‘Seeing as how you saved my arse more than once, I will have your back in this, Brodie.’ Magnus stepped forward, offering his hand. Though barely healed, he had refused to go north with the others.
‘I canna let him have all the fun,’ Duncan said. ‘And Bradana and my lass would tan my hide if I did not help get the lady back safely.’ Brodie reached out and accepted his hand.
One by one, they all accepted his words and his insane plan. All but Rob, who watched as all the others came forward. Rob’s faith in him and his friendship was all that had kept him alive during this ordeal. If he did not support him now...
‘You think that Grigor is the man to lead us, then?’ Rob asked, facing him. ‘And not you?’
‘Grigor would have my full backing, Rob. You know he will be able to pick up the damaged pieces and put them back together. The elders will unite behind him once Caelan is exposed.’
‘Why not you? You should be tanist.’ Murmurs and whispers of agreement made their way through the group.
‘You know well why it cannot ever be. With the blood of The Cameron’s heir on my hands, it would never be accepted.’
‘But they’ve been murdering thieves for generations. Euan himself put many Mackintoshes to the sword,’ Hamish called out.
‘Killing a man in the middle of a truce is a different matter,’ he said. That was what made his crime worse than many that had come before.
‘But if Caelan is discredited, no one will believe his friend’s words, either. Mayhap they are even lying?’ Duncan suggested.
He clenched his jaws together. This was exactly what Arabella had tried to tell him.
‘There was another witness there that night.’
Rob walked up to him. ‘Why did you not tell me this?’
‘I just discovered it.’
‘Not the lady? Surely she would not have been there?’ he asked as the noise of the others began to lessen.
‘One who believed himself too old to be stuck in the nursery with the bairns that night.’ Rob’s eyes widened as he comprehended who the witness was.
‘Before or after his escape?’
‘The reason for it,’ Brodie admitted. ‘In fear of something like this.’ Brodie called out to them now. ‘We have talked over this matter many times. Grigor is our best hope. He stands high in the respect of many of our allies. Will you support him? Will you be at my back now?’
A short time later, they made their way to the north-east, towards Loch Arkaig. If the weather held and the fates smiled, they would arrive at Achnacarry before Arabella reached Drumlui. He only prayed that he would be alive to say the words to her that he should have said that night.
Chapter Twenty
They passed the clearing where Brodie had brought her to share the incredible views of Mackintosh lands and she struggled to keep up the charade of being grateful to be rescued. All she wanted to do was return to the mountains and find out if he was still alive. If any of them were.
The past three days had passed slowly for her, her heart and thoughts filled with fear while she had to smile and act as the gracious lady these warriors expected her to be. She’d slowed them down with every possible excuse, including one real reason. Her courses had come upon her that first night and had truly made her ill.
She used it to gain almost a day of rest, for men could not bear to hear about the pains and other unpleasant parts that women faced each month. She required more rest and more stops along the way to see to her private needs. These men were young enough that they did not know the truth of it and polite enough not to ask too closely.
At first she thought that Brodie would follow them, but then she realised that he would see to everyone’s safety and needs before his own. From the glance they’d exchanged in the camp during the attack, she knew that it was not finished between them. So, she had no doubt that he would come for her. None at all.
Until she rode into Drumlui and stood before Caelan.
That was when his men gave their report and her heart broke with every word they spoke. Worse, she could not show it or Caelan would know she knew about his plan.
Instead, she did what would be expected of the gracious, ladylike Arabella—she wept incessantly.
And then fainted.
Caelan saw what he wanted to see—his rescued betrothed, overwrought and overwhelmed and exhausted from being held prisoner by his dastardly cousin. Her skills at acting the part were out of practice for she had become used to behaving as the woman she truly was while she lived with Brodie. He had given her the freedom to use her mind and her skills and was not threatened by her.
Her betrothed called the servants to see to her needs and sent the healer to her chambers. When she asked for her father and her aunt, knowing well they were not here, Caelan promised to send for them immediately. If she had not known the truth, she could have believed him when he said how distraught he’d been at this separation and how he had sent so many search parties out to find her. And, she acted her part, fuelled by Brodie’s bitter truth.
