Page 62 of A Fearless Rebel

“He killed guards, picked them off one by one. Some sort of vendetta,” her mother answered, waving her hand as if it were nothing more than a nuisance. “I doubt it was him. It was probably one of our own guardsmen. They are not loyal. They should be hung, every one of them.”

The guardsmen in the room looked to one another making Ava wonder why they’d remained to begin with. Her family mistreated everyone in their charge.

Atholl, who looked to be in his forties, with silver temples and a sharp jawline, narrowed his eyes. “Guardsmen should be treated well. After all, they are who protects the family and clan. I will speak to the men and ensure that if there is a conflict within them, it will be rectified straight away. There must be harmony within this clan if we are to stand a chance to survive.”

If Atholl Mackenzie was as wise as he sounded, perhaps the clan was headed for the better.

Her mother straightened and placed a hand over her chest. “Of course. What I meant is that whoever is found guilty should hang…or be punished.”

Her mother was flirting with the man. Ava coughed to hide her grimace. “Laird, may I ask if it is possible for me to remain here to live?”

“I would like to request the same,” her mother interjected.

Her uncle considered them for a moment. “Lady Fraser, of course. This is yer home.” His gaze scanned Ava’s face. “I will send a scout to find out if yer husband lives. If he does, ye will return to Fraser Keep. If he is dead, then I will allow ye to remain here. I do require a wife.”

Her eyes rounded and her mouth fell open. Had the man just insinuated he would marry her? Ava’s throat dried up. Her mother’s face turned bright red and she glared at Ava.

“Splendid idea,” her uncle said. “Perhaps as laird, ye can remain alive, unlike the first two.”

The men laughed and Ava wanted to throw a tankard at their heads.

“There is no need to send a scout.” Ava stood and crossed her arms. “I will go find out myself. If my husband is dead, I will return, otherwise, I will remain.” She had absolutely no desire to remain in the house with her family.

Her brother was dead, buried without more than a few words by the vicar. Most of their allies were gone and now they planned to marry her off again.

She stormed from the room. Behind her, she could hear her mother telling them how Ava had always been strong-willed and not very stable.

*

Early the next morning, Ava waited for the stable master to saddle her horse. “Do ye wish to take food for the beast, Miss Ava?” the man asked.

“Aye, thank ye.” The trip would normally take a day, but after her last trip, she wanted to be prepared. In a sack, she’d packed food, a separate set of clothes and a shawl. For protection, her short sword was strapped to her waist. Between her breasts, a dirk was hidden, and a second one was strapped to her right ankle. She’d taken plenty of coin from her brother’s room. More than enough to survive for several years, if she was frugal.

Ava rode through the forest, stopping at the old woman’s cottage. Quickly, she delivered a bundle that included food and some coins. She noticed wood had been chopped and placed under an overhang by her back door as she’d instructed.

Through the window, the woman spotted her and hurried outside. Her gray hair was askew as always. The cap she wore was unable to tame it. She gave Ava a toothy grin. “Ye always take such good care of me. I was hoping to see ye and thank ye for everything.”

Ava made a mental note to find someone to bring the old woman supplies in the winter.

“Ye took care of me when I was a wee lass. Now it is my turn. I came to retrieve my items,” Ava said, smiling.

She hurried behind the cottage and pulled a sack that was hidden under some broken pots. Upon returning to the door, Ava hugged the woman and mounted.

The trek to Fraser Keep would not take long. As a matter of fact, the dread of how she’d be received would probably make it seem short.

Ava pulled the hood of her cloak up and rode south.

*

Behind her, the sun fell below the horizon as she neared her destination. The closer Ava got to Fraser Keep, the harder her tears fell. It was almost impossible to see and hard to breathe as sobs racked her body. It wasn’t herself she cried for, but the possibility that Keithen would not be there.

Guards at the gates exchanged perplexed looks when she approached and dismounted. Like most men, they were unsure what to do when a woman cried for no apparent reason. Someone hurried up and took her horse. On leaden feet, she trudged to the front door where Lady Fraser appeared. Esme stood next to her.

Keithen’s mother took her arm and led her inside, while Esme hovered, seeming annoyed at her appearance. However, the woman must have taken pity on her, because she was silent.

“Where have ye been?” Lady Fraser asked. “Ye look a fright.”

“I was abducted when riding back from Clan Ross. Then I managed to get away, went back to Mackenzie Keep, to see if Keithen…” She stopped speaking, unsure what to say.