“Ugh,” Kyla said putting a hand on her face. “Me head hurts. So much.”
“I ken, lass, but it will go away soon. Take a little brandy.” Bryce reached down for the bottle, and he lifted it to Kyla’s lips. Kyla struggled a little, but then she took a few sips and laid down again with a sigh.
Bryce looked at Lorna. “She will be all right, lass. I ken it. She is good and strong, and she is able tae talk. That is a good thing.”
Lorna laid a hand on his arm. “Thank ye.” She began to wipe at Kyla’s face again when a flurry of footsteps distracted them both, making them turn to the door.
“What in God’s name?” a furious Fergus said as he rushed inside, Athol at his heels.
Tobias came in soon after. “Bryce,” he said, his brow furrowed. He looked between Lorna and Kyla on the settee.
“Kyla has been hurt. I wonder if it could be another attempt by the killer?” He stood, and Tobias came rushing to Kyla’s side to see if she was well.
“She was just injured, but she will gain strength,” Lorna told a kneeling Tobias, and Tobias breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Thank God, but I do not think I can take much more of this.”
“Nor I,” Fergus said, and Lorna rushed over to embrace him.
“Father, ye have returned,” she said in a light voice, and Bryce could tell she was trying not to anger him.
“Aye, so I have, just in time. Where were the two of ye?”
Lorna blushed, patting a hand on her father’s chest. “Only out riding, father. Naething serious.”
But it was Tobias who responded. “You should not go out riding, Lorna. Even if you are with Bryce. There is much danger.” He looked down at Kyla. “And we do not know from whence it comes.”
Lorna nodded, but Bryce could tell she was holding her tongue. His fists were clenched at his sides, angry at the dark force that worked against the people of the McAdam clan as well as himself. Fergus said loudly, “Tobias, it seems ye are nae doing yer job in finding who is committing these murders. Me daughter could have been the next victim!”
“I can assure you, Laird McAdam, we are doing all we can to find out who has done these terrible things.” Tobias shook his head and rubbed a hand over his face.
“Aye, well, ye are nae trying hard enough,” Fergus continued. “Because first, if ye are looking for a suspicious person, I think ye should look tae none other than Bryce MacDowell.”
