Once inside their cover, the woman turned on her. “Do ye want tae get us snatched all over again?”
“Of course not, but I’m desperate for news of my family. What happened after we all jumped off the cart that night? I got…separated. I need tae find them. I take it ye escaped?”
“Aye. Thanks tae yer mither scarin’ that idiot driver intae a fit. We all scattered and hid where we could. Those of us on that cart, at least. Well, all but one. Mistress Kelly wasnae so lucky. They caught her. They searched for the rest of us, of course, but after a bit of lookin’, the drivers wouldnae spend any more time. Said they were gettn’ paid tae haul us, no’ hunt us down.”
“And after they left? Ye dinnae see my mither or sister?”
“Nae, lass. I’m sorry.” Evina patted Kenna’s arm. “ ’Twas too dark and no one dared yell out. I ken we all made our own way, the best we could.”
Kenna’s hopes had soared so high, she felt like she was teetering on the edge of a cliff, with naught but rocks far below. Taking several deep breaths, she tried to hold on. Falling apart wouldnae help.
“Do ye ken my mither and sister might have gone back tae our village? Did ye? Why are ye here, in this place?”
Evina looked at her as if she were daft. “I wasnae fool enough tae go back there, and I dinnae ken yer mither was, either. ’Twas the first place they’d look for us. Besides, I heard someone’s stayin’ there, just waitin’ for us tae get careless.”
The woman shook her head. “Nae, I needed an out-of-the-way spot in a whole different direction. Someplace they weren’t so likely tae look. I found a wee place, away from any village, tae work. I get regular meals and a pallet by the fire. ’Tis a way tae both hide and survive, for now. Ye wouldnae have found me today if I hadnae been sent tae purchase some tonic for my mistress.”
Scanning the area beyond the cover of the trees, Evina continued. “I use a different name, of course. Ye should do the same. They’ll be lookin’ for us, for some time, yet. Ye can be sure of that. Dinnae go back home, nor near that kirk where we escaped. ’Tis said they’re still searchin’ that area for the lot of us.” She grunted. “They figured we used witchcraft tae escape. They’re no’ about tae admit yer mither outsmarted ’em.”
Dizzy with conflicting emotions, Kenna could only nod. Her relief that her family had escaped the pyres at Aberdeen, was nearly overwhelming. But what now? Where should she look for them? There were no relatives to go to. No friends that would risk taking them in. Not that her mither would endanger anyone by asking.
Kenna dropped onto a fallen log. “How will I find them?”
“Short of wandering the whole of Scotland lookin’, I dinnae ken ye can, child.” Evina patted her shoulder. “Best ye just be grateful knowin’ they escaped and worry about findin’ yer own out-of-the-way place tae hide. Accept that ye’re on yer own, now. As long as this witch-frenzy exists, none of us are safe. We’ve a mark on us now, regardless of our innocence. And if yer mither is as clever as I ken she is, she’ll do everything within her power tae make sure she and yer sister cannae be found.”
Pressing a fist to the knot in her belly, Kenna tried to accept that she’d lost her family all over again. Evina was right. Mither would correctly assume Kenna had escaped that night. She must have known when she pushed her through that gate, they would likely never see each other again. She certainly wouldnae have considered Kenna would purposely plunge back into the danger she’d just escaped.
“I must leave ye now,” Evina warned. “ ’Tis too dangerous for either of us tae be caught with the other. Take my advice. Build a new life, far from here. Dinna go back tae yer old one. It doesnae exist anymore. Luck tae ye, lass.”
Before Kenna could respond, the woman was gone.
Just like her family.
* * *
Kneeling beside a stream,Kenna washed in the icy water. In the weeks she’d been wandering the countryside, describing and discreetly inquiring about two women, she hadnae found even a wee bit of encouragement. She feared Evina had been right, and they were so well hidden she’d never find them.
The days were difficult, the nights even harder. She longed for Sean’s comforting voice and the safety of his arms. She needed his strength. Hers had waned significantly from continuous traveling, scant food, and the constant need to hide.
She sat back, frowning at the tattered state of her clothing. What would he think if he saw her now? Mayhap he wouldnae even recognize her, ragged and weary as she was.
Too many nights she’d lain awake imagining what their life might have been like if she’d stayed. She missed him so desperately it left a constant knot in her belly that far exceeded any effects of hunger.
Thoughts of going back to him—or at least trying to—had been unrelenting since she left him. But she’d made her decision and regardless of her longing for him, she intended to see it through.
Tomorrow she’d travel the rest of way to one of the outlying farms near her village. Despite Evina’s warning, she had to find out if Mither and Elanor ever went back there, even for a short time. There was a woman she thought she could trust. She could only hope that in the time Kenna had been gone from the village, the woman hadnae changed loyalties.
Chapter Eighteen
Sean studied his sketch of Kenna. He’d spent so much time sitting on Kenna’s sofa, looking at this drawing over the past weeks, he’d memorized every line. And he still couldnae get enough. He desperately wanted to keep it, but ’twas time tae let it go. Owen needed it far more than he did. The man’s grief over Kenna’s leaving had taken a significant toll. ’Twas no spark in Owen’s eyes, anymore. No passion for his work. ’Twas hard to even engage him in conversation.
With one last look, Sean tore the page from his sketch book and went down to do the morning’s deliveries.
The enticing scents were the same as always when he entered the kitchen, but little else was. Moira glanced up, shrugged, and tipped her head toward the little desk where Owen sat staring into his coffee.
Sean dinnae ken what they’d have done if Moira hadnae taken over. He still spent his days at the kirk, and Owen, more often than not, just sat as he did now. Occasionally, he’d venture out for a walk, but would eventually end up back at his desk or staring out the window. Twice, Sean had talked Owen into going with him to help with the cemetery clean-up, but nothing held his interest for long.
“Mornin’, Owen.” Sean pasted on a smile as he pulled a chair next to Owen’s, took the coffee from his hand and set it on the desk. “I brought ye somethin’.”
