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“I’m goin’ to soak yon blankets and throw them over the bigger casks,” he yelled to Graeme. “Them casks are too big to move without puttin’ the men in danger.”
“Aye, that,” Graeme called back.
In grim silence they worked, staff from the manor and men from the village working hard and efficiently. It was brutal and desperate, and Grant lost track of time. Smoke billowed as water doused flames, all but choking them. But still they kept on.
After what seemed a lifetime, the fire appeared finally beaten. Graeme wrapped a kerchief around his face and went farther inside for a look.
“All right, lads,” he called. “It’s all out.”
The men dropped their buckets, and most sank to the ground. A few staggered to the stream to splash water over their heads.
“As bad as it looks?” Grant asked as his brother came out.
“A bloody mess, but we’ll have to go around front to get a better look before we know how bad.”
As they walked around the front of the building, Grant felt someone had pummeled him.
“God, I could use a drink,” he rasped out. “Got any whisky about the place?”
His twin’s derisive snort turned into a cough.
As they came around the corner, Sabrina rushed over and threw herself into her husband’s arms.
“Lass,” he protested, “I smell like the depths of hell.”
“I don’t care,” she said in a muffled voice. “As long as you’re all right.”
“Och, I’m fine.”
She raised her head to look at Grant. “And you?”
“We’re both fine.”
“And ye saved the building,” Angus said, clapping Graeme on the shoulder.
Magnus emerged from the front door, his face as grimy as his clothing.
“How bad is it?” Graeme asked.
“The stills are ruined, sir, and God knows what the heat did to the brew in the casks.”
“What about the building?”
“From what I can tell at first look, the staircase is fair wrecked, but the structure seems solid. Nae that canna be fixed, thank the guid Lord.”
Graeme heaved a sigh. “And no one was hurt, which is most important.”
Magnus looked down at the ground. “I’m right sorry, Sir Graeme. I shoulda been more careful, what with all that’s been goin’ on.”
“None of this is your fault, Magnus,” Graeme said.
Sabrina patted the big man’s arm. “Indeed, no. Who could ever imagine someone could do something so dreadful?”
Graeme muttered a curse.
His twin’s bleak expression made Grant want to put a fist through a wall. Graeme and Sabrina had worked so hard, and now this, on top of everything else?
“It’s time we run that someone to ground,” he said, grasping Graeme’s shoulder. “Once and bloody for all.”
