Chapter 14 #2
"Aye, yer brother is in, I will inform him of yer arrival." Conan rushed off into the house to announce his presence. It did not take long for Owen to see his brother, Rory, running towards him, his hands wide open for an embrace when he reached him.
"Rory," Owen murmured, and allowed himself to be wrapped in his brother's embrace. He fought off the tears that threatened to fall as he breathed in his familiar scent. "I have missed ye so much."
"As I have missed ye, too. I am glad that ye are here now," his brother said, clapping him on the back before he let go. He looked at Charlotte, who was standing awkwardly beside Owen, and looked back at him, clearly waiting for an introduction.
"Och. Aye. This is Charlotte. She is my friend, and she needs a place tae stay for a little while." He smiled at her, as she murmured an almost inaudible "Hello, my Laird."
"It is a pleasure tae meet ye, lass, and ye can call me Rory. Ye are welcome to our home. I hope ye will be comfortable with us and consider yerself among friends." Owen smiled at his brother, who winked at him.
"Thank you for your kindness," Charlotte said.
"Why are ye standing here like strangers? Let us go in." Rory ushered them in, his hands on Owen's shoulder as they went. They chatted animatedly as they walked down the how, with Rory asking how he had been and wanting to know all that had happened to him while he was away.
"Where are my manners? Ye have just arrived and I am talking yer ears off without letting ye show yer guest to her room so she can rest. I hope ye can join us for dinner, Miss Charlotte," Rory said before walking away and leaving them to freshen up.
"Your brother appears to be a wonderful host," Charlotte said as they made their way up the stairs.
"Aye, he has had years of practice doing it," he replied, "but even more so, he cares for everyone sincerely.
" Owen led her to a room in the guest wing.
"This will be yer room during yer stay here.
If there is anything that ye want, dae nae hesitate to let me or the servants ken.
I will leave ye tae freshen up and get some rest. Ye must be tired after the stressful journey we have had. "
She gave him only a nod while looking around in astonishment, and Owen waited until Charlotte was in her room before he turned on his heels and made his way back down the stairs, in search of his brother. He went to the laird's study, knowing that he was more likely to find him there.
"Owen, I ken ye would be back soon," he said, smiling at him. "Come on, I was going tae take a walk."
"By the way, ye just missed maither for some hours. Margaret went with her early this morning to see Evie. Although I am sure that they will be back soon so ye can greet them," he said.
Owen nodded. He would love to see his mother and sister-in-law, of course; however that was not why he had wanted to have a chat with Rory.
"It will be good tae see them." The two walked towards the stables in silence. "Right now, I actually have a lot on my mind and I am nae in good spirits, brother. I have found myself in an unpleasant situation."
"I noticed that ye seemed tae be a little withdrawn. What is the matter?" Rory asked immediately, almost as if he had been waiting for Owen to bring it up.
"The lass I brought here, Charlotte, she is in trouble.
She doesnae just need a place tae stay, she needs protection as well.
" Owen wanted to tell Rory the truth about who she was and what he had cost her.
He had gotten quite close to his brother ever since their father's death, and he knew he could count on him.
Just as he took in a deep breath, preparing himself to spill out the biggest secret he had carried, a guard rushed in.
"There is a scout outside the gate, my Laird," the man said with his low voice, bowing slightly. Rory looked from his brother to the scout and nodded at him.
"Accept what the scout has brought with him and send him on his way," he ordered.
"He brought a letter for Master Owen," the guard said hesitantly, and Rory looked at his brother with raised brows.
"Why are ye meeting with a scout? Is there a problem, Owen?
" Rory asked. Owen knew very well that the scout would never have come to the castle if it was unimportant, so he took the letter and dismissed the guard without uttering a word.
He felt dread creeping on his skin when he tore the envelope.
It was straight to the point; the words sending chills all over his body.
William Dodd knows who you are and he will come for you. I will be lying low for now because it is dangerous.
"What is wrong, brother? Tell me so I can help ye.
" Owen folded the letter, looked up at Rory, and finally told him everything from beginning to end; how he had gone to the Musgrave gathering and how it all ended up keeping him responsible for a girl's father's death.
How he had done his best to save her from an assault and had beaten another man to death while the other two died in the fire he had started.
He told him that one man had escaped, which was why Owen had gone to the monastery, but now he had been found and the vile English man was after him.
Rory had listened with rapt attention as he spoke, not interrupting him until he finished his tale, his heart one ounce lighter.
"Ye dae nae need tae worry, Owen. I am going tae help ye and make sure that nae harm comes tae ye. We're family."
"That is nae all of it, Rory. The girl I brought with me, Charlotte…
She is the lass I saved. She is the only one who saw me there that night and the only other witness to William Dodd's crimes.
She's the one whose father I have murdered…
We have tae hide her from Dodd, for he will come for her as well.
I ken that after all of this, I will have tae let her go.
I ken that we have such a terrible history between us and there is nae way for us tae be even friends after all of this," Owen sighed dejectedly.
"Ye dinnae want tae be her friend anyway, brother," when Owen shrugged and opened his mouth, Rory cut him short.
"Dinnae think I havenae noticed the way ye look at her.
But it is true, there is nae way for ye tae be together, yet we will keep her safe so that she will come tae nae harm from him or anyone else, for that matter.
" His brother clapped him on the back, pulling him into him.
Owen sighed once more. As much as it hurt him to know that she would never be his, he wanted to know that after all of this, she would be safe and have a chance at happiness.