Page 40 of Highland Spirit

My, how the tables had turned, thought Alana. She was the one who insisted Ethan stay at Blackbriar Castle when he wanted to leave. Now she was in the same situation.

“I really do need to get back,” she protested.

“Why?” asked Ethan. “Ye seem afraid of somethin’. Is yer laird, Diarmad, goin’ to give ye trouble? Because if so, I’ll be sure to set him straight.”

“Nay,” she said, her heart beating wildly. She wasn’t sure at this point if Ethan and his friends were going to storm Blackbriar or if perhaps Diarmad and her father would show up here in MacKeefe territory instead. Either one would be unfortunate. “I – I suppose I could use a bite to eat and to warm myself at the fire.”

“Ye’ll stay the night,” insisted Ethan. “I willna let ye and the wee lass go out on the water in a storm at night. It is much too dangerous.”

Alana’s eyes darted around the room. Everyone was quiet and watching her. She’d never felt so uneasy in her life. “All right, if ye insist,” she finally agreed.

“Good,” said Lady Wren with a smile. “Phoebe, get Alana something dry to wear. She can stay in the hospice overnight where the guests sleep.”

“Is my daughter there?” asked Alana, longing to see little Isobel to make sure she was safe.

“Nay, she’s sleepin’ in our hut,” said Phoebe. “She wanted to be by her friend, Sophie, who is now my and Hawke’s daughter.”

“I see,” said Alana, still feeling uncomfortable.

“I can take ye to see her if ye’d like,” offered Ethan. “But first, ye need to get dry and warm.”

“All right. I would like that,” said Alana, looking up into Ethan’s caring eyes. “Ye are soaked from the rain as well,” she said, reaching out to touch his wet leine.

“I will no’ melt,” he assured her and flashed a quick smile. Alana liked seeing Ethan smiling again. It gave her hope that she hadn’t ruined the man’s life after all and that, mayhap, he could still be happy someday.

“Ethan said ye are livin’ at that haunted castle,” remarked Storm, sounding suspicious. “Why?”

“Why?” she asked, suddenly becoming very nervous again. “It is my home now,” she said.

“Where have ye been for the last five years?” asked Storm. “And why didna ye tell Ethan where ye were?”

“Aye,” said Hawke, joining in with his father’s investigative questions. “And why did ye leave him on yer weddin’ day to begin with?”

“I – I –” she looked up at Ethan, seeing the sadness in his eyes. “It’s a long story,” she said, touching her cheek that felt frozen and like it was on fire all at the same time. “I’m feelin’ lightheaded and I’d hate to swoon. I think I need to sit down.”

“Of course, dear,” said Wren, giving her husband and son a nasty glare. “What is the matter with ye two? Alana has gone through a lot to get here and I’m sure she is worried sick about her daughter.”

“That’s right,” added Phoebe, coming to her aid. “Let her rest. I’m sure she’ll answer everyone’s questions in the mornin’.”

“Aye. In the mornin’,” agreed Alana, knowing now that she had to find Isobel and sneak her out of the MacKeefe camp and go back to the castle before dawn. If not, she was going to have to answer questions that she couldn’t. Suddenly, coming here didn’t seem like such a good idea after all.

Chapter 10

Trapper followed right on Ethan’s heels later that night as he burst into the bunkhouse he shared with Logan and Caleb.

“Out!” commanded Ethan, causing his friends to look up. Caleb was already lying in bed with his pine marten snuggled up on his chest. Logan sat at the fire polishing his sword while his wolf lay curled up on a blanket in the corner of the one-room house.

“What?” Caleb sat up halfway in bed, holding on to his pet.

“What’s this all about?” grumbled Logan, slowly lowering his sword.

“I’m goin’ to need some privacy with Alana,” Ethan answered.

“Och, is that all?” Caleb laid back down. “Go ahead and bed her, we willna bother ye.”

“Aye, we can even hang a blanket up over there.” Logan pointed with the tip of his sword. “Now that Hawke’s no longer sharin’ the place with us, ye two will have plenty of room to . . . do yer thing.”

“I never said I wanted to bed her,” replied Ethan, not that the idea hadn’t crossed his mind. “I havena been alone with her since she . . . since she . . .”