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“It’s Jeannie I’m mostly worried about. I wonder why she didn’t make the rendezvous?”
“Thought better of it, I reckon. She’s a smart lass, and she kens right from wrong, thanks to you.”
“I hope so. But I feel like I’ve failed her—”
Angus grabbed her arm. “Hush, lass. I heard something.”
Kathleen, straining her ears, heard Jeannie faintly calling her name. She scrambled to her feet and then helped Angus to stand.
“Jeannie, we’re down here,” she shouted.
Long seconds passed before she heard the reply, closer now. “I can’t tell where you are.”
“Sound echoes off the rock,” Angus said. “Hard to tell where it’s comin’ from.”
When Kathleen stripped off a glove, he covered his ears. She stuck two fingers in her mouth and blew a piercing whistle.
“Again,” called Jeannie a moment later.
She blew with all her might, almost blasting out her own ears. They heard a scramble of boots and soon Jeannie’s head appeared at the top of the cave.
Kathleen’s head swam with relief. “Darling, are you all right? You’re unharmed?”
“Yes, but I’m scared, Kath. The captain promised that nothing bad would happen, even if I took Sabrina’s pearls. Why did he do this to you?”
“The captain tricked all of us, Jeannie. He wants the pearls for himself. Are you sure you’re alone? No one saw you come here?”
“I was very careful. I didn’t get too close, and I waited for a long time to make sure they were gone.”
“How did you find us, lass?” asked Angus.
“I was riding back from the village across the fields after I . . . I chickened out. Kath, I couldn’t do what Captain Brown wanted me to do. I’m sure he’s furious with me.” She rubbed her cheek, clearly brushing back tears.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. Just tell me what happened next.”
“I was cutting across the fields because I didn’t want anyone to see me. I thought if I could get back to the house and put the pearls in the jewelry box, I could just tell you what happened and you would fix it.”
“But you didn’t make it back to the house.”
“I saw you and Mr. MacDonald on the road. I was just about to call to you when I saw Captain Brown. I got scared, so I hid my pony behind a hedge.”
“I always knew ye were a smart lass,” Angus said.
“I thought that man with the pistol killed you,” Jeannie said, sounding teary.
“Nae, I was just a silly jinglebrains for falling off my horse. Now, dinna ye be tellin’ my grandsons, lassie, or they’ll roast me forever. Then I’d have to paddle them.”
His little jest worked, because Jeannie let out a watery giggle. “I won’t.”
“So then you followed us here?” Kathleen asked.
“I thought about riding to Lochnagar for help, but I was afraid I would lose you. So I waited until you were almost to the woods, and then I followed.”
“That was so brave of you, Jeannie.” And horrifying, given how much danger she could have put herself in. Kathleen felt sick even thinking about it.
“Aye, yer a brave lass,” Angus said. “And wise enough not to get too close, I ken.”
“I was afraid they would hear me, so I hid with my pony behind some rocks until I saw them come out of the ravine. But I didn’t know exactly where to look until you whistled. It’s a corker of a whistle, Kath.”
