“I would wager that would have been Payton Murray.”
“Aye, that was his name. Had a bit of trouble, but it must have been sorted out as he married. Many a lass wept over that, I can tell ye.”
Gybbon sighed. “I imagine so.” The door opened and Sigimor started to walk in, but the man with him hesitated. “Sigimor?”
Looking at the man behind him, Sigimor grabbed his arm and started to tug him into the house. “I got the lads to toss some more water on the fire and met this mon. Think he might have a few things to tell us, Gybbon.”
“Hello, Iain!” Morag leaned forward, waved and smiled at the mon.
“Ma’am,” Iain said, and nodded at her.
“Ye ken what happened to Maggie and the boy?”
“I do, ma’am.”
“Did ye tell the sheriff?” asked Gybbon.
“I wasnae about when he came, so nay, havenae told him anything. I hadnae told my wife what I saw, either. Maggie was in the house, ye ken. Ran back in after she made the boy wait outside. He was watching her through the door, but then the ceiling fell in and he ran. Maggie came out after he fled and looked for him, then got in the cart. I ran up to toss some water on her skirts because they were burning a bit. She told me to nay say a word, but if the Laird of Dubheidland asked questions, I should answer and be sure I tell ye she was headed for her sister’s.”
“Good. Dinnae tell him,” said Sigimor.
“I willnae. Is Maggie in trouble?”
“The sheriff has been told she stole and is hiding a child, and also a killer. Those fool Ogilvy brothers are trying to make him believe little Mora killed Old William and has tried to kill their father with poison. ’Tis the excuse they use to justify the way they are hunting the lass.”
“Little Mora? The one who totes around that cat most others would just drown? And to think of Maggie stealing anything is laughable.” Iain suddenly stood up straighter. “They did it, didnae they? They want that bit of land taken out of the estate for David.”
“They do. They killed David and Rona for it,” Morag said.
“Nay. I willnae say a word to the sheriff. Doubt he will recall me anyway, or he will think because he talked with my woman, I have nothing to say to help him. Thinking we should ask for a new sheriff if he can be made to listen to such lies. Bribed, I suspect.”
“Most likely,” Gybbon said. “Do a lot of folk in the town ken anything or think like ye do?”
“Most of them, I suspect, and if they kenned it was those Ogilvy brothers who killed David and Rona, they would hang them themselves. Those two were verra good to the people in this village.” Iain glanced back at Sigimor and smiled faintly as he said, “He would heed the Laird of Dubheidland.”
“And so he should,” Sigimor said as he walked to the settee and sat down.
Iain looked at Gybbon, his eyes a little wide, and Gybbon just shrugged. “We will have to go hunt down the lad,” he said to Sigimor.
When Sigimor reached for a tart, Morag slapped his hand, then held the tray out to Iain. When he chose one and thanked her she held the tray out to Sigimor. He was watching her with that narrow-eyed look that held a hearty laugh in its depths.
Sigimor pointed at himself. “Laird.”
“Not of this place.” She smiled sweetly as he took a tart and she settled the tray on the table.
“Oh, ye really must meet my wife.”
“Arenae ye afraid I will teach her all manner of naughty things being that I was a leman?”
“Nay, hoping perhaps.” He grinned when both Iain and Gybbon laughed.
“Rogue.”
“I do my best.”
“Weel, if ye are done flirting with our hostess, Sigimor, I think we should try to hunt down the laddie. If he thinks he saw Maggie burn up in the cottage he will be terrified.”
“I was just making certain I gave the lads enough time to put out the last of the fire,” Sigimor said as he stood up. “We will go find the lad now. Ye ken where this safe place is, aye?”
