Finlay’s normally stoic face was drawn tight in anger as he took in his brother. All eyes turned to him as the leader now, the man who was to take their clan to the future.
“How could you ask such a thing?” Finlay finally addressed his brother. “After the hundreds of years we have spent on this land, the thousands of people the McDougalls have cared for, and the people who now look to us for leadership in these times of hardship and uncertainty? You would choose to pack up, sell the family land, and leave all of this behind?” His voice shook in his controlled anger.
“Have you no honor? No decency? Callum did what he did, but the reason he left was a noble one, and when he chose to stay he did so with the understanding that we would look after everything here. Aye, these times are difficult, but do you really think we would be that much better off in the Americas? All we would be doing is creating new issues for ourselves. ’Tis a selfish thing you say, Roderick,” Finlay said, his lip curling in disgust. “If you would prefer to go west, so be it. It’s your life. But to suggest that we all go is unthinkable.”
He pushed back his chair and, with one final hard gaze at his brother, stormed out of the room, leaving his family staring at his back.
Roderick looked to Kyla.
“Do you think you could talk some sense into him? He’ll listen to you.”
She met his eye as she turned back to him.
“Do you not know him better than that?” she asked, though her words were much softer than Finlay’s. She understood her husband’s anger, but she also realized that Roderick was thinking of his family—only he was thinking of his immediate family, whereas Finlay considered the entire clan his family, as it should be.
She tilted her head to the side. “I’ve only truly gotten to know Finlay since we have been married, and even I am well aware that he would never leave this land behind. It is why Callum was able to stay in the Territories, because he knew Finlay could look after this clan better than any other. To think he would leave is incomprehensible. Finlay will never take the easy route. He will bear the responsibility on his shoulders alone, if he has to. To bring this to him a day after Duncan suggested he become chieftain is interesting timing, Roderick. I know you want what’s best for him, and in truth, I do agree that the many issues do weigh on him, but to leave would tear him apart. He wouldn’t be who he is if he could move away and never look back. Please don’t ask him about it again, and don’t ask me to intercede for you. If I have to choose sides, I will choose his. I always will.”
Roderick bowed his head in understanding, respect, and likely a bit of regret, as Kyla rose to follow after her husband, her skirts fluttering behind her as she breezed out of the room. She stopped outside the door, pausing as she heard the siblings continue to speak in their absence.
“She’s right, you know,” said Adam in his slow, thoughtful manner. “He will never leave and ye should never have asked. You know Fin better than that.”
“I know,” Roderick responded, his words tinged with regret and chagrin. “I figured it was worth a try though. I had a better chance with him than with Father. I’m afraid this land will kill Finlay one day the way he works at it.”
“Are you going to do it, still?” Peggy asked, excitement remaining in her voice. “Head out west, over the ocean?”
“I’m thinking of it,” Roderick said slowly. “What do I have here, to spend the rest of my life helping Finlay drive this place to the ground? I’d much rather go to the land of opportunity, a place where I can be whatever I choose to be. What say you, Peg, want to come with me?”
“Do you think I could?” Peggy asked eagerly, and Kyla’s heart nearly broke at the thought. Duncan would never allow it, nor did Kyla think he should. Peggy was far too naïve. “Do you think Father would let me?”
“That,” Adam said, “is another issue entirely. I think not, so I would suggest you do not get too hung up on the idea.”
“Perhaps,” Peggy said, though her voice held much hope. “Would you come too, Adam?” she asked her brother.
“No,” Adam said firmly. “No, I’m a Scotsman through and through, and no matter what becomes of us, I’ll stay on my Highlands. Besides, we can’t all run off and leave Finlay alone.”
“He’s not alone,” said Peggy. “He has Kyla now.”
Kyla’s stomach churned at that.
“That he does,” Roderick said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. “That he does.”
15
Finlay couldn’t stop pacing circles around his chamber. What he should have done was left this room and gone for a fast ride through the woods. That would have done much more to empty himself of this disquiet that filled him. He was angry. Roderick and his blasted ideas… the worst part is, he was right about the problem. But the solution? Was he daft?
A knock sounded at the door and Finlay strode over, wrenching it open a crack, ready to tell his brother just exactly where he could shove his idea, but he found Kyla on the other side. His temper simmered for a moment until he realized why she was likely here—to talk him into Roderick’s idiotic idea.
She pushed open the door wide enough that she could fit through, brushing by him with a swish of skirts and
