Ransom by Julie Garwood Page B

see how long it took for anyone to notice. When it got dark, I was gonna go to Michael’s tent and he was gonna go to mine.”
    â€œOh, dear God,” she whispered, so stunned she could barely catch her breath. The innocent little boy didn’t have any idea of the significance of what he had just told her, and all he was worried about was his father’s reaction when he found out about a silly game his son was playing with his friend. It was only a matter of time before Alford would discover the truth, and when he did, this child’s fate would be doomed.
    She grabbed hold of his shoulders and pulled him close. “Listen to me,” she whispered urgently. “You must never tell anyone what you’ve just told me. Promise me.”
    â€œI promise.”
    There were only a few flashes of distant lightning to illuminate the gray stones of the canyon, and it was difficult for her to see his face clearly. She pulled him close, searching his eyes, and whispered, “Who are you?”
    â€œAlec.”
    Her hands dropped into her lap and she leaned back against the wall. “You’re Alec,” she repeated. She couldn’t get over her surprise, but the boy didn’t seem to notice her stunned reaction.
    He grinned at her and said, “Do you see? The baron is too ignorant ’cause he captured the wrong boy.”
    â€œYes, I see. Alec, did your friend see Alford’s men take you away from the festival?”
    He held his lower lip between his teeth while he thoughtabout what had happened. “No,” he answered. “Michael went back to his tent to get his bow and arrows ’cause we wanted to shoot them over the falls, and that’s when the men came and grabbed me. You know what? I don’t think the men were the baron’s soldiers ’cause they were wearing plaids.”
    â€œHow many were there?”
    â€œI don’t know . . . maybe three.”
    â€œIf they’re Highlanders, they’re traitors then in league with the baron,” she muttered as she threaded her fingers through her hair in agitation. “What a mess this is.”
    â€œBut what if the baron finds out I’m not Michael? He’s gonna be mad, isn’t he? Maybe he’ll make the traitors go and get my friend then. I hope they don’t put Michael in a wheat sack. It’s scary.”
    â€œWe’re going to have to find a way to warn Michael’s family of the danger.”
    Her mind was racing from one thought to another as she tried to understand the twisted game Alford was playing.
    â€œAlec, if you both changed clothes and Michael was wearing your plaid, wouldn’t his clan notice? Surely he’d tell one of them about the trick you were playing.”
    â€œMaybe he’d be too scared to tell.”
    â€œHow old is Michael?”
    â€œI don’t know,” he answered. “Maybe he’s almost my age. You know what? Maybe he took my plaid off is what he did. That’s what I’d do if I got real scared, and he’d be afraid to make his brother mad ’cause he doesn’t know his brother very good at all since he only just came back home to be laird. Michael was kind of scared to play the trick too ’cause he didn’t want to get in trouble. It’s my fault,” he cried out, “’cause I made him do it.”
    â€œI want you to stop worrying that you did anythingwrong. No one’s going to blame you. You were just playing a harmless game, that’s all. Why don’t you put your head down in my lap and be real quiet for a few minutes so I can think.”
    She closed her eyes then to discourage him from asking any more questions.
    He wasn’t going to cooperate. “You know what?” When she didn’t answer him, he began to tug on her sleeve. “You know what?”
    She gave up. “What?”
    â€œMy tooth is loose.” To prove he was telling the truth,