She nodded, clutching her hands together. “He said he could be there within an hour. He knew where it was and promised to be back by nightfall.”
Bram released a stream of expletives. What in the name of God had she been thinking? “He’s four-and-ten, Nairna. Not a man. And he’s certainly not old enough to go anywhere alone.”
Bram stood up, his fury threatening to spill over. By God, he wasn’t about to lose another brother to the English. Not because of any foolish attempt to earn money.
Nairna caught up and tugged at his sleeve, “Bram, wait. He might have been delayed. There’s no reason to think that he’s not all right.”
“There are dozens of English soldiers patrolling the lands only a few miles from here,” Bram shot back. “Any number of them would be glad to have a MacKinloch hostage.” He couldn’t believe she’d done this. His brother wasn’t a damned merchant.
When he reached Alex, he let out a terse order. “Come with me. We’re going to find Dougal.”
Alex’s attention snapped to Nairna. “What’s happened?”
Bram tilted his head toward Laren. “Ask your wife.”
Nairna and Laren exchanged glances and Laren was the one who paled, keeping her eyes averted from Alex.
“Where is Dougal?” Alex moved to Laren’s side, his gaze furious.
His wife eyed Nairna with desperation, but she finally answered, “He went to Inveriston to sell some things Nairna and I gave him.”
“What sort of things?” The chief stared at the women and his tone had turned to ice.
“Some . . . things we made,” Nairna answered. She looked at Bram, her eyes wild with pleading. She didn’t want him to tell Alex anything. “This is my fault. I apologize for putting Dougal in danger. I didn’t think anything could happen near the parish kirk.”
Alex’s chin snapped up. “Do you think he’s been taken?”
Bram shook his head. “I don’t know. But we need to search for him now, before anyone else finds him.” The two stood up, then Alex gave the order for a search party to form. The men gathered weapons and torches and Bram was just about to leave when he cast a look back at Nairna.
Her cheeks were pale, her eyes filled with regret. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I thought we could earn a ransom for Callum with the things we sold.”
He supposed she hadn’t thought of all the consequences. But her naïvety might cost them his brother’s life. Without another word, he turned his back on her and left.
Chapter Sixteen
The house was unbearably dark and cold, but Nairna didn’t dare light a fire. Her breath formed mist inside, and she huddled beneath a woolen blanket left behind. Caen rested at her feet, his head lying on top of folded paws.
It had been hours since the men had left and she’d long ago dried her tears. She’d never meant for Dougal to be lost or hurt. Aye, it was her mistake, believing that the young man could go alone to Inveriston.
Fear tightened through every muscle in her body. If anything had happened to Dougal, Bram would hold her responsible. Her fragile marriage would crumble away until there was nothing left.
She’d hoped that tonight she could rebuild something between them. Marguerite had loaned her a gown while Laren had dressed her hair. It had been so long since she’d looked after her own appearance, but before they’d begun, Jenny had shown her a reflection in a polished mirror.
Nairna hadn’t known she looked like this—like a wraith, dressed in gray as though she’d never left mourning. It was no wonder that Bram questioned what she wore. No man would want a woman who neglected herself in such a way.
It had taken both Jenny and Marguerite to help her put it on, it fitted her so tightly. She couldn’t take the gown off without Bram’s help and she didn’t even know when he was coming back. Or if he would return.
She stared at the door for what seemed like hours, her eyes dry, while her heart grew more fearful. And when, at last, the door swung open, she nearly jerked with shock when Bram tossed a large sack at her feet. It was filled with coins, from the metallic jingle she’d heard. Yet her husband didn’t look at all pleased.
“Is Dougal all right?” she asked.
“He’s back at Glen Arrin, where Alex is meting out his punishment.”
“Punishment?” Appalled, she couldn’t stop her mouth from dropping open. “But we asked him to go. It wasn’t his fault at all.”
“He was foolish enough to let himself be led astray by women. Aye, it’s his fault.”
Nairna stood up, her temper flaring. “Don’t you dare lay a hand upon him. He did as we asked, and from the looks of it, he did well enough.” She kicked at the sack of coins, sending it a few feet away. “It might pay the price of Callum’s life.”
