Kai studied her. She had sparkling blue eyes, chestnut hair, a sprinkling of freckles across her nose, and the kind of buxom figure that Kai appreciated in a woman.
She caught him looking and frowned. “And you can show your thanks by telling me who you are and exactly what’s going on here.”
“I would have thought that was obvious,” Kai replied with a smirk. “We’re good men trying to stop some bad men.”
“Very funny. Is this some sort of war game?”
“It’s no game. As ye can see, we caught this man transporting dangerous materials. We need to find out who he’s working for and what they plan to do with this stuff.”
Caitlin pinched the bridge of her nose. She looked almost as pale and frightened as Alfred. “This is nothing to do with me. I just want to go home.”
“Home?” Kai said. “Where is home?”HadIrene sent her? If so, he suspected the lass’s home was a very, very long way off.
“None of your business! Just let me go!”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid I canna do that. Not until I know ye are not involved in Alfred’s business.”
“I’m not involved in anything!” Caitlin exclaimed, throwing up her hands. “I was climbing and I...got...lost. I stumbled on this clearing and ran into you. That’s it. Now let me go!”
Kai narrowed his eyes. “Maybe,” he said. “Maybe not. It’s a little suspicious ye knew he was carrying gunpowder isnae it?”
“I knew no such thing! I only realized that when you opened the barrel!”
He suspected she was telling the truth. If Irene had brought her here...but he could not take that risk. Not until he was sure.
He strode over to Alfred and clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, my friend,” he said in a jovial voice. “Looks like ye’ve gotten yerself into a bit of a bind. But I dinna want ye to worry—we will take good care of ye. Just as soon as ye tell us where ye were taking this wagon and who paid ye to do it.”
Alfred’s jowls wobbled as he shook his head. “I canna do that.”
“Oh? It isnae that hard. Just open yer mouth and form words. Come on, let’s try it together, ‘I was taking the wagon to...’”
“They’ll kill me if I tell ye!”
Quick as a flash, Kai drew his dagger and pressed it against the man’s throat. “AndIwill kill ye if ye dinna.”
Alfred’s eyes swiveled down to the glittering metal pressed against his neck and he swallowed thickly, making his Adam’s Apple bob.
“In my satchel,” he croaked.
Without removing the dagger or taking his eyes off Alfred, Kai called, “Conn, is there a satchel in that wagon?”
Conall climbed onto the back of the wagon, rooted around for a minute then came up with a leather bag. He opened the neck and pulled out a parchment. “Got it.”
Hopping down, he unrolled the parchment and handed it over. Kai looked down at it, scanning the words that filled the page.
The parchment was a contract. It stated that Alfred was to transport the gunpowder from the docks to a small village on the edge of the Highlands. The contract was signed simply,Leif.
A jolt went through Kai. Leif.
He waved the contract in Alfred’s face. “Does this refer to Leif Snarlsson? Is he yer employer?”
Alfred swallowed again, his eyes darting from side to side. “I dinna know his last name. He’s just known as Leif.”
“Dinna give me that!” Kai growled, grabbing Alfred by the tunic and shaking him. “Ye are working for that Norwegian bastard, aren’t ye? Answer me!”
“I dinna know who he is! I swear!”
Kai glared at him for a second then made an effort to master his temper. He stepped back and sheathed his dagger then read the parchment again. According to the contract, the gunpowder was to arrive at its destination by noon several days from now where another courier would take charge of it. Kai’s mind raced, trying to piece everything together.
