Alpin frowned. "You won't ken which room the keek-stane is in."
"I'll search until I find it. I'm nay giving up!" She ground her teeth. "And if you wish to become chief of the MacTavish clan, you will help me."
"Fine," Alpin grumbled. "I'll retrieve my sword. I may have to kill a kelpie this night."
***
IN KELPIE FORM, TORRgrazed on a tender patch of grass near the loch. He wished Cat was out here with him. He enjoyed her companionship and, during their journeys, had grown accustomed to her light weight on his back. His fondest dream was to be a man beside her in bed right now. She would be warm and drowsy. He wanted to see the candlelight glowing upon her naked curves. But he was realistic, not a dreamer. Shattering the curse still seemed too far out of reach for him to fantasize about.
A noise caught his sensitive ears. He swallowed and pricked his ears. Horses hooves thumped upon the ground in the distance. They were not galloping but moving at a slower pace. Two horses. He sniffed the air. Witch scent.
Wilona MacRae. And Alpin.
Torr snorted, trying to rid himself of their odors. Where were they? He glanced about but saw no movements.
The castle! They were planning to reclaim the keek-stane. He should've expected it this night.
He bounded forward into a gallop, easily able to see in the moonlight.
Moments later, he approached Blacktower and the collapsed walls.
A pistol shot exploded in the night air, and a small object hit Torr's right haunch. A lead ball?
He reared and gave a roaring neigh. Turning, he found Alpin on horseback in the shadowy corner.
"Stay back, beast!" Alpin shouted, wielding a sword.
Torr circled around to the left, away from Alpin's sword arm. The man's wild-eyed mount lost all courage and bolted. Torr gave chase.
"Whoa!" Alpin yelled.
The terrified horse galloped across the courtyard and leapt over the crumbled wall, tossing Alpin into the air. He bellowed and landed upon the pile of stones.
Torr reared, neighing, his giant hooves pawing at the air.
Halting, he pricked his ears at Alpin, who lay silent and unmoving upon the rocks.
Torr circled back and waited a short distance from Alpin. The disturbing tang of blood thickened the air. The man still didn't move or make a sound, and Torr no longer heard a heartbeat.
Was the bastard dead?
Had to be.
Mess with a kelpie at your peril.
Where was the witch? Torr turned his head, listening closely.
Crashes reverberated from within the castle.
Wilona was inside! Was she attacking Cat?
