Page 25 of Highland Ghost

Chapter Nine

After it started to rain, Caitlin dismounted the horse she rode upon with North and the horse’s reins were tied to the wagon. North sat up front with his brother while Caitlin joined her sister and Matilda inside the wagon. It was dark, but Matilda had a hollowed-out gourd with a face carved into it. She put a candle in it, and it lit up the inside of the wagon.

“That looks spooky,” said Kellina. The children were both fast asleep.

“No’ nearly as spooky as those two ghosts I saw.” Caitlin shivered, and looked back down at the glowing gourd. “I feel bad that I left without sayin’ a proper guidbye to Ian.”

“Well, I wouldna fret about it, Sister,” said Kellina. “After all, he couldna even seem to come see ye off.”

“Finn said today was his birthday,” she continued.

“Even more reason why he should have come to say goodbye,” said Matilda. “Caitlin, I think you did the right thing by not marrying him.”

“Of course she did,” agreed Kellina. “If she would have married him, she might have ended up dead.”

“Kellina, I dinna believe that anymore.” Caitlin had been giving this much thought.

“But ye said that Ian’s parents and grandparents both died because of the curse.”

“I’m no’ so sure it wasna just a coincidence. I think mayhap I made a mistake by no’ stayin’.”

“Nay, ye didna,” protested Kellina as the wagon bounced back and forth over the rocky road as they traveled. “I’m sure Ian didna really care for ye either. Dinna feel guilty about it.”

“But he does care for me. He told me so. Besides, he sent this missive with Finn.” She pulled the envelope out of her pouch and held it up in the candlelight.

“What is that?” asked Matilda, reaching over and covering the children with a blanket as they slept.

“I’m no’ sure,” she answered. “I’m no’ supposed to open it until I get home.”

“Odd,” said Kellina. “I wonder why.”

“I’m no’ sure, but I am no longer willin’ to wait.” Caitlin eagerly broke the wax seal and opened the letter to read it. With each word she read in Ian’s handwriting, her heart hurt more and more. This was not at all what she expected. “Stop the wagon!” she cried out. “We need to go back to Gowrie Castle anon.”

“What are ye sayin’?” asked Kellina. “And why are ye cryin’?”

“Ian is goin’ to die tonight,” she told the others.

“Let me see that.” Kellina pulled the missive out of her hand to read it for herself.

“I have to go back and tell him I love him,” cried Caitlin. “I need to marry him quickly. If he is no’ wed by midnight, the curse will claim his life.”

“That’s absurd!” said Matilda. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

“Nay, she’s right. It says so in the letter.” Kellina talked as she looked over the letter once again. “But it’s dangerous, Sister. Ye could end up dead.”

“Nay. I willna. And if I do, at least we will die together.” Caitlin climbed out of the wagon before it even came to a stop.

“Wait, Caitlin!” cried Kellina. “Where are ye goin’?”

“I’m takin’ the extra horse and goin’ back to the castle.” She started to untie the reins.

“It’s dark,” objected Matilda. “These roads are dangerous, and it is All Hallows’ Eve. We have to all go together.”

“Nay, there’s no time,” said Caitlin, climbing atop the horse. “The wagon will slow us down. I need to get there before midnight.”

“What’s goin’ on?” asked Nash as he and North walked around to the back of the wagon.

“Nash, go with my sister and protect her, please,” begged Kellina. “Caitlin, wait for Nash.”

“Go where?” asked Nash. It was still raining lightly, and Nash wasn’t fond of getting wet, although he was already soaked.

“She needs to go back to Gowrie Castle,” explained Matilda.

“Hurry,” commanded Kellina. “The rest of us will follow.”

“Now, wait a minute,” said Nash. “I thought we were goin’ home.”

“I’m leavin’,” announced Caitlin.

“Nash!” cried Kellina. “Please. Go with her.”

“Och, all right, but I still dinna ken why in the devil’s name we’re goin’ backward instead of forward.” Nash got onto the horse with Caitlin, but he was the passenger and she held the reins.

“Hold on, because we have no time to waste,” instructed Caitlin as she slapped the reins and kicked her heels into the sides of the horse. The horse bolted, and Nash almost fell off. His cursing was heard loudly as Caitlin headed back to Ian, only praying that she wasn’t too late to save his life.