The Ranger (Highland Guard #3)(101)

It wasn’t just his mission and his life at stake. If there was ever going to be a chance for them, he needed to make her understand.

She didn’t look at him as he approached but stared silently out into the darkness, her face a pale mask of anguish.

He sat down next to her, never having felt more helpless. He wanted to take her into his arms and tell her it would be all right, but he knew it wouldn’t. He’d betrayed her. It didn’t matter that it couldn’t have been helped.

“It’s not what you think,” he said softly.

Her voice was thick with emotion. “You can’t imagine what I think.” She turned to him, her big blue eyes blurred with unshed tears, and he felt a stab of pain in his heart so sharp it made him flinch. “Tell me it isn’t true, Arthur. Tell me it’s all a mistake. Tell me you aren’t what I think you are.”

He should. What was one more lie on top of so many? He could try to deny it. Maybe he’d even be able to convince her. But he didn’t think so. She knew. He could see it in her eyes. And if he lied to her now, he would never have a chance to make her understand.

For them to have a chance, he had to tell her the truth.

He looked into her eyes. “I never meant to hurt you.”

She made a sound, a whimper of pain like that of a wounded animal—a fluffy, little kitten caught in a bear trap.

He couldn’t help himself. He reached out to touch her, but she jerked away.

“How can you say that? You used me. You lied to me about everything that was important.” Tears seeped from the corners of her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. “Was any of it real? Or was making me care for you part of the plan?”

“What happened between us was real, Anna. You were never part of the plan. You were never supposed to be involved. This isn’t about you.”

“What is it about, then? Robert Bruce? The feud? Your father?” He clenched his jaw and she sucked in her breath. “It is about your father. You blame my father for his death.” She pulled back. “This is all some horrible, twisted attempt at revenge. Because your father died in battle you want to see my family destroyed, is that it? What do you plan to do, kill my father to avenge the death of yours?” She drew up in horror. “My God, you do.”

Arthur’s teeth gritted together. She made it sound petty. Simple. Yet it was anything but. Anna was blinded by the love she had for her family from seeing the reality of what was happening around her. He hated being the one to force her eyes open, but he didn’t have a choice.

“It’s your father that is going to destroy your clan, Anna, not me. Robert Bruce has done what none thought possible. He’s the best chance Scotland has of winning its freedom from the English. He has won the hearts of the people. But your father’s hatred and his pride have prevented him from seeing it. He’d rather see an English puppet on the throne. But the MacDougalls are standing alone, Anna—even Ross will submit.”

Her spine went rigid. “My father is doing what he thinks is right.”

“Nay, your father is doing whatever he can not to admit defeat. Do not mistake what this is about, Anna. Your father will see you all destroyed rather than accept losing.”

He could see the outrage burning on her cheeks. “You don’t know anything about my father.”

She tried to get up, but he grabbed her wrist and held her down. “I know too much about your father. I know exactly what he’ll do to win.”

She tried to free her arm. “Let go of me.”

“Not until you hear all of it.” He wished to hell he wasn’t the one to disillusion her, but he knew he couldn’t protect her from the truth any longer. “I didn’t tell you everything I saw the day my father was killed.”

“I don’t want—”

“But you will,” he bit in. “Even if you don’t want to hear it. I stood on that hill and saw everything, Anna. My father had yours at the point of his sword. He could have killed him, but he offered him mercy. Your father accepted terms—agreed to surrender—and then when my father turned his back, he killed him.”

Anna gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief and horror. “You’re wrong. My father would never do something so dishonorable.”

Arthur pulled her toward him and forced her to look in his eyes. “I was there, Anna. I saw and heard everything but could do nothing to stop it. I tried to warn my father, but it was too late. Lorn heard me and sent men after me, but I hid in the forest for a week. By the time I came out, it was too late to change his story. I wouldn’t have been believed.”

He could see her panic. Feel her heart fluttering wildly against his. She was fighting to hold on to any thread to preserve the illusions she had of the man she thought her father to be. “You must have misinterpreted what happened. You were too far away.”

“I didn’t misinterpret anything, Anna. I heard every word.”

He was wrong. He had to be wrong. Didn’t he? Her father had a bad temper, but she knew the kind of man he was.

She turned harshly away from him. “I don’t believe you.”

The pity in his eyes cut deeper than glass. “Ask him yourself.”

She didn’t say anything, refusing to listen.

“Your father will stop at nothing to win, Anna, nothing. Hell, he even used his own daughter.”