Ransom

Chapter Thirty-Two

Ramsey's battle cry rent the air, alerting the gatekeepers to call the men to arms. Within bare minutes every possible exit was sealed as tight as a tomb. Soldiers raced to the catwalks, their arrows already notched to their bows in preparation, as more of Ramsey's followers leapt upon their horses and galloped out into the valley to surround the perimeter of the holding. No one would get into the estate, and no one was going to get out.

Every able-bodied man came running to support their laird, and for the first time since the MacPhersons had joined the Sinclairs, there was no prejudice or rivalry. United, they stood together, five deep, in a wide circle around the courtyard, waiting and watching, with but one single intent-to protect Ramsey.

Gideon waited in the center of the courtyard with eleven other traitorous men, all Sinclairs, and all loyal to the man they believed should have been laird. Gideon was eager and confident. His moment had finally arrived, and soon now he would become laird of the Sinclairs, and he was anxiously looking forward to killing Ramsey. He believed that once Ramsey was dead, the clan would give him their loyalty.

Brodick ordered Liam and Aaron to take the women to the cottage, but Gillian countered his command with one of her own.

"You will stay and protect your laird."

Brodick heard her and nodded his agreement. Gillian motioned to Bridgid then and took the lead to the cottage. She wanted to call out to Brodick, to tell him to be careful and not take any foolish chances, but his thoughts were on the battle ahead of him, and she didn't want to distract him. She prayed to God instead and asked Him to keep Brodick and Ramsey safe. When she turned to Bridgid, she saw her make the sign of the cross and knew she was doing the same thing.

Ramsey and Brodick leapt to the ground before their horses had stopped, and drawing their swords, they closed the distance.

Proster tried to follow his laird, but Dylan shoved him aside. "You haven't earned the right to protect your laird's back."

"Then who will?" the soldier demanded.

"The Buchanans, of course. Watch and learn, boy."

Liam put his hand on Proster's shoulder. "You did well protecting our mistress," he said. "And we are thankful, but until you are properly trained, you are a hindrance to your laird, forcing him to protect you. Patience, boy. Do as my commander orders. Watch and learn."

Gideon boldly stepped forward to confront Ramsey. "I challenge you now, Ramsey, for the right to rule the Sinclairs," he shouted.

Ramsey laughed, the sound harsh in the sudden stillness. "You challenged me once before, you son of a bitch. I should have killed you then."

"You dared to come back here and steal what belonged to me. Me!" Gideon shrieked. "I should have been laird, not you. I am worthy."

"Worthy?" Ramsey roared. "You think you're worthy? You prey on children and women to get what you want, and you believe that makes you worthy? Only a coward would strike a bargain with the English devils to steal my brother and kill him. When Alec Maitland was taken by mistake, you thought you could rectify that blunder by going back to England and ordering the death of a five-year-old boy. No, you aren't worthy. You're a coward and a traitor, you bastard."

"I did what needed to be done to gain the loyalty of all the Sinclairs. You and Michael will both die. I'm strong, Ramsey, not weak like you. You allowed Bridgid KirkConnell to deny me," he shouted. "And you listened to the whining of old men and let them foul our land with the MacPherson scum. How dare you believe they are equal to us. When I'm laird, I'm going to rid my land of their plague."

With the crook of his finger, Ramsey motioned for Gideon to attack. "Come and kill me," he taunted. "Show me your strength."

Screaming, Gideon raised his sword and charged. His friends advanced at the same time, their plan to overwhelm the laird with their sheer number, but Brodick and Dylan moved forward, their swords swift as they cut down two of the enemy before they could swing their weapons. A weathered Sinclair soldier, flanked by two MacPhersons, joined the fight then, thinking to even the odds.

Brodick never took his gaze off Anthony and moved with deadly intent toward his prey. Seeing the look in his eyes, Anthony tried to run, but Dylan blocked his retreat. Brodick wasted little time fencing with the soldier and killed him with one quick thrust across his throat. He died standing, then crashed to the ground. Brodick spit on him as a final insult before turning to watch Ramsey.

A loud piercing squeal issued from Gideon's throat as Ramsey's sword sliced down through his shoulder to his waist, nearly cutting him in half. The commander fell to his knees, a look of stunned disbelief on his face. As he was drawing his last breath, Ramsey kicked him onto his back and lifted his sword with both hands as he muttered, "You lose." And with all his might he thrust his sword into Gideon's black heart.

Ramsey stood over his enemy while he sought to control his anger. The silence was heavy; the only sound, that of his heavy breathing. The scent of blood hung in the air and filled his nostrils. He shuddered once, like a dog shaking his coat to rid it of water, then straightened and jerked his sword from Gideon's body.

"Does anyone else want to challenge me?" he roared.

"Nay," a man shouted from deep within the crowd. "Our loyalty is to you, Laird."

A resounding cheer went up then, but Ramsey paid it little attention. The ground around him was littered with the dead, the dirt and grass blackened with their spilled blood. Turning to the three soldiers who had stepped forward to fight the battle with him, he said, "Drag their bodies outside my walls and leave them to rot."

He noticed then that he, like Brodick, had splatters of blood on his arms and legs, "I want to wash their stench from my body."

Without a backward glance, Brodick followed his friend to the lake.

When they were well away from the others, Ramsey turned to him, "We leave for England tomorrow."

Brodick nodded. "At first light."