Page 58 of Highland Storm

Chapter 18

“I still dinna understand why we didna go back to save Ian,” complained Caleb as the small entourage made their way to the MacKeefe camp. Ethan rode alongside of them with his wolfhound and Logan brought up the rear with his wolf slinking along in the shadows. Apollo glided above them doing lazy circles in the sky.

Phoebe and her siblings were behind them in the cart. She wanted to stay with her sisters and brother, so Hawke let her do that instead of making her ride with him. He didn’t think she’d try to escape and leave her siblings here. He also felt like he needed to be away from her to be able to clear his head. Ever since they’d made love, things were different.

“We canna do that right now,” said Hawke, looking straight ahead as they rode. “I have to protect Phoebe and the boy, and her sisters.”

“Since when do we put protectin’ the enemy in front of savin’ one of our own clan?” rallied Logan.

“Ever since he slept with the lass,” said Caleb, releasing a puff of air from his mouth.

“Hawke, think what ye’re doin’,” said Logan.

“I am,” he answered.

“But ye’re makin’ a stupid decision.”

“Am I?” Hawke asked. “After all, dinna forget we promised my faither we’d get to the MacKeefe camp to protect our own lassies and bairns so that is where we’ll go.”

“The English willna come this far,” Caleb assured him. “I talked to a few men at the tavern that told me there was some suspicion that Richard was goin’ to turn his troops around and head back to England. The Scots are holdin’ out as long as they can.”

“I dinna ken,” said Logan. “They also told us that the English were still headin’ north up the coast.”

“No matter what happens with the English, we have women and children to protect and Phoebe and her siblin’s are no exception,” stated Hawke.

“What’s the plan for savin’ our chieftain?” asked Caleb. “Are we goin’ to trade all of them for him?”

“I dinna ken,” said Hawke, feeling broken-hearted already. He didn’t want Phoebe or her sisters and brother to go back to Crookston Castle while Euan ruled. “Her faither is ill and might be dyin’.”

“So might yer grandda, or did ye forget about him?”

“I didna forget,” snapped Hawke. “Now both of ye leave me alone. I need to think.” Hawke urged his horse into a full gallop, distancing himself from the others. Perhaps when he arrived home, he’d head up into the mountains to clear his mind and come up with a plan. So much and so many depended on him. If only he hadn’t fallen for Phoebe and seen her siblings locked away in the dungeon, then perhaps things would be different right now.

* * *

Phoebe rode next to Orrick on the bench of the wagon on their way to the MacKeefe camp. She noticed Hawke kept to himself, not even conversing much with his friends.

“What’s troubling you, Phoebe?” asked Orrick. Phoebe glanced over her shoulder into the back of the wagon. Her sisters and brother were sleeping. Hawke had made sure to give them food and ale, and they felt safe for the first time since they’d been locked in the dungeon by Euan.

“I was just thinkin’ about my faither,” she told him. “He is ill and I’m afraid he will die before I return to Crookston Castle.”

“Have you tried to heal him with the herbs you read about in my book?”

“Aye,” she said. “Most of them. However, I wish I had some of that Common Centaury. I am sure that could heal him. It has to.”

“Phoebe, there is something I didn’t mention about that plant that I think you need to know.”

“I ken. It only grows on the Isle of Kerrera.”

“Besides that. You see, it is biennial.”

“Biennial?” she asked.

“Aye. That means it only blooms once every two years.”

“And ye said it is bloomin’ right now?”

“That’s right. If you can’t collect some of it soon, you’ll have to wait two more years to gather it.”