Page 72 of The Laird’s Wrong Wife

Oscar took a deep breath before asking his next question. “And his wife? How is she?”

“She was inside the castle, seein’ to the wounded.”

Oscar looked at the dried blood on Fergus’s temple. “Did ye see Angus MacWatt?”

“Nay, me Laird. I cannae say where he was.”

His absence proved nothing. Oscar filed it away for later.

Fergus drew another folded sheet from beneath his coat. Soot darkened one corner, and Bryce’s seal remained unbroken on the fastening.

“They brought this beneath a white cloth,” he explained. “Laird Morrag bade me to carry it with his note.”

Oscar took the sheet and passed David’s letter to Lennan.

“Send two mounted scouts,” he ordered. “One takes the direct road and the other checks the western approach.”

“Aye, me Laird,” Lennan responded, his voice firm.

“They are only to observe and return,” Oscar added. “Nobody must engage.”

Lennan was moving toward the door before Oscar finished. “Aye, me Laird.”

Oscar exhaled. This may be something he could handle, but now wasn’t the time to leave anything to chance. It was time to have all his bases covered.

“If Gilmore’s men cross onto MacKane land, bring the nearby tenants inside and bar the gates,” he instructed, just as the door opened to reveal Ceana.

His lips parted, but no words came.

Ceana’s eyes immediately went to the man on the bench. “Fergus?”

Her gaze moved over his smoke-stained plaid and paused on the blood at his temple. Fergus set his cup aside and made another attempt to rise.

“Me Lady, ye neednae fear for me. It is only a cut.”

Ceana scarcely looked at the wound. Her fingers closed around the doorframe as she faced Oscar. “What has happened?”

Fergus looked at Oscar, who gave him a nod.

“Laird Gilmore has attacked Morrag.”

Oscar watched as the color drained from Ceana’s face. Her grip tightened until her knuckles turned white.

“Me parents?”

“They were alive when Fergus left. The castle still held.”

“Give me the letter.”

Lennan handed it to her.

Oscar could see the look of recognition land on her face before she unfolded the page. He then watched as her eyes moved quickly across the lines, then he turned to Lennan.

“Prepare a horse for Fergus once he has eaten and rested. I may need to send a message after the scouts return.”

Ceana folded the note and reached for the cloak hanging beside the door. “Have me mare saddled,” she instructed.

Oscar turned back to her. “Ceana…”