Ruby’s stomach dropped. So it had begun. “Anything else?”
“One of MacInnes’ men got drunk last night. Said things he shouldnae have. Hinted at levies and punishments. Spoke of ‘teaching the village a lesson’ if we didnae fall in line.”
“Who heard?”
“Half the village,” Hamish replied grimly. “And the other half heard about it before dawn.”
Of course they had. News here traveled faster than broadband ever had in Edinburgh.
“As a result, the villagers are restless,” Hamish said. “They dinna know the truth and they willnae long tolerate a laird who shows up after years of absence and then proceeds to let his men behave like bullies. I willnae be able to placate them for long. Evan has to find MacInnes’ location soon.”
Ruby turned away, staring toward the distant line of trees where the road curved out of sight. “I know. But what can we do?”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Hamish replied. “And I may have a way to speed things up.”
“How?”
He hesitated. “It’s best ye dinna know.”
Ruby frowned. “I don’t like that answer.”
“Sometimes not knowing is the best protection.”
She huffed out a breath and glanced towards Evan’s manor house. “All right. But please be careful.”
He smiled crookedly. “Always.”
As she turned to leave, the wind picked up again, sharp and insistent, whipping Ruby’s cloak around her legs.
Hurry, Evan, she thought.We’re running out of time.
