“I understand,” said Ethan with a nod. “Ye are a special person, Alana. Go ahead.”
“Well, I think she’s daft,” said Caleb with a puff of air from his mouth.
“Caleb, go wait downstairs,” said Ethan, sending him away.
“Gladly,” he said, and left the room.
“Take it,” said Alana, handing Sir Douglas the box. “And use the secret tunnel to get back to yer ship so ye are no’ stopped on the way out.” She gave him the box and showed him to the tunnel.
“Thank ye, and God bless ye,” said the man, ducking into the tunnel and hurrying away.
“That was a hard thing ye just did,” said Ethan, pulling her into his arms after they closed the secret door.
“It wasna as hard as dyin’ to protect it like my mathair or Murdock did,” she answered. “I feel the weight of the world taken off my shoulders no’ to have to guard the secret anymore.”
“Ethan? Are ye up here?” someone called out.
Ethan turned to see his father. Storm, Hawke, Caleb and Logan entered the room with him. Trapper pushed through them, wagging his tail, coming to Ethan’s side.
“What is it?” asked Ethan, doing nothing to move away from his wife. He kept hugging her as they spoke.
“Ethan, Storm tells me about Alana’s predicament,” said Onyx.
“She was involved in the smugglin’ with her family, but they were prisoners and forced to do it,” explained Ethan.
“We are takin’ the prisoners from the dungeon to the king,” said Logan. “He’ll decide their punishment.”
“What about my faither’s friends, Albert and Graeme?” asked Alana.
“I’m sure if they tell the king where to find the rest of the smugglers, he’ll give them a light sentence,” said Storm. “They were involved with other things yer faither did so, for that, they will have to pay.”
“Whatever happens to the smuggler, it’s no’ goin’ to be pretty,” said Caleb.
“Aye, the English and the Scots all want their heads,” added Hawke.
“What’s goin’ to happen to Alana and her siblin’s?” asked Ethan.
“Well, that’s what I came up here to tell ye,” said Onyx. “My sisters are guid friends with the Archbishop of Canterbury. I am sure if there are any problems on the English side, he will put in a guid word for Alana to their king. I’m sure it willna be a problem.”
“Alana, as chieftain, I will personally allow ye and yer family to live with the MacKeefes,” said Storm. “And I will vouch that ye and yer family were prisoners and were forced to be a part of the smugglin’ against yer will. All the MacKeefes will vouch for ye.”
“They will?” asked Alana, feeling blessed and truly part of the clan now.
“Aye, I’d do that,” said Caleb.
“Us, too,” Logan said, answering for him and Hawke.
“Aye,” said Storm. “And the king likes us, so I wouldna worry. I also dinna think there will be any objections from the clan when they hear the whole story.”
“I’d die to protect ye,” said Ethan, kissing Alana atop the head.
“Oh, Ethan, I wanted to tell ye that Bridget and her faither are downstairs askin’ a lot of questions,” said Caleb.
“God’s eyes, did they follow us here, too?” complained Ethan. “I suppose they have that book with them and are writin’ some kind of nonsense in it as we speak.”
“Ethan, that nonsense they are writin’ is a lot of praise about ye,” said Logan.
“That’s right,” agreed Hawke. “They are makin’ ye out to look like some kind of hero for catchin’ all these smugglers. Ye’re gettin’ a guid mention in the Highland Chronicles, dinna worry.”
“What about the treasure?” asked Caleb. “Are they writin’ about that, too?”
“What treasure?” asked Onyx.
Ethan cleared his throat and threw a warning glance at Caleb. “The only treasure here is the one I’ve found with my new wife,” he said.
“Aye, I think that is all just a myth,” said Storm with a knowing smile.
“Then I suggest we all get back to the MacKeefe camp and off this isle as fast as possible,” said Onyx, looking back and forth.
“Why is that, Da?” asked Ethan.
“Because I’ve heard of the stories of the . . . ghost,” he said. “And I, for one, dinna want to be around to see it.”
“I think that is goin’ to go into the records as just a myth as well,” said Ethan.
“Really?” asked Hawke. “So ye’re sayin’ ye’re no longer afraid of a little ol’ ghost?”
“That’s right,” said Ethan, kissing Alana atop the head. “I’m no longer superstitious, so ye all can stop teasin’ me about it now.”
“Bid the devil, what’s that?” Logan jumped and pointed over to the corner of the room.
“It l-looks like a ghost,” said Hawke. His eyes opened wide as they all stared at the woman in white who floated up to the ceiling and then out the window. Trapper saw her, too, and started barking.
“What’s the matter, men?” asked Ethan, no longer even shaken by seeing the spirit after everything he’d been through. Especially since he knew the ghost meant no harm but was rather a protector instead. “Are ye all afraid of ghosts now?” He broke out in laughter as they all turned and hightailed it out of the room with Trapper right behind them.
Alana and Ethan laughed, watching them go.
“So ye are really no’ afraid of the ghost anymore?” Alana asked him. “That’s wonderful.”
“That’s right,” said Ethan, feeling calmer than he had in a long time now. “I’m over it,” he said, kissing Alana on the lips. “Besides, I wouldna refer to her as a ghost after all.”
“Nay?” she asked.
“Nay.” He shook his head and smiled. “The way I see it, it’s naught but a little Highland Spirit.”
From the Author
Thank you for reading Ethan and Alana’s story in Highland Spirit. If you enjoyed it, I would love for you to leave a review for me.
I never meant for Alana to have so much sorrow in her life, it just kind of happened that way. But she was strong, and able to get through it. Especially with Ethan back at her side.
The relationship between Ethan and Alana was all about forgiveness and second chances. And it was not only about external conflict, but the inner battles they fought, too. For example, with Ethan’s childhood memories and Alana’s hesitance to tell him everything because of wanting to protect her family as well as to protect Ethan, too.
As this series continues, I must say I am becoming very fond of Caleb and can’t wait to write his story. Caleb and Logan’s stories are next, so be sure to watch for them in Highland Spy and Highland Steel.
The Highland Chronicles Series:
Highland Storm
Highland Spirit
Highland Spy
Highland Steel
When I first wrote the book, Lady Renegade – Book 2 of my Legacy of the Blade Series, featuring Storm MacKeefe, many years ago, I had no idea I’d someday be writing about the generations of the MacKeefe Clan. It is fun – and confusing at times – writing about the children of some of my more notable characters. The family tree is growing!
Thank you all for your support,
Elizabeth Rose
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Rose is a multi-published, bestselling author, writing medieval, historical, contemporary, paranormal, and western romance. Her books are available as EBooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks as well.
Her favorite characters in her works include dark, dangerous and tortured heroes, and feisty, independent heroines who know how to wield a sword. She loves writing 14th century medieval novels, and is well-known for her many series.
Her twelve-book small town contemporary series, Tarnished Saints, was inspired by incidents in her own life.
After being traditionally published, she started self-publishing, creating her own covers and book trailers on a dare from h
er two sons.
Elizabeth loves the outdoors. In the summertime, you can find her in her secret garden with her laptop, swinging in her hammock working on her next book. Elizabeth is a born storyteller and passionate about sharing her works with her readers.
Please be sure to visit her website at Elizabethrosenovels.com to read excerpts from any of her novels and get sneak peeks at covers of upcoming books. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or BookBub. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss out on new releases or upcoming events.
Click to join Elizabeth Rose’s Readers’ Group.
Also by Elizabeth Rose
Medieval Series:
Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series
Seasons of Fortitude Series
Secrets of the Heart Series
Legacy of the Blade Series
Daughters of the Dagger Series
MadMan MacKeefe Series
Barons of the Cinque Ports Series
Second in Command Series
Holiday Knights Series
Highland Chronicles Series
Medieval/Paranormal Series:
Elemental Magick Series
Greek Myth Fantasy Series
Tangled Tales Series
Contemporary Series:
Tarnished Saints Series
Working Man Series
Western Series:
Cowboys of the Old West Series
And More!
Please visit http://elizabethrosenovels.com
Highland Spirit: Highland Chronicles Series - Book 2 Page 20