Ransom

'Yes, we wait.'

Brodick was still in the bedchamber. He'd spotted his plaid on the chair, picked it up, and covered Gillian and Alec with the Buchanan colors. He looked at her once again as he was pulling the door closed and felt a strange contentment wash over him. It suddenly dawned on him that he was never going to let her go.

Like it or not, she was going to belong to him.

Gillian awakened an hour after dawn and felt thoroughly rested. She washed and dressed with care in her own clothes. The servants must have washed her gowns last night and then hung them in front of the fire, for they were dry and spotless.

The tunic she wore over her pale yellow gown was a deep, emerald green that her uncle had often told her enhanced the color of her eyes. After securing the braided cord around her waist so that it would droop just so on the tilt of her hips, she brushed her hair, pinched her cheeks for color, and went downstairs.

She ate breakfast with Judith and the boys. Graham begged his mother to let him take Michael and Alec to the field to watch the soldiers training, and after she gave her permission, they grabbed the wooden swords they would spar with and went running out the door.

'Now we can talk,' Judith said. 'Did you sleep well? You're up early. I was sure you'd stay in bed until noon at the very least. You have to be exhausted.'

'I did sleep well,' she replied. 'And I wanted to get up early. I must leave today.'

'Leave us so soon?'

'Yes,' she replied.

'Where are you going?'

'Home with Ramsey.'

Judith's eyes widened. 'Does Brodick know?'

'Not yet. Do you know where he is?'

'He's down at the stables with Iain and Ramsey. Would you mind if I tagged along? I really would like to see Brodick's reaction to hearing you want to leave with Ramsey.'

'Why would he object? He knows I have to search for my sister, and he also knows she's a MacPherson, so he surely understands I have to go to the Sinclair holding to look for her.'

'With Ramsey.'

'Why do you look so incredulous? Do you know Winslow acted the very same way last night when I mentioned I'd be going home with Ramsey today. He also asked me if Brodick knew about my plans. It was most peculiar.'

'I can see I'm going to have to explain.'

'Yes, please,' Gillian said.

'Ramsey and Iain and Brodick are like brothers,' she began. 'And they are extremely loyal to one another. But surely you've noticed in the time you've been with Brodick that he's a very possessive man. All the Buchanans are,' she added with a nod.

'What are you trying to tell me?'

Judith sighed. 'When Iain and I were newly married, my husband didn't like it when Ramsey was near me.'

'Why? Didn't he trust him?'

'Oh, yes, he trusted him all right, and so does Brodick, but women, you see, tend to lose their heads over Ramsey. You've got to admit he's a handsome devil.'

'Yes, but so are Iain and Brodick.'

'Iain was a bit… insecure… but after a while, he calmed down because he knew my heart belonged to him. Brodick doesn't know, you see, and he's therefore going to be difficult about you leaving with Ramsey.'

'He won't be difficult,' Gillian assured her.

Judith laughed. 'You think you know him so well, then?'

'Yes, I do,' she said.

'There's also a little rivalry between Ramsey and Brodick. It should have caused a rift, but it didn't. As I told you last night, about eight years ago, the two of them went to England to find brides. What I didn't tell you is that Brodick found a woman he thought might do.'

'What happened?' she asked when her friend hesitated and began to blush.

'This woman gave herself to Brodick.'

'They were betrothed?'

Judith shook her head. 'No, but she gave herself to him. Do you understand?'

'Do you mean she took him to her bed?'

Their voices had dropped to whispers and they were both blushing now.

'Knowing Brodick as I do, I'd say he took her to his bed, but she had to have agreed or he wouldn't have touched her.'

'And he told you this?'

Gillian looked flabbergasted. Judith laughed as she answered, 'Good Lord, no, he didn't tell me. Iain did, but it took a good six months of nagging to get my husband to finally confide in me. You mustn't ever let the men know I've told you this story. Promise me.'

'I promise,' Gillian hastily agreed so she could hear the rest of the tale. 'What happened to the woman? Brodick is a very honorable man and he wouldn't take an innocent-'

'But she wasn't innocent,' Judith whispered. 'She had been with other men.'

'Oh, dear,' Gillian whispered, thinking that it was a pity the woman was English.

'One of the men happened to be Ramsey.'

'No.'

'Hush,' Judith whispered. 'I don't want the servants to overhear.'

'Both of them took her to their beds?'

'Yes, but neither knew for a time that she was playing one against the other.'

Gillian's mouth dropped open. 'No wonder Brodick dislikes the English so. What happened when they figured it all out?'

'Neither one of them wanted her, of course. They came home and vowed they would marry one of their own or not marry at all.'

'Did Brodick love her?'

'I doubt that he did,' she replied. 'If he'd loved her, he would have been furious with Ramsey, but as it was, he was barely bothered.'

'What about Ramsey?'

'He took it all in stride. Women throw themselves at him,' she added. 'And that's why Brodick will be difficult about your leaving with him.'

'You told me he trusts Ramsey.'

'It's you he'll be concerned about,' Judith told her bluntly. 'As I said before, women tend to lose their heads over Ramsey.'

'And he'll be concerned that I… oh, for heaven's sake,' Gillian cried out, and then laughed. 'You're wrong, Judith. Brodick won't care one way or another.'

Judith stood up. 'Shall we go find out?'

The two women walked side by side down the hill. The lairds were easy to spot, for they stood together beyond the stables, like towering trees in the center of a field, as they observed the soldiers sparring with their swords.

All three turned as the two ladies came toward them. Gillian noticed that Iain couldn't seem to take his eyes off his wife. Love obviously hadn't lessened in the years they had lived as man and wife. 'Gillian has something to tell you,' Judith announced.

'Laird,' she began.

'Iain,' he corrected.

With a quick nod, she began again. 'Iain, I would first thank you for your kindness and your hospitality.'

'It is I who should be thanking you, Gillian, for bringing my son home to me.'

'She wants to go home with Ramsey, and I think she should,' Judith announced emphatically so that her