Highlander Most Wanted (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #2)(13)

Jesu, but this became messier all the time. Now the lass was convinced that his disgust was over the scar on her face.

He sighed, angered by the whole of it. And more than a little appalled that she’d offered herself without care. She hadn’t displayed even a modicum of self-respect.

Aye, it didn’t just make him angry. It made him bloody well furious.

“Do you not have more pride?” he demanded. “Do you offer yourself to every man who crosses your path, or is it because you find yourself without a protector now that your lover is dead. Would any man do?”

She went utterly white. “Protector?”

A hoarse, dry laugh escaped her, and the sound was guttural and ugly in the silence. He thought that she would say more, but she clamped her mouth shut and leveled a stare at him.

Her eyes were cold, unfeeling. The façade was back. No emotion reflected whatsoever. It was like looking across the waters of a loch in winter.

“What say you, Bowen Montgomery? Will you accept my proposition? Do we have an agreement or nay?”

He shook his head, distaste foul in his mouth. “I have no desire for Ian McHugh’s leavings.”

He spun on his heel and stalked from the room, but not before he saw the flash of anguish replace the coldness in her eyes.

Chapter 7

Bowen strode through the keep and into the courtyard. The hall was devoid of people and eerily quiet. They’d all been summoned by Teague to hear their fate.

It was a damnable mess. There wasn’t even that much to claim. Patrick had fled and taken all that was in the coffers, leaving his clansmen to fend for themselves.

The cowardly act was incomprehensible, for when a man took the position of laird to his clan he made a vow to provide for and to protect every last person under his leadership.

What was Bowen even to do with the McHugh people and what was left of the keep? He would have to petition Graeme for supplies and coin in order to care for those who remained.

He stepped into the sunlight and surveyed the assembled clansmen. As soon as his presence was detected, all eyes went to him. There were more McHughs than Bowen had originally thought. Not as many had fled with Patrick as assumed, and perhaps they’d known better.

But their wealth was gone. Most of the horses and livestock had been taken. And now Bowen was left with a mess to clean up.

He found Teague, Aiden, and Brodie, who stood by the steps leading into the keep. He put his hand on Teague’s shoulder so he could address his brother.

“I would send you to Graeme with an accounting of what has occurred. We have need of supplies, coin, food. Graeme will need to know exactly what has happened here and make a decision on the matter. I will voice my recommendation through you, but, ’tis ultimately his choice. The king will also have need to know what has occurred. Rumors will circulate rapidly through the Highlands, and I’d rather Graeme and our king know firsthand what is the truth.”

Teague nodded his agreement, but then he frowned and turned to Aiden and Brodie.

“We discussed that you would return to your father’s lands and take back your soldiers. I will be returning part of our army to my brother so that our clan is not left unprotected.”

Brodie nodded.

Teague glanced back at Bowen, and then again at the Armstrong brothers.

“ ’Tis something I never thought would happen, but I have a boon to ask.”

Brodie’s eyebrows went up, and he and his brother exchanged quick glances of surprise.

“If I am to journey back to Montgomery Keep with the majority of our men, and you are to return to your father’s keep with the whole of your army, Bowen will be left in a vulnerable position here.”

Bowen frowned and started to deny any such thing, but Teague swept his hand up to silence his older brother.

“Before, the plan was simple. Patrick was to have been eliminated and, with him, any possible threat. ’Tis not the case now. We have no idea where Patrick is, whom he may have allied himself with, if anyone, and he could very well be a problem.”

Aiden and Brodie both nodded their agreement.

“ ’Tis true,” Aiden said. “We hadn’t counted on Patrick being gone. We’d intended to deal with the matter in a concise manner and then go on our way, leaving a few men behind to claim the holding and care for the surviving clan members.”

“The thing I ask is for one of you to remain behind with Bowen while I travel back to our lands to consult with Graeme and apprise him of the situation,” Teague said.

“I’ll stay,” Brodie said. “I’ll keep a dozen of our men and send the rest back with Aiden. Combined with the Montgomery warriors who remain behind, ’tis more than enough of a fighting force to defend the keep.”

“You have my thanks,” Bowen said in a sincere voice.

Nay, it wasn’t necessary for one of the Armstrongs to remain behind, but Bowen appreciated that Brodie was willing to do so when their families had been at war for so many years.

“You have my thanks as well,” Teague said. “I do not like leaving my brother when I’m not certain of his protection.”

Brodie nodded. “You took very good care of my sister. You offered her protection and … acceptance. My family owes you a debt of gratitude for that. Many would have scorned her and forever labeled her the enemy’s daughter. ’Tis a small thing you ask, and I am glad to do it.”