Page 18 of A Rogue and a Noble Lass

“Aye, I ken ye are the Laird’s daughter, but I dinnae think ye would want tae win that way, would ye? There’s nae pride in being given something. Ye hae tae earn it.”

“I hae earned everything in my life, and I will nae hae ye interfere with my ambition.”

“And what ambition would that be?” he asked.

Beitris squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

“I will be the one tae kill Warnock.”

Logan paused and stared at her strangely. She read the look in his green eyes as doubt and anger flared. It seemed that he did doubt her prowess, despite his words. Beitris leaned forward and glared at him.

“Ye think I am a fool,” she said.

Logan pursed his lips and shook his head. “Nae at all. I’m sure there are many people across the Highlands who hae made the same declaration, yet Warnock still lives.”

“Aye, but that will change when he meets the tip of my arrow. I shall lead men intae battle and finally slay him. I will bring peace tae the Highlands and my name will be passed down in history. Beitris Knox, Peacemaker.” There was an awed tone in her words and a dreamy look in her eyes.

“He will nae make it easy for ye. He hae escaped death many times before.”

“His luck hae tae run out eventually, and I dinnae plan tae give him a way tae escape. I will be a hero of the Highlands, like my father before me, and naething will stop me. I appreciate the training, but I will nae put in a word for ye. I shall be captain,” she said.

With that, she turned on her heels and walked back to the Keep, although it was difficult not to turn her head.

While there was much about Logan that she did not know, there was something that called to her. They spoke the same language—war.

And her heart was racing, but it wasn’t because of her exertions.

Logan watched her leave. The irony was not lost on him. She had openly declared her intentions to kill his father without knowing the truth, while he was plotting to kill her father. Fate liked to have its fun, he supposed.

He and Beitris were mirrors of each other, although her mission was foolhardy. He didn’t believe there was anything that could kill Warnock. The man was too spiteful, too cruel. His hatred kept him alive.

Beitris was going to fail, but he would not.

Beitris wanted to be a hero. Logan wasn’t naive enough to believe he could be anything like that. He only wanted to do one thing, one dark, wretched thing, and when it was over he would be too. Perhaps Beitris would have to be content with killing him.

7

“A

bsolutely nae,” Ryan said, swiping his hand through the air.

Beitris was standing before him, a shocked look on her face. Caroline was not present, nor were Allan and Elliot. It was just the two of them.

“Da, ye cannae dae this! It’s unfair of ye tae treat me differently than Allan and Elliot,” she rasped.

“But ye are different. They hae more training than ye, more experience.”

“And how am I supposed tae gain more experience when ye dinnae ever let me fight? I want tae contribute tae this war just like the rest of the family, but ye are stopping me. When it’s over I dinnae want tae be left out of the toasts. I dinnae want people tae think that I was helpless.”

“Naebody will think that,” Ryan said, although his tone faltered.

Beitris didn’t believe him anyway.

“Aye, they will. Ye ken they will. I hae proven myself on the training field. Ye cannae coddle me. I am nae a lass any longer. Why will ye nae let me fight?”

The frustration in her voice kept rising. Spittle flew from her mouth to the point where she was screaming. In response, Ryan slammed his palm on the arm of his chair.

“Because I’m afraid of losing ye!” he thundered.