Page 68 of Captured By the Cruel Highlander
“She had nay right!” Barclay said suddenly.
Adam’s head snapped back to him. He was growing tired of this man trying to lead his clan from the sidelines.
“Iwill say who has a right to act in this clan and who doesnae,” Adam said firmly as Theo emerged from the castle and headed in their direction.
“She isnae the Lady of this clan yet,” Barclay pointed out.
Adam ignored him. “When did she leave?” he asked Theo.
“An hour or so ago, M’Laird. She went with Lucas Moore.”
Barclay spluttered at that, but Adam felt a spike of fear at the implications of Emily leaving the castle without an armed guard.
“They went alone?”
“Aye, M’Laird. The Youngs sent a note saying that they were unable to make the journey, as Mr. Young was not well. I believe she decided to ride out to them instead.”
Adam’s shoulders tensed up, his fists clenching as he considered what might have befallen them on the journey.
Stewart could be watchin’ the castle. She is vulnerable and alone without anyone to protect her. Lucas Morre isnae bigger than her.
“Damn it,” he spat and saw the look of satisfaction on Barclay’s face. “Dinnae give me that smug look. This isyerdoin’. If ye had brought this problem to me in the first place, instead of deferrin’ to me maither, this would all have been dealt with by now.”
“It isnae the place of the Lady of the castle to go and negotiate with other clans,” Barclay insisted.
“They are part ofourclan. Do I have to tell ye that for the hundredth time? If she has gone to the Youngs, it is because she felt it was required, and so did Lucas. To me mind, they are me people, and me people deserve to be cared for. What else are ye here for if nae for that, Barclay?”
Adam didn’t give the man time to answer, spinning on his heel and heading back toward the horses. Doughall looked up in alarm as Adam grabbed Buck’s reins and turned him around.
“Tell me sister I’ll bring him back later,” Adam said to him, noting that Buck was still covered in sweat from their long ride. Freya would string him up for this.
“Why can ye nae tell her? I dinnae want me head bitten off,” Doughall protested.
“Just do it, man,” Adam demanded as Theo rode toward them. He gave him a sideways glance, but Theo’s expression was resolute.
“I am accompanyin’ ye, M’Laird,” Theo said sternly.
Adam didn’t have time to argue and pushed past Doughall and mounted the horse.
“If Emily comes back, keep her locked in her room until I return,” he ordered and then cantered out of the gates, rage coursing through him.
She has put herself in danger because she cannae help but meddle in things that dinnae concern her.
He had defended her decision to visit the Youngs in front of Barclay, not wanting the man to think they were already at odds, but in truth, he was furious with her.
He didn’t like that she felt she had a say in clan matters. His mother had been doing that for long enough, and he wouldensure that after this, she and Emily had even less influence than they had before.
He was angered beyond belief by the audacity of the people around him. Everyone seemed to think that they could run the clan better than he could, and he was sick of the lot of them.
It’s impressive, though,a voice in the back of his head piped up.She went alone on Lucas’s say-so, and she took the matter into her own hands. Isnae that the kind of wife ye want?
He pushed the thought aside as every other feeling was eclipsed by the fear that something might have happened to her.
In the late afternoon light, he could see for miles around him. The wide moorlands were flat and clear. Anyone watching the castle would have been able to follow them easily.
If Stewart needed an opportunity, she had just handed him one, and I wasnae there to protect her.
The cake was excellent.
