Page 23 of Highland Spirit

“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.