Page 68 of Highland Spirit

“Did I hear someone mention my name?” Alana walked up carrying Isobel. She looked vibrant today and almost seemed to glow since she was so relaxed and happy now that her family was free of Diarmad and they were no longer prisoners.

“Da, this is yer granddaughter, Isobel,” said Ethan, taking the little girl from Alana.

“Well, hello there, Isobel. I’m yer grandda.” Onyx smiled at the girl. She looked at his eyes and jerked backward, hiding her head against Ethan’s chest.

“It’s all right, sweetheart. Grandda’s eyes are . . . different, but he is no’ a demon,” Ethan explained.

“Are ye sure?” she asked, peeking out, clutching her doll.

“I’m sure,” said Ethan. “Now, I see Trapper over there and I think he is lookin’ for ye. Why dinna ye take yer grandda over to see him?”

“Doggy,” she said, no longer afraid. Ethan put her down and she took Onyx’s hand and they headed away together.

“I am so happy that things turned out,” said Alana with a smile. “But I do miss my faither.”

“Alana, he gave his life protectin’ ye and his family,” said Ethan. “It was his choice. He chose to die rather than to have to be imprisoned or even tortured for his life of crime and past decisions.”

“I ken,” she said with a nod. “I suppose it is for the better. And as far as I’m concerned, he has redeemed himself. I will no longer think of him as anythin’ but a hero – a man who died to save his family.”

“I guess I can see that,” said Ethan with a nod.

“Ethan, what will happen to me and my siblin’s?” she asked. “Since we were involved in the smugglin’ against our wills, I am frightened we will be punished in some way.”

“Ye ken that the MacKeefes will do everythin’ we can to clear yer names,” said Ethan. “I promise I willna let anyone harm ye.”

“Ethan,” said Caleb, walking over with an older man who looked to be a knight. “This man says he is lookin’ for Murdock.”

“I’m sorry, but Murdock died yesterday,” said Ethan. “Is there somethin’ I can help ye with?”

“There wouldna happen to be anyone named . . . Chisholm here, is there?” asked the stranger.

“I’m a Chisholm,” said Alana. “Or at least I was before I married Ethan. Now I’m a MacKeefe,” she said, looking up and smiling at Ethan. “My name is Alana. Who are ye?”

“I’m Sir Douglas, and I am honored to meet ye,” he said, reaching out to take her hand in his to kiss it. When he did, Alana gasped.

“What is it, sweetheart?” asked Ethan.

“The ring,” she said softly, nodding at the man’s hand. He wore a silver ring with a big circle and inside it was the engraving of a Templar cross.

“Aye, it was my great-grandfaither’s ring,” he said. “Does it . . . mean anythin’ to ye?” He looked at her and waited.

She pulled Murdock’s ring out of her pocket and held it up to him. “This belonged to a man named Murdock. Aye, it means somethin’ to me.”

Sir Douglas looked around quickly and then over to Ethan and Caleb. “Is there somewhere we can talk in private?”

“What for?” asked Caleb.

“I think ye have somethin’ for me,” said the man.

“Aye, right this way,” said Alana, understanding now who he was. She led him up to the tower. Caleb and Ethan followed. When they were inside, the man looked around once more and then whispered.

“I have finally found ye. I am sorry it took so long. I have had others die and I have taken over their position of guardian but it has taken a while to find where to go. Now tell me, do ye have the Templar treasure?”

“Wait a minute,” said Ethan. “How do we ken ye should really take it?”

“That’s right,” said Caleb. “Ethan, if ye turn that treasure in to the king, ye will get mentioned in the Highland Chronicles for sure.”

“Alana?” asked Ethan. “Do ye think we can trust him?”