Page 61 of Highland Spirit

“There is no ghost,” he said out loud, for naught more than comfort since he was alone. “Alana fooled me. She was the ghost. That’s all it was.” He passed by the hearth and, once again, heard a scratching noise and a small squeak. He looked down and saw a mouse disappearing into that part of the wall. He took a step closer and when he did, a floorboard moved and lifted slightly. He bent down, pulling the board up, his hand going into the floor and his fingers closing around cold metal. He lifted out the object, realizing it was a dagger. Holding it closer, he saw that it was his dagger that he’d lost here when he was ten.

“My dagger!” he exclaimed, happy to have it again, but wondering how it got into the floor. He started to get up, but then the light from the window illuminated a spot on the hearth. It looked different in the light. It was getting late in the day and the light wasn’t that strong but, still, he thought he saw an odd shadow. He took a step closer, reaching out for a brick that looked to be sticking out more than the others.

And right when he was about to touch it, he heard the bloodcurdling scream of a woman. He jumped back up to a standing position, spinning around with both hands gripped to the hilt of his sword, to find a dark figure standing in the doorway.

“Stay away or I’ll kill ye. I swear I will,” he commanded.

“Ethan? What’s the matter with ye?” Alana hurried into the room, the last of the setting sun falling on her face.

“Alana?” he released the breath he’d been holding and slowly lowered his sword. “I dinna ken it was ye.”

“Aye, I suppose no’,” she said. “And next time, I guess I’ll announce myself or risk ye takin’ off my head. What is the matter with ye?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, looking down and sheathing his sword. “I suppose I was a little spooked. I found my dagger that I lost here as a child.” When he held it up to show it to her, once again came that bloodcurdling scream. “It’s the ghost!” He ripped his sword from the scabbard, holding it with two hands and making a full circle as he scanned the room.

“God’s toes, put that down before ye poke out my eye,” said Alana.

“Didna ye hear that?” asked Ethan, half-expecting to see old Murdock coming at him with a blade. “It was the scream of the murdered lassie.”

“That’s no ghost!” spat Alana. “That is Kirstine havin’ contractions.” Ethan released a breath and sheathed his sword. “I came up here to tell ye the search for the treasure is goin’ to have to wait. I think she is startin’ to deliver her bairn, even though it is too early.”

“Och,” said Ethan, now feeling like a fool. “That’s no’ guid if it is too early.”

“Exactly,” she said. “My sister has already birthed a stillborn and lost two other unborn children. If she loses this one, too, I’m afraid she will go mad.”

“We need to be there with her,” he said, heading for the door. He had wished he could have been there for Alana when she’d birthed their baby. Family meant everything to him, just like it did to her. If he couldn’t be there to support Alana, then he swore he would be there to help Kirstine birth her bairn instead.

He headed down the stairs, leaving Alana standing there.

“Hello?” said Alana, feeling like someone else was in the room. Ethan had left the tower, so no one should be there. “Is someone here?” she asked, not seeing anyone, but hearing a low whisper that gave her gooseflesh.

“Give up searchin’ for the treasure,” the male voice warned. “If ye dinna, ye will all die.”

Frightened out of her mind, Alana bounded out of the room, following Ethan back to the solar.

Chapter 16

“Alana, help me,” cried Kirstine when they entered the room. “I can feel the bairn comin’. Dinna leave me, please.”

“Call for the healer,” said Ethan, pushing into the room. “Oh, wait. Ye dinna have a healer. I dinna suppose ye have a midwife on hand?”

“Nay, we dinna,” said Gil, hobbling back and forth. “We havena had one since we left Ireland.

“Then who is goin’ to deliver the bairn?” asked Ethan.

“I guess we didna think about that,” Alana answered, her thoughts still preoccupied by the voice she’d just heard in the tower room.

“Mama, I’m scared,” said Isobel, running to her. Alana scooped her up in her arms.

“Well, now’s a fine time to discover we have no one to help her,” spat Ethan, rolling up his sleeves.

“What are ye doin’ Ethan?” asked Alana.

“I’m goin’ to help yer sister birth her bairn,” said Ethan. “And ye are goin’ to help me.”

“Of course,” she said, having planned on delivering the baby herself if she had to. But if Ethan wanted to help, so be it. She could use his support.

“Aaaaaah,” screamed Kirstine, gripping at the bedcovers in the chamber she and Alana shared.