Page 179 of Claimed Highland Brides

A RECKONING

That hesitation cost him dearly, for Gilroy had no qualms about killing him. He swung his claymore aiming for Barclay’s belly, meaning to cut him in two. Barclay staggered backward just in time and stopped the claymore’s forward motion with his sword, the impact juddering all the way up his arm to his shoulder. He almost dropped his sword, but self-preservation had him clinging stubbornly to it.

He pushed back at Gilroy, kicking out his knees with his heavy boot. As Gilroy stumbled and fell, Barclay pushed down on his throat with his foot. “Do ye yield, or do ye die?”

Gilroy lay on the ground, breath heaving, and glared up at him.

“Yield or die!” Barclay yelled, his thoughts with the small boy watching. He wished Aileen would take him away.

“Ye will never get me to yield,” Gilroy growled, his hand sweeping the ground in search of his fallen claymore. Barclay shoved it further away with his own sword.

“Not even for yer son? Ye would have him watch ye die?”

Suddenly Aileen was by his side, the boy with her. “Da!” he cried in distress.

Gilroy’s face mottled in fury. “Get him oot o’ here!”

One of his soldiers came forward, grabbing the boy and carrying him away as he kicked and squealed, shouting for his father.

“Would ye like tha’ to be the last time ye see yer son? Would ye like it to be the last time he sees ye? Because take it from me, it’ll stay wi’ him, forever.”

That made Gilroy blanch just the slightest bit before his face firmed and hardened. “Ye’ll do what ye mun’ and so will I.”

Barclay exhaled noisily before nodding. “Vera weel then.” He hovered over the man, sword raised, looking into his eyes. After hesitating a while longer, he put the sword down.

“Ye’ll leave my home. Ye’ll do it now. An’ I see ye anywhere near here again, I shall end yer life.”

Gilroy’s shoulders dropped in relief, but he gave no other sign that he’d heard Barclay.

“Do I have yer word?”

“Aye.” The answer was grudging but clear so Barclay stepped back, his sword still raised. Gilroy got slowly to his feet, his eyes never leaving Barclay. He backed away a few steps before stopping.

“Ye’ll allow me to pack?”

“O’ course.” He moved out of the way, leaving some space for Gilroy to pass him by. Gilroy brushed past him, still huffing, and headed to the manor.

* * *

Aileen approached Barclay, looking him over for any injuries. “Is it done the noo?”

Barclay lifted his chin before dropping it, his eyes thoughtfully trained on his step-uncle. “We shall see.”

“What now?”

He turned to her and smiled. “I have my home back. We can move into it.”

Aileen smiled as well, even as her heartbeat accelerated. “Oh, when d’ye want to do tha’?”

“As soon as possible.” He grinned, taking her hand and squeezed it. “I thought that perhaps we might have a proper wedding.”

Anxiety was a tight band around her chest, and she glanced at her brother-in-law before looking back to Barclay. “Are ye sure?”

He peered closer at her, a frown on his face. “Do ye no’ want to?”

She hesitated, wanting to tell the truth but not really sure what that was. “I dinnae ken. I feel as if I’m already marrit t’ye, and to be frank, all tha’ attention on me scares me a bit.”

Barclay barked a laugh. “Oh, I see. For a moment, I thought ye dinnae want to be marrit to me.”