Chapter Sixteen
Brenna’s anger flared to life like stirring the embers of a fire. Ronan had left her there unprotected with a madman. While he’d spent the last five years living in fear of war, she’d lived in fear of Ewan.
His threats had started the day Ronan left. As an outsider, Brenna was reluctant to say anything to the laird. She didn’t wish to cause trouble. She thought it was just a matter of winning the man over. But it went well beyond that. Ewan hated Brenna and how close she had become with Geordie.
For years, she’d silently feared the man until one day, the laird caught him harassing her and took up her defense. She was so grateful to Geordie for choosing to side with her over his own son.
She’d managed to stay clear of Ewan for the most part after that. But she would be reminded of her error anytime she let down her guard.
When Geordie fell ill, he knew Ewan wouldn’t honor his ruling to have Brenna run the clan and swore his men to protect her. They had saved her life more than once. Geordie believed her because he had seen Ewan harassing her with his own eyes. Would Ronan need the same proof?
“And you would believe me?” she asked him, challenge clear in her voice.
“We once promised each other honesty,” he said with that charming smile back in place. “Do you remember?”
She’d assumed he’d forgotten their promise, just as he’d forgotten her. Still, she nodded, ready to keep that promise now.
“I want to hear your side of the story, Brenna.”
“Very well. My side of the story is that the bugger snuck into my room by climbing in the window and nearly strangled me to death. I cut him so he would leave me be until my men could enter the room with axes. Everyone said I was within my right to have him hanged for what he’d done.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Nay. He is your kin. I thought you would hate me if I’d sought such justice.” She let out a breath. “Not that it matters, as you hate me anyway.”
His face showed his surprise. “I don’t hate you.” His brows pulled together as if he had considered his words. “I may have been angry when I arrived. But no. I don’t hate you. I don’t trust you, but I don’t trust any woman.” He paused for a moment before looking at her again. “Do you hate me?”
His question surprised her. She remembered all the years she had thought to hate him for how much pain he’d caused her. She didn’t think her heart could hold all the animosity she felt. But now…?
“Nay. I don’t hate you, Ronan.” She shook her head. “I don’t trust you, but then I don’t trust any man.” She turned his words for her use.
He grinned and gave a nod. “Fair enough. Mayhap we could start over?”
“Start over?”
“We were both young when we married. We hardly knew anything about each other, and I’d wager what we knew of one another before has changed greatly in the past years.
Let’s start anew in this marriage and see if we can find happiness.
After all, we will be married for a long time, with God’s blessing. Why not make the most of it?”
She wanted nothing more than to find happiness with this man. Perhaps it would have been wise to think the offer through, but she didn’t. Instead, she grasped on with both hands.
“Aye, I would like that very much.”
He held out his hand, and she placed her palm against his to shake. With his gaze locked on hers, he pulled her hand to his lips and warmly kissed her knuckles.
“As would I,” he said in a voice so silky she thought she might fall over.
She wasn’t sure what she’d just agreed to, but with excitement fluttering in her stomach, she couldn’t care if it was a mistake. She would have to hope it wasn’t.
***
After forging a truce with his wife, they returned to the castle shortly before noon.
She’d said she wanted to get to the kitchens, but he wondered how much of her routine was out of fear of an encounter with Ewan.
Ronan saw the distress in his wife’s eyes when she thought his uncle had followed her into the woods.
Her story had matched up with what the young warrior had told him.
And the fear he’d seen in her eyes that morning couldn’t have been faked.
Ronan believed her. He believed Ewan had tried to hurt her.
What he didn’t know was why. Ewan had been his best friend from the beginning of his life.
Even after Ronan’s mother had married the MacPherson laird, they had spent time together during visits with the Grants.
Shane had claimed the role of brother and best friend, but Ewan had still earned his loyalty. He couldn’t help but think all of this between Ewan and his wife was a misunderstanding between both parties. It was the only thing that made sense.
He’d heard Brenna’s side. Now, he needed to confront his uncle.
After being directed to a cottage where a lively wench offered him favors in exchange for coin, Ronan escaped, with a suggestion he try the tavern.
There, he came to learn Ewan had been tossed out.
And to look for him in the fires of hell where he belonged.
Eventually, he found his uncle in a heated argument with the blacksmith.
“You bloody bastard, do you not know who I am? I’m second in command of clan Grant.”
“Aye, I know well who ye are, and if you ever become laird, that will be the day I pack up my things and my family and move to bloody England,” the large smithy said.
“What’s the matter here?” Ronan cut in.
Ewan stepped back in surprise. That made two of them. Ewan had always been an amiable man, a person to turn to for a laugh. This belligerence wasn’t like him. Then again, neither was earning the ire of a woman like Brenna.
“Nothing for you to worry over, Ro.” Ewan smiled widely, cutting a look toward the smithy.
“I’ll decide what I should worry over. What’s going on?” Ronan turned toward the smithy, awaiting a response.
“I’m sorry, m’laird, but your heir has commissioned a sword. I made it to his request, but he’s trying to claim it with no coin.”
The same charge as the tavern owner as for the reason he’d kicked Ewan from his establishment.
“Does his name not earn him credit?” Ewan had been correct about being second in command of the clan.
The man let out a breath and rubbed his forehead. “Aye. It’s just that it’s the fifth sword he’s requested in the last two years, and I’ve not been paid for any of them. I have a family to feed, m’laird.” He brought out the sword, reluctantly holding it out to Ewan.
But Ronan took it and turned it over, noticing the fine artistry in the blade. The inlaid hilt held a fair-sized gem. “What do ye need such a fancy sword for, uncle?” he asked.
Ewan laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. “You caught me out. It was to be a gift for you to commemorate your return.”
“I thank ye for the thought, but if you do not pay for it, the sword is not a gift from you but from the blacksmith.”
Ewan’s charm faltered slightly as the smithy chuckled.
“It’s the finest sword I’ve ever seen.” Ronan tested the balance as Ewan reluctantly pressed coins into the other man’s hand.
“Thank you, m’laird. I’m glad you like it. I hadn’t known it was a gift when I was asked to make it a few months back. It’s good to have ye home.”
Ronan wondered how many months ago it had been requested and if he had even planned to return at that time. He didn’t like doubting Ewan, but something was going on with the man.
“Thank you. It’s good to be home,” Ronan said. “Now that your business is done here, I’d like to have a word with you, uncle.”
“Of course.” Ewan wasn’t being his normally pleasant self. He was still frowning at the sword in Ronan’s hand. Ronan was more convinced the sword had not been intended as a gift.
This was yet another thing that made him uneasy about Ewan. Something was wrong, and Ronan was determined to get to the bottom of it. He didn’t like thinking badly of his uncle. But Ewan had changed.
“The cut on your face. Ye said it was Brenna’s doing.”
“Aye. Did she say differently?” His face changed at the mere mention of Brenna’s name. Hatred practically dripped from him.
“Nay. She admitted to it. But I’d like to hear why she drew a blade on ye.”
“Does there need to be a reason? I’m your blood.”
“I’m the first to admit I don’t know her well, but I’ve not heard from anyone else that she’s injured anyone. I’ve seen the opposite with my own eyes.”
Ewan laughed. “I see. She’s using her wiles to charm you into doubting me.”
“I wouldn’t say that. You do me a disservice by assuming I’m not wise enough to see the truth when it’s in front of me.”
“Have I ever played ye false?” It was a valid question and the reason Ronan believed Ewan without question initially. Ewan had never lied to him, which could only mean Brenna had.
“Nay. Never. But I want the whole story, and I’ll get it from you or my wife.” Ronan made a show of looking at Ewan’s scarred cheek.
“’Tis nothing.”
“Tell me how you got it. I’ll decide if it’s nothing.”
Ewan’s jaw tensed again, but he remained silent. Ronan continued his questions as they walked toward the castle.
“Why did she put ye out of the keep, Ewan? She’s not quick to anger. Lord knows I should have seen her wrath if that were true—so what did you do to cause such a punishment?”
“You can’t see her for what she is. She’s turned ye against me.”
Ronan was at a loss. Ewan was twisting things around without giving any real answers.
“I’ve told her I want to start over. I plan to have a life with her, Ewan. She’s my wife. I don’t know what has transpired between you, but until I get to the bottom of the matter, I want you to stay away from her.”
“Me? Do you think I would betray you, nephew?” Ewan looked genuinely shocked…and yet his jaw twitched.
They had made their way up to the castle.
Ronan was ready to repeat his warning to avoid Brenna when Ewan glared at something over Ronan’s shoulder.
Ronan turned to see Brenna dumping some scraps for a few small dogs.
Ewan’s glare turned to surprise, and then he laughed.
The sound alerted Brenna, who went pale before turning and rushing back to the safety of the kitchen.
Ewan’s laughter faded, and he slapped Ronan on the back. “From the looks of the handprint on her neck, it seems you’ve found a way to deal with the wench.”
Ronan batted away Ewan’s hand, which had come to rest on Ronan’s shoulder in a conspiratorial way. “That was an accident,” he quickly explained as guilt washed over him. “I would never hurt her on purpose.” He watched to see if Ewan would say the same, but he didn’t.
Instead, he grasped Ronan’s shoulder again and stared into his eyes.
“I’ll never forgive myself for being the reason you were shackled to that scheming witch. Be careful, Ro. Every word she speaks is a beautiful lie to turn ye against me. You’ll see the truth soon enough.”
Before he could say anything else, Ewan had turned in the opposite direction and hurried away.
Ronan stood there in complete confusion. He still wasn’t sure if it was Brenna or Ewan who was lying. Whoever it was, they were good at it.