For a moment, Gabriel couldn’t help but wonder if Darragh was on Vincent’s side of things. Of course, there were parts of Darragh’s personality that clashed with Gabriel, but he didn’t hate the man. If anything, Gabriel owed him for allowing him to marry Elena.
“What?” Darragh asked as he arched his eyebrow. “Did ye nae think I daenae hear what goes on around the castle? Ye have a dispute, ye handle it like men.”
Gabriel’s eyes shifted to Vincent as Vincent pushed aside a low-hanging branch as he rode on, oblivious they had stopped. Darragh shoved his fingers in his lips and let out a long blast causing the birds to take to the sky.
Vincent stopped and glanced over his shoulder. The look on his face was clearly disgruntled. Gabriel watched as Vincent turned his horse around and came back to them.
“What is this?” Vincent asked as he slipped down and also tied his horse off.
“There’s been whispers,” Darragh answered, “that need to be addressed here and now.”
“Such as?” Vincent asked as his beady eyes shifted to Gabriel.
“Go on then, Gabriel, why daenae ye tell him?” Darragh said and stepped back. Gabriel studied Vincent a moment before stepping forward.
“Yer a guest in my house,” Gabriel started. “And as such I laid specific rules for ye to follow.”
Vincent pursed his lips as he glanced at Darragh. For a moment Gabriel couldn’t help but wonder if Darragh was about to lunge for him or if he was merely there as a bystander.
“Have I nae?” Vincent said in an innocent tone that grated on Gabriel’s nerves. “I’ve nae raised my hand to my wife. I’ve nae even touched her since we’ve been here.”
“And where does she sleep?” Gabriel demanded, stepping closer to Vincent. He could feel the anger rising in his chest, making his hand want to curl into a fist. Taking slow and steady breaths, Gabriel kept his composure as Darragh stood to the side watching the two of them with hawk eyes.
“Why does that matter?” Vincent asked.
“Gabriel asked ye a question, boy,” Darragh growled.
“Uncle, please, ye come out here to do what?” Vincent asked with a hint of rebellion in his voice.
“I’ve come to ensure that this animosity is settled. Ye think Iona doesnae ken what is happenin’ wit’ her daughters? Or the fact that the two of ye are contestants to be named my heir.”
“What?” Gabriel and Vincent whipped their heads around and stared at Darragh.
“Aye, ye see, after my bout wit’ the poison, it dawned on me, I have nae named a successor. And it’s clear one of ye will be named as such. But I need to ken that the man to take up that position will be one of good character, nae a drunken slob that treats the woman as less.”
“Is that nae how ye treat them?” Vincent scoffed. “Ye sell them off like cattle.”
“Have ye ever seen my hand raised against them? Nay. I have limits to the punishments I bestow. But ye, Vincent, seem to think they are below ye. Women are important creatures, ones to be looked after, nae trampled on. And if that is what yer doin’ to my niece, then I’m goin’ to have to ask ye to stop, right here and now.”
“I see,” Vincent said as he swallowed hard. “Ye’ve already made yer mind up on who ye want to replace ye, then. And it’s nae me.”
“Ye needed to hear it first,” Darragh said. “It was only fair ye’d both be the first to ken my decision.”
Vincent’s face burned red as his fingers twitched. Before Gabriel could rush him, Vincent pulled the pistol from his side, aimed, and fired. The sound of the gunshot echoed through the trees. If there were any creatures left, they took off to safety.
Gabriel’s heart skipped as he blinked and found Darragh on the ground.
“What did ye just do?” Gabriel asked, rushing to Darragh’s side. “Ye killed him. Why? Hold on, Darragh.”
“I’ll nae let ye or him take what belongs to me,” Vincent said. “Nor will I have ye two conspire against me again. Ye think ye can just marry into the family and slip into my place?”
Gabriel’s stomach twisted as he noticed the light fade from Darragh’s eyes. With no way to help him, Gabriel knew he had to stop Vincent, one way or another.
Digging his fingers into the soil at his feet, Gabriel tossed the dirt to Vincent as he rose. Vincent stepped back as he drew his dirk and dropped his pistol.
“I daenae ken what possessed ye to kill Anna’s uncle, but ye’ll nae get away wit’ it. I’ll hunt ye down till the end of the earth,” Gabriel vowed.
“Nae if ye are dead.”