An English Bride in Scotland (Highland Brides 1)

Chapter 17

"Why?" Annabel asked, eyes wide and incredulous. "Why would you hate me? What have I ever done to you?"

"You exist!" Kate shrieked furiously, then slapped at the treasure before her, sending some of it flying across the dirt before saying more calmly, "All I heard g

rowing up was, 'Annabel would never do that. Annabel was a good girl. Annabel would have learned that much more quickly. 'Tis a shame you are not as smart as your sister, Annabel.' " She grimaced. "According to our parents, you were a paragon I could never equal."

Annabel realized her mouth was open, and closed it, then took a deep breath. "Kate, they did the same thing to me when they retrieved me from the abbey. Only with me it was, ''Tis too bad you did not get a little of your sister's beauty, and what a shame it is you have none of your sister's training and skills. Unlike Kate, you would surely be a mess as a wife to the Scot.' "

Kate's eyes were dead and lifeless, her voice cold as she said, "You were there but one day, Annabel. I know. We were still in Waverly woods when mother brought you back. Ross's party arrived on your heels, and we followed you when you left the next day."

"It may have only been one day, but that was pounded into me over and over during that day. I am not comparing my suffering under them to yours," Annabel added quickly as she saw anger building on Kate's face. "I am saying I understand, and that it was them and not either of us that were the problem. Had you been sent away to the abbey and I remained behind I would have had those insults every day of my life, and I know how damaging they can be. I--"

"But you were not there every day, were you?" Kate hissed. "You escaped to the abbey to live. How did you manage that? Why you and not me?"

"I did not manage it," Annabel assured her. "I did not even know I was going until we were halfway there and then I wept all through the rest of the journey. I also wept every night for that first year because I missed--"

"Oh, spare me your sad story," Kate interrupted grimly. "No one has suffered as much as I. Look at me," she growled. "I have been living in the woods and sleeping in this barn, eating raw oats like a farm animal while you lived in that lovely castle with its warm fires, soft beds and yummy pastries."

Annabel did not point out that since Kate and her husband had followed them to Scotland, she should know that Annabel too had slept out of doors during that time. As for here in Scotland, Annabel had only been at MacKay a matter of a few days before Kate had shown up at the gate and she had taken her in. Kate was making it sound as if she had been wandering the wilderness for ages.

"Why have you been attacking me?" Annabel asked finally, uncaring whether Grant thought she should stay quiet or not. She suspected it mattered little what she did. Kate wanted her pound of flesh for what she saw as Annabel's escaping their childhood home, and she would not listen if told just how unpleasant Annabel's own life had been at the abbey. And it had been unpleasant. Life at MacKay had taught her that, but it would make no difference to Kate. She was too self-absorbed to care.

"Grant attacked you," she corrected, and cast a scowl toward the barn door before she added, "He was supposed to kidnap you, but he kept mucking it up. And then," Kate added irritably, "after the first two failures to secure you, he started coming back not only without you, but wounded. Had I not helped him away from the barn the last time, you probably would have finished him off."

Annabel did not comment. This explained why Grant had disappeared when she'd checked on him after knocking him out.

"It seems that old saw about doing something yourself if you want it done correctly is true," Kate said unhappily. "For I had no problem getting you away from the castle today."

"Well, you did have a slight advantage," Annabel pointed out, and then had to wonder why she was defending Grant to her sister.

Kate shook her head. "It would not have mattered. His heart was not in it."

Annabel wasn't surprised. Since Grant hadn't even been willing to take a horse from Waverly, she doubted the ransom business had been his idea or even gone over well with him. She just wondered what had convinced him to fall in with Kate's plans over the kidnapping and ransom business, instead of stopping her.

"I think he hates me now for insisting on kidnapping you," she added unhappily, and then burst out, "But I am not like him! I cannot live like this."

"You still have not said why you wanted to kidnap me," Annabel pointed out quietly, deciding a change of topic was in order. She wanted to know what was to be done with her, and what the situation was.

"To hold you for ransom, of course," Kate answered. Her lips twisted briefly and then she admitted, "I did not think this through before running away with Grant. He is so very handsome, and I was caught up in the excitement and passion . . ." She sighed wearily, looking suddenly old, and then shook her head like a horse dislodging a pesky horsefly. When she stopped, her expression was angry again and she said idly, "Of course, now that I have all of MacKay's wealth, asking for a ransom would be a waste of time. But I did want you to know that I was behind all your troubles, and I wanted those coins you had in the chest. I recognized the bag. 'Twas part of my dower. I should have it, not you."

"Well, now you have it," Annabel pointed out.

"Aye," Kate agreed. "And I suppose I might enjoy living as I deserve while knowing you and every last MacKay under you are struggling."

Annabel heard a but coming and braced for it.

"Howbeit, that would only be temporary. MacKay would recover after a couple of lean years . . . and I find the idea of your living my life untenable."

"Your life?" Annabel echoed with confusion.

"Ross should have been mine," Kate hissed. "Had I realized how handsome, young and wealthy he was, I never would have run off with Grant."

"But I thought you love Grant," Annabel said with a frown.

"What good is love when you are hungry?" she asked bitterly. "Love does not produce food, or beautiful gowns to wear, and servants to tend you." She ground her teeth and said, "MacKay is bigger even than Waverly and I could be living there with all those servants tending my every need and--" She paused and scowled at Annabel and then growled with frustration, "And with Ross as a lover.

"I know how amazing he is as a lover," she added, getting to her feet and glowering at Annabel. "I saw the two of you, both in the clearing by the river and then here in this very barn. He makes you howl like a bitch in heat, while Grant is clumsy and--" Kate clenched her fingers and growled, "I hate you for that too. Why do you get everything while I am left with nothing? Why do you get the strong man who is not only a caring and skilled lover, but strong enough in will and mind to do what must be done, while I get a boy who has not a clue what he is doing in the bedding and has neither a strong will nor a good mind. It is not fair," she cried furiously.

A shuffle by the door made them both glance that way. Grant stood in the opening, silent and still. Annabel could tell by his wounded expression that he'd heard everything Kate had said, and she found herself feeling terribly sorry for him. But after a moment, he took a deep breath, raised his head and moved to Kate's side, saying quietly, "We ha'e enough wealth now to live as ye wish. We can buy a nice estate in the south of France, or in Spain, hire servants and enjoy all those things ye wanted. We're well set for life, Kate. Let yer sister go."

"Aye, we are well set now," Kate agreed and then muttered, "So why am I not happy? I thought getting just a portion of this would make everything all right. Instead, I . . ." Shaking her head, she turned to Annabel and admitted almost with shame, "I just cannot abide the idea of you enjoying everything that should have been mine. I cannot bear it."

"Why?" Grant asked, sounding young and frustrated and angry now himself. "Why can ye no' just take the money and leave her be? Why must ye destroy everything?" Turning, he moved to take Annabel's arm and started to draw her toward the door, growling, "I'm setting her free."

"Grant!" Kate snapped.

Pausing, he cast Annabel an apologetic look, and turned back, still holding her arm. "Aye?"

"If we let her go and she tells MacKay that we are the ones who robbed him, he will hunt us all the days of our lives," Kate said grimly.

"Whether or no' she tells, they'll ken ye took the coin, Kate. And even if they somehow do no' figure that out, we're go

ing to be hunted the rest o' our lives anyway," Grant said wearily. "Ye told me yerself that ye boldly walked into the stables and took two horses and then rode out fer all to see. And ye knocked out the maid, and that Effie woman, and then ye kidnapped yer sister. Ye've ensured we will be hunted. 'Tis as if ye want it. Well I don't," he added. "I love ye, Kate, but ye're never satisfied. Nothing is ever enough, and 'tis as if ye can no' allow yerelf to be happy. And because yer never happy, ye make everyone around ye as miserable as yerself."

Grant shook his head sadly, "I do no' want to spend me life miserable, Kate. I'm done."

Kate stared at him wide-eyed and then whirled on Annabel. "This is all your fault!"

"Mine?" Annabel asked with amazement.

"Aye," she cried. "It was not enough that you had everything else, but you just had to turn Grant against me. God, I hate you," she shrieked.

"Then 'tis good that I love her."

All three of them whirled toward the two men standing in the open barn door at that. Annabel was aware of Bean's presence, but had eyes only for Ross standing tall and proud in the doorway, his hand on his sword, his expression grim. He looked so damned strong and proud, and she loved every inch of him. Better yet, he'd said he loved her.

Did he mean it? Annabel wondered, and hoped it was so, because she loved him. She might have taken herself by surprise when she'd blurted the words out Sunday morning, but they were true for all that. She loved this man who treated her with nothing but kindness and care. She loved the fairness with which he dealt with her and everyone else. She loved his strength, his intelligence, his lovemaking, and his laugh even when he was laughing at her. She loved this big, handsome, sweet man and was ever so grateful that her life had taken the turn that had placed her with him.

Annabel was so distracted by her thoughts that she didn't at first notice Kate's reaction to Ross's arrival. Had she paid more attention, she would have noticed the way her sister stiffened and then began to vibrate with frustrated rage. And she would have been prepared to get the heck out of the way when Kate suddenly shrieked in fury and flew at her, fists raised. But that shriek was the only warning she had, and it wasn't enough. Annabel stood briefly frozen as her sister charged her, and then Grant was suddenly pushing her to the side and stepping in to take the blows of Kate's flying fists.