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face.  He didn’t believe that Jasper killed their father, but he’d seized the opportunity life presented him with, taking the reins of the estate, betrothing himself to a girl Brendan had once hoped to marry, and getting rid of Brendan under the pretense of worrying for the safety of the family.  Well done, brother , Brendan thought as he spurred the horse to a gallop, well done . 

Chapter 7
     
    Brendan looked around in an effort to distract himself from the lump of bitterness firmly lodged in his throat.  The gentle breeze caressed his face while the sun warmed his shoulders and thighs, making him feel sluggish as he cantered along.  The air smelled of damp earth, grass, and burning peat coming from some crofter’s cottage downwind.  Unseen birds were singing their little hearts out, glad that the rain had finally given way to sunshine and warmth. 
    At any other time, Brendan would have been happy just to be alive on a glorious morning such as this, but his stomach burned with anger as his mind kept returning to Jasper.  He tried to calm himself by counting his blessings.  At the moment, he was dry, clean, and well fed, so that was something.  He’d always liked Uncle Caleb’s family, although he hadn’t seen them often.  The last time had been Maisie’s wedding over five years ago.  She was the youngest, so Uncle Caleb and Aunt Joan might be on their own and glad of some company and an extra pair of hands around the farm.  Where some families lived ten to a room, Uncle Caleb had a fine cottage with lots of outbuildings and plenty of land.  There’d be work for Brendan to do to repay his uncle for taking him in.  There was peace to be found in hard work, and after what he’d seen, he was more than ready to step away from the fighting and devote himself to the life-affirming routine of daily living.
    Brendan smiled grimly as he thought of Mary.  He naively thought that he was coming back to her, but clearly, it was never him she was interested in, but the status he would offer her.  She’d been pliant and eager the few times he cornered her in her father’s barn, her kisses shy and intoxicating and her body soft and warm against his own.  She’d been willing to let him go further, but he drew away from her as he murmured promises in her ear.  He should have taken her when he had the chance, but he thought himself an honorable man and wanted to wait for their wedding night.  It wouldn’t do anyone any good to leave her pregnant as he went off to fight, and Mary didn’t wish to be wed until he returned.  Now he understood why.  Had he still stood to inherit, she would have married him in a heartbeat, but had he been killed, she’d be a young widow who would have to mourn her husband and possibly miss out on the chance to marry his brother, who would now be the heir.  Clever girl, our Mary , Brendan thought as he took a sip of ale from the stone bottle Meg had given him.  He supposed he should thank Jasper for saving him from a loveless marriage.  Let them have joy of each other , Brendan thought, they’re a fine match . 
    Brendan stowed the bottle in his saddlebag, his body tensing as he heard the sound of hoofbeats coming from somewhere behind him.  Three men appeared on the horizon a few minutes later, a cloud of dust churning under the hooves of their galloping horses.  Soldiers could be easily identified by their short hair and garb, especially if they wore armor, but these men were civilians, farmers by the looks of them, and likely not a threat unless they were bent on thieving.  He didn’t have much to take.  Brendan drew to the side of the road prepared to let the men pass, but they seemed to slow down as they approached him from behind.  Brendan glanced back to gauge the men’s intentions when his breath caught in his throat.  He recognized them; they were friends of Jasper’s, and they were heavily armed.  There was only one reason why three farmers would be out