Chapter 7
Logan signaled to the men to follow him as he rode through the gates with Dougall at his side.
His anger at Logan for his betrayal was still fresh and so he chose not to speak for fear he might make matters worse between them.
Logan seemed to understand his need for silence.
He rode abreast of Dougall, but spoke not a word, instead appearing for all the world to be searching the bushes and trees for any threat to their group.
They crossed the stream they followed, at a low point and then continued on across fields and rolling hills.
Dougall thought back to his childhood and to the freedom he’d felt when racing with his brother through the trees, up and down these hills.
Some of their best moments were to be found on horseback, riding through this very land.
He and his brother Fingall could be found here as often as they could possibly get away.
It was their safe place, far enough away from Paddraig MacRae to avoid the senseless beatings he bestowed upon them for even the slightest infraction.
Dougall always took the brunt of it in an effort to spare his wee brother Fingall from their Da’s temper.
His mother would intervene on his behalf and Paddraig, who loved her to distraction would always relent—until the next time and if his Ma wasn’t around, he was sure his beating would be swift and painful.
His bruised and battered childhood had him fearing once again for Helene.
What if his sister was unable to help her?
What would happen if she wasn’t around and Helene found herself within arm’s reach of Paddraig?
He stopped abruptly, causing his men to almost collide with one another.
Dougall cursed aloud at the thought of his father hurting Helene and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Logan glanced his way with worry in his eyes. “What’s wrong, Dougall?”
“As if ye dinnae ken,” Dougall spat. He did his best to control his violent urges.
He was angry with Logan. He’d known all along what was to come and he’d said nothing.
He was seething and his anger was obvious even to those who didn’t know him.
Dougall turned his horse to face Logan. “Why, Logan?” Dougall directed his anger at his old friend.
“Why did ye betray me?” He moved up next to Logan and reached over, fisting Logan’s tunic in his hand. “Answer me. Why did ye do it?”
“Ye wouldnae have returned with me. I had me orders and I couldnae disobey them.”
He had to give Logan credit, despite the position he was in, Logan showed no fear. Instead a sadness seemed to eminate from his eyes as he gazed directly into Dougall’s. Dougall removed his hand, but didn’t move away.
“Ye ken yer Da. He would have killed me for disobeying his orders.”
Logan’s words sat between them for a moment before Dougall could respond. “I ken it. I should have known. When in the entirety of me life has he ever needed me for anything other than to serve his interests?”
“I’m sorry, Dougall. Ye ken I only did what I was forced to do. I hope ye can forgive me.” Logan held his ground, waiting for a response.
“We’ll camp here tonight.” Dougall dismounted and leading his horse walked away.
***
Logan relaxed as he watched Dougall’s back receding in the distance.
He knew what he’d done was wrong, but there had been naught he could do about it.
He was too young to die, but seeing the anger and disappointment on his friend’s face had him thinking that perhaps death would have been preferable in this case.
He’d saved himself at the expense of Dougall and Helene’s happiness.
He didn’t know how, but he vowed in that very moment to make it up to them somehow.
Logan was one of Paddraig MacRae’s most trusted captains, but it was a position he dreaded.
He’d been happy at Breaghacraig, but upon returning home to be with his family he was forced into service for the laird.
At first he was merely a member of his teulu, but as captain after captain was stripped of their position, some imprisoned and others killed, Logan had prayed that he never be put in a position where he could disappoint his laird.
Disobeying orders was considered a treasonous act with severe consequences.
He’d have to be careful, but he was now more determined than ever to do the right thing.
Logan approached Dougall, who was busy unsaddling his horse, his deception weighed heavy on his shoulders. “Dougall, I must speak with ye.”
Dougall turned to face him, and Logan was relieved to see that the anger was gone from his face, replaced with an apparent resignation to his circumstance.
“And I would speak with ye, Logan. ‘Tis nae the time fer it. Get the men settled and then set up the watch for the night. Mayhap we’ll speak later.”
“Aye, sir.” Gaining Dougall’s trust once again wasnae to be an easy task, but he’d continue trying. They’d known each other a long, long time and that had to count for something. He set about following the orders he was given, knowing that he’d have his chance to make things right again.
***
Dougall and Logan sat quietly alone by the crackling fire. The men were either sleeping or taking their turn at keeping watch. It was quite late, but Dougall couldn’t imagine he’d be able to fall asleep without speaking with Logan about what had happened between them.
“Ye said ye wished to speak with me. Now’s yer chance,” Dougall kept his voice impassive, controlling the anger he still felt.
“Aye. Dougall, I wish to apologize to ye once again. I ken ye may nae be ready to accept me apology … now or ever, but I truly am sorry to have caused ye so much pain.”
“’Tis nae meself I’m concerned about. ‘Tis Helene. She is the sweetest most gentle person I’ve ever known. I’m afraid of what will happen to her if me Da gets his hands on her.”
“He’d nae harm her, Dougall. He’s as mean as a nest full of wasps, but I’ve nae seen him harm a woman in all the years I’ve lived at Castle Treun.”
“Just because ye’ve nae seen it, doesnae mean it hasn’t occurred.” Dougall picked up a stick and began drawing lines in the dirt at his feet. “If he believes she’s a threat to his plans, who kens what he may decide to do.”
“Aye. I see yer point.” Logan leaned forward, elbows on knees. “What will ye do?”
“I cannae do a thing from here, but me sister, Brenna has vowed to keep watch over Helene.” Dougall was sure she would. Even though she’d gone along with the deception, he knew her well enough to know she would never allow any harm to come to Helene, at least not if she were present to witness it.
“Ye can trust her. She’s a good lass and yer Da loves her dearly. He’d do anything fer her.”
Dougall threw his stick into the fire and stood. “We will speak again in the morn. I’m so verra tired both inside and out, but I’m nae so sure sleep will find me. Ye should sleep. Tomorrow will be another long day.”
***
A mist hung over the hills and clung to the trees, making everything appear dreamlike and soft.
Dougall led his men away from their camp and onward in this nonsensical task his father had assigned him.
Logan again rode at his side and Dougall felt that some of the heaviness that hung between them had passed.
Perhaps today would be the day he could forgive his friend.
Dougall stretched in his saddle and rubbed his horse’s neck, speaking softly so only he could hear.
“Did ye say something?” Logan asked.
“Nae, not to ye.” Dougall answered.
“Are ye speaking with yer horse then?” Logan teased.
“Aye. There’s nae a thing wrong with it either.
” Dougall eyed Logan, feeling some of the camaraderie that had been missing between them since their arrival at Castle Treun.
Logan’s timing might be off, but perhaps it was time to lay his anger at his friend to rest. “Do ye nae believe this is the most useless waste of time?”
“Yer Da has an ulterior motive I’m sure,” Logan answered.
“And do ye ken what it might be?” Dougall felt the anger rising again. Was Logan keeping something else from him?
“Nae. I dinnae.” Logan shifted uneasily in his saddle. “Yer brother Fingall is to marry as well, ye ken.”
“And where was his sorry arse? I didnae see him in the short time I was there.” Dougall wondered where he’d been.
“He’s gone to the Matheson’s to retrieve Greer.
I’m sure he wished to avoid ye. We all knew ye’d nae be happy about marrying Greer.
” Logan’s discomfort became even more apparent.
“Do ye ken, mayhap tis why yer father sent us off. Mayhap he didnae wish ye to interfere with Lady Greer’s arrival at Castle Treun. ”
“I believe ye could be right,” Dougall said.
There wasn’t anything he could do about it now except pray that Helene didn’t have the misfortune of dealing with Lady Greer while he was away.
“Ye said Fingall is to marry. Who is she?” The bitter taste in Dougall’s mouth at this turn of events was made worse by the knowledge that his brother was now off escorting his bride back to Castle Treun.
He could only hope Fingall had found himself in a similar circumstance.
“He’s marrying Lady Greer’s younger sister, Lady Gillian.”
“And is he happy about it?” Dougall asked.
“Aye. I believe so. He’s known Lady Gillian for many years and they are in love. I believe ’twas he suggested that ye could marry Lady Greer.”
“Grrr …” Dougall was seeing red. His brother and father were like two peas in a pod. “I have to put a stop to this. I cannae and willnae marry Greer.”
“I dinnae ken how you’ll do it,” Logan said.
“I’ll nae ask fer yer help. I dinnae wish to jeopardize yer standing with me Da.”
“I’m sorry, Dougall. I want to help ye. I do. I’d be banished or worse and I’ve nowhere else to go.”
“Ye could come back to the MacKenzies,” Dougall stated.
“Aye. I could. Do ye think they’d still want me?”
“Of course. Ye were such good friends with Cailin and Cormac. Ye saw how happy they were to see ye back at Breaghacraig. They’d welcome ye back with open arms. I’m sure of it.
” A light of hope began to grow within Dougall.
With Logan’s help he may just be able to escape Castle Treun with Helene and have the life he wanted instead of the life he was being forced into.
“Then I’ll do what I can to help ye, Dougall.”
“Yer like a brother to me, Logan. The brother I should have had.” Dougall laughed at the irony of his situation.
“Ye’d best do as yer Da asked first. We’ll patrol the lands and ye’ll get to know the men. ’Tis what he wished. By the time we return we’ll have a plan in place to rescue Helene from Paddraig and get us all back to Breaghacraig before they can stop us.”
“Thank ye, Logan. Yer a good man.”
“Shall we continue on then?”
Dougall signalled to his men to follow along behind him.
They rode to the farthest reaches of the MacRae lands.
Dougall did his best to act as if nothing was amiss.
He knew almost all of these men from the days when he lived here under his father’s thumb.
He hadn’t seen any of them for many years and despite the fact that his father expected much from them, they all respected the MacRae and would never betray him.