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Elaine took a swift breath in, and Rhona suddenly yelped. Instinctively, Elaine clapped her hand across her sister’s mouth and looked down at her with a pleading expression.
Those words seemed to hit her father as well, for he cried out in desperation. “Yer’ve murdered my lad?!”
None of the men responded. Perhaps her father's heartwrenching voice affected them. Even in her despair and shock, she could hear hisanguish.
“Listen, McNally,” one of the guards said. “Yer son committed a great crime. The laird is after all o’ ye family now.”
Those words struck every emotion Elaine was experiencing. But survival took precedence over her despair at the terrible news she had just received. She dashedacross the parlor, firmly pushing Rhona out of her way, and reached behind a wooden chair. She raised the sword she had hidden there and returned her attention to her sister.
“Come, Rhona. We must go!” She whispered, waving Rhona over to her.
“But, what about Papa!” Rhona cried, still looking utterly terrified.
“We cannae help him now. We must save ourselves. I have tae get ye out of here. Come, we need tae hurry!”
Despite her younger sister's obvious concern for her father's well-being, she had also heard the guard's words. Theywould return for them once they had secured William. Rhona turned and ran across the room to Elaine, allowing her older sister to assist her through the window that led to the back garden.
“We must hurry,” Elaine whispered, dropping to the ground beside her.
They didn't have much time, and they needed to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the house. The sisters ran across the courtyard at the back, scaling the wall that led into the grassy pasture behind them. They quickly crossed the field and came to a line of trees that led into a dense wood. The sword was heavy and challenging to carry, but Elaine knew they couldn't slow down.
They walked through the forest for a while. The cool, dark air obscured the magnificent surroundings, but Elaine was bound to these lands. The rolling hills ran through her veins. She eventually gave in to her despair and allowed thoughts of Angus to swirl around her mind, knowing that the immediate danger had been averted. He'd told her the last time she saw him that he had to leave. She had no idea what he was up to at the time. As she trudged through the dense forest, the memory of their last meeting crept into her thoughts.
Angus walked into the parlor with a worried frown upon his brow. He looked about as though expecting to see someone else in the room. But, satisfied Elaine was alone, he closed the door behind him and approached her.
“I’ll be going away for a few days, Elaine. I need ye tae take care o’ things here.”
“Where are ye going?’’ Elaine frowned.
“I cannae tell ye that. It’s too dangerous for ye tae ken.”
Elaine felt deeply perturbed at his answer. “Well, if it’s dangerous, let me come with ye,” she replied. “Ye ken I’m good with the sword. I can help if anything goes awry.”
“Absolutely nae!” he barked. “It’s too dangerous, Elaine. If I get caught, that’s one thing. If ye get caught with me, who is there left tae look after Rhona? She’s nae yet even ten summers.”
“Get caught doing what, Angus?” Elaine pressed.
“I’ve told ye already. I cannae say. I have tae do this, Elaine. Whatever happens, just know that I’m doing it tae help deal with the mess we’re in. I need ye tae stay here and look after Rhona. If ye come with me and something happens, do ye really want our little sister tae have tae fend for herself as well as look after that drunken bastard we call a father?”
Angus was not wrong. If he was caught, Rhona would need her to look after her. And being ten years younger, shealready looked to her to fill the void left by their mother.
“We cannae leave her with Father, Elaine. It’s just nae right. I will go by mysel. It’ll be less dangerous with only one o’ us anyway.”
That was the last time she had seen his face. And now, she would never see him again. Her heart was broken. Even in her grief, Elaine couldn't understand why Angus had done something so heinous as try to steal something from the laird. He had the heart of a nobleman, and such behavior was totally out of character for him. He had assured her that whatever he had to do would benefit their family. And she couldn't see how stealing anything could help them. What could he have wanted that the laird possessed?
Elaine was deep in thought. Her sister's company brought her back to their current situation. They needed to stay hidden, but she had no idea how. Rhona would be tired soon, and they would need to rest.
“Come on, Rhona,” Elaine encouraged her little sister. But when she turned around to look at her, she suddenly realized that Rhona was no longer behind her.
“Rhona!?” Elaine cried out, but all she heardwas the soft rushing sound of the moving branches around and above her.
Elaine moved her eyes in every direction, panicked, but there was no sign of Rhona. And then, shewas hit in the chest by the sudden realization.
Her sister was gone.
* * *
Laird Duncan MacDougall sat next to the lass who lay beside him in his bed. Tucked beneath the heavy blankets and furs, he watched her shoulders rise and fall with each breath. She was a fine-looking woman, he had to admit. Moving his hand above the harsh scar that ran down the left side of his cheek, he took in a long breath and removed his gaze from the lass cuddled beside him.
