way to early evening, and already, the light was beginning to falter on this side of the grounds. Everything was enveloped in deepening gray shadows.

Grace felt the darkness creep into her soul. Everything about this clan was shadowy. And she still knew little about her mother, just that her father had an affair with a Kennedy. Could this fact be enough to turn her sisters against her? As much as she did not want to think it, Paton's story was not completely outlandish.

"Because there's nay need tae do anything. Just say the word, an' I will up an' leave, take my horse, an' go back tae the Ferguson estate," Grace pledged.

Fiona's puzzled face said it all. "Grace, ye talk in riddles," she said simply.

Near Fiona, a servant stared avidly. Sensing that their privacy was being invaded, Fiona dismissed the servant. The woman left, but not without taking a long, curious look at Grace. Grace waited until she was gone, then turned to Fiona with a ferocious look.

"I dinnae want anything tae happen tae Andrew," she said pointedly. "But I also dinnae want anything happening tae mysel’ or anyone else in the clan."

Fiona shook her head. "Dinnae fash, lassie," she said.

Grace continued. "All I want tae do is tae return tae my old clan. That's it; that's all. An' I'll leave it all here—the money, the share in the clan...the lot. Ye can have it all. I dinnae want tae tread on any toes."

It was an impassioned speech, but when Grace looked up, it was to see a blank face.

"Ye can share it out amongst ye all. I'll go home an' live my old life," Grace promised. But Fiona shook her head once more. "Ye dinnae have tae kill me..."

At the mention of kill, Fiona looked as if she had been slapped. Now she sat bolt upright, looking at Grace like she was mad.

"Grace, just what on earth are ye on about, lass? I dinnae want ye tae go anywhere, much less kill ye!" She eyed Grace pityingly as if she had lost her reason. "What on earth could make ye think such a thing? Aileen, me, an' the others were all so excited tae meet ye."

Fiona's eyes rounded, and Grace could see they were shining with tears. Grace felt a twinge of guilt. Perhaps she was mistaken after all.

"Listen, Grace," said Fiona, somewhat awkwardly. She wrung her handkerchief in her hands and dabbed at her eyes. "Maybe I havenae been braw at saying it, but I'm really happy ye’re here. It's been the only good thing since Father died."

Grace's head rushed. So many competing emotions battled inside her. More than anything, she needed to set Andrew free, but obstacles were in her path. And that meant knowing the truth.

Leaping in, Grace took a deep breath. "Paton has a letter..." she announced. Fiona watched her, giving a nod. "...from yer mother," she continued. Fiona looked heartened at the mention of her mother, but it was short-lived. "She states ye should all get rid o' me if I was ever tae come tae the clan."

Grace's eyebrows raised as she fixed Fiona with her deepest stare.

"An' Paton is using that as a means tae make me marry him. He says it's the only way I could be safe...that the clan can be safe from forces outside. That marrying me would appease the Kennedys."

Fiona looked enraged and then sick.

"He's thrown Andrew in jail, an' wilnae let me go an' see him," she continued, in a wail. Everything was welling up inside of her, threatening to overcome it all. "He's at risk too if I dinnae do as he says. But wi' yer help, Fiona, I can just leave, take my things, an' get out—"

"Nay," said Fiona firmly. "This is nonsense. Pure fannybaws."

Grace looked up in half-amusement at the sight of mild-mannered Fiona raising her voice.

"Nay, it is all muck. Nay way would our mother want tae hurt ye, and that's even if she kent about ye in the first place!" Fiona's face was so determined that Grace found it hard to believe it was a ruse.

"Nay. Ye wilnae go away. An' we wilnae keep Andrew in the jail. Ye’re right, the time has come tae do something about it," Fiona continued.

Grace felt her heart rise from its embers.

"Do what?" she asked simply.

"Come, Grace," said Fiona, petting her on the hand. "We will find this letter, see what it says, an' find out if it really is the missing letters our mother sent. Come on, there is work tae do!"