Highland Spirit: Highland Chronicles Series - Book 2

by Rose, Elizabeth

  “I’m sorry I took it,” she admitted with a pout. “I left it in the room for my mathair.”

  “Ye took it?” asked Caleb in surprise, still patting his side as if he thought it was going to magically reappear.

  “Isobel!” cried Finn, looking up at the men as if he were expecting them to be angry or perhaps beat the girl for what she did.

  “Isobel? Ye stole the flask of whisky from Caleb and he never even kent it?” asked Ethan with a chuckle, thoroughly amused.

  “I said I’m sorry,” she said. Her bottom lip stuck out in a pout as if she were going to cry. She hugged her doll tightly to her chest. “Annabelle told me to do it.”

  “Annabelle told ye to do it?” Ethan eyed up the girl. “Then mayhap Annabelle should be punished.”

  “Nay!” she cried, hugging the doll. “Annabelle is my best friend now since Sophie is gone.”

  “Isobel, quiet,” scolded Finn. “Yer mathair is goin’ to be angry when she finds out what ye’re tellin’ him.”

  “Why couldna she play with Sophie?” asked Ethan, not understanding what was going on. “There doesna seem to be any other children on the isle that I can tell.”

  “I – I think I’d better light the candles. It’s gettin’ very dark.” Finn took off at a half-run in the opposite direction.

  “There’s somethin’ odd goin’ on around here,” Caleb told Ethan.

  “I agree,” answered Ethan. “After all, ye are one of the stealthiest people I ken. If ye had yer flask of whisky stolen by a child, then ye must have had yer mind elsewhere.”

  “Perhaps my mind was preoccupied with other things,” said Caleb, his eyes taking in the entire gloomy room. Slink poked his head out of Caleb’s pouch just then and Isobel started giggling.

  “What is that?” The girl’s eyes filled with amusement as she pointed to Caleb’s pet.

  “This? Oh, this is my friend, Slink,” said Caleb, pulling the long, rodent-like animal from his pouch and holding it out to her. “Would ye like to pet him?”

  “All right,” said the little girl, petting his back gingerly with one finger. “Can I hold him?”

  “Ye can, but ye’re goin’ to need two hands to do it. And we should sit down at the table so ye dinna drop him,” explained Caleb.

  “All right,” she agreed. “Ethan, can ye watch Annabelle for me while I hold Slink?” The girl handed the doll to Ethan.

  “Sure,” he said blindly, clutching the doll as Caleb and the girl headed over to the trestle table.

  Ethan looked at the doll in his hand, not able to believe his sudden luck. This was the answer to all the MacKeefes’ problems. Or, at least, it was the answer for all of them finally getting a good night’s sleep. Well, this was going to be easier than he thought. All he had to do now was leave here with the doll, get on the boat, and sail back to the MacKeefe camp. He stuck the doll under his cloak and wandered over to the trestle table where Isobel was giggling and petting Slink on her lap.

  “Pssst,” said Ethan, trying to get Caleb’s attention. Caleb was laughing and looked up. Ethan opened his cloak and nodded toward the doll. Caleb’s smile disappeared.

  “Isobel, can ye go to the kitchen and ask the cook if he has anythin’ my pine marten can eat?” asked Caleb.

  “I will,” said the little girl, so excited that she ran off without even remembering to take the doll.

  Caleb picked up his pet and headed over to Ethan.

  “Here,” said Ethan, handing him the doll. “Take it and let’s get the hell out of here.”

  “But that’s Isobel’s doll,” said Caleb, looking down at it but doing nothing to take it from him. “Dinna ye think she is goin’ to miss it?”

  “No’ if we leave before she finds out. Besides, it’s really Sophie’s doll. And if Sophie didna say a thing about givin’ it to Isobel, then it’s most likely that little thief stole it from her just like she pilfered yer Mountain Magic. Now, take it and let’s get back to the boat.”

  “Me take it?” Caleb shook his head so furiously that his black curly hair bounced around his shoulders. “Nay,” he said, holding up a halting hand. “I’m no’ the one that’s goin’ to be stealin’ from a child.”

  “We arena stealin’ it. We’re . . . returnin’ it to its proper owner, that’s all.”

  “Nay, Ethan. I willna do it! Ye carry the doll. I dinna want to be a part of any of this deceit.”

  “It’s too late,” said Ethan in a low voice. “Ye’re already part of it, like it or no’. Now take the doll and let’s get movin’. I canna stand another night of hearin’ Sophie cry.”

  “That bothers ye, does it?” Caleb petted his pine marten and raised his chin.

  “Aye, it does.”

  “And what about when Isobel starts cryin’ that her doll is gone? Will that bother ye, too?”

  “No’ if I am back at the MacKeefe camp and canna hear it. Now take it!” He smashed the rag doll up against Caleb’s chest, but Caleb wouldn’t take it. Instead, he stubbornly crossed his arms over his chest, still cradling his pine marten in the crook of his arm. Ethan let go of the doll and turned quickly, hearing a soft thud as the doll fell to the ground and landed in the rushes.

  “What are ye doin’ to Annabelle?” Isobel stood staring at Ethan with her mouth wide open. Her eyes went to the doll lying on the floor in the dirty rushes.

  “I . . . I . . . I dropped her?” said Ethan, already kicking himself for not sounding like he meant it. “I’m sorry,” he apologized, feeling terrible now for trying to take her doll, even though she was the one who gave it to him in the first place.

  “Ye were tryin’ to steal her from me!” Isobel bent down and picked up the doll, kissing it and clutching it to her chest. “Ye are a mean man.” Tears formed in her eyes.

  “Nay, I’m no’ mean,” Ethan tried to convince her, but it didn’t change her mind.

  “I hate ye!” cried the little girl, going from loving and admiring him to wanting nothing to do with him in just a few minutes.

  “Isobel, wait.” Ethan reached out for the girl, but when he took her by the arm, she leaned over and bit him on the hand.

  “Och! Bid the devil what did ye do that for?” Ethan released her and rubbed his hand while Caleb chuckled from behind him.

  “Aye, ye really have a way with children, just like ye told Hawke. I can see that, now,” commented Caleb.

  “I never want to see ye again!” Isobel turned and ran from the room crying.

  “Ye ken, it seems to me ye have an ill effect on girls,” said Caleb, walking up next to him.

  “What do ye mean?” Ethan watched the girl fleeing the great hall, wondering how he was going to fix this mess he was in.

  “Well, accordin’ to my calculations, isna this the second time a girl has left ye standin’ here, never wantin’ to see ye again? First it was Alana, and now it’s her daughter.”

  Ethan felt a sinking sensation in his chest to realize this was true. “Aye, I guess so,” he said, wondering where he went wrong. This time, instead of Alana leaving him, it was her little daughter. Either way, both times hurt.

  “I think it’s time we leave,” said Ethan, wanting to go as quickly as possible. The longer he stayed, the more chance there was that he was going to offend someone else.

  “But it’s still stormin’ out there,” complained Caleb, petting his pine marten. ”Slink doesna care for the rain and snow and neither do I. Plus, we’re both hungry. I’ve yet to get warm or to find anythin’ to eat around here.”

  “Oh, there ye two are,” said Kirstine, entering the great hall and waddling over to them, rubbing her belly.

  “How is Alana?” asked Ethan, genuinely concerned for her health.

  “I closed up her wound and she is sleepin’ soundly. She’ll be feelin’ much better come mornin’.”

  “Guid. Then we’ll be on our way.”

  “So soon?” asked Kirstine, stepping in their path so they had to stop. “Look. Here comes the food now.”
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  Ethan turned to find two servants carrying platters of food into the room. His stomach growled. He was so hungry that right now he’d eat a rat and not complain.

  “We’re stayin’. Right, Ethan?” asked Caleb with wishful longing in his eyes, staring at the piping-hot food. His tongue shot out and he licked his lips as the servant came closer.

  “Come, sit down and eat,” offered Kirstine. “And warm yer bones and dry yer clothes by the fire. Finn,” she called to her brother. “Throw some more logs on the fire. It’s cold in here.”

  “Really?” asked the boy. “But Diarmad doesna like us to burn too much wood.”

  “Well, he’s no’ here so he willna ken. It’ll be all right for one night,” explained Kirstine. “Now do it.”

  “Aye,” said the boy, hurrying off to do the work.

  “Diarmad?” Ethan raised a brow. “Who is that? Is he laird of the castle?”

  “Aye,” she answered, looking worried. “He is my . . . husband.”

  “I see,” Ethan said, perusing the girl. She seemed frightened. “Where is yer faither, Gil Chisholm?” he asked. “Are yer parents livin’ here as well?” He fired the questions at her quickly, eager to learn more.

  “Well . . . uh . . . my faither is here,” she said, sounding reluctant to answer.

  “Guid. Lead me to him. I’d like to have a word with him,” said Ethan, wanting to kill the man right now for everything he’d done.

  “Nay, ye canna do that.”

  “Why no’?” asked Ethan.

  “Because he is ill. He is sleepin’ and canna be disturbed.” Kirstine looked the other way when she answered. “Let’s all sit down and eat before the food gets cold,” she suggested.

  Something wasn’t right here, but Ethan decided he couldn’t push the girl too hard or she’d tell him nothing. He’d eat for now and try to pump her for information later. “Caleb, I suppose a bite to eat and gettin’ warm by the fire might no’ be a bad idea after all,” said Ethan.

  “I agree!” Caleb smiled from ear to ear. Then his pine marten saw a mouse run by and jumped out of his arms to run after the rodent.

  “But we’re no’ stayin’ the night,” added Ethan.

  “We’re no’?” asked Caleb looking quickly at Ethan and then back to the servant with the platter of food again.

  “Ye’re no’? Why no’?” asked Kirstine. “I think ye should. I’m sure Alana will want to see ye before ye go.”

  “I agree with her,” said Caleb, reaching out and grabbing a leg of mutton from the servant’s tray. “Do ye have any Mountain Magic by any chance?”

  “Do ye mean this?” Kirstine held up Caleb’s flask and Ethan took it from her.

  “That’ll do.” Ethan lifted it to his mouth and took a swig. The burning sensation of the liquid trailed a path down his throat, making him feel more relaxed immediately.

  “Let’s all sit,” said Kirstine, leading them up to the dais.

  “Will Alana be joinin’ us?” asked Ethan, taking another swig of the potent brew. “I’d like to talk to her.”

  “I’m sorry, but it’ll have to wait until mornin’,” said Kirstine. “My sister needs her rest. She’s been through a lot today.”

  “Havena we all?” asked Ethan, taking another swig of whisky before Caleb leaned over and snatched it away from him.

  “Ethan doesna want to stay here because he’s afraid of the ghost,” said Caleb, catching Ethan off guard.

  “Haud yer wheesht, ye fool,” Ethan said through gritted teeth. He’d almost forgotten about the ghost until Caleb just mentioned it.

  “The ghost? What ghost?” By the way Kirstine batted her eyelids, Ethan knew she was keeping something from him.

  “Have ye ever heard the scream of a woman from the tower window?” asked Ethan curiously.

  “Nay.” Kirstine busied herself putting food on her trencher. “Nay, I dinna believe so. What do ye mean?”

  “It’s nothin’,” he told her, grabbing the flask back from Caleb. Something told him the girl was lying and he had no idea why. It was already proving to be a very long night.

  Chapter 6

  Ethan awoke during the night, having fallen asleep with his head down on a trestle table as he sat in front of the fire. His dog lay at his feet under the table. He’d had every intention of sailing the boat back to the MacKeefe camp and not staying the night, but the weather had been ruthless. Between Caleb and Kirstine, they’d convinced him not to go.

  Part of him didn’t really want to leave yet anyway. He needed to make sure Alana was going to be all right. Not to mention, he wanted to confront her about their past.

  Through the dark, Ethan could see the embers on the hearth. The room was frigidly cold and snow still blew in through the hole in the roof. He decided to tend to the fire himself since he wasn’t even sure where to find a servant right now. It was amazing that a castle of this size didn’t have more occupants. Something was odd here, and he needed to find out more.

  Stepping over Caleb sprawled out on the floor, Ethan made his way back to the entrance of the great hall. His wolfhound darted out from under the table and followed him into the courtyard. The moon was still high in the sky but Ethan could see a slight orange glow as the sun was just starting to rise on the horizon. The snow had stopped but it was nearly knee-deep in places and not easy to walk.

  “Trapper, we’ve got to find a few logs for the fire,” he told the dog, wandering across the courtyard in the snow. There didn’t seem to be any guards on the battlements. As far as he could tell, he was the only one out here. The courtyard was oddly empty, bringing about the feeling of death. Back at Hermitage Castle there were always guards and servants milling about even in the wee hours of the morning. Then again, the MacKeefe’s laird, Storm MacKeefe, would never allow the fire to get so low on such a cold day.

  The MacKeefes were good people and there were quite a few of them. Here at Blackbriar Castle, the halls were nearly empty and the walls looked to be crumbling down around him. Nothing was cared for at all. Ethan wondered if old, crazy Mad Murdock was still alive and residing here, and also why Alana and her family were staying here at this horrible place at all. It was almost as if they were in hiding. He could understand why, since the Chisholm name was ill-regarded by most, thanks to the antics of Alana’s father. But still, he didn’t like this at all.

  If this laird, Diarmad, allowed his castle to be in such disrepair, then he must not care about the people who lived here. Nothing was right, from the way no one acknowledged even seeing or hearing the ghost, to the little girl being kept away from other children. No wonder nobody set foot on this isle. There were a bunch of lunatics living here!

  The dog whined and darted off, hopping through the snow, leading the way to a wooden enclosure filled with logs.

  “Here we go,” said Ethan, walking over to collect some wood. From his position, he could see the tower perfectly where he’d spotted the ghost. Looking upward, his mind must have been playing tricks on him because he thought he saw a dark shadow float over the battlements and then quickly disappear.

  “I need to wake up, Trapper,” he said to the dog, rubbing his eyes and blinking. He might have shaken off the whole thing if Trapper hadn’t started growling lowly, looking up to the battlements as well. “Did ye see it, too, boy?” he asked, watching the dog lower its head, seeming to be able to see something that Ethan couldn’t.

  “What are ye talkin’ about?” came a feminine voice from behind the woodpile.

  Ethan turned back to see Alana standing behind the structure with an armload of logs.

  “Alana.” His heart skipped a beat seeing her. He tried to push aside the feelings he still held for her, but it wasn’t easy. Then he thought about how she’d played him for a fool, and his loving thoughts of his past betrothed were quickly buried once again. “What are ye doin’ out here? Ye should be in bed.”

  “In bed? Hah! Someone’s got to get the logs for the fire before we all freeze to death.�
�� She took a step and lost her balance in the deep snow, losing her grip. The logs clattered to the ground. She would have landed on her rump if Ethan hadn’t reached out and caught her.

  “Careful,” he said, putting his hands under her arms and helping her to stand.

  Once again, Alana reveled in the feeling of being in Ethan MacKeefe’s arms. Why did it affect her so much after all this time?

  “Thank ye,” she said, looking up at him as she regained her footing. Just being in his presence brought back so many wonderful memories that, for a brief moment, she was transported back to the past. Back to the days when life was good and she looked forward to a future with Ethan.

  Ethan’s slight smile warmed her as he reached out and brushed the snow off the front of her cloak. It was an innocent action, and she was sure he only meant to help her, but she felt a tingle of excitement flit through her when his hand came close to her breast.

  “Ye are injured and should be restin’,” he told her, sounding genuinely concerned. She had thought he’d be furious with her, but if he was, he kept his emotions in control.

  “Nay. The castle is cold and I want to stock the hearth before everyone awakes.”

  “Ye?” He bent down to collect the logs she’d dropped, looking up at her as he spoke. “Shouldna the servants be doin’ this work instead?”

  She couldn’t tell him that the servants were prisoners of Diarmad’s as well and that she usually didn’t ask them to do things when Diarmad was away. She felt sorry for them and wanted to help them in any way she could.

  “Even servants deserve a day to sleep a little later than normal,” she answered, hoping he wouldn’t ask more. How could she tell him that everyone at Blackbriar Castle was a prisoner and that they weren’t even given a boat so they were stranded on the isle?

  “Alana,” he said, sounding very serious as he stood and arranged the logs in his arms. Trapper wandered off to sniff around, lifting his leg on the side of a wooden cart. “Why did ye do it?” he asked.

  She knew what he meant but wasn’t ready to answer.

  “I told ye, I do it to help out the servants.” Picking up her skirts she took a step in the snow but he moved in front of her to block her way.