“Not a man to trifle with,” Jeff observed.
“Nor a man to trust,” Lily noted, watching as the older man strode away.
“Ach, you’re a stubborn man.” Alec threw a rock across the clearing, shaking his head. “You’ll believe Lily’s story aboutwhere she came from, but you willna believe it when I tell you it wasna my men at Dunbrae.”
“I don’t know what to think anymore.” Bram pushed to his feet and ran a hand through his hair. Dougan followed suit, although the big man’s hand was on his claymore. Alec waved him down again and he sat with a dissatisfied grunt. “From the way it looks, I’d say that Lily was lying, too.”
“Except that you know that isn’t the case.” This from Iain, who’d remained uncharacteristically quiet as Alec had continued to deny the allegations against him and his clan.
“Yes, I suppose I do. At least about some things,” Bram grudgingly admitted, dropping back down to sit on a fallen log. “But even so it doesn’t mean she’s not conspiring with Alec against me.”
“Are you crazy, man? She didn’t come here for me. She came for you. And believe me, she’s made that more than apparent to all of us.” Alec’s voice echoed across the open expanse beyond the trees, and Bram could see Lily’s head turn, her dark hair swirling around her shoulders.
He didn’t want to feel anything at all, damn it, but just seeing her, even from a distance, made his blood stir. Bram jerked his attention back to the conversation. “She’s a Comyn.”
“Who loves a Macgillivray,” Alec countered. “It doesn’t appeal to me either. But it is what it is.”
“A hell of a mess,” Fergus summarized as he joined the four of them.
“What of the men?” Iain asked.
“Ranald is watching o’er them. And for the most part they’re settled. Although I canna say they’re pleased with the situation. I suspect everyone will be sleeping with their hand on a weapon and one eye open tonight. But for the moment at least, there’s peace.” He sat down on the log beside Bram, first eyeing Douganand then turning to Iain. “I take it you’ve decided to believe Alec?”
“We’re agreed to try and keep an open mind,” Iain said. “Partially because you believe him.”
The older man sighed, stroking his beard. “That I do. Or at least I have to admit there’s a ring of authenticity.”
“But then how do you explain Dougan’s sons trying to kill me?” Bram asked, still not trusting the other man. They’d told Alec of the attack at Duncreag but hadn’t gone as far as to mention the other attacks.
It was Dougan’s turn to look astounded. “What rubbish are ye spouting now?” His eyes narrowed as his gaze met Alec’s and his hand moved to his weapon. “I told ye we couldna trust the whoresons.”
Alec frowned, but waved his hand to still his second. “What makes you believe the men you’re speaking of were Dougan’s sons?”
“They told me themselves,” Bram said, frustration cresting. “First Murdoc Macniven when he attacked me in the mist and then his brother today in the mountains.”
Dougan sputtered and Alec’s amused gaze met Bram’s. “Ach, but you see there’s a wee problem with that notion.”
“And that would be?” Bram challenged.
“Dougan has no sons.” Alec shrugged and looked to his captain.
“Only three braw lassies,” the big man said with a shrug. “No’ fer lack of tryin’, mind ye. And even if I did, I’d no’ name one o’ them Murdoc.” He almost smiled, then seemed to remember the serious nature of the situation and his countenance darkened again. “I tell you true. I have no sons.”
And suddenly Bram felt his anger deflating. As barmy as it seemed, he believed everything Alec was saying. Which didn’t mean he’d start calling Alec Comyn friend. But it did seem thatsomeone else had betrayed him. Betrayed his clan. Someone who wanted him to believe that his most hated enemy was behind it.
Alec’s green-eyed gaze seemed to pierce right through him. “I ken this is hard on you. And I accept that you dinna trust me. I canna say I trust you either. But for the moment, at least, it seems we share common interests.”
Without thinking, Bram’s head turned, his gaze moving to the lean-to and the shadowy image of Lily tending to Robby. Common interests indeed. His body tightened and he fought a wave of pure desire.
Bollocks.
She might not have been in league with Alec against him, but she was still a Comyn and common interests aside, Macgillivrays and Comyns were not meant to fall in love with each other. The last time that had happened his clan had practically been destroyed.
“I dinna see what we could possibly have in common,” he snapped, forcing himself back to the matter at hand.
“Alec’s right, Bram.” Iain laid a hand on his shoulder, and Bram jerked free.
“How can you say that? He’s a Comyn.” He knew he was letting his emotions hold sway, but somehow the idea that this man had a claim—albeit a familial one—on Lily made his blood boil. Not that he had a claim anymore. Even if he could get beyond the fact that she was a Comyn, how could she ever forgive him? He’d let her down in so many ways. It was all such a bloody nightmare.
