Page 27 of Highland Spirit

“See what?” she asked, not sure what he meant.

“The bastard was beddin’ ye all the while we were plannin’ on being wed. When were ye goin’ to tell me that ye were already pregnant with another man’s child? And were ye ever in love with me at all, or was that all an act to get close to me so ye could steal from the MacKeefes?” Anger filled his dark brown eyes and he looked like he hated her now. Sadly, she couldn’t blame him.

“Nay, Ethan, ye dinna understand.”

“Nay, I dinna,” he said, a sarcastic tinge to his voice. “So why dinna ye tell me the way it really is?”

“I – I –” She didn’t know what to say. She saw Albert and Graeme rushing down the stairs of the battlements and trudging across the snow-laden courtyard toward them.

“Tell me!” he shouted, scaring her. Trapper heard him yell and came running over. The hound jumped up, putting its paws on Ethan’s shoulders. “Get down!” snapped Ethan, dropping the logs and pushing the dog away.

“Ethan, please dinna hate me.” Her eyes flashed over to the guards and then back to him. “I want to tell ye . . . everythin’. But I . . . I canna do that right now.” Even if she did decide to come clean with him, she was sure Albert and Graeme would stop her from doing so. It was their job to keep this all a secret, and if word got back to Diarmad, they might be killed because of her. She couldn’t let that happen.

“Canna or willna?” he asked, his words throwing down the gauntlet in challenge. “If ye have somethin’ to say to all this, then ye’d better do it fast.”

The wind picked up and Alana hugged herself to stay warm, looking at the ground and not answering. Her lip trembled and she felt as if she wanted to cry. Albert and Graeme came closer.

“I thought I kent ye, Alana, but now I see that our time together meant nothin’ to ye,” continued Ethan.

“That’s no’ true,” she said, following after him as he stormed back to the keep, trudging through the snow.

“What’s goin’ on here?” asked Graeme, his hand going to his sword as he quickly followed.

“There is nothin’ at all goin’ on here,” Ethan answered, stopping and turning around. “Alana, all the promises we made to each other were nothin’ but lies. I can see that now.”

“Ye dinna ken what ye’re sayin’.” Alana was becoming more and more upset by Ethan’s words. She was about to tell him everything but then Albert and Graeme glared at her and shook their heads in a silent reminder to keep quiet.

“I’m done with ye,” spat Ethan, throwing his hands in the air and hurrying to the stairs to enter the great hall. “I’m done with all women,” he complained under his breath, almost walking into Caleb who was hopping on one foot, putting on his boots as he walked out.

“Caleb, let’s go,” commanded Ethan.

“Go?” asked Caleb, standing up and running a hand through his hair as he yawned. He looked at Ethan and Alana and then the guards. “Go where?”

“We’re leavin’ for MacKeefe camp anon. Get yer belongin’s and meet me at the boat.”

“We’re leavin’? Now? But it’s barely light,” complained Caleb, yawning again and squinting as he looked out at the lightening sky.

“Did I hear ye’re leavin’?” Kirstine hurried over with Finn at her side. “But ye just got here. Please dinna go yet. At least stay until ye break the fast.”

“Aye, I could go for a boiled goose egg or mayhap a little brown bread and pottage,” said Caleb, always wanting to eat.

“Nay. They need to leave,” commanded Graeme.

“Thank ye for yer kindness, Kirstine, but I suddenly feel as if I dinna want to be here any longer,” said Ethan. He glared at Alana over his shoulder when he said it.

“What’s goin’ on?” asked Kirstine, looking over at Alana.

Once again, Alana was put in an uncomfortable position. Isobel came down the stairs clutching her doll. She ran over and clung to Alana’s skirts.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” asked Alana, running a hand over her daughter’s soft hair.

“I’m scared,” said Isobel.

“Of the ghost?” asked Caleb.

The little girl shook her head. “Nay. Someone is tryin’ to get Annabelle.” She looked up at Ethan when she said it.

“Let’s go, Caleb,” said Ethan, not even responding to that.