Chapter 15

15

F inlay awoke from the darkness with an aching jaw, an aching shoulder, well, an aching everything. He tried to move his hands but found they were tied behind his back. He struggled against the knot, but the coarse rope bit into his skin and did not offer any glimpse of freedom. He groaned as he leaned his head against the wall. From above he could hear footsteps and laughter. He deduced that he was in the basement of Murdoch's tavern. He closed his eyes as he remembered how Anne had come to his aid, or at least tried to. She would have been better staying away, thinking that he had deserted her after spending the night with her. At least then she could have hated him rather than pitied him, and she wouldn't have to risk coming back here.

This wasn't a place for women like her. He wished she knew better. He wished he had kept her at arm's length. While he liked that she cared for him deeply, he knew that it was undeserved. No doubt she would be scurrying to find her uncle, begging him for money to save the son of a Laird. Little did she know that she was only going to be saving a scoundrel. Soon enough the truth would be out, though. When she came to pay his debt she would realize what had happened and who he really was. Murdoch wasn't going to keep the illusion going. Then she would see him for what he really was. She would know he had lied to her, and the affection she had for him would go up in flames. It had been fun while it lasted, he supposed, but he had been too greedy. He should never have come back here. He should have never let his guard down.

His throat ached with thirst and hunger gnawed in his stomach. The smell of food teased him. Shadows flickered above, and although he cried out for help, there was no reply. Either nobody could hear him, his voice muffled by the noise in the tavern or, more likely, nobody cared. He was Murdoch's prisoner after all, and everyone in the tavern followed Murdoch's lead. It was either that, or die.

And death awaited Finlay soon. Even if the debt was paid, well, Murdoch would find some other way to kill him.

He looked around. There were crates arranged haphazardly around the room, no doubt Murdoch's stolen treasures. There was one small window that was too high for him to reach, and too small for him to climb through even if he could reach it. He leaned his head back, knowing there was no hope but to wait for the inevitable.

The door to the basement opened and two men came down. One was the grizzled Murdoch, a man as mean as a hound. The other was Gavin, an old friend who had been a guard alongside Finlay. Eyebrows were raised in surprise and then a brow was furrowed as Finlay recognized the familiar face. Questions about Gavin's intentions rose in his mind.

Murdoch moved with confidence, while Gavin followed him like a shadow. Finlay struggled once again against his bindings, fearing that he would be beaten to death.

"Finlay Buchanan, as I live and breathe. Never thought I'd see the day when you returned tae us. Thought ye would be smarter than that. Did ye really think ye could hide among the crowd? Ye should know that I see everything," Murdoch said, leaning down so that Finlay could see the rivers of blood in his eyes, the peppering of stubble upon his cheeks, and the yellowed teeth. His breath was stale and his pallor was leathery. He was a gnarled man who had been forged by a lifetime of bitterness.

"I dinnae want any trouble, Murdoch. I just want tae gae about my business," Finlay muttered.

Murdoch's lip curled. "Funny ye should mention business, lad, because ye ran away before ye and I could sort out the business between us. Or hae ye forgotten about the debts ye dinnae pay before ye ran away? I cannae abide people stealing from me."

"I never stole from ye!" Finlay yelled, before composing himself again. "And that's nae why I ran away. I never did what I was accused of. I'm innocent, and those men I played with were cheats. They're the ones who owe me money."

Murdoch laughed darkly and turned to Gavin, then back to Finlay. "Oh, I know ye dinnae steal the sword. I figured that out a long time ago. I hae made the person responsible pay. He's become a loyal soldier," Murdoch spoke with a smirk as he glanced towards Gavin again.

"Ye?" Finlay gasped. "Ye were supposed tae be my friend. How could ye let everyone believe I stole the sword?"

Gavin shifted his weight between his feet and turned his head away, hiding his eyes. He clasped his hands behind his back and scowled.

"Gavin, we worked taegether. We swore our oaths taegether. I thought I could trust ye," Finlay added, desperation and betrayal weighing down his voice.

"Ye cannae trust anyone. Ye were the poorest of the guards, sae it was easy tae blame ye. It was the perfect crime," Gavin said.

Murdoch chuckled at this. "And then ye came tae me tae sell it, and I knew I could make use of such a sly man. It hae all worked out for the best," Murdoch leaned back on his heels and put his hands together, smiling widely. "Except for ye," he turned to Finlay.

Finlay was enraged. Every instinct in his body wanted to leap up and lunge at Gavin's throat. All the misery, all the humiliation had been because of Gavin. Finlay had protested his innocence but, at the time, there hadn't been any other suspects. Finlay knew that one of the guards had said they saw him near where the sword was kept. He hadn't known who had betrayed him, until now. Gavin was the reason why Finlay had fled, why he had been deprived of a relationship with his father, why he had moved from town to town, skulking through the shadows, unable to make an honest living. The misery of his life could be traced back to that moment, and now he knew who was to blame.

But he was still powerless. He glared at Murdoch.

"I dinnae steal the sword. I dinnae owe ye money. Just let me gae. I just want tae get on with my life."

"But ye dae owe me money, Finlay. Ye lost that gold fair and square."

Finlay grit his teeth. "It was nae fair at all. Yer men were gesturing tae each other. I saw them!"

Murdoch gave a helpless shrug. "I'm afraid I cannae take yer word for that. The men I employ in my establishment are men of the highest honor and integrity. I'm sure that if there was anything untoward gaeing on I would know about it. The fact is ye shamed yerself nae once, but twice. Nae only did ye betray yer Laird, but ye found yerself in debt tae me as well. Instead of facing yer crimes like a man, ye ran like a wee rabbit, and now it's time tae pay."

Finlay knew there was no point in trying to argue with Murdoch. The man had all the power, and Finlay began to regret ever coming back here. He had such high hopes of protesting his innocence and reclaiming his reputation, but instead, everything was in tatters. If there had been any hope of falling in love with Anne, it was all dashed now as well. He hoped she stayed far away from here because there was nothing but misery waiting for her, and the last thing she needed was to get involved with a man like Murdoch.

"What dae ye want me tae dae?" Finlay asked, groaning as he did so.

Murdoch tilted his head and his smile widened. "I'm glad ye asked! See, this is much easier when we are sensible about things. Now, as ye might imagine, this celebration has provided me with many opportunities tae increase my wealth. There's a lot of commotion, ye see, and when the main feast happens, it's gaeing tae be time tae make the most of the opportunity. Ye and Gavin are gaeing tae sneak intae the keep, gae tae the treasury, and steal from our magnificent Laird."

"He's got sae much stuff he probably won't even notice it's missing," Gavin said, a laugh rolling out of his mouth.

"Sae ye want tae make a criminal of me," Finlay said.

"If the shoe fits," Murdoch rolled his shoulders. "And people think it of ye anyway, sae ye might as well dae something tae earn the reputation."

"And why me? Why nae one of yer own men? Ye already know ye cannae trust me."

Murdoch leaned down and put a hand on Finlay's shoulder. It was only a light touch, yet somehow it seemed as threatening as if he was holding a knife to Finlay's throat. "Oh, I know that I can trust ye, Finlay. Ye see, I hae been kind enough nae tae visit yer Da tae collect on yer debt. But if ye refuse tae help, then I might hae tae change that. And that's nae tae mention yer fair companion. It would be a shame tae see anything happen tae that pretty face of hers. It's a shame when a beautiful woman is turned ugly by scars."

"Dinnae hurt her," Finlay's face twisted with fury, but he could not do anything other than helplessly glare at Murdoch.

"See, lad, ye are gaeing tae help me, otherwise I'm gaeing tae hurt them, and then I'll make sure that ye cannae run away again. Besides, Gavin is gaeing tae be with ye every step of the way tae make sure ye are nae noticed. Ye worked sae well taegether before."

As if things couldn't get any worse, Finlay thought. He glowered and thought he should at least try to get some advantage. "I'll dae what ye ask, but let me work with anyone except him. He betrayed me once already. I cannae trust him. I'll always be looking over my shoulder expecting him tae stab me in the back. I willnae be able tae concentrate on the task at hand."

"Oh, ye dinnae hae anything tae worry about in that regard. For now, ye are far more useful tae me alive, and Gavin hae more sense than tae gae against my orders. Now, what is it gaeing tae be, Finlay? Are ye gaeing tae help me, or should I send my men around tae yer Da's farm and pay him a visit?"

A lump of emotion formed in Finlay's throat. He looked away, trying to think of a way to escape. None came to his mind. He was in an impossible situation and it was one that he knew was a risk when he returned. He didn't want to be a criminal, but he could not let any harm come to Brandon or Anne. He had no choice but to accept Murdoch's terms.

"I'll dae what ye ask," he said in one breath.

Murdoch nodded and stepped back, allowing Gavin to move forward. Gavin bent down and produced a dagger from his back. In one swift motion, he cut through the bindings. Finlay's wrists were free. He rubbed the sore ligature marks and started to think about a way he could fight back. The only chance he had of escaping was to go along with their plan for the time being until there was an opportunity to fight back. However, if he did so, he would need to make sure that Anne and his father were safe too.