Madison moved swiftlythrough the doorway. From around the corner, she could hear the sound men speaking, their husky low voices carried further than a woman’s ever could.
Rolling her shoulders back,Madison moved around the corner. Half the men that had gathered under window had already left. Only three men remained out of the handful she’d seen before.
“What is the meanin’of this gatherin?” Madison asked the first man she approached. He barely glanced at her as he fastened his belt tighter about his waist.
“We’re lookin’for some folks in a village a half day’s ride from here.”
The hopethat sprang in her chest entangled around her wits, and snuffed out her reasoning. She stepped closer, eyes wide and they were eager.
“I wish to join ye,”she said. The man paused a moment before turning his attention directly to her.
“Come again?”he asked and tilted his head to ensure he gave her an ear.
“I wishto join yer search party. They are me family ye’re lookin’ for, and I would ken what they look like better than ye would. But I’ll need a horse and a few moments to add some provisions for me.”
“Now wait just a moment,”the man said shaking his head as he placed his hand on Madison’s shoulder to stop her from going anywhere. “Look here. We only take orders from two people, Boyd and the Laird. And ye lass, are nae either one of them. Now get yerself back in the kitchen or wherever.”
“What’s this?Carter, what are ye doin’? I thought I told ye to fetch the bags of grain we are to be droppin’ off at the orphanage on our way out. Ye shouldnae be talkin’ with the Lady.”
“Lady MacLeon?Tis yer family we’re tryin’ to find? Me apologies, me lady, I dinnae ken who ye were,” Carter said bowing his head.
“She’s nae Lady MacLeon yet,”the man snapped as Madison felt his gaze bore into her. “But ye go and mind what I told ye. As for ye, Lady Madison, if ye wish to join us, ye best take it up with the laird. We’ll nae go against our master’s wishes, nae even for a pretty face.”
“But these isme family ye’re lookin’ for. Surely ye can see how it would make more sense if I came along,” Madison tried to reason. But it didn’t take her long to see there would be no budging. Theodore’s men were loyal and nothing shy of God would get them to betray him. She pressed her lips together as Boyd folded his arms over his chest defiantly.
“I’ll say it again,take it up with the laird,” Boyd with a slight shrug, his tone matter-of-fact.
“Take what up with me?Madison? I expected ye to still be asleep. If the men woke ye, I am sorry. I ken what a busy day ye had yesterday and thought ye’d want to rest.”
She archedan eyebrow and turned her scowl off Boyd and directed it to Theodore. “Ye’re goin' out to search for me family. I want to come.”
“Is that so?”Theodore studied her a moment. She could feel his direct glare as if he were assessing her ability and skills. “And tell me, who gave this notion that ye could ride out into the hills alone with a company of men?”
She glancedto Boyd as if he had the answer she needed. “But I wouldnae be alone?— ”
“Nay?”he interjected as he arched an eyebrow.
“Ye’re makin’it sound as if there’s danger out there when we rode together yesterday to the orphanage.”
“Which was stillon me lands. We’re goin' out past that, and it is dangerous. The wild is nay place for ye. Ye daenae ken the land or the people here.”
“But— ”she protested as Theodore lifted a hand to silence her.
“Enough. I’ve made me decision.”
“Ye daenae understand,I have to go with ye,” Madison pleaded as she refused to back down.
“Oh,I understand, better than ye could think. But that doesnae mean that I’ll allow ye to put yerself in danger.” Theodore’s voice rose just a hint, but the warning in his words was as clear as ice.
“Allow?Ye said I wasnae a prisoner, that I could come and go as I pleased.”
“Aye,when ye put more weight on and could take care of yerself.”
“And have I nae done everythin’that ye wanted me to? Now ye’re just comin’ up with reasons nae to honor yer promise.”
Theodore’s eyesflickered with shock, but he didn’t speak. His eyes narrowed as he flexed his jaw.
“I promised I wasnae keepin’ye as a prisoner and I’m nae. Ye have free range over the grounds. Ye can move about as ye please. But daenae mistake what I’m doin' as anythin’ other than tryin’ to keep ye safe.”
