Page 52 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

Helpless, Fiona leaned over to tug at the ground, furiously digging with her fingers to the soil beneath. Then, a voice behind her made her leap.

"Save yer bonny wee hands from getting all clarty!"

Even before Fiona turned, she saw Clyde's complexion paling. Instinctively, she flinched. Clyde's hand steadied her on the shoulder as, slowly, she turned around.

A short, stocky man of medium complexion stood grinning. And by the look on Clyde's face, he recognized him.

"Fraser," he said, staring at him stonily.

Beside him, Fiona's brows knitted.

"Clyde," she said edgily, "what is going on?"

Striding over toward them, the brown-haired man seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Och, hen," he said mockingly. "Did my cousin nae tell ye?"

Fiona watched Clyde's face change. He looked uneasy and pale.

"Fraser," began Clyde desperately. But Fraser paid no heed. He walked around them, encircling them, and behind them, Fiona saw men amassing. Her heartbeat tripled as she glanced around them.

Fraser put his arm around Fiona's shoulders. Fiona squirmed desperately as Clyde glared at him. "The thing is, my cousin hasnae been entirely honest wi' ye. Ye see, ye think ye’re here as an equal partner, for the gold?" He arched an eyebrow.

Fiona looked sharply at Clyde. His eyes sank. She could see in his face something that he was not telling her. Fiona began to feel angry.

The sun slid behind a cloud, making the whole glen gray and very dark. Watchfully, her face was on Clyde.

He did not say anything, and smirking, Fraser continued.

"Och, well, I am afraid his deal wasnae wi' ye, hen," said Fraser, shaking his head sadly. He paced around some more. Already, Fiona found herself feeling hugely irritated with him. He was enjoying this. "It was wi' someone else." His murky eyes cast teasingly to Clyde, who looked as if he could melt him with his glare. "I'll give ye three guesses."

His smile unfurled luxuriantly in front of Fiona. She hated him. One thing Clyde had gotten right was his description of him. He did not seem the type of man to forge peace in the Highlands.

"Ye?" said Fiona. She didn't want to play his game and broke herself free from where she was standing. Fraser had backed off, only slightly, but Fiona pressed herself forward to Lizzie May.

But Fraser put an arm out to stop her. That was when all hell broke loose.

"Take yer hands off her, Fraser! Ye have no right!" yelled Clyde, fixing his sgian dubh in his hands and heading toward him.

But it had no impact on Fraser. Laughing, he put his hands down, allowing Fiona to be free. However, she stopped dead where she was. Perhaps Fraser had let her be, but the men amassing in the background glared menacingly. Unsurely, she looked at Clyde.

"So, ye an' Clyde cooked up this plot tae take the treasure," she said in an uncertain, small voice. Inside, she felt hot. And sick. Trembling, she looked up to Fraser.

"Well, it isnae yers to take," she said, a flash coming into her eyes.

Fraser grinned. "I ken. The deal isnae between me an' Clyde." He smiled conspiratorially. "It's between yer man here an' the most powerful laird in the region, Edan Anderson."

Fraser stopped and grinned proudly. A hot passion built up in Fiona's belly. Sharply, she looked at Clyde.

"Is this true?" she asked in a barely audible voice. Behind them, the men in the distance advanced a step or two. They were getting nearer. Panicking, Fiona wondered what this meant.

Ashamedly, Clyde nodded. "Aye, but..." he began, but he ran out of words. Perhaps he could not finish, or maybe the look Fiona sent him stopped him in his tracks. Either way, he kept his head cast down, and Fiona knew it was true.

A horrible feeling ran through her, like sick and ice. Mixed in with the heat in her head, she felt instantly ill. She had trusted Clyde. How could he lie to her like this?

Smiling, Fraser continued. "So rude o' ye nae tae inform yer lady friend about yer wee deal," said Fraser, acting shocked. Fiona might have been unnerved, but the look she sent to Fraser still slightly put him off his stride.

"He should have told ye," said Fraser sternly, as if he were reprimanding Clyde. Clyde's face seethed, but he had trouble getting the words out. "That Anderson would give Clyde protection if he brought him the jewels...an' by that, he would remain as laird..."