Cameron’s smile wilted. “Damn,” he said. “Ye’re a sour-tempered oaf!”
Broc started toward the storage house, intending to gather supplies and go. Elizabet would likely be waking soon, and he didn’t want to frighten her with his absence.
Then again she might wish never to see him after last night.
Cameron threw up his hands and followed. “What bug crawled up your arse and died? I ha’e never seen ye so surly!”
Broc gave his cousin a withering glance. “If my temper is sour, ’tis because my whereabouts are my own concern, Cameron, not yours. Dinna ever forget that.”
“Och, mon! Forget it! I dinna ken what’s gotten into ye this morn, but ye’re as cantankerous as a drunk without his whiskey!”
“I didn’t sleep well,” Broc explained. And it was true. His conscience had gotten the best of him.
Cameron opened his mouth to speak again, but after taking one look at Broc’s expression, he obviously thought better of it. He closed it again.
Broc had hoped to gather his supplies and be gone before anyone noticed him. It seemed that was not going to be the case. Constance spotted him suddenly and came barreling toward him, calling out his name.
For her, he managed a bright smile. His youngest cousin was a joyful child who never went five minutes without laughter spilling from her lips.
“Broc! Broc!” she screamed, and threw her arms open wide.
Broc stooped to catch her. “Brat!” he exclaimed as she hurled herself into his arms. She giggled, and he tousled her hair, lifting her up into the air.
“Ha’e ye heard the news?” Cameron asked.
“What news?”
“Two Englishmen were slain in the woods near Chreagach Mhor.”
Broc’s stomach turned, but he pretended aloofness. “Serves the bastards right for being where they dinna belong!”
Constance strangled his neck and then suddenly let him go. “Down!” she demanded.
“One of them was Montgomerie’s kin,” Cameron added. “Montgomerie is furious. He cam through this morn.”
Broc feigned a smile for Constance’s sake. “I want down!” she shrieked, and he set her down at once, patting her on the head. She ran away to play. “Be good!” he called after her.
“We’re going to have to lock her up someday, I think,” Broc remarked.
“Apparently a woman has gone missing, too,” Cameron persisted. “Montgomerie and Meghan’sbrothers have gotten together a search party. Piers will not rest until he sees the villain brought to justice.”
Broc started to walk, pretending only a casual interest. “Do they know who killed them?”
“Nay. No one knows,” his cousin revealed. “But they claim it was a giant.”
Broc rolled his eyes.
“Aye! They say he had arms as big as his thighs and a neck as big as a tree!”
Broc glanced down at his arms and then back at his cousin, screwing his face. He was a big man, but notthatbig. He cast his cousin a dubious glance. “And does he blow smoke from his nostrils and are his teeth as long and sharp as daggers?”
“’Tis what they are saying,” Cameron assured him.
Broc shook his head. “Idiot Sassenachs.”
Cameron laughed. “’Tis the bluidy truth!” he agreed. “At any rate, they’ve every clan within ten leagues up in arms over it all.”
Broc gritted his teeth. “And what has Iain to say over it all?”
