Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

7 YEARS AGO…

"What do you really think you're going to do with the Lairdship?" James asked, pacing the study. "Just two nights ago I had the guards pick ye up from the pub. Literally pick ye up, because ye were so slobberin' drunk, ye didn't know yer own way back to the castle."

Angus snorted, walking up to the fireplace mantle. "Was a good night though. Besides, father had just passed, and I was grievin'."

James rolled his eyes. "And what were ye grievin' a month before that? And a month before that, when we had to send out a whole brigade of guardsmen because ye had gone on a wild romp to the port? ye don't know how to run this clan. I've run this clan in yer absence. I've taken care of our father in his ailin' days. Ye want the power, fine, ye can rule the guard, ye can lead whatever ye want, but not Laird. Father wanted it so."

Angus gripped his fist and swung it across the mantel, knocking several trinkets to the floor. " Father? ye want to talk to me about what our father wanted?! He never asked me what I wanted. I am the oldest, but he never had the faith in me that he did you. He never gave me a Goddamn chance."

James sighed, tired of hearing the same old song and dance. It was never Angus' fault, it was always someone else holding him back. James pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "The clan wants me as their leader. They know I'll protect them and care for them."

Angus straightened out his tunic, taking a long deep breath. He looked over at James and smirked. It was the smirk he always had when he was pulling rank. "Well, it's a good thing that father never wrote his wishes down, now isn't it? Family tradition…"

"Family tradition…" James balked.

Angus nodded, walking up to James and poking his finger into his chest. "That's right, family tradition says the eldest is the new Laird. So, regardless of what the clan wants, they get what they get. Unless of course ye want to fight it."

James swiped his brother's finger away. "Damn right I'm gonna fight fer this clan."

Angus smiled, backing up and putting his arms out to each side. "Then we duel. Tradition is tradition. If we need to settle this, then we duel fer the Lairdship. You and me, two swords, guards and clansmen watchin'. Winner takes the Lairdship and the loser…well he dies. You've been swinging that sword at grasses, targets, and air long enough little brother, it's time to prove yer worth. Really show the clan that courage ye always talked about with our father. The courage ye think I lack."

James stopped, staring at his brother. The guy had practiced his swordcraft maybe ten times in his life. Even as a young boy, he had no interest in learning to duel, yet he was always the hot-headed one to pull his sword out in a drunken argument. James had gotten him out of many a tight space in his lifetime. James, on the other hand, had practiced and used his sword skills since he was a little boy. He pushed himself his entire life to prove he was worthy of protecting the clan, and knew if they were ever going into battle, he would be there with them.

To face his brother, though, that was something he just couldn't do. He didn't fear Angus, he feared killing Angus. How could he duel with his own brother to the death? Angus might be fine with killing James, but James couldn't imagine the strife it would cause the clan and himself. With the death of his father, the clan and he had already mourned enough for a lifetime. It was an act his father would never accept.

James' heart began to break, knowing full well he couldn't stay there and watch his brother destroy everything. If he remained, the clan would revolt. He knew what his only option was. He knew he had to leave.

That night, as he rode from the lands he knew as home, his things packed, he thought of his father, and shame washed over him. He knew everyone would think he was running away but James knew the truth. That was what would always separate him from his brother. James would do anything for the clan, anything for his family, even though Angus would strike him down and laugh over his body if he were given the chance.

James would choose the clan over his pride any day. He would even choose death, if it ever came to it. As he rode further away from the clan lands, he hoped it would never come to that. He would make sure it never did.

Blair shook her head, looking down at the ground. Angus smiled, releasing her arm as he continued to walk around her. "This is the largest clan outside of the port. Ye could ride fer days and not find a finer clan. Yer clan may have been rival when yer father was Laird, but from what I know, it all went out the window when he lost his mind and attempted to kill his brother. I just hope that doesn't run in yer blood."

Blair gritted her teeth, keeping her eyes at the floor as Angus continued, arrogantly touting himself and his supposed accomplishments. "The people in this clan are loyal to me. They know I'll give them food, shelter, a fair ration if they do their duties."

James snorted. "Sounds like a monarch, not a clan."

Angus stopped in front of Blair, staring at her with his back to James. He smirked at his brother's comment. "And why shouldn't it be? Monarchs rule the world. Let's face it, I'm the only true McFerguson, and rightfully so. It will be yer greatest honor to carry my heirs after we're wed. It's far more than a lass like you would normally be given as a gift. Yer uncle must care for ye alot."

Blair had to swallow back the bile rising in her throat. Just the thought of allowing Angus to bed her made her sick to her stomach. He was disgusting, arrogant, and everything she had come to hate. Still, she had to protect her sisters, and if that meant having his children, she would do so, and do so with grace. She could only hope she'd be able to raise them to be opposite of everything Angus was.

She raised her eyes to Angus, finding that the thought of her sisters brought her courage. She pulled her shoulders back and nodded. "Aye. I will be the best wifey ye could ever imagine, and birth many heirs to your…Lairdship…"

Angus smiled and began to turn, stopping as Blair continued. "... if …ye help me get my sisters from the keep and here in the castle safe. They can work here as they do there, bridge alliances through marriage, and help with the babes."

Turning back to Blair, Angus' smile faded and he narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm not sure what yer uncle told ye, lass, but there's no negotiating the terms here. This was me given' ye my approval, but I can take it back and throw ye in the pub to service me guards. I don't give a good shite about yer sisters, and they are nothin' to me but more mouths tae feed. Yer sisters belong to yer uncle and cousin, and it'll stay that way. Now, I am gonna pretend ye didn't say that and start fresh 'ere, because I'm a merciful Laird. Go with yer servant, bathe the stench of horse from ye hair, and I'll call on ye when ye're needed."

Angus turned and began to walk away. Blair was doing everything she could to hold her tears back. She couldn't show Angus any weakness, and there was no damn way she was going to spend the rest of her life like a blood mare to a man like Angus. She'd rather be dead than live knowing her sisters were never going to be safe, and she was going to be subjected to a life of horror.

"No," Blair shouted.

Angus stopped and pushed up his sleeves, turning back toward her. "What did ye say?"

Blair swallowed hard. "I said no. My sisters will be brought here. They will be given a good life and options fer marriage. They will be treated like part of the family, or I won't marry ye."

Angus chuckled nefariously. "Is that right?"

"Angus," James said in a warning tone.

Angus closed his eyes for a moment and turned, pointing at James. "Shut yer fuckin' mouth, James. Ye have no place here." Turning back to Blair, he slowly walked up to her and paused, staring at her silently.

Blair held her ground, her chin high. She wouldn't live in fear, and she knew she had to show it from the beginning.

Suddenly Angus reached out and grabbed the back of her neck, pushing her head down. He leaned in close to her ear, the smell of his musk permeating her senses. "Ye're my property, ye little bitch, and I'll do what I want with ye. If ye're lucky, you'll get a whore's life…"

"Angus," James roared, running across the room.

James grabbed his brother and threw him off of Blair. Rearing back, he swung, slapping Angus across the face with an open palm. He pointed angrily at Angus. "Keep yer hands to yerself. This is not how this family behaves. In all of our lives, we never saw our father raise a hand to a woman. If you want to pick on someone, pick on me. You always did find yerself in precarious situations when it came to a challenge. I'm right here, Angus."

Angus, his head hanging, looked up. Blair backed away, shaking, watching as Angus laughed wildly, blood trickling from his lip. The sweat on his forehead glistened, and his hair stuck to his skin. "Ye're not part of this family, James. And ye just made a very big mistake. I've waited a long time to stare down at yer defeated and smug face. Looks like ye gave me the perfect opportunity."