Page 8 of Highland Spirit

“Where the hell were ye and what is that wretched smell?”

“Ye wouldna believe me if I told ye,” said Ethan, settling himself on the seat. He looked over at Oliver who was sitting there with a frown on his face, sulking. “Did ye find yer sister’s doll, lad?”

“Nay,” snapped Oliver. “It’s gone forever and now Sophie will never stop cryin’.”

“Well, then there’s no need to ever come back here.” Ethan looked back toward the castle high on the cliff. He was still shaken from hearing the scream of the dead woman and seeing her body fall right past him. But what haunted him even more than that was the fact he saw Alana in the tower window, because he never thought he’d ever see his past betrothed again.

Chapter 2

“What did ye say?” asked Kirstine, brushing little Isobel’s hair as she and Alana got ready for bed in the main solar.

“I said I looked out the tower window after I played the ghost, and I saw Ethan MacKeefe. I’m sure it was him although Diarmad said he was dead.” Alana wrung her hands and paced the solar floor. She was overwhelmed with emotions. She had thought her lover was dead but now she wasn’t so sure. Hope filled her that it really was Ethan she saw.

“Ye saw Ethan?” gasped Kirstine. “Alana, perhaps it was his ghost.”

“Nay, he was just as real as ye and me. Or, at least I think he was.”

“Well, if so, what would he be doin’ here? No one comes to this isle.”

“I’m no’ sure. But I’m guessin’ that hound that wandered into the courtyard was really his after all. It all makes sense now. He was here lookin’ for his dog.”

“Did he see ye?” asked her sister anxiously.

Alana bit her lip and shrugged. “I dinna ken for sure. Even if he did, I canna be certain he kent it was me. At least he left before Diarmad saw him.”

“Sister, ye have had a hard night and should get some rest. Then mayhap ye’ll stop seein’ hauntin’ visions of the man ye were supposed to marry.”

“Haud yer wheesht!” Alana warned her, throwing her a nasty glare. Alana didn’t want her daughter hearing too much about Ethan. “Time for bed, sweetie,” she said, guiding the little girl to the bed they shared. That is when she noticed her daughter holding a doll she’d never seen before. “Did ye give her that doll?” Alana asked her sister.

“Nay, I thought ye did,” replied Kirstine.

“Who’s Ethan?” asked Isobel. “Is he that nice man I saw up on the battlements?”

“Isobel, quiet,” said Alana, trying to think. “And that reminds me. What were ye doin’ up on the battlements? Ye are no’ supposed to go up there alone.”

“My dolly wanted to go for a walk.” The little girl held tightly to the doll that Alana had never seen before.

“Where did ye get that?” asked Alana.

“My friend gave it to me. It was her dolly, but now it’s mine.” Isobel hugged the doll and kissed it.

“Isobel, stop lyin’,” said Alana, tired of the little girl making up stories these past few years. It had really started getting out of control lately. She supposed it was because Isobel was lonely and didn’t have any other children to play with. There were no other children in the castle besides Isobel’s uncle, Finn. But Finn was much older than Isobel and certainly didn’t play with dolls! “Get in bed,” she commanded, taking the doll from the girl.

Isobel whined and started to cry, holding out her hands.

“Oh, all right. I guess there is no harm in havin’ it. It’s only a toy.” She gave the doll back, and the child stopped crying. Then she tucked her in and kissed her. Afterwards, she walked into the antechamber to speak to Kirstine where the little girl couldn’t overhear them.

“Alana, if ye really did see Ethan MacKeefe tonight, that is no’ a guid thing. Especially if he saw ye,” explained Kirstine. She rubbed her large belly as she spoke.

“I ken.” Alana felt concern welling within her chest. “Kirstine, I hate this life of livin’ in secret as naught more than prisoners. And I despise the fact that ye are Diarmad’s wife.”

“Alana, mayhap it’s no’ so bad,” she answered, faking a smile, looking down at her belly. “At least I will have a child to love even if I hate the child’s faither.”

“Nay. It’s no’ right and ye ken it. I wish we could leave here and never see Diarmad again.”

“Mayhap we should try to escape,” suggested Kirstine, surprising Alana. Every time Alana had brought up the idea, Kirstine was the one to reject it. Of course, Kirstine was always worrying about Alana and Isobel and would do anything to keep them safe. Even be the wife of their captor and not complain.

Alana had been seriously thinking about leaving lately, and taking her family with her. Now that they were back in Scotland, it would be easier she supposed. But Diarmad chained her father to the bed now when he left on smuggling runs since her father was becoming too ill to travel with him. She feared what might happen to the rest of them if her father died. This was Diarmad’s way of controlling Alana and her siblings because he knew she would never leave her father behind. But with Kirstine being the man’s wife and ready to birth him another baby, it only complicated matters.