Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

David Sinclair rolled off the plump alehouse maid and attempted to catch his breath. The lass wore him out more than any other he'd bedded in a long time.

He and his brothers had been at the alehouse in Tongue for a few days, watching Lady Alison and Finn to see when they normally rode out in the morning.

What they'd needed was a plan to get Lady Mackay to defy her husband's orders and go by herself.

The last time the brothers had all been together, with them sharing the lass in the bed now, they'd been close to coming to a decision on how they would finish up the assignment and head for home.

He grew restless to have the snatch over with and return to Sinclair Grinigoe. He glanced over at the flushed lass, her hair a mess. Now that he'd had his fill of her, he was anxious to leave her bed and meet with his brothers downstairs. But, like all the lasses, she wanted to cuddle and talk.

He let his mind wander as she blathered on about things that didn't concern him.

In the time they'd been at the alehouse, they'd shared drinks and meals with some of the villagers. So far, none of them had been at the castle when the wedding disaster had taken place, so they didn't recognize any of the brothers. They did, however have quite a bit to say about the ruin of the bride, even though most had defended her. It seemed Lady Alison was well liked in the village.

Like most people in small towns, they were free with their information.

When the lass finally took a breath, David slapped her on her fine bare arse and climbed from the bed. "Thank ye, lass. If I ever come though this way again, I'll be sure to look for ye."

Suddenly modest, she sat up and covered her naked body with the bed covers while he dressed. "Ye're leaving?"

"Aye. My brothers and I need to move on."

"Oh." She looked disappointed, but he'd been through this before. He didn't understand why every lass he bedded seemed to believe he wanted to keep her forever.

As if he would marry a woman who allowed any man who came through Tongue to tup her. He shook his head and, before this could go any further, he leaned over, kissed her on the forehead and left.

Completely forgetting her as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he headed to where Miles, Archie and Enoch sat at one of the tables finishing up bowls of stew.

"Get yer belly filled," Archie said as David drew out a chair. "We're about to move out."

He waved at one of the maids to bring him a mug of ale and a bowl of stew. "Then the plan has been made?" he asked Archie.

"Aye. There is a verra small village about thirty minutes north of here. At first light tomorrow ye and Enoch will go to the village and set a few fires. Try no' to kill anyone or force one of the lasses as is yer way because I doona think Da can get The Mackay to agree to no retaliation from grabbing the lass if some of his clan people are killed or assaulted."

David nodded as he shoved bread into his mouth. "I say we go tonight before it gets dark. The earlier we do this the better."

"'Tis a good idea," Archie said. "Miles and I will wait in the woods near where the Mackay woman rides every morning. With Finn gone and how stubborn Lady Alison is, ‘tis no doubt she will go on her own."

Once we grab her, we'll head directly to Castle Sinclair Grinigoe. I suggest once the fires are good and set ye send someone from the village to alert the laird. He no doubt will send Finn since The Mackay has just about given up any of his duties. Just make sure ‘tis verra early since Lady Alison takes an early ride."

"Will that seem strange that the mon setting the fires is sending for the laird?"

Archie sighed. "With the chaos no one will be sure who set the fires, and there isn't anyone at that small village who kens any of us. For all they ken, ye are men riding through the village and stopped to help."

Alison looked out the window of her bedchamber. ‘Twas a cloudy day, but she would wear her warm cape so she wouldn't miss her morning ride.

She was still amazed that Finn greeted her every morning to keep her from riding alone. What had seemed to be a chore for him when he first joined her, it was apparent he actually enjoyed the riding, and it gave them time to discuss things that they never seemed to get around to when they retired to their bedchamber each night. Once they settled in, they reached for each other and no conversation ever took place.

She arrived at the stable with no Finn in sight. Old Kilmead limped out and said, "I'm afraid there's no riding today, my lady. There is a fire north of here and yer husband took a group of his men to deal with it. He said he was sorry and would make up for it tomorrow."

She refrained from behaving like a spoiled child, as much as she wanted to stamp her foot. "Is there no one else who can accompany me?"

"I'm afraid no' since, as I said, Finn took some of the men with him and the rest are on the lists."

She chewed her lip and thought about her ride. It was truly the best part of her day. As much as she enjoyed her husband's company, there was no reason why she could not go by herself. She and Finn had been riding the same area for weeks and it was truly a safe one.

"Would you please tack my horse, anyway. I will take a short ride by myself."

The man rubbed his chin. "I doona ken about that, my lady. Yer husband was sure stubborn about ye no' going alone."

She fumed. ‘Twas time to take over and make Finn, as well as all the employees, know that, as Lady of the Manor, she had some say in what she could and could not do.

"I am sorry to put ye in the middle, Old Kilmead, but I insist you tack my horse, or I will do it myself. I promise I will go no farther than my husband and I do every time we ride."

The man stared at her for a minute, then shrugged and headed into the stable.

She took a deep breath, having won that battle. Mayhap she and Finn should speak more about the things he ordered her not to do. They talked the other night about his need to control, and mayhap now that he told her the story of the time he'd lost control, and then assuring him he needed to let it go, he might no longer feel that he had to control everything.

With a sense of freedom, she took off and headed down the hill to the area she knew so well.

Finn stood looking at the burning bothies and frowned. "This makes no sense."

Aside from a few small fires, and one bothy, it appeared there was no other damage.

"I thought so, too," James said. "No one was injured or killed, No lass was tupped, no one is missing, the fires dinna really destroy anything and nothing was taken, according to the villagers."

"'Tis almost like it was a distraction to get us to leave the castle," Albert said, shaking his head. "Think ye we are being attacked while we stand here?"

Finn thought for a minute, then raced to his horse.

"Where are ye going in such a hurry?" Albert called as Finn hopped onto Morag and headed for home.

He'd gotten lazy. Since they'd heard nothing from the Sinclairs in all this time, he thought they had accepted what had happened. He'd even grown careless on their rides in the morning, more concerned with finding a place for him to tup his wife than about their safety.

He hated the thought of this carelessness, but he had a strong feeling he now was paying the price.