Prologue
Lady Edna McPearson walked down the dusty path leading to the farm, taking a moment to look out over the land. Wheat moved with the wind in the distance, and cattle grazed in the pastures nearby, the smell of wet earth bringing a smile to her face. This was a simpler time, one that Edna would have preferred to be part of.
Now that she was up in her years, it was the simpler things in life that caught her attention. It reminded her of a time where she didn’t have the weight of a clan on her shoulders.
Following the split fence, Edna moved down the path to the small hut that sat in the midst of the farm, the walls made of hard-packed dirt rather than rough hewn logs that others pulled out of the nearby wood to build their dwellings.
She couldn’t understand for the life of her why this particular farm wasn’t already under her protection, but it wasn’t going to matter after the end of this day.
She spied a figure in the distance, splitting logs, and walked over. “Leathen.”
The man stopped the ax from swinging into the log before him, wiping his brow with the back of his arm. “Lady Edna. Wot do I owe this pleasure? ’Tis a long way from the castle.”
She clasped her hands in front of her. He was right, of course. It was more than a day’s ride from the castle to this farm, and she had left her horse with her guards, finishing the rest of the trek on foot so that she would not seem threatening.
“I’ve come tae check in on ye, of course,” Edna replied.
He snorted as he lay the ax on the stump he was using as a table, wiping his hands against his breeks. “I dinnae know if I believe that, mah lady.”
Leathen Wright had never been an easy Scot to deal with. Edna had found that to be true far too often whenever she ventured out this far. His farm rode the lines of the clan’s property, yet he didn’t make any claims to be part of her clan, nor was his farm under her rule. He was in what she liked to call the grey death—a parcel of land that didn’t belong to anyone save the Scot who resided there.
“Ye never do believe me when I come here.”
“Wot is it this time, mah lady?” he asked, arching a brow. “Perhaps a calf tae grace yer table this evening?”
Edna shook her head. “I want tae purchase yer farm and make it part of mah estate.” She had thought of it long and hard, even discussing it with her husband, Leeth, on how to approach the subject. In the end, she figured that honesty was the best way to approach it.
Leathen didn’t look surprised. “Can I ask ye a question, mah lady?”
“Of course,” she answered. “What would ye like tae know?”
He grabbed the ax in his hand, testing its weight. “Do ye know how many times other lairds in the generations before us have tried tae purchase this farm? I have a ledger that shows the marks if ye will like tae see it.”
“I will give ye whatever price ye want,” she stated firmly, looking around. “Ye can have whatever space ye desire, Leathen. I will ensure that it happens.”
He chuckled, and Edna frowned. “Ye cannae give me any more than wot I already have, mah lady. I’m afraid that I will have tae add another mark in the ledger.”
Edna was not used to someone telling her no. Leeth said it was her worst quality, and she was inclined to agree, especially in times like these. “Surely ye have a price.”
His smile faded, and he glared at her. “I dinnae.”
Edna took a step forward. “I know wot ye are hiding on this land.” It was a gamble to throw her words out so casually, but she wanted him to know that he hadn’t been smart enough to hide that from her.
Leathen’s expression turned glacier as he pointed the ax at her. Edna didn’t flinch, not worried that the Scot was going to cut her down. He wouldn’t lest he would lose his farm and his life.
“This farm has lasted this long without a laird trying tae stick their nose where it doesnae belong. Get off mah property, mah lady.”
Edna looked around the farm, not surprised by the way the Scot reacted. “Ye know I could have ye killed and just take the farm,” she said softly, though her words held no bite.
Leathen eyed her. “Ye wouldnae do that. Ye are far too honorable of a lady tae do something like that.”
“Perhaps so,” she responded. After all, she wouldn’t kill an innocent man to get what she wanted. “But I wilnae be the only laird tae come after this place after we are both dead and gone, Leathen. I will give ye a fair price and can protect it.”
“I dinnae need yer protection,” Leathen bit out, turning back to his ax. “Now leave before I change mah mind and no longer wish tae talk but fight.”
Seeing she wasn’t going to get through to him on this day, Edna gave him a smile. “Of course, Leathen. I will leave if that is yer wish.”
“That is mah wish,” he growled. “Good day, mah lady.”
