“Aye,” said Storm, raising his brows. “So she disappeared after leavin’ ye at the altar just to live in a haunted castle on a deserted isle?”
“It seems so,” Ethan answered, looking at the floor.
“What’s goin’ on?” asked Storm in a low voice.
“I wish I kent the answer to that,” Ethan answered. “Somethin’ was odd there. It just wasna right.”
“Ye mean, with the ghost and all?” asked Hawke with a smile.
“Nay, no’ just the ghost, although that was unsettlin’, too. It seems no one cared about the ghost or was even frightened by it.”
“Except for ye,” chuckled Hawke, getting a stern look from his father.
“Ye ken ye canna keep the child here,” said Storm. “It’s no’ right and will only cause trouble. Ye need to take her back to her mathair.”
“I ken. I will do it first thing in the mornin’.” Ethan stood, wanting more than anything to get some sleep and to think things over. “There was somethin’ else that really bothered me,” he said.
“What’s that?” Storm stood and so did Hawke.
“She said her faither was goin’ mad. They kept him chained up in his room because of it.”
“What’s odd about that?” asked Hawke. “I’d have him chained up, too, if I were in their position.”
“Was he a prisoner?” asked Storm, mimicking Ethan’s thoughts exactly.
“I think so. He must be there against his will because I doubt that Alana would do somethin’ like that to her faither even if he was goin’ mad.”
“What about the rest of her family? Were they there as well?” asked Hawke.
“Only her pregnant sister, Kirstine, and her brother, Finn. Her mathair is dead.”
“Well, mayhap we should check it out,” said Storm. “We are the closest clan to the isle.”
“Nay.” Ethan shook his head. “Alana doesna want me there.”
“Where was the faither of her baby?” asked Storm. “Who is he?”
“I believe he’s dead, and I have no idea who he was. I didna ask and I am no’ sure I really ever want to ken. Excuse me now, because I need some rest.”
Ethan left the building, heading to a small hut that he shared with his friends. It was still storming and raining relentlessly, but Ethan felt numb because of what happened. He didn’t seem to notice the weather. He was about to go inside when he thought he saw movement from down where the boat was docked. If a thief in the night were trying to steal it, he’d give them a little surprise.
Unsheathing his sword, he hurried down to the water, so upset and angry after being at the castle that whatever poor soul was there trying to steal his boat was going to end up missing a hand or perhaps his head.
* * *
Frigid, slushy rain sliced down on Alana as she rowed the small boat to the mainland shore in the choppy water. The storm was too much for the small boat. But once she started out, it was too late to turn back. It had a small sail on it that she’d used to make it halfway across. But the wind was relentless, blowing her off course, so she’d taken the sail down and opted to row instead.
Her muscles ached and she could barely feel her fingers and toes anymore because she was too cold. She wore a cloak with a hood but it did little to keep her dry. If she didn’t want to die before, she surely did now. Then again, the storm might make that decision for her.
Pushing her fears aside, she decided she didn’t care how cold she was or what she had to do to get there, it no longer mattered. All she cared about was making sure her baby was safe. Why couldn’t she spend more time with her child instead of attending to things that didn’t matter to her? If she died in this storm before she made it to shore, she’d never see Isobel again. Her heart ached to even think this way, and she decided to focus on the shoreline and row faster.
The last place she really wanted to be right now was the MacKeefe camp, but she didn’t have a choice. Isobel made that decision for her. Alana hadn’t been here since the day she’d almost married Ethan and become not only his wife but also a part of the clan. Every single one of the MacKeefes had been friendly and kind to her, and now she regretted having to see them again but on totally different terms.
Because of leaving him with no explanation, she was sure his clan would not take kindly to her and neither could she blame them. If she were in Ethan’s position, she would be sure to hate her, too.
Her long cloak dragged behind her as she jumped from the boat in ankle-high water and pulled the boat to the shore. Her body was so cold that she couldn’t bend her fingers. She felt like a block of ice. But at least she was alive, and had made it here to bring Isobel back with her. She noticed the boat that Ethan had used, tied up next to her. She wrapped a line from her boat around the same stake he’d used since there were no trees this close to the water.
She’d just finished tying the knot when someone jumped out from behind a large rock in the dark, about scaring her out of her mind.
“Who goes there?” came a deep, gruff voice.
Her body stiffened.
As the man emerged, she saw the shine of his sword glimmering in the scarce moonlight.
“It’s me! Alana,” she cried. “Please dinna hurt me. I mean no harm.”
“Alana?” The sword slowly lowered and the man walked forward, allowing her to see that it was Ethan.
“Ethan!” she exclaimed. Her heartbeat sped up now.
“What are ye doin’ sneakin’ around in the dark? I thought ye were a thief stealin’ the boat. I almost took yer head off.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, wrapping her arms around her wet cloak, her teeth chattering. “I found out Isobel hid away on yer boat and I’ve come to get her and take her back to the castle.”
A flash of lightning lit up the sky, hitting a tree nearby. The boom of thunder and the sound of splintering wood filled the air, making her jump.
Immediately, Ethan was there, pulling her into his arms and against him in a protective hold. “Let’s get the hell out of here, Lanny,” he said, using the terms of endearment he used to call her years ago. That is, when they were lovers.
Together, with his arm around her shoulders, they ran back to the camp in the rain. He brought her into the main longhouse causing everyone to look up in surprise.
“Ethan?” asked Logan with a chuckle. “Where did ye find her?”
“I’m here for my daughter,” said Alana, feeling uncomfortable under the perusal of so many MacKeefes.
“Wasna she the one who escaped Ethan before they were married?” a teenaged boy asked his mother.
“No’ escaped,” his mother corrected him. “She left him standin’ alone like a stray dog at the altar while she went off with another man.”
“Ye are no’ welcome here,” shouted a man from the back of the room.
“She’s a strumpet,” said someone else.
“Enough!” shouted Storm, getting up and holding up a hand for silence. “We are MacKeefes. We dinna treat guests with such disrespect.”
“She’s no guest,” mumbled someone else.
“Alana Chisholm. Welcome,” said Storm’s wife, Lady Wren, hurrying across the room to greet her.
Alana remembered Lady Wren and had always thought she was one of the kindest people she’d ever met. She was English, yet the clan had accepted her. Alana hoped that mayhap they would all forgive her in time for what she had done to Ethan.
“Lady Wren, I’ve come for my daughter, Isobel,” explained Alana. “It seems she hid away on Ethan’s boat. I’m sorry.”
“Your daughter is safe,” Wren assured her. “And you are soaked to the skin. Let me get you something dry to wear and a bite to eat. You can warm yourself by the fire.”
“Nay, but thank ye,” she said, feeling too nervous around Ethan and not wanting to stay where she wasn’t wanted. Besides, she needed to get back to the castle before she was discovered missing. “I’ll just take my daughter and go.”
“Yer daughter
is sleepin’,” said Hawke’s wife, Phoebe, walking up to join them. “We just put the lassies to bed. Ye must stay for now. Ye canna take the wee one out in this storm.”
“That’s right,” agreed Ethan. “It’s too dangerous. And ye are wet and shiverin’. Ye should stay here for the night and wait out the storm.”
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 . . .”
“Dumped ye,” said Caleb, yawning and closing his eyes. “Ye still canna even say it yet, can ye?”
Logan smiled and continued to polish his sword. “Mayhap we should stay here. That way, if she tries to leave ye again, we can hold her down and keep her from runnin’.”
“That’s enough.” Ethan walked over and took the sword from Logan’s hand, laying it on the table. “Now, I mean it. I want to talk with her alone. I’ll never find out what’s goin’ on with ye two simpkins sittin’ here distractin’ her.” In two long strides, he was across the room, yanking the covers off of Caleb and pulling him to his feet. The pine marten hissed and ran out the open door followed by the wolf. Trapper started to follow but Ethan stopped him.
“Stay, boy,” he commanded and his dog sat down, still looking anxious like it wanted to chase his friends.
“Blethers, ye left the door open and now I need to go out in the cold and find Slink,” complained Caleb. He was barefooted and wearing nothing but his braies.
“Guid idea. So go,” said Ethan, swishing his hand in the air. “I told Alana to meet me here when she was done visitin’ with her daughter. She will be arrivin’ at any minute.”
“Hello?” Alana stuck her head in the door. “Is anyone home?”
“Alana!” Caleb half-turned, holding his hands over his groin area. “Dinna look.”
“Egads, Caleb, it’s no’ like there’s anythin’ to see.” Ethan walked over and grabbed a cloak from the wall and a pair of boots and handed them to Caleb. “Guidbye,” he said. “Dinna hurry back, ye two.”
“Come on, Caleb, we’ll find somethin’ better to do because this looks like it’s goin’ to be borin’,” complained Logan, grabbing his cloak and heading out the door. Caleb still stood there, not knowing what to do.
“Ye, too.” Ethan took Caleb by the elbow and hauled him across the room.
“Wait! I dinna have my boots on yet.” Caleb held the boots in one hand and the cloak in front of his nearly naked body with the other.
With Alana inside the building, Ethan pushed Caleb outside and slammed the door behind him. Immediately, a soft knocking noise was heard.
“I need my clothes,” came Caleb’s muffled voice from the other side of the door.
Ethan grabbed some clothes on a pile on the floor, knowing that is where Caleb always left his. He opened the door and his hand shot out. “Here.” He dropped them in Caleb’s hands.
“Thank y-” Caleb’s words were cut off as Ethan slammed the door in his face. He turned around to find Alana giggling, standing, warming her hands by the fire.
“Ye’re laughin’,” he said softly.
“Aye. I’m sorry,” she apologized. “It just struck me as funny, that’s all. Yer friends are special. I promise no’ to laugh again.”
“Nay.” He strolled across the room, his eyes focused on her. “I like it when ye giggle. It reminds me of the girl I used to ken.”
She stopped giggling then and stared into the fire. As he came closer, he swore he saw tears in her eyes.
“What we had was a guid thing, Ethan. But that . . . that was a long time ago.”
“What happened?” he whispered, coming up behind her. “Why did ye l
eave me when I thought ye loved me?”
She turned and looked up into his eyes. “I did love ye. And I still do.” She seemed sincere, and this only confused him more.
“Then why in heaven’s name did ye leave me on our weddin’ day?”
“I canna answer that, Ethan.”
“Why no’?” he growled. “Dinna ye think I deserve an answer?”
“Of course, ye do. But . . . but I canna give ye yer answer just yet.”
“Then tell me this. Was it because ye were in love with another man?” Ethan’s hands balled into fists as he considered the possibility.
“Nay!” she cried. “I’ve never loved anyone but ye, Ethan. Ye need to believe me.”
“How can I?” he asked, turning his head and looking the other way. He clenched his jaw as he spoke. “I havena seen ye in five years, and ye never had the consideration to tell me ye birthed another man’s baby.”
“Nay, it’s no’ like that. Ye dinna understand.”
In anger, Ethan knocked over a chair and stormed to the other side of the room. “Nay, I dinna understand, and I urge ye to explain now because I am losin’ my patience.”
“Dinna threaten me,” she spat, and then broke down and started crying.
Ethan always had a weakness for crying lassies. Especially ones he cared about. He didn’t want to see Alana so sad, and felt now that he had made her cry.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, walking closer.
She sat down on the edge of a bed and hid her face in her hands. “Nay, I’m the one who is sorry, Ethan. I have ruined everythin’ guid I’ve ever had in my life.”
Gently, he sat on the pallet next to her and pulled her hands away from her face.
“I had hoped to marry ye and have a family with ye, Alana. We were lucky enough no’ to have been betrothed just for the sake of an alliance. We fell in love. On our own. Or so I thought. That is somethin’ that is rare. I felt we had somethin’ special between us.”
“We did, Ethan. And I hope we still can.”
“How?” he asked. “I canna even get ye to be honest with me. How can I ever trust ye again?”
Highland Spirit: Highland Chronicles Series - Book 2 Page 12
