“Ach, why will ye nae listen tae me?” she cried, bunching her fists at her sides. “I can protect ye!”
He shook his head, obviously bewildered. “Have ye gone mad? Ye are gonnae protect me?”
“Aye!”
He folded his arms and stared down at her, clearly humoring her. “All right, explain tae me exactly how ye mean tae dae that.”
She lost her temper completely then, and before she knew what she was saying, she blurted out, “Because Gregory Galbraith is me braither, and I might just be able tae stop ye from killin’ each other!”
A deafening silence fell between them. Ewan’s mouth had fallen open, and he was staring at her, looking as though he had been poleaxed. Eventually he said, “Say that again.”
Isla sighed, knowing there was no going back now. Taking a deep breath, she explained as calmly as she could, “Me name is Isla Galbraith, and I’m the sister of Laird Gregory Galbraith. I care deeply about the both of ye, and I dinnae want either of ye tae get hurt. But without me there today, ye’ll try tae kill each other. That’s why ye must take me with ye.”
He was so stunned by the revelation, he had to grip the back of the chair tightly to stop himself from staggering and falling on his knees. For a moment or two he could only stare at her in dumb shock. Eventually, he found his voice. “Ye-ye’reGalbraith’s sister, the one that’s supposed tae be missin’?” he said, hating the way his voice shook.
Annie, no, Isla Galbraith, lifted her chin, looked him in the eye, and nodded. “Aye. I’m sorry I had tae lie tae ye about me true identity, Ewan, but I couldnae think of any other way of protectin’ mesel’ and gettin’ ye tae let me stay in the camp and learn more,” she explained with an almost calm voice.
He turned aside, raking his fingers through his hair as the truth came crashing in on him from all sides. “That’s why ye came here in the first place, tae kill me, because ye’re his sister! And ye stayed because ye’ve been spyin’ on me all this time, lyin’ tae me about who ye are.” He shook his head in disbelief. “I’ve been a fool. Colin was right all along. Nay wonder ye’ve been sneakin’ off every chance ye get. I suppose ye’ve been reportin’ back tae yer braither every word I’ve said.”
“If I had, then why has the siege lasted so long? And why are ye now plannin’ tae attack the castle, the castle full of people I’ve kent all me life? Besides, how could I when ye’ve hardly let me out of yer sight? And of course, I wanted tae kill ye at first because ye threatened me braither and clan, the only family I have left. I had tae try tae dae somethin’ tae protect him. Ye were me enemy!” she cried passionately. “I was afraid that if ye kent who I was, ye’d hold me fer ransom, use me tae force Gregory intae givin’ way tae ye. I couldnae let that happen.”
Ewan rounded on her angrily. “That’s a dammed lie! I’m nae like Allan. I would never stoop so low as tae use a woman that way. I ken what it is tae lose a sister. I meant tae find ye and sendye back safe tae yer braither,” he declared, breathing hard with emotion.
“All right, I ken that now, but that was what I believed at first,” she replied. “That was afore I got tae ken ye, Ewan,” she went on in a gentler tone, trying to approach him. But he turned away from her, unable to look at her. The betrayal hurt so much, he could hardly stand it.
“Ye lied tae me, ye made me care about ye, ye laid with me fer God’s sake! And all the time ye were the sister of the very man I seek tae defeat, the woman I sent me men out huntin fer, who I was so worried about.” Pain stabbed at his heart like a dagger.
“Ewan, please, listen tae me—” she began, but he held up his hand to cut her off.
“Dinnae say anymore. I’ve heard enough.” Shocked and heartbroken, he realized that their relationship was fraught with impossible obstacles. He quickly came to a decision. “I cannae trust ye, I’ll never be able tae trust ye. What we have had can only lead only tae ruin. Leave now and go back tae yer braither. ’Tis best if we dinnae speak again.”
“But, Ewan, I dinnae wantae leave ye,” she said pleadingly, starting to sob. “Let me help ye win yer peace. I can help ye. I can talk tae Gregory.”
He shook his head, hardening his heart. “Go, I said. Now.” He turned his back on her. She waited for a few moments in silence and then did as he said, stifling her sobs as she left the tent.He was shaking, so he spent a few minutes taking deep breaths, assembling a mask of composure before he pulled himself up, straightened his shoulders, and marched out of the tent to join his men.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Hardly able to see because of the tears she was holding back and uncaring of the stares she drew from Colin and the waiting soldiers outside the tent, a distraught Isla ran as fast as she could to the open-air stables and saddled her mare with shaking hands. Then, her heart breaking with the pain of Ewan’s, she let the tears flow as she turned her mount into the woods and rode quickly through the trees until she came to the entrance of the secret tunnels into the castle.
Once there, she hitched the horse to a nearby tree and opened the secret entrance that was concealed in a thicket. Once inside, with the door firmly shut behind her, dashing tears from her cheeks, she groped in the darkness for the old tinderbox she knew was kept in a small alcove by the entrance. Finding it with relief, she struck a light, protecting the wavering flame of the half-candle with her hand as she hurried along the passages, heading for the main floor in search of Gregory.
She choked back more tears, gasping for breath as she moved rapidly up the castle’s many levels via spiraling stone stairways, driven by the urgency of the situation.
There’s nae time tae dwell on me heartbreak.I havetae find Gregory and warn him straightaway of Ewan’s plan. The attack could begin at any moment!
By the secret route, she made straight for Gregory’s study and burst out through the concealed door, to be confronted by her brother, Kelvin, and Domnhall. They had obviously been talking, and when she suddenly appeared, their heads turned as one, jaws dropping in shock. Clearly taking her for an intruder, they each stepped back and, quick as lightening, snatched their dirks from their belts, assuming a fighting stance, while Isla stood there panting, out of breath.
“Get back, damn ye! How did ye get in here? Who the devil are ye?!” Kelvin demanded fiercely, coming forward in defense of his laird and waving his blade at her with a menacing snarl.
She pulled off her cap and her plait fell down. “’Tis me,” she puffed, hurrying towards her stunned brother. “Gregory, I havetae speak tae ye right away, ’tis very urgent!”
“Isla? Is… is it really ye?” Kelvin gasped, staggering back against his cousin in obvious amazement.
“Jaysus, ’tis her, she’s alive!” Domnhall exclaimed, staring at her open-mouthed.
Gregory too was looking at her, his face pale with shock. “Isla, thank God ye’re safe!” he exclaimed at first.
“Are ye all right, Gregory?” she asked rushing to embrace him. They hugged each other tight.
