AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Alan.”
“You are quite certain?”
“Aye, sir. It were Alan she called ‘im.”
Alan. Alan, Earl of Ingram. It had to be.
He had no idea how this had come about, but there was no other explanation.
Blair rose to his feet, consumed with self-loathing and disgust. How could he have been so stupid, so bloody complacent as to think they were safe, far away from Etal on the Isle of Skye? That conniving, greedy bastard had come after him. Ingram had followed him across the Highlands and now he had Roselyn.
HisRoselyn.
“Laird, we shall be after them, aye? They canna ha’ got far.” Robbie was at his elbow and itching to be off.
Fear served to sharpen Blair’s wits. Bone-deep terror seized him and served to concentrate his thinking. At once his mind was racing ahead. “Annie, can ye say how long it has been now, since this attack happened? What did you do next? Did you see where they went?”
“Nay, Laird, not really. I hid until all was quiet again, then I peeped out. The cart was still there i’ the middle o’ the track, but there was no one else. I was scared but I kenned that I had to look so I crept forward.”
The child was shaking. Blair laid his hand on her shoulder. “You were very courageous, wee Annie. I am proud of ye, but I need ye tae carry on being brave now so we can aid Lady Roselyn. D’ye think ye can manage that for just a wee bit longer?”
The small head nodded, though tears continued to stream down her cheeks. Blair crouched to kneel before her again, his eyes now level with hers. “You told me that Harry was dead?”
“Aye, sir. I found ‘im, by the cart.”
“The men left on horseback?”
“I… I think so. Like I said, I didna see them leave but they had horses. They took the pony from the cart an’ all.”
“Aye, an’ they left the wagon behind which suggests they intended to cross rough territory rather than remain on the beaten tracks.” This from Robbie who stood behind him. “We need to be in pursuit.”
“So, you left the cart where it was and started to walk home? Is that right?”
Annie nodded again. “But I was too scared to come through the woods, which is the quickest way, so I skirted around the edge. ‘Tis further, but nae shadows.”
“I see.”
“An’, I found the dog.”
“The dog? Freya? Where did ye find Freya?” He glanced back at the wolfhound which was now being attended by two of his men.
“Round at the far edge, where the burn runs down the side o’ the trees there. She were lyin’ i’ the grass, pantin’ an’ squealin’.”
He could imagine. But somehow this brave wee thing had managed to get the injured hound back on her feet and moving again, and had brought her home.
“How long? How long have the pair o’ ye been walking?”
“Two hours, perhaps more. It was just after the noon meal when we left me mam’s farm.”
He glanced at the sun, well in the west now and likely to set in the next hour or so. They had precious little daylight left in which to mount the search, but he would make the best of what was there.
“Right, Annie, I shall need ye tae help me just a wee bit more yet. I need ye tae show me where the cart is, and Harry, and the place where you saw the men jump out. Then, we shall go back the way ye came an’ ye can show me exactly where ye found Freya. Can ye do that, d’ye think?”
“‘Tis a long way, an’ I am tired…”
“I dinna mean ye tae walk, lassie. Ye shall ride wi’ me, on my horse.”
The tearful eyes widened, whether in fear or excitement he could not quite say though she regarded Bartholomew with a fair degree of apprehension. He was not surprised; the huge black warhorse was meant to inspire respect. Blair knew he could rely on the animal to play his part now though and he whistled softly. The cluster of clansmen parted to allow the stallion ample space as he approached in response to the summons, then stood quietly over the pair who crouched on the ground. Blair reached up and the horse nuzzled his palm.
