Jake (The Highland Clan Book 4) (10 page)

Was Lorna dead? Had Hew killed her?

Chapter Eleven

Jake paced inside the solar, although there were too many bodies in there for him to move much. The six lads who had gone scouting the previous day were meeting with Uncle Logan, Uncle Brodie, Uncle Robbie, and Jake’s sire. The older men had been surprised to hear all they’d uncovered in such a short time.

“So they’ll be attacking our clan within a moon,” Jake said, running a hand through his hair. “We must go on the offensive. I say we return tonight.” He had to get Aline out of there and fast.

“Nay, we’ll not be going tonight,” Alex said. “‘Tis foolish to attack without a solid plan. He said before the next moon, then we have time to plan. I’ve sent a message to Loki and we’ll be heading to his keep on the morrow. After all you’ve told me, I believe they’ll be attacking here first. And I’ll remind you again, we cannot be the ones to start a battle without good reason.”

“We have good reason. He’s holding Aline.”

“True, but since she chose to return to him, we wouldn’t have much proof of this. Remember what I said about our king. We cannot attack without a sound reason. Now, we have heard he plans to attack us, so my plan is to be ready to turn the tables on them, catch them unaware. We’ll lie in wait for them. As soon as they leave their keep to come after us, that’s our time to attack. Their forces will be split because they’ll leave some back as protection, and we’ll come upon them from behind, since his land is between ours and Loki’s. We’ll catch them by surprise, and we will not risk the lives of the women in the keep. Trust your sire and his experience. We do this the correct way. Loki’s first.”

“What good is going to Loki’s going to do us?”

“He’s part of our clan, so we shall fight together. We’ll get his men prepared, leave some of our guards there before we travel to Gordon’s. Even though you overheard him, he could change his mind and go to Loki’s first. I will take some of our women there for safety reasons.” Alex Grant sat in the chair behind his desk as calm and collected as ever. Uncle Logan sat in his chair with his hands laced behind his head, chortling at the spectacle in front of him.

Jake hadn’t thought of that. He had to admit if he were in Loki’s shoes, he’d want Alex to leave some guards with him since his wife and bairn were there. Castle Curanta did not have more than seventy or eighty guards, so it was a good move for his sire to transfer more guards to bolster Loki’s forces. Actually, he liked the idea better once he realized his sire was probably taking his mother and sisters to his cousins. It was the best move, but it could take two days. He couldn’t wait that long.

“Why do you laugh, Uncle Logan?” Jamie asked.

“I’m not laughing at you lads, but it pleases me to see you all working together toward the same end. Grant, did you ever expect to see our sons complete a successful mission without us?” He leaned his chair back, his gaze on all the younger lads gathered in the solar. “What do you suppose Loki will do with Kenzie? Bring him along or leave him behind with Bella?”

Jamie snorted, “Kenzie will come with him. If you left Kenzie behind, do you think he would stay there? Better to bring him along than allow him to wander around the Highlands trying to find us. He would never stay put.”

“You know who they remind me of?” His sire tipped his head at his sons and nephews, then looked at his brothers.

“Who?” Uncle Robbie said.

“They remind me of how Brodie was after meeting Celestina. Naught could happen fast enough for him. Do you not recall how I had to handfast him within a few days of meeting her? What a mess that was, and Brodie was like a bull when he went after Ivarsson.”

Uncle Brodie scowled at his brother, but then said. “I cannot argue with you. The lass made me daft for sure.” Then he nodded toward Jake. “And I’m seeing some similarities in your son, Alex.”

Alex narrowed his gaze on Jake, who moved his plans to the back of his mind. He would not wait to go after Aline, but he did not want his sire, whose insight was uncanny, to guess at his plan.

“One thing we have not determined yet, and I want all of you focused on this. What is the source of this wealth Hew Gordon holds over the chief’s head?” Alex asked. “I prefer to know everything about our enemy.”

“We heard naught about that,” Gregor added.

“Nor did we,” replied Roddy.

“We heard no specifics,” confirmed Gavin. “But it could be anything. It could be coin or gold.”

“It could even be gemstones, but I doubt it. We were just in Edinburgh, and would have heard about a large collection of jewels being moved.” Uncle Logan stood and leaned against the desk, crossing his arms and legs both.

Jake recognized it as his uncle’s typical thinking position.

“I have a thought, and I’d like you all to hear me out.”

The door opened and Jake’s mother made her way to the middle of the room, tears in her eyes. All voices in the solar quieted in an instant. She turned toward Jake before she spoke. “You did not locate Aline, did you? Did you find any evidence to tell you she arrived there safely?”

Jake shook his head, feeling the pain of denying his mother. The disappointment in her eyes cut into him. After the incident in the stables, he’d assured himself he’d never disappoint her again. And yet he’d done it.

She turned to his sire. “Alex, we must get her away from there.” Tears threatened to run down her cheeks, but she stood as solid as a rock, her shoulders back and her hands folded in front of her.

Jake’s sire circled his desk and wrapped her up in his arms, resting his chin on her head since he towered over her. “Maddie, you have my word that we will find her and return her to Clan Grant. You trust me, aye?”

She leaned her head against his chest and sighed. “Aye.”

His finger found her chin and lifted her gaze to his. “I promise.” He kissed her and she fell against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest. He returned to his chair and brought his wife with him, tucking her on his lap.

Would he ever have a relationship as strong as his mama and papa’s? Their love seemed to grow every year.

His sire ran his hand through the strands of his mother’s light hair while he continued on. “Logan, I wish to hear what you were about to say before.”

“Jake, Gavin, was there aught at all about the chief that seemed familiar to you? His voice, his walk, his stature?”

Jake thought for a moment and glanced at Gavin. “I thought there was something, but I cannot place him. I’ve tried and tried.”

“I cannot think of aught either, Papa.” Gavin stared at the ceiling in thought.

“Allow me to run something by you.” Uncle Logan waited to make certain he had everyone’s attention.

Alex said, “We’re listening.”

“Some of these things I learned in Edinburgh when Gwynie and I traveled with our daughters to the Buchans. We’ve already discussed much of this, but I’d like us to review all we know. Glenn of Buchan has lost two sons and has one daughter left.”

“Aye,” his sire said. “And he also lost Ranulf, the chief of the MacNivens, who was hanged for treason.”

“Aye. Glenn wishes to exact revenge and plans to go after the Grants instead of the Ramsays. Davina wishes for him to attack deep in the Highlands,” Uncle Logan continued.

“Why does Davina care where he attacks? If she had a preference, I would expect it to be the Ramsays because of the embarrassment of being rejected by Torrian,” Jamie said.

Uncle Logan said, “Och, but Cormag told us before he died that Davina walks around looking over her shoulder all the time.”

“Meaning?” Alex asked.

“She acts as if she’s seen a ghost is exactly what Cormag said.”

“I still do not follow your thoughts,” Alex said.

Jake’s eyes widened. From the way his mother’s posture suddenly changed, he thought she must have come to the same conclusion. “Ranulf,” he whispered. “He promised to marry Davina. She pledged her love to him.”

Maddie said, “Aye, Ranulf. The man who deceived the king and Torrian Ramsay with a lie, whose treachery almost caused Quade’s heir to be accused of treason. Jake, could the man you saw possibly be Ranulf?”

Jake considered this possibility, reviewing the man’s size, stature, and the way he carried himself, and comparing it to the man he had met at the Ramsays’ keep. He’d been arrogant, wily, and sneaky. He had to admit it was worthy of consideration. “Aye, I think ‘tis possible.”

“But he’s dead,” Jamie said.

“Nay,” Uncle Logan said, “he’s supposed to be dead. This would not be the first time the wrong man was hanged. Slip the guards enough coin and they turn the other cheek.”

He let that settle before making his claim.

A slow smile crept across Uncle Logan’s face. “I think the new chieftain we’re against is Ranulf, who was a MacNiven, and is now of Clan Dubh. He lost everything, including his identity, almost his life, and he blames the Ramsays for his failures. He’s keeping his face hidden for a reason. He knows we would recognize him, and he plans to make the Ramsays pay through you, by killing off as many Grants as he can. Glenn of Buchan also blames his sons’ deaths on the Ramsays so he could be acting as an accomplice by sending guards to MacNiven.”

Jake asked, “And do you judge the fact that it’s MacNiven to be good or bad?”

“Good in that we know our enemy,” his father replied, “but bad in other ways.”

Uncle Logan said, “Aye. He’s crafty, sneaky, and it’s the only thing that matters to him. He’s driven by revenge and hate unlike any other—a dangerous combination. And the other part that concerns me is that the men he awaits could be more guards from Glenn of Buchan, who has many to send.”

His mother fell back against his sire. “And Ranulf hates women and children. I heard he almost hit Jennet in front of the king.”

Uncle Logan strode over to the window, pulling the fur back to look out. “Verra true. He’s a cruel, vindictive man—the worst kind of enemy. The only thing that will stop him is death.”

Jake said, “Then I’d be happy to oblige him.”

He owed it to Aline and his mother.

***

Aline stared at the ceiling, tears running down the side of her face. She’d done everything he’d asked and talked as sweet as possible, yet he’d still refused to give her what she wanted. She was lost, her heart felt trampled on, and she had nowhere to turn. Living in the land of Hew Gordon was far worse than living in the land of Jake Grant. How could she have been foolish enough to believe she could manipulate Hew into giving her what she wanted, what she needed?

Hew was in control of everything here. He talked of being kind, of treating her better than anyone, even of loving her. But she knew better. Hew Gordon knew naught of kindness or consideration because he thought of himself first. He took what he wanted and gave nothing. This time he’d even locked her in his chamber. She’d begged him to let her out, to let her go down below, but he would not give in.

Hew Gordon was a cruel man.

The oddest thing was she felt no fear. There was naught that could happen to her that was worse than what already had. He’d taken the one thing that mattered to her away. She had no idea how to fix the situation.

Her world had crumbled around her, and she had no way out. Why hadn’t she stayed with Jake Grant? Why hadn’t she shared the entirety of her situation with him?

He’d been her only hope, but she hadn’t been wise enough to see it.

***

Jake saddled his horse, then double-checked all his supplies. He’d head back to Castle Dubh, convince Aline to come with him, then bring her back to Loki’s first, and eventually back to Clan Grant. The look in his mother’s eyes had convinced him it was the right choice. He’d hated having to tell her he’d been unable to find Aline and bring her home.

His sire and uncle had ordered him to travel with them to Loki’s castle, but that wouldn’t be until the morrow, and for some reason, he knew that would be too late.

He’d go today to Dubh; his gut told him so.

The energy had changed at the Grant keep, the normal reaction to the possibility of a skirmish. He was about to mount up when Ashlyn rushed up to him. “Jake, do not do it. You do not know who you are up against.”

“Ashlyn, I cannot go to Loki’s before rescuing her from Dubh. She’s not safe, and the next time Hew Gordon goes for her, he will not stop. He’ll beat her until she’s dead.”

“Do not go alone. Do you not think Jamie would go with you? What about Magnus?”

Magnus was his best friend besides his brother. If Jamie chose to go off adventuring rather than stay with the clan, Magnus could become Jake’s second once he ascended to the lairdship. “Jamie will not go against our sire. And remember what happened the last time Jamie and I got in trouble together?”

“That was different. You were young and foolish. Your sire would not treat you lads the same today.”

Over the years, Jake had formed a strong bond with his cousin Ashlyn. At first, she’d wanted naught to do with any of them. She’d spend all her time and energy protecting her sister Gracie in the first moons at Clan Grant. But she’d opened up with time, revealing a keen mind and invaluable instincts.

So he stopped to listen. “What do you know, Ashlyn, that you did not tell my father?”