Ransom

'We're only going after three men, not the entire country,' Iain said dryly.

'But they are three powerful barons,' she said. 'If warriors ride into England armed for battle, I assure you King John will hear of it. You will risk war with England, whether you intend to or not.'

'Ah, lass, you don't understand,' Brodick told her. 'Your king won't even know we're there. No one's going to see us.'

'Do you think you're going to become invisible?'

'Now, Gillian, there's no need for sarcasm,' Ramsey said, flashing a heart-stopping grin she would have found charming if the topic hadn't been so obscene.

'Of course King John will know you're there,' she cried out in frustration. 'Tell me, Brodick. When exactly are you planning this invasion no one's going to know about?'

'Iain already answered that question,' he replied. 'We'll leave as soon as you give us the names of the English pigs.'

'I see,' she said. 'Now that I thoroughly understand your plans, I'm never going to give you their names. I'll find a way to deal with them. One way or another, justice will prevail.'

Iain scowled. 'Gillian, what do you think you could do? You're a woman-'

Brodick defended her. 'She's strong, and she's determined, and very clever. I honestly think she would find a way to defeat the bastards.'

'Thank you.'

'It wasn't praise,' he countered. 'I'm simply stating what I know to be true. However, I cannot let you rob us of our rights, Gillian. We have just as much at stake in this as you do.'

'Revenge isn't my primary motive,' she argued. 'But it's yours, isn't it?'

He shrugged. She turned to Ramsey in hopes of ending the discussion. 'I could be ready to leave in just a few minutes.'

Ramsey nodded. 'Are you coming with us, Brodick?'

'It's time for that direct question, lass.'

'Brodick, I seem to remember that when Annie Drummond was about to pour that godawful mother's fire on my arm, you told her I wouldn't make a sound.'

'And you didn't, did you?'

'No, I didn't,' she answered. 'But you didn't ask me. You told me. I'm just following your lead.'

'For the love of God,' he muttered, his patience at an end. 'If you want me to come with you, then ask. Do it now, Gillian, or I'm leaving.'

'You would leave me?' she whispered, appalled he would threaten such a thing.

He looked like he wanted to throttle her. 'Ask me,' he demanded again.

'I don't want you to think that I need you…'

'You do need me.'

She took a step back. He followed. With a sigh, she tried again. 'It's just that I've gotten to know you quite well and I trust you.'

'I already knew you trusted me.'

'Why are you making this so difficult?'

'I'm a difficult man.'

'Aye, he is,' Ramsey agreed.

The others had obviously heard every word she'd said. Feeling like a fool, she asked, 'Will you come with me?'

'Yes.'

'Thank you.'

Brodick tilted her chin up with his thumb. 'I'll stay with you until you get back home. I give you my word,' he promised. 'Now you can stop worrying.'

Oblivious to their audience, he leaned down and kissed her. It was a gentle touch of his mouth against hers, and it was finished before she even had time to blink, yet it still made her heart race.

A burst of laughter startled her, and she turned to the sound. Her eyes widened then, for now there were at least twelve women waiting by the trees.

'Laird Maitland, there are quite a few young ladies waiting to speak to you,' Gillian said.

Judith laughed. 'They aren't waiting to speak to my husband. He's already taken.'

'Taken?' Gillian asked.

'Married,' Judith explained.

'For as long as Gillian is in the Highlands, she's my responsibility,' Iain began. 'She is the reason my son is alive,' he added. 'I will therefore act as her guardian.'

'I also feel a tremendous responsibility for Gillian,' Ramsey said. 'Because of her, my brother will remain safe, and I now know I have an insurrection on my hands.'

Iain stared at Brodick now and said, 'I won't have her reputation blackened.'

'Meaning?' Brodick demanded.

'People are going to talk,' Judith said. 'I don't want Gillian's feelings injured.'

'And what will they say?' Gillian asked.

Judith deliberately avoided giving a direct answer so that she wouldn't embarrass her new friend. 'Some will be cruel. Not the Maitlands, of course, but others will say terrible things.'

'She's trying to tell you that there will be speculation you're Brodick's mistress.'

'Iain, must you be so blunt?' Judith cried out.

'She needs to understand.'

'Is there talk now?' Gillian asked.

Iain shrugged.

'That isn't a satisfactory answer,' Brodick said. 'Is her reputation being blackened now?'

He sounded outraged by the possibility. Gillian straightened her shoulders. 'I don't care what the talk is,' she said. 'I will admit I hadn't thought about… that is to say, with everything else on my mind, I didn't stop to consider…' She suddenly stopped trembling, and though she could feel her face burning with mortification, her voice was firm when she said, 'People who spend their time gossiping are petty and foolish. They may call me harlot for all I care. I know what's in my heart, and I only have to answer to God.'

'I damn well do care,' Brodick said angrily. 'And I'm not going to let anyone slander you.'

'How do you plan to stop them, Brodick?' Ramsey asked.

'Yes,' Iain said, 'tell us what you plan to do about it.'

In Brodick's mind there was really only one possible solution. With a long drawn out sigh he said, 'Marry her, I suppose.'

Gillian's gasp nearly knocked her over. 'You suppose wrong.'

Everyone, including Judith, ignored her protest. 'It makes sense to me,' Iain said.

'Yes, it does,' Ramsey agreed. 'Brodick's been acting very possessive of her. Last night he wouldn't let me near her except when he was by her side.'

'He's well aware of how women tend to forget themselves when they're around you,' Iain remarked. 'And there was that unfortunate incident in England when you and Brodick went to find brides. He's probably still chafed about that.'

'I'm not chafed,' Brodick snapped.

His friends ignored his protest. Ramsey shrugged. 'It happened over eight years ago,' he reminded Iain. 'Besides, Brodick wouldn't have been happy with a woman who could so easily turn her attentions to other men.'

'Which is why neither one of you brought her home.'

'Neither one of us wanted her. She lacked morals.'

'That's an understatement,' Iain said with a chuckle.

Brodick looked as if he wanted to kill Iain and Ramsey, but his friends remained unconcerned.

'There's more to this story than you're telling, isn't there?' Judith asked.

No one answered the question. Iain winked at her, and she decided she would find a way to get the details later.