A spark of annoyance lit in Abi’s stomach. She’d had enough of the old woman’s rambling. “Look, why don’t you tell me where you want dropping off and I can take you there.”And get rid of you before you get us both killed, she added silently.
Irene didn’t answer for a long moment. She just stared at Abi, unblinking, as though weighing her on a scale. “Here will do just fine, my dear. Remember what I’ve said.”
Then, without another word, she opened the car door, got out and began walking away across the open moorland at the side of the road.
What was she doing? She couldn’t just go wandering off out here! There wasn’t a house, nor a car, nor another soul in sight! Abi ground her teeth. She could really do without this right now, but she could not leave Irene wandering out here. She was definitely going to have to call social services and probably the police once she got Irene back in the car.
With a growl of frustration, she opened her door and climbed out of the car. “Irene, wait!” she called. “You can’t just go—”
She stuttered into silence. The old woman was nowhere in sight. Abi blinked, staring in the direction Irene had taken. There was no sign of her. Abi turned in a circle, taking in the open moorland in all directions. There was nothing to hide anyone out here, no way Irene could just have disappeared. She ran around the car to the spot where Irene had left the road and crouched, searching for footprints. It had rained recently so the ground was muddy and she could clearly see her own footprints coming around the car.
But there were no others. Irene MacAskill had disappeared as if she had been a ghost.
Abi shivered, suddenly cold. The beautiful landscape, which had seemed so welcoming only such a short while ago, suddenly didn’t feel quite so welcoming.
How could a flesh and blood woman have disappeared like that? Unless...unless she wasn’t a flesh and blood woman.
She hugged her arms around herself. Was she hallucinating? Perhaps she needed a break far more than she realized. Reaching her hotel and getting a stiff drink suddenly seemed like a very good idea. Giving one last look at the empty landscape, Abi hurried back to the car and sped off.
Chapter 2
Reid Campbell pulledhis horse to a halt and signaled for his men to do the same. They were close to their destination now. His two boarhounds, Bo and Whitefoot, trotted over and sat obediently by his side, pink tongues lolling from the long run.
“Get under cover,” he called to his men. “Water the horses and get some rest. Dinna break cover until I return.”
Domnall Maguire nudged his horse closer, then scraped his fingers through his oily beard. “Why are we stopping?” he demanded. “We should attack now while we have the element of surprise.”
Reid scowled at the man. Domnall was a mercenary of the worst kind. Loyal only as long as it suited him to be, wholly self-absorbed, and with all the morals of a snake. Reid had no doubt that he would stab him in the back the moment it was in his interests to do so. Why his lord, Edwin Campbell, had sent him men like this, Reid had no idea. Did he not realize they would turn tail the second the battle went against them?
The only saving grace was that Domnall was afraid of Reid. Oh, he might posture and push the boundaries and swagger like he had not a care in the world, but Reid had led men long enough by now to know when a man followed him out of loyalty or out of fear. With Domnall, it was the second. Either was fine by him as long as the man did as Reid ordered.
He fixed Domnall with an icy glare. “We are stopping because I say so. We have no idea how many men are waiting for us in Kalmack Castle. And until we do, we willnae be going one step further. Clear?”
Domnall pressed his lips into a flat line, anger flashing in his small, furtive eyes. From his expression, Reid knew he was contemplating drawing his sword. Domnall wasn’t the kind of man who took orders easily. Too used to getting his own way with his fists or the edge of his sword.
Reid stared at him calmly, waiting.Go on, he thought.Give me an excuse.
