Chapter Three

Bootless, unarmed, and angry, Bella realized her circumstances could be worse. Her stomach was full for the first time in days, and a fire warmed her. Instead of binding her, Rian commanded his dog to lay next to her in sentry duty. Her furry guard snarled and lifted to his paws when she stood to wander around the camp. She originally thought the oversized black beast a pet but quickly realized her error.

Stuck where she was told to sit, Bella listened to the youthful soldiers receive a scalding reprimand from their leader. The command that Rian held as the McRaidy Laird seemed more a natural inclination than learned. She felt sympathetic to the young men’s plight and cringed a few times at the blistering comments, but she knew the lecture was for their own good. After all, she borrowed numerous items from them for several nights, and they barely noticed.

She ached for a release from the stress of the last fortnight and wished she had parchment and charcoal. Rian exuded a mythological presence. Tall, muscular, clearly intelligent, and well spoken only added to the angular good looks of his face. Power radiated from him like glowing light. He didn’t rule his men with fear. He commanded respect, and every indication was he deserved the reverence. She’d love to sketch his likeness. Focused on the idea, she burned a stick to a thick coal and dragged a large, flat rock in front of her. She snapped the twig to a manageable stub and began the outline. Bella studied his stance. To refine her drawing, she etched his feet wide apart with his hands on his hips. Her fingers flowed quickly as his body began to take form on the stone.

The noise around her faded away. Creating Rian’s replica consumed her thoughts. Tempted to add wings to him, she rejected the notion. There was no point in elevating him to the status of an angel.

“Very nice.”

She was startled by Rian towering behind her. Bella didn’t bother to turn around. In a small fit of childish behavior, she drew a large wound on his arm with blood oozing down and dripping from his elbow.

“Your proportions are a little exaggerated, but you are obviously very talented.”

“I don’t care what you think.”

“Are you an artist?”

“Of sorts, but mostly, I create for my own pleasure.”

She scooted over when he sat next to her. Bella pushed the heavy rock away.

“I require an explanation of what has occurred―names, locations, and reasons.”

“I don’t answer to you.”

The suffocating silence concerned her. She pushed as far as any reasonable man would tolerate and knew him sparing her over sinking a blade in his arm was a gift. It was ridiculous to continue with hateful responses. Bella sighed.

“My father died a year ago, and my mother recently. I have four brothers, but now, my youngest is dead because of the attack. We came to speak to the King and show him a painting. Our Mama whispered a secret on her deathbed. My oldest brother promised we would search out the truth. That’s all there is to it, just a promise.”

“What is the painting of?”

“A man. The King knew we were coming and invited us to his castle to discuss the issue. We sent one of my paintings to him as a token gift for his consideration. His return missive expressed condolence at the loss of our parents but asked that I do a sketch of him while here. I worried that he would be displeased with my art.”

“He wouldn’t be disappointed. I can assure you of that.”

“You know him?”

“Quite well. Continue.”

“We traveled through France and sailed to England. We had a few incidents but nothing terrible. When we crossed into Scotland, a small pack of men attacked us. I am quite adept at the rapier, as was my guard and brother, but those demons fought with malice. They defended their actions, because our skin is darker than theirs is and called us trespassers amongst numerous other slanderous names. I showed them my letter from the King, but they disregarded his instructions. They forced my brother and me to watch as they beheaded our guards. I could do nothing as my brother suffered the same fate.” Bella stopped for a moment to halt the impending sob in her throat. Waiting for control, she appreciated Rian’s silence.

She cleared her throat and said, “They intended to keep me and take turns pleasuring themselves. One of them took me during the night, however, promising he would protect me. He found a cottage for us. I didn’t know at first that he killed the family living there until I found their bodies stacked in a pile in the shed. His vow to save me was a lie. The filthy pig beat me for several days to get my cooperation for sexual favors. He tried to rape me on the last night.”

She paused again for courage. “I stabbed him in the belly. I also meant to hit him in the head with a kettle, but it was full of boiling water. The iron scalded my hand. I reacted and threw the pot. The water burned his face horribly. I left him there alone. The night I escaped, I stumbled on your soldiers. That’s when I took the first plaid and then hid under the blanket the next day when they rode past me. Later that night, I found them again. I needed those things to survive and defend myself. I’m sorry for the thefts.”

“Do you know who killed your brother and guards?”

“Only the name of the man who beat me. His name is Carl.”

“Is he dead?”

“I don’t know, but I suspect so.”

“Did they say a clan name?”

“No, but Carl was the leader of their group.”

“Describe their colors to me.”

“Colors?”

“Each clan has their own color in their weave.”

“Yes, the pattern was mostly browns and some tan with yellow threads.”

A hard edge of hate glinted from Rian’s dark eyes, making Bella cautious. She wasn’t sure what she did or said wrong.

“Do you know them?”

“I believe I do. Did you hear them at any time say the name Glary?”

She closed her eyes and tried to recall everything she heard. It took a moment. She remembered one of her attackers using the name Glary when her brother asked who they were.

“Yes.”

“I have more questions. Are you up to it?”

“I am. Thank you for asking.”

“Be assured, I will never allow them to harm you again.”

Bella gazed at his dark eyes. Their intensity assured her Rian would keep his vow.

He queried for hours every detail, from the minute she stepped foot in Scotland until their face-off at the creek. Although reluctant to relive the ordeal over and over again, she appreciated his concern and cooperated. Small things she thought inconsequential became of great importance to him. Benjamin and several other senior warriors quietly joined them and repeated most of the questions Rian already asked. Exhausted by the inquisition, she stopped breathing when the powerful man sitting next to her stared intently at her eyes.

“Promise you will not run from me. The Glary clan is very likely hunting you. They lack any sense of propriety. If my guess is correct, you either maimed or killed their current leader.”

“Can’t the King forbid their retaliation once he hears what he did?”

“He can and very likely will, but that won’t stop them. Their history is tumultuous at best. Once landowners, King Dabid mac Malium Cholium stripped their rights. He banished them to live on their own. They somehow managed to get a small corner of property near the Lowland border. A few Highland clans acknowledge them, several simply ignore them, but most, such as my clan and our allies, do not tolerate their presence.”

“Could you ask their leader to leave me alone?”

“It is beneath me to speak to them. They are lowly men. Most girls marry outside the Glarys to escape. No woman will marry into their clan. They steal women to keep their population from dying out. They likely believe you could be with child. They won’t give up.”

She thought about his reticence for a moment. His response was overly cautious and a tad farfetched. She spent the last few days fending for herself, and nothing happened. The notorious Glarys hadn’t found her. His concern bordered on ridiculous.

“I’ll be fine. Just take me to Edinburgh, and then I’ll return home.”

“I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. It won’t matter if you’re home or here. You can’t hide. No matter who escorts you in the Highlands, the Glarys will attack.”

“How would they know I am with you?”

“They will track and hunt you. Ask every person they see about you.”

“Still, no one will know who I am.”

“You are exotic in looks. They only have to describe your appearance to those they see and will know it is you. I don’t wish to continue explaining this repetitively. I know these men. Like the situation or not, you must trust me and do everything I order.”

Bella stared in stunned silence. Gone was the concerned man from the last few hours. The McRaidy Laird now commanded her compliance. His factual comment about her skin color didn’t sit well. For a time, she thought Rian different. She was obviously mistaken. Disappointed and slightly embarrassed, she tightened the blanket around her shoulders and lay down facing the fire.

“I’m tired,” she whispered.

“Then, we’ll let you rest. My men prepared a tent for you with a small fire to keep you warm.”

She accepted his outstretched hand and stood up. Upset as she was, warmth and security radiated up her arm as he continued to hold her hand. Instead of pulling away, she walked with him to a plaid-draped stick frame. Thick furs covered the ground for a bed. A clay pot held a mound of glowing embers with low flames licking up the sides. A small pile of twigs sat near for the night ahead. The plush gesture was one of the nicest things a stranger ever did for her. Rian’s dog was already asleep at the foot of her snug abode. That concerned her.

“Will he bite me?”

“No.” Rian called him. “Puppa, show kindness.”

The enormous dog stretched lazily and sauntered over to nuzzle her free hand. Bella scratched his head in return. Puppa leaned against her and sighed.

“That is his command to behave with another person. If someone attacks you, the order is protect. To stop him, say stand down. If he wakes you, he has sensed danger, so don’t ignore him. He will be your guard from this point forward. No matter what, the animal will protect you. The only one he won’t kill is me.”

“I hope I don’t get them confused.”

“You are a very intelligent woman. I’m not worried.”

The conviction in his voice thawed the cold shell around her heart. Realizing she still held Rian’s hand, Bella gently tugged their fingers free. He resisted for a brief moment before letting go with a firm squeeze. They didn’t exchange any further words. She lowered to her bed and tucked the blankets around her. Cozy in the makeshift bed with her new protector at her feet, she rethought the conversation from earlier. Laird McRaidy didn’t imply her dark looks were undesirable. He said they were exotic. He also called her intelligent. That meant more than a comment about her looks. Beauty wasn’t acquired. A person had an attractive appearance, or they didn’t. Birth decided those things, but intelligence came from concentrated observation and learning whenever possible. Maybe all Scots weren’t evil after all.