Page 43 of Hunted By the Cruel Highlander (Lasses of the Highland Hunt #1)

"Here," Aaron huffed as he lowered Izzy off his shoulder and onto Ryan's. "Make yerself useful."

"And here I thought ye would be a gentlemen and bring yer new wife home like the proper Lady McNeil that she is," Chloe said, her tone snarky as she folded her arms over her chest. Aaron had seen disappointment etched into her face far too many times.

He invoked her glare just by staring at her the wrong way.

"I tried," Aaron argued as he trudged up the steps and pushed into the foyer with Ryan and Chloe on his heels.

"Ye should have tried a wee harder," Chloe scolded as she moved to Ryan's side to check on the girl.

"How about ye tell that to the bandits that decided to pay us a visit? Maybe in the midst of them tryin' to rob the carriage or pillagin' me wife to be, ye could discuss the timin' of matters and how this was all one big inconvenience for all parties involved."

Chloe rolled her eyes and swiftly turned her attention back to Izzy as they turned into the large study. Aaron pulled in a long deep breath, savoring the familiar scent of leather and burned oak. He let his shoulders drop as his home settled over him like a warm cloak.

"Ye daenae have to be so crass," Chloe said, the irritation lashing her words.

"That's nae crass."

"And I daenae need ye to show me otherwise. What I need to ken is where ye want me to put her? We could put her in the west wing and have her by Tomas," Chloe suggested as she kept glancing over at the unconscious girl in Ryan's arms.

"Aye, do that. She'll nae want to be anywhere near me when she wakes, that much I'm sure of," Aaron said as he raked his arm over his forehead, wiping away the beads of sweat that formed while carrying her.

"If there were bandits, then does she need to see Anthony? I think he's still awake in that hole of his," Chloe suggested as an eagerness to help flashed across her features.

"Nay, I've already given her a once over. The lass is just overwhelmed. She fainted the second she saw me. Well, after I saved her, she called me a monster, and then she passed out."

"That doesnae imply she thinks ye're a monster," Chloe argued. "She could have been talkin' about the man ye killed."

"Then why did she pass out the second after?"

Chloe let out a heavy, frustrated sigh. "Can ye blame the lass? Have ye looked at yerself in the mirror? With yer scar zaggin' down yer face the way it does and how ye've got blood splattered every which way on ye. Aye, I think the lass gets a pass for spoutin' out names, daenae ye?"

Aaron rolled his shoulders back as he stared into the fire. His sister's words seeped through him like a balm to his seared flesh. Glancing over his shoulder, he took one last peek at the woman he had carried five miles over his shoulder. The woman whom he would be calling wife in no time.

"Have her put in the west side with me. I'll give her two nights before she's runnin' for the other side of the castle," Aaron decided as he turned his attention back to the roaring fire.

Izzy's wide fearful eyes haunted him. He hated the fact that he had caused her such distress but even more so, how terrified she was of him.

"Chloe , go and stay with her still she wakes. She'll want a friendly face to wake up next to. Then ye can explain where she is," Aaron said as he flexed his jaw. "I'll have nothin' to do with her until the weddin'."

"Surely ye daenae mean to be cruel to the lass," Chloe argued.

"Cruel? I thought I was doin' her a favor," Aaron protested and threw his hands up in frustration.

"What would ye have me do? The lass has rubbed me the wrong way since the moment we met.

If there was a way I could send her back, believe ye me, I would.

But I cannae. We're stuck with this arrangement, and so, I'm goin' to do everythin' I can to make this work. "

"That's nae the reason ye're really doin' this, but ye tell yerself whatever ye need to in order to sleep at night," Chloe said and patted Ryan on the shoulder. "We need to get her upstairs. The poor lass, I'm sure she has been through all she can handle for one day."

"Ryan, when ye're finished sortin' the lass in her room, I need ye to come back here," Aaron said as he moved around his desk and eased into the welcoming seat. It felt as if it had been forever since he was able to rest. Carrying the sassenach from the creek to the castle was no easy feat.

But as much as he wanted to relax, the sharp knock on the door ruined his serenity. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. Pulling in three long, deep breaths, Aaron shifted his body to fit the chair and cleared his throat.

"What?"

The door creaked open before the echo of his voice drifted away.

"Laird McNeil, we were so hopin' to find ye well," Barney groveled as he shuffled into the room. "And how was yer trip? Successful I hope?"

Aaron glared at Barney before his attention shifted to Nathan. Arching an eyebrow, Aaron refused to let his eyes fall away from Nathan as he spoke.

"Aye, well, I wouldnae call it a success. That would imply there was somethin' to be gained and seein' as how I never wanted to marry, ye can understand me disappointment with the situation."

"Of course, but did ye marry the lass or nae?

We need to ken so that certain stipends are moved around.

She'll want an allowance of course. And once she bares an heir…

" Barney continued as his smirk stretched like a snake across his lips.

"Well, then the whole clan will be able to breathe a bit easier. "

Aaron flexed his jaw. Oh, the things he wanted to spew out. Liars, that's what he wanted to call them. Vile, knaves, brutes, the lot of them. Aaron glared at Barney as he tried to unravel the plot against him. Surely, they had come at such a late hour for more than one reason.

"And why is that do ye think? Is the council nae impressed with the job I've done so far? By me accounts, it seems the borders are secure, the land is wealthy, and the only true issues ye have is that there's too few bairns runnin' about?"

"There's more to it than that," Barney said as he pulled at his collar. Aaron rose slowly from his seat and towered over his desk.

"I'm sure there is, but the hour is late, the day has been tryin', and the morrow gives me nay hope that I'll get a reprieve of me toils.

So, with that good evenin'," Aaron snapped as he started for the door.

In the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder if Barney and Nathan had come merely to see if he had lived through the night and the attack.

There was no doubt in the back of his mind that his own council was itching to get rid of him. It seemed every turn he took was filled with dangers and trials. How could he ever consider bringing another into such discord?

"Laird, if there's anythin' —" Barley started, but Aaron flashed him a warning glare, daring Barney to keep chatting.

Barney clamped his mouth shut as he gave a feeble nod then he cowered.

He grabbed Nathan by the forearm and pulled him for the doorway.

"I think we've outstayed our welcome. It is a blessin' to see ye alive and well, Laird McNeil.

And congratulations on yer weddin' plans.

I'm sure everythin' will go just as ye planned. "

Aaron's muscles tightened at the hypocrisy of Barney's speech.

How Aaron wanted to pin the man to the wall and beat him to a pulp.

If it wasn't for him and others spewing such vile rumors about him, he could have lived a decent life.

But no matter which way he turned, he was plowing down one lie after another as they sprang up around his name and reputation.

"Well, that was interestin'," Ryan said as he stopped at the threshold, pausing for Aaron's permission. "I've got to say, I daenae think I've seen the council so on edge."

"They sent the bandits and were hopin' for a different outcome," Aaron explained as he grabbed Ryan and pulled him in the room before swiftly closing the door.

"Have ye evidence?" Ryan asked and curled his fingers around the hilt of his sword, ready to take action.

"What do ye think?" Aaron snapped. "I think they were hopin' to ruin the lass."

"This is gettin' serious. Do ye think that the lass will be in danger?" Ryan asked as he moved to the fireplace.

"Of course, she will until she is with child.

Until then, we have a huge target on our backs.

But if by the grace of God, we can conceive, it'll save her.

The council willnae kill an innocent, and they'll have an heir to keep the clan strong," Aaron concluded as he paced the length of the room.

"I, on the other hand, will become expendable. "

"Unless the lass loves ye," Ryan chimed in. His interjection pulled Aaron up short. Stopping in the middle of the room, Aaron glared at Ryan.

"What does that have to do with anythin'? Love is nothin' more than a silly notion. Somethin' one says when they want somethin' from someone. 'Tis nothin' but a form of manipulation."

"Ye think yer maither would say that?" Ryan asked. His words struck Aaron like a javelin. "I think ye and I both ken that she loved ye."

"Aye, there's a different sort of love a parent gives to their child, but I wouldnae want that feelin' bestowed on me for all the world," Aaron announced as he moved to the small table and poured a heavy glass of whiskey.

"I cannae imagine the worry and toils that transpire for a parent. Nay, I wouldnae want that."

"Raisin' yer own would be different than what ye went through raisin' Chloe ," Ryan stated. "Ye'd have the clan helpin' every second."

"That's nae what bothers me," Aaron stated as he dropped his shoulders. "Until I get the clan to see that I'm nay a villain, they'll never trust me. Even after all I've done, they still see me as a monster."

"I daenae think they believe that," Ryan argued over his shoulder as he threw another log on the fire.

"That so? Then why does the council continue to try for me life? Explain that to me. Because ye'd think that such attempts would cease after they've seen I'm nae as bad as they think I am."

"That's it," Ryan declared as he glared into the fire.

Aaron rolled his eyes and walked over to the fireplace. Leaning into the mantel, Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose as he waited for Ryan to explain further. When there was only silence, Aaron tapped Ryan's elbow.

"Are ye goin' to tell me what it is that's got ye bewildered so?" Aaron asked as he studied his friend's contorted expression. He couldn't tell if it was a warning trying to flicker through his expression or pity.

"Ye need to woo yer English wife. If ye can get her to adore ye, then the clan will see that ye're nae such a villain," Ryan suggested.

"The last thing I need is to have some doe-eyed lass followin' me about the castle," Aaron said, his voice laced with disappointment. Ryan shook his head as the excitement grew within his gaze.

"But that is exactly what ye want, right? Listen, what's the one thing ye want the most?" Ryan asked as he grabbed Aaron by his shoulders, pinning him to the spot.

"Vengeance," Aaron answered without hesitation. Ryan bobbed his head as his smile stretched across his face.

"And that's a noble cause, but are ye lookin' to right the wrong the council did or the bandits because there is a difference?" Ryan prompted as Aaron watched a plan solidify in Ryan's mind. "It's honorable. But tell me truthfully, ye want to see the lass spared, daenae ye?"

"I'll start with the council if I must; what's it to ye?"

"Now hear me out," Ryan said as his voice pitched with excitement. "The lass falls for ye; ye make the king happy. Ye squeeze out an heir, and now, ye both are untouchable. Why? Because this is the King's decree, is it nae? The council kens this."

"Aye," Aaron said as his smirk grew the more Ryan painted the perfect picture of his future.

"So, if somethin' goes awry… then there's an enemy tryin' to go against the King's decree. Ye get the King involved, and all yer enemies cower before ye, and what do ye have?"

"Everythin', except who actually killed me parents," Aaron said rubbing his chin as he mulled over the path before him.

"Then use the weddin' to figure out what ye need to," Ryan suggested. "Get an heir to secure yer future, and then ye'll have all the time ye want to right the wrongs set against ye."

"I daenae ken," Aaron mumbled as he started pacing once again. "And what happens when all is right in the world and the lass realizes I used her? I cannae do that. I willnae do such a thing."

"The way I see it," Ryan said, squaring off with Aaron, "ye've got two options here. Ye trail down the path of the family man, or ye use this time to pull some weeds out of yer garden. This is yer lairdship they're tryin' to steal from ye, yer legacy. Ye cannae let them do that."

"Aye," Aaron agreed strongly as the resolve settled in his bones. "Hell will have to freeze over before anyone takes the lairdship from me."

"Who's plannin' on takin' the lairdship?" Chloe 's voice trailed into the room. Aaron craned his neck to spy around Ryan. Chloe stepped into the room, the concern on her face evident.

Shoving Ryan off, Aaron flashed Chloe a reassuring smile as he approached her. She stepped back as if he were about to snatch her up and carry her off.

"What's goin' on, Aaron?" she whispered as she glanced at Ryan for the answer. Aaron shook his head and let out a hearty chuckle.

"Nothin'; all is fine. Why daenae ye go see if the cook has some biscuits?"

"I'm nae five anymore," Chloe said. "Ye can tell me what is goin' on here. Why are ye talkin' of losin' the lairdship?"

"'Tis nothin' we havenae spoke of before," Aaron answered.

"Yer life was threatened again, wasnae it?" Chloe asked.

"It wasnae so much a threat," Ryan chimed in. Pursing his lips into a tight line, Aaron shot Ryan a warning glare.

"It's done and over with, but ye ken they'll keep tryin'," Aaron said.

"Well, I hope ye have a plan," Chloe said, her voice pitched with worry. Aaron's lip curled at the corner into a mischievous smirk.

"And what makes ye think I daenae? I always have a plan. Now, why daenae ye go and see Izzy is welcomed. I'm sure she must be goin' out of her mind with worry."