"Leah," Mason called for her as she started for the door with the tray of dirty dishes. "Please heed me warnin'. Ye cannae trust him."
"I hope ye're nae talkin' about me," Alan said with a hearty chuckle.
"Nay," Mason answered. "I fear for Leah bein' around me brother. The rumors are disturbin'."
Leah watched as Alan helped ease Mason back into the pillow. "There me lad. I think ye've had a bit too much excitement as it is. Perhaps we should refrain from the daily reports until ye've slept?"
"Nay," Mason argued as Leah pulled open the door. "I want to hear what it is me brother has ruined now."
Rolling her eyes, Leah left Alan and Mason chatting away. Over the weeks, Leah had seen firsthand Mason's disdain for Killian. It wasn't enough that Mason refused to let his brother into his room to see him, but the vile things Mason would say were starting to grate on Leah's nerves. She wished there was some way she could get the brothers to reconcile, but the animosity between them ran too deep.
"Sorry," Leah said as she placed the dirty dishes on the counter in the kitchen. She felt bad for bringing more in when the rest of breakfast had already been cleared away.
"How is the young master doin'?" Elsie asked from the small round table. Her voice startled Leah. Turning about to face Elsie, Leah flashed her a welcoming smile.
"The same," Leah answered. "Although I do think he has more energy than he's lettin' on."
Elsie arched her eyebrow as she continued snapping the pole beans into the bowl. "Oh? And what gives ye that impression?"
"Mason grabbed me hand rather aggressively, almost as if he was ready to defend to the death," Leah answered.
"Ye were talkin' about Killian with him, werenae ye?" Elsie chuckled. "Aye, the lad gets a wee bit more spirit about him when ye mention his brother."
"I still daenae see why there's such hatred between the two of them," Leah said as she slipped into the empty chair next to Elsie and started snapping the beans.
Elsie leaned in close and, in a low, conspiratorial tone that rattled Leah, let the secret spill. "Mason was a witness to Killian killin' their faither. It's how Killian became laird. It was a wild, violent fit, and Killian snapped. Mason was too weak to stop him. The whole thin' was a tragedy neither of those boys should have been through."
Leah cupped her hand to her mouth to stifle the gasp that slipped from her tongue. Out of all the different scenarios Leahcould have come up with as to why the brothers hated each other, she never would have thought of Killian putting an end to his own father.
"Mason has never forgiven Killian and I daenae think he ever will. But it's the secret to gettin' Mason to move when he's in a mood. Just mention Killian and that'll put a fire under Mason to get him movin'," Elsie said.
"That's horrific," Leah managed to say as her hand dropped from her mouth.
"Aye, tragic to be sure," Elsie said. "But ye have to understand, their faither was nae the best sort of man."
"Ye kenned him?" Leah asked as she found herself eager to learn as much about Killian as she could. And this little bit of history about him painted a better image of who Killian was, not only to her but to his clan as well.
"Aye, but briefly. It was me maither who had worked for him before her passin'," Elsie answered. "She saw the demise of the family. Although, Killian has done a fine job of holdin' the pieces of the clan together, despite his complications."
Leah's eyes widened. "And what complications does the laird have?"
A smirk tickled the corner of Elsie's lips. "Have ye nae seen his mood swings? Violent temper? The laird is mad. He's ever onedge and thinks half the clan is trying to kill him and put Mason in his place."
"But Mason can barely hold his head up without help," Leah said as Elsie bobbed her head.
"Aye," Elsie answered with a knowing smile. "And now ye see the predicament."
Leah bobbed her head as she let Elsie's words seep into her. Was Killian as mad as everyone claimed him to be? She couldn't see. What she saw was a man who was at his wit's end and struggling. Both of the brothers were, that was clear. The situation made Leah want to find some way to show the brothers they didn't have to be enemies. But what could she do? Killian trusted her as far as he could through her, and Mason was in no position to do anything.
"Doesnae Mason see that if Killian wanted to kill him too, he'd have every opportunity to do so?" Leah asked. "Mason is after all bed ridden. It's nae like he can move very fast, or even do anythin' to stop Killian if that's what he wanted to do."
"Aye, that's where ye have the council," Elsie explained. "Ye've noticed them comin' in havenae ye?"
"Alan was in there today," Leah answered.
"And other's come about too dependin' on the events of the day and what Killian does, or doesnae do. But it's the council that want to see Mason as Laird."
"They'll be able to control Mason," Leah mumbled as she realized maybe there was some weight to Killian's fear and paranoia.
