“How is the leg?”he asked as he noticed her rubbing her thigh. “I think we can round up some willow bark, that should cut the pain a bit.”
“Why does it matter?”she asked. “If yer plan is to get me back to health only to send me on another hunt, just put me out of me misery now. I daenae want to keep goin' on as I have been. I daenae have it in me to go on any longer.”
Her tears pouredout of her as if she were a spring. Instinctively, he reached for her, wanted to comfort her. She recoiled and glared daggers at him.
“Ye can tortureme all ye want, I’ll nae break. Lewis couldnae do it and I’ll be damned if I let ye do it,” she hissed at him.
“Nay one here is goin'to hurt ye. Ye’re safe. In fact, I wanted to ask if ye’d come back with me to Castle MacLeon. Ye’ll find the place decent enough. The winter frost willnae harm ye there while yer leg mends. And ye’ll be fed a hot meal every day as long as I draw breath.” The suspicion plastered on her face made Theo smirk. She glared at him and shook her head defiantly.
“It’s a trick,and I willnae fall for it.”
“Nay tricks,”he said, “Merely an offer to change yer life. But ye have to be brave enough to want it. Are ye brave enough, Madison?”
5
She stared at him in disbelief. What sort of game was he playing? She’d been toyed with for nearly three years and in that time, she had grown a callous over her once tender heart. A lump of fear settled in her chest as she glanced to Flora before her gaze landed on Piper. Each shared the same expression of wonder and awe.
“It’s settled then,ye’re comin’ with me,” he announced before she could protest. “We’ll leave first thing in the mornin’.”
“What did I tell ye?Ye havenae come to set us free, but to enslave us. This is all part of yer sinister plan, admit it,” Madison said in a flurry. She couldn’t stand the fact that he had spoken for her let alone announced his kidnapping of her to everyone there.
But who was goingto stop the brute? He had already made it clear he was a force to be reckoned with. He bested the laird out in the grove in record time. Still, there was something that stirred within her knowing the strongest man in the roomwas had claimed her for his own. At least no one would dare challenge him. Or if they did, wouldn’t win.
“Would ye rather stay here?I can tell ye this much, there willnae be anythin’ left of it come winter. I would take ye back to yer clan, but ye’ve failed to mention where that might be.” Theodore moved closer to her. His direct gaze held her. No matter what she did to turn from him, he was there.
“And what ifI said I would, ye wouldnae let me,” she countered.
He rolledhis shoulders back as he took her in. She dared not look away. It was a battle, and she knew the second she turned from him, he would be the winner.
“Of course I wouldnae,”he snapped back. “I ken ye think me a beast, but I assure ye, I’m far from it. I just want to ensure ye’re well cared for. I would hate if me sister was put through what ye’ve been through and I merely want to see ye get the best care.”
“Sure ye did,”she said through clinched teeth. Her ire brewed and festered just under her skin as people came rushing through the corridor. The delectable scent of stew floated through the air twisting Madison’s stomach with hunger. How long had it been since she had anything decent? She couldn’t remember and the smell was torture. Her mouth watered as she caught sight of the black iron pot. She glanced at the poor man carrying such a heavy load as she licked her lips.
“Stay put,”the laird said as he leaned into her with such a threatening glare, she dared not move a muscle.
“Are ye tryin’to get on his bad side?” Flora whispered into Madison’s ear.
“Didye see the way he looked at ye?” Piper warned. “I heard some of the others call him Mad Dog. That is nae a name one gets accidentally.”
Madison kepther gaze locked on the laird. Confusion mingled with gratitude. She wasn’t sure what she was to feel about the man. As far as she could tell, he wasn’t like the lairds she’d known before. There was a kindness to his eye that gave her the impression that no matter what she did, he’d be there. He’d forgive her, he’d be loyal to the bitter end. Still, he wasn’t bringing her to her family. Not that she happened to know where they were in the first place.
“Are ye all right?Ye look as if someone has jumped on yer grave,” Flora said as Madison stared at the laird returning with bowls of the stew in hand. She ground her teeth together in ire and rage. The was no doubt in her mind he had been sent straight from hell. The stew he brought was the last straw.
“Here,”he said as he offered one of the three bowls he held. Madison froze. Her gaze locked on the bowl stretched out to her.
“Go on,”he said. “Ye need somethin’ in ye. Ye’re nothin’ but bones and the ride to Castle MacLeon is a rough one. Ye’ll need strength if ye’re to be on the back of the horse.”
Madison’s lips parted.She hadn’t the strength to do anything. She blinked trying to figure out if what she was seeing was real, or if her mind had finally snapped.
“If ye willnae have it,”he said, turning the bowl to Flora. “Here, enjoy. I’m sure ye could use somethin’ as well.”
“Maddie?”Flora whimpered. Uncertainty laced her tone as she warred with her desire to eat and her loyalty to Madison. There was no way Madison could let Flora go hungry, not when she could do something to stop it.
“I promisethere is plenty in the pot. I’ve instructed the cook to make more as I fear ye lasses will end up finishin’ the whole thing and be lookin’ for more,” Theodore said as he handed Piper the second bowl before giving the last bowl to Flora.
“It’s poisoned,”Madison accused. “Why else would he insist on feedin’ us?”
“Oh yes,”Flora said as sarcasm dripped from her lips. “That’s exactly what he was thinkin’ when he was pullin’ ye from the grove and carryin’ ye all this way.I’ll bring her all this way just to off her with the poison I’ve been savin’ for such an occasion.Nae everyone is as devious as Lewis.”
