“They are gone,” said Robbie as he walked in and Bethoc held his food out to him. “Thank ye, lass.”
“Where do ye think they went?” asked Callum.
“My guess would be back into the village to have an ale. Got weary of going in circles trying to find the lads.”
“Ye dinnae think that is the last of them though, do ye?”
Robbie shook his head as he finished off his meal in a few bites and poured himself some cider. “Nay. They want something from the lass and they dinnae seem to be the sort to give up. I was thinking o’er it all but the only thing she has is that house and land.”
“Why do ye think they wanted something from me?” Bethoc asked. “They asked after Cathan, nay me. Weel, they did ask where the children had gone but I suspicion that was because they thought Cathan was with them.”
“Did ye hear everything they asked?”
“Weel, nay, I went into the trees and hid.”
Robbie just shook his head. “I think they wanted Cathan but I think they wanted more. Lad was at your house for a long time yet they ne’er came after him. Now they show up? For a lad who can gain them only a payment or two? One they think Callum has already taken back to Whytemont? Nay, there is more to this. And ye were the one who could get them more. The only more there is is your house and land.”
Bethoc frowned. “They cannae take that, can they?”
“I have nay idea but my gut says this is more.”
“More what?” asked Callum.
Robbie frowned, dragged his hand through his hair, and said, “I dinnae ken. Just more. More than killing that mon,” he added softly so the boys did not hear. “Doesnae have the taste of revenge. May just be Cathan but I begin to wonder if they have e’en given the boy much thought e’en though they asked after him. I cannae explain it. Just say I really feel this is more complicated than we believed.”
“Then we had best find out what the ‘more’ is.” Callum scowled down at his leg. “I hate leaving this all to ye and Simon. Makes me feel useless.”
“Only lasts a while and then ye will be back on your feet ordering us all around again.” Robbie grinned. “Me and Simon can look about. Leave Uven here in case the men come sniffing round.”
“Thank ye,” muttered Uven.
“My pleasure. Nay sure what we can find or what we are looking for but could turn up something.”
“Just beware of those men. They may wonder what ye are about and attack.”
“We will ask enough about ye to have them thinking that is all we look for but, aye, a close eye will be kept on them.”
They tossed a few ideas around for a while but nothing very useful. It was going to be a search for something, some hint that could lead them to the truth of what was going on, and that was hard to make plans for. Robbie wandered off to make his pallet and lie down. Callum turned to speak to Bethoc and grinned.
At some point during all the talk, she had settled down next to Margaret and gone to sleep. The sight of her and the tiny girl curled up together caused a pang in his heart and he wondered why. As he awkwardly moved so that he, too, could lie down, he realized he was really going to have to sort out what was happening to him. He had, after all, seen many a woman and child curled up asleep and never felt such a pang, a longing. Finding her hand, he held it close and smiled. This was not as much fun as his dreams played out for him, but it would do.
Chapter Nine
The sight of the house broke Bethoc’s heart but she steadied herself. She looked around before stepping out of the trees but saw nothing, neither the men who had killed Kerr nor an angry Callum. She had thought to bring Colin with her but had suspected he would protest such a move as much as Callum would. Knowing neither of them would like what she was doing did not make her stop, however.
She had slipped out of his bed before dawn had fully broken. It embarrassed her to think she had fallen asleep so thoroughly and done so in his bed. Only Margaret’s presence had made it innocent. The fact that she had heartily wished it had not been all so innocent also embarrassed her. When had she become a wanton woman?
Assured no one lurked about the place, she hurried up to the house. The smell of death, of blood and pain, hit her hard. She stood in the doorway taking deep breaths for as long as she dared before stepping inside. Kerr was still strapped to the chair and he was a mess. They had taken not only his fingers and toes, but his ears and one eye before he died. He had not been a good man but no one deserved to die this way. She felt her stomach roil and fought to be strong.
She grabbed a blanket from the bed and was about to spread it out on the floor to place her father’s body on it when she heard horses. Going to the door, she peeked out, relaxing when she saw that it was not the men who had butchered Kerr. It startled her when two men hastily dismounted and grabbed her. Bethoc stared at the officious-looking man who slowly dismounted and wondered what trouble she had stepped into now. He kept staring at her as he signaled a third man to go into the house.
“What are ye doing?” she demanded as they dragged her into the house.
“Looking at what ye have done,” the man leading them inside said. He looked at Kerr’s body and then gave Bethoc a look of disgust even as one of his men ran outside gagging. “Ye couldnae just cut his throat?”
Bethoc was speechless with shock for a moment and then choked out, “I didnae do this.”
“Do ye see anyone else here?”
