Page 15

Broc

Alaric pulled the boat up near Rankin land and asked, “So now that you have seen him, is K the same as Kelvan?”

“Aye, he is the same. Bastard was surprised when Logan called him Kelvan. I thought he was about to pass out from shock.”

Sloan hurried toward them down the hill. “What the hell happened? Is he dead?”

“Nay, he’s alive, but we have to get him to Eli quickly. Can you have the lads ready our horses?”

“Who did it?”

“Glenna of Buchan.”

Sloan whistled and headed back up the hill. “I’ll see the horses are ready for you. Tell me what happened later.”

Broc couldn’t stop the roiling deep in his belly. He’d failed the man who was as close to everyone as any Grant in the family. He should have made sure to walk behind him to protect him from such an attack.

He would probably become a pariah to the Granthams. The Ramsays would surely hate him for bringing Logan back in such a condition … if they made it back.

Hellfire, what the hell would happen to Broc if Logan died on the way? Broc had to keep Logan alive. He adored him, always admiring his brusque ways, his ability to track in the woods, to know what was going on everywhere. How did he know everything?

Lennox had told everyone Logan knew more about his sister than he did, knowing that she was on MacQuarie land when he thought Eva was sitting quietly in the castle with their mother.

“Logan, wake up,” he said as he lifted him out of the boat.

Logan opened his eyes and whispered, “Gwynie. Get me to Gwynie.”

“Nay, don’t talk like that,” Alaric yelled. “We’re not taking you to Gwyneth until you wake up, Ramsay. You aren’t going anywhere yet.”

“We need you to stay on the horse, Logan. Eli first, then Gwyneth.”

“Can’t …”

Alaric saw something behind a tree and moved over to grab it. “Put him in this cart. We’ll get him up the hill.”

They managed to get him to the stable without much trouble, the horses there as Sloan had promised.

Broc said, “I’m getting on Midnight Moon. Hand him up to me and I’ll carry him back in front of me. We have to move fast.”

Sloan said, “Are you daft, Broc? You cannot carry a man of his bulk all the way back to Duart. You’ll never make it. The horse will never make it. That’s too large a load.”

Alaric said, “Midnight Moon carried my grandfather, and he’s carried Uncle Connor many times. He can handle it.”

“Bring me two apples,” Sloan called to his stable lads, then handed the animal one while Broc mounted.

“What’s K planning?” Sloan asked as he fed the two horses.

“An attack on Duart if we don’t give him what he wants.”

“And what exactly does he want?”

Broc said, “Glenna wants three people. Logan and my mother. And if she doesn’t get them, he’s coming for the bairns. He wants his daughter, though he didn’t say it, and Lia and John.”

Broc mounted and Alaric handed Logan up to him, arranging the old warrior the best they could in front of him.

“That’s only two. Who is the third that she wants?”

“Me,” Broc said.

Alaric said, “I’m guessing they want Kyla’s son. Didn’t know you were hers, right?”

“Aye. And we didn’t tell Kelvan that we have his daughter either.”

Sloan jumped on his horse and shouted, “Ingelram, I’m going with them. Tell Eva I’ll be back before the evening meal.”

Alaric mounted, and the three headed down the path toward Duart Castle.

“We’re keeping him alive, Grant,” Broc yelled to his cousin.

“The bleeding has definitely slowed.”

“But that’s only the first hurdle. Get him sewn, then see if he can beat the fever. You both know how that goes.”

Broc had so many terrifying thoughts, but he kept coming back to one.

As long as he’s alive when we go inside the castle gates. I can’t have it be all my fault. Please, God, keep him alive.

Midnight Moon led the way, galloping as if he knew his task.

***

Halfway there and Broc thought his arms were about to fall off. Logan was all muscle and dead weight against him, something far more difficult to hold on to than he would have guessed.

Sloan hollered, “We can switch him over to Alaric. He’s not moving. That weight is tough to carry.”

“Nay, he’s fine, Rankin. I’ll get him there.” He had to. It was on his shoulders to get Logan to Eli. Then he’d probably be sent back to Grant land. There were worse things, though he’d been excited at the prospect of a possible relationship with Merryn.

But Broc couldn’t let that affect him. Merryn would leave soon enough, and he’d be left alone again.

If he had to return to the clan’s main holding rather than slander his family’s name, he would do it.

He’d explain to his parents how Glenna had been hiding in an alcove, how he hadn’t seen the weapon until it was too late. How …

“Stop blaming yourself, cousin. You didn’t hold the blade, and you’ve done more than anyone could do to get him home.”

They were nearing the castle, thankfully, because Broc could barely hold the man upright. He felt for the beat of his heart at a spot on his arm, pleased to feel it still there, though weaker than usual. “He’s still alive. For that much, I’m grateful.”

Sloan said, “You think one wound is going to take out a man like Logan Ramsay? You don’t know him well enough. He’ll be bellowing from his bed on the morrow. Men like that don’t go down easy.”

They approached the gates, and something sent a chill down his spine.

Eli stood on the parapets and let out a scream unlike any he’d ever heard.