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Ewan knew this was his fault. Magnus was a greedy man. He’d been poised to strike for months, just waiting for the opportune moment to challenge Ewan’s leadership. Could he hold him off this time? Or would he finally be forced to fight?

“What exactly are ye proposing, Magnus?” Ewan asked.

Ewan saw the other man’s jaw trembling as he fought to contain his excitement. “We cannae risk letting them go. But I say we have our fun with them first.”

Ewan didn’t bother to hide his revulsion. “Rape, first? Then kill them? Is that what ye mean? Then say it plainly.”

Magnus stroked the stubbly beard on his chin. “We cannae risk them betraying our identities to the earl.”

Ewan squared off against Magnus. “I dinnae believe Laird Sinclair will let the murder of his daughter go unpunished. Do ye wish to bring the wrath of the Sinclairs as well as the McLendons down upon our heads?”

“Ewan’s right. There’s no need to look fer more trouble,” Alec said, stepping forward. “I say we ransom the Sinclair lass. She’s a prize likely worth her weight in gold.”

Several angry expressions quickly turned to greed. “What about the Englishwoman?” Ewan asked.

Alec shrugged. “We keep her.”

“Keep her?” Ewan’s eyes held a steely edge. “As what? Yer pet?”

“I thought it a fair compromise—”

“It’s not.” Ewan cut Alec off with a withering glare.

“I’ve heard what ye have to say and now I need to think on it. I’ll tell ye what we’re doing once I’ve made my decision.”

Magnus’s eyes narrowed. “And if we dinnae agree with what ye decide?”

Ewan looked at the other men and burst into laughter. Yet he was the only one—none of the others even cracked a smile. Sobering, he gazed at the disgruntled band. “Enough!” he shouted. “I’m still the one in charge. Any man who no longer wishes to follow my lead is free to go.”

“We dinnae want to leave.” Magnus spit on the dirt in front of him. “And we dinnae want to take orders anymore from ye.”

“Well, if that’s what ye want, then so be it.” With a determined look, Ewan unsheathed his sword. Magnus and two others did the same.

Damn. This is going to get ugly.

Chapter 18

By the time it was confirmed that both Fiona and Aileen were indeed missing, Gavin’s anger was roaring through the castle. Yet as riled and outraged as he was, the earl knew he needed a calm, clear head. Still, it was difficult to keep his temper in check as he waited for Father Niall to be brought to him.

And when the priest revealed Fiona’s plans to leave, and his part in her departure, Gavin was nearly spitting with rage.

“I could wring yer neck fer this, priest or no,” Gavin said in a low growl.

Father Niall bowed his head. “My regret knows no bounds, my lord. I shall never forgive myself if anything sinister befalls Lady Fiona. Or Lady Aileen.”

Gavin could hardly hold still. “Be gone from my sight before my anger overcomes my common sense and I act upon it,” he snarled.

Father Niall quickly hurried away. Gavin expelled a deep breath, striving for a clear head. He looked up. Connor, Duncan, and Aidan stood before him at the ready. Thank goodness.

“At least we know that Lady Fiona left with the grain cart that was heading north,” Aidan said. “And Lady Aileen departed soon after, following the cart. It shouldn’t be too hard to find them.”

“But they left early this morning,” Duncan said.

“’Tis a heavy, lumbering cart drawn by a pair of oxen,” Aidan replied. “A small contingent of men on horseback will easily catch them before nightfall.”

Gavin nodded. Aidan’s calm confidence soothed his badly frayed temper. Wasting no time, the men hurried to the stables. The horses were being readied when a shout from the guard tower rained down from above.

Bloody hell, now what?