“Where’s the Earl?” the man demanded as three others came around the house. Cleopatra glared at him, refusing to answer. His thick eyebrows arched as he pulled her out of the cottage and into the clearing.
“Answer me,” he said as Cleopatra scanned the other men circling her. Outnumbered, and with no place to run to, she glared defiantly at them.
“Release me and I’ll tell you,” she said in a near growl.
“Tell me and I’ll release ye,” he countered as the men around them chuckled.
“She’s got spirit,” the man to Cleopatra’s left said with a chuckle. “Those are always the best to tame.”
“Silence, Ronan,” the man said. “We came here for one thing, and I’ll be damned if I daenae get it,” Cleopatra’s captor said.
“I know you,” Cleopatra said. “You’re the Laird of Hanvale. What are you doing out this far?”
“That is a matter for the Earl,” he said with a smirk.
“What do you want from me?” Cleopatra asked as fear caused her blood to run cold.
“Ye? Nothin’. It is the Earl we want,” the Laird said. “Now, where is he?”
“In the manor, like he always is,” Cleopatra answered as the Laird eased his grip.
“Can she be trusted?” another man said slipping out from the shadows of the forest.
Cleopatra swallowed hard as she turned her attention to the new arrival.
“Are ye lyin’ to me lass?” the Laird asked with a rough shake.
“Why would I lie?”
“There are many reasons a person lies,” the other man said stepping closer as his fingers curled around the hilt of his sword.
“You don’t scare me,” Cleopatra said defiantly.
“Oh, really?” the Laird said as his smirk grew across his lips. “Ronan,” the Laird didn’t look to the men but held his gaze on Cleopatra. “Hold her. Wait for me signal. If I daenae come out in an hour, come for me. But one way or another, I’m gettin’ me son back.”
Ronan reached out and snagged Cleopatra from the Laird’s grip. Her mouth popped open as her eyes widened. Ronan’s glare was nerve racking. His dark brown eyes glared at her with an intensity she had only seen in her father. Ronan’s round face didn’t intimidate her despite his nostrils flaring.
“Please, run,” Ronan whispered. “I could use some entertainin’.” He tossed Cleopatra to the ground and towered over her.
“She’s nae to be harmed,” the Laird ordered. “Nae yet at least.”
“I’ll be waitin’ for yer signal,” Ronan said as Cleopatra turned her head to watch the Laird strut through the clearing, like he owned the place. The other men followed with the Laird leaving Cleopatra alone with Ronan.
“Please tell me what is going on here? Why have you come here?” Cleopatra asked as she scooted back. Ronan stepped closer and crossed his arms over his chest.
“At least tell me what my father has done to deserve your wrath,” Cleopatra asked, resting against the stone wall of the cottage.
“So many questions,” Ronan said rolling his eyes.
“Are you going to answer me?”
Silence.
Cleopatra scanned Ronan from the top of his shaggy brown hair down to his toes. There was no doubt he was a warrior, through and through. Her heart pumped harder as she shook her head.
“Your Laird is going to be highly disappointed. My father will not give him what he wants. He is a stubborn man and will only see this as a threat. He bows to no man.”
“He’ll bow to us,” Ronan answered in his rough voice.
“No, he won’t. You do not know my father the way I do. This mission of yours is doomed. You should have never come here.” Cleopatra said as she glanced inside the cottage. Her father’s book rested in the tall grass like a stone. Shifting her weight, she inched closer to the cottage door.
“Where are ye goin’?” Ronan hissed as he stepped closer to her.
“May I get my book?” Cleopatra asked pointing to the book in the cottage. Ronan’s eyes narrowed a moment and he nodded. Instantly, Cleopatra rushed into the cottage and snatched the book off the ground. She brushed the dirt from the cover and stared at it.
“You know,” Cleopatra said. “Your Laird is not coming back. My father will throw him in the stocks before he reaches the study.”
“They’ll be back,” Ronan said.
“My father will not let them,” Cleopatra said as her eyes shifted to the shadows of the forest around her. “Do you hear that?”
Ronan shifted his head to listen.
Cleopatra bolted to the trees. Before she could reach the shadows, strong arms curled around her torso and pulled her back. She screamed as her feet left the ground.
“Are ye quite finished?” Ronan asked as Cleopatra kicked and squirmed. He hoisted her over his shoulder with ease.
“Let me go,” she pleaded as Ronan walked back to the clearing.
“That’s enough out of ye,” Ronan said as he dropped her to the ground. He pulled a small cord from his satchel and bound her hands. Before she could protest, Ronan pushed a small wad of cloth into her mouth.
“There. Now try and get away.”
2
“What do we do now?”
Jude glanced over his shoulder as he pulled the low hanging branch down to get a clear shot of the manor. He could feel the tension rising as he scanned the three-story stone building. Gray smoke drifted into the sky from the chimney, and he wondered where in the manor his son resided.
“Adam,” Jude called. The stocky man rushed to his Laird’s side and peered over his shoulder.
“Aye, m’Laird.”
“Go and demand the Earl release my son. Tell him we have his daughter and are willin’ to exchange.”
Adam patted him on the shoulder and stepped out onto the green fairway. With his head held high, Adam strolled to the main door. Jude’s heart pounded in his chest. All his prayers went to his son in hopes that the boy was still alive.
It had been nearly three weeks since Jude had seen Hugh. In the back of Jude’s mind, he could still hear Paige’s frantic voice explaining how strangers approached them on the banks
