Page 38 of Sins of a Scot
Not long afterwards, Iseabail excused herself to go to the bathroom. Owen remained at the table, thinking upon their predicament. If they couldn’t find this man, he wasn’t certainwhat their next move would be. Perhaps they would have to travel around a bit, asking farther afield.
Iseabail returned, looking perturbed, and hurriedly sat down again beside him.
“What happened?” Owen demanded, knowing by her fearful face that something had.
“It doesnae matter,” she said abruptly.
“Clearly, it does. Tell me.”
She was rattled by something, and with the number of men in this place, Owen already had an idea why. “Someone said something tae ye, didnae they?”
She flicked a glance in his direction and then quickly looked away, clearly shaken.
“Iseabail, will ye talk tae me?”
“Nay. I dinnae want ye jumping intae yet another fight.”
“So, someonehassaid something tae ye,” he pressed.
“Aye, they did,” she huffed. “But it’s fine.”
“I’m nae going tae let up until ye tell me,” Owen continued. “Or better still, I’ll get up from me seat and go and find the man who challenged ye.”
“Nay!” she gasped. “All right, I’ll tell ye.” Still, she hesitated, and even in her frustration at Owen, he could still see how shaken she was.
“I was just coming out o’ the lady’s room when a man approached me and pushed me back into it.”
Owen’s eyes flew open.
“I stumbled backwards while he said some bloody awful things. Things that he wanted tae dae tae me.”
“Where is he?” Owen growled, standing from his chair.
“Nay, Owen. Please. It’ll be fine. When I tried tae compel him tae leave me alone, it didnae work, and when I looked into his eyes, I noticed that he looked partially sighted. So, clearly, me gift doesnae work on everyone.”
Owen now had his fists clenched, and scanned the room for such a man.
“Will ye please sit down?” she begged. “We cannae afford another spectacle.”
Slowly, but still raging, Owen lowered himself into his chair.
“I managed tae push past him,” Iseabail continued, “but nae before he told me he would come and find me, nay matter where I hid.”
Owen was still scanning the room when Iseabail said, “Perhaps it’s best if we retire. If he doesnae see me again, he might leave.”
As much as he wanted to find this man and punish him for terrifying Iseabail into such a state, Owen knew he had caused enough of a scene for one night. Maybe Iseabail was right, even though it felt to him like they were running away. Something that displeased him greatly.
“Fine,” he said. “Grab yer drink. We’ll tak’ them tae the room with us.”
He had to admit it had been a long day, and they were both tired. Maybe an early night would do them the world of good. He still couldn’t help himself from scanning the room as they went. But as they approached the bar, Owen had an idea that was totally unrelated to Iseabail’s encounter.
“Inn keeper, I wonder if ye could help us.”
The older man frowned and leaned in closer so he could hear. “What is it that ye need?”
“There’s a trader that comes through this way. He sells crystal necklaces. Like this one.” Owen pulled his necklace free and showed it to the man. “Me maither bought one fer me faither, and like the clumsy fool he is, he has lost it. We’ve tracked down the merchant who sold it, and he sent us here. But we seem tae be having little luck. The man wears a brown hat with a feather.”
The innkeeper shook his head. “I cannae say I ken the man ye’re talking about, but I ken there is another merchant who comes through this way selling crystals. I dinnae ken if they are the same stones ye’re looking fer, mind.”
