“Nae!” Logan objected heartily. “Absolutely no’—”
“Logan,” she said, trying to convince him. “I must do this—”
“Nae.”
“I am the only one who can draw him out. He is clever. He likely knows we are all taking refuge here. He managed to get in once. He can kill any one of ye in yer sleep. Every time we step out of the house, we will anticipate him.” She shook her head and let her ocean blue eyes plead for her. “I dinna want to live like that.”
He shook his head. “’Tis too dangerous, Elspeth.”
“I want to get this over with,” she told him—told them all, “I am his sister. He willna kill me.”
“He killed yer kin,” Logan argued.
“Aye,” she said with tears blurring her vision.
The moment he saw her sparkling eyes, he reached for her.
“But he didna kill me.”
“That doesna mean he willna do it this time. Please, Elspeth.”
His father stepped forward. “I will follow her, unseen, anywhere she goes. She will never be alone.”
“Nae!” Logan shook with anger. “Ye would put her in danger?”
“Did I no’ just tell ye that I would protect her? Are ye insultin’ me?”
Elspeth looked toward the window, forgetting the others around her. Was Roderick out there? Was he close? Her legs ached to go outside and lure him.
When she felt long fingers clamp around his wrist, she realized that she had been moving. She was almost at the front door, but he stopped her.
“Logan, my love, this is the best way to convince him that I dinna trust him.”
Logan and his parents wore the same look of confusion.
“Why would ye want to convince him of that?” his father asked.
“Because ’tis what he expects. Right now, predictability gives me the advantage.” She looked away from the Lochiel to gaze on his son. She studied the man who forgave her for whatever she did to offend.
“If ye dinna use me as bait,” she warned them all,” then I will find a way to join him and bring him to justice on my own.”
Silence clung to the walls like milk-splatter gone sour.
“Well?”
“Aye,” the Lochiel shouted in victory with her.
“Verra well then,” she said. “I wish to venture out, collecting nuts and berries. If he is here, he will come out.”
Logan shook his head at her again, but she yanked herself free of his grip and ran from the house.
Roderick would not leave Lochaber without her. That’s why he hunted her down until he found her.
Ellie, I never lost ye.
What had he meant? Had he known she was a slave? Did he know and left her alone in the world?
A northernly gust of wind snatched tears from her cheeks. She walked close to the mountain wall. “Och, Roderick…Roddy, how could ye? How could ye kill them? I loved ye, Brother.” She spoke out loud and wept as she went. She didn’t know where shewas going. She wouldn’t get far. “Are ye here, Roderick? Dinna be a coward and show yerself.”
