CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
“Ye are prepared Father McCauley?” Lorna asked the priest, eager to leave the church and return home. She was starving, and she wanted to see Bryce again. Maybe she might get to hear the end of the sentence about his feelings. Maybe she would get to feel his kiss again, and this time, she wouldn’t run away.
Not only that, but Father McCauley was slow at everything. Speaking, walking, thinking. It was frustrating to have a conversation with him, and they had to come down the day before the funerals to make sure that he would actually remember to come the next day.
“Aye, young lassies,” he drawled, with a painful slowness. Ye donnae need tae worry. I will be there. Sad business, this. Two deaths, so close taegether.”
He shook his head and clicked his tongue. Lorna was struck with a sudden idea. “Father, do ye ken the family members of Mrs. Creech and Conan McTavish?”
“Aye, aye,” he said. “Good people, them. I will pray for them.”
Lorna, clenching her hands into fists to keep her patience, said, “Do ye ken why anyone would want tae hurt these people, Father? Did the family have any ideas?”
“Well,” he said, shaking his head. “The people didnae wish tae discuss the deaths much. They wanted prayers mostly when I visited them.”
“Well, what about Mrs. Creech and Mr. McTavish? Did they have secrets they wished tae tell? Secrets that could get them in trouble?” Lorna blushed at her intrusion.
The priest chuckled, and his white beard jiggled. “Lass, ye ken that I cannae tell ye about things said in confession.”
“Nae if it could help solve who the murderer is?”
He frowned again, and slowly, very slowly, he said, “Well, I suppose that does make sense. Healers and midwives have many secrets. I couldnae pick only one. And aye they had dangerous secrets too. The kind that someone might hurt them for. I can say nae more than that.”
“Thank ye, Father,” Lorna said, feeling gleeful as she tucked her arm into Kyla’s and left the church. It was a cool evening, and the sun was just setting as they made their way from the small, wooded valley up to the green of the castle.
“Well, it is what ye suspected, but we still ken naething. And naething of use was found in the ransacking. Nae really. These two people will be buried taemorrow, and we have nae notion of why they were killed in the first place.”
Kyla sighed, and Lorna could hear the emotion in her friend’s voice. “Are ye all right, Kyla? Are ye crying?”
“It is naething,” she said, shaking her head. “I just think I would fear such a thing happening tae me. For me life tae be ended and then have nae one ken what happened. Tae have it ended so abruptly and then never get the justice needed.” She looked down. “Ye must think me foolish.”
“Nae at all!” Lorna laughed. “That is exactly why I want tae help solve this. Well, I have many reasons for wanting tae help, but that is one of them. These good people should nae have such an ignominious end. Since I am a Laird’s daughter, then I should care about such honor. I want tae help, and I am so glad that ye want tae help me too.”
Kyla smiled. “I think that ye are changing and growing in front of me very eyes, lass. I think having Bryce around has made ye stronger.” She paused, and Lorna pulled her cloak a little tighter. A cool breeze rushed past them, making her shiver.
“Aye, maybe yer right,” she said, smiling, imagining Bryce’s tender gaze. “He makes me think of meself in a different way. Watt always made me feel like a young girl, scampering after him and pestering him. Bryce used tae make me feel the same way but only when I was younger. Since his return, he has made me feel like I have something tae offer. He speaks tae me like…an equal. He defends me tae me parents and brother. He…”
“Gives ye flowers?” Kyla teased, and Lorna chuckled, nudging her with an elbow.
“Aye, he gives me flowers, but how did ye ken?”
“I found him in yer room, putting them there. There was a note as well.” Kyla lifted a brow. “I wonder what sort of romantic things he might have said tae ye.”
Lorna rolled her eyes and laughed, even though she was now determined to read the note. “I am sure it is naething.” She dismissed thoughts of romance. While seeing Bryce that afternoon had helped her to know that he wanted something more, she still felt lacking in confidence when it came to him. She was just a young girl, and he was a hardened warrior.
“Well, let’s go and see, shall we? We will make it our first stop when we return.” Kyla giggled, and Lorna was relieved that this helped her friend to relax a little.
At the castle, she saw one of the servants in the hall. Lorna stopped the girl with a touch to her arm. “Mary, how is me mother? How does she fare?”
Mary wiped an arm over her sweaty brow. “She seems tae be improvin’, Miss, but she needs a lot of rest. That MacDowell man has spent time with her taeday. He made a yarrow tea and poultice. It has brought the fever down.”
Lorna couldn’t stop the rush of affection she felt in her chest for Bryce. “Thank ye, Mary,” she said, leaving the servant to continue on her way.
“Well,” Kyla said with a smile. “That is good news. And how kind of Bryce tae take such an interest in helping her.”
“Aye,” Lorna said. “He told me that he has had some healing experience. He wanted tae see if he could help.”
Kyla nodded. “I think me opinion of him might have been wrong, lass. I think he is a good man and wants tae do good things.”
