The man glanced at the other three men and smirked. Annabella could not tear her eyes away from him. The evil that seeped from his twisted mouth and dead eyes made her blood run cold. She did not want to remain in his company for one moment longer.
“My noble status is not of your concern. I wish to see your father released, and I came to find you in order to make it happen.” He nodded toward the other men. “Theseguidesmerely showed me the way, and will now leave us.”
“What about our pay?”
The thin man flicked some coins toward them. The pathetic lot scrambled on the ground to pick up the meagre earnings, then rushed to their horses and rode off.
“How do you propose to aid in my father’s release? Do you know where he is?”
“Aye, I do.”
“And will you not share that information with me?”
“I will when the time is right. I have to be sure I can trust you as I trust him. I have heard much about you, and the differences between you and your father.”
“Is that so? I do not give credence to idle gossip.”
The man laughed, and a chill swept through Annabella. This man was not to be trusted; she could feel it within her very essence.
“I would not expect that you would. However, if we are to work together, we must get a few things straight first.”
“And what makes you think I will work with you. I know who you are, and I know what you have done.”
Somehow, Annabella felt that what the man had actually done was far worse than anything she could imagine. And right now she was imagining all sorts of violent scenarios.
“I admit, MacDonald, that does take some of the enjoyment out of this encounter.” He sighed then. “Very well, if you know me then you know why I wish to see your father released and the Stewart brought to his knees.”
“We both know that your list does not end there. As much as I would appreciate the aid in locating my father, I will not be a part of any scheme involving MacIntosh. The man has his loyalties to the Stewart, aye, but I will not aid you in your revenge.”
Annabella almost laughed out loud. Angus had instigated the scheme to abduct her. Why should this man’s quest be any different? Not that she wanted to have anything to do with him, but Angus appeared to be spouting honour when there had been little where she had been concerned on the day had taken her. How convenient of him to be so selective in his crimes. Perhaps there was honour among thieves.
Still, she wanted to scream at him to run this man through and tear across the country toward Linlithgow.
“If you wish to see your father alive again, you will aid me in myendeavour.”
“Are you telling me you have my father?”
“That is exactly what I am telling you. And if you do not help me, I will kill him.”
Angus urged their horse forward. The closer they got to the man, the more she pressed back against Angus.
“Know this, Gawain Chattan. As soon as my father is safe, I plan to break your scrawny neck.”
The man had the audacity to smile. “You have no idea how much of a service you would be doing me. In the meantime,” he held out his hand, “are we in agreement?”
“Not until I know the full detail of your intentions.”
“All you need to know is that once you help me, I will release your father. And I am a man of my word.”
With that, he dropped his unaccepted arm and turned toward the road, clearly expecting them to follow.
Annabella had a knot in her chest that made it hard to breathe. Never in the days since her abduction had she experienced real terror the like of which this man instilled in her. Her dilemma now was to stay with Angus while he became side-tracked on this quest, or go it alone out here where there were dangers at every turn. Equally as terrifying was the thought of being in that man’s company; she could not go and she could not stay. And in both scenarios, she had no control over what happened. That would need to change.
* * *
Though he had no choice but to follow Chattan for the moment, Angus had no intention of him finding out who Annabella really was, or allowing her to remain with them. He now thanked God and Graham for the men who tracked them. All he needed to do was somehow connect her with them, then he could carry forward alone with Chattan.
He recalled much about this man from three years earlier. Angus’s father had entered into a scheme with the elder Sutherland laird to ruin the king’s reputation by having him blame the wrong clan for a horrible crime. At the time, Angus had vehemently opposed the scheme, but his father had still been furious over the king’s dealings with the Highland clans and his intention to strip them of all their power.
