The Lion (Clan Ross of the Hebrides Book 1) by Hildie McQueen (ereader for android .TXT) 📕

them was broad of chest, tall, and quite muscular. However, none of them came across as being in as foul a mood as the eldest.

Beatrice had not been wrong.

Darach Ross was a beastly man.

Chapter Four

The abandoned house made a perfect place for the group to meet in secret. Hidden by not only a thick patch of woods but also walls on three sides, those that gathered did not worry about being found out.

Cairn McKinney held up a lantern and inspected the faces of the men there. He cleared his throat and wondered if they were all loyal to the cause or there out of curiosity. At the moment, it mattered little. The insurgent movement was new; he’d just begun planning for a way to overthrow the new laird and become the new leader of the people.

“Too many of us are hungry and dying,” someone in the group called out. “We must do something.”

“Take the lands from the Ross, take the keep for ourselves,” another added.

In truth, he had no desire to share much with them. Sure, at first when they helped him become the leader. But once he had all the power, then he’d order the guards to imprison anyone who went against him.

His lips curved. As a council member and a trusted advisor who sat at the right of the new laird, he was perfectly positioned for what had to be done. Already he’d begun by ensuring people crowded the great hall daily, bringing with them petty complaints and making demands. The young laird was growing tired and overwhelmed.

Soon he would be easy to control. And if not, then he would die, perhaps in a terrible manner that would claim the life of one or two of his brothers as well.

A man, who served as a guard for the laird, and was a particularly prized recruit shook his head. “There are six brothers, this quest of ours has to be better planned.”

“I am well aware,” Cairn snapped. “This is only the beginning.”

“How is this going to put food in my bairns’ bellies?” a farmer mumbled. “We cannot wait until winter.”

After hours of discussions that at times turned into screaming matches, there was no cohesive plan. Not outwardly. His main objective had been reached, the men were angry and turning against the Ross family. Most of the useless men in the room right then were poor and with no vision other than to have food and shelter.

He had to find someone intelligent, but easy for him to manipulate, to help him from inside. He studied the guardsman. He would be useful. But there was another person, whom he had to persuade.

“I must ask that we end the evening. Our plan today is to consider the best way to find more men to come to our side. This must be done without alerting the Ross family. Ye must be discreet in yer search. Find out first if they are angry toward the laird.”

The guard looked around the room. “Do not tell anyone about this meeting place. It is not the time for it yet.”

With a somewhat clear plan, the men in the room settled. That’s what they needed Cairn decided, some sort of goal. “The best time for the insurrection will be late fall. By winter, we will be in the keep.”

The men cheered, although admittedly, some looked dubious. Cairn made a mental note to speak to each of those that looked less than convinced alone. He didn’t need anyone to go running to the family just because they didn’t agree with his ideals.

As the men filed out, most of them giving him nods of acknowledgment and reinforcing their alliance, Cairn pulled one man aside. “Seamus, I am surprised to see ye here. I thought ye loyal to the laird.”

“As of late, I have grown disillusioned. The late laird, rest his soul, was not perfect, but he gave me favor. That son of his looks down his nose at me.” His arm swept across the room. “At all of us.”

“I will see ye in a fortnight then.” Cairn watched the men file out, then walked out into the darkness to catch up with a farmer, who he doubted was there for the right reasons.

“Will ye return for our next gathering?” he asked the man when he reached him.

The farmer shook his head. “This is not for me. I do not wish to harm anyone. I thought we were going to come up with a plan to approach the laird with—a way for our families to flourish.”

Cairn put his arm around the man’s shoulders. “That sort of thing keeps us in our place, no one’s situation will change.”

The man gave him a confused look. “It is the way of things. A leader for the clan, someone to rule the people. Nothing we do will change that. Either Laird Ross or ye, it will not matter who is in charge, the rest of us will not see much of a difference.”

Eyes widened in surprise when Cairn sunk the blade into the man’s side. When realization struck it was too late, Cairn stabbed him again. The farmer crumpled to the ground and Cairn leaned over him. “Yer right, I will be the new clan’s leader. However, ye will not live to see that day.”

Cairn hurried back to the empty house, found his steed, and mounted. Deciding it was best to be seen just in case there were questions regarding the man’s death, Cairn urged his horse in the direction of the village tavern.

Chapter Five

The next day, Darach broke his fast in his bedchamber, not in the mood to be around people. The great hall would soon be overcrowded again, and the dining room was filled with his mother’s visitors, who would be chatting the day away as if they’ve not a care in the world.

It was not fair to be so angered by his mother’s visitors. She did have plans for the group to do things for the poor. What