Page 55 of Highland Spirit

“Well, if that is love, then I have a lot to learn,” said Ethan. “Because to me, it seems that ye are nothin’ but a big liar.”

“I’m sorry, Ethan,” said Alana, tears trailing down her cheeks. “I never wanted it to be this way between us, but I had no choice.”

“We all have choices,” he told her. “And ye chose to leave me and lie to me. I think it was a mistake to come here in the first place. I’m leavin’ Alana. I’m leavin’ and I’m takin’ my daughter with me as soon as we eat and pack a few things for her.”

He turned to go and Alana’s heart felt as if she had a dagger sticking in it. “I canna live this way anymore,” she said. “Please stay, Ethan. Stay, and I promise I will tell ye everythin’.”

“Alana, nay,” begged Kirstine as Alana continued to cry. “Ye canna,” she whispered.

“I have to,” said Alana wiping her tears. “Kirstine, I refuse to keep livin’ this way.”

“What are ye sayin’?” asked Ethan, holding little Isobel to his chest and kissing the top of her head.

“We need to go to my faither’s chamber,” Alana told him. “Since he is a part of this, too, I think he should be present when I tell ye what’s been goin’ on for the past five years.”

“Does this mean we’re no’ havin’ soup?” asked Caleb, looking disappointed.

“Let’s go,” growled Ethan, scowling at Caleb. “But this is yer last chance, Alana. Ye either tell me everythin’ or I swear I will take Isobel and leave and never return.”

Chapter 14

“Alana? What’s goin’ on?” asked Gil Chisholm, sitting up in his bed as soon as they entered the room.

“Faither, we need to talk with ye.” Alana led the procession into the room.

“Close the door, Caleb,” commanded Ethan, walking over to a chair and sitting down, still holding his daughter. Isobel’s little body trembled and he swore he wouldn’t let her go as long as she was still frightened.

“All right,” said Caleb, closing the door and walking back, holding his pet.

“Can I hold the weasel?” asked Finn anxiously.

“Finn, no’ now,” scolded Kirstine, sitting down on the edge of her father’s bed.

“It’s all right,” said Caleb, handing his pet to Finn. “But Slink isna a weasel so dinna insult him. He’s a pine marten. He likes to slink around.”

Ethan cleared his throat. “If ye’re quite done discussin’ rodents, Alana has a lot of explainin’ to do.”

“Rodent?” Caleb reached out and covered his pet’s head with his hand. “Dinna let Slink hear ye call him that!”

“Caleb,” said Ethan in a stern voice.

“All right, all right, I’m sittin’ down so we can discuss ghosts.” Caleb looked around and plopped down on the floor next to Finn.

“What are ye doin’ here?” asked Gil, jumping up, but being stopped by the chain around his leg that held him to the bed.

“I’m here with my wife and daughter, and I’m waitin’ for answers,” Ethan told him.

“Wife and daughter?” Gil’s eyes darted over to Alana.

“Da, we were married today,” Alana explained. “And Ethan kens Isobel is his daughter.”

“Oh, Alana, nay.” Her father sat down on the bed and buried his face in his hands. “This canna be. Do ye ken what kind of danger ye just put us all in?”

“I’d like to ken the answer to that. Go ahead and explain,” Ethan told Alana.

Alana paced the room as she spoke.

“It all happened so fast,” she told Ethan. “I wasna sure what to do. And I dinna ken where to start.”