Chapter Nineteen

“We should still destroy the castle,” Joshua said as Cain and his two brothers stood before the cart full of bags of oats and barley.

Cain read over the brief missive again. “Randolph Mackay says Hew acted alone, and that he would never condone the abducting of our sister or any Sinclair. They attacked because they were defending their castle. He’s giving the grain that Ella paid in penalty for breaking the marriage contract as payment for the fields that Hew ordered burned, and he’s returning Hannah’s mare unharmed.”

“If we destroy the castle,” Bàs said quietly, running a hand down the black horse’s long nose, “innocent people will be killed.”

“Ye are supposed to want death,” Joshua said. “Not talk Cain out of it.”

Bàs’s gaze narrowed as he turned toward his warring brother. “I do not want death. I but bring it to those who require a meeting with God.”

Joshua snorted and turned back to Cain. “Hannah is still weeping.”

“Ella is seeing to her, and I have already forgiven her poor judgment in unlocking the cell door.” Cain’s empty hand fisted. His sister had sobbed as she told him how Hew had asked her to help him make the bed look occupied, telling her how bonny she was. She had snuck him past the guards with her horse only to find herself gagged and abducted. If the man wasn’t already dead and burned, Cain would indeed storm Varrich and drag the bastard out by his lying tongue.

“And what will Ella do to calm her down that tearing apart the Mackay castle will not?” Joshua asked.

“Ella had five words to describe her plan when I asked,” Cain said, slicing open the first bag of grain. The barley looked dry and fresh without mold.

“A plan to stop Hannah’s weeping?” Bàs asked.

“Aye.” Cain moved to the next one of oats. They, too, proved to be good quality. The Sutherland fields must be well maintained, and their harvests accomplished with skill if these originally came from Ella’s clan.

“Well, brother?” Joshua said. “Let us hear these five magic words that will stop our sister from filling Girnigoe with a flood of tears.”

Cain couldn’t help a small grin as he looked at Joshua. “Let us plan my wedding.”

Joshua stared at him and then at Bàs who shrugged. “How will that cheer Hannah? ’Tis not her wedding.”

Cain hefted one of the sacks to set against his shoulder. “Apparently, lasses like to plan any woman’s wedding, and she was going to ask Hannah to stand as a signing witness along with one of ye.”