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“Apparently she’s as bloodthirsty as you are.”
“Och, she’s a brave girl, just like ye.”
Kathleen grimaced. “Well, she’s certainly reckless like me.”
Angus reached for the whisky bottle. “Have a wee pick-me-up.”
“Why not?” she said with a sigh.
There was nothing else to do but wait. And pray.
* * *
Grant climbed over the rocks at the end of the ravine. “Kathleen? Angus?” he called.
A moment later, a piercing whistle sounded from the direction of a large overhang on his left. Frowning, he hurried to it and went under it. There he saw the hole that gaped open near the back.
Hell and damnation.
He and Graeme had scoured this area twice. They’d come within yards of this overhang and never once spotted the cave. No wonder Brown and his crew of blighters had been able to hide out for so long.
Kathleen and his grandfather stood about twenty feet below him in the surprisingly well-lit and obviously well-supplied cave.
Thank God.
Grant had to brace his hands on his knees to catch his breath from his rapid scramble up the ravine, and even more so from the fear that had throttled his breathing since the moment he and Graeme found their grandfather’s pistol lying in the grass. They’d split up after that. Graeme had gone off to get as many men as possible from Dunlaggan. Grant had headed out to the fields in the opposite direction. It had taken every ounce of willpower not to panic, with Kathleen and his grandfather in the clutches of a ruthless bastard.
“Took ye long enough,” Angus said with a wry smile. “We almost died from boredom waitin’ for ye.”
Grant choked out a laugh. “Sorry. I’ve been a wee bit busy, ye ken.”
“You’re here,” Kathleen said, flashing him the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. “And that’s all that matters.”
While Angus had a nasty bruise on his face, Kathleen looked fine—better than fine.
“Can you get us out?” she called up.
“I got a rope from the farm. Grandda, you look like hell. Are you all right?”
“Och, just a wee knock. And yer lassie is fine.”
“Did you see Jeannie?” Kathleen asked.
“Yes, she’s fine. I was coming out of the woods when I saw her pelting out of the ravine. She was a bit incoherent at first, but I got the gist.”
Grant had almost fallen off his horse when he’d seen the girl trundling toward him as fast as the pony’s stubby little legs could go. She’d thrown herself into his arms, bursting into overwrought tears. He was practically dying from worry by that point, but he’d simply patted her back until she’d calmed down.
“Where is she now?” Kathleen asked.
“I took her to that nearby farm. The farmer and his son are right now escorting her back to Lochnagar,” Grant said as he started to unwind the coil of rope he’d carried in. “I also grabbed this rope while I was there.”
Kathleen pressed a hand to her head. “Thank God. I’ve been so scared for her.”
“Is Graeme lookin’ for Brown and the rest of them rum coves?” Angus asked.
“Yes, he’s leading a search.”
“Brown knows his story is blown,” Kathleen said, “ and that’ll make him even more dangerous.”
