Page 34 of A Laird and a Fugitive

“Then what we need is tae spy on him and learn more about him,” Nessa suggested.

“I am trying, although he dinnae come tae me every night. And I dinnae know how much freedom we are gaeing tae be given. It’s nae as though we’re gaeing tae escape the attention of the guards,” Caroline remarked, somewhat despondently.

Tara brightened at this. “Perhaps ye can ask them tae gae and see him. Surely, they will nae deny that request. And if ye are asking tae be taken tae him, it’s hardly as though ye can be up tae nae good.”

Caroline considered the suggestion, mulling it over for a few moments. Nessa seemed to think it was a good idea as well. It was certainly better than sitting inside and doing nothing.

Caroline went up to the guards and told them that she wanted to see her husband. At first, the guards were reluctant to grant her request, but then she said that she wanted to thank him for moving her sisters, and they wanted to thank him in person as well. The guard sighed and relented.

He led them towards the main chamber, where the Laird was receiving his people. The chamber was filled with an audience. The three sisters crept in at the back of the room. They sidled up the side of the room to get a better view of Ryan. He was sitting in his throne, leaning forward with his hands clasped between his legs, as people came up one by one to speak to him and make requests or share concerns. One woman approached and kneeled before him.

“I want tae make ye aware of bandit activity in the area. We rarely hae cause tae fear for our safety, but recently, I hae seen them in the woods at night and I cannae sleep for fear that they will come intae my house and dae all kinds of terrible things,” she said.

“I know about the bandits,” Ryan said quickly. “I hae already dispatched men tae deal with them, and I believe they hae received the message. Ye can rest easy. I will nae let my people suffer at their hands.”

The woman bowed her head and clasped her hands together, thanking him for his efforts. She peeled away, and was replaced by the next person in line. Caroline saw a glimmer of that man who had come to her aid and defended her so fiercely. There was a hint of honor in him. She was touched at how he set the woman’s mind at ease rather than dismissing her concerns.

She remembered how her uncle always tried to persuade her father that those kinds of meetings were a waste of time, that the Laird should be far too busy to bother with the common folk. But her father had always thought it important to maintain a personal connection with the people of the land, and she saw similar qualities in Ryan, although comparing him favorably to her father made her shiver.

It was then that an old man shuffled forward. He was teetering from side to side, and there was a hump on his back. He held his hat in his hands. His clothes were tattered, while a scratchy white beard peppered his cheeks. Even though Caroline wasn’t close enough, she could still hazard a guess that the man smelled. He groaned as he lowered himself to his knees, as though the act took considerable effort.

Caroline looked towards Ryan, expecting to see pity and care in his eyes. Instead, she saw him lifting his gaze to the ceiling and breathing heavily, as though this entire thing was a chore. Perhaps she had misjudged him after all.

“This reminds me of home. I so enjoyed learning about people’s lives,” Tara whispered.

Nessa shushed her sharply. Nessa had never had any patience for this kind of thing, but not because she bore any ill will to the villagers. She simply preferred to be out in the wild, liking the company of animals more than people. Caroline turned her attention back to the current situation.

“M’Laird,” the man began in a croaky, uneven voice. “I come tae ye taeday tae beseech ye for a request. I hae fallen on hard times. My joints are aching, and I can barely lift myself up in the morning, let alone wagons. I hae found money hard tae come by, and without it, I fear I cannae repair the roof over my head. I dare nae lend myself tae the elements, they will be the death of me. Please, M’Laird, please show pity on me and loan me a wee bit of coin, just tae help me build a new hut. The roof is already gone, and it’s only a matter of time before the rest of it gets blown away, and knowing my luck I’ll be taken right along with it. I dinnae know what I am gaeing tae dae without it.”

He clasped his hands together as if in prayer, and bowed his head. It was a heartrending plea, and Caroline’s feelings went out to the man. What a plight it was to grow old, she thought. How could anyone turn him down?

Ryan sighed. “Get on with ye. I hae nae intention of honoring yer request, and ye should know better than tae come tae me. Gae on.” Ryan waved his hand in the air, shooing the old man away.

The old man struggled to his feet and had a fearful look on his face.

“Please,” he said, and then showed a choking cough.

Ryan wasn’t about to listen to any more of this, however, and rose from his throne menacingly, which seemed like far too much of an overreaction. Caroline was stung by his callous nature and couldn’t believe that she had ever thought him capable of kindness. She strode forward with a stern look on her face.

“How can ye sit there and deny this man’s request? He clearly needs help. Are ye blind tae his plight?”

Her words thundered around the room. There was an audible gasp of shock that rippled through the chamber. Ryan did not seem angry, however, the look on his was more one of intrigue. He arched an eyebrow and put his hands on his hips.

“Oh, I know all about his plight, alright. I was aware of it when he came tae me two months agae and asked me for a loan then, one that I happily gave him. And how did it help yer family?” Ryan turned back to the old man, who now seemed skittish.

“Ah… Aye, aye, that’s right, it did help my family! And it’s why we need tae call on ye charitable favor once again. Just a wee bit of coin, that’s all. It will gae a long way,” the man said.

“I’m sure ye hae enough tae spare,” Caroline was aware that all eyes were upon her, but she was not fazed at all. She kept her focus on Ryan at all times.

“If I gave my coin tae ever hard luck case, then I would hae naething left. Perhaps ye might like tae hear how he spent the last loan I gave him,” Ryan asked, holding a hand out towards the man.

Caroline now turned towards him. He averted his gaze and took halting breaths.

“Ah well, there was food of course, and repairs for clothes. I needed my boots mending. A terrible hole in them there was, let all the water through. And then…”

“Tell her,” Ryan commanded.

The man’s head dropped. He scratched his beard. “I spent it on dice,” he mumbled.

“We hae in our midst a notorious gambler. I trusted him tae be responsible once, but I am nae gaeing tae make that mistake again, and I take it as an insult that he thinks I would,” Ryan said.

“Oh, I would nae dae that M’Laird!” the man cried, but Ryan was largely ignoring it now.

“I even gave him work in the Keep, taking part of his pay until his debt was erased. I dinnae think he can be trusted with his own money. I see tae it that his family gets his fair share of food in return for the time he gives. But if he gets coin, there’s only one place it’s gaeing tae end up, and that’s in the pockets of other people. Is nae that right?”

“Aye, Laird, ye are wise. I’m sorry for troubling ye,” the old man confessed, and made a hasty retreat.

Ryan turned his attention to Caroline, who was forced to admit that she had made an error. Without knowing the full context, she had challenged the Laird, but found that his decision had been wise and just. He clearly had the best interests of his people at heart and as she scanned the room, she noticed how they all looked at him with respect, perhaps something even bordering on love.

She wondered how different things might have been if her name had not been Gilmour. This inherent hatred he had for her clan clouded everything, and made him see her in the worst light possible. Ryan folded his arms across his broad chest and gave her a challenging look, as if to suggest that she should remain quiet. He beckoned the next person forward, and Caroline retreated to Nessa and Tara.

Ryan might have been paranoid, and he might have been vicious, but he cared about his clan and tried his best to make their lives better. He listened to them patiently and offered tempered advice. He did not always give everything they asked for, but it was always enough to help them with their predicaments. He was balanced and fair, and once again she sensed that he was more than he was showing her.

But would she ever benefit from this side of him, or would she always suffer because of her birth name?