Page 46 of A Laird and a Fugitive

I will end this once and for all. I will make a widow of you, and we can dance around his body at our wedding.

I will see you soon, my bride; otherwise, you will soon hear of the tragedy that will befall the people. There will be no clan for Knox to take.

Regards,

Gorram

Caroline’s heart was in her throat as she passed the letter to Nessa. Tara rose to her feet and peered over her sister’s shoulder, gasping as she read the words.

“He cannae mean this!” she said.

“Oh aye, he means it,” Nessa replied darkly.

“It’s clear now that he was behind Da’s death. These references tae poison, they cannae be by chance. He killed Da! He stole the clan,” Caroline stated as clarity of thought seized her.

“And now he wants tae steal ye as well. Caroline, we hae tae dae something tae stop him. We cannae stay here and let him poison the people.” Nessa’s face was burning with anger.

“There may nae be a way tae heal them even if we get tae them in time,” Tara added.

The pressure of time was against them. Ryan was running into a battle with a man who had nothing to lose, and was prepared to rush towards the very limits of his savagery in order to prevent his clan from falling into enemy hands.

And Caroline was the key. She could end it all by giving herself to Gorram and taking on all the misery of the world. Her stomach churned. She ran to the door and hammered on it until the guard opened it.

“Who delivered this letter?” she inquired, snatching it from Nessa and holding it in the guard’s face.

“Just a maid,” the guard replied.

“She must hae been paid. Look who it’s from.” She thrust the letter in the guard’s face, but he looked blankly at the letter. Caroline huffed. “It’s from my uncle. He’s threatening the people of my clan, and yer Laird. I need tae get tae him.”

“I’m under strict orders tae keep ye here,” the guard said.

Caroline could have screamed. “Get someone up here who can read. My uncle hae a dark plan and Ryan is riding right intae the storm. I need tae get tae him. I need tae save him and everyone else!” she cried, and was joined by a chorus of demands from Nessa and Tara as well.

It was a rare man that could stand up to all three sisters when they were united, and this guard was not one of them. He yielded and escorted them through the castle to the highest-ranking guard. Caroline showed him the letter, and he immediately frowned, agreeing with Caroline that action needed to be taken at once.

They were soon on their horses, riding towards home. Caroline had to keep blinking back tears, hoping that she wasn’t too late to save Ryan and the people of the clan. Nobody else should have to suffer because of her, but she kept her thoughts private regarding what she was willing to do. Her uncle demanded so much of her, but was it a price worth paying if she could save everyone?