A Fierce Archer (Clan Ross Book 6) by Hildie McQueen (great novels TXT) 📕

Ewan was motioned over to the archers’ table, where he sat and reached for a tankard. Someone asked for food and servants hurried off to get it.

Searching the room, he didn’t see Catriona. If she’d been there, he assumed there would be too many people for her to remain. Once he finished his meal, he would find a way to seek her out. Hopefully, she would ask that he stay with her another night.

“We leave the day after tomorrow to the north post,” Naill, the head archer, told him. “Ye will come as well.”

It was not a request, but an order. He’d thought plans were already in place for who would go. “For how long?”

“There are threats from the Sutherlands. We must ensure they are kept at bay and understand we will not stand for intrusion on our land,” another archer replied.

So, they were not sure how long it would be. If he were to go for longer than a season, it could be that Catriona would be gone by the time he returned.

He had little choice but to ask Catriona for her reply. He had to let her know he was going off to battle with no idea when he’d return.

The meal seemed to drag on. Finally, he saw an opening when Laird Ross motioned for the music to stop. The festivities were to end.

Ewan stood and made his way to the high board to catch Tristan Ross’ attention. The warrior looked to him and stood. Although Ewan was taller than most, Tristan still towered over him. In actuality, Tristan towered over everyone, except for Ruari, who was about the same stature.

“Did Naill tell ye we leave the day after tomorrow?” Tristan asked without preamble. “At least the weather will be warmer than last time.”

Ewan nodded. “Aye, he just did. How long do ye think we will be gone?”

His cousin shrugged. “Hopefully no longer than a pair of months.”

There was a strong possibility that Catriona would be gone before he returned.

“I must see about something,” he said and then placed a hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “I will be prepared to ride with ye.”

He hurried away and down a corridor to Catriona’s bedchamber. Praying she’d be alone, he knocked on the door.

There was no answer, even after the second and third time. Perhaps she’d gone to the ladies’ sitting room. It was late and he doubted she would be anywhere other than perhaps Esme’s bedchamber.

When he turned away, a sound inside the room caught his attention. Catriona was in the room. Why did she not open the door?

He tried the handle and the door opened. Catriona stood by the window looking out. Even when he called her name, she did not turn.

“Is something wrong?” Ewan asked, walking to her. He stopped when she turned and held out both hands, palms facing him.

Hitching her chin, she met his gaze. “I have much to thank ye for. It is because of ye that I can leave the confines of a room and was brave enough to come here. Ye have made me realize that I am stronger than what those bastards did to me.”

Something about her tone sent warnings through him. Whatever had caused her to become so different, he needed to know.

“Ye are strong.”

“I am stronger, but not who I once was.” She let out a long breath. “I have made a decision that ye must be informed about.”

Ewan searched her eyes for whatever she was about to say. Instead of the normal warmth and softness, all he could see was pain.

“Tell me what happened, Catriona.”

She swallowed, managing to remain stoic. “I have decided not to marry ye. If I do get married, it will be to Broden.”

The room swayed and he reached out with both hands to steady himself. Of course, he’d heard her wrong. It was glaringly obvious that Catriona didn’t care for Broden as more than a friend, a brother.

“What did ye say?”

“I cannot marry ye, Ewan. I wish to remain with my clan, my family. It is preferable that when he asks, I marry Broden. He and I are from the same clan. He will keep me safe.”

Betrayal was not a stranger to him. In that instant, Catriona betrayed him, perhaps not in actions, but in closing her heart to him.

In that moment, it was as if ice enveloped him. It was not the first time someone he loved had turned against him. Didn’t consider him valuable enough to choose.

There was nothing to say. He would not beg, nor would he allow the woman who stood in front of him the satisfaction to see him break down.

He nodded, meeting her gaze evenly. “I wish ye well then.”

Somehow, he managed to walk to his bedchamber without breaking stride and then barely past his doorway, Ewan fell to his knees, tears that he’d somehow held back bursting like rivers down his cheeks.

Pain tore through him and he let go, falling sideways onto the floor. More than anything, he wanted to release a primal yell, to scream out how he felt, but someone would overhear, and he didn’t want any witnesses to his foolishness. How audacious of him to think someone would love him and remain true.

How utterly, utterly stupid of him.

***

The ride to the northernmost portion of Ross lands was long. Ewan knew the group he traveled with purposely rode slowly. A party of two hundred warriors and fifty archers were a sight to behold. Surely the Sutherland would not have a problem getting the message that they were more than ready for battle.

The sounds reached them and then a large contingent of Sutherlands appeared.

Warring was never something Ewan relished and, yet, it had a beauty to it. The calculated movements were like a dance between two armies. The