Page 12 of Highland Ghost

Chapter Five

“I’ll see ye in the mornin’, Sister. Sweet dreams.” Kellina yawned and headed for the door.

“Nay, wait! Dinna leave me.” Caitlin ran across the room and grabbed her sister’s arm. “Canna ye stay here with me tonight? Please. I dinna want to be alone.”

“Caitlin, what is the matter with ye? Mayhap ye should have had some Mountain Magic like the rest of us. Ye seem frightened out of yer skin for some reason.”

“I am,” Caitlin admitted, folding her arms over her chest, feeling a chill in the room. “Kellina, ye heard those bagpipes tonight the same as me. Dinna deny it.”

“By the rood, Sister, ye are no’ startin’ up with that talk of ghosts again, are ye? It’s gettin’ old and I’m tired of hearin’ it.”

“How can ye deny it? There are ghosts in this castle, just like Jamie told me he heard from idle gossip. I’m sure of it.”

“Jamie told ye those things just to frighten ye, Caitlin. Ye ken our brathair always played tricks on us growin’ up. This is just another of his silly ways to try to frighten ye. Think nothin’ of it, and get some sleep.”

“Canna ye stay here, too?” Caitlin tried once again to convince her sister.

“Nay, I canna. Nash and I have our own room. Besides, I need to take care of Robena. Nash drank too much whisky and he’ll be of no help tonight, I’m sure.”

“Then bring Robena in here, and we can spend the night together. Just the three of us.”

Kellina frowned and shook her head. “The baby is already sleepin’ and I am no’ movin’ her just because ye are actin’ like a scared rabbit. Now, get some shut eye. In the mornin’, everythin’ will seem better.”

“But Kellina –”

“Guidnight.” Kellina left the room, closing the door behind her. Caitlin was all alone now in this big room, and she didn’t like it. She wasn’t used to being in a castle at all. She had lived with her siblings at the MacKenzie camp after their parents died. They’d grown up in small cottages constructed of wattle and daub with thatched roofs. Even living at the MacKeefe camp was nothing like this. She didn’t feel comfortable here, and wanted nothing more than to go home.

The room was cold, and Caitlin decided to sleep in the gown since it was made of wool and would give her warmth. Looking over to the dying fire in the hearth, she decided to add more wood to the fire. But when she went over to stoke it, she realized there was no more wood to be found.

“I canna spend the night without a fire,” she said to herself, the dark frightening her, even though she was an adult. She’d never feared the night before. Then again, she’d never spent the night in a haunted castle before either.

She heard something go bump in the corner, and spun around with her heart beating so hard she felt it in her throat. “Who’s there?” she cried out. Picking up the poker, she held it with two hands in front of her as she made her way across the room. A mouse ran past her, and she realized that she was only frightening herself. She let out a deep sigh and put down the poker.

Deciding she needed more wood for the fire, she picked up a lit candle and left the room, looking for someone to help her. The hallway was dark and spooky. She didn’t see anyone up and about, or hear any noise coming from any of the rooms. Now, she wished she had asked her sister which room they were staying in before she retired for the night.

As she passed by one of the rooms, she saw a slight glow of light under the door. She stopped and went back to the room, knocking softly.

“Hello? Is anyone awake who can help me find more wood for the fire?”

She thought she heard a muffled voice from within the chamber. Then the door opened slightly.

“Oh, guid, ye’re still awake. I am so sorry to disturb ye.” She walked into the room, expecting to see someone, but no one was there. “Hello?” She held the candle higher, walking across the room. Starting to feel scared, she turned to go, but stopped in her tracks when the light from her candle fell over a large painting hanging on the wall. “What?” she said to herself, walking closer to inspect the painting. It was of a woman with dark hair. Her eyes were blue and mesmerizing. And the strangest thing is, she was wearing the exact dress that Caitlin now wore.

Her eyes dropped to her clothes and then up to the painting again, and she swallowed deeply. It almost seemed as if the woman in the painting was watching her, and that caused her to shiver. She turned to leave the room, hearing the sound of bagpipes outside the window. She froze. Looking over to the window, she realized the shutter was open. She could see the moonlight spilling into the room.

“Mayhap it’s just Ailbeart and his flute. Aye, I’m sure that’s all it is.” She found herself going to the window, just to make sure. But when she looked out, her jaw dropped. There, in the castle’s garden, she saw a ghostly figure of a man wearing a plaid . . . playing the bagpipes. He turned his face upward, holding up a hand . . . that was missing his fingers. “Nay!”

Spinning on her heel, she turned around only to come face to face with the woman in the painting. But this image of her was white and transparent. The woman didn’t look happy at all. She flew at Caitlin, making Caitlin close her eyes and scream. Holding the candle above her head, Caitlin ran to the door and ripped it open, bumping into someone and crying out once again.

“Leave me alone! Dinna hurt me!” She dropped the candle and pounded with her fists against the chest of a man who seemed to be solid and human, instead of a ghost.

“Stop it, Caitlin! Calm down, lass.”

Two hands closed around her wrists, and pulled her closer. The candle still burned on the floor. In the scant bit of flickering light, she looked up . . . into the bright blue eyes of Ian MacBain.

Ian had heardthe scream from across the corridor, and ran out of his room to find Caitlin bolting from the room of his dead grandaunt. He’d seen the apparition of Sylvia through the open door and also heard the sound of bagpipes coming from the garden.

“Damn it,” he muttered, stomping out the fire of the candle, and pulling Caitlin into his room, closing the door behind him.