Page 26 of Strachan (Hostage Brides #2)
Every instinct screamed at Peyton to turn back as he sped along the path to Annancross. He did not trust Caolan Bannerman, yet if what he said was true, he had little time to intercept Jasper and Cecily’s sister, Rowenna, before they met their doom.
An eerie hush lay over the thick woodland path leading to the Carstairs’ stronghold. A drifting mist sent icy fingers inside Peyton’s cloak to tighten his skin. He knew little of Alec Carstairs, but the man did not have the best reputation. Jasper was marrying his sister to a wealthy but indolent oaf with more arrogance than sense. The man could not care much for his sister to give her to such a man just for an alliance. No matter how dire his circumstances, Peyton resolved never to be so unfeeling to Lowri.
Rain began to fall with a steady hiss. He strained his ears as voices sounded over the top of it. Peyton rode his horse up a steep embankment and down the other side and was confronted with the Glendenning wedding party consisting of several men on horseback and a collection of wagons. He galloped towards them and brought his horse to a skidding halt lest he get a sword in the bowels from Jasper’s henchmen.
When he pulled back his hood and announced himself, Peyton got the usual belligerence from Jasper. ‘What are you doing here?’ he growled.
‘Getting in your way, as usual. But I would speak to you without prying ears,’ Peyton replied as he caught sight of several women at the back of the party. It was hard to tell which one was Rowenna, as they were bundled up against the cold.
Peyton rode level with Jasper. ‘I come with a warning, and you must listen to it, or you might die this day and your women with you.’
Jasper glanced back, shouted at the others to stay put, and rode up the embankment. As Peyton followed, he heard the word ‘ruffian’ carried on the breeze. A woman in Jasper’s party was not impressed with him. He hoped it was not Cecily’s sister.
Once they were out of earshot, Peyton delivered Caolan’s warning. Jasper scanned the woods, searching for betrayal. ‘Why did Caolan not come himself and tell me this?’ he said.
‘He is under attack, and because of the enmity between you and his brother, he feels you would not believe him.’
‘He has that right. And why should I trust a single word that comes out of your mouth, Strachan?’
‘Let’s just say I have my reasons for wanting you to survive, and they have nothing to do with liking you. I came here at great risk to warn you.’
Jasper was not to be turned, no matter how much Peyton insisted that Alec Carstairs was treacherous and in league with the Warden in a plot to kill him. He snarled out the objections which Peyton had expected. He did not trust him. It could all be a plot to prevent his family’s alliance with Clan Carstairs. Why were Caolan and Peyton plotting together? And then they came to the nub of it.
‘I will never trust the word of a Bannerman says, and I trust you even less,’ snarled Jasper.
When Peyton grabbed his shoulder to stop him from walking away, he shook him off. Peyton’s frustration fired his temper. ‘Don’t be a fool and let your infatuation with Brenna Bannerman cloud your judgment,’ he shouted.
Jasper’s thunderous scowl meant Peyton had struck a nerve. They were about to come to blows when the snap of a twig had them turning. A lass emerged from the trees, and Peyton would have found her bonnie save for the crossbow she aimed at his heart. She approached, and Jasper snarled at her for not staying put, but the lass said nothing and kept her eyes trained on him.
She must be Rowenna. She had red-blonde hair and was blessed with a womanly figure. He could see the resemblance to Cecily in her heart-shaped face, the delicacy of her features and the stubborn set of her chin. By God, Rufus MacCreadie was fortunate in his daughters. Rowenna’s was not the perfect golden beauty Cecily possessed, but she would turn heads. Payment of a debt was clearly not the only reason Jasper had taken her.
Peyton pitied Rowenna for having such a harsh husband. He wanted to ask if she was alright, if she had been forced to marry Jasper, if she was unhappy and missed her sister, but he could not. Instead, he fumbled a compliment. ‘Who is this bonnie but clumsy lass?’ he said.
‘This is Rowenna, my wife, and she has yet to learn obedience.’
That would be a fool’s errand if Cecily was anything to go by. ‘Ah, so this is the new Lady of Kransmuir,’ said Peyton. ‘I have heard much of your virtues, Rowenna, and they were not exaggerated.’
‘I cannot think of anyone who would find a virtue in me,’ she replied humbly. Her glance at Jasper seemed fearful as he ordered her to return to the others.
Amazingly, Rowenna refused and demanded to know what was happening. She had obviously overheard his warning. Jasper’s face was like thunder as he dragged her away, and they began to argue.
‘I cannot believe Carstairs is capable of this treachery,’ hissed Jasper.
‘But the Warden is,’ she said. ‘I have met him, remember.’
‘That man is evil, and so is his mistress.’
Her words made Peyton freeze. How had she met the Warden, the man whose son he had killed? And who the hell was this mistress? He had heard nothing of Sir Henry having a woman in tow. Peyton rushed up to them. ‘Tell me about this mistress,’ he demanded.
Rowenna looked up at him, her brown eyes wide and fearful. ‘She was breathtaking to look at, but as horrible as the Warden. There was something evil about her, and she had such cruelty in her eyes.’
‘She would have to be a hard bitch if she is bedding Sir Henry,’ Peyton said as a dread feeling crept over him.
‘He is revolting and made me squirm. Strangely, the woman was not jealous,’ said Rowenna. ‘She seemed to enjoy my distress.’
‘What did he do?’ growled Jasper.
His words seemed to fade away to nothing as a cold hand sank its nails into Peyton’s chest. Breathtaking. Evil. Cruel. Peyton pasted a smile on his face to hide his turmoil. He had to get away. He had to think. But they were running out of time.
‘I have come with my message, Glendenning, so you may ignore it at your peril,’ he said. ‘Run to your doom or run for your life. It is up to you.’
He took Rowenna’s hand, kissed it, and muttered a few words, but he could not remember what he said as he rode a short way off and watched the two of them from the cover of the trees. Rowenna argued with her husband for a little while. Why did Jasper allow such defiance? Nothing he knew of the man suggested he would treat a woman’s opinion kindly.
They quickly returned to their companions, and Peyton was relieved to see them turn around and head back down the path towards Kransmuir and safety. But Rowenna stayed back, and to Peyton’s great surprise, she fell into Jasper’s arms and kissed him passionately. Perhaps Rowenna was no reluctant bride. Could she have a love match with Jasper Glendenning? Peyton was not sure if that was a good or bad thing, but he had no time to ponder. He turned and headed south towards the border with England. A day’s ride to the limit of his horse’s endurance should get him there.
His worst fear was taking form, like a corpse digging its way out of a grave. He had to know if he was right because if he was, they were all running out of time – Glendenning, Bannerman, everyone.