Blair didn’t bother with a saddle as he rode to the Derby’s croft. He was one of the few remaining crofters still working Blair’s land. He’d have to compensate the man for the boys’ time and then compensate the boys for their labor. It wasn’t money he wanted to spend but he didn’t see another way. Elle was a woman in trouble. And he wasn’t talking about her near death in the icy ocean. There was something haunted in her eyes and her words had indicated they were on hard times, though it hadn’t always been so. Her boots had been proof of that. Old and worn, they’d once been of high quality.
Still, Blair wasn’t in the business of giving favors with no return to random passersby and she said she’d settle the debt. Perhaps he could have her cook and clean once her ankle healed? It would give him more time for other much-needed tasks.
Though that plan held several risks. The biggest was the amount of time he’d spend with a woman so tempting. Elle’s delicate beauty pulled at something deep inside. Much the way Cordelia’s had. That was the only thing the two women had in common. Cordelia had been in trouble too and he’d raced in to save her. She hadn’t wanted to be saved. Not really, despite everything she’d whispered to him when he’d held her in his arms.
Reaching Derby’s croft, it didn’t take him long to find Derby. He stood with three other men, looking ill at ease. He was easy to pick out because he was the only man in work clothes, dirt streaked on them from hard labor. Two other men were wearing pistols on both hips while the fourth was dressed in his Sunday’s finest. Though he’d been alone for a bit, Blair was fairly certain it was Monday.
“Yes, Mr. McKenzie.” Derby bowed his head. “I wasn’t thinkin’ sir. My apologies.”
“Yer damn right ye weren’t thinkin’. I’ve told everyone not to hire that boy. You deliberately disobeyed.” As McKenzie stepped closer, his chest swelling, he caught sight of Blair. “Who are you?”
Blair took that as an invitation to join the group. “Blair Sinclair.”
He saw McKenzie’s eyes widened before his fist clenched. “Our new laird. How…nice to meet you.” McKenzie turned to him, straightening to his full height.
Blair noted he didn’t look all that pleased with his brow furrowed and his lip curled. He ignored the man’s reddening face and the white line around his razor thin lips. “And may I ask who I have to pleasure of addressing?”
“Malcolm McKenzie.” Malcolm’s lip curled. “Next tae ye, I own more land than anyone around here. Though I am the only one who’s been able to turn a profit.”
“Lucky you.” Blair crossed his arms about his chest.
“Luck’s got nothin’ tae do with it. Hard work and a strong backbone keep me more successful. A lesson many around here would do well to learn.”
Blair swallowed the lump of frustration lodged in his throat.
Tension crackled in the air, and Malcolm stared down at him, challenge flickering in his eyes. “Thank ye fer the lesson. Do others around here enjoy them as much as I did?” Blair was anything but thankful. He’d like to punch this man directly in the face. But life had taught him that usually made these interactions worse. Pity.
“Of course they do. It’s my job around here. Educating.” The two men just behind McKenzie chuckled as he spoke, glaring at Blair all the while they laughed.
Unwilling to waste his time with such arrogant man, Blair turned to the crofter. “I’m looking for Ailean McIntyre.”
Color drained from the crofter’s face.
“Ye stay away from that boy.” McKenzie stepped up directly into Blair’s face. It was a bold move for the man but then again, he had two hired guns behind him. Blair had seen fear written on Elle’s face. Was this man the cause of it? As the man tried to bump Blair
with his chest, Blair used his forearm to stop McKenzie from coming closer. He bounced off of Blair’s large frame and stumbled two steps back.
“I don’t take orders from you.” Blair didn’t move a muscle. “I need the boy.”
“What for?” McKenzie barked.
“It’s none of yer concern.” Blair straightened, his fists tightening. Relaxing his fingers, he placed them over the butt of his own weapon. McKenzie was between him and his henchmen. If need be, he’d use the man as a shield.
“Yer not from around here so I’m gonna assume ye don’t ken who yer talkin’ to but even McCullen knew not to tangle with me.” McKenzie reached out and gave him a push. Blair didn’t move. McKenzie was a good deal shorter and fatter. While the guns behind him were a threat, Blair couldn’t be less frightened of this man. “But Ailean and his sister, they belong tae me. Yer tae stay away from them if ye ken what’s good fer ye.”
Blair did, in fact, know what was good for him and cowing wasn’t. This wouldn’t be his last encounter with Malcolm McKenzie. “Ye’ll stay away from me if ye ken what’s good fer ye.” Then he turned to the crofter. “Yer on my land. If ye want to continue to croft on this property, ye’ll tell where I can find the boy.”
Blair hated to put Derby in the middle. The poor man was damned no matter who he sided with but Blair didn’t have time for any more games. McKenzie shot the crofter a narrow-eyed glare.
Derby raised his hand and pointed to the field. “They’re sowing the wheat.”
Blair looked out to see three figures hunched over as they worked. “Thank ye. Ye’ll be compensated fer yer loss of labor but I need to borrow Ailean and the two boys with him.”
“I told ye to stay away from him,” McKenzie growled moving in one last time.
Blair had had enough. Pulling his pistol, he held it in McKenzie’s face. “And I am telling ye to get the feck off my property. Ye’re trespassing and if ye don’t leave I’m within my rights tae shoot.”
“I’ll just fetch the boys,” Derby squeaked pulling his hat off his head and backing away.