Page 32 of Highland Storm

Silence enveloped the room as Storm’s eyes scanned the area. “Where is the girl, Son?”

Hawke ran a weary hand through his hair and let out an exasperated sigh. “She’s no’ here, Da. But I’ll find her. I promise I will.”

“God’s teeth, dinna tell me ye let her escape again?” A frown darkened Storm’s face.

“I guess she must have had a dagger hidden in her clothes,” said Hawke with a shrug. “I suppose I should have checked for one before I fell asleep.”

“Dammit, Son, what is the matter with ye? Dinna ye realize this is the worst time for this to happen? With the English now on Scottish soil, we need Ian back more than ever. And now I canna even try for his return because there is a war at hand.”

“I’ll find her Da, I swear I will.”

“I’m sure she’s headed back to the MacNabs,” said Storm. “It’s on the way to the MacKeefe camp. Yer friends will go with ye. Find her and bring her to our camp in the Highlands and keep her there for now. Protect yer mathair and the women and children there as well. Renard will watch over Hermitage Castle. The Madmen MacKeefe will join me and the others and we’ll head to the border to help. I’ve heard talk of a possible ambush by the Scots. I need to find out exactly what is goin’ on.”

“Let me go with ye, Da. I want to fight.” Hawke always led the way in any battle or war. Fighting was what he knew best. To be told he couldn’t go only made him angrier.

Storm shook his head. “Nay. It’s yer fault the girl is gone and if ye dinna get her back, the death of yer grandfaither will be on yer conscience for the rest of yer life.”

“I’ll find her. I told ye I would. She couldna have gotten far in the dark.”

“We’ll help him,” said Logan.

“Take Callum with ye,” commanded Storm.

“What?” asked Hawke, not wanting to do this. “Great-grandda will only slow us down.”

“I want him out of here if by any chance the English try to take Hermitage Castle. He is auld and canna fight. He’ll only be a distraction and I canna afford to assign men to protect him. And Hawke, dinna let anythin’ happen to yer mathair or yer sisters in the Highlands.”

“I willna,” said Hawke. “Ye can count on me.”

“Aye, I am countin’ on ye, Son. So dinna let me down again.”

* * *

Hawke walked into the stable to saddle a horse, stopping in his tracks when he saw Orrick sitting in the wagon next to Callum. “What is this?” he asked.

“We’re ready to go back to the Horn and Hoof,” Callum told him, talking about the tavern he owned in Glasgow where he sold his Mountain Magic.

“Orrick, why are ye in the cart?”

“I’m coming with you,” said the sorcerer, making Hawke cringe. Having one old man along would slow them down. But with two of them, it was going to make it impossible to track and find Phoebe.

“Nay, ye stay here. There are already too many people in this travelin’ party.”

“But someone will have to tend to yer wound now that Phoebe is gone,” said Orrick, making sense. If Hawke got an infection, things could turn for the worse. Besides, mayhap the sorcerer could use some of his magic in helping him find Phoebe.

“Fine, then. But both of ye will have to ride horses. The wagon will slow us down too much, no’ to mention get us noticed faster by the MacNabs or the English.”

“There are no extra horses,” said Logan, walking into the stable with Caleb and Ethan at his side.

“What? Why no’?” asked Hawke.

“Yer faither says they need every horse possible for the soldiers headin’ to the coast,” explained Ethan.

Hawke looked around for Phoebe’s horse, happy when he found it. When she escaped the castle, she must have gone on foot in order not to be discovered. “One of ye will ride Phoebe’s horse,” he told them.

“Nay,” answered Ethan.

“What do ye mean, nay?” spat Hawke.