How to Marry a Highlander (The McTiernays #8) by Michele Sinclair

Author:Michele Sinclair [Sinclair, Michele]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Scottish, Historical, Medieval, Romance
ISBN: 9781420138856
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2019-03-26T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Dugan studied the army-covered valley in front of him. If there was going to be a battle, it would be a large bloody one and it would take place in this normally peaceful valley. Today was a first. No enemy to the McTiernays had ever ridden onto their land with the intent to cause them harm. And Dugan had purposely made it happen.

He urged his horse into a trot and rode silently out to help greet the two men he had driven south. One would meet his death, and the other would discover the real reason why his son would have to find a new bride to marry.

Conor McTiernay was leading the charge with his brothers right behind him. The only McTiernay missing was Clyde, the youngest brother who had been fighting the English all over Scotland since his youth, and though Cole never said so aloud, he feared his little brother was now fighting demons that would prevent him from ever returning home.

Each McTiernay chieftain had their commanders with them, but no one else. Their combined McTiernay armies, their allies, and all their men remained behind, waiting on the other side of the valley for a sign of peace or a sign of war. God help them all if it was the latter. The battle would not be some skirmish discussed anecdotally over dinner. It would affect clans everywhere, changing political balances, alliances, and even Scotland’s overall strength to fight against England and be declared independent.

Dugan had gambled much knowing MacCoinnich would ride with Mackbaythe, never knowing that Conor had lived. But even if he had died, today’s outcome would be the same for while Mackbaythe was a fool, MacCoinnich was not. The moment he realized that Eògan’s attack happened on the evening of Conan’s wedding where every ally and friend was present, MacCoinnich would step away and let justice be served. Bringing both lairds south was the surest way to prevent a long battle and innocent bloodshed.

The only thing Dugan had not anticipated was Adanel.

Despite what he said or what others thought, he never could reconcile the woman he knew last summer with someone who could help plan and enact such an attack. He had not initially thought to even see Adanel let alone bring her back with him, but once he had made the decision, nothing would have changed his mind. She could have pulled the pillow free from her bliaut in her tower room and he would have still brought her with him. He had needed answers. Why had she betrayed him? Why had she lied? Why had she played him for a fool? And now that he had those answers he was at a loss as to what to do next.

Since he had discovered the truth about her identity, his thinking had been based on a certain set of facts. And while she had added some unexpected context, it was not enough to dismiss all the anger and hurt he had been feeling for months.

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