"Sweet Mary, I'd nay have thought Eldon would be so easy to steal from," remarked Colin when he had a full accounting of what had been seized as well as the ease of the raid.
"He wasnae home," said Iain. "Off to France to fight for the Sassanach king. His steward's in charge."
"Weel, we could make a very fine profit if this is how the man cares for his laird's property." Colin squinted toward the captives. "And what have ye got ... God's teeth, ye have taken the wee lass again."
"Aye." Tavis let his gaze rest upon Storm for a moment. "Aye. The lad's her cousin. He followed us. Had a thought to free the lass." He grinned at his father. "Truth to tell, I had to rescue the lass ere I could steal her. A Sassanach gentleman was behaving verra ungallantly. Had her down upon the grass and all."
"Things are in a tangle from what the lass says," Iain reported. "The steward is cuckolding the laird and nay a one o' the ones with responsibility are using it. 'Tis easy to see, for there were few guards and watches posted. So, too, I cannae believe Eldon would let a man stay at Hagaleah who is sore bent on bedding the lass and nay too subtle about it. That man had no fear of retribution, though he was set on raping the only daughter of the laird." Iain then went on to tell his father of what they had done to Sir Hugh, and his father laughed heartily.
"She said we'd get no ransom," Tavis added. "She claims the Lady Mary would as soon see her sent back piece by piece. The lass e'en feels her kin will ne'er return alive from France and 'tis no death in battle that she fears. Lady Mary has her own bairns readied to be laird and her lover to be the children's guardian."
For a moment Colin said nothing, simply frowning in thought. He pondered on the girl's claims and felt that there was a chance they were the truth. Once the opportunity for a ransom was negated, Colin quickly came to the only other possible reason for Tavis to abduct the girl. Colin looked at his eldest son, noting that Tavis's gaze never faltered.
"Ye'll no take the lass if she's unwilling. I owe the lass me sword arm. I could have lost it that day, for 'twas a deep wound. It healed weel and the physician said 'twas due to the good and quick care I got."
"Aye, 'tis true. I dinnae want her unwilling." Tavis smiled slightly. "Nay, I will have the lass say aye first."
"A firm aye, ye rogue. Nay a one seduced out o' her. I'll have ye ask ransom for her first as weel."
Tavis nodded. "I will send the demand out right away. Care to pass a wee word with her?"
Colin nodded, ignoring his young wife's frown of disapproval. It had been seven years since he had seen Storm Eldon. He was curious to see what changes had been wrought in the taking child they had known so briefly. One thing was clear to see and that was that, although small of stature, Storm Eldon was now a very beautiful young woman. Colin could easily understand his eldest son's desire, but he would ensure that that desire was not satisfied by force.
Hesitating briefly when Tavis signaled her to come to his side, Storm wondered what plans had been made. As she moved to stand between Tavis and Colin as instructed, she noticed that the young woman seated at the table was looking none too pleased. With lovely chestnut hair and gray-green eyes, the woman was beautiful but, at the moment, those eyes flashed with dislike and the voluptuous figure was stiff with outrage. Storm wondered if the woman meant something to Tavis and surprised herself by finding that she did not like the idea of that at all. Shaking her mind free of such puzzles, Storm turned her attention to Colin MacLagan.
The puzzles returned when Colin introduced the young woman as his wife, Janet, for Storm found herself feeling distinctly relieved. She also found that she still did not like the woman, a feeling that had nothing to do with the fact that Janet was a healthy 25 or so years younger than Colin. Many a man took a woman much younger than himself as a second wife. Storm only knew that there was something about Janet that chilled her. Telling herself that she was giving her imagination too free a rein helped not at all. It was clear enough that the brothers cared little for the woman and from Tavis Storm sensed an even stronger emotion than mere dislike or disinterested intolerance. Things at Caraidland were plainly not very calm and cozy.
"So, Mistress Eldon, our ways cross yet again." Colin met her wary look with a smile. "And the lad?"
"Phelan O'Conner, sir," the boy replied in a clear, firm voice that revealed none of his nervousness.
"Ah, from the Irish half of your family, eh, lass?"
"Aye, m'lord." She smiled at Phelan. "He appeared at our door a short while before my father left. When my parents were wed my mother left a note for her kin telling them to come to Hagaleah if they were ever in need of aid. My young cousin here found it when he was left without kin there and took it upon himself to make his way to our gates to see if we would honor that promise."
"Ye traveled from Erin on your own, laddie?" asked Colin in an amazement shared by all there.
"Aye. The note bade come if help was needed. I needed it so I came." It all seemed very logical to Phelan, who had wondered from the first what people found so astonishing about his journey. "Folk take small note of a thin, ragged boy with no horse and no pack save to boot him out of the way. I
