Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,151
carefully considered Lachlan’s words and knew, unequivocally, that he was right. ’Twas then that an idea popped into her mind. One that if executed correctly, would allow them to turn the tables on Randall Chisolm.
“Lachlan, have we received any further word from the McDunnah or MacDougalls?” she asked.
He glanced at Marisse and Keevah and knew immediately that they hadn’t any idea to what Aeschene was referring. He cleared his throat before answering. “Aye, we have.”
“The McDunnah? The MacDougalls?” Marisse asked, thoroughly confused.
“If ye remember, Richard was to have left a few days ago, to meet with several clan chiefs, at Caelen McDunnah’s holding,” Aeschene said.
Marisse’s eyes grew wide. “I had forgotten all about that,” she admitted.
Lachlan came around the desk to stand next to Aeschene. “As soon as we realized Richard, Colyne, and Rory had been taken, we sent messengers to the McDunnah keep, asking for assistance from any and all who could offer it.”
“Why did ye nae tell me?” Marisse asked, her brow knitted into a hard line.
Aeschene let out a quick breath before answering. “We had to be exceedingly careful in our planning,” she told her. “We could nae risk word getting back to the Chisolm. Everything has been done in secret. Besides, we were nae sure if they would be able to help.”
“But, Aeschene, I am yer best friend. Certainly ye dinnae think I would tell anyone.”
Aeschene smiled at her. “Of course nae. But I could nae risk anyone over hearin’ our plans.”
She was only slightly mollified by her reasons. Looking up to Lachlan, she said, “And what was their response?”
“The McDunnah and Angus McKenna have sent word they will help,” Lachlan told her.
“Who is Angus McKenna?” Keevah asked.
Lachlan sat on the edge of the desk. “He is the chief of Clan MacDougall. Richard went to foster with them as a boy. He stayed on with them until the Chisolms attacked us the first time. Angus thinks of Richard as another son.”
“They will help us then?” Aeschene asked for clarification.
“Aye, they simply await word from us,” Lachlan answered.
Hope began to flutter in her heart. “How long will it take them to get here?”
“They have already left.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Aeschene would not be deterred from her mission. She was going to see her husband, brother-by-law, and friend freed if it was the last thing she ever did. For the last hour, she had carefully presented her plan to her friends and Lachlan. It would require cunning, perfect timing, and a lot of lying.
It took some time, but she finally managed to convince Keevah and Marisse that her plan was a sound one, especially when she explained she would need their assistance.
Lachlan, however, wasn’t so easily persuaded. “Ye’re mad,” he exclaimed as he raked a hand through his hair. “All of ye are mad!”
“Mayhap he is right,” Aeschene said, trying to sound contrite for even making the suggestion.
Marisse and Keevah picked up her subtle cue immediately and pretended to agree. “Aye, mayhap he is,” Keevah said.
“Mayhap we should just leave the planning’ to the menfolk,” Marisse offered. “After all, they are the stronger sex. And smarter, too.”
Lachlan didn’t for a moment believe they had acquiesced so readily. Closing his eyes, he let out a slow deep breath. “Ye are nae goin’ to listen to me, are ye?” he asked to no one in particular.
The three women remained silent, neither confirming nor denying his suspicions.
“Bah!” he declared loudly. “Ye will do as ye wish, regardless of the danger. If I stand by and allow ye to do this and we somehow miraculously survive, Richard will kill me. If I do help and we miraculously survive, Richard will kill me. If we do nothin’, the Chisolm will kill us all.” He shook his head in disgust. “No matter what I do, I am a dead man.”
“It will work,” Aeschene said. “Ye must trust me.”
’Twas late in the day by the time they arrived at their eastern border. Lachlan took one look at the sight before him and began to have second thoughts about his lady’s plan.
Randall Chisolm’s encampment had nearly doubled in the past day. From what his scouts had told him, two dozen more tents had been erected. From the smoke that billowed upward, Lachlan could glean there were dozens of fires burning. More tents and fires meant more men.
“M’lady, I implore ye to reconsider,” he said.
To Aeschene, he sounded desperate, but she would not reconsider. She had to do something, no matter how dangerous or insane it might sound.