But sadly, she knew the answer to all of that. It was her home, it was where her family was, and so it was where she belonged.
If she did not return now, then, even in the highly unlikely event that her clan survived the conflict, there would never be any home for her to return to. She would be branded a traitor for having stayed with the Oliphants willingly instead of being there to support her father in his time of greatest need. She would never be forgiven, and as a McGregor, she would be considered all the more unwelcome by the rest of the Oliphant Clan.
Return was her only option, though she hated the thought of it.
So she curtsied and said, “Thank ye, Captain. Ye are a good man, and I am heartily sorry tae ever have suspected otherwise.”
“I scooped ye off yer horse and spirited ye away tae an enemy territory without so much as a by-yer-leave,” Bryan chuckled. “If ye had not suspected me of being a man of questionable character, ye would have had tae be simple-minded indeed. In fact, ye happen tae be the cleverest lass I’ve ever known. Perhaps the bravest as well. I may lament yer decision, but I respectthat ye made it, even assuming that it would lead ye tae the dungeons. That shows tremendous courage.”
Oh, how she wanted to change her mind and stay with him! At that moment, she could have grabbed and kissed him right there upon the ramparts.
But if she did, then she knew she would never be able to do what she felt was right.
“Again, thank ye,” she said hoarsely.
Bryan bowed to her, then took his leave, going directly to Alex’s study. When he got there, he found the laird staring out the window again, lost in thought. Alex almost didn’t hear Bryan’s knock, but when he did, he gestured for the captain to enter.
“I take it ye bring me more news of our guest?” Alex asked with a wan smile. “Good news, I pray, for I feel our time for making peace with Laird Angus is swiftly running out.”
Bryan nodded, clearing his throat. “She willnae aid us. I have explained to her that doing so is the only way toward peace, and that she need not be a traitor in the doing of it, but she is convinced that her father will cast her out just the same, and perhaps she is right. From what we know of him, Angus is an obstinate soul, and willnae see reason.”
Alex sighed heavily. “That cannot be the end of it.”
“I am afraid that it is.” Bryan paused, then added, “And since it is, Alex, I believe we have no choice but tae return her tae her homeland as soon as possible.”
Alex’s eyebrows shot up. “Have ye taken leave of yer senses? After all that was done tae bring her here?”
“No one knows what it took tae bring her here more than I,” Bryan reminded him, “and now I believe that no good may come from continuing tae keep her.”
“But she has only been here a short while,” the laird protested. “She might well change her mind.”
“I have seen the determination in her eyes, and the conviction in her spirit,” his friend informed him. “If ye have ever trusted me, Laird Alex, then trust me now. She willnae bend. Beyond that, all we can do is keep her against her will.”
“Then why nae continue tae dothat, at least?” Alex suggested. “We needn’t imprison her, we can continue tae make her comfortable during her stay like civilized people. She still represents leverage against her father. She might still be used as a bargaining chip.”
“The effort would be futile, I assure ye,” Bryan answered. “If taking one of Angus’s daughters has not persuaded him tae at least attempt a settlement, then having both of them willnae put an end tae it either. Perhaps if they had been male heirs, they might have been worth more tae him. Who can say? But she has made it clear that he willnae bargain for her, not even in the face of his clan’s ruination.”
“Ofcourseshe would say that tae be released,” Alex retorted, exasperated.
Bryan shook his head. “She made this choice fully expecting tae be sent tae the dungeon for it. Her resolve is strong, Alex. I dinnae believe she ought tae be punished for that, do ye? Is that in keeping with the honor of Clan Oliphant? We never took the lass with the intent of harming her, and tae keep her here any further would be tae do her harm, if only by making her appear a willing traitor in the eyes of her own people. We erred in thinking it would profit us tae take her. Let us not compound that error by holding her further.”
Alex slammed his fist down on his desk in frustration, hard enough to make the captain jump. Then he stood and paced the room furiously for several minutes, his brow furrowed.
Bryan waited patiently. He knew the laird well enough to know that it was unwise to interrupt his thoughts when he was like this.
At last, Alex said, “Very well. Ye asked earlier whether ye have ever had my trust, and the truth of it is, ye always have and still do. If ye genuinely feel that this is our best way forward in dealing with the McGregors, then I will trust in that as well.” He gave a small shrug. “Who knows? Perhaps in releasing her, we will at last demonstrate to Angus that we are honorable and therefore worth striking a deal with to avoid bloodshed. I doubt it,” he added ruefully, “but we can hope, at least. I trust ye intend tae take her as close tae the borders of our lands as ye can without risking an encounter with the McGregors? And that ye plan tae bring a cadre along with ye for protection?”
Bryan shook his head. “I’ll need to ensure she is close enough tae her home that no harm will befall her on the way. Otherwise, Angus shall blame us for it, and likely believe we turned her loose in an unsafe area on purpose. Likewise, if I come with other guardsmen, Angus might believe it is the first battle of the war coming tae find him, and respond in kind. I managed alone before, and though it will doubtless prove more difficult this time, I still shall not fail. Ye chose me for my particular talents in this regard, after all.”
“That I did.” Alex clapped Bryan on the shoulder briskly. “I still believe this is unwise, and I dinnae wish tae risk my finest warrior and friend on such an errand. But my faith in ye tells me I ought not refuse ye, and so I shall not. Go, and do what ye must to return to us safely.”
Bryan bowed. “Thank ye, Laird Alex.”
He was pleased with Alex’s decision to allow him to release Katherine, and looked forward to relaying the news to her.
As he proceeded to her chamber, though, a troubling thought occurred to him.
Had he insisted on going with her to the border alone for the reasons he’d given, or simply because he hoped to steal a few more precious moments alone with her?
