Page 14 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance

Fergus looked to the ground.

Gayla’s voice thundered. “He wore it!”

“Return the plaid or marry the lass,” Torrance ordered.

Innes, her voice as thunderous as her mum’s pushed through the crowd. “I won’t have him. He’s a liar. I want my plaid back to give to a deserving man.”

Fergus kept his focus on the ground.

“You’ll give it back, Fergus,” Torrance ordered.

Fergus raised his head, fear in his eyes. “I don’t have it.”

“What did you do with it?” Innes demanded.

“Answer her,” Torrance snapped when Fergus failed to speak.

Fergus jumped, the words rushing from his mouth. “I gave it to a lass I’ve been courting over at Clan MacVail.”

“How dare you give my plaid to another lass,” Innes said, fury rather than tears swirling in her eyes and her mum looking as furious as well.

“Do you want the plaid returned to you, Innes, knowing he gave it to another lass?” Torrance asked.

Innes shook her head. “Nay, my lord. I could not bear to look upon it now.”

Fergus stepped back when Torrance focused on him with fiery anger in his eyes. “Liars are never to be trusted. You will spend two days in the stocks and afterwards you will do whatever chore Innes, and her mum ask of you… for the next three moon cycles.”

“I have plenty that needs doing,” Gayla sneered.

“Have him taken to the stocks, Brack. Gayla and Innes enjoy the food and drink.”

Both women thanked Lord Torrance repeatedly before they went to the table to feast.

More grievances were aired, the food and drink replenished as it dwindled down, though the line seemed to grow longer.

Esme was impressed and surprised that her husband handled the complaints more fairly than she expected him to. None were as harsh as she thought they’d be. She was glad when only two were left. The wooden chair had grown uncomfortable, and she wished to stretch her legs with a wander around the village.

John, the smithy, was next and shoved a young lad, no more than ten years, he held by his arm, forward. “William stole some of my tools.”

William trembled. “I, my lord, I did steal them, but I was trying to return them when caught.”

“So, he claims,” John sneered.

Torrance turned to Esme. “What would you do, wife?”

The room stilled. It was not the question itself that drew breathless silence, but that Torrance had asked her at all.

Esme stared at him just as shocked as everyone else.

“I’m waiting,” Torrance snapped.

Esme pushed her unease aside and leaned forward. “Why did you steal the tools, William?”

“It’s only me and my mum and some things needed fixing in the cottage. So, I took the tools, fixed what I could, and returned them the same day.”

“Why didn’t you ask John if you could borrow them?” Esme asked.

“I did… but he refused me.”

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