His father looked ready to dispute his command.
“Don’t, Father, or I will lay half of your troop dead at your feet,” Brogan warned and walked away, leaving his father no choice but to follow.
Annoyance poked at Annis that she could not be privy to what they discussed. This did, after all, concern her, and Brogan had little, if nothing, to bargain with. How then could he stop his father from doing as he commanded?
“If you can make it to the mist, they will not follow,” Una whispered, coming up beside her.
Annis smiled as she turned. “We think alike.”
Una continued to keep her voice hushed. “I am glad you give it thought. Lord Balloch cares for nothing but his rules and strict obedience to them. Fail either, and his punishment is swift and harsh.”
“Even with his son?” Annis asked curious, the man not having shown Brogan anything but anger since his arrival.
“Some believe Lord Balloch is even harsher on his son. They say he wants his son ready and capable of ruling the clan when the time comes and is annoyed that Lord Brogan shows little interest in it.”
Una’s words struck a chord with her. Brogan smiled and charmed, but was there a different man beneath that façade? Would he rule like his father? Did he want to rule Clan MacRae? One thing Annis knew for sure—Brogan was nothing like his father.
“Plans have changed,” Lord Balloch announced once he and Brogan ended their discussion and joined the others. “Rudd, you will remain here with nine men and see to restoring this village under my son’s dictate. I expect you to keep me updated on the progress. Also, I see,” —he gave a nod to the partially constructed stone shed— “a storage shed is almost completed. See that it is stocked for winter.”
Astounded by Lord Balloch’s orders, Rudd took a moment to respond. “Aye. Aye, Lord Balloch. It will be done.”
Lord Balloch turned a scowl on Annis. “You will serve my son well, or it is the dungeon for you.”
Annis tried to hold her tongue, she truly did, but as usual she failed. “Not likely.”
Lord Balloch’s eyes rounded in shock and anger, and he sputtered as he searched for words.
“I have no allegiance to your clan; therefore, I need not serve your son.”
Brogan ran his hand through his hair, then shook his head. “Let it be, Da.”
“She needs to learn—”
“And she will,” Brogan said and sent Annis a warning look.
She was about to ignore it until she caught the hint of a slight plea in his gorgeous, soft blue eyes and she held her tongue out of consideration for him.
Her silence pleased his father, and Annis locked her lips fearful of what she might spew.
“One other thing, son, before I take my leave,” Lord Balloch said. “Chieftain Cowan of Clan MacFarden is kicking up a fuss with Lord Fergus of Clan MacBridan over some land. I fear it may turn troublesome and if so, Lord Fergus will call on Clan Loudon for help. If that should fail, he will demand his son’s return to settle it. Odran is your longtime friend. If you should hear from him, let him know that trouble is brewing.”
“The problem is that serious?” Annis asked.
Lord Balloch glared at her and turned to his son. “Her tongue is far too free.”
Brogan stepped in front of Annis when she took a rushed step toward his father. “If you hear any more on the trouble between the two clans, let me know.”
Lord Balloch dismissed his son’s concern with a quick wave of his hand. “It is not your concern. It is Fergus’s problem. Cowan should have been dealt with years ago. He thinks himself important when he is actually dispensable. Waste no worry over it.”
Annis watched Lord Balloch take his leave without so much as a good word to his son or a firm pat on the back. The man demonstrated no affection for his son, and it so incensed her that she wanted to grab a rock and throw it at the heartless man.
Heartless.
If Lord Balloch was heartless, why had he agreed to leave Annis here in peace and restore the village? She turned to Brogan. “What did you say to your father that had him completely reverse his decision?”
Brogan winked. “I worked my charm on him and promised I will have you tamed in no time.”
Annis got hysterical. She laughed so hard that she had everybody laughing with her, even the warriors.
“My stomach hurts,” Annis said, her hand pressed to her stomach as her laughter finally calmed. That’s when she realized Brogan had not laughed at all, though he was smiling.
Brogan leaned close to Annis to whisper, “I like you wild and free, but if I wanted you tamed, I would see it done, mo ghràdh.” He stepped away. “Come, Rudd, we will discuss what needs to be done and you and the others can get started on it.”