Amanda Scott (21 page)

“I knew it was you,” Neil said.

“I am not surprised. I recognized you, as well.”

“Did you? How?”

“White Boots.”

Neil looked surprised. Then his expression cleared, and he exclaimed, “How stupid of me! You rode him back to Balcardane after the wildcat attacked you. That was weeks ago, though. Fancy your remembering.”

“I am not in my dotage,” Rory said, resisting an urge to grind his teeth.

Neil must have heard a warning in his tone, for he said anxiously, “Are you angry? Look here, you won’t tell Diana, will you, or the authorities? You did not catch me with stolen cattle, after all, and there’s no law against riding at night.”

“No, there is not,” Rory said. Little light remained now. Only a curved sliver of moon still peeked over the mountains to the west. “You had better hope no one else recognized your horse, however, and that your confederates do not betray you. I’d have little choice then but to admit that I recognized both you and the horse.”

“Would you do that?” Neil frowned. “I expect you would at that. I thought that since you were smitten with my sister you would not betray me, but I’ll warrant you’re a Campbell through and through, after all.”

“I am that, lad, but I am also a fair man, and as you say, there is no law against riding at night. Why did you run?” He saw the boy stiffen indignantly.

“If you think I’m a coward, think again. When we heard the horn, the men ran for cover. Not everyone with me was mounted, however, and I was afraid you might catch the ones afoot, so I flashed out of the glen, hoping to lead you all on a chase. I never thought only one of you would follow.”

“I knew I could catch you,” Rory said. “You should be glad I came alone. Duncan’s men would not be so willing to engage in conversation with you.”

Neil chuckled. “I can’t deny that. Will you tell Duncan about this?”

“Not unless I must.”

“I knew I was right about you, but don’t tell Diana either, will you?”

“You’d best tell her yourself, lad. I’ve a strong notion that others will have recognized that gelding. You should know better than to ride a horse that’s so easy to identify on an illegal foray.”

“Are you saying you’ll tell Diana if I do not?”

“I’m saying,” Rory explained with more patience than he had thought he could muster, “that you are misreading the situation between your sister and me.”

“She saved your life! What’s more, I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

“She’s a beautiful woman. I’ll warrant most men look at her.”

“Well, that’s a fact, but still—”

“Expect no more favors from me,” Rory interjected, suppressing a new, amazingly strong emotion that gripped him at the boy’s casual agreement that other men admired his sister. Refusing to recognize the feeling for what it was, he added harshly, “You may tell her, while you are about it, that we are even now. It is quite possible that she saved my life that day in the woods, but taking it all in all, I think she will admit that we are quits. She owes more to me now than I owe to her.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Neil said stiffly.

“Don’t you? Oddly enough, I credited you with more intelligence than that.”

“Look here, I know that you know all about—”

“Don’t be a damned fool,” Rory snapped. “If you are about to speak of things that lie in the past, don’t. What I know or suspect, is of no consequence until you confirm it, lad. Trust me when I say you do not want to put anything into words that you might have to admit later if I have to make an official statement.”

The moonlight had gone, and the scattering of stars above cast insufficient light to reveal the boy’s expression, but Rory heard petulance in his voice when he said, “Oh, very well, have it your own way. I won’t say another word.”

“I wish I might believe that.”

“What the devil do you mean by that?”

“Nothing. Go home, Sir Neil, and give thanks to God that you can do so. And next time—for I do not doubt there will be a next time—take greater care.”

Angrily, Neil jerked his reins and kicked the bay’s flanks.

Watching him ride away, Rory found himself sending up a little prayer that Neil would reach Maclean House safely. Turning back, he forded the burn, but instead of riding into the glen where he knew he would find the others, he turned toward Balcardane. The last thing he needed now was an angry confrontation with Duncan, although he could not doubt there would be one before the night was done.

At the castle, he found his aunt, his uncle, and Ian waiting in the drawing room. Ian looked anxious and Lady Balcardane politely inquisitive, but his uncle seemed to be his usual testy self.

“Where the devil is Duncan?” Balcardane demanded. “Did you catch them or was it all a hoax?”

“Cattle raiders,” Lady Balcardane said, in much the same tone that another might comment on the weather. “I daresay they will not mind the dampness rising off the water, but it seems to seep through the very walls. Even my yarns feel damp tonight. Perhaps you might stir up the fire, Rory dear.”

As Rory turned toward the fireplace, Balcardane growled, “Never mind that! Ring for a servant if you want the fire tended, madam. Where is Duncan, lad?”

“He is still at the head of the loch, I believe,” Rory said, handing the poker to Ian when the younger man got up from his chair and reached for it. “Perhaps, Aunt, if I move your chair nearer the fire, your yarns will stay dry.”

“Do you think so, my dear?” She looked at the pile of multicolored threads in her lap and sighed. “They are very pretty, don’t you think?”

“Odrabbit it, he don’t care a whit about your yarn, madam! And if it’s got damp, don’t think you’ll be buying any more. What did you find, sir? What did you find? Did they get any of our cattle? Expensive beasts to replace, cattle are.”

“As to that, sir, I don’t know,” Rory admitted. “I think perhaps we frightened the raiders off before they were able to take any. I chased one that rode away. Then, being uncertain that I would find the others, I came back here.”

“Ye did right,” Balcardane said. But he continued to fret until he heard noises heralding arrival in the great hall. “That will be Duncan, that will. Run tell him where we are, Ian, or he’ll go straight off to bed.”

Ian obeyed and soon returned with his brother. Duncan looked straight at Rory, his mouth set. “So you let him get away, did you?”

“I’m afraid he did get away,” Rory said, pretending to misunderstand.

“So did his friends, may they rot in hell. Don’t look so damned innocent.”

“Duncan, please, your language,” his mother protested.

“Sorry,” he said in a tone that belied the word. “You recognized that horse as easily as I did,” he said, advancing angrily toward Rory.

“What horse?” Ian asked.

“Bay gelding, four white stockings,” Duncan said without looking at him.

“White Boots? Neil Maclean’s bay?”

“You see, cousin, that horse is well known hereabouts.”

“Is it? I’m afraid it’s not the first I’ve seen with such markings. Nor will it be the last. But if you are sure, why do you not simply confront him?”

“And say what? That his horse was involved in a cattle raid? I told you to take two of my men with you. Why did you not?”

“I don’t know your men,” Rory said. “Since you did not shout names or order anyone to follow me, I gave chase without them. I am not as familiar with the terrain as that rider was, however. In any event, we’d be hard pressed to prove he was near any stolen cattle,” he added. “Were any of them actually stolen?”

“By God, I don’t believe this,” Duncan said hotly. “You say you came here to be certain those who had been disloyal to the Crown were not being treated too softly by the factors. Now here you are letting one of the devils get away after he’s tried to steal our cattle!” He took another step toward Rory, who braced himself.

Ian grabbed Duncan’s arm. “Wait,” he cried. “You’re being unfair, Duncan. He said we can’t prove Neil did anything illegal, even if he—” His words ended abruptly when Duncan turned in fury and knocked him down with a single blow.

“Don’t get up or I’ll do it again,” Duncan thundered, standing over him. “You don’t know what you are talking about, you young fool. You don’t even know which side you are on, because you can’t think beyond Mary Maclaine’s bewitching gray eyes. Oh, aye, I know all about her. Did you think I did not?”

Ian stayed where he was, looking warily up at him and rubbing his reddening jaw. “It’s just as well that you do know,” he said quietly.

“What’s this?” Balcardane demanded. “What about Mary Maclaine?”

“Only that he’ll make any excuse to visit Maclean House, that’s all,” Duncan said. “That’ll end soon enough though, when Red Colin evicts the lot of them. Even our Ian will think twice before making a fool of himself over a serving wench.”

“She’s no serving wench,” Ian said, starting to get up.

Duncan shifted his weight threateningly.

“That will do,” Rory said.

Duncan looked at him, his eyebrows shooting upward. “Do you think you can interfere if I decide to teach my little brother respect for his elders?”

“I think you will be happier if you don’t put me to the test,” Rory said evenly. He met Duncan’s angry gaze and held it.

“Oh, very well,” Duncan said. He turned on his heel and strode to a side table where a tray laden with glasses and a decanter of whisky stood.

Rory held out a hand to Ian, helping him up.

Balcardane glared at his younger son. “What’s this about Mary Maclaine?”

“I love her,” Ian said. “That’s all.”

“All, is it? I forbid you to set foot in that house again.”

“They are to be evicted on Term Day,” Ian said. Looking at Duncan, he said, “What did you mean when you said Mary will be a serving wench?”

“Colin don’t want the women to starve,” Duncan said smoothly. “He’s made arrangements for them to earn their keep, that’s all.”

Before Ian could take issue and draw his brother’s fire again, Rory said, “First he must make his eviction stick, I think.”

“Are you saying he cannot?” Duncan smiled. “Will you order it set aside.”

“I have no power to do that.”

Duncan sneered. “First the Barons warn him not to show favoritism. Then one of their own comes amongst us, and does just that. I begin to think perhaps my idiot brother is not the only one with a strong interest at Maclean House.”

Balcardane said angrily, “I wish someone would explain all this to me!”

Duncan ignored him, saying to Rory, “I wish you well, cousin, but you will find that neither of them bears a soft spot for Campbells. Mary Maclaine encourages Ian now, but just wait and see how she treats him after they are evicted.”

“I begin to think the notion of evicting them was not Glenure’s alone,” Rory said, watching Duncan narrowly.

Duncan shrugged. “Think what you like.”

Diana learned of the attempted cattle raid the next day, and soon discovered that her brother had been involved. When she confronted him, he did not deny it.

“Calder said you would find out,” he said with a shrug. “Nothing came of it, though, so you needn’t make a fuss.”

“Not make a fuss! Neil, if you had been caught by the Campbells, they might have hanged you on the spot to save the sheriff the trouble!”

“No, they wouldn’t. They never saw me near any cattle, and there is no law against being out and about on a moonlit night. We kept a good watch, and Dugald got all the lads away safe and sound.”

“Dugald! I ought to have known, but how did either of you think a raid could possibly help matters?”

Shrugging petulantly, Neil said, “Don’t blame Dugald. We were going to sell the cattle. Money always helps matters, Diana, and you are always saying I should help the clan. We might even have bribed Glenure to forget our eviction.”

“He is more likely to have arrested you the moment you attempted it, and surely you did not hope to bribe Calder. What did he have to do with this?”

“He caught me. But he had to let me go,” he added hastily. “He could prove nothing, after all. Still, he says you owe him more now than he owes you.”

She got nothing more from him, but she soon had more important matters to concern her, for on Sunday James of the Glen returned from Edinburgh. She had received only one letter from him in the weeks he had been away, to tell her that he had been unable to present their case before the Barons of the Exchequer.

“Too few of them are in town to make up a quorum, and they do not sit again until after Term Day,” he had written.

“I’ve met with one of them, though, and I now hope to present our case to the Court of Sessions, and not wait for the Barons.”

He presented himself at Maclean House on Sunday afternoon. Diana knew from the moment he entered the parlor that he had brought them good news.

“Oh, how glad we are to see you,” she exclaimed, smiling with relief.

“Whisst now, wait till ye hear it all before ye cheer, lass,” he said. “We’ve no done with it yet, but we’ve made a good start.”

“Tell us,” Mary said, gesturing for him to draw up a chair and sit down. “Morag will bring you a mug of ale if you like.”

“Aye, I’d like that fine. Me throat’s as dry as a ridge-top rill in August.”

Diana contained her impatience while he took the mug that Morag gave him and drank deeply of its contents, but then she said, “Now, tell us at once. Can we tell Red Colin to go to the devil, James?”

“Not just yet, lass,” he said, taking a second, more modest sip of his ale.

Mary said, “Is it true that one Baron agreed to advise you?”

“Aye, it is. I knew one alone couldna help much, and I didna want to talk with a Campbell against Red Colin—Three o’ the five be Campbells, ye ken. But this chap says he is certain the Barons will see justice done when next they sit.”

“What about now?” Diana demanded. “Red Colin means to evict us on Term Day, and that’s little more than a fortnight away!”

“I know, lass. My chappie advised that them that be most threatened—which would be her ladyship, a few Camerons, and the landlord at the Kentallen Inn—must present a proper protest to Glenure.”

“Mam cannot come here to protest. Red Colin would arrest her!”