Page 8 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)

Sloan

Sloan strode down the hill to stand on his favorite spot on Rankin land to look out over the sea, the wind blowing his hair back from his face. He broke into a smile, as always, because he loved this spot. On a good day, the wind would spray the sea all the way up to his face, something he and Lennox had done when they were younger, sitting on the rocks to see who could get the wettest.

From there, one could see everything that goes on across Bloody Bay.

And something was definitely going on. He’d seen more boats than ever going from Kilchoan to Coll and back. He had no idea what the ships were transporting, and he was curious, but he was more interested in why Rinaldo hadn’t mentioned the increased activity. It was his brother’s primary responsibility, and he was failing at it.

It was a simple task for a simple-minded person. His mother had always insisted that Rinaldo’s birth had been difficult, and so she considered him lacking. His father had insisted that he not push Rinaldo too much.

Oh, there were times when they were young that Rinaldo had demonstrated some limitations in his thinking, but not as much as his parents thought. At least, not in Sloan’s mind.

He dismissed these ideas, changing over to a different topic as he strode from one spot to the next. Lennox hadn’t returned yet to give him his answer to his offer for his sister, and he was long overdue.

Sloan had suffered from more jealousy than he’d ever admitted as he watched his friend fall in love so fast that it had shocked everyone, Lennox included. He’d met Meg and swore he’d known she was the one for him from the moment she’d swung an axe over her head and aimed it straight for his chest.

How Sloan wished he’d been there to observe that, but he’d heard much about it from his nephew Rowan, one of the bairns kidnapped and saved by Meg, Lennox’s new wife.

Lennox and Meg, Thane and Tamsin, Maitland and Maeve, Derric and Dyna, Alaric and Eli—more couples to watch than he’d ever paid attention to before. It was as if they were inundated with happy couples. Deliriously happy couples, Logan and Gwyneth Ramsay included. The entire situation fostered more of a yearning deep inside his belly of a happier life, of one where everything wasn’t decided by his father and whether he measured up to the old chieftain’s standards.

He wished for the same happiness. But he’d been rebuked too many times by the one lass he’d known for years.

Whom he’d loved for years—Eva MacVey.

Eva with her long dark waves that fell down her back, her rosy lips, and a smile that could stop any man in his tracks. Petite, she was a powerhouse when it came to her mind. He could recall numerous times when one lad or another would pick on her when she was young, and she’d stand up to them, bold as ever, her clever taunts putting each boy in their place.

One summer, a group of lads had headed to the loch on foot, and Eva had followed. A boy had told her to go away, and she’d marched right up and said, “I’m staying,” with a wild scowl on her face. Then she’d stomped hard on his foot and asked, “Shall I stomp on the other boot too?”

He’d moved to shove her a short distance, but Sloan caught the bully’s hand, squeezed it, and said, “The lass asked you a question.”

The boy cried and ran away.

Eva’s response had been to smile up at Sloan. That had been the first time he’d known that Eva was going to be more than a wee lass living in the next castle. Eva had sent the first stirring to his loins he’d ever had.

Lennox had snorted. “You have half the hour, Eva. Then you go home.”

And she pranced ahead, following the group into the loch.

Sloan had always been drawn to the lass, but sadly, the feelings were not reciprocated. He’d waited patiently for her to grow up. She was two and twenty to his four and twenty, but she still had no interest in him.

Every time he approached her, she shunned him, just as she’d done not long ago at Dounarwyse Castle.

Tired of waiting, he’d approached Lennox and asked for her hand, expecting his old friend to accept with a smile and a congratulatory clasp of his shoulder, only that hadn’t happened. Lennox had told him he would have to ask Eva.

Sloan sighed because he knew what her answer would be. What he was most curious about was her reasons for the refusal he knew would be coming. Was it his looks? His demeanor? Was he not tall enough? Not smart enough?

He’d never gotten the chance to kiss the lass, so he knew that wasn’t her reason.

Miles called down to him. “You have a visitor. MacVey is here.”

Sloan nodded, heading up the hill to accept the refusal, but he was anxious to hear the reason. Being good friends, he felt Lennox owed him that much.

“MacVey,” he called out as Lennox approached, coming down the hill to meet him, he guessed because he didn’t wish to be overheard. His friend would save him the embarrassment of being refused in front of all his guards.

“Rankin. Something draw your attention down here?”

“Nay, I just enjoy the tranquility of the sea and the birds. My favorite place. You have the sound, I have the sea.” He shrugged, not wanting to push the issue, so he waited to see why he was here.

“I came to give you my sister’s answer to your offer. She accepts.”

Sloan couldn’t have been more shocked. Nothing anyone could have said would have surprised him more. “Eva accepted? She agreed to marry me?” He had to admit his heart soared a wee bit, though he’d not say so, but the answer pleased him. Mayhap with a lengthy betrothal, he could help Eva learn to care for him. See his better qualities. It would give him the time to learn more about her and how to make her happy.

The possibilities were endless. He couldn’t stop the smile from breaking out across his face.

Lennox grimaced and said, “Not exactly.” He scratched his beard, a move that his friend often did when he was about to lie.

“What do you mean by that? It’s an aye or a nay. There’s no in-between, Lennox.”

“In this case, I am accepting for her. She will see the wisdom of my decision in time.”

Sloan stepped back. He knew that was the way of it for many. The elders of the clan decided who would make a good match and ordered it. He didn’t want that for his marriage.

No way on this hallowed ground would he want a lass to be forced to marry him.

“Did you speak to her at all or is this your decision?”

“I did speak with her.”

“And?”

“And she refused. Some foolish reason or another about our father choosing her husband, but she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. He’s gone and I’m here, so I’m choosing for her. You’re a good match for her. She’ll adjust.”

Sloan was nearly at the point when he was about to lose his temper completely. It didn’t happen often, but when he reached that point, there was no stopping his fury. But he managed to hold it in for a bit longer. “You think to make such an important decision for your sister like that? And you think I want a wife who is forced to marry me? Hellfire, you better think on this again, friend. Or is it about to become enemy, MacVey?”

“What the hell, Rankin? I’m giving you what you want. My sister’s hand in marriage. Why are you upset about it?”

“Because I want her willing. Do you not know your sister? Do you think I wish to see her in chains at the altar? You know that’s what it would take to get the stubborn lass to marry me if she’s not inclined. You are as daft as my sire if you think I wish for that.”

“The hell I am.”

“You are. You’re only thinking with your cock. You are so taken with your new wife that you can’t see what’s in front of you. Eva doesn’t want me.”

“Then why the hell did you ask? I’m giving you what you want and you’re going to refuse me now?”

“Aye. If Eva can’t come to me willingly, I don’t want the match.” He did his best to lower his voice, but he couldn’t stop it. And of course, out of nowhere came his brother.

Rinaldo approached. “What’s all the yelling about, Sloan? Can I help with something?”

“Nay, we’re done here. Take your leave, MacVey.” Sloan’s hand went to the hilt of his weapon, though he’d never draw it on his friend.

Lennox nodded. “I’m sorry you feel that way. As I said, we accept your offer. We’ll come on another day to discuss the impending nuptials. She’ll come to understand it’s best for her.” He headed up the hill with a nod.

Sloan waited until he was gone and turned to Rinaldo. “If you speak a word of this to anyone, I’ll beat you until your tongue swells so much, you’ll never be able to speak again.”

Rinaldo paled but then smiled. “But from what I heard, Eva is going to marry you. Does that not make you happy?”

“Not when she’s being forced!”

Sloan headed up the hill, yelling behind him. “Remember what I said, Rinaldo. Tell no one.”