whatever he needed to in order to
protect his family, his clan and his honor.
"If I find evidence that the Campbell's were involved wi' Cait ly n's disappearance, I will
do what must be done." He changed the subject, not wish ing to discuss the matter further. "There isnae any more I can do until
then." He rose from his chair. "I still find it odd that we ha'e heard not h ing and the Campbell's ha'e n' contacted me. They should be shout ing the news loud and long
from the highest mountains in Scotland, yet I ha'e heard naught, nay, e'en a
whispered suspicion or rumor. 'Tis puzzl ing and thus stays my hand from any vengeance. Ye know I can do nay more except
wait and continue to search for her. We were severe ly depleted of
fight ing men due to
wounds and death dur ing the last few months. We may ha'e on ly lost two at Glenfruin, but the recent losses and penalty we pay for that battle has more than made up for
it. I cannae risk any more lives wi' not h ing but suspicion to go
on."
Sorcha held up a hand. "I
know, Iain. I speak from a màthair 's
love, but I understand all you say and why ye can do not h ing yet."
"Good," he turned at
the door. "I will see ye at dinner."
"Ye know I will nay dine in
the hall until my daughter is returned to me." Sorcha shook her head. "'Tis
too sad for me yet."
"Verra well." Iain
sighed but nodded. His màthair could be quite stubborn when she wanted to. He turned and strode out the door. Why had he ever thought his màthair would mellow with
age? Instead, she had on ly gotten worse. Not that he could blame her. The Greathall, which had always been filled with
laughter, music, joyful conversation and teas ing , had become maudlin. E very one was quiet and any
conversation took place in near whispers.
Iain put a hand to his ach ing head. Sometimes he
wished he could leave, go somewhere far away. He'd always planned to travel. Raibert
would prove an able laird to the few clan members left. Moreover, Iain could be
certain his màthair would be well looked after. Perhaps when they found Cait ly n, he could think about it more. Return
either to London or mayhap the new land across the ocean.
He shook his head at the
foolishness of his thoughts. He'd never been one to shirk his responsibilities
and he would n't start
now. He headed straight out the wide double doors and to the train ing field. He would vent his
frustrations in a little combat.
"Weel?" Elsbeth emerged
from the bedchamber as soon as Iain left. "Is she the one we hoped
for?"
"I do not know yet. Perhaps after
I speak to her I will know better."
Elsbeth nodded but kept her
thoughts to herself and said no more.
Chapter Five
Kristianna paced the large room,
her agitation grow ing with each step. Though the evidence before her was overwhelm ing , she was unwill ing to accept it. Her
thoughts raced with the numerous possibilities. Maybe she'd sleepwalked, hit
her head and this was the result of a dream induced by a coma. Maybe she was delirious from a lack of chocolate. She
could be hallucinat ing or in the middle of a nightmare she could n't seem to wake up from due to a concussion or maybe a high fever.
She closed her eyes and willed
her pound ing heart to
calm down and quit beat ing so fast. This was just
a dream. It had to be.
It was not happen ing . Nobody could travel
through time, could they?
Maybe she was in the midst of an emotional breakdown. Perhaps
she was go ing through some kind of
stress related mental collapse. Who could blame her after what she'd had to do just to get to
Scotland. All the chaos and strain, along with the junk food, or lack thereof, not to mention a serious
lack of sleep, had finally
gotten to her.
Aleksa and Hailey both had warned her that if she did n't slow down and start tak ing better care of herself
she would have a
nervous breakdown. So now, here it was ,
happen ing at last,
just as they'd predicted. She closed her eyes again and took a deep, calming
breath.
When I open my eyes, e very th
protect his family, his clan and his honor.
"If I find evidence that the Campbell's were involved wi' Cait ly n's disappearance, I will
do what must be done." He changed the subject, not wish ing to discuss the matter further. "There isnae any more I can do until
then." He rose from his chair. "I still find it odd that we ha'e heard not h ing and the Campbell's ha'e n' contacted me. They should be shout ing the news loud and long
from the highest mountains in Scotland, yet I ha'e heard naught, nay, e'en a
whispered suspicion or rumor. 'Tis puzzl ing and thus stays my hand from any vengeance. Ye know I can do nay more except
wait and continue to search for her. We were severe ly depleted of
fight ing men due to
wounds and death dur ing the last few months. We may ha'e on ly lost two at Glenfruin, but the recent losses and penalty we pay for that battle has more than made up for
it. I cannae risk any more lives wi' not h ing but suspicion to go
on."
Sorcha held up a hand. "I
know, Iain. I speak from a màthair 's
love, but I understand all you say and why ye can do not h ing yet."
"Good," he turned at
the door. "I will see ye at dinner."
"Ye know I will nay dine in
the hall until my daughter is returned to me." Sorcha shook her head. "'Tis
too sad for me yet."
"Verra well." Iain
sighed but nodded. His màthair could be quite stubborn when she wanted to. He turned and strode out the door. Why had he ever thought his màthair would mellow with
age? Instead, she had on ly gotten worse. Not that he could blame her. The Greathall, which had always been filled with
laughter, music, joyful conversation and teas ing , had become maudlin. E very one was quiet and any
conversation took place in near whispers.
Iain put a hand to his ach ing head. Sometimes he
wished he could leave, go somewhere far away. He'd always planned to travel. Raibert
would prove an able laird to the few clan members left. Moreover, Iain could be
certain his màthair would be well looked after. Perhaps when they found Cait ly n, he could think about it more. Return
either to London or mayhap the new land across the ocean.
He shook his head at the
foolishness of his thoughts. He'd never been one to shirk his responsibilities
and he would n't start
now. He headed straight out the wide double doors and to the train ing field. He would vent his
frustrations in a little combat.
"Weel?" Elsbeth emerged
from the bedchamber as soon as Iain left. "Is she the one we hoped
for?"
"I do not know yet. Perhaps after
I speak to her I will know better."
Elsbeth nodded but kept her
thoughts to herself and said no more.
Chapter Five
Kristianna paced the large room,
her agitation grow ing with each step. Though the evidence before her was overwhelm ing , she was unwill ing to accept it. Her
thoughts raced with the numerous possibilities. Maybe she'd sleepwalked, hit
her head and this was the result of a dream induced by a coma. Maybe she was delirious from a lack of chocolate. She
could be hallucinat ing or in the middle of a nightmare she could n't seem to wake up from due to a concussion or maybe a high fever.
She closed her eyes and willed
her pound ing heart to
calm down and quit beat ing so fast. This was just
a dream. It had to be.
It was not happen ing . Nobody could travel
through time, could they?
Maybe she was in the midst of an emotional breakdown. Perhaps
she was go ing through some kind of
stress related mental collapse. Who could blame her after what she'd had to do just to get to
Scotland. All the chaos and strain, along with the junk food, or lack thereof, not to mention a serious
lack of sleep, had finally
gotten to her.
Aleksa and Hailey both had warned her that if she did n't slow down and start tak ing better care of herself
she would have a
nervous breakdown. So now, here it was ,
happen ing at last,
just as they'd predicted. She closed her eyes again and took a deep, calming
breath.
When I open my eyes, e very th
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