Page 82 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

Gaie glanced about the table, watchfully.

“By making a list o’ everyone who had something to gain by those men’s deaths, an’ when I go through it in my head, there’s only one name that’s left…”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“A lright, lass, spit it out,” said Neacal. “Ye’ve a face like a slapped salmon, so what is it?”

It was the next day. Neacal had awoken to discover himself being watched by the entire gang, and before him, Teasag hovered, carrying a breakfast tray.

And judging by her face, she seemed unsure of something.

Teasag glanced at Robbie, and he and the others disappeared, leaving her alone with Neacal.

Now Neacal was worried,

“Neacal, I,” began Teasag, looking uncertainly at him. She began pouring an ample dram, but before she could offer it to him, Neacal shook his head. He wanted to keep it clear.

By now, Neacal’s heart was pounding in the center of his dry mouth. He didn’t imagine it. Something was going on here. Already, his imagination was racing; she had changed her mind. She was going to leave him. She had had enough of life on the run, and he really couldn’t blame her.

A mad mixture of guilt and panic swirled in his head. He was crazy to ever expect a girl as fine as Teasag to put up with him for long.

Feeling certain that she would knock him back, Neacal leaped in first, to spare her.

“Teasag, I ken that yer too good for me, but, I can change, an’…,” Neacal found the words dying on his mouth. He felt wretched. Deep inside he was sure he had already lost her.

A surge of passion ran through him, tinged with sadness. All he wanted was to keep her by his side, but had he blown it?

Teasag put her hand on his shoulder, “Neacal, it’s nae that,” she said simply. “But I’ve got something to tell ye, well, we have…”

Neacal’s eyes strayed over to Gaie, uncharacteristically quiet at the other end of the house.

“Well, go on then,” said Neacal. He didn’t think he could take much more intrigue. “Both of ye…”

Slowly, Gaie walked forwards. “We’ve been thinking on how best to tell ye, Neacal,” she said. “An’ I said it was best to come from Teasag because yer less likely to fly off the handle…”

Neacal looked quizzical. Now he was worried. “Please, just tell me…”

Gaie took a deep breath and then blurted out. “Marcas killed those three men, an’ he did it deliberately to put the blame on ye…”

“We think,” added Teasag.

Neacal froze in his chair. This hadn’t been the kind of news that he’d been expecting. He had been convinced that Teasag had some devastating announcement; that she was going away or would have to leave.

In fact, thoughts of his predicament had actually been furthermost from his mind, at least, at that moment in time. So, it came as something of a shock when Gaie made her pronouncement.

“Well, then, say something,” said Teasag, waiting tensely by his side. She stared down at his plate, still untouched, as Neacal looked tensely at her.

“I cannae say I’m all that surprised, but murder?” said Neacal. It was taking a while for him to process this particular part of their announcement. “I mean, kent well enough, he was just pinning the thing on me, but I had thought it was just convenient for him. Or that, maybe, he really believed it… I didnae think for one minute he actually did it….” Neacal looked puzzled. “Are ye sure? Why do ye think that?”

Gaie sighed. “Because it couldnae possibly be anyone else,” she said, suddenly producing a fragment of paper. Quickly she unfurled the creased parchment and smoothed it down in front of him.

“Look, we made a list o’ each o’ the victims, what their positions were, their wealth,” Gaie said.

From the back of the room, the three lads, who had assumed a discreet position, looked up.

“An’ then we went on to see who had benefited from their death,” chipped in Teasag, coming to stand beside him.

Now, Neacal could feel her hot breath on his neck and her scent, so close that it was all he could do to fight off the desire to kiss her madly on the lips.