Both Clint and Ethel were nodding their heads in agreement. The two of them were most fond of Lady Millie, but beyond that, they were most afraid for everyone in the village. What that man would stop at was unknown, and what would happen to them with no one in charge at the estate?
Clint sat upright, trying to ease the pounding in his head.
"But tonight, we'll rest easy enough, I guess, as that man has probably gone on, having not found Lady Millie."
Yes, thought Alex, but where?
"Did anyone else know Jack was taking the women and going north?"
Ethel thought for a second.
"No, well, nobody except Dorothea and Winston. But they wouldn't tell, that's for sure. Dorothea raised Lady Millie from the time she were small and stayed with her 'til that lord sent her back to Scotland. That was when Lady Millie married him. 'Twas a most disturbing time for Dorothea, as she was like a mother to Lady Millie. But I reckon she's doing well enough now. She has another child to care for now, ye see, so she be doing what she was put here ta do."
"Then, it seems to me I should try to catch up with Jack and the ladies. If Warwick should figure out which way they're traveling, then Jack could use another man at his back. But, meanwhile, ye two stay here in yer cottage and if Warwick should return, leave him be. He's a very irrational man, and he wouldn't think twice about committing another crime. And I feel sure he won't stop looking for his wife, which means he and I will meet again."
Alex excused himself and started out again. At least from here he could make the trip with a blindfold on. It was a ways yet, but he had friends up the way and several places to go for shelter if he needed. His greatest fear now was that Jack would be greatly slowed down traveling with two women and a child. But, Jack was pretty savvy, and Alex knew those women were rather resourceful themselves.
Tonight the stars were bright, and a full moon shone on the snow covered ground. Letting his thoughts return to Caitlin, he always pictured her sitting at the table in the cave, talking with him, having tea with him, using that tiny teapot she was so fond of. All that seemed so long ago, and much had happened since then. Trying to look out for Caitlin was reason enough to keep going, tired though he was. Jack, too, needed someone looking out for him as well, thought Alex.
CHAPTER 59
Warwick wasted no time getting back to the Mermaid's Harbor Inn. He left his horse at the livery, instructing the stable boy to take care of the horse, meaning to feed him, water him, and give him a good rubdown. Warwick knew he would head out immediately, and he needed his horse to be ready. The stable boy was eager to do anything for this gentleman, Warwick could see that.
He walked just a short block, turned the corner and was at the Inn in no time. Opening the door, he found the serving girl mopping the floor after the evening meal.
"Hello again, my pretty lass!" hailed Warwick, taking the girl by surprise. It looked as if she was alone. At least the meddlesome cook didn't seem to be around.
"Oh, 'tis you, sir. Would ye be needin' some supper?"
Miriam was not truly pretty, and was aware of it, but it was still pleasing to hear someone call her that. She was extremely thin, and her lank, mousey hair could use a good washing.
"No, lass. You fed me very well this morning. Actually, I'm in need of your knowledge, and I'm sure you have much." Warwick knew how to get what he wanted.
The girl blushed. "Oh, not me, sir. Miss Ethel tells me I don't know nothin'!"
"Well, I'm betting you can help me. My friends in England are looking for a nursemaid for their young son. Someone mentioned a woman, Dorothea, I believe was the name, and that she lives in your village. Do you happen to know this woman, or where I could find her?"
"Oh, that be easy enough, sir. Dorothea was nursemaid to another family in England some years ago, but then she came back here to her home and still lives here. But, now she has a child of her own, so she may not be so inclined to go back jest now."
"Yes, I see what you mean. Well, I should at least make her aware her services are needed and she would be well compensated, I assure you."
"Yessir. Well, she lives over behind the kirk, in the small cottage at the rear. She lives there with her little boy. But then, I told you that already, didn't I." It didn't take much to get Miriam confused.
"One more thing I do need — a bottle of your finest whiskey. Could you get that for me?"
Taking her hand, he placed several coins in it and nodded slightly in her direction.
"I do thank you, my dear."
Miriam smiled brightly. She had never had so much money in one day.
Tossing even more coins to the stable hand moments later, Warwick left the village at a fast pace, heading out to the kirk. It was easily seen from almost anywhere as the steeple spire was taller than most buildings.
In just a matter of minutes, he was at the door to Dorothea's cottage, knocking loudly. Why didn't that woman just answer the door? Warwick needed information, and he needed it now!
After rapping again with no response, he walked around the cottage to the back entrance and pounded on the door. There was a light coming from somewhere, probably a candle in the kitchen. Out of the corner of his eye he just caught movement of a curtain, then it closed again. That dratted woman was here, alright, and she would let him in! He resorted to yelling at that point.
"Dorothea! It's Lord Warwick. I must speak with you. Open the door!"
There was still no response and by this time Warwick had lost all patience with that stupid woman.
"Dorothea, open the door or I'll break it down!"
Dorothea wrung her hands. What to do, what to do? She knew he would be true to his word and her door would be knocked off its hinges. She had seen firsthand how he behaved when in one of his rages, more times than she liked to recall. So, trying to think what to do, she called to Garry.
"Garry, come here to Mam." The child came to the kitchen and she took him to the larder, which was small, but large enough for her to place the wee laddie inside.
"Garry, you must stay here until I come for you. You must not make a sound! Do you understand? This is very important, my boy!"
The child nodded his head and sat down on the hard floor of the larder. At the last moment, Dorothea placed a small candle on the shelf so that the closet wouldn't be totally dark. Her lad was terribly afraid of the dark as was Dorothea.
"Yes, Lord Warwick, I'm coming."
Opening the door, she stood back as far away from him as she could. Fear of this man had been instilled in her long before now.
Warwick walked closer and looked down to her.
"Well, Dorothea. It took you long enough. Aren't you glad to see me?" This was said with a smile that belied his threatening words and tone.
"Lord Warwick, do come in." She indicated he was to sit on one of her two chairs.
"So, Dorothea. You seem to have landed on your feet pretty well, and have your own cottage now. Life is good then, I presume?"
Dorothea sat lightly on the edge of her chair.
"Yessir, I'm happy here." She dared not respond any more than was absolutely necessary as she feared him and was certain he knew it.
"Let's get down to business, then. And don't waste my time telling me you don't know where Millicent has gone, for I know you do. She's not at the castle. That only leaves one other place she would have come to — here. And, seeing she isn't here either, then I'll thank you to tell me where I can find her."
"Lord Warwick, I haven't seen Lady Millie since I left yer castle several years ago now. Surely, ye know more about her whereabouts than I."
Of course, Warwick saw through this charade as Dorothea knew he would. He stood up slowly and walked over to her chair. He jerked her up and lifted her completely out of it, holding her tightly about her small shoulders.
"I said don't waste my time! I know you've seen her!"
"But, sir, I haven't!"
Her voice was shrill and his had become very loud. He would
get the information from her somehow. A few backhands to her face would be a good starting place. Then a noise from the kitchen got his attention, and he set Dorothea down again. A small child darted across the room and ran into his mother's arms, crying and holding on to her skirt.
"Garry, I told you to stay put!" Dorothea wrapped the child in her arms and held him tightly.
"Ah, so, a child. And who does he belong to?"
"He's mine, he belongs to me. He is MY son!"
"Then I don't suppose you would like me to take him away with me, would you?"
"No! Lord Warwick, please! He's just a child!"
"Yes, and I don’t particularly like children, but I will get the information I need from you, or else I will take this child and you will never see him again."
He started toward the child and Dorothea jumped up quickly, putting Garry behind her.
"She's gone north, to the upper Highlands. That's all I know!"
"North, you say. And how is she traveling? Is she alone?"
"She's going by horseback and she has two friends with her."
"What friends? She has no friends!"
"I don't know them, Lord Warwick. That's all I can tell ye! Please, leave now!"
"These friends — men or women?"
"There's a man and woman traveling with her."
"But, she can't be able to travel very well. She's carrying my son that should be born any day now!"
"Yessir. I could see that."
"When did they leave the village?"
"Early this morning, sir. I believe it was."
"Where in the upper Highlands? That's quite a large area. What was the man's name?"
"MacKinnon, sir. I don't know the lady's name."
"What is that ridiculous woman thinking? Going on horseback in her condition! She could harm my son! Well, that just means they'll be moving very slowly and I'll be able to catch up with them before long."
Without another word he quickly fled the cottage, leaving the door standing open as he rushed to his horse. There was only one good path to the north, and thanks to the snowfall, tracking three travelers would be easy enough.
CHAPTER 60
Wabi had walked most of the day, reveling in the beauty that surrounded him. The snow was still on the ground, looking like a soft blanket spread upon the earth. Every once in a while he saw a sprout of greenery trying to peek out and reach for the sun. The trees, now looking vulnerable without their leaves, stood out in stark contrast to the evergreens and hollies that were proudly strutting their red berries of the season. He looked about and was even more sure everyone should make a "walkabout" occasionally because it did wonders to restore balance and calm.
Presently, his mind was at ease about Caitlin's discovery of her personal gifts. What she did with them would be interesting to observe. Perhaps she would bring some "magick" to the Highlands, to add to the magick already there. In one of his lives, Wabi had lived among the wee ones, the fairies, and the Highlands were still alive with them. You just had to know where to look.
Caitlin was in for many surprises, of that Wabi was confident. These gifts were given only to ones the Creator believed to have the capacity to use as they were intended, for man's betterment. Caitlin would come to that understanding in her own time as had Wabi.
As for her new relationship with Alex, Owl had expressed his opinion to Wabi recently. He trusted Alex and felt he would be open to Caitlin's unusual qualities and not stifle her when she was called on to use them.
Owl had been around for a long time, too, and was a good judge of character. All was well for the moment, and Caitlin now knew how to call Wabi. But the fact that she was traveling with the Highlander, Jack, and eventually his brother Alex, made Wabi realize he wouldn't be needed anytime soon. Perhaps this chapter of his many lives was over. This thought was not a sad one, but rather, an exciting one. He would now contemplate what his next assignment might be.
CHAPTER 61
Jack had tried to move them along as quickly as he could. Millie had yet to complain even one time, but her face told him she was barely able to stay in the saddle. Caitlin, lying in her bed of blankets with the babe snuggled up close to her, seemed to be faring very well. But, having had several broken bones himself, he was quite sure her leg must be giving her fits. The cart was better than trying to go on a horse, however, so Caitlin had kept her discomfort to herself. With each passing minute, they were getting closer to MacKinnon land, and he was hoping to get to the old crofter's cottage that sat near the creek at the edge of their property boundary. Other than stopping a couple of times for nature calls and for Millie to nurse the babe, they had been steadily moving upland. It had occurred to Jack he may be bringing danger to Da and the others, but Da would have done the same thing. He had no doubt about that. As he aged, it was becoming clear to Jack he was most fortunate to have been born into a family whose very bones were filled with compassion for others, even if it put them in harm's way sometimes.
The snow was not as heavy up higher as down in the lower regions. But, it was still covering the ground, and they had to make their way carefully and not stray off the path.
Little light was left in the sky, the sun already beginning to hide behind the hills. In the distance, Jack was ecstatic to see the old crofter's cottage he had been striving to get to before nightfall.
"Not much farther now, Millie. We'll be there soon." That got him a quick smile from Millie and gave him more reason to continue this trek. Pulling on his reins, he spoke to Goliath.
"Hey, old buddy. Looks like we don't have too much farther to go. We'll be at our destination soon and then we can all rest."
Within another half hour, they had arrived. Jack climbed down and walked over to assist Millie, reaching up and steadying her as she slowly dismounted. The days of travel, giving birth, and grieving over lost family had taken a toll on her, Jack thought. He took another moment, then took her hand in his.
"We're almost home, we're on MacKinnon land now. You're safe here."
Jack walked over to the pony cart to see about Caitlin. Just as he got there, Caitlin sat up and began to scream!
"Alex! Alex is in trouble! Jack! We've got to help him!"
"Easy, Caitlin, easy." Jack looked over at Millie as she came quickly.
"Caitlin. Quiet, now." Millie felt her forehead and then looked back to Jack.
"She's burning up with fever, Jack." Then she looked at Caitlin's leg. It was very swollen and had to be causing Caitlin a lot of pain.
"Her leg must be infected, Jack. I think she's delirious. It's the only thing that makes any sense."
"No! I tell you he's in trouble!" Caitlin screeched at them. She had used whatever energy she had left and collapsed back onto the cart. Jack quickly lifted her head and spoke softly to her.
"Easy, Caitlin If he's in trouble, he's a good one to figure out how to take care of it. Don't ye worry about Alex. He's come through many troubling situations before, lass. Just be calm now. He'll be all right I tell ye." Jack hadn't had much experience in dealing with distraught women, but looked like he was going to get some on this trip.
Going inside the cottage, Jack knew what he would find. The brothers stayed here anytime they found themselves too tired to continue on to the farm, or the weather conditions prevented them from moving on. They would have left it in some order or Hector would have their skins. And, there would be firewood or peat ready also. Looking about, it looked like it would be peat this night, and was he ever glad to see a large stack of it waiting to be used.
Getting a fire going was the first job, and then helping the ladies get settled inside would be next. Tomorrow morning they would be at the sheep farm and who knew what would happen after that.
Millie had seen crofter's cottages many times, but from a distance. She had never actually been inside one, and was surprised to see several beds, a cook stove of a fashion, peat stacked by the hearth, and several cooking utensils hanging from the wall. There was only one
room, but the hut was so much better than being outside in the cold. They had blankets from the Cameron estate which would be helpful, too. She had taken a number of dishcloths from the castle, and they were serving as diapers for her new arrival.
After the fire was going strong, flames licking at the walls of the fireplace, they all had a supper from supplies Millie had packed. Ethel apparently always kept the larder in the estate well stocked, so there were canned edibles still there, and Millie had taken what she needed. The peat burning in the fireplace lent a comforting smell, and they devoured the food leaving nothing. Millie and Jack ate heartily, but Caitlin picked at hers.
Jack took the horses to the side of the cottage and let them drink their fill from the trough. In another month or so, the water in the troughs would be frozen. Farm hands would be looking for that and would bring water for the sheep daily.
The horses would just have to wait for oats and hay until tomorrow, but they were used to this. Highland animals were much like the people who live up there, a hardy breed.
Jack had observed that Caitlin was very quiet, and seemed content to just lie on her bed, not insisting on doing something, which she usually did. He came over to her bed and tried to make small talk with her. But she only wanted to rest, so he let her be.
He watched with great interest as Millie took the baby and, after feeding her, let her just lie upon her breast, once again sleeping. Thank goodness new infants slept a lot, he thought. Else, it could have been an even longer trip. He remembered how Ian had cried a lot when he was a baby, and it really bothered Jack. He actually seemed to know much more about babies than Millie did. But he could see she was learning quickly that babies didn't need much, mostly a full stomach and a place to lie down. They also seemed to like shoulders to lie on, or this one did. Jack's shoulder had served this purpose many times already on this trip.
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