Page 28 of A Flawed Scotsman

Esme shrugged. “Perhaps one of father’s horses has been injured.”

Moments later, the same guard entered and went to the table where guards and archers were eating. “Ye must all come to the courtyard at once.”

Without hesitation, the men got to their feet and hurried out.

“Come,” Esme called to the man who’d brought the message. The guard looked to the departing men, seeming to consider if he should respond. Finally, he hurried up to the high board.

“Yes, Lady Esme?”

“What is happening?”

“Leave it be, it is not our concern,” her mother said with annoyance.

Esme ignored her. “Why is everyone being summoned?”

“The man who is visiting, Ross, his horse returned without him. We think that perhaps he was injured or attacked while riding back from the other keep.”

Esme gasped and got to her feet. The quick action caused pain, but she ignored it.

“Where are ye going?” Her mother grabbed her wrist. “This is not a matter for women to become involved in.”

Unable to keep from it, she snatched her hand away. “Mother, will ye please stop repeating that? I do not care what my place is at the moment. The man I am betrothed to may be hurt. I must know what is going on.”

There was chaos in the courtyard. Men were mounting horses and joining into teams as her brother shouted out orders. Her father stood with the stablemaster, their heads together as they looked over Ruari’s unruly horse who fought against four men that attempted to pull it into a corral.

The animal rose to its hind legs, the giant hooves kicking in the air.

“Let him go!” Esme screamed. “Release him.”

The startled men did as she asked and the horsed bolted toward the gate. Keithen gave her a puzzled look and then turned to his men. “Follow the horse.”

Half of the men galloped after the animal, while the other half waited for instructions from her father.

“Take my message to the Mackenzie,” he called out.

Twelve men rode out.

Her father, with Calum alongside, walked to a side doorway that would lead down a corridor that went directly to his study.

Just before going in, Calum looked to her. Something about his expression, almost gleeful, made a shiver of apprehension travel through her.

“I am famished.” Her mother returned inside and everyone else in the courtyard returned to their duties. Within moments, it was as if nothing of importance had occurred.

“What is it?” Catriona asked, studying Esme.

With a shudder, Esme fought not to allow tears of fear to fall. “I am afraid of what happened to him. What if the Mackenzie is responsible?”

“Do ye think? It is possible he fell off his horse. There are many possibilities.” Catriona placed a comforting arm around her shoulders.

She could not shed the feeling that something horrible had happened. Somehow, the Mackenzie must have learned of a Ross being there. There were always spies who worked for an opponent in exchange for coin. If someone had informed the Mackenzie, it meant the man would do what was necessary to stop them from uniting with a larger clan.

“If only that dreadful man would just let us be. I will never forgive myself if something horrible has happened to Ruari. He came only to help us.”

Catriona walked alongside her to the garden where they settled onto a bench. “Ye care for him already.”

At the statement, Esme huffed. “I do not know him enough to care for him strongly, but I do care what happens to him. Ruari should not have to pay for this.”

A tear trickled down her cheek and she brushed it away. “I am so tired of having to constantly worry. Do we have any chance to beat the inevitable?”