As the sun went down and the two got closer to Kirklinton, he was relieved. He had given up on watching his environment when he noticed how tense it made Charlotte every time he did so, but he still kept his ears open in case they were walking into another ambush unprepared.
"We need tae stop for the night. We can continue our journey tomorrow. We are nae longer far from Kirklington, but that dinnae mean that we have tae walk all night long. There is an inn nearby."
Morning came, and the two continued on their way to Kirklinton. When they reached it, he breathed in deep. A sense of completion filled him.
"Hurry, we are here at last," he noticed that Charlotte's steps had slowed. "Dae nae worry, they will welcome ye with open arms and take care of ye the same way that I have done."
Owen took her hands in his and walked the short distance, only dropping them when they arrived at the gate.
"Master Owen!" he looked in the direction the voice had come from and saw the grounds keeper hurrying towards him. "It is him, it really is Master Owen," Sweeney, the old stable keeper, exclaimed.
"Conan, it is good tae see ye. How have ye been and how is everyone?" he quizzed.
"I am all right, and so is everyone else. Yer family will be happy tae see ye as will all of us," Conan smiled at him excitedly.
"Speaking of family, is everyone home?" Owen could not wait to see and hug his family. It had been a long time since he saw them, and he had not realized how much he missed them all until he was standing here in front of the castle.
"Aye, yer brother is in, I will inform him of yer arrival." Conan rushed off into the house to announce his presence. It did not take long for Owen to see his brother, Rory, running towards him, his hands wide open for an embrace when he reached him.
"Rory," Owen murmured, and allowed himself to be wrapped in his brother's embrace. He fought off the tears that threatened to fall as he breathed in his familiar scent. "I have missed ye so much."
"As I have missed ye, too. I am glad that ye are here now," his brother said, clapping him on the back before he let go. He looked at Charlotte, who was standing awkwardly beside Owen, and looked back at him, clearly waiting for an introduction.
"Och. Aye. This is Charlotte. She is my friend, and she needs a place tae stay for a little while." He smiled at her, as she murmured an almost inaudible "Hello, my Laird."
"It is a pleasure tae meet ye, lass, and ye can call me Rory. Ye are welcome to our home. I hope ye will be comfortable with us and consider yerself among friends." Owen smiled at his brother, who winked at him.
"Thank you for your kindness," Charlotte said.
"Why are ye standing here like strangers? Let us go in." Rory ushered them in, his hands on Owen's shoulder as they went. They chatted animatedly as they walked down the how, with Rory asking how he had been and wanting to know all that had happened to him while he was away.
"Where are my manners? Ye have just arrived and I am talking yer ears off without letting ye show yer guest to her room so she can rest. I hope ye can join us for dinner, Miss Charlotte," Rory said before walking away and leaving them to freshen up.
"Your brother appears to be a wonderful host," Charlotte said as they made their way up the stairs.
"Aye, he has had years of practice doing it," he replied, "but even more so, he cares for everyone sincerely." Owen led her to a room in the guest wing. "This will be yer room during yer stay here. If there is anything that ye want, dae nae hesitate to let me or the servants ken. I will leave ye tae freshen up and get some rest. Ye must be tired after the stressful journey we have had."
She gave him only a nod while looking around in astonishment, and Owen waited until Charlotte was in her room before he turned on his heels and made his way back down the stairs, in search of his brother. He went to the laird's study, knowing that he was more likely to find him there.
"Owen, I ken ye would be back soon," he said, smiling at him. "Come on, I was going tae take a walk."
"By the way, ye just missed maither for some hours. Margaret went with her early this morning to see Evie. Although I am sure that they will be back soon so ye can greet them," he said.
Owen nodded. He would love to see his mother and sister-in-law, of course; however that was not why he had wanted to have a chat with Rory.
"It will be good tae see them." The two walked towards the stables in silence. "Right now, I actually have a lot on my mind and I am nae in good spirits, brother. I have found myself in an unpleasant situation."
"I noticed that ye seemed tae be a little withdrawn. What is the matter?" Rory asked immediately, almost as if he had been waiting for Owen to bring it up.
"The lass I brought here, Charlotte, she is in trouble. She doesnae just need a place tae stay, she needs protection as well." Owen wanted to tell Rory the truth about who she was and what he had cost her. He had gotten quite close to his brother ever since their father's death, and he knew he could count on him. Just as he took in a deep breath, preparing himself to spill out the biggest secret he had carried, a guard rushed in.
"There is a scout outside the gate, my Laird," the man said with his low voice, bowing slightly. Rory looked from his brother to the scout and nodded at him.
"Accept what the scout has brought with him and send him on his way," he ordered.
"He brought a letter for Master Owen," the guard said hesitantly, and Rory looked at his brother with raised brows.
"Why are ye meeting with a scout? Is there a problem, Owen?" Rory asked. Owen knew very well that the scout would never have come to the castle if it was unimportant, so he took the letter and dismissed the guard without uttering a word. He felt dread creeping on his skin when he tore the envelope. It was straight to the point; the words sending chills all over his body.
