Caitie
She sent the messenger away with her letter, then began to prepare for her trip, having informed her parents of her destination.
“We just saw them two weeks ago!” Eileen protested.
“Mammy, you are not invited,” Caitlyn said firmly. “This is for Ava and me. She has become my best friend.”
“Is Ava the only reason you are going?” Eileen asked archly, her eyes twinkling as she watched her daughter.
“Yes, Mammy,” she replied. “And if you are referring to Alastair, I can assure you we do not even like each other, so whatever you are thinking, stop thinking it!”
She strode out of the room and went to her bedroom to pack, leaving Eileen to look after her thoughtfully. A mother’s intuition, in her experience, was never wrong.
Caitlyn was meant to reach Mullach Castle at around noon on the appointed day. Alastair had been standing on the turrets waiting for her, pacing up and down, scanning the horizon for any sign of her. Snow was coming, and he could tell by the grayish-yellow bulbous heaps of cloud in the sky that it would not be merely a light flurry. This was going to be a storm of epic proportions, and he was distraught at the thought that she might not be able to complete her journey in time to miss it.
The temperature had become icy cold, and he became more and more anxious. Snowfall was always preceded by a freeze, then a slight rise in temperature, then the snow itself, and he could already feel that it was becoming slightly warmer.
Caitie, where are you?he thought desperately. Just as the first flakes began to drift down, he decided to go and find her. He urged Rory into a gallop and they raced down the road he knew she was taking. He thought they had eradicated all the bandits from his land, but he could not be sure. They had done their best, but the outlaws were elusive and used to blending into the shadows.
Then he saw Caitlyn. She was standing with her hands tied behind her back, and she was scowling at two men, one of whom had a dagger at her throat. Alastair recognized him at once; it was Robert McKnight. She did not look afraid, she looked furious.
Alastair had found the best position from which to ambush them, since he had to be careful that he did Caitlyn no harm. He weighed up his chances. Should he tackle them on foot or on horseback? Caitlyn was standing very close to both men, and if he were not very precise he risked injuring her. He decided that it was better to strike on foot, using the element of surprise as his best weapon.
Judging the distance very carefully, he took a deep breath and charged at the three people in the center of the clearing. Fortunately Caitlyn could not see him, because her back was to him, but she knew he was there a moment later when Robert McKnight’s throat exploded in a gush of blood. Alastair had slit it from behind from ear to ear with one swipe of his dagger. He fell to the grass with an expression of complete surprise on his face.
Brian McAllister could have grabbed Caitlyn, but instead he chose to take to his heels and run as fast as he could to his horse, and a moment later he was galloping past them as if the devil were at his back.
Alastair hardly saw him, so intent was he on Caitlyn. Her back was covered in Robert’s blood but he put his arms around her anyway. She was breathing heavily but not crying.
“What did they do to you, Caitie?” he asked fearfully.
“Nothing,” she whispered into his jacket. “They had no time. Oh, God, Alastair, I was so afraid. I was riding past this clearing, and suddenly they were just there—one in front and one behind. I could do nothing.” She burst into tears on his shoulder.
“Shhh...I’m here,” he whispered. “I knew there was something bad about him, but why was he holding you like that? Surely he wanted you in one piece?”
“Because I fought back when he was going to take me against my will,” she sobbed. “He said he was going to make sure that no other man would touch me.”
She breathed a deep sigh of relief that she was safe in Alastair’s arms. Wherever he was, she would be safe. “I am waiting,” she whispered.
“For what?” he looked puzzled.
“For my kiss,” she replied, her eyes shining.
He laughed and bent his head down to grant her wish. It was soft, sweet, and as his arms tightened around her as his lips moved on hers, it came to him that this was all he wanted, and all he would ever need.
When they drew apart he said, “Are you sure you are well enough to ride?”
She nodded and smiled at him then looked at his hands, which were covered in gore, as was his jacket. She too, was spattered with blood.
They both bent down to wipe their hands on the grass, then Caitlyn saw Robert’s face for the first time, and she closed his staring eyes. She knew that the enormity of the reality would hit her later, but now all she wanted to do was be with Alastair.
“I will have my men clear this up later,” he said, curling his lip in disgust at the sight of the corpse. Then they turned away, mounted their horses, and went back to the castle. Alastair had never felt so relieved.
When they got back, they both bathed, then went into the parlor for a glass of whisky, and Caitlyn went to the window to look out. “This is no light snowfall,” she observed, frowning. “Where is Ava?”
“Sleeping,” he answered, sighing. “She is not coping well with this. While you were here she came out of her shell but now she is back in it. Her nightmares have come back, and she had one last night. I had to give her some valerian tea to help her to sleep, but I am going to engage a nurse companion for her. Until then, can you help her?”
“Of course! She is my friend, and it is my duty and my pleasure.” Then she gave a growl of frustration and anger. “Grrrr...This is one of the reasons we must catch these monsters!” she fumed, then tossed down the whisky that Alastair gave her in a most unladylike fashion before slamming the glass down on the table. At once, she became contrite. “I’m sorry...I am so angry!”
