Part 39 (2/2)

One was dark and deadly, his stare sinister. Judging by rumor, she would a.s.sume him to be Sin MacAllister, who had married the lairdess of the MacNeely clan. A beautiful redheaded lady stood beside him. Her n.o.ble stance confirmed her station. No doubt she was Caledonia of the Clan MacNeely-a distant cousin to Nora whom she had never met.

The other dark-haired man was so handsome that to look at him was to ache. He was truly perfection, and the woman to his side was surrounded by children. Her red hair wasn't as vibrant as Caledonia's, and her features leaned toward plainness.

But when she nudged Braden and he looked to her, the love on his face said that he thought her to be the most beautiful woman on earth.

It made her own heart ache. Not long ago Ewan had held such a look when he glanced at her.

Catarina gave a low whistle. ”Who is that man standing next to Alex?”

Nora looked to her father and saw the man Catarina had noticed. He was tall, blond and extremely handsome.

Frighteningly so.

”That be my brother Lochlan,” Ewan answered for her. ”Sin is to the right of my mother, who is on the steps, and Braden to the left. Braden's wife, Maggie, is the la.s.s surrounded by children, and Caledonia, Sin's wife, is by his side.”

Nora was pleased that she had pegged them correctly.

”You have brothers most handsome, Ewan,” Catarina said, her voice filled with awe.

”So they tell me.”

Nora realized that for the first time in days, Ewan was watching her.

He drove the wagon to the steps, then stopped and locked the wooden brake.

As soon as she reined her horse in, her father and mother came rus.h.i.+ng to her side. Even though she was frightened by what might happen, she was glad to see her parents again.

”Are you all right?” her father asked as he helped her from her horse. His handsome brow was crimped with worry as he ran his gaze over her as if seeking an injury.

Nora soaked in the sight of her father. He was only slightly taller than she, with a stout build. His thick beard was the same golden blond as his hair and his brown eyes managed to look both relieved and angry.

”I am fine, Father. Truly.”

He pulled her from the saddle, gathered her into his arms and held her closely. Nora was speechless. It was so unlike her father to ever be emotional. He'd always acted as if she were a fragile flower who would be crushed by his touch.

And crushed by his touch was definitely how she felt at present.

Her mother's pale blue eyes were filled with tears as her lips trembled. ”Welcome home, precious,” she said, removing Nora's father from her and grabbing her into a hug of her own.

Then, to her further astonishment, her father turned toward Ryan, who had dismounted and ambled over to them.

He glared at him, and for a minute she thought him angry. Then his face softened. ”And you, lad, I was completely wrong about you.”

To her utter stupefaction, he embraced Ryan like a long-lost son and pounded him on the back.

Ryan choked and sputtered as if unable to withstand her father's strength.

Still her father pounded on him. ”Lysander told me how you were almost mortally wounded for my Nora. Thank you.”

Nora looked at Ewan, whose face was unreadable. At least to anyone other than her. She saw the tightness around his lips. The emptiness of his eyes.

Without a word, he climbed down from the wagon and headed for the donjon.

His mother spoke to him, but he ignored her and kept walking.

His brothers fell in behind him, and none spoke while she was barraged with questions from her parents, and Lysander, Pagan and Bavel greeted Catarina and Viktor.

Ewan needed a drink. A large one.

But in his heart, he knew it would take more than an ocean of ale to drown the pain he felt.

”What happened, Ewan?” Lochlan asked from behind him.

”Nothing.” He stopped at the cabinet outside the pantry and pulled out a pitcher of ale, along with a goblet.

He cursed as he saw every member of his family behind him. His mother's face was worried and pinched while his brothers all looked ready to fight him.

His sisters-in-law excused themselves and made for the stairs.

Grateful for their kindness, Ewan poured himself a drink.

”Nothing?” Braden repeated. ”Alexander Canmore has been here for two days now wanting to know what you've done with his daughter. He's been threatening war and dismemberment at every turn should she not appear unscathed, and yet you say nothing happened.”

Ewan downed the goblet of ale, poured more, then turned and glared at Braden before he downed the second cup. ”I don't want to hear it from a man who tricked his daughter and then forced her to run to me. If Alexander was so worried for her welfare, he should have kept her home where she belonged.”

”What are you saying?” Lochlan asked, his face skeptical.

Ewan gestured angrily with his goblet toward the door. ”It's true. You can ask the gypsy la.s.s, Catarina, yourself. Canmore wanted to align his family with ours and sought to trick her and me.”

Ewan laughed bitterly at that. ”But the trick it seems is on him since he promised her to Ryan, who won't release her from the betrothal. So you see, it was all a b.u.g.g.e.ring waste of time.”

”Ewan!” his mother snapped. ”You watch your mouth.”

He clenched his teeth and bit back the nasty retort he longed to utter. Angry though he was, he wouldn't hurt his mother by his nastiness.

Ewan started to pour more ale, but Lochlan stopped him by covering the goblet with his hand.

Lochlan gave a hard stare at Sin, Braden and their mother. ”Could you leave us alone?”

They withdrew reluctantly.

Lochlan took the goblet from him.

Ewan growled, but as usual his brother ignored him and pushed his hand away when he sought to reclaim the goblet.

”I need you sober a bit longer to explain this to me. Her father is outside ready to tear this clan apart and to bring the kings of both Scotland and England down on our heads unless you do right by his daughter.

Now tell me why it is she has been traveling alone with you.”