Ransom

Chapter Thirty-Four

Gillian desperately needed Brodick to put his arms around her and hold her. Marriage had already changed her, she decided, because before she had met Brodick and fallen in love with him, she had always felt that she had to face her problems alone. Now she had a husband she wanted to share her worries with, and her heartaches. At the moment she didn't care why he couldn't tell her he loved her. In her heart she believed that he did, and she certainly didn't believe that he had made a lifelong commitment to her for any ulterior reason. No man would go to such lengths just to get revenge on his enemy, and Brodick would not have married her just to get the names of the Englishmen. Ramsey had simply jumped to the wrong conclusion, and Brodick, unwilling to give voice to his true feelings, didn't bother to correct him.

Brodick was stubborn to the core and so riddled with other flaws it would take her an hour to list them all. She still loved him, though, and she desperately needed his comfort now and his broad shoulder to cry on while she poured her heart out to him. How could her sister be so cold and unfeeling? She had made it abundantly clear that she didn't want Gillian in her life. For so many years she had dreamed of their reunion, and never once had she considered that Christen would reject her.

Gillian felt ashamed and inferior, and couldn't understand why. She knew she hadn't done anything wrong, yet she couldn't help feeling as though she had.

Shaken from their meeting, her only thought to get to her husband and tell him what had happened, she returned the horse to the stable and, despite the soreness in her leg, ran all the way to Ramsey's castle, hoping she would find Brodick there.

Proster met her and gave her the news. "Your husband's gone, milady," he explained. "They've all gone."

"They? Who?"she asked.

"The lairds," he answered. "Iain Maitland and my laird, Ramsey, and Laird Buchanan."

"Iain was here?"

"Aye, he was here just a bit after dawn this morning."

"Where did my husband go?"

"With Ramsey and Iain."

"Yes," she said, trying to control her frustration. "But exactly where did they go?"

He seemed surprised she hadn't been informed. "To the crest to join their soldiers. Surely you knew the call to arms went out days ago," he added.

"No, I didn't know," she admitted.

"The lairds have gathered their fighting men and by now they should have all assembled."

"At the crest."

"Yes," he said with a nod.

"And where is this crest?"

"A good ride to the south," he told her.

"Then they won't be back until late, will they?"

"Late? Milady, they won't be back for a long while."

She still didn't understand. Proster, seeing her confusion, hastened to explain. "They're going to England, and surely you know their purpose."

"I know they plan to go to England eventually, but you're mistaken in your belief that they're leaving now. If you'll excuse me, I'll go back to the cottage and await my husband's return."

"You'll have a long wait, then," Proster said. "He isn't coming back, and tomorrow you'll be leaving."

"Where will I be going?"

"Home," he answered. "I heard your husband give orders. There will be Buchanan soldiers coming for you tomorrow to escort you to your new home. Graeme and Lochlan are in charge of seeing to your safety until then."

Gillian's head was spinning, and her stomach felt as though it had been tied in knots. "And who are Graeme and Lochlan?"

"Graeme's a MacPherson," the young soldier told her proudly. "And Lochlan is a Sinclair. They're equal in their duties and their standing. We're all equal now, our laird has declared it so, and he says that we may keep our clan's name and still live in harmony as one."

"I see," she whispered.

"Are you feeling unwell, milady? You've gone pale."

Ignoring his question, she cried out, "Proster, you couldn't have heard correctly. When they go to England, they're taking me with them. I was promised… he wouldn't break his word to me. He knows… They all know that if the English see them, my uncle will die. No, you have to be mistaken. Brodick's going to come back for me."

Her distress alarmed the soldier, and he didn't know what to do. He wanted to lie to her, to tell her, yes, he must have been wrong, but he knew that eventually she'd have to accept the truth, and so he braced himself for her reaction, prayed she wouldn't faint on him, and then blurted out, "As God is my witness, I heard them correctly. Everyone knows… but you," he stammered. "They are going to England, and you are being taken to the

Buchanan holding. Your husband was concerned about your injury, and he wanted you to have one day's rest before riding such a distance. It was very thoughtful of him, wasn't it, milady?"

She didn't answer him. She turned and started to walk away, then stopped. "Thank you, Proster, for explaining."

"Milady, if you still don't believe me, talk to Graeme and Lochlan. They'll confirm what I've just told you."

"I don't need to talk to them. I believe you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go back to the cottage."

"With your permission, I'll walk with you," he offered. "You don't look well," he added. "Is your leg paining you?"

"No, it isn't," she answered. Her voice was flat.

She didn't say another word until they'd returned to the cottage. Proster had just bowed to her and turned to leave when she called him back. "Do you know where Kevin and Annie Drummond live?"

"All the soldiers know the Drummonds. When someone gets hurt, he goes to her for help. If he doesn't die on the way, she heals him. Most times, anyway," he added. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just curious," she lied. "In a little while, I would like to return to my sister's home. Would you please accompany me?"

Honored that the Buchanan's woman would choose him to escort her, he squared his shoulders. "I would be happy to ride with you, but didn't you just come from your sister's?"

"Yes, but I forgot to give her the presents I brought from England, and she's most anxious to have them. When I'm ready to leave, I'll send for you."

"As you wish," he said.

She closed the door softly, walked to the bed, and sat down, and then buried her face in her hands and wept.