When his head became clearer, he moved away from the desk. He placed the tobacco pipe on the side and wiped the corner of his lip with a white handkerchief.
“Shall I call him back?” Owen guessed.
“Yes, now.”
Harris was thrown on the floor before him. Calmly, Ethan walked back to his desk. “You may not grasp the full importance of the issue at hand. But I know you’re a soldier, well used to adverse situations.”
He picked up the letter, and perched a side of his buttocks on the desk. “I am not a patient man. Not when it comes to this.”
“Make your point sir,” Harris said with an irritated voice.
Out of sight, Ethan fisted his hand. He would not let this foul-mouthed boy make him lose his composure again. Before, he could blame it on the loss of the ambush. Now, there was no excuse.
He smiled, “Oh, I’m getting there,” he drawled.
He walked to Harris and held the letter before his eyes. It was short, he did not have to stand there for long before the young man was spitting expletives.
“You would not dare! You would not harm a civilian.”
“On the contrary, Harris, you would be doing the killing. So, what will it be? Your dear father’s life, or your stubborn silence?”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Harris spat.
“I won’t stop with him. Your faither will die.”
Those fiery eyes maintained their fire. Harris scoffed. “Do it.”
Ethan arched an eyebrow. He called a soldier and placed the letter in his hand. “You gave up the former commander’s daughter to Highlanders. Anything is possible.”
The soldier saluted and marched toward the door. Harris flung himself forward. Finally, that fire was gone from his eyes. Ethan did not stop the departing soldier. “Yes?”
“Yes,” he mumbled.
“Speak up.”
“Yes!” Harris shouted. “She was there! Now call your dogs back!”
“How hard was that?” Ethan laughed. He made a motion to Owen, who ran to stop the messenger. To another soldier he said, “he’s full of insubordination. Lock him up until he learns to respect his superior.”
“Foolish boy. To think you almost ruined everything,” Ethan said.
Harris swung back at him. Ethan allowed a sinister smile to overtake his face. “One day, perhaps you will see how I found Grace, thwarted her plan, made her my wife and possessed her wealth. And you will perhaps understand how the commander died. For now, you will rot in prison.”
Every word Ethan spoke, drained more color from the brat’s face. He would be lying if he claimed he did not enjoy the absolute fear on that face. Now that he knew the truth, Harris must’ve realized that he would die in that prison.
It was time for Ethan to set about preparing his men to head for Clan Hay. He could not wait to decimate them.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Ye may now open yer eyes,” Duncan said behind her.
Almost shivering from excitement, Grace did as he asked. Boundless astonishment bubbled up inside her. The view was achingly beautiful. She did not know how to start assimilating it. They were atop a hill. The hill was covered in a blanket of green grass. Sprouting randomly within the glass, where white, red and purple flowers.
That sprawling beauty swept down the hill, shielded by a stunning blue sky, imbuing the hills and valleys with vibrant colors. The air was full of sweet fragrances of those plants. Down the hill, there was a road paved with clean white bricks, surrounded by low sitting shrubs. Carts manned by merchants clattered toward the massive gates. People streamed in and out, oblivious or immune to the absolute haven around them.
Grace did not know what to expect when Duncan spoke of his home. But it certainly exceeded her expectations.
“Ye like yer new home?” Duncan said, the breeze from his mouth warming her ear.
