“Mama, we were trying to stop it,” Jamie cried just as his mother came after him again.
“Do not dare to lie to your mother on top of what you’ve done.” Alex hauled Jamie away from Maddie and tossed him across the stall as if he weighed no more than a feather.
Jake saw his sire coming toward him, so he ran, but his sire—big and bulky and surprisingly fast—got to him first and tossed him out the stable door. Jake looked up from the ground and saw his two uncles coming toward them along with more guards. Uncle Robbie looked down at him and bellowed, “Do not dare to move from that spot.” The sentries they’d posted outside the stall to keep watch had been hauled off to the side, where they were being watched by two other guards.
Jamie came flying out of the stall, landing next to Jake on the ground, and the brothers just stared at each other wide-eyed.
“Mo chreach,” was the only thing Jake could get out. “We’re in the worst trouble ever.”
Jamie rubbed his face as if his mother had actually slapped him. “I know. Mama almost hit me. I’ve never seen her hit anyone.”
Jake whispered, “And now she’s sobbing.”
Maddie came out of the stall, an arm around each lassie’s shoulder. Celestina had just arrived, and she came forward to help Maddie with one of the lasses. They walked past the twins as they headed off toward the lassie’s huts, passing close enough for Jake to see the tears running down his mother’s cheeks. There was something else that bothered him more. She refused to look at either him or Jamie.
This was not going to be good. His sire sent Ewan, Roy, and Douglas off with the other guards, though Jake and Jamie did not know where they were headed. They waited an eternity for their father to step out of the stall. When he finally did, his head was down as if he couldn’t stand to look at either of them.
He barked orders to his brothers. “Get them up and meet me out at the rock pile.”
“But Da…” Jake tried to defend himself, hoping to explain that they’d tried to stop the other lads.
“Silence!”
Uncle Brodie said, “Are you sure you do not wish to lead them out?”
Alex Grant lifted his head to stare at his sons. “Nay, I said I’d kill anyone who put that look on my wife’s face again, and I do not wish to kill my own sons. If I touch them, I will.”
Uncle Robbie grabbed Jake and forced him to stand. “Consider it done.”
Their uncles led the way to the rock pile, and Jake didn’t dare speak until he noticed his sire was staying behind, pacing.
“Do not get your hopes up, lads. He’s waiting to be sure your mother is all right. Once he tends to her gentle sensibilities, he’ll come for you.”
“But Uncle Brodie, we were trying to stop it,” Jamie cried out as he stumbled along the pathway.
“Aye,” Jake added. “The other lads lost their senses.”
Uncle Robbie said, “So you’re saying you’d heard about their plans and were only there to stop it?”
Jake frowned, wondering how to explain everything. “Not quite.”
Jamie sighed. “Mayhap it doesn’t matter. We’ll be in less trouble if we just shut up and accept our punishment. You know that’s what Da has always said.”
“But Jamie, weweretrying to help.” He glared at his brother. There had to be a way to convince their father that in the end, they’d made the right decision.
“Aye, ‘tis true, but ‘twas not why we were there, and you know it.” Jamie had whispered low enough so his uncles wouldn’t hear him.
Jake opened his mouth and snapped it shut. He couldn’t argue with that, and besides, he’d talked Jamie into going. He’d have to thank his brother later for not tattling on him.
“Wise move on your part, lad. Lying will get you in worse trouble.” Uncle Brodie narrowed his gaze at his nephews.
“But they said they wanted to show,” Jake said. “That’s all.”
“According to the expressions on their faces, they were not willing.” Uncle Brodie spat off to the side. “Hellfire, lads, but you’re putting me and your uncle in the worst of spots.”
“Why is that?” Jake asked.
“Because your sire is in a killing rage. Could you not have pished off someone else?” His uncle glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was behind him.
