Page 24 of A Laird and a Fugitive

Caroline’s throat tightened. She choked on her breath. “Nae. I dinnae want tae know about those things, and he wanted tae protect me from it,” she replied.

It wasn’t too much of a shock to her that he knew she was the Laird’s daughter. He was too canny for that detail to escape his attention.

Ryan nodded slowly. “Well, perhaps if ye hae then ye would know why there is such enmity between us. Aye, it started off with a dispute over land. But it quickly turned intae something else. Ye see, yer Da killed my father and brother in battle, leaving me as the sole hair tae the clan. I was only sixteen, still a boy in many ways, when their bodies were brought home. I hae tae bury them and when I did all I could think about was the man who killed them, the man who hae been able tae return home and share in the triumph of battle, who probably would nae spare a thought for my family.”

Caroline gasped and suddenly realized that the situation was more dangerous than she first believed. She was valuable to Ryan because of her family, and nothing more.

“That man took everything from me,” Ryan’s voice grew deeper and more rasping, while his features became more feral. Color bloomed on his cheeks and he adopted a scowl. “And on that day I swore that I would hae my revenge. I hae been patient. I hae plotted and waited for the perfect opportunity, and then who should show up at my Keep but his daughter? His eldest daughter at that. Sae I am gaeing tae marry ye, and we will hae an heir that will allow me tae press a claim against the clan. He took everything dear tae me, sae I will take everything that is dear tae him, and ye will watch as I strangle the life out of yer clan and make sure that the Gilmour name is buried sae deep in the dirt that even the worms cannae get at it,” he snarled, the words hotter than fire as they burst into the air.

Caroline flinched, and her mouth dropped open in horror. All this was because of her father? She remembered him returning from battle. She had never wanted to know the details. It was all too grisly for her, but she had never considered that the men he killed had lives and families of their own. They had all been nameless and faceless to her. It was easier to cope with in that way. But on one of those occasions, a sixteen-year-old boy had been left without a family.

Violence never seemed to resolve anything. It only spread more hurt around because that sixteen-year-old boy had turned into a vengeful Laird who was now going to ruin her life because of her father’s sins.

“But I… That dinnae hae anything tae dae with me,” she gasped.

Although she had started to think that Ryan was more than cruel, she wondered if it was part of his facade. Was he just trying to charm her in order to make the humiliation more savage? This insistence on giving her clan emblem back to her might have seemed like a kind gesture at first, but it could have simply been an insult. She was used to seeing the best in people, but sometimes there was only ever a small element of this. She couldn’t afford to be naive here. He spoke of honor, but she wondered if he knew the meaning of the word. What kind of honor was there in this kind of revenge?

“On the contrary, lass, this hae everything tae dae with ye. The rightful heir was taken away from this clan, sae ye are gaeing tae give me an heir that will unite the clans. Our blood will mix in them and I will wrest yer clan away from yer Da. I cannae wait tae see the look on his face,” a dark smile spread across Ryan’s features, and only then did Caroline realize that Ryan was unaware of the recent occurrence in the clan.

She was hesitant to tell him the truth as she feared what effect it might have, but she thought he was going to discover it eventually. Perhaps it might even dissuade him from his plans. After all, what use was revenge when the focus had already died?

“It will take some miracle for that. I fear that ye are nae gaeing tae get the satisfaction ye desire. There is nae use trying tae get revenge on a dead man,” her voice hitched as she spoke. It was still difficult to talk about her father’s death. Confusion was etched upon Ryan’s face.

“Dead? Yer Da is dead? When did this happen?” the questions rushed out of his mouth.

“Recently,” she replied. “And unexpectedly. My uncle hae taken the Lairdship and the clan. He is in charge now. It’s why I ran away. He wanted tae take me for his wife, and I was nae gaeing tae suffer that indignity. I know ye hae ideas about my Da, but he was a good man. My uncle is nae. I fear what he will dae tae the clan. I want it back,” she was suddenly seized by inspiration.

Perhaps there was more merit to Tara’s idea than she had first believed. Ryan wanted to get revenge on the clan, and the current Laird needed to be removed. The particular consequences could be resolved later, but if she could get Ryan on her side and use the might of his army to challenge her uncle, then she and her sisters would never have to live in fear of being chased by him.

“Perhaps if we work together, we can oust him⁠—”

The words were barely out of Caroline’s mouth when Ryan strode forward menacingly, completely overwhelmed by the force of his emotions. She was forced to scurry back and was pressed against the wall beside the window. In his haste, Ryan knocked the goblet of wine she had left on the table. The liquid sloshed out and spilled over the candle.

The flame hissed and flared for a moment, but then was doused, plunging the room into cold darkness. The only light source came from outside. It illuminated Ryan in a silver veil, and the shadows on his face made him seem even more monstrous. Fear shuddered down Caroline’s limbs and struck to the core of her body.

“I dinnae need an ally. I work alone. I am nae here tae dae ye any favors, Caroline. I hae planned my revenge for a long time, and I am nae gaeing tae miss my opportunity. Yer Da managed tae escape my wrath, but naebody else shall. I will take yer clan and crush it,” he hissed, lifting his hand and clasping it in a tight fist.

Caroline whimpered. Her knees went weak. It seemed as though she had traded one devil for another. However, she had not wilted in front of her uncle. She had taken matters into her own hands and fled. While that hadn’t worked out with Ryan, she still wasn’t prepared to meekly accept her fate, and she was not going to accept being treated like this.

Although she cowered, she kindled a flame of rebellion and summoned just a few moments of courage. Ryan might have thought he would walk all over her, but she wanted to ensure him that wasn’t the case. If he wanted a wife and an heir, then she was going to make him earn it. She wasn’t going to simply give things to him easily.

“I can play this game tae, Ryan. Ye cannae put yer boot on my throat and expect me tae dae yer bidding.”

“I expect ye tae honor the terms of our deal. Ye and yer sisters would hae perished if I hae nae protected ye. Ye hae already agreed tae be my wife, Caroline.”

“But I never agreed tae give ye an heir, or my clan.”

“It all comes as part of the deal,” he rasped grimly, and there was no sense of compassion in his eyes. He walked to the door and shoved it open with such force that the hinges screamed. “Thank ye for tending tae my wounds and sharing a most illuminating conversation, but it’s time for ye tae gae back tae yer sisters.”

He leaned out into the hallway and called for a guard. The monotonous stomping of boots replied immediately and soon enough a guard was there ready to escort Caroline back to her room. She was so stunned there wasn’t anymore to be said, so she exited the room, leaving the brooding Laird sitting in darkness with his thoughts and wine there to keep him in grim company.