“All right, I’m here. What is it?” asked Ethan impatiently, eager to get to camp and out of the cold weather.
“Take that box out of the boat,” said Hawke, his eyes still fastened to it.
“Egads, is that all? Couldna Oliver have taken it? I’m sure it’s no’ that heavy.” Ethan reached over the side of the boat for the box, jumping back in surprise as something moved inside. “God’s eyes, nay,” he ground out. “It canna be!”
“What is it?” asked Caleb, holding his pine marten and petting it. “Did a rat get into the box?”
“I guess ye could say that,” said Ethan, flipping the blanket off the top of the box. “A big rat.”
When he pulled the blanket away, Isobel sat up with the doll clutched to her chest.
Sophie immediately stopped crying. “Isobel! And Annabelle!” she cried out. “Put me down, Logan. Put me down, I want to play with Isobel.”
“All right, but wait until Ethan brings her to shore,” instructed Logan. “We dinna want all of ye endin’ up in the water.”
Ethan picked up Isobel, holding her tightly as he carried her through the water to the shore. She was cold and shaking and not even wearing a cloak. “What are ye doin’ on my boat?” he growled. “Yer mathair is goin’ to have my head.”
“I wanted to play with Sophie,” said the girl. “And Annabelle was afraid and wanted to get away from that scary man.”
Ethan didn’t know what the little girl was talking about and, right now, neither did he care. Now he had one more problem on his hands. What was he supposed to do with Alana’s daughter?
“Annabelle,” said Sophie, running over, holding out her arms. Isobel handed the doll to her. Sophie smiled for the first time ever, hugging the doll to her chest. “I’m glad ye came, Isobel. And I’m glad ye protected Annabelle.”
“Well, I’m no’ glad about this,” said Ethan. “Now I have to go back to the isle, and I had hoped to never have to return there again. Especially since I’m no’ welcome.”
“Well, it’s goin’ to have to wait,” said Hawke, looking up at the sky. “I think we’re in for a storm worse than the last one.”
This time, thunder rumbled loudly and lightning slashed a jagged streak across the darkening sky.
“I’d suggest we all head back to camp quickly or we’re goin’ to get wet,” said Logan. “Come on, Sophie.” He scooped the girl up in one arm.
“Take Isobel, too,” said Ethan, handing the girl over to him. “I’ll help the others secure the boat.”
This time, Isobel started wailing. “I want ye to take me, Ethan.” She cried and clung to Ethan’s neck.
“Go on,” Hawke said from the shore. “Take Oliver with ye so he can dry off. Caleb and I will secure the boat and bring the box back to camp.”
Trapper barked and ran up the shore, shaking and getting the girls wet, making them both scream.
“Let’s go, lassies,” Ethan told the girls. “And someone find me some wool.”
“What for?” asked Logan, speaking loudly to be heard over the sound of more crying.
“To plug my ears. I dinna ken how much more of this I can take.”
* * *
As soon as Alana got back to the castle, she headed straight to the fire in the great hall to get warm. It was a nasty, cold day out there. Things just got worse when the head smuggler, Rock, and his smuggling friends decided to bed down at Blackbriar. She didn’t want them here. It was bad enough having Diarmad and his smuggler friends who lived here. Alana was starting to really hate her life.
After seeing Ethan again and being held in his arms, it brought to life all those feelings she had for him that she’d tried to suppress these past five years. Her heart ached for him. All she could think about since she saw him was kissing him once again.
This was no way to raise her daughter. She needed to do something about it soon. It ate away at her every day that she couldn’t give her daughter a better life. It made her feel like a bad mother. Especially when she’d never even allowed little Isobel to play with Sophie when she lived on the isle. It wasn’t her choice, but she’d had to do it. Diarmad and his men were always watching them, making sure they said nothing about his operation to anyone.
Diarmad. That made her think about her poor sister, Kirstine, and how she was once again carrying the cur’s baby. She couldn’t even imagine how awful it was for her sister to have to lay with the man and be his wife.
Alana and her siblings hadn’t even left the isle since they’d moved here. She longed to see other people, have friends . . . have a life again.
The smugglers moved into the great hall making themselves at home. Alana was so cold her body trembled. Or mayhap it trembled because sending Ethan away and pretending she didn’t care about him were the hardest things she’d had to do since leaving him at the altar.
As she held her hands out over the fire to warm herself, thunder rumbled the walls and rain pelted down outside. From the corners of her eyes, she saw Kirstine rushing toward her with Finn following on her heels.
“Alana,” cried Kirstine, hurrying to her side. “Alana, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s no’ yer fault these wretched thieves decided to stay the night,” said Alana, still shivering. “But I dinna want them anywhere near Isobel. We need to keep her safe.”
Suddenly, Alana realized that Isobel was not with her sister.
“Kirstine, where is Isobel?” she asked cautiously, not wanting to hear any further bad news. “Is she sleepin’ in our chamber? Ye really shouldna have left her there alone. Ye ken how frightened she’s been lately of some imaginary ghost or monster she says she saw”
“Nay, she’s no’ there,” said Kirstine, wringing her hands in worry. Her face became pale and she swayed back and forth. “I’m sorry,” she said again, making Alana’s gut twist.
“Somethin’ is wrong. What is it? Where is my daughter?”
Kirstine and Finn exchanged glances but didn’t say a word.
“For the love of God, Sister, please dinna tell me that somethin’ has happened to Isobel.” Fear coursed through Alana like never before.
“Nay, I’m sure she’s fine,” said Kirstine. “But she is no’ here in the castle.”
Thunder boomed overhead and lightning flashed across the arrow slit windows.
“God’s bones, dinna tell me she is out there in the storm?” Alana gripped Kirstine’s arm tightly for strength, hoping she wouldn’t fall over because she was so worried.
“I’m sure she’s safe and warm in the MacKeefe camp by now,” said Finn. “Dinna worry about her. Ethan will protect her.”
“What did ye say?” asked Alana through gritted teeth. “Bid the devil, dinna tell me that Ethan kidnapped her.”
“Nay, he didna even ken she was there,” said Kirstine.
“That’s right,” agreed Finn. “She hid away on Ethan’s boat.”
“Ye ken this for a fact?” Alana drilled the boy.
“Aye.” He nodded his head, causing a wet, blond lock of hair to fall across his face. With one swipe of his hand he pushed it away. “I helped her hide there,” he said, sounding proud of it.
“Ye did what!” Alana’s voice was louder than it should be and some of the men started looking their way.
“Keep yer voice down,” said Kirstine. “If Diarmad finds out about this he’ll string us up.”
“Finn, why in heaven’s name would ye do such a thing?” scolded Alana.
“She wanted to go,” said the boy. “She said Annabelle wasna safe here. She thought someone was followin’ her and tryin’ to steal Annabelle from her.”
“Annabelle is a doitit doll! Why did ye let her do such a foolish thing?”
“I dinna ken,” said Finn, shrugging his shoulders. “I guess it’s because I felt sorry for her. She’s never had a friend except for Sophie when she used to sneak out of the castle and play with her.”
“I canna believe what I’m hearin’.” Alana wondered how she had neve
r known about this when it was happening.
“I made sure ye didna ken,” said Finn with a smile. “I always went with her since Sophie’s brother, Oliver, was my friend.”
“Finn, I had no idea,” said Alana, really feeling like a bad mother now. She’d been so concerned with her father and the smuggling that she hadn’t paid close enough attention to realize where her daughter was at all times.
“I didna ken either,” said Kirstine. “But Alana, ye canna blame them. What kind of life is it growin’ up in this prison of a castle, trapped on this horrid isle?”
“Ye’re right,” said Alana, releasing a deep breath. “But I didna even think Isobel liked Ethan and would want to go with him.”
“Isobel likes him,” said Finn. “She just didna like that he wanted to take her doll away. But when she heard that Sophie had been cryin’ for the doll, she wanted to comfort her friend. That is why she decided to go to Sophie and take her the doll herself.”
“That girl is far beyond her years, I swear,” said Alana shaking her head.
“What are we goin’ to do?” asked Kirstine.
“I think she’s safe,” said Finn with a nod.
“Aye, I’m sure Ethan will take guid care of her,” agreed Kirstine.
“I hope so,” said Alana, pulling Kirstine and Finn to the side so the men wouldn’t hear her. “I wish we could all go to the MacKeefe camp.”
“Let’s do it,” Finn whispered back.
“Nay. We’d never be able to sneak away without Diarmad noticin’,” said Alana. “Besides, I dinna want Ethan and the MacKeefes involved in any of this. Those smugglers would try to slit their throats if they came anywhere near here.”
“We’ve got to do somethin’ about Isobel,” said Kirstine.
“True. If Diarmad and the others ken she is with the MacKeefes, it’ll mean trouble for all of us. Thankfully, the castle is filled with smugglers now and that will take Diarmad’s attention.”
“What do ye mean?” asked Finn.
“What she means is that Isobel kens too much about the smugglin’ ring,” said Kirstine.
“She’s young. I’m sure she doesna even understand what goes on here,” protested Finn.
“Mayhap no’, but Diarmad willna care,” said Alana, watching the man from across the room. “He willna want to take the chance that he will be discovered.”
“Then we canna let him ken that she is gone,” said Kirstine.
“Nay. If so, he’ll do somethin’ horrible to us or mayhap to Faither.”
“I’m frightened,” said Finn, looking like he was about to cry.
“Things will be better soon, I promise,” said Alana, pulling the two of them to her in a hug. “Now, make up a story that I went to sleep early because I am ill and that Isobel is in bed, too. Kirstine and Finn, ye both can speak French, so help Faither communicate with thee smugglers. Whatever ye do, just keep Diarmad away from my chamber.”
“I think I can keep Diarmad occupied,” said Kirstine. “But what are ye goin’ to do?”
“I’m goin’ to use the small boat Finn has constructed and hid in the reeds on the bank. I’m goin’ to sail tonight to the MacKeefe camp.”
“In the storm?” Kirstine was horrified. “Nay, Sister, it is too dangerous. Please dinna go.”
“My daughter is missin’. Nothin’ is too dangerous as far as I’m concerned. I need to get her back.”
“I understand,” said Kirstine, putting both hands on her belly. “If I ever have a bairn that survives, I am sure I’ll feel the same way, too.”
“Ye will have a healthy bairn and it will be soon,” said Alana, putting her hand on her sister’s belly and feeling the baby kick. They both laughed.
“Are ye goin’ to ask the MacKeefes to help us?” Finn asked, looking ever so hopeful.
“Nay,” she said, wishing it were the case. “I’m goin’ there to get Isobel and bring her back and that is all. I dinna want their clan involved.”
“I hope ye can make it across the water to the mainland,” said Kirstine. “There is a nasty squall brewin’ out there.”
“It’s the chance I’ll have to take,” said Alana, heading for the door. She was afraid of Diarmad and the smugglers, but that’s not what worried her the most. The part that made her terrified was the fact she was going to see Ethan again. And this time, she was going before the entire MacKeefe Clan. She didn’t think for one minute she’d be welcome there after leaving Ethan stranded on their wedding day. To them, she would be considered naught but a strumpet or a traitor. And the worst part was that she was starting to feel like that was exactly who she was.
Chapter 9
“Hold me,” said little Isobel to Ethan as he sat around the fire inside one of the MacKeefe buildings, wondering what the hell he was going to do with the girl.
“What?” he mumbled, taking a drink of his Mountain Magic, not really listening to her since his worried thoughts filled his head.
“I miss my mathair,” she said. “Can I sit on yer lap?”
Ethan looked up to see his friends, Hawke, Caleb and Logan, all staring at him. They sat or stood far from him, looking like they were afraid to come closer.
“Well? Ye heard the girl.” Hawke looked up and chuckled. That is, until little Sophie crawled atop his lap, clinging to her doll.
“I want to sit on yer lap, Hawke,” said the little girl.
Logan and Caleb burst out laughing at Hawke’s expression.
“Och, why no’?” he said, putting one arm around Sophie.
“My turn,” said Isobel, climbing up on Ethan’s lap before he had a chance to object.
“So this girl was a stowaway from the haunted castle?” asked Bridget, probably already devising a story in her head to scribble into the Highland Chronicles. She always seemed to be around when Ethan needed to talk to his friends. He had to watch what he said around her. She’d tell her father and it might end up in that book, and that wouldn’t be good for Alana. It could bring trouble to her and her family if too many people knew where they were.
“Caleb,” said Ethan, trying to give his friend an inconspicuous nod of his head to take the woman somewhere else. After all, Caleb fancied her, even though Ethan couldn’t understand why.
“Huh?” asked Caleb, eating again as always. For such a small man, he seemed to eat twice as much as the others.
“Dinna ye want to show Bridget somethin’?”
“What?” asked Caleb, licking off his fingers.
“Tell me more about the isle and the castle,” said the girl, pushing her way closer, leaning forward so she wouldn’t miss a word. “Whose child is this? And does someone actually live in those ruins?”
Ethan groaned. “Caleb, mayhap ye’d like to get Bridget a drink?”
“Nay, I’m fine,” she said, looking down at little Isobel. “What is her name?”
“It’s Isobel,” he mumbled as the little girl’s eyes closed and she snuggled up contentedly against his chest to sleep.
“She looks a lot like ye,” said Bridget.
His head snapped up at that comment. “Nay she doesna,” he said, perusing the girl. Then he decided mayhap she did look like him a little, but it was only a coincidence, naught else.
“Aye, she does. She’s got those big, round, brown eyes like yers and her hair is the same color as yers,” continued Bridget.
“A lot of children do. It’s common,” he said, once again looking over at Caleb who was just about to take a big bite of a cinnamon custard tart.
Logan understood, and snatched the tart away from Caleb, shoving the whole thing in his mouth at once.
“Losh me! What did ye do that for?” Caleb jumped to his feet, looking like he was ready to punch Logan.
“Mayhap ye’d better get another one,” said Hawke.
“And take Bridget with ye,” added Ethan.
Finally, Caleb caught on. “Oh, aye. Bridget, why dinna we go find a tart or two?”
His friends burst out laughin
g.
Caleb took her by the arm. “I mean food . . . no’ the other kind of tart,” he said, sounding embarrassed.
“But I wanted to ask Ethan more about the isle,” Bridget protested. “Then again, ye were there, too, so mayhap ye can tell me about it instead.” She smiled but Caleb threw his friends a look that said he needed saving as they headed away.
Ethan looked down at the little girl in his arms, not able to think of anything else except that she was Alana’s child. That made him wonder about the girl’s father. His heart ached, thinking of what Bridget said, that she looked like him. If he and Alana had married, would their child have looked like this? He wondered.
Holding Isobel tightly in his arms, he felt like he wanted to protect her. Even if this wee lass wasn’t his own, he still felt that by holding her, he was closer to Alana in some way.
“She looks guid in yer arms,” said Hawke, bringing Ethan from his thoughts.
“Same to ye,” said Ethan, smiling since Hawke was in a similar situation as he.
“Och, ye two are actin’ like auld married men.” Logan waved his hand through the air in disgust. “Come on, Jack, let’s go hunt down a fox or a lassie or something that is more excitin’ than sittin’ here watchin’ this!” He and his wolf left.
Hawke’s wife, Phoebe, walked up next with their laird, Storm, and his wife, Wren.
“I think it’s time for Sophie to go to sleep,” said Phoebe, reaching out and taking the child from Hawke.
“I’ll take Isobel,” Wren offered, lifting her from Ethan’s arms. After they left, Storm cleared his throat, sitting down on a bench.
“Did ye want to talk about this?” asked Storm.
“No’ really.” Ethan would have to explain things to the clan’s chieftain now, and that was not going to be enjoyable. He sighed and started to talk. “The wee lass is Alana’s daughter,” he explained. “I found Alana livin’ in Blackbriar Castle.”
“Alana?” Storm frowned.
“Chisholm,” Hawke told his father. “Ye remember the lass Ethan was goin’ to marry five years ago.”
Highland Spirit: Highland Chronicles Series - Book 2 Page 11