Chapter 30

When Tadgh knocked and walked in, Odhrán looked up from the map spread out on the desk that he and Liam were examining. When their eyes met, the smile on the big warrior's face changed immediately to a look of puzzlement.

"What are ye doin' here, Odhrán? Are ye nae supposed tae be meetin' Maddison in the gardens?" Tadgh asked.

Odhrán frowned. "What? What are ye talkin' about, man?"

"Ye sent a message tae tell her tae meet ye at the end of the gardens, that ye hada surprise planned for her. I've just sent two guards tae escort her there nae but ten minutes ago."

Icy fear gripped Odhrán as he realized what must have happened. Without hesitation or stopping to explain, he shouted, "Come on!" He grabbed his sword belt and was buckling it on when he ran from the room, quickly followed by Liam and Tadgh.

"What have I done Braither?" Tadgh asked as they raced down the hallway after Odhrán.

"There was nae message, nae meetin'. 'Tis a trap," Liam told him.

"Ye mean…?"

"Aye, 'tis Rollo's doin'."

"Jesus!" Tadgh exclaimed, clearly horrified at being duped and putting Maddison in danger.

"Come on, hurry, we might just get there in time tae save her," his brother urged him, speeding up. The brothers sprinted after Odhrán, who was already through the keep doors and flying across the courtyard towards the gardens. He headed for the far end, where he and Maddison had burned the book just a few nights ago, knowing it was the perfect place for an ambush.

His belly was churning with fear as he ran into the arbor, quickly joined by the brothers.

"Search the place," he yelled urgently, scanning all around, hunting between the bushes, desperately hoping she was still there, that he was in time. But all that was there were the two slain bodies of the guards.

He ran over to them and immediately saw that a note was pinned to one of the dead man's chests by a dagger. He ripped the note off and quickly read it, his hands shaking.

"Rollo has her," he spat, feeling as if he was about to throw up. "He wants the lairdship in exchange fer Maddison's life. He says that if I ever want tae see her alive again, then I'm tae meet him in three days' time, at the burned oak, by an abandoned cottage near his castle," he told the brothers. "He wants me tae sign over the lairdship tae him."

"The bastard! But ye cannae dae that, Odhrán! 'Tis yer legacy," Liam protested, clearly aghast.

"D'ye think I care about that when Maddison's in danger? I care more fer her than I dae the lairdship. He can have it!" Odhrán shouted.

"That's madness, ye're surely just nae gonnae give it tae him on a plate?" Tadgh argued.

"That's exactly what I'm gonnae dae," Odhrán said bitterly, murderously furious with his cousin's success in fooling him yet again.

"He's a devious swine, makin' sure tae tell her tae take guards with her," Liam put in angrily.

"I'm so sorry, Odhrán," Tadgh said. "I feel responsible fer bein' duped like that. I never suspected a thing!

"'Tis nae yer fault, man. If nae fer ye, I would nae have kent fer hours that she'd been taken," Odhrán told him. "Rollo's tae blame fer this, nae anyone else, the filthy dog!" His mind in turmoil, he tried to think what to do next.

"What are we gonnae dae?" Tadgh asked.

"We have tae get back tae the castle and alert the council at once. They'll nae agree tae givin' in tae Rollo's blackmail," Liam said.

Odhrán looked at him in disbelief. "Are ye mad, man? They'll never agree tae me meetin' with Rollo tae get her back," he shouted. "I'm nae tellin' them a thing, and neither are ye two." He panted with a mixture of panic and fury.

"I'm still the laird here, and I'll tell ye what's gonnae happen. Ye're tae handpick a few men, men who ken how tae keep their mouths shut. We'll be leavin' at dawn in three days' time. Ye're all gonnae come with me tae this cottage, and anyone who breathes a word of this tae the council will have tae answer tae me. I intend tae give Rollo what he wants and bring Maddison home safe."

The next three days were the worst of Odhrán's life. He could not sleep or eat, and even found it hard to think straight. All he could dae was pace in his study, imagining what Rollo might be doing to Maddison. If it were not for the chance that he would get her back soon, he was sure he would have gone stark, raving mad.

Secretly, he managed to hold himself together long enough to make a contract, signing over the lairdship to Rollo, appending his signature and wax seals to make it all official. He had thought about trying to trick Rollo but dismissed the idea. He refused to risk Maddison's life by not obeying Rollo's demands to the letter. At least, that was what he had told Liam and Tadgh.

He found he did not care about losing this birthright any longer. All he cared about was Maddison, and if he had to live as an ordinary Highlander then that was what he would do, and do it happily, for her sake.

At dawn on the third day, his small party rode out, heading towards Rollo's lands, only a couple of hours away. Tense though he was, he sent a scout ahead to seek the burnt oak and the abandoned cottage where the meet was to take place that evening at sundown. When they got to the border lands, the scout was waiting to guide them to the place. They reigned up in the low hills above the ramshackle building, which stood on a desolate piece of moorland covered with scrub. There were several men loitering outside, clearly keeping a lookout for them, ready to signal Rollo in the event of an attack.

But Odhrán had no intention of attacking. He had the contract rolled up in his coat pocket and he was on tenterhooks, desperate to see Maddison, praying she was all right.

"He's picked a good place," Liam commented grudgingly, scanning the landscape. "There's nae cover at all."

"There's horses at the rear, tethered in the woods, me laird," the scout, who had been searching the area again, told Odhrán on his return. "I saw movement inside. I think they're already in there."

They waited in intense silence, the only sounds the cries of the birds, the breeze riffling through the bushes, and the occasional whinnies and snorts of the horses. His jaw clenched, Odhrán watched the sun drop painstakingly slowly below the horizon.

"Let's go," he finally commanded, riding at the head of his party, flanked by Liam and Tadgh, down the shallow incline and into the clearing before the cottage.

Rollo's reception committee met them as they dismounted, and their horses were led away and tied to a nearby fence.

"Throw down yer weapons," the one in charge demanded, whom Odhrán surmised was one of Rollo's lieutenants.

"Dae as he says," Odhrán commanded, unbuckling his sword belt and throwing it down to the ground a few feet away. His men followed suit.

"Search them," the lieutenant ordered, gesturing to his men. Odhrán put his arms above his head and allowed himself to be patted down, the others following his lead.

"They're clean, Sir," one of the searchers reported back.

"All right. Ye can go in," the lieutenant told Odhrán with a nod, opening the door to the cottage and standing aside. "But dinnae try anythin' stupid. Me and me men are right behind ye," he warned.

Odhrán stepped into the interior of the cottage, closely followed by Tadgh and Liam, with the others behind them. Several lamps illuminated the scene before him. His eyes went immediately to the slight figure being held back by two men as she tried to break free and run to him, her arms pinned behind her.

"Maddison! Are ye all right? Has he hurt ye?" he called to her, his insides lurching violently. His hands flexed as he fought down the urge to run to her and take her in his arms. But a grinning Rollo, a hefty henchman at each side of him, was blocking the way.

"Odhrán!" she cried, her face creasing up as she sobbed with obvious relief at his presence. "Thank God ye came."

His eyes took in her disheveled appearance, which was so unusual for her. Her hair was down and hung in wild rattails. Her cheeks were deathly pale, her lip was swollen, and there were marks on her face. She had clearly been hit.

"What have ye done tae her, ye bastard?" Odhrán growled at Rollo, baring his teeth at him, wanting to rip him from limb to limb.

"Are ye deaf? Did she nae just tell she's alright?" Rollo taunted.

"What are those marks on her?" Odhrán demanded.

Rollo laughed nastily, clearly enjoying himself. "Well, ye must ken yersel' what a wee spitfire she is. She would nae shut up, so I had tae silence her."

All Odhrán's instincts came to the fore at his cousin's mocking words, and he moved forward, ready to strike, only to feel two hands land heavily on his shoulders, holding him back.

"Stay calm," Tadgh whispered. "Dinnae let him rile ye. Let's get this done and get Maddison out of here."

Odhrán clenched his fists and forced himself to breathe slowly, knowing Tadgh was right. Bu he silently vowed to make Rollo pay for hurting Maddison.

"Dinnae fear, Maddy, ye'll be out of here in minute," he promised her over Rollo's shoulder. He could hardly bear the thought of how afraid she must be. It was all so horribly reminiscent of when his father had held a knife to her throat, threatening to kill her. Unfortunately, unlike his father, Rollo was canny enough to keep himself out of Odhrán' reach. He glared at Rollo with all the hate in his heart.

"All right, ye coward, I have what ye want, so ye can hand her over," he told him, pulling the contract from his pocket and throwing it contemptuously at Rollo's feet. Rollo gestured with his head for the man on his right to pick it up and hand it to him. He took his time looking it over.

Then, he nodded, tucking the contract inside his coat. "I told ye I'd have the lairdship, did I nae, Coz? Ye thought ye could take what's mine, what yer faither always wanted me tae have because he kent his own son wasnae up tae the job," he sneered.

Suddenly, there was a scuffle behind him. "Dinnae give it tae him, Odhrán!" Maddison yelled, fighting her captors to get loose. "I ken how hard ye've worked tae be a good laird. Dinnae give intae this madman. Ye're Laird Lennox, nae him, the monster! Let me go, ye pig!" She bit one of her captors on the arm as he tried to restrain her, and the man bellowed in pain, losing his grip on her.

While the injured man cradled his arm, she somehow managed to punch the other man in the throat. He let her go, and she launched herself at Rollo, clawing at him. He moved so fast, it was only when she gave a loud shriek and flew backwards, hitting the wall with a loud thud, that Odhrán realized Rollo had viciously backhanded her across the face.

His fury boiling over, Odhrán threw himself at his cousin, but Rollo was already halfway to a dazed Maddison, and Odhrán blanched to see a blade glittering in his cousin's hand. He means tae kill her!

As if on signal, the room behind him erupted into chaos as his men grabbed the weapons the scout had concealed in the rafters of the cottage two days beforehand. Odhrán had foreseen Rollo's treachery and prepared for just such a turn of events. Vicious fighting broke out between the two groups.

With a superman effort, Odhrán hurled himself at Rollo and yanked him back viciously by the hair. Rollo screamed as Odhrán got him around the neck and swung him around to face him, squeezing his neck with one hand while pounding at his face with his fist. There was a horrible crack as Rollo's nose exploded, sending a bright crimson shower into the air.

"Ye bastard," Rollo snarled through the blood, slashing at Odhrán's face and throat with the blade. Odhrán grabbed Rollo's forearm in a powerful grip just as the blade whizzed past his eyes, narrowly preventing himself from being blinded. Fueled by fury, Odhrán bent Rollo's wrist backwards until his cousin cried out in pain, and his grip gave way. Odhrán instantly turned Rollo's blade against him, so that it was pointing at his own throat.

In an effort to avoid being forced to stab himself, Rollo released the knife, and it fell clattering to the floor. Caught off balance, he stumbled backwards and fell. Odhrán fell on top of him, snatching the knife from the floor, pinning Rollo down with all his weight. He held the knife poised at Rollo's neck.

"I told ye I'd kill ye, did I nae, Coz?" he growled, spitting the last words and banging Rollo's head hard against the floor several times.

"Ye've nae got it in ye," Rollo taunted him nasally, his face a mess of blood.

"I've killed far better men that ye, ye vile dog," Odhrán replied, his bloodlust up. "I've waited years fer this, and now I'm gonnae enjoy it. Goodbye, Rollo, and burn in hell, along with me faither." With primal satisfaction, he gave his cousin a grim smile and raised his arm, ready to strike.

But a steely grip suddenly seized his wrist, and the arc of the death blow was cut off in midair. At the same moment, the slim, double-sided blade of a claymore appeared in front of his eyes and sank easily into Rollo's soft throat. The man's eyes flew wide, and he gurgled horribly, choking on his own blood as the blade was retracted. A crimson fountain burst forth from the hole it left behind, spattering everything within a few feet, including Odhrán himself. Rollo stared sightlessly for a few moments, a red pool flowing out from his neck and onto the filthy floor.

Odhrán looked up, to see Liam standing over him, the sword in his hand dripping with Rollo's blood. He let the weapon drop to the floor.

"What the hell did ye dae that fer!?" Odhrán exclaimed angrily, feeling cheated. "Ye kent I wanted tae finish the bastard mesel'."

Liam placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. "Trust me, Braither, 'tis better this way."

"Aye, he's right," Tadgh said, coming up behind his brother. "Ye shouldnae have tae live with the guilt of killing any more of yer family, Odhrán."

Odhrán took a series of deep breaths and got to his feet, swallowing his disappointment, knowing it was probably for the best. His thoughts turned immediately to Maddison, who was still lying slumped against the wall, her eyes open but seemingly in a trance. He wiped some of Rollo's blood from his face with the back of his arm and went over to her, scooping her up and holding her close to his chest.

"Och, Odhrán, thank God, thank God, ye're safe," she sobbed against him, gripping his shirt in her hands convulsively. All that, and she was still worrying about him!

"I'd kiss ye, me bonny lass, but I think I should probably wash me face first," he told her gently, wanting to soothe her and make her feel safe again. The next second, her lips were pressed to his, telling him wordlessly all she had to tell him, from the depths of her heart. And he kissed her back, understanding every word.

A short while later, he left his men to clear up the mess and placed Maddison in front of him on the horse, enfolding her protectively with his arms and thighs, before riding back home slowly with Liam and Tadgh.

"That was good fight," Liam said with satisfaction. "I must admit, I enjoyed running Rollo through on yer behalf, Odhrán. I ken ye dinnae see it as doin' ye a favor just now, but ye will in time." He laughed. Odhrán had to chuckle.

"Nay, ye did the right thing, Liam. Ye usually dae," he told his friend. "Ye were only lookin' out fer me."

"See, he appreciates our efforts, Braither," Tadgh piped up, "although for a minute there, when ye finished Rollo off like that, I was afeared Odhrán was gonnae start fightin' ye fer spoilin' his fun."

"Well, if it was nae fer this brave we lass here kickin' up a fuss, we might never have had the chance tae kill the swine at all," Odhrán mused, kissing the top of his wife's head. "And she saved me from havin' tae give me lairdship up tae boot."

"Aye, she's a fierce one all right. A good lass tae have on yer side in a fight, I'll grant ye," Tadgh admired, making them all laugh.

"I could nae let that pig take Odhrán's birthright. Not after all his hard work," Maddison said. "I cannae believe ye were gonnae give it away tae him like that, Odhrán."

"What else was I supposed tae dae? I had tae pick, ye or the lairdship. It was an easy choice. When I got tae thinkin' about it, the idea of bein' plain old Mr. and Mrs. Lennox, havin' a wee farm, with a tribe of bairns and a few cows and sheep, it seemed quite appealin'," Odhrán replied, smirking. The other three laughed.

"Hmm, plain old Mrs. Lennox, eh? I'm nae so sure about that. I dinnae ken the first thing about farmin', and besides, I've grown tae like bein' Lady Lennox." She looked up at Odhrán and whispered so only he could hear, "Because I love the Laird of Lennox with all me heart and soul. Forever."

"And I love ye, me Maddy, heart and soul," Odhrán whispered back, planting a kiss on the tip of her nose. "Forever."