Page 24 of Highland Steel

“Mayhap they took it from someone else – from some other bandits that attacked us,” suggested Rhoswen.

“Nay, lass,” said Logan softly. “I ken ye dinna want to believe it, but I warned ye that the Drummonds are no guid and canna be trusted.”

“We’d better go,” said Hawke. “They’ll start lookin’ for their scout at first light. And when they do, it’ll lead them right to us.”

“I think we should fight,” said Newell, reaching out and snatching the sword away from Rhoswen. He held it up in the air. “Let’s kill them all.” The boy was getting so worked up that it made Rhoswen realize that what Logan said was true. She and her siblings were only going to get killed if they didn’t listen to him. Seeing the vengeance in her brother’s eyes only made him seem like a clone of her father. Part of her felt like that, too, but she knew it was wrong. She had to find a way to save her nephew and leave this godforsaken land. But was killing the answer? She felt so confused, and needed time alone to think this through.

“Put down the sword, Brother,” she told him. “Mayhap we should listen to the MacKeefes right now.”

“Rhoswen, are we going to die?” cried her sister, making Rhoswen want to protect her siblings even more.

“Nay,” she told her frightened sister. “Not if we listen to Logan and leave here right now. We’ll be safe in the care of the MacKeefes.”

“But how will we save Lockie if we don’t have the sword?” asked Blaine.

“I don’t know,” she said, looking at Logan for her answers. “But I’m sure we’ll find a way.”

“Give me the blade, lad,” said Logan with an outstretched arm to Newell.

Newell looked over to Rhoswen and she nodded. Slowly, he lowered the blade and handed it to Logan.

As they prepared to leave, Rhoswen felt as if they’d lost any chance of saving Lockie now. If the Drummonds already had the sword, there was no need to look for it, because they were never going to get it back. And no sword, meant no Lockie. He was just as good as gone forever, just like Rhoswen’s sister, mother and father.

“Are ye all right, lass?” asked Logan, helping her mount the horse.

“I wish I knew how to answer that,” she replied, realizing that, now, she and her siblings were truly orphans. Life had taken a nasty turn lately, and she had the feeling it was only going to keep getting worse.

Chapter 9

They arrived at the MacKeefe camp several hours later. The rain had stopped and the sun was breaking through the clouds in the hills of Oban. Logan had wanted to double back and search for the sword for Rhoswen, but he didn’t. Having no idea what it even looked like was going to get him nowhere. Besides, he had no idea how many Drummonds were still out there. He wasn’t worried about getting away from them, but with the lassies and boy along, it was too dangerous and he wasn’t willing to risk their lives.

Logan and his friends could outfight and outride anyone, but Rhoswen and her siblings wouldn’t have been able to keep up. The last thing he wanted was for them to be captured, hurt, or possibly killed. Nay, he’d have to find another way to get that sword, but it wouldn’t be with them along.

“Is this where the MacKeefes live?” asked Rhoswen as they rode into camp side by side.

“Aye,” said Logan. “It is our Highland camp. But we also laid claim to Hermitage Castle years ago. So we spend time in both locations.”

“Isn’t that risky to split up the clan?” she asked. “Doesn’t it make you weaker?”

“Nay. The MacKeefe Clan is growin’ larger every day. With many generations of MacKeefes livin’ here, our forces have become even stronger than before. Plus, we have two chieftains – Storm and his faither. So each of our locations has a laird.”

“Interesting,” she said looking around. “I’ve never seen a Highland camp before. It’s beautiful up here in the mountains.”

“Aye,” he agreed. “My friends and I prefer to stay here rather than live at the castle. I, myself, thrive on the outdoors, no matter what the weather.”

“I’ve never spent much time away from our castle,” she told him. “Before this trip, I’d never even slept on the ground.”

Logan chuckled. “Well, now that ye’re here, lass, I guarantee ye’ll be seein’ and doin’ a lot of things ye’ve never experienced before.”

Rhoswen took in her surroundings, breathing in the fresh mountain air. She’d never been to the Highlands before, and realized the land was beautiful. Fluffy, white clouds hung low over the rolling green hills that were dotted with livestock.

“Are those . . . sheep and cattle?” she asked, shading her eyes from the sun and peering out to where the livestock roamed.

“Aye. The MacKeefes have a fold of long-haired cattle as well as a flock of black-faced sheep.”

“The cattle have hair hanging in their eyes,” she said with a giggle.

“That long hair keeps them warm. We have some harsh winters in the Highlands.”