Page 31 of Highland Spirit

“We warned ye to leave,” snarled Graeme. “Now, I guess we will be forced to take measures into our own hands.”

“What’s goin’ on here?” asked Kirstine, pushing into the room with Finn right behind her. She looked tired and seemed out of breath as she rested her hand on her large belly.

Caleb ran up next, chewing on something while Trapper rushed into the room almost knocking over the men. “I thought I heard someone scream. Is everyone all right?” The dog turned and growled at the guards, showing its teeth.

“We warned him to go and instead we find him in here,” said Albert.

“Leave him be,” Gil answered from the bed. “He means us no harm.”

“I dinna believe it.” Graeme took a step forward while Caleb drew his sword from behind him. The guards turned, grasping their weapons, keeping an eye on both Ethan and Caleb.

“Move aside. Let me in,” demanded Alana as she pushed through the men. She stopped in front of Ethan with a look of horror on her face. “Ethan! What are ye doin’ in here?”

“It seems I’ve found yer faither,” he answered.

Alana felt like things were going from bad to worse. The last thing she wanted was for Ethan to find her father when Diarmad had him chained to the bed. How was she going to explain this?

“He’s ill,” she blurted out, her eyes darting over to her father, and then back to Ethan. “He should be restin’. Ye need to leave anon.”

“Alana, someone better explain to me what is goin’ on around here, and they’d better do it fast,” warned Ethan.

“My faither has . . . gone mad,” she said, seeing the disappointment in her father’s eyes by talking about him as if he’d lost his mind. Still, she had to say something to satisfy Ethan so he would hopefully leave the isle. “We’ve been here for years in hidin’, hopin’ my faither’s mind would return to normal, but it hasna,” she said, wishing Ethan would believe it. “He’s only chained to the bed because we dinna want him to hurt himself.”

“He’s chained to the bed?” Ethan’s brows arched in surprise.

“Losh me, Alana!” said her father. “Did ye really have to say that?” He threw his hands up in the air, pushing the blanket to the side, no longer trying to conceal his shackle.

Alana could have kicked herself when she realized Ethan hadn’t known. Her father shook his head in disgust and lay back on the bed.

“Alana, I never thought ye’d be so cold as to chain up yer own faither,” gasped Ethan. “Why didna ye seek out help for him? Or at least tell someone ye were here all this time?”

“Ethan, please,” she begged, not wanting to have to lie to him anymore. “It would be better if ye just left the isle and never returned.”

The look he gave her said it all. Hurt showed in his eyes as well as irritation. She hadn’t meant for it to sound crass but he was upsetting everyone and he needed to leave. For now.

“I had Finn load the box of Osla’s things onto yer boat,” said Kirstine, stepping between the guards and Ethan.

“I see,” said Ethan, still standing with his sword drawn.

“God’s eyes, can everyone put down the weapons?” asked Alana.

“It seems to me yer laird wouldna want to harbor a thief who is goin’ mad. So why is he?” asked Ethan suspiciously.

“Men, lower yer weapons,” commanded Gil from the bed.

“Do it,” added Alana.

The guards slowly sheathed their weapons. Ethan and Caleb did the same.

“Ethan, please. Just leave here and dinna ask anymore questions,” begged Alana. “Leave this isle quickly and never return.”

“Do ye really mean that?” he asked. She felt his pain like a knife driving into her heart. “After all we had together, ye are sayin’ ye never want to see me again?”

“That’s right,” she answered, biting her bottom lip. If he didn’t leave soon, she was going to start crying, and she didn’t want to look weak in front of anyone right now.

“Well then. I suppose it’s time for us to leave, Caleb,” said Ethan.

“Aye, I suppose so.” Caleb reached down and picked up his pine marten that had followed him into the room.