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  The blacksmith nodded and returned to pounding out his horseshoes.

  Viktor indicated the back of the stable. "We were supposed to meet him in the last stall."

  Ewan nodded as he considered the best way to go about this confrontation.

  The last thing he wanted was for Nora or the gypsies to be harmed.

  He looked around the crowd. "Do you see anyone who looks like the man who hired you?"

  Viktor shook his head.

  "Fine then." Ewan ordered Lysander to keep the ladies back while he, Pagan and Viktor went to meet the man who would pay them.

  "What if he sees you?" Catarina asked. "It might make him scared to know that you're here. No offense, Ewan, but you're a large man, and I'm sure he'd be frightened to know you've come for retaliation."

  She had a point with that.

  "I'll have Viktor tie my hands then. We can pretend he brought me here for the man's scrutiny."

  "But we were going to be paid to ride you around, then let you go," Bavel said. "If he sees you here, he might run."

  " 'Us a chance we'll have to take. I'm a little too large to hide anywhere. It's not as if he'd have any trouble figuring out who I am."

  "Point well taken," Viktor said.

  Viktor told Lysander to fetch a piece of rope.

  Once Lysander returned, Ewan allowed Viktor to loosely tie his hands behind his back so that he could escape if need be.

  "I think this is a bad idea," Nora said. "I dinna cherish the thought of you going in there like this."

  Ewan winked at her. "I'm a big lad, lass. I can handle my own."

  Nora and Catarina exchanged unamused looks as they were left behind.

  "Men," Nora muttered under her breath. "They think they're invincible and that we are fragile."

  Catarina nodded, then turned to look at their "guard." "Lysander," she said. "I am thirsty. Think you, you could fetch my tankard from the wagon so that I could get a drink of water from yon well?"

  Lysander agreed, but no sooner had he climbed into the wagon than Catarina locked him inside.

  "Cat!" he snapped angrily, rattling the door so fiercely that Nora half expected him to wrench it from the hinges. "Release me. I hate it when you do this."

  Cat smiled impishly at her and wiped her hands in triumph. "Ready to find out about this man?"

  "Absolutely."

  United in mischief, the two of them made their way to the stable to find Viktor, Bavel, Pagan and Ewan in there all alone, looking sour.

  "Maybe we're early?" Viktor said hopefully as he and Bavel walked around the last stall.

  "Maybe we were duped," Bavel added. "Maybe he had no intention of ever paying us."

  Ewan's reasoning made the most sense. "Or maybe he saw us arrive and is hiding."

  Viktor nodded. "That is most likely it. Bavel stay here, and let us look about and see if we can find him."

  Ewan loosened the ropes on his hands and handed them to Bavel.

  Catarina stood up as the men passed by.

  Ewan's face darkened dangerously as he saw the two of them there alone.

  "Where's Lysander?" he growled.

  Catarina didn't even flinch at his tone or fierce demeanor. "Back of the wagon. You men are ever easy to trap when a woman knows how."

  Ewan didn't appear to appreciate her words. "What is it with you locking people inside your wagon, Catarina? I think someone should set fire to it."

  Catarina gasped. "Don't even say such a thing. That wagon belonged to my grandfather and his father before him."

  "Aye," Bavel said." 'Twould be bad luck to lose it now. Their ghosts would haunt us forever."

  Ewan apologized, and then the men left her and Catarina alone. Verbally at least.

  They did, however, accompany the women to let out poor Lysander, who chastised the women greatly.

  "Next time, Cat," Lysander growled, "I swear, father or no, I'm taking a hand to your backside for that."

  Catarina made a rude noise at him.

  Ewan ignored their sniping and deposited the women and Lysander in a small pub before he went back to help Viktor, Pagan and Bavel search for the unknown man.

  The little room was crowded with people coming and going. There were four serving wenches and a heavy-set man who kept ordering the women about.

  They went to sit at a table in the rear corner that had just been cleared.

  A buxom blond woman paused as they neared the table. She had the old dishes from another table balanced carefully on a large serving tray. "No offense, my lord and ladies, but if you're needing food, one of you'll need to follow me to order it. We're dreadfully busy and equally short-handed. But you shouldn't have to wait too long for your meals."

  Lysander followed after the woman to order their food, and while they waited for his return, Catarina left Nora so that she could attend to her personal needs.

  Nora sat alone at the table. She watched two men break out into a fight and saw the owner toss both of them out the door. The luscious, rich smell of baking bread and roasting meat filled the air.

  It was enough to make her stomach rumble.

  Lysander held up his hand to her to signal that he would be right back.

  Nora waited patiently while the room's conversations buzzed loudly in her ears.

  Until one sentence rang out more loudly than the others…

  "What are you doing here?"

  Her heart stopped at the voice behind her. It was a voice she knew all too well. One that made her blood run cold and her heart pound in trepidation.

  Nay, it couldn't be…

  Turning around, she saw Ryan MacAren standing between her and the faded wood wall. His dark brown eyes were furious. His light brown hair was swept back from his face, and he looked none too pleased with her.

  "What are you doing here?" she asked him angrily.

  He didn't answer her, either. "I swear, woman, you never do as you're told. You should have been on your way home by now, not here."

  She frowned at his angry, commanding tone. "What the devil are you talking about?"

  "Get up." He took her roughly by her arm and hauled her to her feet.

  "Let go of me!" she snapped, trying to pull free.

  He refused to.

  Nora grimaced as he pulled her roughly through the crowd. She slapped at Ryan's hand, but still he refused to loosen his grip.

  "What has possessed you, Ryan? Have you gone mad?"

  "Silence, Nora. I'm in no mood for your talk, and there's no telling what I might do to you if you don't hold your tongue. One day you're going to learn to keep your mouth closed and to listen."

  Suddenly Ewan was there, in the middle of their path to the door, his eyes dark and deadly. "Release her."

  Ryan pulled his sword out so fast that she gasped. He angled it at Ewan's throat. "This is between me and her, MacAllister. Don't make me kill you."

  In total silence, every eye in the pub fixed on the two men, and the people gathered there wondered what was going on.

  Ewan looked from the tip of the sword to her. She saw his steely, cold look of determination, and it made her blood run cold.

  This was a man who really could kill someone. It was the face of the man who had started this trip with her.

  And she had forgotten just how dangerous a man Ewan could be.

  "Come along!" Ryan ordered her.

  Ewan moved so fast that she couldn't even follow his actions. One second Ryan had him pinned with the sword point, and in the next Ewan had knocked the blade aside with his forearm and seized Ryan by his throat.

  Ewan picked him up from the floor by the collar of his shirt and let him dangle from his fist.

  Ryan fought Ewan's hold, but it was useless. Ewan was so much larger that he held him in his fist like an angry dog with a puppy.

  "Who are you?" Ewan growled.

  Now that she was calmer and relieved that Ewan was there, Nora saw Viktor, Pagan and Bavel standing behind Ewan. Pagan watched with his usua
l silent composure while Viktor's eyes narrowed.

  "He's the one who said he'd pay me," Viktor said.

  "Why?" Ewan asked Ryan. "And what do you want with my woman?"

  "Your woman?" Ryan repeated in disbelief, his face bright red from Ewan's hold. "She's not your woman, MacAllister. She's mine. I'm Ryan MacAren and she's promised to me."

  Nora saw the color and anger fade instantly from Ewan's face. His eyes looked suddenly dazed as if someone had struck him a staggering blow.

  His hurt gaze went from Ryan to her.

  "Your betrothed?" he asked her for confirmation.

  Nora couldn't answer him. The words lodged themselves in her throat.

  "Aye," Ryan choked out. "Now let me go."

  Ewan was dumbstruck enough to do as he asked. He lowered the much smaller man to the floor, then faced him with a scowl. "You paid to have me abducted? Why?"

  Ryan jerked angrily at his clothes, straightening them. "Because I didn't want you around my Nora. I heard she was running to you, and I wanted to make sure you weren't there to help her. Everyone in Scotland knows that if you want a woman to flee the country, send her to Ewan MacAllister, especially if she's promised to another."

  Ewan slugged him for that.

  Ryan fell to the floor, where he lay whining like a child. "You hit me!"

  "You're lucky I didn't kill you for that."

  Ryan wiped the blood from his nose, then looked to Nora. "She's mine, MacAllister. I won't let you have her."

  "I don't belong to you, Ryan," Nora snapped. "I will never marry you."

  Ewan felt sick at the words.

  The man loved her so much that he would pay someone to abduct him to keep him away from her. He might not like the man's actions or logic, but he certainly couldn't fault the fool for his motivation.

  Ryan loved her so much that he was willing to dare the MacAllister wrath to have her.

  Just as Robby MacDouglas had loved Isobail.

  Just as Kieran…

  Nora saw Ewan's face and knew what he thought. She could see his anguish. If he thought Ryan loved her, he would never let her stay with him.

  He would be lost to her forever.

  "Ryan," Nora said desperately, "tell Ewan the truth. Tell him that you can't stand me. Tell him what you really think of me."

  Ryan was aghast as he came to his feet again. He looked at her as if she were a rare treasure.

  If she didn't know better, even she would think he spoke honestly.

  But unlike Ewan, she knew the heart of this treacherous adder.

  "How can you say that, Nora?" Ryan asked, feigning hurt as he clutched his heart. "Our parents have planned for our marriage since we were children. I love you. I have always loved you. I want no other bride."

  Ewan winced as if he'd been struck.

  His eyes were bleak as he met her gaze. "You lied to me, Nora."

  Panic welled up inside her. She had to make Ewan see the truth. She couldn't let him think that she had lied to him when she hadn't.

  Damn Ryan and his lies.

  "Nay, I did not." She turned on Ryan with a glower. "Tell him the truth, Ryan, or I'll beat you myself."

  "It is the truth," Ryan said sincerely. "I need you for my bride. May the Lord Almighty strike me dead if I lie."

  Ewan took a deep breath as he tried to stave off the bitter agony he felt. Something inside him had shriveled with Ryan's words.

  So Ryan did love her.

  Damn you, Fate, for replaying this.

  It was just as before.

  Only this time Ewan would make sure the woman went where she belonged. Nora would go home with Ryan, and he would go back to…

  Unable to finish the thought, Ewan turned around and left the pub. The soundless crowd parted, letting him pass.

  Bavel, Lysander, Pagan and Viktor exchanged awkward looks before they followed after him.

  Nora started to go after Ewan as well, but her anger with Ryan was too great.

  First she had a score to settle.

  The crowd surrounding them slowly began to resume their own business and speculate on hers.

  "Why did you do that?" she demanded.

  "Because I have to marry you."

  "Why? You don't love me. You can't even stand me. All you've ever done is berate and mock every part of my person."

  Ryan looked away sheepishly as if the truth were almost too hard for him to face. "Because I need your dowry. If I don't have it, I will die in less than two months."

  Her shock at his words overrode her anger. That was the last thing she expected, but then given his odd behavior, she shouldn't be surprised by anything he said or did at this point. "Why?"

  Ryan sighed wearily and moved away from the crowd that was still mostly focused on them.

  He lowered his voice so that only she could hear his words. "Remember last spring when I went to the continent?"

  "Aye."

  "I went trying to find myself another bride. My mother was pressing me to ask your father for your hand. She told me that it was past time I settle down and take you for my wife. I was horrified by the very idea of spending my life tied to you. I thought if I could go to the tourney circuit and build a solid reputation and fortune for myself, I would have my pick of brides."

  Nora shook her head at him. "Oh Ryan. I can best you at swordsmanship."

  His eyes blazed at her. "I'm not that incompetent, Nora. I'm just not excellent. Believe me, I need no reminders from you of just how painfully average I am."

  She almost felt sorry for him.

  Almost.

  But after what he'd done to Ewan, she wasn't anywhere near ready to forgive him for his actions.

  "What happened?" she asked.

  He rubbed his face with his hand and looked weary and tired. Aged, in fact. "Every time I lost, I signed vouchers for the value of my horse and armor. I kept thinking that if I could just win one tournament, I would have enough to pay everyone back."

  He let out a long-suffering breath. His eyes appeared haunted and were tinged by humiliation. Now she did feel sorry for him and his foolish quest.

  "But I lost time and again," he continued. "When the season came to an end, everyone started demanding I make good on my vouchers. I didn't know what to do so I borrowed enough money from Stryder of Blackmoor so that I could come home, marry you, and repay what I owe."

  Nora couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Stryder of Blackmoor? Are you mad? They say he is the devil incarnate."

  "Aye, but I had no choice. Oddly enough, he alone hasn't pursued me for the money I owe him. But everyone else has hounded me to ground. I have to marry you, Nora. There's no other way."

  Nora pressed her hand to her temple to fight the ache that was starting there as she thought of everything Ryan had put her through.

  The fright she'd had reaching Ewan. The worry and fretting. Now he was completely unrepentant for his actions.

  She could strangle him!

  "I can't believe this," she said. "Debt is the only reason you asked for my hand?"

  "Well, I do care for you in a pesky little sister sort of way. And you're not bad-looking when you're silent. Unfortunately that is almost never, but—"

  "Ryan! I knew you were vile, but this… How could you borrow money and then rely on me as your banker?"

  He sighed again. "I know what I did was wrong. The only way I was able to continue on the tourney circuit was by telling everyone that I was betrothed to King Henry's niece."

  He gave her a pleading, sheepish stare. "So you see, I do need you, Nora. I really, truly will die without you because if I fail to repay some of the men I owe, they will kill me as an example to others."

  "You don't need me, Ryan," she said testily. "What you need is a banker."

  "King Henry's niece, eh? Och now, this just got better."

  Nora turned at a voice that sounded oddly familiar to her. It took a minute to recognize Isobail's brother Graham from the day before.

  But t
his time, he wasn't alone.

  There were two other men with him.

  "What are you doing here?" she asked them.

  Graham gave her an evil sneer that was cold enough to set her teeth to chattering. "We're setting things right."

  "I beg your pardon?" she asked.

  Before she could move, Graham pulled out a dagger. "Come quietly, lass, and we won't hurt you. Fight us, and you'll be much worse for the dare."

  * * *

  Chapter 10

  « ^ »

  Ewan stood in the stable, brushing his horse as his mind whirled with the day's revelations. He didn't know why he was out here, except that he couldn't think of anything else to do with himself and the horse needed a good brushing.

  Maybe.

  Not.

  Basically, he needed something to focus on other than the burning pain inside his heart.

  Ryan loved Nora.

  But then, so did he.

  He loved her more than anything. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her. Nothing he wouldn't give her.

  Except his hand in marriage.

  His stomach twisted even more as he felt hopelessness deep inside his heart.

  Why was it ever his plight to love women he couldn't have? What were the chances of Nora's father siding with him and breaking Nora's betrothal with Ryan while Ryan loved her? Especially given the fact that their families knew each other. That Nora and Ryan had grown up together.

  It was impossible.

  Her father would never allow her to marry a man with so few prospects. He wasn't Lochlan who was laird or Sin or Braden who were titled lords.

  He was a simple landowner with a slightly better than modest income.

  One who lived in a cave.

  You could take her.

  Aye, he could, but to what purpose? Another feud for his clan. More death. More sorrow.

  How could they have a happy marriage based on that?

  There were so many lives at stake here. Things much more important than his own happiness, which seemed paltry when compared to what could happen again.

  Ewan cursed as pain assailed him anew.

  He should have stayed in the mountains. He should never have helped her.

  Now that he had…

  Ewan couldn't get her out of his mind. He needed her more than he had ever needed anyone or anything. The mere thought of living without her was enough to send him to his knees.