An English Bride In Scotland (23 page)

Kate’s question told Annabel that she’d heard at least the last part of her conversation with Grant, but there was little she could do about that. Ignoring her sister’s question, Annabel gestured to the small treasure and asked one of her own. “Where did you get that?”

“From the chest in your room,” Kate said unapologetically.

Annabel stiffened. “How—?”

“You left it open when I said Seonag was returning with the servants and you rushed to get back into the chest,” Kate informed her with satisfaction.

Annabel closed her eyes as dismay, regret and guilt rushed through her. She had beggared her husband and their people with that thoughtless move. Dear God, why did she have to be such a failure at everything?

The jingle of coins caught her ear and she opened her eyes just as Kate caught the small sack Grant tossed to her.

Kate opened and upended the bag on top of all the other coins and jewels and then tossed the bag aside to clap her hands happily. “Is it not lovely, Grant? We can have our happily ever after.”

“Aye, on the backs of those who will suffer from this loss,” Annabel said grimly when Grant didn’t comment.

Kate glanced up sharply at that, but at Grant, not Annabel. Something in his expression made her own tighten, and then she turned and scowled at Annabel and said, “Grant, go and fetch a bucket of water from the river. I would have a word with Belly.”

Grant hesitated, but then left Annabel where she was and headed out of the barn.

The moment he was gone, Kate glared at Annabel. “Do not speak to me of suffering. I need this. I will not live in squalor like a peasant.”

Annabel did not point out that Grant was a peasant and that by choosing him she had consigned herself to that life. Why bother? Kate seemed to have difficulty seeing her own contribution to her situation. She just liked to blame others for her troubles and for enjoying a happiness she not only wanted, but felt she was entitled to. Besides, Annabel just wanted to get out of there and see Ross again and she didn’t trust that if she angered her sister too much she might not do something foolish in a moment of anger, like kill her. And Annabel really would rather live to see her husband again.

Although once he found out she was the reason he had been robbed, Ross might not want to see her again, she thought glumly.

Kate continued to glare at her briefly, but then lowered her gaze to her treasure and ran her fingers through the coins and jewels as if they were water. After a moment, she said, “Are you not going to ask me how I got away from the keep today?”

Annabel tore her gaze away from the treasure that would no doubt support her sister and Grant for a good many years, perhaps all of the years they had left, and asked dutifully, “How did you get away?”

“I hit Seonag over the head, dumped the contents of the chest into a sack and hung it from inside the waistline of my skirt, then told the men I was going to see the priest and . . .” Kate shrugged and finished simply, “I just walked out to the stables, saddled two horses and rode out on them. No one stopped me.”

Annabel wasn’t surprised. From what she could tell, Kate had offended every single person she had met at MacKay. The stable master had probably hidden when he saw her coming, and everyone else had most likely turned a blind eye. They had probably been more than happy to see her go and had hoped never to see her again. But Annabel was more concerned with Seonag.

“Oh, I did not kill your precious Seonag,” Kate said, apparently reading her expression. “At least I do not think so.” She shrugged as if it mattered little one way or the other.

Giving a pleased little sigh, Kate then leaned back and tilted her head as she peered at Annabel. Her voice was pleasant as she said, “I have hated you for such a long time.”

“
M
’LAIRD!”

Ross lowered his hand from knocking at Effie’s door and glanced around at that hail from Fingal. Shifting impatiently, he glanced to Bean.

“I’ll see what he wants,” he said and moved to meet the man.

Ross turned back to the cottage door and knocked again.

“Effie should be home. I saw her receive a delivery no’ a half hour ago,” Fingal said with concern as he walked past Bean to Ross.

“A chest?” Ross asked.

He nodded. “But she’d barely accepted it when that nasty English bit o’ skirt showed up.”

“Kate?” Ross asked harshly.

“Aye, and she had a big man on her heels.” He scowled. “A great bull o’ a man who fit the description ye gave o’ the fellow who’s been bedeviling ye. So I thought I’d best head up to the castle to tell ye. I was just saddling me old nag when I heard yer horses on the cobblestone and came to investigate.”

Ross cursed under his breath and stopped knocking. He opened the door and strode in. Effie lay on the floor not more than half a dozen steps from the entrance. Ross knelt and placed his hand by her mouth, relieved when her breath brushed his fingers. “She’s alive.”

“The chest is no’ here,” Bean pointed out, making Ross glance around the small one-room cottage to see that indeed there was no chest.

“They brought it out just minutes after entering,” Fingal said, kneeling across from Ross and frowning worriedly over Effie. “The big fella was carrying it.”

“Did ye see which way they went?” Ross asked straightening.

“Aye. The road to MacDonald. They were walking at first and I followed at a distance, but they had horses half a mile or so outside the village. I hurried back then to saddle me nag.”

Ross nodded, started to turn, but then glanced to Effie and hesitated.

“I’ll look after her,” Fingal assured him. “Go on with ye. Catch the bastard who has been hounding our sweet Annabel.”

Ross did not explain that the “bastard” most likely had their sweet Annabel in the chest he’d been carrying. He merely headed for the door, saying, “Take her up to the castle, Fingal. Seonag was injured as well. Giorsal can tend them both. Then I’d appreciate it if ye’d tell Gilly and Marach to gather the men and follow us. Tell ’em to check Carney’s barn first and then follow the road after that if we’re no’ there.”

“Aye,” Fingal said. “I will, me laird.”

“Yer thinking they’re at Carney’s barn?” Bean asked.

“I told ye about the day I was attacked,” Ross muttered, leading the way out to their waiting horses. “About how I rode fast and weaved about to ensure we were no’ followed ere stopping at the barn.”

“Aye,” Bean said.

“Well, I was sure we were no’ followed. I would no’ ha’e risked Annabel by stopping had I no’ been sure.”

“Ye think they were at the barn all along,” Bean realized.

Ross nodded, and then admitted, “It only just occurred to me when Fingal said they took the road to MacDonald. It leads right past the barn. Why would they not head further south, or even to the coast? Either direction offers a better chance o’ disappearing into a city or escaping on a boat than heading north to MacDonald.”

“Aye. And Kate’s accent would make her stand out like a throbbin’ thumb there,” Bean commented. “I’d have had her stopped until ye could get out to ensure it wasn’t her.” He was silent for a moment, but then frowned and asked, “But why go to the barn? Why are they no’ fleeing as fast as they can?”

“They have Annabel in the chest. I’m sure o’ it,” Ross said quietly. “I presume there is a reason fer it.”

“Well it can no’ be fer ransom,” Bean said and then pointed out, “The English bitch stole everything from ye. She must ken ye’ve nothing left to pay a ransom with.”

Ross’s mouth tightened, but he didn’t comment. He was quite sure that Kate was bitterly jealous of Annabel, and because of that, hated her with a white-hot passion that would want some form of torment, or even death to slake it. Ross just hoped he found Annabel in time and he did not learn the hard way which it was that Kate wanted.

Chapter 17

“W
hy?” Annabel asked, eyes wide and incredulous. “Why would you hate
me
? What have I ever done to you?”

“You
exist
!” Kate shrieked furiously, then slapped at the treasure before her, sending some of it flying across the dirt before saying more calmly, “All I heard growing up was, ‘Annabel would never do that. Annabel was a good girl. Annabel would have learned that much more quickly. ’Tis a shame you are not as smart as your sister, Annabel.’ ” She grimaced. “According to our parents, you were a paragon I could never equal.”

Annabel realized her mouth was open, and closed it, then took a deep breath. “Kate, they did the same thing to me when they retrieved me from the abbey. Only with me it was, ‘’Tis too bad you did not get a little of your sister’s beauty, and what a shame it is you have none of your sister’s training and skills. Unlike Kate, you would surely be a mess as a wife to the Scot.’ ”

Kate’s eyes were dead and lifeless, her voice cold as she said, “You were there but one day, Annabel. I know. We were still in Waverly woods when mother brought you back. Ross’s party arrived on your heels, and we followed you when you left the next day.”

“It may have only been one day, but that was pounded into me over and over during that day. I am not comparing my suffering under them to yours,” Annabel added quickly as she saw anger building on Kate’s face. “I am saying I understand, and that it was them and not either of us that were the problem. Had you been sent away to the abbey and I remained behind I would have had those insults every day of my life, and I know how damaging they can be. I—”

“But you were not there every day, were you?” Kate hissed. “You escaped to the abbey to live. How did you manage that? Why you and not me?”

“I did not
manage
it,” Annabel assured her. “I did not even know I was going until we were halfway there and then I wept all through the rest of the journey. I also wept every night for that first year because I missed—”

“Oh, spare me your sad story,” Kate interrupted grimly. “No one has suffered as much as I. Look at me,” she growled. “I have been living in the woods and sleeping in this barn, eating raw oats like a farm animal while you lived in that lovely castle with its warm fires, soft beds and yummy pastries.”

Annabel did not point out that since Kate and her husband had followed them to Scotland, she should know that Annabel too had slept out of doors during that time. As for here in Scotland, Annabel had only been at MacKay a matter of a few days before Kate had shown up at the gate and she had taken her in. Kate was making it sound as if she had been wandering the wilderness for ages.

“Why have you been attacking me?” Annabel asked finally, uncaring whether Grant thought she should stay quiet or not. She suspected it mattered little what she did. Kate wanted her pound of flesh for what she saw as Annabel’s escaping their childhood home, and she would not listen if told just how unpleasant Annabel’s own life had been at the abbey. And it
had
been unpleasant. Life at MacKay had taught her that, but it would make no difference to Kate. She was too self-absorbed to care.

“Grant attacked you,” she corrected, and cast a scowl toward the barn door before she added, “He was supposed to kidnap you, but he kept mucking it up. And then,” Kate added irritably, “after the first two failures to secure you, he started coming back not only without you, but wounded. Had I not helped him away from the barn the last time, you probably would have finished him off.”

Annabel did not comment. This explained why Grant had disappeared when she’d checked on him after knocking him out.

“It seems that old saw about doing something yourself if you want it done correctly is true,” Kate said unhappily. “For I had no problem getting you away from the castle today.”

“Well, you did have a slight advantage,” Annabel pointed out, and then had to wonder why she was defending Grant to her sister.

Kate shook her head. “It would not have mattered. His heart was not in it.”

Annabel wasn’t surprised. Since Grant hadn’t even been willing to take a horse from Waverly, she doubted the ransom business had been his idea or even gone over well with him. She just wondered what had convinced him to fall in with Kate’s plans over the kidnapping and ransom business, instead of stopping her.

“I think he hates me now for insisting on kidnapping you,” she added unhappily, and then burst out, “But I am not like him! I cannot live like this.”

“You still have not said why you wanted to kidnap me,” Annabel pointed out quietly, deciding a change of topic was in order. She wanted to know what was to be done with her, and what the situation was.

“To hold you for ransom, of course,” Kate answered. Her lips twisted briefly and then she admitted, “I did not think this through before running away with Grant. He is so very handsome, and I was caught up in the excitement and passion . . .” She sighed wearily, looking suddenly old, and then shook her head like a horse dislodging a pesky horsefly. When she stopped, her expression was angry again and she said idly, “Of course, now that I have all of MacKay’s wealth, asking for a ransom would be a waste of time. But I did want you to know that I was behind all your troubles, and I wanted those coins you had in the chest. I recognized the bag. ’Twas part of my dower. I should have it, not you.”

“Well, now you have it,” Annabel pointed out.

“Aye,” Kate agreed. “And I suppose I might enjoy living as I deserve while knowing you and every last MacKay under you are struggling.”

Annabel heard a
but
coming and braced for it.

“Howbeit, that would only be temporary. MacKay would recover after a couple of lean years . . . and I find the idea of your living my life untenable.”

“Your life?” Annabel echoed with confusion.

“Ross should have been mine,” Kate hissed. “Had I realized how handsome, young and wealthy he was, I never would have run off with Grant.”

“But I thought you love Grant,” Annabel said with a frown.

“What good is love when you are hungry?” she asked bitterly. “Love does not produce food, or beautiful gowns to wear, and servants to tend you.” She ground her teeth and said, “MacKay is bigger even than Waverly and I could be living there with all those servants tending my every need and—” She paused and scowled at Annabel and then growled with frustration, “And with Ross as a lover.

“I know how amazing he is as a lover,” she added, getting to her feet and glowering at Annabel. “I saw the two of you, both in the clearing by the river and then here in this very barn. He makes you howl like a bitch in heat, while Grant is clumsy and—” Kate clenched her fingers and growled, “I hate you for that too. Why do you get everything while I am left with nothing? Why do you get the strong man who is not only a caring and skilled lover, but strong enough in will and mind to do what must be done, while I get a boy who has not a clue what he is doing in the bedding and has neither a strong will nor a good mind. It is not fair,” she cried furiously.

A shuffle by the door made them both glance that way. Grant stood in the opening, silent and still. Annabel could tell by his wounded expression that he’d heard everything Kate had said, and she found herself feeling terribly sorry for him. But after a moment, he took a deep breath, raised his head and moved to Kate’s side, saying quietly, “We ha’e enough wealth now to live as ye wish. We can buy a nice estate in the south of France, or in Spain, hire servants and enjoy all those things ye wanted. We’re well set for life, Kate. Let yer sister go.”

“Aye, we are well set now,” Kate agreed and then muttered, “So why am I not happy? I thought getting just a portion of this would make everything all right. Instead, I . . .” Shaking her head, she turned to Annabel and admitted almost with shame, “I just cannot abide the idea of you enjoying everything that should have been mine. I cannot bear it.”

“Why?” Grant asked, sounding young and frustrated and angry now himself. “Why can ye no’ just take the money and leave her be? Why must ye destroy everything?” Turning, he moved to take Annabel’s arm and started to draw her toward the door, growling, “I’m setting her free.”

“Grant!” Kate snapped.

Pausing, he cast Annabel an apologetic look, and turned back, still holding her arm. “Aye?”

“If we let her go and she tells MacKay that we are the ones who robbed him, he will hunt us all the days of our lives,” Kate said grimly.

“Whether or no’ she tells, they’ll ken ye took the coin, Kate. And even if they somehow do no’ figure that out, we’re going to be hunted the rest o’ our lives anyway,” Grant said wearily. “Ye told me yerself that ye boldly walked into the stables and took two horses and then rode out fer all to see. And ye knocked out the maid, and that Effie woman, and then ye kidnapped yer sister. Ye’ve ensured we will be hunted. ’Tis as if ye want it. Well I don’t,” he added. “I love ye, Kate, but ye’re never satisfied. Nothing is ever enough, and ’tis as if ye can no’ allow yerelf to be happy. And because yer never happy, ye make everyone around ye as miserable as yerself.”

Grant shook his head sadly, “I do no’ want to spend me life miserable, Kate. I’m done.”

Kate stared at him wide-eyed and then whirled on Annabel. “This is all your fault!”

“Mine?” Annabel asked with amazement.

“Aye,” she cried. “It was not enough that you had everything else, but you just had to turn Grant against me. God, I hate you,” she shrieked.

“Then ’tis good that I love her.”

All three of them whirled toward the two men standing in the open barn door at that. Annabel was aware of Bean’s presence, but had eyes only for Ross standing tall and proud in the doorway, his hand on his sword, his expression grim. He looked so damned strong and proud, and she loved every inch of him. Better yet, he’d said he loved her.

Did he mean it? Annabel wondered, and hoped it was so, because she loved him. She might have taken herself by surprise when she’d blurted the words out Sunday morning, but they were true for all that. She loved this man who treated her with nothing but kindness and care. She loved the fairness with which he dealt with her and everyone else. She loved his strength, his intelligence, his lovemaking, and his laugh even when he was laughing at her. She loved this big, handsome, sweet man and was ever so grateful that her life had taken the turn that had placed her with him.

Annabel was so distracted by her thoughts that she didn’t at first notice Kate’s reaction to Ross’s arrival. Had she paid more attention, she would have noticed the way her sister stiffened and then began to vibrate with frustrated rage. And she would have been prepared to get the heck out of the way when Kate suddenly shrieked in fury and flew at her, fists raised. But that shriek was the only warning she had, and it wasn’t enough. Annabel stood briefly frozen as her sister charged her, and then Grant was suddenly pushing her to the side and stepping in to take the blows of Kate’s flying fists.

Annabel suspected he’d done this before, allowing Kate to take out her rage by beating her fists against him. She also suspected he hadn’t expected her to attack so ferociously. Despite the size difference, Grant stumbled back when she crashed against him, and in that move he lost his footing and fell back. They went together, Kate’s feet knocked out from under her by his larger ones kicking as he tried to regain his footing.

Annabel cried out in warning, and reached out as she saw that he was about to fall against the two posts and board where she’d laid her gown during her first visit here with Ross. But it was too late. Grant’s head bounced off one post as they fell, and then he was lying on the ground, his head up against the post at an odd angle and Kate on his unmoving chest.

“Grant?” Kate said worriedly as she raised her head from his chest. “Grant?”

Annabel bit her lip. She could see that he was dead, his neck broken, but she hesitated a moment before moving forward and bending to place a hand on her shoulder.

“Come, Kate. He is dead,” she said gently.

“Nay, he is not,” her sister snapped, shaking off her hand. She then began to shake Grant. “Wake up, Grant. Wake up, and show her you are still alive. Grant!”

Annabel bit her lip, and then glanced away as Kate began to shriek hysterically and started hitting the dead man again, pleading and demanding by turn that he wake up.

“Let her be,” Ross advised, suddenly at her side and catching her arm to stop her as she bent to touch her sister’s shoulder again. Annabel hesitated, but then straightened with a nod.

“Are ye all right?” Ross asked, turning her to face him and running his eyes and hands over her in search of wounds.

“Aye,” Annabel assured him, and then smiled shakily and added, “But I am glad to see you.”

Ross nodded, and then suddenly covered her mouth with his own for a quick hard kiss. He then held her tight to his chest in a long hug and sighed.

“I’ll keep an eye on Kate,” Bean said joining them as Ross ended the hug. “Ye’d best collect yer coin.”

“Aye. Thank ye,” Ross murmured, and then lead Annabel to the pile of jewels and coins on the ground.

When he released her then and knelt to begin replacing them in the sack that Kate had brought, Annabel crouched beside him to help.

She noted that Ross placed a large quantity of coins back in the smaller bag that had held her dower. He then tied it to his sword belt and helped her replace the rest of the coins and jewels in the bigger bag. Annabel did not ask why he did that and they worked quickly and in silence. They were just finishing when Gilly and Marach led a large search party into the barn. They entered, swords drawn, but relaxed when they saw that everything was under control.

Closing the big sack holding the majority of the treasure, Ross pressed it into Annabel’s hand and helped her to her feet, then led her to the men.

“Take her back to the keep,” Ross ordered, urging her between Gilly and Marach. “And ye can take most o’ the rest o’ the men with ye. Just leave me two ye can do without fer a bit.”

“What about Kate?” Annabel asked worriedly.