Ransom by Julie Garwood

worry.
    â€œI just got me a new champion,” he told her. “Papa had to ponder it a long time ’cause he wanted to make sure he picked the right one for me. He told me he wanted me to have a champion as strong and fierce as Graham’s.”
    â€œWho is Graham?” she asked.
    â€œMy brother,” he answered.
    â€œAnd who did your father choose for you?”
    â€œHis friend,” he answered. “He’s a fierce warrior, an important laird too, and you know what?”
    She smiled. “What?”
    â€œHe’s awful mean. That’s the best part. Papa says he’ll make a fine champion.”
    â€œBecause he’s mean?”
    â€œAnd ’cause he’s strong,” he explained. “He can split a tree in half just by glaring at it. Uncle Ennis told me so. He’s only mean when he’s got to be.”
    â€œYour champion isn’t your Uncle Ennis, is he?”
    â€œNo,” he answered. “Uncle Ennis wouldn’t do. He’s too nice.”
    She laughed. “And it wouldn’t do to have a nice protector?” She could tell he thought she’d asked a stupid question.
    â€œNo, you got to be mean to your enemies, not nice. That’s why Papa asked Uncle Brodick. He’s my new champion, and he’s not ever nice. You know what?”
    Those three words were beginning to drive her to distraction. “No, what?” she asked.
    â€œBrodick’s probably spitting fire now ’cause he told Papa not to let me go to the festival, but Mama had her way, and Papa gave in.”
    â€œDid your Uncle Brodick attend the festival?”
    â€œNo, he’d never go to one ’cause there’s too many Englishmen there. I’ll bet he doesn’t think I’m dead. He’s the new laird over all the Buchanans, and everyone knows how stubborn the Buchanans are. Now that he’s my protector, I get to call him Uncle. Maybe he’s gonna come here and find me before my papa does.”
    â€œMaybe he will,” she agreed to placate him. “Why don’t you put your head down in my lap and close your eyes. Rest for a little while.”
    â€œYou won’t leave while I’m sleeping, will you?”
    â€œWhere would I go?”
    He smiled when he realized how foolish his worry was. “I’m gonna be scared when you have to go away. I heard the baron tell his friends you got to go get your sister. He’s gonna be mad when he finds out you lost her.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me this before?”
    â€œI forgot.”
    â€œWhat else did he say?” she implored. “I need to know everything.”
    â€œI remember he said your king’s looking for the box too, but the baron’s got to find it first. I don’t know why. I don’t remember anything else,” he ended on a wail. “I want my papa to come and get me now.”
    â€œPlease don’t cry,” she pleaded. She hugged him close. “A boy who has three protectors should be smiling, not crying.”
    â€œI don’t have three. I only got one.”
    â€œYes, you do too have three. Your father’s one, Brodick is two, and I’m your third protector. I’ll be your champion until the day I get you safely home.”
    â€œBut ladies can’t be champions.”
    â€œOf course they can.”
    He puzzled over the possibility a long minute and then nodded. “All right,” he agreed. “But you got to give me something then.”
    â€œI do?”
    He nodded again. “A protector always gives something important to the boy or girl he’s supposed to watch out for,” he explained. “You got to give me something of yours.”
    â€œDid your Uncle Brodick give you something important?”
    â€œYes,” he answered. “He gave Papa his best dagger to give to me. It has his crest on the hilt. Papa made a leather sheath for it, and he let me take it to the