Chapter 25

25

" L ennox!"

As Alasdair raced toward the cliffs, he caught sight of the man, surrounded by guards. Seeing him there, standing with his sword swinging about, made Alasdair push his horse faster. He held Ben tight against him, hoping they had made the right decision about this.

Just don't let anything go wrong.

As he looked closer, he saw something moving on the ground. He caught sight of skirts and sun kissed blonde hair.

Charlotte.

"I see her!" Ben cried, and Alasdair pulled his arm harder around him.

"We must wait," Alasdair whispered to him. "Remember what we agreed to. Don't change the plan."

Alasdair pushed the horse harder, closing the gap between his own group and Lennox's. He had brought Hayden and two of his most trusted soldiers though he told them to stand back. He hoped he wouldn't need them.

"Look who finally arrived," Lennox said as Alasdair rode into earshot. He stopped his horse with an appropriate amount of distance. He couldn't risk Lennox grabbing for Ben or sending his soldiers out to fight for the boy. Alasdair darted his eyes to the ground and saw Charlotte, bound and gagged, but he was heartened to see her fierce gaze wasn't obstructed by tears.

"Let her go," Alasdair cried.

But Lennox only laughed at him, shaking his head as he flew his sword around with a flourish.

"Nice try," he laughed. "Ye ken what I want in exchange."

The way Lennox looked at Ben with a possessive glare made Alasdair eager to pluck his eyes from his head.

"I guess ye told yer Da our little secret?" Lennox asked, keeping his gaze on Ben. "Daenae ye remember what I told ye would happen?"

"Let her go!" Ben cried, bravely standing up to the man who had wronged him. Alasdair felt pride surge through him as the boy faced his enemy.

"I'll give ye Ben," Alasdair said cooly. He had practiced the words over and over in his head, wondering if he could speak them without betraying himself. Luckily, his voice sounded hard and cruel to his own ears. "But first, I want to ken why ye are doing this."

The words didn't seem to surprise Lennox. Instead, they excited him. His eyebrows raised, and he slid his sword into its scabbard as if preparing for storytime.

"Why?" he asked. "Daenae ye ken?"

Alasdair wouldn't answer the man. He knew Lennox was taunting him, wanting to drag this out as long as possible, but he refused to give the man that satisfaction.

"Me sister was miserable in yer house," Lennox spit out, his voice filled with fury. "What ye had was no marriage at all. She was rotting away in isolation. I had to help her escape."

"Help her?" Alasdair asked, unable to contain his incredulity. "Ye got the woman killed! Just because there was no love between us doesnae mean she wanted to leave me and her son."

"She dinnae ken what she wanted! It was up to me to show her."

"Did ye even tell her of yer plan?" Alasdair cried, trying to get answers to the questions that had haunted him since he found out Lennox was responsible. "Did she even ken what ye were doing by sending yer men to take her and her child?"

Alasdair remembered Isabella's face. He remembered the fear and the shock that told him she had no idea of her brother's plan. Lennox thought he was saving his sister, but instead, he had forced her to fight for her life and the life of her son.

"I couldnae tell her!" Lennox screamed, clearly uncomfortable with being confronted about this. "I couldnae risk ye hearing of it. I just needed to get her home, and then I would explain everythin'!"

"She was afraid for her life," Alasdair said, his voice hard and cold as he stared down at the panicked face of Lennox. "She had no way to ken they were yer men. Instead, ye made her believe her life was in danger. And even worse, ye made her believe Ben might be killed. No wonder she tried to save him. It was ye who got her killed."

"It wasnae me fault!" He watched Lennox's face go red, and his movements became jerky and erratic. "That was never part of the plan. But me men messed up. Isabella tried to break free…"

His voice trailed off as his words caught in his throat. Lennox's eyes darted around, as if searching for a spot to look, and then he turned his head to the sky and screamed.

"I'm sorry Isabella!" Suddenly tears were falling down the man's face, accompanied by deep, heaving sobs. "I tried to do right by ye! I only ever wanted ye to be happy!"

The man was distraught, clearly overcome by the guilt and devastation over the loss of his sister. It almost made Alasdair feel bad for the man. He knew something about carrying guilt around and blaming yourself for the misfortune of others. But this was different. Lennox had ordered his men to attack the castle. If there was someone to blame, Lennox was a prime candidate.

Lennox's head snapped back to Alasdair's horse, but he stared directly at Ben. His eyes were wide and crazed.

"But I got the boy. I got Isabella's boy, and I had me heir."

"Ben is Clan O'Malley," Alasdair cried, but Lennox barely heard him. He continued talking, raving as he paced back and forth.

"I was determined to give him the best life he could have. Raise him properly and erase all memory of ye and yer clan."

Lennox stepped closer, and Alasdair braced himself, ready to push his feet into his horse's flank and gallop away if the man got too close. He held Ben hard against his chest and felt his son's heart beating rapidly.

"But he looks too much like ye!" Lennox cried. "He's yer perfect copy. I couldnae look at the child without thinking of ye and how ye caused me sister's death. I couldnae get the Clan O'Malley out of him!"

Alasdair swallowed hard. He knew he needed to stay calm if their plan were to work. He needed Lennox to think he was fine with handing over Ben, but it was a struggle to take these words without a fight. Ben's hand reached up and squeezed him on the wrist, a small gesture of support.

"I understand," Alasdair said, strengthened by his son. "It is difficult to lose someone ye love."

"What do ye ken about it?" he asked, and his hand flew to the hilt of his sword. "Ye never loved her."

"I cared for Ben's mother," Alasdair said softly though it was for Ben's benefit rather than Lennox's. "It's true we dinnae love each other, but I always cared for her. Especially since she gave me Ben. We had a chance to be happy, but ye took that away."

Lennox's mouth moved though no words came out of it. Alasdair didn't like the way the man's eyes were darting around and the unpredictable emotions he saw coursing through him. He remembered the plan, and his need to convince Lennox he was in agreement with their trade.

"But I do understand loss," Alasdair tried, hoping to settle the man in front of him. "I lost both of me parents. It was a great blow to me."

"Enough talk," Lennox said, clearly not ready to empathize with Alasdair. He rushed over to Charlotte, still on the ground, and undid the ties that bound her feet. He pulled her at her arm and dragged her up to her feet. Alasdair caught Charlotte's eye and tried to express everything he could in a single gaze: It will be alright. We have a plan. I love you.

"Let's get this over with," Lennox said, holding Charlotte roughly in his hands. "It's time the boy returns to his rightful place among Clan McBride. It's time ye agree to make Ben me heir."

"Of course," Alasdair said though it took everything in him to form the words. "Ben should know the other side of his family. But ye will forgive me if I ask for a few concessions to make the trade successful?"

Alasdair caught the skeptical look in Lennox's face, but he continued anyway.

"No soldiers," he said, glancing at the man who stood behind Charlotte and Lennox, surveying the place. "Make yer men stand back, and I'll do the same. This is between you and me. Let's keep it that way."

"Agreed," Lennox nodded. He glanced at the man behind him, and the soldier took a step backward. Alasdair took the opportunity to dismount from his horse. He helped Ben down and then handed the beast off to one of his men.

"Stand back," he said to Hayden and the men. He caught Hayden's eye and sensed resolve there. So far, things were going to plan.

"Good," Alasdair said, turning back to Lennox. He found it difficult to focus on Lennox with Charlotte's face there, right in front of him. It took all his willpower not to surge forward with his broadsword, aiming for Lennox's head. "Second, no weapons."

He saw Lennox start a bit, and then his head tilted to the side.

"No weapons?" he asked as he scoffed.

"Ye do want to keep the boy safe, do ye not?"

Alasdair received the smallest of nods from Lennox though it was clear he still wasn't convinced.

"We are here to make a trade," Alasdair continued. "Not to fight. It's only right we both lay down our swords. That way neither of us will be tempted to use them."

Alasdair unhooked the belt that held his sword. He felt Lennox's eyes on him as he removed the belt and his weapon. Then he carried them a few paces away, clearly out of reach, and dropped the sword to the ground. Alasdair kept his eyes on Lennox, a challenge in his gaze as he walked back to stand behind Ben.

He thought for a moment Lennox wouldn't comply, but then he pushed down on Charlotte's shoulders, making her drop painfully to the ground. Alasdair felt his muscles tense at the action, but Lennox was removing his sword. He walked just as far as Alasdair had and dropped the weapon to the ground.

"There," he said. He walked slowly back to Charlotte and pulled her back to her feet. "Are ye satisfied?"

"Aye," Alasdair nodded. "Let's trade."

Alasdair's hands were on his son's shoulders, and for a moment, he couldn't let the boy go. He squeezed his fingers into Ben's shoulders as his mind flashed through everything that could go wrong. He wouldn't do it. He couldn't do it. He needed to find another plan…

But just as his mind was spiraling, Ben took a step forward and broke away from his father's grip. Alasdair's brave son was walking himself into battle, telling his father he was ready for this challenge. He held his breath as Ben walked slowly, just as they had told him.

"The lass," Alasdair said, nodding toward Charlotte, and Lennox pushed her forward, releasing Charlotte to begin her cross toward Alasdair. He caught her gaze and tried to encourage her. He tried hard to tell her that they had a plan and that everything would be all right.

Alasdair was disrupted by a loud, staccato laugh. He half expected Lennox to clap his hands together as Ben approached him.

"Come here, me boy," he said, his voice high and full of glee. "It's time to come back to yer real home."