Ransom

dampened over the years.'

'Some say his fervor has increased tenfold,' Edwin remarked. 'The king has even sent troops into the Lowlands looking for information.'

Hugh nodded. 'And while John searches for his treasure, Alford searches for Christen because he believes she knows where the box is hidden. He means to prove her father stole it. Alford has also sent inquiries over the years to all the clans asking about Christen…'

'But none of his inquiries were ever answered.'

'That is true,' Hugh agreed. 'No one would admit he knew anything about her… until the Highlander arrived.'

'But what of the bargain struck between this traitor and our Alford?'

Hugh looked at the baron, waiting for him to answer the question, but Alford's eyes were closed and his head drooped down on his chest. He appeared to be dozing.

'I've never seen the baron so drunk,' Hugh whispered loudly to his friend. 'Look how the wine has lulled him to sleep.'

Edwin shrugged. 'And the bargain?' he nagged.

'The baron agreed to hold the boy captive to draw out his brother, Laird Ramsey Sinclair, so that the Highlander could kill him. The child's simply a pawn, and when the game is over and Ramsey is killed…'

'The boy no longer serves any purpose.'

'Exactly,' Hugh agreed. 'So you see, beating him will not concern the Highlander at all.'

'What did the baron get out of this bargain?'

'The Highlander gave him gold and something more,' he said. 'I will leave that for Alford to explain. If he wants you to know, he'll tell you.'

Edwin was incensed to be left out. He shoved his elbow hard into Alford's side. The baron jerked upright and muttered a blasphemy.

Edwin then demanded to know the particulars of the bargain. Alford took a drink before answering.

'The traitor gave me information more important than gold.'

'What could be more important?' Edwin asked.

Alford smiled. 'I told you he gave me the name of the clan Christen hides in, and when he has gotten what he wants, he vows to tell me the name she uses now. So you see, if Gillian should fail me, the Highlander will come to my aid.'

'Why won't he tell you now? It would make it so much easier if you knew…'

'He doesn't trust our baron,' Hugh chuckled. 'This Ramsey must die first. Then he swears he'll give us her name.'

Gillian couldn't believe the three of them were talking so freely in front of her. They were all too drunk to be cautious, and she doubted that any of them would remember a word he said come tomorrow morning.

Edwin and Hugh seemed to think Alford was going to be given a reward by the king, and they were now discussing what he would do with it. She was blessedly thankful for their inattention, for when she had heard that the Highlander would soon arrive at Dunhanshire, she felt as though the floor had just dropped away. Inwardly reeling, her stomach lurched with her panic and she swayed on her feet. Fortunately, Alford appeared oblivious to her distress.

She knew why the traitor was coming, of course. He was going to tell Alford that the wrong boy had been taken, and God help Alec then. Time was about to run out.

Alford yawned loudly and squinted at her. 'Ah, Gillian, I forgot you were standing there. Now what were we discussing? Oh, yes,' he said as he turned to Hugh. 'Since Gillian has so graciously offered to take the boy's beating for him, you may accommodate her. Don't touch her face,' he warned. 'I've learned from experience that the bones in the face take much longer to heal, and I do so want to send her on my errand as soon as possible.'

'And the boy?' Hugh asked.

Alford sneered at Gillian when he answered. 'I want him beaten too.'

She pushed Alec behind her. 'You'll have to kill me first, Alford. I'm not going to let you touch him.'

'But I don't want to kill you, Gillian. I want you to bring your sister to me.'

The mockery in his voice was deliberate, for he wanted her to know he was laughing at her pitiful attempts to protect the child. Did she really believe her wants mattered to him? And how dare she give him orders, telling him what he could and could not do.

He would get his way, of course, but also teach her a valuable lesson at the same time. She would learn once and for all how insignificant she was.

'I swear to you, if you harm the boy, I won't bring Christen to you.'

'Yes, yes, I know.' Alford sounded bored. 'You've already made that empty threat.'

Hugh pushed his chair back and struggled to stand. Gillian frantically tried to think of something she could do or say that would stop the atrocity.

'You don't really want Christen back, do you?'

Alford tilted his head toward Gillian. 'Of course I want her back. I have grand plans for her.'

Deliberately trying to incite his wrath to take his attention away from the child, she laughed. 'Oh, I know all about your grand plans. You want King John's precious box, and you think Christen has it, don't you? That's what you really want, and you think that if she's forced back here, she'll bring the treasure with her. You want to prove that my father murdered the king's lover and stole the box. Then you think you'll win the prize and Dunhanshire land. Isn't that your grand plan?'

Alford reacted as though she had just thrown boiling oil in his face. Howling in rage, he leapt to his feet. His chair flew backward, crashing into the wall.

'You do remember the box,' he bellowed as he rushed around the corner of the table toward her, shoving Hugh out of his path. 'And you know where it's hidden.'

'Of course I know,' she lied.

Another unearthly howl filled the hall as Alford ran to her. 'Tell me where it is,' he demanded. 'Christen does have it, doesn't she? I knew… I knew she had taken it… that crazy Ector told me her father gave it to her. Your sister stole it from me, and you've known… all this time that I've been out of my mind searching… you knew… all this time you knew.'

His temper exploded and he slammed his fist into her jaw, knocking her to the floor.

He was beyond reason now. His leather boot slammed into her tender skin. He viciously kicked her again and again, determined to make her scream in agony, to make her sorry that she had dared to keep the truth hidden from him. She had known all this time that the box could destroy her father's name and win Dunhanshire and the King's reward. All these years the bitch had deliberately tormented him.

'I will give the box to the king… and I alone,' he railed, panting from exertion. 'The reward will be mine… mine… mine.'

Reeling from the blow to her face, Gillian was too dazed to fight back. Yet she had enough presence of mind to roll to her side and try to protect her head with her arms. Her back and legs took most of the pounding, but ironically the pain wasn't as terrible as Alford wanted it to be, for in her nearly unconscious state, she barely felt the blows from his booted foot.

She became fully alert when Alec threw himself on top of her. Hysterical, he screamed at the top of his lungs as she pushed him away from Alford. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tight, trying to shield him, and then she grabbed hold of his hand and squeezed, hoping he would understand she wanted him to be silent. Alford's rage was fully directed on her now, and she was terrified that the boy's interference would draw his wrath.

Spittle ran down the sides of Alford's face with each obscenity he shouted as he continued to inflict his punishment. Quickly exhausted, he lost his balance and staggered backward. The sight so amused Hugh, he was overcome with laughter. Edwin didn't want the entertainment to stop and shouted encouragement to spur Alford on. Gillian's ears rang from the deafening noise, and the room swirled around her in a hazy blur, but she desperately tried to focus on the terrified little boy.

'Hush,' she whispered. 'Hush now.'

As though someone had cupped a hand over his mouth to silence him, Alec stopped screaming in mid wail. Only inches away from her face, his eyes wide with fear, he gave her a quick nod to let her know he would be quiet. She was so pleased with him, she forced a weak smile.