Page 54 of The Widow Wore Plaid

“Beggin’ your pardon, my lord.” The steely look in MacKenna’s eyes said Matthew’s plan was not to his liking. “We canna attempt the ride in the middle of the night.”

“Why not?” Now he knew where Kinellan likely was, how could anyone expect him to simply sit here and wait for daylight?

“The trail is difficult at best during the day. At night it’s treacherous.” The hunt master spoke matter-of-factly, seeming not to care that the lord of the castle was likely in grave danger. “To ride out tonight, with gentlemen who dinna ken the lay of the land, and are not used to rough riding, without the benefit of light to show the way would ask for disaster.” He stared directly into Matthew’s face. “And that will nae help anyone.”

A glance at the other gentlemen of the party—Brack, Granger, Wrotham, Lord Harold, St. Just—told him they would side with MacKenna. They’d been loath to ride out earlier. How much less willing would they be to accompany him without the support of the hunt master? Clenching his fist until his nails dug half-moon circles in his flesh, Matthew at last nodded. “All right then, we leave at dawn and I mean as soon as there’s enough light to see your hand before your face. Be on your horses, ready to go that instant.”

Everyone nodded, finished up their drinks, and quietly took their leave. In about four hours they would all return and scour the countryside until they found Kinellan and Jane. If they found Rory Seton along the way as well, Matthew swore he’d force the blackguard to tell them the whereabouts of the couple. Seton would beg for the tender mercies of a Spanish inquisitor before Matthew was through with him.

* * *

The first streaks of dawn had pinkened the night sky when Matthew mounted Lucifer, who pranced in the crisp air. MacKenna was already mounted, looking tireless although none of them had had more than a couple hours’ sleep. The rest of the group were yawning or trying to stifle yawns. Matthew could do with some hot coffee, although another stirrup cup would not be amiss either.

Matthew had ordered Grant to pack a carry bag for his horse with some few medical supplies, bandages and salve mostly, but also bread, cheese, and smoked meat in the event they found the pair in need of immediate medical attention and sustenance. He wished now he’d also ordered something for them to eat as well. The day might prove long and tiring.

A groom tied a similar carry bag onto MacKenna’s horse and when Matthew looked around, each man’s horse carried a similar bag. The servant looked up, seeing Matthew’s interest. “Mr. Grant ordered carry bags for each of the gentlemen, my lord. Thought you’d be in need of food and drink before you got home.”

“Tell Grant for me that if he tires of the Scottish Highlands, he’s welcome to come to me at Hunter’s Cross any day of the week.”

“Yes, my lord.” The groom finished his task and hurried away.

Matthew turned to the rest of the search party, all of whom had finally mounted. “Are we ready?”

Nods and the gathering of reins were his answer, so he moved up beside MacKenna. “We’re ready to go. Which way and how long to get to the lodge?”

“Follow me.” The gruff Scotsman started his bay horse with a firm tap and they shot away over the bridge, easing into a canter by the time they reached the land on the other side and called to Matthew. “The lodge is maybe five miles from the castle, bear to the right here, and up the mountain. After this first stretch of trail, we canna do more than walk the horses. Which’ll you go to first, falls or lodge? You’d said they went to a place with water.”

“Yes.” Matthew let Lucifer have his head. The horse wouldn’t let another lead him willingly so soon he and MacKenna were side by side. “If they had a misadventure at the waterfall we don’t want to miss them.”

The hunt master nodded. “Should take an hour or two.”

The sun would be well up by then. No way to miss either Kinellan or any sign he might have left. Their pace slowed as they left the roadway and struck out into the woods. Only a faint trail through the tall stand of Scots pine trees showed them the way that soon began to climb steeply. Matthew kept lookout for any sign that Kinellan’s horses had passed this way yesterday but found nothing conclusive. The maddeningly slow pace kept him on edge, wanting to urge Lucifer on quicker, but the ground was on a slant, the surface unsteady. Although he wanted to proceed at breakneck speed, he didn’t actually want to break anyone’s neck. So he gritted his teeth and reconciled himself to the plodding pace.

The faint sound of rushing water reached Matthew just as their shadows lay full in front of them. They must be nearing Rogie Falls at last. Matthew had kept Lucifer in check a pace just behind MacKenna the whole time, not wishing to fall back with the rest of the company, who talked amongst themselves occasionally. Not, perhaps, the best thing if they were attempting to surprise a killer. Excellent, however, if they were trying to alert Kinellan of their presence. An even wager in the end.

They rounded a curve and suddenly the wide river lay before them, dotted with islands of rock, its swift water flowing south and east. A splash upstream drew Matthew’s attention to the water itself. Another spray of water and he glimpsed a nice-sized salmon leaping against the fierce current. If they ever found Kinellan, he’d suggest they come fish this river.

MacKenna raised his hand. “We’ll stop a minute here. Rogie Falls is just above us. It’ll be better to walk the horses up.”

Matthew nodded, and signaled the others to dismount. Two hours on the trail and nothing to show for it. He’d not been able to see any definite sign that Kinellan had passed this way at all yesterday. Surely the trail was not well used. There should be something indicating their passage.

The others in the company were drinking from the stream or relieving themselves behind the abundant trees. Matthew had no urge to do either. He needed them to push on. An annoying little voice at the back of his head kept niggling at him, saying they had no time to lose. They must find Kinellan and Jane now, without delay. He’d never been able to ignore that voice and he didn’t intend to do so now. “MacKenna, take us on up to the falls. I’d give a year off my life to find them camped there with a sprained ankle or some such trivial ailment.”

Silently, MacKenna grabbed his reins and started up the path that led now beside the rushing water. Matthew fell in directly behind him, the others following on slowly. The views were magnificent, if only Matthew could enjoy them. Much too preoccupied with thinking about Kinellan, Matthew scarcely took in the prospect at all—until they rounded a sharp bend in the river and the roaring of the falls became deafening. Matthew looked up and gaped.

The water plunged over a series of rock ledges, the spray hitting them a good ten yards away. More salmon were leaping up the falls, seeking their spawning grounds farther up the Black River. A spectacular spot for a picnic. No wonder Kinellan would wish to bring Jane here. Automatically he scanned the ground for signs of their presence when a loud whinny jerked his head up.

Kinellan’s stallion, Hector, still fully saddled and bridled, whinnied again, trotting right toward Matthew and the company. Matthew’s mouth dried to dust. If Hector was here, but not Kinellan or Jane . . . “Kinellan! Kinellan!” Tugging Lucifer along, Matthew made a grab for Hector’s reins and snagged them. “Here, MacKenna. Take him.” He thrust Lucifer’s reins into the guide’s hands, then ran a soft hand down Hector’s nose.

“Where’s Kinellan?”

“Where’s Jane’s horse?”

“Is that blood on him?” Granger’s was the last question. It set off a small stampede as all the gentlemen hurried forward to check the horse’s backside.

“Where did you see blood, Granger?” Brack ran his hand down the horse’s withers. “No wound here.”

“That’s because it’s back here.” Brack rubbed his hand along the point of hip and it came away faintly red.