"Ralston?" Neacal asked.
"Aye."
"What is your first name?"
"Finlay."
"I'm the MacDonald chief. And this is Colin Cameron, future chief of Clan Cameron."
Ralston bowed. "I'm greatly honored to meet you both."
"What were you doing lurking about outside?" Neacal asked.
"I but wanted to see if Lady Kristina is well."
"Aye, she is," Colin said. "Why do you care?"
"I feared Red Holme would kill her. The man is soulless. During the battle, I didn't see who took her or what happened. Then I noticed that Red Holme had disappeared, too."
"She's safe here now. I'll be marrying her sister," Neacal said. "And Lady Kristina can live here, protected behind these walls, as long as she wishes it."
"You didn't say why you care," Colin said, annoyance clawing at him.
Ralston sighed. "You may not believe me, but… I'm her brother."
"What?" Neacal demanded. "Anna and Kristina have no brother. Anna told me herself."
"Half-brother. She doesn't know about me. Neither of them does."
Colin frowned, exchanging a wary glance with Neacal. But he was relieved the lad had no romantic interest in Kristina. 'Twould be far better if he truly was her brother. That might explain why he had been so kind and helpful to Kristina on the trip.
"I never met my father," Ralston continued. "But my mother revealed, on her deathbed, who my father was—Chief Finlay MacQueen. They'd had a very brief tryst while he was married to someone else, and she had always kept it a secret. He didn't even know I existed. She also told me I have two sisters. I have no other family, so she wanted me to know about them."
"Why the devil were you working for a knave like Blackburn?" Neacal asked.
"My search for my sisters led me to the MacCromar clan's holdings. I couldn't ask where the ladies were, outright. That would've looked highly suspicious. I told the guards and Blackburn that I was looking for work. I figured if I was a guard there, I would see my sisters eventually. But I learned both women had run away a year before and that Blackburn was looking for Anna incessantly. I stayed on because I figured if anyone could find my sisters, it would be Blackburn. He had many men at his disposal and the funds to pay them. I had naught, and I didn't even know what my sisters looked like. I couldn't search for them alone. So, I kept quiet and observed Blackburn and his men. When I learned he was going to abduct Lady Kristina, I knew I had to protect her."
This seemed a plausible story and Ralston appeared sincere. But Colin couldn't depend upon the veracity of it, because doing so could put Kristina in danger again.
Neacal narrowed his eyes. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
Ralston shrugged. "I have no proof. But if you ask Lady Kristina, she will likely tell you I was naught but honorable on the journey here. I helped her and protected her as much as I could."
"I will speak to her about it," Colin said.
"Aye, we both will," Neacal said. "In the meantime, I'll have more food sent down. Are you in need of a healer?"
"Nay. I have no serious injuries. I'm simply glad both my sisters are well."
Colin eyed him, realizing he did see a slight family resemblance. Ralston's hair was tawny, a few shades darker than the ladies' hair, and his eyes were a light color which was difficult to discern in the dimness and torchlight.
After climbing the steps to the courtyard, Neacal said, "Though he appears to be telling the truth, I know not whether to trust him."
"I agree." Colin felt conflicted about the situation.
"Even if he was kind and helpful to Kristina, that doesn't mean he's their brother."
"'Tis true, but there is a family resemblance," Colin begrudgingly admitted.
