by Katy Baker
Darcy put her arm around Gretchen and together they walked towards the mill and into the ruined front room where a fire was crackling in the hearth. Darcy had laid blankets by the fire and Gretchen sank gratefully down onto one of them. She couldn’t stop looking at her friend. She was afraid that if she did, she would disappear like a puff of smoke.
Darcy picked up a clay jug, poured some wine into beakers and handed one to Gretchen. “Drink. You look like you need it.”
“Still bossy, I see,” Gretchen replied. “That hasn’t changed.”
Darcy laughed. “You sound like Quinn.”
“Quinn?”
Darcy seated herself on the blanket opposite and looked directly at Gretchen. “Yes, Quinn. My husband.”
Gretchen’s eyes widened. “So it’s true!” she spluttered. “You’re married? Oh my God, Darcy! Start from the beginning. Tell me everything!”
“I will. Jeez, where to start?” she glanced around as though gathering her thoughts and then began. “You remember I came to Edinburgh for a veterinary conference? Well, while I was there I met a strange old woman—Irene MacAskill.”
Gretchen choked on her wine. “Irene MacAskill? A woman by that name came to see me in my apartment—told me you were okay. It’s because of her I came to find you.”
Darcy’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not at all surprised she’s involved in this. There’s more to that old woman than meets the eye. When I met her at the conference she gave me a guide book and told me to go see some of Scotland, saying if I did I might ‘find my heart’s desire’. She’s good at giving cryptic messages like that.”
Gretchen snorted her agreement. “Don’t I know it?”
Darcy shrugged. “I took her advice. You remember I called you and said I was going to do some sightseeing before coming home? Well I hired a car and went driving in the Highlands. I hit a deer on the road so I got out and chased it, in case it was injured and needed treatment.”
Gretchen smiled to herself. That was typical of Darcy. She could never leave an animal in distress. It was why she was such an amazing veterinarian.
“Anyway,” Darcy continued. “I followed the deer through a rock archway on the loch shore. When I emerged on the other side I was here, in sixteenth century Scotland.”
“An archway?” Gretchen asked. “That’s the same as me. I came here looking for you—the police found no trace except your damaged hire car. So I went to this place that Irene suggested—Morag’s Cave it’s called. There was an archway on the hillside and when I walked through I was in this century.”
“An arch through time,” Darcy muttered. “Irene is up to something. There must be a reason she sent you back here.”
“She said I could avert a disaster. Like you said, that woman is great at giving cryptic clues.”
“Yes, but she’s normally right. I did find my heart’s desire here, Gretchen. I found Quinn. That’s why I didn’t come home. My home is here, with my husband. With my child.”
She rested a hand on her belly and Gretchen noticed for the first time the soft swell there.
“You’re pregnant!” she cried, pointing.
“Is that what this is?” Darcy said laughing. “I was wondering about that.”
Gretchen worked her mouth but no words came out. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Um...congratulations...I think.”
Darcy scooted forward and took hold of Gretchen’s hands. “I know this is strange for you. Hell, it was strange for me, for a long time. But I’m at home here now. I have a new life, a new family. And Quinn...he’s everything, Gretchen. You’ll like him. Everyone does. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
Gretchen held out her hand. This was all going a little too fast. “Meet him? What do you mean?”
“When you come back to Dun Breggan with me. The MacFarlane clan will make you very welcome. I could hardly believe it when I heard someone from the Murray clan was asking after me, someone who fitted your description. But here you are.”
“Here I am,” Gretchen agreed weakly.
This meeting wasn’t going how she’d planned. She was overjoyed to see her friend, of course, but she’d expected to find a Darcy desperate to get back to the twenty-first century not one who seemed utterly at home here, and wanted her, Gretchen, to join the MacFarlanes.
“You don’t understand,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t join you. The Murrays took me in, showed me kindness. And there’s someone...special there. I thought you’d want to join us, not the other way around.”
“Someone special?” Darcy asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t look at me like that!” Gretchen said, blushing. “I never planned it. I came here to find you. I never thought I’d find something else instead!”
“Me too. But it happened anyway. Who is this guy?”
Gretchen opened her mouth and the words came tumbling out. She told Darcy everything. From the moment she met Ewan in the woods to the moment she left Dun Carrick to ride here. It was like old times. She and Darcy had always told each other everything. Gretchen had been able to confide in her friend more than anyone else she’d ever known. That, at least, hadn’t changed.
When she finally fell silent Darcy nodded. “I can see why you’re so keen to remain with the Murrays. Ewan sounds wonderful. I hope he and Quinn will like each other. It would be awkward if our husbands don’t get on.”
Gretchen choked on her wine again. “Husband? Hang on a minute! Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?”
Darcy smiled. “We’ll see.”
“You reckon?” Gretchen said. “Unless something drastic changes, the only time Quinn and Ewan will meet will be in battle tomorrow.”
A shadow of anguish passed across Darcy’s face. She stroked her belly absently. Then her expression hardened. “Not necessarily. When I came here tonight I wasn’t sure what your position in the Murray clan was. I thought they might be holding you against your will. You never know with them these days. Now that I know you’re held in high esteem by them, it gives me hope. There’s a way, a possible way we might be able to avert this battle.”
Hope flared in Gretchen’s chest. Was this the chance she’d been looking for?
She met her friend’s eyes. “How?”
“By exposing the truth,” Darcy said. “This whole situation is a lie. A set-up. It’s been orchestrated from the start by a man called Richard de Clare.”
Gretchen gasped. “de Clare?”
“I’m guessing from that look on your face you’ve heard of this guy?”
“Heard of him? I’ve met him, worse luck. And a bigger slime ball you could never hope to meet.”
Darcy snorted. “Sounds like he takes after his dad then. He wants revenge against the MacFarlanes and he’ll cause a war to get it.” She sucked in a deep breath as if steeling her courage. “When I first came here John de Clare, Richard’s father, had taken control of the Murray clan. John de Clare was power hungry and wanted to seize control of MacFarlane lands and the trading routes we hold. He launched an attack on Dun Breggan. The attack failed but he kidnapped me in the process. Quinn came after us and he and John de Clare fought. Quinn killed him. I had hoped that would end the feud between the Murrays and the MacFarlanes but it didn’t. It seems Richard de Clare won’t stop until he’s avenged his father. Until he’s killed my husband.”
There was a tremor of fear in Darcy’s voice and Gretchen took her hand. “That won’t happen. We’ll stop Richard de Clare. I’ll go to Merith, explain everything you’ve told me.”
“You reckon she’ll believe you?” Darcy asked, raising an eyebrow. “From what I’ve heard Merith is no more forgiving than her father was and if Richard de Clare has been pouring poison in her ear it can only have gotten worse.”
“Then what should we do?”
Darcy looked at her, firelight dancing in her eyes. “There is a way, but it’s dangerous. You’ll be taking a huge risk.”
“I don’t care about that,” Gretchen said, determin
ation welling up inside her. If there was a way to avert this war and keep Ewan and the others safe she’d take it, no matter the danger to her.
“You were always the brave one of the two of us,” Darcy said smiling. “Always the one pushing the boundaries, trying new things.”
“And screwing it up most of the time,” Gretchen said wryly.
“Now, now!” Darcy said, wagging a finger. “You sound like your mom. I thought we agreed you wouldn’t take any notice of her?”
“Right. Fine. Tell me about this plan of yours.”
“For months now Robert and Quinn have been trying to get messages to Merith explaining the truth of what happened to John de Clare and trying to sue for peace. The messengers never get through. Richard de Clare makes sure of that. His men patrol our borders constantly and those so-called raids by MacFarlane warriors? All a set-up. There hasn’t been a MacFarlane raid into Murray territory for years. Laird Robert is an honorable man and has outlawed it. He wants peace. It’s only a pity Richard de Clare doesn’t feel the same.”
Gretchen nodded. “Ewan found it strange that whenever he and his men went out on patrol they found no evidence of any raids. It was only de Clare’s men that did that.”
“There you go then. But there’s more. You heard about the attack on the caravan in MacGregor territory?”
“Yes, it’s what made Merith decide to attack.”
“That was a set-up too. There was no attack on the caravan. Richard de Clare and the merchant are in league with each other. God alone knows how much Richard had to pay him but no price seems too great to pay for his revenge.”
“Wow,” Gretchen said, whistling under her breath. “What a scumbag. Merith won’t listen though. The merchant came and told her personally what happened. She won’t trust a MacFarlane saying otherwise.”
“No, she won’t,” Darcy agreed. “Which is why we’ll offer her proof.” She pulled a rolled parchment from the pocket of her dress. “Quinn and Robert captured the merchant’s guard captain. He’s under guard in the camp right now. He admitted to the whole thing and he’ll say the same to Merith if she’ll listen.”
Gretchen felt a surge of hope only for it to be quickly doused again. “But he’s with the MacFarlanes,” she said. “There’s no way Merith will agree to ride into your camp. She’s not stupid.”
“I know,” Darcy said. “Which is why this scroll is so important. The caravan captain had it on his person when he was captured. It’s a letter from Richard de Clare to the merchant, Martin Drummond, detailing the payment and his role in the subterfuge. It’s written in de Clare’s own hand. There’s no way he’ll be able to deny it. Deliver this to Merith and she’ll have to listen to you.”
Slowly Gretchen reached out and took the parchment. This was it. The key to ending this war. The key to keeping Isabelle, Jenna and Amy safe.
The key to saving Ewan.
“This will be very dangerous for you,” Darcy said, placing both hands on Gretchen’s shoulders and looking into her eyes. “If Richard de Clare should find out...”
She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “Ewan will protect me. We’ll take it to Merith together. Then she’ll have to listen.”
Darcy squeezed her shoulder. “I knew I could rely on you, Gretchen. I always have. Tell Merith that Robert and Quinn will give her safe passage to come and question the caravan guard. We’ll be camped by Loch Shay.”
“Loch Shay. Got it.” Gretchen tucked the parchment away. “The Murray army will be riding out tomorrow. They’re going to be camping at Hugh’s Cross the night before the battle. I’ll try and make sure I’m with them if I can. You can get word to me there if needed.”
Darcy raised her beaker. “Let’s drink to peace!”
“Peace,” Gretchen agreed. “And being reunited with old friends!”
Chapter 14
EWAN SHIFTED HIS POSITION, trying to avoid a root that kept digging into his side. It did no good. There were no comfortable spots on this wind-blasted hillside. Beside him, Connail grumbled.
“This is pointless,” he said. “I thought we’d come to catch a MacFarlane spy. Why are we lying here like loons watching some lass make herself a meal?”
Ewan was inclined to agree with his brother. They’d been waiting on this hillside for nigh on an hour now, watching a ruined mill that sat in a dell below. In that time the only thing they’d spotted was a lass riding in on a horse, going into the mill and starting a fire. Aye, the lass wore MacFarlane colors but what of it? They were close to the MacFarlane border so it wasnae surprising they’d meet MacFarlane folk.
And the last time he looked, the Murray clan weren’t into kidnapping lone women.
If that was Richard de Clare’s purpose out here, Ewan would soon disabuse him of it.
He straightened, looking over at Richard de Clare. “This is a waste of time. We should be getting back to the others.”
“Get down, you fool!” de Clare barked. “She’ll see you and you’ll blow our cover!”
“So? There’s nobody here but a lone MacFarlane woman. Where are these spies ye said we’d catch?”
Annoyance flashed across Richard de Clare’s face. He had two of his men with them whereas Ewan had only Connail. If it came to a fight, it would be a close thing.
I don’t care, Ewan thought. I’d give anything to teach this bastard a lesson.
He bit down on his anger. Right now the welfare of the Murray clan was all that mattered. His feud with de Clare could wait until this was over.
“Do I really need to remind you that Merith sent us on this mission? You remember her? Your laird? And she put me in charge. So shut your mouth and keep watch!”
Ewan ground his teeth. Involuntarily his hands curled into fists. How he longed to punch that smug face. But de Clare was right. When Richard had brought word of rooting out a MacFarlane spy, Merith had lost no time in sending men to investigate it. She put Richard in charge and told him to pick his own men. For a reason Ewan couldn’t fathom, Richard had picked him. So they’d ridden out this afternoon, following the higher ground and using lesser known tracks until they’d reached this desolate place. They’d been waiting here ever since.
“Just our luck to get stuck with His Highness there,” Connail muttered beside him. “I’m sure the good Lord has it in for me although what I’ve ever done to Him I canna guess.”
Ewan smiled and patted his brother on the shoulder. “Think of it as a lesson in patience.”
“Patience? Ah, ye see, that’s always been something of a weakness of mine. I prefer fighting to waiting. Stick a sword in my hand and point me at an enemy and I’m yer man. Stick me on a hillside watching nothing and my skills are wasted.”
“Well I’m sure ye’ll get a chance to use yer skills soon enough.”
Ewan trailed off as the sound of hoof beats suddenly reached him. They all flattened themselves against the grass, only their heads raised to look out on the trail below.
A horse trotted into view, a wrapped figure in the saddle. The horse halted a fair distance from the ruined mill and the rider slid from the saddle.
“Hello?” the newcomer called. “Is there anyone here?”
Ewan’s stomach did a somersault. He recognized that voice. He’d recognize it anywhere. Nobody else had an accent like that, all lilting and strange.
No, he thought to himself. It can’t be.
But then the figure took a few steps and the hood fell back, revealing a face he dreamed of every night.
Gretchen.
Before he knew it he was on his knees, opening his mouth to call out. Then strong hands grabbed him, pushed him back down.
“What are you doing?” de Clare hissed. “Do you want to give us away, you idiot?”
Ewan went limp. His thoughts were suddenly foggy, confused. He turned his eyes to the trail below. Gretchen had taken a few hesitant steps. Then the MacFarlane lass appeared in the doorway. The two o
f them stared at each other for a second, and then Gretchen was hurrying forward, throwing her arms around the other woman.
Ewan shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. This made no sense. Why was Gretchen out here all alone, miles from the castle? And why was she meeting with a MacFarlane woman?
“I don’t understand,” he growled. “What, by all that’s holy, is going on?”
“Isn’t it obvious,” Richard de Clare snarled back. “Your lady friend is a spy. A MacFarlane spy. She’s played you for a fool, Ewan. The story she told you was nothing but a pack of lies so she could ingratiate herself into the clan! I’ll bet she’s down there right now telling that MacFarlane whore our plans!”
Ewan glared at Richard de Clare. Was that satisfaction shining in the man’s eyes? Had he known this is what they’d find when they rode out here? Was this why he’d invited Ewan? Was this the man’s revenge?
Ewan opened his mouth to argue. He wanted so badly to refute de Clare’s claims. He wanted so badly to defend Gretchen, to find some other explanation for why she was out here.
But nothing came.
Something dark welled up inside him. It was a mixture of anger, hurt, betrayal. Gretchen had lied to him.
The thought took his breath away.
“No,” he said. “This is not proof she’s a spy. This only shows she’s out here meeting someone. We don’t know the purpose of this meeting. I’ll not have her condemned without evidence.”
“You are a fool, Ewan Murray,” Richard de Clare said. “Didn’t I warn you to be more careful about the company you keep? Face facts. You aren’t the first man to be played the fool by a woman. Gretchen has betrayed us and she’ll face the consequences.”
Ewan didn’t like the glint in de Clare’s eye. He’d be dead before he let this man lay a hand on Gretchen.
“Ye don’t seem to be listening,” he said, his voice a deathly whisper. “I said I’ll nay condemn her until we have proof. I dinna ken what yer idea of justice is, de Clare, but in the Murray clan we require evidence before passing judgment. We’ll sneak closer, listen in on their conversation. And when it becomes apparent that they’re discussing something innocent, ye’ll owe the lady Gretchen an apology.”
