Hiding Katherine

causes too much trouble.”
Katherine gasped. “Nay! You must help us. Please Sir, my father can compensate you. My sister tries to act brave, but she is not. She was forced to marry an old man when she was fifteen, he died and left her alone. She is not trouble—she’s just trying to protect me. This is a nightmare.”
He rubbed her hand watching her cry. “Please, Miss Tolland. I would take you to England if I could, but we would never make it. Even if I agreed to escort you, my Da would send his men after us.”
Catching her breath between sobs, she tried to plead with him. “Please Sir. What can be done? I just can’t bear it.”
“Miss Tolland, I will ask my Da for your hand. I will take care of you.”
She dropped her hands from her face and looked up at him. “I can’t… I do not know you, Sir. My father would not allow it.”
Derrek’s face turned red and he narrowed his eyes, “I am a laird’s son. Many women hope for a match with me. My offer is not in haste. I may not be able to court you properly. But you could be subject to a worse fate.”
“Forgive me if I have offended you. I am a bit overwhelmed by everything that has transpired.” She looked down trying to appear submissive and stole a glance at him assessing his appearance. He was not a man she wished to marry. His kindness was evident, but she felt nothing for him. He seemed to be trapping her into a marriage proposal. Presenting an impossible choice, she didn’t want to make.
He interrupted her woolgathering. “Listen, my sweeting, you have no idea the power my clan has. They will never allow you to walk away.”
Katherine was exhausted with the conversation, and longing to change the subject, she stood up and asked, “What about my grandmother?”
Derrek stood up with her. “I didn’t want to worry you, but she slipped into a deep sleep this afternoon and the healer said she will likely not wake again.”
Katherine’s blood drained from her face and she cried, “Nay!”
Derrek pulled her against his chest and held her in his arms as she sobbed against him. Stroking her hair gently, he whispered near her ear, “I will take you to see her.”
He led her off the rooftop to her grandmother’s chamber. Dismissing the guard, he stood beside her as she watched her grandmother take raspy breaths. Katherine took her hand. “Grandmother, they say you cannot wake. Please wake for me.” Tears dropped from her eyes as she watched the woman sleeping. The only mother she ever knew, taking her last breaths. Unable to wake her, she felt helpless.
Derrek sat on the chair beside the bed and listened to her with concern on his face. “Sweeting, perhaps we should let her rest? This is too hard for you to see her like this. Maybe remember the way she was.”
Katherine kissed her forehead and laid her cheek against her chest. “I don’t want to leave her.”
Derrek stood up and gently took her arm. “We must get you back to your chamber. My Da may be looking for me soon.”
Katherine slowly lifted her head and kissed her grandmother one last time on the cheek before departing. Derrek escorted her to her chamber door. “I will send some food in the morning and speak to my father after breakfast.”
She curtsied and replied, “As you wish.” She turned away from him and opened the door. “Thank you for taking me to see my grandmother.”
Seemingly surprised by her words, he smiled and walked away.
“Katherine, we have been worried sick about you.” Deanna rushed over to embrace her. “Come sit on the bed and tell us everything.”
Katherine took a seat on the bed and rubbed her temples hoping to stop the headache that was forming. “Oh, my sister, it was awful!”
Deanna’s eyes widened with fury. “I will kill him.”
Katherine shook her head trying to calm her sister. “He didn’t touch me inappropriately. He just told me some secrets and then took me to see Grandmother. Her health has failed since we saw her this morning and she does not wake anymore.”
“This is horrifying!” Deanna cried, pacing around the room.
Katherine felt a knot in her stomach. “There’s more. Derrek told me that the laird is furious over our breakfast incident this morning and has made plans with their council regarding our fate.”
“Our fate? What do you mean?”
Katherine shook her head unable to speak. Standing up from the bed, she walked over to the window. She needed a minute to put her thoughts together. Looking outside, she noticed the moon hidden behind the clouds. The moon seemed closer here in Scotland. She could hear Deanna whispering to Claudia and knew they waited anxiously for her to finish. But how could she tell Deanna her fate? Turning to her sister, she mustered the strength to speak. “It’s hard for me to even say it out loud.” She broke out in a sob and covered her mouth. Trying to catch her breath, she continued, “He plans to sell us both.”
Claudia gasped, “He is a monster!”
Deanna stood up from the bed wrapping her arms around her torso. “They are heathens! Barbaric! He can’t sell us. We are not his to sell.”
Katherine winced. “That is what I told him, but he said they would not escort us out of Scotland under any circumstances.”
Deanna clenched her fists mumbling under her breath. She paced the room swinging her arms in the air. Her steps were brisk finally stopping as she turned to Katherine. “Not even for you? Did you smile and use your charms?”
“He does not wish for me to leave and now aims to marry me. He said the laird was going to sell me for a bride price to some other clan. He is claiming to be my relative since Grandmother’s husband is his uncle. But he wishes to speak to his father and ask for