‘I am. But I am also trying to think this out. I wonder at those men trying to throw suspicion on me. Why do it if they were going to kill you? A dead man can tell no tales. To me, it seems like an added cruelty that those were the last words you would hear. A keen mind is behind this and a spiteful one, too.’
‘They were lying in wait, expecting the wedding party to travel along that road. If you had not given a warning, I suppose they meant some of us to escape and rush back to Kransmuir to tellthe tale. Randel would have raised Clan Glendenning and come against you in revenge.’
‘And killed many of us.’ Caolan paced, frowning. ‘Our alliance would have been weakened, and Strachan left to stand alone against the Warden. It is clever.’
‘Aye. Why exert yourself wiping out your enemies when you can set them at each other’s throats.’
‘So whose hand guided your would-be murderers, Jasper, besides the Warden’s? Did you hear any talk of another clan at all?’
‘I was dangling from a tree by a noose, so, no,’ he snarled.
‘What about Rowenna?’
‘She shot one through the heart, the other through the throat, so neither man was saying much for her to hear after that.’
‘She’s ruthless, your lass,’ said Caolan approvingly.
‘Your lass.’ The words were pleasing to his ears.
‘The other man ran away, and then others came, and we had to run for our lives. But I am sure that Alec Carstairs is not the one behind any of this. Too much of a coward.’
Caolan dismissed Carstairs with a wave of his hand. ‘He is an instrument, that is all. I suppose the marriage is off now?’
Jasper’s heart sank, for he still had Maeve to worry about, along with the bairn in her belly.
‘If you are looking for another marriage alliance, then you might consider the Macaulays,’ said Caolan.
‘They are a pack of idlers and thieves.’
‘Who are currently being threatened by the Warden, just like us. You need a clan weak enough to need you, one not in theWarden’s pocket. It would annoy Strachan, seeing as how he is avoiding the hand of Macaulay’s daughter. You could do worse.’
‘I could do better. Stay out of my affairs, Caolan. Our alliance is limited to pushing back against Sir Henry. We are not friends, nor will we ever be again.’
Caolan ran his fingers through his thicket of black hair. ‘That is a shame, Jasper.’ He stared out over the river and sighed. ‘It always amazes me just how much damage love can do. And I’d venture it was love for you, with Brenna.’
‘Any feelings I had for Brenna are long gone, including bitterness at my being jilted. You may be assured of that.’
‘Can I be assured that our alliance will continue – me, you and Strachan.’
‘Aye, for now. If I hear of any danger to you, I will send word. And I thank you for your warning, Caolan.’
‘Let us hope I do not have to send another. I hear the Warden received a visit from King James’ men, so trouble cannot be too far behind.’
With those ominous words echoing in his head, Jasper headed for home. The Macaulays occupied his thoughts all the way back to Kransmuir. Maeve needed a husband, and soon, so they might be worth leaning on for an alliance. But that would make Caolan Bannerman right, and Jasper hated to admit that, almost as much as he hated being in his debt.
Damn the man for worming his way into his head.
Chapter Thirty-One
The tavern was packed, but they were well out of earshot. Jasper nursed an ale as he watched Laird Griffin Macaulay pace before the fire. He was pretending to give the matter thought, but Jasper could see right through him.
‘Come on, Macaulay. Do not keep me in suspense any longer.’
‘You are asking me to take into my family a lass who is unchaste, with a gutter rat’s bairn swelling her belly.’
Griffin’s pretend outrage was almost amusing. ‘Aye, that is what I am asking, and you don’t just get my sister and her bairn. You get a handsome dowry and a nice, plump piece of land.’
‘Plump! Aye, that is how your sister will look when walking to the priest. It will bring shame on my clan.’
