Page 30 of Sins of a Scot
“I will try, Miss,” he replied, the smile parting his lips to reveal a jumble of crooked, black teeth with several gaps.
Nodding to the necklaces he had on display, Iseabail said, “Ye have some fine wares, but I am looking fer something a little more specific.” She turned toward Owen and tugged his necklace from beneath his tunic. “Something a little more like that,” she continued.
The merchant’s smile swiftly disappeared, and looking suddenly nervous, his head jerked from left to right, as though fearing another might approach.
“I’m afraid I cannae help ye, Miss,” he said, lowering his eyes so he didn’t have to look at her. “I think it’s best if ye move on tae somewhere else. Perhaps another here can help ye.”
“Please, sir,” Iseabail said gently, clearly picking up his fear immediately. “We dinnae want any trouble. I’m only looking from where ye got them. Ye’re nae in any danger from us.”
But the old man began shaking his head. “I cannae help ye, Miss. I cannae help ye.”
Owen took three long strides around the table and positioned himself beside the man. It made him jump out of his skin, and in hindsight, Owen’s action likely looked more threatening than he intended, but it was too late now.
“Please, sir. It’s very important that we discover who sold them tae ye. Me maither bought one fer me faither, and he has lost it,” he lied. “He is devastated. Me sister and I,” Owen nodded to Iseabail, “are now trying tae discover where we might find another. Me faither is distraught in case me maither discovers his clumsiness.”
“Ye may remember her,” Iseabail said, playing along with the tale. “A very beautiful woman with long dark hair. She bought three from ye. One fer me braither,” she nodded to Owen, “one fer our faither, and one fer our grandfaither.”
The story seemed to have calmed the man, and a deep frown replaced the panic as he tried to recall Eden.
“Och, aye. I dae remember her. She was a lovely lady,” he said, nodding and beginning once more to smile.
“She is,” Iseabail said. “But she will be heartbroken when she discovers me faither has lost the precious gift she bought him. Clearly, ye have nay more left, but perhaps ye could tell us where we might purchase another.”
“I dinnae ken if that’s possible,” the merchant said. “I bought all three necklaces from a trader, and I cannae say fer certain if he has anymore.”
“A trader?” Owen pressed, trying to keep the man talking.
“Aye. I only met him the once, and I havenae seen him since. He left tae sail tae Burwick on the island o’ South Ronaldsay. Ye ken the crossing is bad up that way. Well, he went that night and he never came back.”
“Och, nae,” Iseabail said, giving a very fine performance of disappointment. “And ye havenae a clue where he might be?”
“Ye might ask at the tavern at John o’ Groats. Perhaps someone there has seen him. A lot o’ the traders are there, fer it’s the closest tavern tae the shore,” the man continued.
“And what kind o’ man might we be looking for?” Owen asked. “Tall, short? Fat, thin? Fair, dark?”
“He’s a little older than ye, and always wears a brown hat with a feather in the side. He has blonde hair, and I’d say he’s tall enough, but wiry with it.”
Iseabail leaned across the table and placed a hand on the man’s arm in a tender gesture. “Thank ye, sir. Ye dinnae ken how much this means tae us.”
“Ye might nae find him, mind,” the old man said, looking as though he hadn’t done enough.
“Even if we dinnae, ye have done all ye can tae help us, and fer that, we’re eternally grateful. In fact, I would like tae purchase that bracelet from ye, fer ‘tis such a beautiful piece.”
“Och, nae, Miss. Ye dinnae have tae dae that.”
“I want tae. Please,” Iseabail insisted.
For a second, Owen thought the man would protest again, and wondered if Iseabail would not compel him to take her money. But as it happened, the man relented, and a few minutes later, he had wrapped the bracelet in soft cloth and taken her coin.
On the way back to the horses, Iseabail said, “John O’ Groats is nearly another day’s travel. We’ll be lucky if we make it by night fall.”
“Perhaps, but at least it’s something,” Owen replied. “Fer a second, I didnae think the man was going tae talk.”
She smiled up at him then. “Aye, that was quick thinking.”
“Aye, well,” Owen smirked, “I’m used tae having tae spin a yarn or two when necessary.”
Iseabail raised her eyebrows knowingly, expressing her lack of surprise. “Aye. I can well imagine.”
