Page 83 of A Flawed Scotsman

If she preferred to return to her home to live, would he allow it?

He would. It was preferable to living in fear that she’d run away again.

His mother had left him without remorse, as a matter of fact. There was nothing to gain in forcing someone who didn’t wish to be with him to remain at his side.

It could be that Esme resented him for taking her away from her family. Maybe she had decided she’d rather risk her life than continue to live with him.

Yes, she’d brought up the excuse of Keithen being gone, but it did not justify her actions. Ruari looked to his cousin. “Once I find her, I will allow her to return to her family.”

Ewan met his gaze. “I am sure she prefers to live with ye.”

“Ye cannot be sure of it. Why then leave as she did?”

His cousin’s shoulders lifted and lowered. “Ye heard what the women said. They thought ye would be right behind her. She did not plan to be alone. Surely, she became lost and did not mean to end up on Mackenzie lands.”

Annoyed, he raked his fingers through his tangled hair.

A man on horseback appeared. Ruari looked to Ewan. “See him?”

“Aye.”

Upon noticing them, the rider galloped in their direction. As he got closer, Ruari called to the guards to lower their bows and swords. It was Keithen.

“The bastard’s got my sister,” Keithen yelled, his anger directed at Ruari. “Why is she out alone?”

“She left on her own.”

The enraged man glared at him. “How is it possible for a wee woman to escape without being seen?”

“She was seen. My keep is not a prison. No one is kept from leaving if they wish.” Ruari wanted to hit the man in the face.

Keithen’s eyes narrowed. “Why did she ride here?”

“I am sure she became lost,” Ruari said. “Ye can ask her when I fetch her.”

“The Mackenzie will think it’s a trap or trick,” Keithen said, his voice still tight. “Why would she do this?”

Ruari gave him an annoyed look. “A letter arrived. She was informed ye’d not been seen for days.”

When Keithen’s face turned to stone, Ruari knew something was amiss. “Why are ye on Mackenzie land?”

“That is not important now,” came the curt reply.

They continued forward and would reach the keep shortly. “Are ye coming with us? If so, we will have to explain yer presence,” Ewan said to Keithen.

“I will remain in the forest. Tis best not to complicate things by me killing the bastard.” And a while later, as the keep came into view, Keithen disappeared.

“What do ye suppose he is doing?” Ewan asked.

Ruari had wondered the same thing. “I would say he is avenging something. The Mackenzie did take his mother and the woman, Catriona. The woman was horribly mistreated.”

They rode to the gates and, although the huge portal was open, they were challenged by guards.

Once disclosing their names, they waited until word was sent to the laird. A long while later, guards rode along their sides as the entire party was invited through the gates.

Moments later, they were escorted into the great room. It struck Ruari as strange that no one greeted them at the entrance as was customary.

Highlanders’ unwritten customs were to greet visitors and invite them to eat a meal, whether friend or stranger.