Ransom by Julie Garwood Page A

Christen hides from me.” He watched Gillian closely and was disappointed because she didn’t respond to his announcement. Rolling the goblet between his fingertips, he smirked. “I even know the name of the clan protecting her. It’s MacPherson, but I don’t know the name she uses now. One sister will surely recognize another, and that is why I want you to go and fetch her for me.”
    â€œWhy don’t you send your soldiers to get her?” she asked.
    â€œI cannot send my troops into the thick of the Highlands, and that is where she hides from me. Those savages would slaughter my men. I could, of course, gain King John’s blessing for this undertaking, and I’m certain he would give me additional soldiers, but I don’t want to involve him in a family matter. Besides, I have you to do this errand for me.”
    â€œThe soldiers wouldn’t know which woman she is, and the heathens certainly wouldn’t tell. They protect their own at all costs,” Hugh interjected.
    â€œAnd if I refuse to go?” she asked.
    â€œSomeone else can bring Christen to me,” he bluffed. “It would just be less complicated if you were to fetch her.”
    â€œAnd would this someone else be able to recognize her?”
    â€œThe Highlander who gave us this information knows the name Christen uses,” Edwin reminded Alford. “You could force him to tell you.”
    â€œFor all we know the Highlander could be bringing Christen with him tomorrow,” Hugh said. “The message he sent indicated there was a problem—”
    â€œAn urgent problem,” Edwin interjected. “And it isn’t for certain that he will arrive tomorrow. It could be the day after.”
    â€œI don’t doubt the problem is urgent.” Hugh leaned forward in his chair so he could see around Alford. “The traitor wouldn’t take the chance of coming all this way if it weren’t an urgent matter. He stands the risk of being seen.”
    Edwin rubbed his triple chins. “If you beat the boy, Hugh, the Highlander might be displeased and demand his gold back.”
    Hugh laughed. “He wants the boy killed, you old fool. You were too drunk at the time to pay attention to the conversation. Suffice it to say that a bargain was struck between the Highlander and Alford. As you know, every so often a new rumor surfaces that the golden box has been seen, and every time King John hears of it, he sends troops to scour the kingdom. His desire to find the culprit who killed his Arianna and get his treasure back has not dampened over the years.”
    â€œSome say his fervor has increased tenfold,” Edwin remarked. “The king has even sent troops into the Lowlands looking for information.”
    Hugh nodded. “And while John searches for his treasure,Alford searches for Christen because he believes she knows where the box is hidden. He means to prove her father stole it. Alford has also sent inquiries over the years to all the clans asking about Christen . . .”
    â€œBut none of his inquiries were ever answered.”
    â€œThat is true,” Hugh agreed. “No one would admit he knew anything about her . . . until the Highlander arrived.”
    â€œBut what of the bargain struck between this traitor and our Alford?”
    Hugh looked at the baron, waiting for him to answer the question, but Alford’s eyes were closed and his head drooped down on his chest. He appeared to be dozing.
    â€œI’ve never seen the baron so drunk,” Hugh whispered loudly to his friend. “Look how the wine has lulled him to sleep.”
    Edwin shrugged. “And the bargain?” he nagged.
    â€œThe baron agreed to hold the boy captive to draw out his brother, Laird Ramsey Sinclair, so that the Highlander could kill him. The child’s simply a pawn, and when the game is over and Ramsey is killed . . .”
    â€œThe boy no