Page 84 of The Wrong Bride
Owen’s lips thinned, but he didn’t answer.
“He wanted me to take her, to save your sister. If ye think I do not regret my actions,” Hugh added, “then ye’d be thinking wrong. I regret putting Riona, an innocent woman, in the middle of this feud the contract was supposed to heal. Do ye want this feud to continue, Owen?”
Owen stiffened. “I cannot overlook the injury done to my cousin, regardless of the circumstances, nor can I forget the dishonor to my sister, who wassupposed to be your bride. The contract states that should the conditions not be met, you forfeit this land and Cat’s dowry. And surely Riona is ready to return home.”
“Riona’s home is with me,” Hugh said coldly.
Though used in an ugly argument between two men important to her, those words thrilled Riona. Hugh wanted her, was doing this for her, too, and not just the clan.
“You violated her, McCallum. There’s nothing else to discuss.”
“Then let us do what our ancestors would have done, and place the fate of our clans on our own shoulders. I challenge ye to combat by sword, and the winner will rewrite the contract in his own terms and all will abide by it.”
Riona felt a chill, then opened her mouth to protest.
“Nay!” Maggie screamed before she could.
Both men whirled, hands on their swords and pistols.
Maggie ran down the slope of the hill, Riona on her heels.
“Riona!” screamed another woman’s voice, and out of the trees closer to Owen, raced Cat.
Riona gave an excited cry and ran to fling her arms around her cousin, as beloved to her as her sister.
Cat was sobbing, her brown hair falling out of itschignon. “I—I didn’t know what had happened to you!” Cat said, hiccupping on the words. “F-Father tried to tell me you’d decided to set up your own household, but I didn’t believe it, especially when he wouldn’t tell me where. Oh, Riona, I was so frightened!”
They hugged again, hard, then turned to face the men.
Owen was staring at Maggie, eyes narrowed but unreadable. With her hands on her hips, Maggie met his gaze defiantly.
But Owen didn’t speak to her, instead said to his sister, “Youfollowedme, Cat? At least those two”—he gestured at Riona and Maggie—“had each other on such a journey.”
“I have a groom,” Cat sniffed. “He’s with the horses.”
Then her expression sobered, and she darted a glance past Riona’s shoulder at Hugh, who stood in his black and red belted plaid, massive arms crossed over his chest, and glowered at the women.
“Owen told me I’d been betrothed since childhood,” Cat said, “and Father never told me. Riona, this is he, the villain whokidnappedyou?”
“Ye’re speaking about my brother!” Maggie said with indignation.
She eyed Owen uncertainly, while he boldly looked her up and down.
“Yes, he kidnapped me,” Riona said. “Th-this isthe man you are to marry, Cat, Hugh McCallum.” To her horror, her voice was shaking and tears stung her eyes.
Cat put a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry it’s been so terrible for you. Surely, it’s better that the contract is broken after his terrible behavior.”
And still Hugh said nothing to defend himself.
“It was only frightening at the beginning,” Riona insisted, “and Hugh never harmed me. He just wouldn’t let me go, because he honestly believed I was the woman he was to marry. He treated me with honor.”
Hugh’s frown grew more ferocious, and she knew what he was remembering. She just hoped he kept quiet about the ropes.
“But ye’re not that woman, Riona,” Owen said coldly. “And I refuse to allow my sister to marry such a man.”
Cat stared at Hugh, little bothering to hide her fear at the merest thought.
“Cat, this contract is so important,” Riona insisted. “We have to find a way—and not armed combat!—to come to some kind of agreement.”
