Chapter 21
Daniel had made up his mind, he was going to leave immediately and rescue Melissa, despite everyone else opposing his plan.
Darragh had suggested they wait an hour and see what happened once Ewan showed up with the ransom notes, but Daniel knew in his heart that he needed Melissa back by his side at once.
The three had gathered in the study to go over the plans and discuss what needed to be done before they set out to bring Melissa back home.
“Daniel, I understand yer sense of urgency,” Darragh attempted to reason with him.
“But I dinnae think it’s a good idea for ye to just charge off like this.
” He shook his head. “We need to come up with a plan, an’ a backup plan in case that one fails.
Yer a man of war, ye ken how things can go south if yer nae prepared. ”
“I agree with Darragh,” Avery threw in. “Don’t go about this alone, let’s talk things over and wait to see what happens next.
I meant what I said. We need to bring our Melissa back home, but we need to be smart about it as well.
” She looked at the assortment of daggers and swords that Daniel had laid out on the desk.
“This isn’t a one-man job. Things will go better if we do everything as a team. ”
“I appreciate the concern,” Daniel responded as respectfully as he could.
“But the more time I spend here waiting, the less time Melissa may have to be set free from her faither’s clutches.
I’m leaving, right now, Avery.” He turned toward Darragh as he placed a dagger in his belt.
“Ye can come with me, or ye can wait here to see if Ewan has the nerve to show up. Either way, I’ll be going to get me wife. ”
“Very well.” Avery sighed and slipped her hand into the crook of her husband’s arm, holding him back in case he had any plans to argue with Daniel. “I can see that you will not be persuaded by any of us. We will respect your decision to go.”
Avery and Darragh stood back and watched as Daniel filled his belt with daggers and everything he would need to take on a fight if the situation turned sour.
He’d even gone as far as taking a pouch of healing herbs that Beitris had given to him for battle.
He swore blind that he’d return with Melissa, even if he had to risk his own life.
“Do ye have everything ye need?” Darragh asked, resigning himself to the fact that Daniel would leave with or without his approval. Their friendship over the years had proven to him that Daniel was a strong-willed man that would not easily be persuaded once he made up his mind.
“Aye,” Daniel replied, holding the title deeds to his estate in one hand before shoving them into his belt. “An’ everything else in case negotiations go south.”
“I wish ye the best of luck,” Darragh said as he gripped his hand. “May luck be in yer favor.” He stood back and took his wife’s hand. “We will be here at the castle to make sure that Ewan disnae get away if he dares to show up.”
“Bring our Melissa back.” Avery looked at Daniel with tears in her eyes. “Even if it means that negotiations go south.”
“I will.” Daniel gave her a reassuring smile. “Dinnae worry about that, Melissa is me first an’ only concern.” He nodded once, then turned on his heel and left the room without any further hesitation.
He quickly made his way down the stairs and out the front door. He paused in his tracks and hunkered down beside a statue when he heard a pair of hurried steps making their way toward the door.
Waiting in the shadows, he readied himself for a fight as an unknown figure drew nearer.
The person’s foot had barely hit the bottom step when Daniel leaped into the air and gripped them by the arms, preparing himself to knock Ewan unconscious if it was him.
“Daniel!” Beitris screamed as she stared up into his face, her eyes wide.
“What are ye doing here at this time of night?” Daniel asked angrily as he let go of her and took a step back. “I thought ye were that bastard Ewan. I could have killed ye with me bare hands.”
“I just heard about Melissa. I was coming to see if ye needed anything,” Beitris replied, her hand on her chest, trying to calm her nerves.
“I’m on me way to go an’ get her back now,” he said, straightening the daggers in his belt.
“Wait.” She frowned as she looked to the side. “Did ye say that bastard Ewan? Were ye talking about Ewan McCollin? What does he have to do with anything?”
“I dinnae have time to explain!” Daniel began to walk backwards and then turned around, starting out at a jog. “Go inside an’ ask Avery an’ Darragh. They will explain everything!” he shouted over his shoulder.
Entering the stables at a jog, Daniel looked for his horse and quickly spotted the dark grey mare at the end. He wasted no time in saddling her up before leading her from her stall and out into the open air.
Swinging his leg over the saddle, he adjusted his position and dug his heels into her flanks, giving her the signal to go forward. The foreboding light of the full moon lit his path as he set off at a gallop toward the woods.
Images of Melissa flashed through his mind as hot tears stung his eyes, regret filling his heart.
He should have told her how much he loved her when he’d had the chance, but he hadn’t wanted to admit to himself that he’d been in love with her from the very start.
She’d been such an instrumental part of the person he was becoming that the change had come in gradual increments, sneaking up on him until he hardly realized who he was when he looked in the mirror.
Taking a deep breath, he composed himself, feeling the icy wind whip through his hair as he neared the forest. A lone horse up ahead on the path caught his eye as he pulled on the reigns and slowed his mare.
A horse with a saddle could mean only one thing: a rider was not far behind.
Bringing his horse to a gentle trot, he slowly approached the beast before stopping and climbing down from the saddle. His heart began to pound in his chest as he noticed the markings on the pure white Mare. She was one of the thoroughbred horses he kept at the castle.
Ewan…
He hunkered down and slowly approached, leaving his horse’s reigns on a nearby branch.
Looking around, he tried to see if Ewan was hiding in a bush, but all he could make out was that someone had left his cart on the side of the path and released the horse.
He was about to stand up straight when he suddenly heard a rustle from one of the bushes to the left.
Thinking on his feet, he quickly hid behind a tree and ensured that his horse was just out of sight.
It wasn’t long before Ewan came stumbling out of the bushes, swearing under his breath as he straightened his kilt.
Waiting until the man was just in sight, Daniel leaped from his spot and tackled him to the ground.
“Let go of me!” Ewan yelped in pain as his arm hit a rock.
“Nae until ye tell me where me wife is!” Daniel managed to pin him down with one knee on his chest.
Ewan’s eyes suddenly filled with shock when he realized that it was Daniel who had tackled him to the ground. He stopped struggling and placed his hands on either side of his head.
“Tell me where she is!” Daniel yelled in his face once again as he pulled a dagger from his belt and held it to the man’s throat. ‘Tell me where she is ‘afore I cut yer insides out, ye bloody bastard!” He could feel the anger bubbling up in his chest as he stared at the man’s terrified face.
“Please, Daniel, I didnae mean for things to go this far.” Ewan’s eyes were filled with panic.
“I havenae delivered the letters because I regret getting involved with George,” he suddenly blurted out.
“I never wanted anyone to get harmed. Look…” He carefully reached into his belt and retrieved the notes.
“I didnae deliver them because I’ve been struggling with what to do. ”
Daniel hesitated for a second before snatching the letters away and crumbling them in his fist. “Then why did ye get involved with George in the first place?” he angrily asked as he gripped Ewan’s shirt and lifted his head off the ground.
“Did I nae pay ye enough?” he growled, baring his teeth at the man he had trusted.
“Ye paid me more than enough, Me Laird.” Ewan whimpered in pain as Daniel bore down on his chest. “I met George one day in the orchards ‘afore he came back to the castle. He convinced me that I needed more in life an’ that he’d be the one who would show me how to become wealthy.”
“So, ye started stealing from me despite the fact that ye earn more money than any other man in me employ.”
Daniel tried to hold back and hear what the man had to say despite the fact that he felt like pummeling him into the ground.
“Aye, Me Laird,” Ewan said as he closed his eyes. “I’m ashamed of the fact that I let meself be led astray when I kent what was right all along.”
“What do ye expect me to do with ye now?” Daniel hissed as he searched his face.
“I wouldnae blame ye for killing me, Me Laird,” Ewan said honestly and opened his eyes to look at his master. “I have betrayed yer trust an’ put yer wife in danger. For that, I deserve to die.”
“I willnae do ye the kindness of taking yer life,” Daniel uttered coolly and let go of the man’s shirt, letting his head fall to the ground. “Show me where the cottage is, an’ I’ll let ye go,” he said as he straightened his back and stood.
“Really, Me Laird?” Ewan scurried to his feet. “I dinnae deserve the mercy yer showing me right now.”
“Ye dinnae deserve to live,” Daniel said bluntly. “But ye dinnae deserve to die either. I willnae do ye the kindness of taking yer life. Now, where is she?”
“The old woodcutter’s cottage,” Ewan quickly confirmed what Avery had said. “George has been staying there while we came up with the plan.”
“Bloody bastards,” Daniel swore under his breath.
He couldn’t believe that a man he had trusted would use buildings on his own estate to come up with a plan to abduct his wife and her sister.
The sheer audacity of the man made him want to wring his neck.
“Leave ‘afore I change me mind,” he barked at Ewan. “Leave an’ never come back. I never want to so much as see yer shadow ever again in me life.”
“Aye, Me Laird!” Ewan said before quickly scurrying away and disappearing into the bushes.
Stopping himself from going after the man, Daniel uncrumpled the notes in his hand and opened one, holding it up to the moonlight.
I’m sure that you will be wondering by now what has happened to your precious Melissa. I can assure you that she is in fine fettle and will stay that way unless you fail to meet my demands. I shall be requiring half of everything you own if you ever want to be reunited with your precious wife.
In case you get any funny ideas, don’t think that I will hesitate to make good on my threats.
George.
Ripping the note into thousands of tiny pieces, Daniel roared in anger and rushed toward his horse. The sooner he got to Melissa, the sooner he could put the whole ordeal behind him and have her back in his arms.