Chapter 5 #3
Now she regretted her harsh words to him. No doubt, Sin had heard worse, but she didn’t want to add anything more to a man who had suffered so much.
“Forgive me,” she said to Sin, “But it’s been quite some time since last we met.”
Sin gave an almost imperceptible nod, but said nothing.
And now that she knew who he was, she asked, “How do you know my plan won’t work?”
A wicked, almost evil smile curved Sin’s lips. “Because when it comes to planning attacks, I have no equal. If I say it won’t work, you can wager your life on the fact that it won’t. I’ve never been wrong.”
A chill went down her spine. There was something hidden in those words. Something that scared her.
Braden cleared his throat to get their attention. “Speaking of plans … how did the reconnaissance go with Lochlan?”
Sin shook his head. “It’s hopeless. They have him and four others tied in the center of the hall where they can all keep an eye on them. Even if we came in through the gallery, they’d see us in plenty of time to kill the five of them, or us.”
“What four others?” Maggie asked.
Braden went cold at her question. Oops. In his concern for Lochlan, he had let that other little tidbit slip his mind. He turned sheepishly to Maggie. “Did I forget to mention the small fact that Fergus has all four of your brothers tied up with Lochlan?”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “What do you mean—”
“It’s all right, Maggie,” Braden assured her. “Nothing will happen to them.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think it would change anything.”
“Well, it certainly does! I’m not going anywhere until they’re safe.” Maggie faltered as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Once again, she was caught. “I have no way to get them out, do I?”
Braden shook his head. “Not unless you throw open the door to the kirk and lead the women home.”
She sighed. “Then we’d best follow my original plan.”
“Then I go with you,” Ewan said.
“Oh aye, that’ll work well,” Sin said sarcastically. “If there’s one person the MacDouglas would rather lay hands to than Maggie, it’s you. Good plan, that.”
“Could you please refrain from sarcasm?” Ewan snapped.
Maggie sighed. “Could you please refrain from fighting! ‘Tis a wonder any of you survived childhood.” She glared first at Sin, then Ewan.
Sin rolled his dark eyes. “I knew I should have stayed in England … but no, I just had to come back with Braden and had to stick my bloody nose in where it doesn’t belong. If I had any sense I’d go back home, right now, and leave all of you to your idiocy.”
Braden ignored him. “Ewan, you keep Maggie’s ring, and at week’s end, hand it over and save Lochlan.
That should keep the men from doing anything against the MacDouglas or his men until we can reach the MacDouglas.
When you free Lochlan, tell him what we’re doing and make certain he doesn’t lead any kind of attack against the MacDouglas unless he’s sure we’re dead. ”
His eyes full of reluctance, Ewan nodded slowly.
Braden clapped him on the back. “Maggie and I will leave just after dark.”
“What should I do if the women miss her over the next four days?” Ewan asked.
“Tell mother what we’ve done in the morning. She’ll help you keep the women from getting suspicious.”
“Just remember,” Maggie warned, “you have to give us the whole four days to reach the MacDouglas. If you let the women out sooner, one of the men might attack the MacDouglas, and it could get us killed before we even reach the castle.”
Ewan’s face belied his fear for them, but finally, he agreed.
Sin growled in his throat. “I suppose this is where I toss my gauntlet in to join this suicide escapade.”
Braden arched a puzzled brow. “Meaning?”
“I can’t very well let you go alone, little brother. In the highly likely event the MacDouglas decides to kill the two of you where you stand, you’ll need another sword.”
Ewan scoffed. “Here’s where I get to be sarcastic. Can I point out how much you’ll stand out wearing English clothes as you prance across MacDouglas territory?”
Braden nodded. “He’s right, Sin.”
The glower on Sin’s face would have quelled Goliath. “I’d sooner wear a kirtle than put a plaid on this body.”
Tsking, Braden shrugged. “Well then, you’ll have to stay here.”
“I’ll be fine in my own clothes.”
“Nay,” Braden said firmly. “I’ll not chance it. I couldn’t save Kieran when he died any more than I could keep our father from sending you to the English. But this I can stop, and I will. I’ll not lose another brother. Not so long as I live.”
Sin’s glare intensified as he tapped his thumb against his thigh in agitation. “You know, there’s this voice in my head that keeps telling me to return to England. No doubt, I’m going to wish I’d heeded it.”
His lips curled, Sin turned to Ewan. “Find me a damn plaid and I’ll wear it.”
Braden stifled his laughter at the look of repugnance on Sin’s face.
“Now that we have that settled …” Braden turned to Maggie. “The next question is how do we find our way across enemy lands, and into the very heart of the MacDouglas’s territory?”
Maggie smiled. “I’m so glad you asked.”