Page 63 of Highland Spirit

“Sister, is she really alive?” asked Kirstine, her body trembling.

“She is and so are ye,” replied Alana. “Just like Ethan said.”

“Let me hold her.” Kirstine reached out and Alana handed the baby over to her.

“Yer sister will need to be cleaned up and she might need a few stitches,” Ethan told Alana, feeling a wave of emotion and satisfaction surge through him. He walked over to the washbasin and rinsed his hands as the servants stepped in to help Kirstine.

Looking back to the bed, he watched as Alana and Kirstine smiled, cooing over the baby. His heart went out to them. Was this the way it was when Alana birthed her baby? Had she felt scared and all alone? Ethan wished he could have been there for her.

Suddenly feeling the need to see his own daughter as well as to have a good swig of whisky to soothe his nerves, Ethan left the room and headed down to the great hall.

“Da!” cried little Isobel, running to him as soon as she saw him. He scooped her up, cradling her in his arms and kissing her on the head.

“Is the bairn here?” asked Finn, rushing over with Gil.

“Is my grandchild alive? Is it all right? How is my daughter?” asked Gil sounding concerned as well as excited.

“Everyone is fine and Kirstine has birthed a wee girl,” Ethan announced to everyone in the great hall.

“Can we see the bairn?” asked Finn.

“Go ahead,” said Ethan. “But right now, all I want is some Mountain Magic.”

“Here ye go,” said Caleb, handing Ethan the bladder of Mountain Magic. “Did I hear right? Ye helped to birth the bairn?” he asked.

“I did,” Ethan said, taking a swig of whisky.

“I want to see the bairn, too,” said Isobel. “Put me down, Da.”

He put her down and she ran to catch up with Gil and Finn.

“What did ye find down at the cove?” asked Ethan.

“No treasure if that’s what ye mean.” Caleb held out a piece of bread for Slink.

“It’s no’ there. It’s up in the tower, I’m sure of it.”

“How so?” asked Caleb.

“I remembered somethin’ from my past. Somethin’ I think I blocked out of my mind because I was so upset by what I saw when I was ten.”

“The ghost?” Caleb picked up a tankard and took a swig of ale.

“No’ just that. There was a man who guarded the treasure, I’m sure of it.”

“A man? Who?”

“I’m willin’ to bet it was Mad Murdock. And somethin’ tells me that he is still here.”

* * *

When morning came, Ethan was headed for the tower before he even broke the fast.

“Ethan, where are ye goin’?” asked Alana, hurrying after him.

“To get the treasure. Do ye have the key?”

“I do,” she said, following him to the tower.