The Wild Rose of Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens Page A

couldna tell if Alex was alive. And when they started riding I couldna tell if the man in the cloak and hood was Alex. Or Malcolm." He sighed and rubbed his eyes like a small boy. "They left men at the crofter's hut, so I couldna search it. So I followed them. I thought they'd kill Alex or bring him to Edinburgh. When they headed west I kent they were coming here."
    I nodded but it did not make any sense. Why was Robert coming here? To claim Kilgannon? Would he march on my home with brutality in his heart? I shook my head in frustration. "And now Robert comes here," I said. "I don't understand that."
    "Do ye not, lass?" Angus spoke quietly. When I turned to him his blue gaze met mine without censure. "Perhaps he wants to see ye again or to see Kilgannon. Even if Alex is alive, Robert kens there's a great chance Alex will be imprisoned or executed. And Robert Campbell will still be alive."
    Matthew shook his head. "He could ha' killed Alex in the pass, Da, and he dinna. The others were hot to kill him."
    "Perhaps they did," I said, but Matthew shook his head again.
    "I dinna think so. That's a lot of trouble to go to for a dead man. Why would Robert speak to him?"
    "Perhaps Alex was alive then."
    "And then died?"
    "Yes," I said.
    "They would have buried him. There were no cairns built, no graves dug."
    "He may be alive in the crofter's hut or dead in the hut."
    Matthew's eyes met mine. "Aye, but I dinna think so. Why no bury him if he's dead? They dinna ken I was watching. Why would they stay there for days
    and then come here? And why would they leave men at the hut? No' to guard a dead man."
    "Perhaps they left men to guard Alex and are coming here to give Kilgannon to Malcolm," I said. "Perhaps Malcolm's the man in the cloak and hood."
    Angus shook his head. "I dinna think so, lass. If Alex has forfeited, it is unlikely they would give his lands to his brother. And Robert doesna have the authority. The English would sell the lands before they'd give them away to another Scot. No, Alex is with Robert or in that croft house and I think he's with Robert."
    "If Alex is in the croft house ," I asked, "why would Robert be coming here?" Angus looked at me from under his eyebrows, his blue gaze, like his voice, without expression.
    "For ye."
     
     
    I STARTED, BUT I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT, WHY WOULD Robert let Alex come home? If it was an act of kindness then I was grateful, but if Robert thought I'd throw myself in his arms he was gravely mistaken. And, I thought grimly, if he is simply saving Alex now so Alex can suffer a traitor's death later, then I hate him. Under no circumstances would I be leaving with Robert Campbell. If he was coming for me he'd leave alone and in certain possession of my opinion of him. I sighed and looked at Matthew. "You're wrong, Matthew," I said. "Alex was very much himself. He knew exactly what he was doing."
    Angus nodded. "Aye, he did. He led them away so we could get to the ship. He kent they'd follow him. Ye must have been in Brenmargon Pass when we went looking for ye." Matthew nodded.
    Runners came just after dark to say that Robert had camped before Glengannon Pass. They would be here sometime in the morning. The man in the cloak had been escorted into a tent and was not seen again. Within an hour the torches had been lit and everyone within close distance of the castle had been gathered within its walls. Many of the women and children had gone to the shielings or to Glendevin for safety, but quite a few remained, mostly household staff who refused to leave. Angus and I had had a heated debate whether he should lead a group of men to meet Robert. I was firmly against it and won only because Kilgannon would be unprotected. Angus wanted me off with the boys. I refused to join them, but was grateful that they were safely tucked into Thomas's brother's croft house miles away. Only four of us knew for certain where they were, so no matter what happened here they had a chance to survive. That Duncan