Page 22 of Highland Spirit

“What kind of laird would run a castle this way?” asked Ethan, glancing up at a hole in the roof where the snow was blowing in. The tapestries on the walls were torn and dirty, and a broken metal fixture that held candles dangled from the ceiling, all the candles stubs too small to burn. “Look at this place. It’s in such disrepair that it is fallin’ down around us. No wonder it’s said to be haunted.” He kicked at the stale, dirty rushes on the floor and part of the floor splintered up with it.

“It’s no’ haunted,” said little Isobel, looking up at him with wide, brown eyes.

“Aye, it is,” said Finn, shooting the girl a nasty glare. “Isobel, mayhap ye should go to bed now.”

“Nay! I want to stay with Ethan. He’s nice.” The little girl stuck out her tongue at Finn.

“Would ye like an ale?” asked a serving wench, handing Caleb and Ethan each a mug.

“Ale? Nay, I’ve got somethin’ better,” said Caleb, reaching to his side and then looking around the floor. “What happened to the bladder of Mountain Magic I had tied to my waist?” he asked.

“Ye probably forgot it on the boat,” said Ethan with a scowl. “Ye’re always forgettin’ things.”

“Nay, I’m sure I had it with me,” Caleb protested.

“Then mayhap that little thief stole it,” remarked Ethan, talking about Caleb’s pine marten but, for some reason, Isobel thought he meant her.

“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.