The spring day was sunny and considerably warm, the winter bitterness slowly fading away day by day. Michael was right, of course. They would have to deal with the uprisings on their borderlands sooner rather than later—something Alexander wasn’t particularly eager to deal with.
“I ken.” Alexander sighed. “I was hopin’ to avoid further confrontation with the MacPhersons, but the old man is too stubborn for his own good. Nay matter how many times or how many ways I ask for an audience, he refuses.”
“Aye, that may be so. Though ye would think he would want to secure strong alliances. After all, that daughter of his cannae assume the lairdship, and from what Broderic and Ian said, she is young, unwed, and of child bearing age. Ye would think he would marry her off and strengthen the clan.”
“Aye. Ye would think,” Alexander agreed, contemplating the thought. “I cannae imagine why he wouldnae.”
“Mayhap she is so hideous that he hides her away from the world, lest she embarrass him.” Michael let out a deep belly laugh. “Wouldnae ye?”
A servant girl caught Alexander’s eye before he could reply. She appeared in the large doorway that led to the main hall, a piece of parchment clasped in her hands.
She hiked up her blue and green tartan skirt to avoid tripping over the hem and crossed the courtyard to where the men stood, leaning against a hedge line. She bowed her head to Alexander as she approached and held out the hand with the letter in it.
“This has just arrived for ye, Me Laird. A younglin’ came from gatherin’ herbs in the woods with it. He says he came upon some MacPhersons near the loch’s edge this morning. They asked him to bring ye this letter,” she spoke softly, her eyes trained on the ground.
“How many are in the group? Where? Did the boy say?” Alexander inquired, snatching the letter from her and unfolding it hastily. “Is the lad unharmed?”
What could be so secret, so important that the MacPhersons would seek out a resident of the keep instead of sendin’ a messenger? Why be so stupid and bold?
He waited for the maid to answer him.
The girl shrank slightly under his scrutinizing gaze. “Two—perhaps three. He wasnae quite sure. But he said the one who asked him to bring the letter to ye was a lass,” she answered quickly.
Alexander balked slightly at that revelation. He continued to study the servant for a moment, looking for any signs that she was lying.
While he had no reason to believe that someone in his home would set him up, he could never be too careful. After a long moment, he nodded, excusing her.
He turned to Michael, who simply shrugged with an equally surprised look on his face. Finally, he returned his eyes to the letter and began reading it. Michael waited quietly beside him.
“Marie!” The girl hadn’t made it far across the courtyard. She turned back to face him, her eyes lowered to the ground, awaiting his instructions. “Pack two bags of supplies with at least two days’ worth of food. We have a short trip to make. Let me sister ken that she will be in charge of the keep in our absence.”
The girl nodded earnestly before retreating to the main hall to do his bidding.
Alexander waited until she was out of sight to hand the letter to his brother.
Michaels’s eyes widened as he read the words on the parchment.
“What if it’s a trap?” he asked, handing it back to Alexander.
“Then it’s a trap. Have Turken saddle our horses and bring them around with haste,” Alexander instructed, folding the letter and tucking it in his pocket. “If it’s a trap, then the lass will soon learn what it means to cross me.”
CHAPTER THREE
It took them a couple of hours to ride to the borders of MacPherson lands. Alexander had only been here a time or two to meet with Broderic and Ian. The rocky alcoves in this part of the land were perfect for meeting in secret.
“Alright, we’re here. Where are they? Hidin’ in the rocks? This is why I said we should have brought at least a few men with us,” Michael protested.
“It would have been unnecessary. We can handle a wee lass by ourselves. If we cannae, then we have nay business leadin’ our people,” Alexander stated firmly. “Our resources are better spent on protectin’ our borders, especially with us so far from the keep.”
He had insisted that they make the journey alone, much to his brother’s disapproval. It had only taken Michael half of the way here to stop muttering about fake letters from lasses. Alexander had to threaten to chop off his manhood to get him to shut up.
“Bein’ this close to the castle isnae smart, I tell ye. What if they are lyin’ in wait for us and nae for a quick word? This is folly, like a fly goin’ blindly into honey,” Michael argued as Alexander dismounted and tethered his wide bay horse to a small, wispy tree.
He followed his brother’s lead and did the same, tying his chestnut beside the bay. He kept close to his brother the entire time, just in case they were ambushed.
“Oh, shut it. The idea of a lass settin’ a trap is a bit ridiculous, do ye nae think?” Alexander scoffed. “Well, except for Alice. But I think we may have to take some responsibility for her unscrupulous ways.”
“Perhaps, Me Laird, that is a harsh judgment. Why could a lass nae set a trap, after all? Do ye think women are simple-minded simply because of their gender?” The voice came from behind the very rocks they had been discussing.
