Page 37 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

The following morning, after breakfast at the laird’s table, Blaine took Tadhg aside. “I’ve had some news about me faither,” he told him, “I trust ye, Tadhg, and I need yer help.”

“What sort of help?” the big warrior asked, his expression giving nothing away.

“Well, I hear ye work as a scout fer Laird Lennox.”

“Aye, that’s true.”

“I need someone with experience of scoutin’ tae go tae this place where there have been reports of the clan we suspect is holdin’ me faither captive and see the lay of the land. Me faither could be there somewhere.”

“Ye have yer own scouts. Why nae send one of them?” Tadhg asked.

Blaine already had an answer for that. “Aye, and they’re good lads too. But none of them has as much know-how as ye. And if anythin’ happened, I dinnae trust them tae be able tae defend themselves or me faither”

“Fair enough, but what d’ye want me tae dae?”

“Just go there, see the lay of the land, locate me faither if ye can, and report back tae me,” Blaine explained. “I’ll raise a force and we’ll go and get him back.”

Tadhg thought about it for a few moments and then nodded. “All right, I’ll dae it.”

Elated at the way his scheme was going, Blaine grinned happily and clapped Tadhg heartily on the back. “Thank ye, man. I feel better now. I ken I can trust ye tae be discreet and dae a good job, with nay mistakes. Go as soon as ye like, and take whatever ye need, horses, provisions, and the like.”

“Very well. And I’ll report back ate ye on me return.”

The pair parted, and Blaine watched with satisfaction as Tadhg walked away. H was safe in the knowledge that his rival would soon be walking into a carefully arranged trap, and he would not come out alive.

Alana will be heartbroken, I’m sure, losin’ her faither and her husband in one fell swoop. She’s lucky I’ll be by her side tae console her in her time of loss.