Page 122 of Edge of Yesterday

They remained silent for most of the long ride to Strone Hall, especially as the road was slippery with mud from recent rains. Thick mist blew across the vast stretch of empty moorland, clearing only as the sun broke through the clouds and, at last, the Strone woods and the tower, high on a steep slope a bit beyond, came into view.

As they drew closer, the men on the battlements pointed in their direction and a horn sounded, announcing their approach. The spearmen guarding the closed gate, moved to stand before the entry, the pale sunlight glinting off their helmets and the steel heads of their spears. Clearly untroubled, Ravenstone halted their company just out of arrow range and glanced at his standard bearer, signaling the man with a nod. Cailean watched, fascinated, as the guardsman kicked his horse’s ribs and urged the animal to Julianna’s father. The guardsman handed the huge, long-staffed banner to the baron. Ravenstone seized the pole and spurred forward alone, the banner, a long swath of red linen embroidered with three tall black pines and a raven flying over them, furled out behind him, whipping in the wind.

“Men of Strone!” he called, his deep voice carrying. “Open your gates. I come alone and would speak with your lord!”

The spearmen scrambled, making haste to open the gates. In a blur of gleaming armor, plaid, and snapping red-and-black linen, Ravenstone spurred into Strone’s bailey and the gates closed behind him.

The men retreated to the woods and, a good distance away, near the edge of the trees, Cailean swung down from his horse and lowered himself onto a fallen log beside Lennox. The other men stood, paced, or rested on rocks and logs. The morning sun was higher now and had cleared off the last wisps of drifting mist, but the day remained brisk and damp.

Lennox drank from a skin, then extended it toward Cailean. He took it, lifted it to his lips, then paused at the strong smell of cider. Lennox lifted a brow and Cailean took a deep swig. The sour liquid went down smoother than it had the first time. Hard to believe he was acquiring a taste for the stuff. He handed the skin back to Lennox. He capped it and set it on the ground beside his boot.

“If ye hurt my sister, I will kill ye,” he said in a conversational voice.

Cailean yanked his gaze onto the man. “No’ one for small talk, are ye?”

“There isnae much more to say.”

“Ye dinnae trust me,” Cailean said.

Lennox shook his head. “Give it ten, twenty years, have a bairn or two with Julianna, and we will see.”

Cailean laughed. “If you feel this way, why didn’t ye stop the marriage?’

“Julianna wanted ye. And it was my father’s decision whether or no’ to kill you.”

“I suppose I’m lucky, then, that it was your father who made the decision and no’ you.”

“That doesnae mean I will no’ kill ye if you hurt her. That includes any lies ye have told causing her pain.”

Cailean sobered. If it was possible, Lennox would probably reach through time to meet out his revenge.

“I intend to protect her,” he said. As best he could, at any rate.

Lennox regarded him, then turned back to the cloth sack resting in his lap and began placing foodstuffs on the log: a loaf of oat-and-barley bread, salted beef strips, and a large chunk of cheese. “She told ye what she saw that night in the woods.” He glanced up at Cailean, flicked a hand at the food. “Eat, man. It will be a long day and hard ride back to Raghnall.”

Cailean tore off a piece of bread and used the eating knife Lennox offered to slice a bit of cheese. But he wasn’t really hungry and couldn’t halt a glance in the direction of Strone Hall.

“Ye believe Crowe had something to do with Hugh stealing her.” Lennox reached for a beef strip.

Cailean jerked his gaze back to him. “Christ, are ye sure you’re not gifted with second sight?”

“Ye also believe that Crowe knows it was Julianna who saw him.”

“The thought has crossed my mind.”

Lennox shook his head. “Hugh would be a fool to join in league with Crowe to kill Julianna.”

“Hugh didn’t count on you knowing he kidnapped her. And it’s highly possible Hugh didn’t know Crowe intended to kill her.”

“What reason could Crowe possibly give to convince him to take part in such a scheme?’

Cailean shrugged. “It could be as simple as convincing him that he should kidnap her to marry her. It would be much easier for Crowe to get to her at Strone Hall than at Raghnall.”

He could see the wheels turning in Lennox’s mind and him accepting the possibility as a probability.

“Why did ye no’ tell my father?”

“Like you, I’m careful about throwing around accusations. Ye already thought I was mad.”