Page 53 of Highlander’s Quest of Desire

She nodded.

“It says here we’ll find the O’on along the River Carron.”

“That’s a long stretch,” she said, straightening her skirts. “Didnae the books at Balquhidder shed any light?”

Bruce shook his head. The books had given him nothing. None of the Arthurian legends he had come across contained any information of a building in Scotland. He had often wondered what the Honors were doing in a building dedicated to an ancient English king.

“We can ask some of the townsfolk to narrow it down,” Elspeth suggested.

“Ye should ask,” Bruce said, groaning. “They respond better to ye.”

“Are ye thinking of Beatrice?”

“Aye.” Bruce rubbed the back of his neck. But it was more than his remorse at his actions at the inn. Elspeth had a charm that people responded to, and Falkirk seemed no different. He had noticed the women and children giving her special attention and smiles as they rode through the town.

“Then I shall get to work,” she said with a sunny smile.

Bruce followed her out of the church. The first person they came across was a petite woman with a baby in her arms.

“What a bonny bairn!” Elspeth declared.

“She’s a naughty one,” the woman said. “I have four more at home, but none give me as much trouble is Lilian.”

“What a lovely name. Hello, Lilian,” Elspeth said, tapping the baby’s chin.

“Are ye new to Falkirk?” Lilian’s mother asked.

“Aye. We came to see Arthur’s O’on.”

“Is that a farm?” she asked.

Elspeth’s smile faltered. Bruce’s heart fell. He hadn’t realized he had been holding his breath. What if the building in their illustrations had been torn down, or just crumbled over the years and was no longer known as Arthur’s O’on?

“It’s this.” Bruce pulled out the booklet they had found at the ruins on Loch Lomond. He showed her the illustration. “Is there anything that looks like this by the river?”

“Ah!” Comprehension dawned on the woman’s face. “Ye’re seeking the granary. It’s a few miles down the river from the church. It belongs to the McKinnon family. They lease it out to the local farmers to store their excess grain. Are ye looking to store grain?”

“Aye!” Elspeth said, clasping her by the shoulder and giving baby Lilian another pinch on the cheek. “That’s exactly why we’re here. Thank ye for all yer help. Be good, little Lilian!”

She kissed the drooling baby on the head. Then linking her arm with Bruce’s, she guide him back toward the church and the small graveyard behind that led off to the river.

“We’re close,” she said.

Bruce broke into a cold sweat. Yes. They were close.