“Who are ye, then?” Lena demanded, struggling to free herself. At the same time, Ross, who was wedged between them, bowed his chest at Alex.
“Ye dunnae remember me?” Alex asked.
Lena scrunched her nose. “Nay. Should I?”
Alex grinned. “When ye were but a wee lass of six summers ye told me ye were going to marry me.”
Color climbed swiftly up Lena’s face. “Alex MacLean?”
“Aye!”
“Alex!” Lachlan fairly roared, causing Alex, Lena, the boy, and Graham to gape at him. “Where is Bridgette?” Alex’s face closed off, as if guarding a secret, and unease rippled through Lachlan. “Where is she?” he demanded again.
“Let us talk in private a moment,” Alex replied, making Lachlan’s unease grow.
Lachlan nodded and moved away with Alex. Once they had distance between them and the others, he spoke. “I wish to see Bridgette.”
“Aye, I ken ye must, but Bridgette is nae here.”
“Nae here?” The unease turned to frigid fear.
Alex paused, rubbed a hand across his jaw, and sighed. “She left me a note telling me she may be carrying Colin’s bairn and that she was forced to become his wife.”
Anger rose in Lachlan, and he curled his hands into fists. “Colin is dead. I killed him. She is nae his wife any longer.”
Alex stared at him with hooded eyes for a long spell before he spoke again. “Still… Bridgette may be carrying his bairn, and she kens that would be hard for ye to accept.”
“I dunnae care that she may carry Colin’s bairn,” Lachlan growled. “I want her nay matter what.”
The hint of a smile twitched at Alex’s lips. “I hoped ye may say something like this, but I fear there is more to overcome than a possible bairn.”
“Aye,” Lachlan agreed. “She’s been hurt, but I will help heal her.”
Alex’s eyebrows shot upward. “She’s verra stubborn.”
“I’m more so.”
“She entreated me nae to tell ye where she went. She dunnae wish to be with ye.”
Lachlan gritted his teeth, and his nostrils flared. “Do ye believe that?”
“I dunnae, which is why I will tell ye. She’ll likely hate me for it, but she’ll likely hate me later when she kens how foolish she is being to keep ye away.” He shrugged. “I have kept my vow all these years to let her choose her husband and she chose ye afore. I dunnae believe her heart has changed, only that fear is now in it. So, as I see it, she should nae be turning ye away. But vow to me ye will be patient.”
“I swear it. Now where is she?”
“She’s fled to Culdrich Castle, which is on ‘the island of foreigners.’ She had five of my men with her.”
His heart ached with the knowledge that she had fled from him. She was so sore in spirit that she did not see any hope. Which meant he had to show her hope and fill her with it. “How long before yer men are amassed and away to Dunvegan?”
Alex shook his head. “Another sennight, but dunnae tarry for the battle. The MacDonalds pledged their swords to David and are gathering to help defend Dunvegan, even as we speak. Ye’re a fierce warrior, but Bridgette needs ye more than yer brother at this moment. He has three clans of fighting men at his side, as well as the king and his men.”
“Would ye see to my sister’s safe return to Dunvegan with Graham?”
“I’d be honored,” Alex replied.
Lachlan felt better about leaving. He nodded. “Then I’ll make haste to Bridgette,” Lachlan said, his mind turning with what he needed to do to prepare for the journey.
“Godspeed and luck to ye, Lachlan.”
Lachlan nodded, knowing he needed both.
