Jesu, but this became messier all the time. Now the lass was convinced that his disgust was over the scar on her face.

He sighed, angered by the whole of it. And more than a little appalled that she’d offered herself without care. She hadn’t displayed even a modicum of self-respect.

Aye, it didn’t just make him angry. It made him bloody well furious.

“Do you not have more pride?” he demanded. “Do you offer yourself to every man who crosses your path, or is it because you find yourself without a protector now that your lover is dead. Would any man do?”

She went utterly white. “Protector?”

A hoarse, dry laugh escaped her, and the sound was guttural and ugly in the silence. He thought that she would say more, but she clamped her mouth shut and leveled a stare at him.

Her eyes were cold, unfeeling. The façade was back. No emotion reflected whatsoever. It was like looking across the waters of a loch in winter.

“What say you, Bowen Montgomery? Will you accept my proposition? Do we have an agreement or nay?”

He shook his head, distaste foul in his mouth. “I have no desire for Ian McHugh’s leavings.”

He spun on his heel and stalked from the room, but not before he saw the flash of anguish replace the coldness in her eyes.

Chapter 7

Bowen strode through the keep and into the courtyard. The hall was devoid of people and eerily quiet. They’d all been summoned by Teague to hear their fate.

It was a damnable mess. There wasn’t even that much to claim. Patrick had fled and taken all that was in the coffers, leaving his clansmen to fend for themselves.

The cowardly act was incomprehensible, for when a man took the position of laird to his clan he made a vow to provide for and to protect every last person under his leadership.

What was Bowen even to do with the McHugh people and what was left of the keep? He would have to petition Graeme for supplies and coin in order to care for those who remained.

He stepped into the sunlight and surveyed the assembled clansmen. As soon as his presence was detected, all eyes went to him. There were more McHughs than Bowen had originally thought. Not as many had fled with Patrick as assumed, and perhaps they’d known better.

But their wealth was gone. Most of the horses and livestock had been taken. And now Bowen was left with a mess to clean up.

He found Teague, Aiden, and Brodie, who stood by the steps leading into the keep. He put his hand on Teague’s shoulder so he could address his brother.

“I would send you to Graeme with an accounting of what has occurred. We have need of supplies, coin, food. Graeme will need to know exactly what has happened here and make a decision on the matter. I will voice my recommendation through you, but, ’tis ultimately his choice. The king will also have need to know what has occurred. Rumors will circulate rapidly through the Highlands, and I’d rather Graeme and our king know firsthand what is the truth.”

Teague nodded his agreement, but then he frowned and turned to Aiden and Brodie.

“We discussed that you would return to your father’s lands and take back your soldiers. I will be returning part of our army to my brother so that our clan is not left unprotected.”

Brodie nodded.

Teague glanced back at Bowen, and then again at the Armstrong brothers.

“ ’Tis something I never thought would happen, but I have a boon to ask.”

Brodie’s eyebrows went up, and he and his brother exchanged quick glances of surprise.

“If I am to journey back to Montgomery Keep with the majority of our men, and you are to return to your father’s keep with the whole of your army, Bowen will be left in a vulnerable position here.”

Bowen frowned and started to deny any such thing, but Teague swept his hand up to silence his older brother.

“Before, the plan was simple. Patrick was to have been eliminated and, with him, any possible threat. ’Tis not the case now. We have no idea where Patrick is, whom he may have allied himself with, if anyone, and he could very well be a problem.”

Aiden and Brodie both nodded their agreement.

“ ’Tis true,” Aiden said. “We hadn’t counted on Patrick being gone. We’d intended to deal with the matter in a concise manner and then go on our way, leaving a few men behind to claim the holding and care for the surviving clan members.”

“The thing I ask is for one of you to remain behind with Bowen while I travel back to our lands to consult with Graeme and apprise him of the situation,” Teague said.

“I’ll stay,” Brodie said. “I’ll keep a dozen of our men and send the rest back with Aiden. Combined with the Montgomery warriors who remain behind, ’tis more than enough of a fighting force to defend the keep.”

“You have my thanks,” Bowen said in a sincere voice.

Nay, it wasn’t necessary for one of the Armstrongs to remain behind, but Bowen appreciated that Brodie was willing to do so when their families had been at war for so many years.

“You have my thanks as well,” Teague said. “I do not like leaving my brother when I’m not certain of his protection.”

Brodie nodded. “You took very good care of my sister. You offered her protection and … acceptance. My family owes you a debt of gratitude for that. Many would have scorned her and forever labeled her the enemy’s daughter. ’Tis a small thing you ask, and I am glad to do it.”

Bowen offered his arm to Brodie and Aiden in turn, clasping hands in a warrior’s shake and show of respect. Then he nodded at Teague.

“Let us speak now to the McHugh people so they’ll know their fate.”

The four men turned to face the assembled clansmen, and Bowen took in the tense undercurrent that rippled through the air.

“Patrick McHugh now has a bounty on his head,” Bowen said loudly, inciting a cascade of shocked gasps and a torrent of whispers.

“Any who ride or ally with Patrick McHugh also have a bounty. He committed a great sin against the Montgomery and the Armstrong clans. He will not go unpunished.”

“What will happen to us, sir?” a young lad blurted from the crowd.

Bowen let out his breath in a long puff. “As of today, this keep and all that is contained within belongs to the Montgomery clan.”

There were murmurs, protests, angry outbursts, and, from some, amusement.

“There’s nothing to claim!” one of the men yelled out. “The laird took everything of value save a few head of sheep and the older workhorses that aren’t able to ride long distances.”

Bowen held up his hands. “Be silent until I am finished.”

The angry buzz quieted.

“Now, as I said, the keep, the lands, the sheep, and the workhorses … They all belong to Graeme Montgomery and I, as his brother, am his steward and will oversee the running of this keep until such time as he decides on the matter.”

He paused a moment and swept his gaze over the crowd.

“You can accept it or don’t accept it. ’Tis solely up to you. You can stay or not stay. ’Tis your decision. But know this. If you decide to stay, under no circumstances will rebellion or disrespect be tolerated. You’ll continue to work this keep and do your duties as before. My brother is journeying to Montgomery Keep for supplies and food so that we can adequately care for ourselves.”

There were instant murmurs of surprise and shock. Many shook their heads in bewildered disbelief. Had they expected to be turned away or slaughtered on the spot? Perhaps ’tis what would have happened if Ian or Patrick were in this situation. Perhaps it was what the McHugh people had come to expect from the men who led them.

“But who are we, sir?” a woman called out, her expression solemn.

Bowen frowned. “I do not understand your question, mistress.”

“We are McHughs, led by the McHugh laird. Whether it be a proud leadership or not is not what is in question. Regardless of the circumstances that led us to where we are this day, we’re all McHughs. Now we’re told that we belong to the Montgomery clan and that a Montgomery laird will assume leadership of us. What does that make us? Are we still McHughs, or are we forced to be Montgomerys?”

Several others joined in, taking up the question until a raucous furor swept through the courtyard. Again Bowen held up his hands, and this time Brodie stepped forward with a roar that silenced everyone on the spot.

“Thanks,” Bowen said dryly as the big man took a step back, a fierce, intimidating scowl on his face.

Having Brodie Armstrong here with him might not be a bad thing at all. The man could intimidate even the fiercest warrior with his booming voice and dark scowl.

“ ’Tis no worry of mine what you call yourself,” Bowen said, when calm had once more been restored. “If the McHugh name is one you’re proud to wear and is something you want to preserve for your children, then ’tis your right to do so.”

“In time, will Graeme Montgomery allow us to elect our own laird? One that bears our name?” one of the older McHugh men asked.

“I cannot speak as to what my brother will decide,” Bowen said. “Right now, I am your laird and ’tis me you’ll obey or suffer the consequences. Later, Graeme may well decide on a McHugh to be laird of this clan, but ’tis too early to be thinking of such things.”

There were a few grumbles from the crowd, but most of the clansmen nodded and Bowen heard murmurs of “ ’Tis fair enough.”

Bowen squared his shoulders in preparation for a busy afternoon.

“I’ll be coming around to each of you to discuss your current tasks and your role in this clan. I have no desire to upend your lives any more than necessary. My task was to avenge my laird’s wife, and now that Patrick McHugh has removed himself from this keep I see no reason for his clan to suffer for his sins.”

Again there were looks of surprise and appreciation on the faces of the McHughs. It was obvious they’d expected much worse, and, in truth, had Patrick stayed behind, things likely would have been made much worse.

Patrick was a coward of the worst sort, but in this matter he’d spared his clan much grief by slinking away like a dog with his tail betwixt his legs.

As soon as Bowen settled matters with the McHugh clan, there was still the matter of Patrick to deal with. Graeme wouldn’t be satisfied to allow the man to simply escape. Bowen would need to consult with his brother and determine their course. Patrick would need to be hunted and held accountable for his actions. And for the theft of his clan’s riches.

It surprised him that there wasn’t more animosity from the McHugh clan over their laird’s defection. In their place, Bowen would have led the hunt to bring Patrick back to face punishment from his own clansmen.

“Be excused to go about your duties,” Bowen said, waving his hand in dismissal. “I’ll be around to meet individually with you as soon as matters are settled with my brother and our men.”

Bowen, Teague, Brodie, and Aiden stood back as the McHugh people slowly filtered from the courtyard, their expressions dubious as they considered their fate.

“ ’Tis more than we bargained for,” Teague said in a low voice.

Bowen nodded. “Aye. But we cannot leave them to fend for themselves. It would invite attack from another clan seeking to add to their land and power. As soon as word gets out that Patrick has deserted his clan, the vultures will start circling. ’Tis important that we establish a strong presence here.”

“I will be glad to remain behind with you and help in this matter,” Brodie said, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

The oldest Armstrong son seemed to savor the challenge, and if Bowen was honest he, too, was keen to exert his authority and leadership here, away from his own keep, where he served his brother.

Not that he wasn’t being dutiful to his brother by serving him in this capacity. Graeme was his laird, and Bowen owed both Graeme and Eveline his absolute loyalty. But this was an opportunity that he looked forward to. No situation here was beyond his abilities or those of his men.

“I’ll be glad to have your aid,” Bowen said with genuine warmth.

It was a new dawn in the history of both the Montgomery and the Armstrong clans. One made possible by the marriage of Graeme and Eveline, a marriage once viewed with hostility and resentment on both sides.

Never before had the clans worked together or even tolerated each other’s presence. And yet now they were allying in the common goal of eliminating the threat to both their clans.

Chapter 8

Bowen listened patiently, Brodie at his side, as two elder McHugh men explained their duties and the holes that had been left by those who’d chosen to leave either with Patrick or after his departure to seek their own way.

It was clear in their voices the disdain felt for both their former laird and for the clansmen who’d departed willingly.

Bowen had toured the keep, speaking with men and women alike as he analyzed their needs as well as what duties needed to be performed.

Not many women had left. A few had gone with their husbands and children, perhaps to seek refuge with kin in other clans. But most had remained, and there would be no issue of having adequate cleaning, clothes washing, and cooking for the clan.