Ransom

'She was wearing your plaid last night, Brodick,' Ramsey said then.

'He insisted she wear his colors,' Iain said. 'It's little wonder people are speculating about her position.'

'I heard that during the celebration you kissed her in front of the entire Maitland clan.'

Brodick shrugged. 'Not the entire clan, just some.'

'You wanted everyone to know-' Iain began.

Brodick cut him off. 'Damned right I did.'

'He wanted everyone to know what?' Judith asked after giving Gillian a worried look.

'That Gillian belongs to him,' Iain explained.

'That's why he kissed her in front of witnesses all right,' Ramsey said.

Poor Gillian looked as though she'd just been struck hard on her head. Judith took mercy on her, for she knew she didn't understand the blunt ways of the Highlanders.

'I'm sure it was just a friendly little kiss, the kind one cousin would give another in greeting.'

Gillian was frantically nodding when Brodick muttered, 'The hell it was.'

With a little sigh, Judith gave up. If she'd learned anything in her years living with Iain, it was that none of the Highlanders knew how to be subtle. If they wanted something done, they did it themselves, and if one of them wanted a woman, he took her. It was that simple. The men respected women, of course, and for that reason they usually married them before they took them to their bed, but once they made the commitment, they kept it until the day they died. In this instance, Brodick obviously wanted Gillian, and no amount of arguing would change his determination. He would take her, and his two loyal friends with their outrageous banter were simply letting him know they approved the match and would do anything they could to help.

None of them, however, were considering Gillian's feelings in the matter. Judith patted her friend's hand to let her know she sympathized. Gillian looked positively dazed.

'Brodick?'

'Yes, Judith.'

'Do you love Gillian?'

Dead silence followed the question. If looks could kill, Iain would be without a wife by now, Judith thought. It was very apparent that Brodick didn't like being pinned down with such a personal question. Judith didn't back away, though; she had Gillian's best interests at heart after all. 'Do you?'

'Sweetheart, that isn't a question you should be asking,' Iain said.

'I think it is,' she argued. 'Someone has to look out for Gillian.'

'We're looking out for her,' Ramsey said.

'And Brodick obviously wants her,' Iain interjected.

'Wanting isn't enough,' Judith said. 'Have you all forgotten she's English?'

'She used to be English,' both Ramsey and Iain said at the same time.

Judith let them see how exasperated she was. 'Didn't you and Brodick vow to marry Highlanders or not marry at all?' she asked Ramsey.

'Yes, they did,' Iain answered. 'After that unfortunate incident in England -'

'Will you quit calling it an 'unfortunate incident?'' Brodick demanded.

'We did make that promise,' Ramsey admitted. 'But Brodick has obviously changed his mind.'

'I'm thinking of her reputation,' Brodick muttered.

'Then simply stay away from her,' Judith suggested.

'That is not an acceptable solution,' Brodick said.

'Why isn't it?' Judith prodded.

'Because he doesn't want to stay away from her,' Ramsey said. 'That much should be obvious to you, Judith.'

She decided to try another direction. 'Brodick, have you told her what her life will be like living with the Buchanans?'

He shrugged. 'I only just decided to marry her,' he admitted.

'He told me I'd be miserable.' Gillian's voice was but a hoarse whisper. She was still reeling from Brodick's outrageous impudence in dictating her future, but anger was quickly replacing disbelief, and within seconds she was trembling. She kept telling herself that any minute now they would have their laugh and tell her it was all just a game.

And when that happened, she knew she'd feel a glimmer of disappointment.

'Aye, she will be miserable,' Brodick said.

Ramsey burst into laughter. 'You told her the truth, then. I don't envy anyone, man or woman, who would try to fit in with those savages you call Buchanans.'

'I won't be miserable,' Gillian cried out. 'And do you know why?'

The men acted as though they hadn't heard her question. Iain siezed on her first comment. 'There, do you see? She already has an optimistic outlook. That's a fair start.'

'Will you gentlemen stop jesting?' Gillian demanded. She had finally regained her senses and was determined to put an end to the discussion.

'I don't think they're jesting,' Judith said. She moved closer to Gillian and whispered, 'If you haven't already figured it out, I feel I should probably explain…'

Gillian threaded her fingers through her hair in agitation. 'Explain what?' she asked frantically.

'They never jest. I do believe Brodick means to marry you.'

Chapter Sixteen

'Brodick, I would like a word in private with you.' Her clipped words didn't leave room for discussion, and she didn't even try to mask her anger. She wanted him to know she was furious.

'Not now, Gillian,' he replied impatiently, seemingly unaffected by her show of temper. 'Ramsey, we'll leave in ten minutes. Can you be ready by then?'

'Of course,' Ramsey answered, and after bowing to Gillian and Judith, he started back up the hill.

Iain threw his arm around his wife's shoulders and turned to the west. 'Before I go back to my duties, let's look in on the boys. They just went to Patrick and Frances Catherine's home.'

Judith didn't have much choice, for her husband was pulling her along. 'You promised to take them fishing,' she reminded him.

'No, Alec promised on my behalf.'

'But you will take them?'

'Of course I will.' He laughed. 'And I won't let them drown,' he added, repeating Michael's promise to his brother.

Brodick continued to stand beside Gillian, but he wasn't paying any attention to her. He was fully occupied trying to locate Dylan in the field below, where over a hundred Maitland soldiers were training.

Gillian watched the group of women as they picked up their skirts and ran together up the hill. Most of them were giggling like little girls.

'What are they doing?'

Brodick glanced at the women. 'Chasing Ramsey,' he answered very matter-of-factly before returning to his task of scanning the field.

'Why?'

'Why what?' he asked as he continued to search.

She sighed. 'Why are the ladies chasing him?'

The question startled him, for what should have been obvious to Gillian appeared not to be obvious at all. With a shrug, he said, 'It's what they all do.'

'All the ladies chase him?' she asked, still not understanding.

He finally gave her his full attention. 'Yes, they do,' he said quietly.

'But why?'