Chapter 17 #3
Sin’s look spoke loudly.. Are you out of your mind? “I’m not some wench in need of my baby brother to protect me, Braden. In case you haven’t noticed, I happen to be one of the most feared knights in England and the Holy Land. It’s not your banner that makes armies surrender on sight, but mine.”
“Still, you are my blood.”
That deep, probing stare of Sin’s delved into him. “This has nothing to do with me, does it?”
“Of course, it does. You are my brother, and I was protecting Maggie when I should have been protecting you.”
“Nay, little brother. A man protects those who need it most. Those who cannot protect themselves.”
“But I chose her life over yours.”
Sin cocked his head to one side. “Since both she and I are alive and well, I fail to follow your logic.”
“You’re not well. You could have been killed.”
Sin snorted. “I am merely singed. I assure you, I’ve suffered much worse than this. But what of Maggie? What happened to her?”
Braden clenched and unclenched his jaw as he thought over that morning’s events. Over and over, he could see her on the ground as the MacDouglas plunged his sword down. The terror of the moment, and the fear in his heart for her life, were forever branded in his memory.
“Her plan worked. But when Robby saw the fire, he tried to kill her.”
“And?”
“I saved her.”
Sin arched a disbelieving brow. “You risked your life for her?”
Braden nodded.
Sin laughed. “I’ll be damned, little brother. You’ve finally succumbed to Cupid’s arrow.”
“It’s not funny,” Braden snapped. “I am powerless against her.”
Again, that dark probing stare delved into him. “Are you?”
“Aye,” Braden said with a sigh. “One look from her and I am completely undone. What if she asks me one day to forsake my blood? Where would that leave me?”
“Wallowing in sweet bliss, I would imagine.”
“You’re not funny.”
All the humor fled Sin’s face. “And neither are you. You know, Braden, I learned not to trust out of necessity. But you...” Sin didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to.
Braden knew what his brother meant. He had never personally been betrayed. Not like Sin had. It was only by watching his brothers that he had learned the hardest of life’s lessons.
Unsure of what to do, Braden sighed. “Do you think I can trust her?”
“That, I cannot answer. The only way to find that out is to try it and see.”
“And if she’s not trustworthy?”
Sin shook his head as if exasperated by him. “You’re stronger than Kieran. You’ll survive it. But I think, little brother, that you’re missing the real question. What if she is trustworthy?”
“Then I’m a monkey’s arse.”
Sin smiled. “We seem to keep coming back to that, don’t we?”
Braden laughed. Sin was right. It was time for him to stop being short-sighted and to take a chance.
All these years, he had been afraid. All the times he had thought himself so strong, when he was actually weak, and too terrified to take a chance.
But Maggie...
She was worth it.
Worth his life, worth his heart. Worth everything. And he wouldn’t let his stupid fears keep them apart another minute.
Braden was going to find her, and then he was going to marry her.
“Wish me luck.”
Sin nodded. “Bon chance, mon frere.”
Braden rushed from the room, needing to find Maggie.
He took the stairs two at a time as he ran into the crowded hall to find her. There were probably three score people there who were laughing and catching up on all the events that had happened over the past few weeks.
Braden looked about, but nowhere did he see Maggie’s short russet hair, or her laughing amber eyes.
Where was she?
He headed for the door.
“Braden MacAllister!” The MacDouglas’s shout brought instant silence to the hall as Braden froze dead in his tracks.
His entire body tense, Braden turned toward the laird, expecting the very worst.
His face unreadable, Robby MacDouglas crossed the hall with his hands on his hips. The laird narrowed his gaze on Braden.
Nothing and no one moved or made a sound as the two men sized each other up.
When Robby reached for him, Braden took a step back, ready to brawl. Then to his utter surprise, the man threw his arms about him in a brotherly hug.
Robby clapped him hard between his shoulder blades. “I owe you and your brother for the life of my wife and child. From this day forward, the MacDouglases will be allies to the MacAllisters.”
Braden blinked in disbelief as loud shouts filled the hall, echoing off the stone walls.
The man wasn’t trying to kill him? He could barely accept that reality.
Robby clapped him hard on the shoulder once more, and stepped back. “You’re a good lad to brave my wrath and bring peace to our clans. You, truly, are a born negotiator.”
It crossed Braden’s mind that the credit didn’t really belong to him. Maggie had done it. But now didn’t seem like the time to contradict the MacDouglas. Not when peace was so newly formed.
“Thank you.”
Robby nodded. “You’re probably looking for Maggie?”
“Aye.”
“She was outside earlier, headed toward the stable last I saw.”
Braden went cold at the news.
Nay, surely she wouldn’t...
Oh, who was he fooling? ‘Twas Maggie he was dealing with.
Like as not she’d already left for home on her own. It was just the sort of thing she would do.
Terrified, he left Robby and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. If she had done something so foolish as to head back to MacAllister lands on her own where those thieves could find her, he would kill her himself.
His entire body quaking in fear, he threw open the door of the stable and nearly ran over a small child.
“My pardon,” he said to the boy. “I’m looking for....”
Braden’s voice trailed off as he looked to the lad and saw himself.