“I did not hear of it myself until afterward,” Moira said.
“Hugh feared the clan would choose Connor as chieftain if he returned,” Duncan continued. “He knew we would have to sail past the Maclean fortress on our way home, so he asked Shaggy to keep watch for us and see that we never made it to Skye.”
“My uncle wanted Connor murdered?” she asked.
“He still does.” Duncan continued bailing as they talked, but the water was seeping in through the cracks almost as fast as he scooped it out. “We managed to toss Hugh out of Dunscaith, and Connor was made chieftain. But Hugh is still a threat. He’s tried to kill Connor more than once, and he’ll try again.”
“Surely the clan wouldn’t make Hugh chieftain if he murdered Connor,” she said.
“They wouldn’t have much choice,” Duncan said with a shrug. “The clan will follow tradition and choose a man of chieftain’s blood. If Connor were dead, that would leave only Hugh and your other miserable half uncle.”
“And my son,” Moira said.
“Aye,” Duncan said.
Moira rubbed the wolfhound’s ears while silence fell between them.
“Ragnall loves this dog.” Moira’s lip trembled as she spoke. “Sean made Ragnall give him up.”
That explained why the dog was so thin.
“He’s a big dog for a wee lad.” Duncan turned his gaze to the sea and asked his question as if the answer were not important. “How old is this son of yours?”
“Five,” she said. “Ragnall is five.”
* * *
Moira lied instinctively to protect her son, but she did not regret it. Duncan did not deserve the truth. After living with Sean, Ragnall was hungry for a man he could look up to. He would take to this big man who had a quiet strength and the fighting skills of the warriors of legend.
She would never give Duncan the power to disappoint Ragnall as he had her.
“Ye said the four of ye had a dispute over this boat,” she said to change the subject. “How did you get it?”
“I made a wager with Alex that he would wed within six months.” A rare smile lit Duncan’s face. “He was wed in three.”
“Ach, the poor woman.” Alex was her cousin, but he was a born philanderer.
“His wife Glynis is happy,” he said. “Alex is a devoted husband and father.”
So many changes at home. She reminded herself that she had missed them all because of Duncan. While she was exceedingly grateful that he’d rescued her, she would not have needed rescuing if he had done the right thing seven years ago. He had failed her when it mattered most.
Moira looked out at the empty sea and wondered if she would die out here with him. She could almost hear the faeries laughing.
Chapter 13
Moira was desperate to get out of this damned leaky boat. Duncan was wearing her down with his kindness and self-sacrifice. After handing her half of their remaining dried meat and soggy oatcakes, he packed the rest away, saving it for when Niall woke up.
“Aren’t ye going to eat any of it?” she demanded.
“I don’t need it,” Duncan said. “I’ve gone without food far longer than this. I’m trained for it.”
“You’re a liar. Your stomach has been growling like a bear since yesterday.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t hungry,” he said with a half smile.
Ach, the man thought he was invincible. It was beyond annoying. She shared her meat with Sàr, hoping to get a rise from him, but Duncan did not appear to begrudge the dog a share.
Duncan put his arm beneath Niall’s shoulders, gently lifted him, and held the last of their ale to his lips. Niall was burning with fever, and she suspected worry was half the reason she was snapping at Duncan.
