from becoming hurt or angry. In other words, a bad lie causes pain, but a good lie prevents it.
I ken, Glenda said. When Moireach asks if Ive eaten all of my porridge, I must say yes, even if Ive given it to Sly. The real truth would make Moireach angry, and we dinna want that to happen.
Correct. Brigette hugged her. The choice is yours. Shall we travel the long road or the short road inside?
Glenda smiled. The long road.
Followed by Sly, Brigette and Glenda walked hand in hand around the keep. The earl stood in the front courtyard to greet Iain and Percy, who were dismounting.
How did it go? Black Jack asked his eldest. Iain started to reply but caught sight of his wife. Smiling, he watched her advance on them.
Keep yer mind on business, damn it, Black Jack swore, making his youngest son chuckle. I asked ye how it went down?
Better than wed hoped, Iain told him. We lifted aboot thirty head of Menzies cattle.
That should be strainin the mon this winter, Percy said.
Im doublin our own guards til the first snow, Iain added.
The earl smiled. Thats good news.
No, Kevin, sounded Moireachs irritated voice. Get back to yer duties. Ye willna be botherin the laird wi such a triflin matter. Get back, I said!
One of Dunridges apprentice cooks marched into the courtyard. Moireach followed behind, irately protesting all the way. Approaching the earl, Kevin held a mutilated chicken high in the air for all to see. Tis the third one this week, he announced. None has been eaten, just killed.
Im verra sorry, Moireach apologized, but he wouldna listen to me.
Its all right, Black Jack assured her, then looked at Kevin. Well, lad, do yeve any idea who did this?
Ive been keepin a close watch, the young man answered, but whoevers doin it is as sly as a fox.
At Kevins words, silence enveloped the group. Each glanced nervously at Sly and then his mistress.
Do ye know anythin aboot this? Iain asked his wife.
Me? Brigette exclaimed. Why would I kill a chicken?
I dinna mean ye, personally, he returned, his expression grim. Someone ye know, perhaps?
Brigette was bewildered for a moment, but then her husbands meaning dawned on her. How dare you suggest such a vile thing! she cried. Sly would not kill for pleasure, and hes certainly not hungry.
Can ye vouch for his whereaboots every minute of the past week? Iain countered.
Yes.
Brigette.
All right! Brigette shouted. No, but that does not mean â
Enough! he interrupted. Bringin him here was against my better judgment. Ill rectify the matter now.
Iain stooped to lift the fox into his arms, but Brigette was faster. She scooped Sly up and ran. Iain reached out and would have caught her, but Glenda kicked his shins viciously, giving the woman and the fox a headstart.
Brigette dashed into the outer courtyard. Iain was close on her heels.
Run, Sly! she screamed, and nearing the gate, flung the fox from her arms. Frightened, Sly flew through the gate into the world beyond Dunridge Castle.
Brigette whirled around to face her husband. His expression mirrored his terrible rage, and she trembled, doubting the wisdom of her actions. Iain slapped her hard, leaving a reddened imprint on her cheek, then grabbed her before she fell. He caught her upper arm in a cruel, bruising grip and dragged her back to the inner courtyard. Without a word or glance, Iain forced her past the earl and the others.
Dinna touch her! Glenda screeched, charging at Iain. Percy captured the child and swung her up into his arms.
Iain pulled Brigette into the foyer. At the base of the stairs, he gave her a rough shove. Get upstairs. Ill deal wi ye later.
With her spine proudly straight, Brigette climbed the stairs to their chamber. Iain watched her, then headed for his fathers study. If he went upstairs now, he might strike her again. He needed to calm down, get his anger under control.
Iain poured himself a whiskey and downed it quickly. Then he poured another. How dare she publicly defy me, he raged, then
I ken, Glenda said. When Moireach asks if Ive eaten all of my porridge, I must say yes, even if Ive given it to Sly. The real truth would make Moireach angry, and we dinna want that to happen.
Correct. Brigette hugged her. The choice is yours. Shall we travel the long road or the short road inside?
Glenda smiled. The long road.
Followed by Sly, Brigette and Glenda walked hand in hand around the keep. The earl stood in the front courtyard to greet Iain and Percy, who were dismounting.
How did it go? Black Jack asked his eldest. Iain started to reply but caught sight of his wife. Smiling, he watched her advance on them.
Keep yer mind on business, damn it, Black Jack swore, making his youngest son chuckle. I asked ye how it went down?
Better than wed hoped, Iain told him. We lifted aboot thirty head of Menzies cattle.
That should be strainin the mon this winter, Percy said.
Im doublin our own guards til the first snow, Iain added.
The earl smiled. Thats good news.
No, Kevin, sounded Moireachs irritated voice. Get back to yer duties. Ye willna be botherin the laird wi such a triflin matter. Get back, I said!
One of Dunridges apprentice cooks marched into the courtyard. Moireach followed behind, irately protesting all the way. Approaching the earl, Kevin held a mutilated chicken high in the air for all to see. Tis the third one this week, he announced. None has been eaten, just killed.
Im verra sorry, Moireach apologized, but he wouldna listen to me.
Its all right, Black Jack assured her, then looked at Kevin. Well, lad, do yeve any idea who did this?
Ive been keepin a close watch, the young man answered, but whoevers doin it is as sly as a fox.
At Kevins words, silence enveloped the group. Each glanced nervously at Sly and then his mistress.
Do ye know anythin aboot this? Iain asked his wife.
Me? Brigette exclaimed. Why would I kill a chicken?
I dinna mean ye, personally, he returned, his expression grim. Someone ye know, perhaps?
Brigette was bewildered for a moment, but then her husbands meaning dawned on her. How dare you suggest such a vile thing! she cried. Sly would not kill for pleasure, and hes certainly not hungry.
Can ye vouch for his whereaboots every minute of the past week? Iain countered.
Yes.
Brigette.
All right! Brigette shouted. No, but that does not mean â
Enough! he interrupted. Bringin him here was against my better judgment. Ill rectify the matter now.
Iain stooped to lift the fox into his arms, but Brigette was faster. She scooped Sly up and ran. Iain reached out and would have caught her, but Glenda kicked his shins viciously, giving the woman and the fox a headstart.
Brigette dashed into the outer courtyard. Iain was close on her heels.
Run, Sly! she screamed, and nearing the gate, flung the fox from her arms. Frightened, Sly flew through the gate into the world beyond Dunridge Castle.
Brigette whirled around to face her husband. His expression mirrored his terrible rage, and she trembled, doubting the wisdom of her actions. Iain slapped her hard, leaving a reddened imprint on her cheek, then grabbed her before she fell. He caught her upper arm in a cruel, bruising grip and dragged her back to the inner courtyard. Without a word or glance, Iain forced her past the earl and the others.
Dinna touch her! Glenda screeched, charging at Iain. Percy captured the child and swung her up into his arms.
Iain pulled Brigette into the foyer. At the base of the stairs, he gave her a rough shove. Get upstairs. Ill deal wi ye later.
With her spine proudly straight, Brigette climbed the stairs to their chamber. Iain watched her, then headed for his fathers study. If he went upstairs now, he might strike her again. He needed to calm down, get his anger under control.
Iain poured himself a whiskey and downed it quickly. Then he poured another. How dare she publicly defy me, he raged, then
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