He steeled himself for Maggie’s reaction as he explained the matter to her. “And that is the reason the MacDouglas continues to attack us. He wants Lochlan to hand Ewan over to him for punishment. The MacDouglas will not see reason until he has Ewan’s blood for taking Isobail from him, even though the bastard ought to be grateful Ewan spared him the lifetime of misery I’m sure she would have given him.”
Instead of being deflated by his words, Maggie seemed to take comfort. She nodded grimly. “Then it’s a good thing I took these matters into my hands, isn’t it? Otherwise, this would never end.”
Braden stared at her in disbelief and fought a sudden urge to place his finger in his ear to clean it out. Surely he hadn’t heard her correctly.
“It won’t end, Maggie. Eventually one clan or the other will attack its women and drag them back into their homes. Do you not understand that your plan can never work?”
She lifted her chin stubbornly. Her resolve shone brightly in her eyes. “It has to succeed. Sooner or later one of the lairds is bound to listen to reason.”
“Sooner or later one of the lairds is bound to attack.”
She stood firm in her conviction. “They wouldn’t dare attack their mothers, wives and daughters.”
“What of Bridget?”
“‘Tis different.”
Braden took a deep, calming breath before he said something he would regret. How could such an intelligent woman be so foolish?
This was going to be a long two days if she persisted in her nonsense. It would serve her right if he left her to fend for herself. In truth, he’d love to see her and Fergus square off and battle each other.
But he couldn’t do that. Any more than he could let her face Lochlan’s wrath alone.
“Then it is a good thing I’m here to protect you,” he said at last, “since you’re bound to be hanged for your unreasonableness.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “Don’t pretend to be here as a protector. I know what you came here for. You’re here to seduce one of us so that the women will no longer listen to me and will return home.”
Braden smiled to cover the prick of his conscience. “Now what would make you think that?”
“Because I know you for the randy scoundrel you are.”
“You’ve always suspected the worst of me, little blossom, haven’t you?”
An odd look came into her eyes as she regarded him. If Braden didn’t know better, he’d swear it was a look of disappointment.
“There was a time, once, when I expected only the very best of you.” The haunting quality of her voice tugged at Braden’s heart. And when Maggie finished her sentence, it felt as though she thrust a dagger through his gut. “Unfortunately, you grew into manhood.”
“What do you mean?”
She shook her head. “Never mind. Tell me, how long do you intend to continue this farce of being our protector?”
Braden decided to be honest with her. She had a right to know exactly what would happen should she persist. “Lochlan has given me two days. If I can’t compel you from your sanctuary by then, he’s going to tear down the walls and let the men have at the lot of you.”
“He wouldn’t dare!”
Braden nodded solemnly. “Aye, he would. You have to understand the position you’ve put him in. Right now, the men are starting to doubt his ability to lead. If he can’t bring you women under heel soon, then he will be forced to drastic measures.”
Maggie felt her heart sink with his words. What would she do if they forced her hand? She had counted on the men’s reluctance to harm them, but with each attack that had happened, her resolve had wavered.
Maybe she should just throw open the gates and go home.
This was just too much for a girl of two-and-twenty to deal with. ‘Twas too much for a woman of eighty to deal with, for that matter.
Rubbing her hands over her eyes, she tried to think of some alternative. Some way to end this.
Whatever was she to do?
“You’re a good lass, little Mag-pie, with a kind heart,” she heard Anghus’s voice in her head. “I know I can trust you to always do what’s right.”
