“Nay.The mon thinks Dougal is behaving like a stubborn fool. He doesnae agree at allwith the stance Dougal has taken although he has admitted to admiring the waythe lad has stood his ground. ‘Tis not something Dougal has done often.”
“True.I will admit to a verra rare moment of being proud. I just wish he had chosensomething else to develop his backbone on. ‘Tis just like Dougal to finally bewhat everyone has wanted him to be, but at the wrong time and over the wrongthing.” She laughed softly with Neil and Margaret. “The only thing I worryabout,” she added in a softer, more serious tone, “is that I may weel anger himbeyond redemption. I should hate to see such a rift open up between us.”
Neilcaught her hand up in hers and gave it a gentle, comforting squeeze. “That willnaehappen, lass. Dougal’s blood can run hot, but he isnae one to cast aside hisown sister simply because she doesnae do what he wants her to.”
“Ihope ye are right because, although I fear such a thing happening, I cannaeturn back.”
“Noneof us can, dearling. Now, we had best go and collect what we may need for thejourney to Gartmhor. It cannae be much and must be carefully hidden in theguise of tools needed to hunt medicinal plants.”
Sorchanodded, and, as soon as Margaret and Neil left, she began to pack a small bag.It was not going to be a pleasant journey, for only the most vital things couldbe taken. If they rode out with too much on their saddles they wouldimmediately raise suspicion and might not even get through the gates. Dougalwas always alert for something suspicious, always worried that they might tryto run back to Gartmhor. Although he had not kept them all locked in theirrooms or confined within the walls, he did watch them closely. Whatever theytook had to look like far too little to make a long journey with. As she sether bag aside, Sorcha decided she would go and be sure that Margaret reallyunderstood what was meant by packing lightly.
Sorchasaw Iain and his friends waiting a few yards away and glanced behind her.Dunweare was almost completely out of sight. They had gotten away, and thechances were good that they had all of the few hours of daylight remaining totravel before anyone at Dunweare became suspicious. That would be enough togive them a good lead over Dougal when he rode out in pursuit of them as shefully expected him to do.
“Thishas begun successfully,” she said to her aunt as Neil rode up beside her.
“Thiswas the easiest part,” Neil said.
“Yearenae going to be the voice of doom at every turning, are ye?”
“Nay,just the voice of caution. One doesnae want to become too confident of successfor then one becomes careless.”
“Iintend to be verra careful. This is the most important hunt I have e’er beenon. I also ken that, if this fails, it will become more and more difficult toget away from Dunweare. Dougal may just lock us all in the dungeons as he hasthreatened several times during the past fortnight.”
“Ifhe thinks that will stop us or silence us, he is verra much mistaken.”
“Aye,”agreed Iain as he rode up on the other side of Sorcha and watched the carefulway the women rode. “I shouldnae worry about noise as ye ride. If this planworks out to be as mad as it sounds, Dougal will be hearing the laughter fromthe walls of Gartmhor all the way into the garderobes at Dunweare.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Mayhapthis isnae the wisest plan I have ever had,” Sorcha muttered as she peeredthrough the trees toward the high, thick, and very imposing walls of Gartmhor.
Neilpatted her niece’s slim back. “Margaret and I find it most clever. Dinnae we,Margaret?” she asked her other niece who crouched on her left side.
“Aye,verra clever,” agreed Margaret. “Although I am not certain how it works.”
“Iam not so certain I do either. And, ‘twas foolish to ask ye two if ye like it.Margaret wants Beatham, and ye want Malcolm, dinnae ye, Aunt Neil?” Sorchafrowned as she thought of the bone-thin, timid Malcolm and looked at her aunt. “Areye sure ye want that mon?”
“Iken that he is a mere wisp of a mon from his thin brown hair to his bony weefeet, but he does have one verra big thing in his favor,” Neil replied.
“Andwhat is that?”
“Themon fairly worships the ground I flatten beneath me big feet.” Neil grinnedwhen Margaret and Sorcha giggled, but then she grew serious. “Lass, I haveloved a mon with a face and form any woman would yearn for, and I discoveredwhat an empty shell such a bonnie mon can be. Aye, wee Malcolm might have eyesthat are somewhat beady and lacking in color, but when ye look in them ye seelife and honesty. True, he trembles o’er the sight of his own shadow, but Ihave no doubt at all that he would give his life to save mine. And, he may notspeak words that can set a lass’s heart to fluttering or have a deep rich voicethat warms a woman’s blood, but when that wee mon stutters out a bit offlattery or a pledge, I ken without one single doubt that ‘tis heartfelt. Hewill love me, lasses. He will honor me, he will never leave me, and, tiny as heis, he will give me the bairns I ache for.”
“Ithink that is an accolade any mon would be honored to accept.”
“And,of course, he does sorely need someone to fight for him.” She exchanged a grinwith Sorcha. “So what do we do now, lass?”
“Ihope we hurry and do something,” muttered Iain as he inched up next to Sorcha. “Myfather is certain to throttle me for this, and I would like to haveaccomplished something ere I meet my fate.”
Sorchalaughed softly and clapped the youth on the back. “Your father kens exactlywhere we are and what we are doing. I would wager Bansith on it.”
“Didye tell him?”
“Nay,no one has to tell Robert what games we Hays are playing. He always seems token exactly what we are about. The moment he discovers that we are missing, andwho in particular is gone, he will ken where we are. He would have helped us, Iam certain of it, except that he cannae be seen to go against Dougal’s wishes.”
“Allthat doesnae mean that he willnae be feeling strongly inclined to have a sharpword or two with me.” Iain frowned toward Gartmhor. “So, what do we do now?”
“Wewait until we see someone we can capture,” Sorcha answered.
