Page 43 of A Flawed Scotsman

“She is my betrothed. I will do what I can to save her.” His stomach clenched at the words.

Keithen studied him for a moment. “It is up to ye.”

“I will ride around the other side. Hopefully, there is a way for me to get in and search for her.” Not waiting for Esme’s brother to reply, he urged the horse forward.

The beast was glad to be out from the corral and was easily encouraged to a gallop. Ruari kept his eyes forward, scanning the surroundings for anyone that might spy him. He rode toward trees, from where it would be easier to approach without being sighted.

He slowed the horse and searched for any person patrolling the area. Finally, when he was almost too close to the keep not to be seen, he dismounted.

The vibrations from horses’ hooves on the ground told Ruari that the warriors from Fraser lands neared. He let out a long breath. What could he possibly do to help?

There was no way to get inside the keep. The walls were high and, atop, guards stood with bows and arrows.

“Why did I end up with a stubborn betrothed?” he grumbled under his breath.

“I am not stubborn. I would describe it more as determined.” Esme emerged from behind a tree. “I thought ye were a Mackenzie.”

Her face was smudged, her dress torn and her hair askew, but a more beautiful sight he’d never seen. Ruari rushed to her and pulled her against him. “What are ye doing here?”

“I thought to approach the front gates but got scared they’d shoot me with an arrow. It is still fresh in my memory how that feels. So I came here to search for a side entrance.” She pushed away from him.

He pushed hair away from her face. “And?”

“There is one door that can be reached, but it is locked.” She gave him a defeated look. “Probably a secret escape that most wouldn’t find, but I crawled under a bush to hide and found it.”

“Yer father comes to speak to the Mackenzie. It would be for the best if he finds ye not to be inside.”

Esme tugged at his hand. “Please come with me, help me get inside. I must do what I can to save Mother.”

Branches breaking and horses’ nickers were the unmistakable sounds of men approaching on horseback.

Ruari grabbed Esme around the waist and lifted her atop his horse, he then mounted and guided the beast away from where they were and deeper into the forest.

“Be quiet,” he whispered to Esme.

They waited for a long while, listening intently. “Yer father and an army arrive. We will ride to them.”

“No.” Esme turned and looked up at him. “Please, I have to save Mother. If they come, the Mackenzie will kill her.”

Although his heart broke, Ruari met her gaze and forced the words out. “Esme, listen to me. If ye go in there, ye along with yer mother and friend will die together. The Mackenzie is a heartless man. Stay with me, do not do this to yer father.”

When she sagged and began weeping, he guided the horse back to where he’d separated from the others. They cleared out of the forest just as warriors exited the keep and lined up, the warhorses close together.

From a nearby ridge, the huge army of men approached from the south. They rode at a steady pace to ensure the horses were not overly tired.

When he joined the men he’d arrived with, Keithen gave his sister a warm look. She turned away, too angry to understand it was for the best that she be kept from inside the keep.

“What happens now?” she asked him. “We go to war against them? No doubt he has sent for the surrounding clans to fight alongside him. There is no winning for us. We will all die.”

Her words were somewhat true. However, the Mackenzie was, in all probability, too proud to ask for help. Ruari prayed that was the situation in that moment.

“Come, we will go to yer father. He must know ye are not inside.”

Moments later, along with her uncle and brother, the three sat atop horses. Esme had insisted she go with them to speak to the Mackenzie and, surprisingly, her father had agreed.

Ruari tried to argue against it, but the laird shook his head. “I wish to have her with me.” When Keithen protested remaining behind, the laird held up a hand to quiet him. “Ye are to take over as laird if I die. Do not go to battle first. Obey me in this.”

A sense of helplessness enveloped Ruari as he watched them ride toward the gates. The laird, Esme to his right and a warrior to his left. He and ten guardsmen rode just behind them. Would he be able to stand idly by if the lairds agreed that Esme would marry a Mackenzie?