Ransom

husband would know she supported Gillian's plan. 'She wants to leave today.'

'Is that so?' Iain replied with a glance at Brodick.

'Ramsey, did you plan to go home today?'

'I did,' he answered, and she noticed he, too, looked at Brodick.

'I know how important it is for you to find the man who betrayed Ramsey.'

Iain interrupted. 'He betrayed all of us, lass.'

'Yes.' She hurriedly agreed so she could explain her position before she lost her nerve. Telling the giants what they were going to do took courage, especially when she was standing so close to them. She wanted to get the speech she'd rehearsed with Judith on the way down the hill said as quickly as possible.

'I have until the fall festival to accomplish what I came here to do, which means I don't have much time. I'm going to find my sister, God willing, and since she's one of the MacPhersons and the MacPhersons are now part of Ramsey's clan, I'm going home with him today to start searching. I expect all of you to cooperate.'

After giving her speech, she folded her arms across her waist and tried to look confident.

'I see your mind's set,' Iain said dryly. 'We expected you would want to go to Ramsey's holding.'

'You had me worried for nothing,' she whispered to Judith.

'We'll see,' Judith whispered back.

'Ramsey, what say you? Will you take Gillian home with you today?' Iain asked.

'We can leave immediately if that is Lady Gillian's wish.'

'What about you, Brodick?' Judith asked. 'What do you think of Gillian's plan to go home with Ramsey?'

Gillian didn't give him time to answer. 'Brodick's going to come with me,' she blurted out. 'Is that right?' he asked quietly.

Her heart was suddenly pounding a furious beat and she could barely catch her breath. She realized then that she was in a panic, and it was all because she was terrified Brodick would leave her. Dear God, why and how had she allowed herself to become so attached to him in such a short time? She knew she shouldn't involve him in her problems, and yet the thought of watching him walk away from her knowing she would never see him again was simply unbearable.

'The Buchanans are feuding with the MacPhersons,' Judith whispered softly. 'I think perhaps you ask too much of Brodick.'

'She has yet to ask me anything,' Brodick said. 'Judith, the Buchanans aren't feuding with the MacPhersons.' Iain corrected his wife's misconception. 'They just don't like them. They don't like anyone they perceive as a weakling.'

'Not everyone can be as strong as you are, Brodick. You should defend the weak, not trample on them,' Gillian said.

All three lairds grinned as they glanced at one another, and it dawned on her then that they were actually amused by her attitude. They obviously thought she was naive. 'Is this not so?' she challenged.

'No, it isn't so,' Brodick answered. 'The weak don't survive in the Highlands.'

Both Ramsey and Iain nodded their agreement. 'The MacPhersons are leeches,' Brodick said, addressing his remarks to Ramsey now. 'They'll drain the strength out of all the Sinclairs, including you. They like being taken care of,' he added. 'And they sure as certain don't want to be strong. Once they've used up and destroyed you, they'll simply go to another compassionate laird and beg him to take them in.'

'You make compassion sound like a sin,' Gillian said.

'In this instance it is,' he answered.

'Ramsey has only been laird for a short time, but he's already earned the reputation of a compassionate man,' Iain remarked. 'That's why the MacPhersons came to him.'

'I, too, have little tolerance for a fit man who would deliberately embrace sloth and let others take care of him and his family. However, I think you're both mistaken about the MacPhersons. Their soldiers are poorly trained, and that is all there is to it. They aren't weak; they're inept.'

The discussion continued, but a movement to the east caught Gillian's attention. There were four young ladies standing together near the tree line watching the lairds. All of them were busy primping. One redheaded woman kept pinching her cheeks, while the others groomed their hair and smoothed their skirts. All of them were giggling. Their carefree attitude made Gillian smile. She assumed the women wanted to look their best when they spoke to Laird Maitland, but were politely waiting until he was no longer engaged in conversation.

'That's exactly our concern, Ramsey,' Iain said. 'You'll train the MacPhersons, and then they'll turn on you.'

'Fortunately, Iain and I won't let them destroy you,' Brodick said. 'If you won't watch your back, we will.'

'I know what I'm doing,' Ramsey announced authoritatively. 'And you will both stay out of my affairs.'

'Do you think it was a MacPherson that Gillian saw? Could one of them be your traitor?' Judith asked.

'The thought has crossed our minds,' Iain replied.

Judith looked at Brodick. 'If this man hears that Gillian has seen him… if he knows she can point him out, then won't he try to silence her? Alec told us there were three men who took him, so we know this traitor isn't acting alone.'

'But he doesn't know I saw him,' Gillian argued. 'So I am quite safe.'

'Who besides the three of you know that Gillian saw the traitor?' Judith asked her husband.

'My brother, Patrick, was told, and while I'm away, he will watch over you, our sons, and Ramsey's brother. Dylan and Winslow were also told, and Ramsey plans to explain the situation to his commander, Gideon, as well.'

Turning to Ramsey, he added, 'Patrick won't let Michael out of his sight until this is over.'

'My brother couldn't be in safer hands,' Ramsey replied.

'Why was Winslow told?' Judith asked softly.

'Surely you trust Brodick's brother,' Gillian stammered. 'You cannot be concerned he would break his laird's confidence.'

'I trust Winslow with my life,' she said. 'That isn't why I asked my husband the question, but as you know, Winslow is commander over our troops,' she explained. 'And I know Iain had a good reason for telling him. I want to know what it is.'

Iain looked uncomfortable. He glanced at Gillian and then turned to his wife.

'Winslow needed to know so that he could prepare.'

Judith wouldn't let it go. 'Prepare what?'

'Our troops.'

Gillian stiffened. 'For battle?'

'Yes.'

'You're going into England?'

'Yes.'

'When?' Gillian demanded.

'When you give us the names of the Englishmen,' Brodick answered.

She took a step toward him. 'Us? Then Dylan is also going to prepare your soldiers?'

He smiled. 'My soldiers are always prepared. He will simply see to the details.'

'But why?'

'How can you ask me such a question? Iain's my ally and my friend, and Alec is my godson. It's my duty to retaliate on the boy's behalf.'

'But there's another reason as well, isn't there?' Ramsey asked.

Brodick, guarded now, slowly nodded. 'Yes, there is another reason.'

'And what would that reason be?' Judith asked.

Brodick shook his head to let her know he wasn't going to explain. Gillian turned to Ramsey. 'What about your commander? Is he going to prepare your troops?'

'Yes.'

Incredulous, she addressed the one person she believed was still sane. 'Judith, they cannot think to invade England.'

'They think they can,' Judith answered.