Page 39 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
“Neither. I heard them say they were paid to get the bairns from the kidnappers to the kirk where they were to be picked up the next day to go across the sea. All different men. Some to kidnap them and get them to the kirk, men to watch them until they were put on the boat. I don’t know the destination.”
Dyna spun and wrapped her arms around her husband, burying her face in his chest.
Sloan said, “I need to be the one to find the kidnappers who stole them away on the isle. The ones on horseback at Clan MacQuarie, the one who stole Rowan, and the ones who stole Tora. Those men are local or just came from Ulva or Iona or somewhere close. I want those bastards.”
Connor said, “I want the head of the operation. I’ll go to the kirk. Meg can describe the church for me. There cannot be that many two days from Oban, near a market with outbuildings as she described.”
Dyna said, “You mentioned being betrothed to a baron. I’m wondering if he could have anything to do with all of this?”
“I don’t know how. He was to return the day after I left. He couldn’t have followed me. And I don’t think he would involve himself with this kind of situation. He wanted heirs. Three lads in two years.”
Connor asked, “Meg, did the baron pay your sire any amount of coin for you?”
She thought back to the conversation she’d overheard and had to admit that Connor was probably correct. “I think so. I don’t know how much. Why do you ask?”
“Because if he paid coin for a wife, he will want to find you. Please keep that in mind. While I’ll agree with you that he’s not likely to be the one to steal four bairns away when he was about to wed you, I do believe he might be searching for you. He may have hired some men to find his bride. I would not wander anywhere alone. Since you were a day ahead of him, he just hadn’t found you yet. I would wager he will be seeking you out.”
She had not considered this after she’d found the bairns. Her focus had been on saving the four innocents, not on her own situation. But there was much truth in his statement.
Neither her sire nor the baron would have been pleased to discover that she ran away.
They asked a few more questions, and Meg answered what she could, but she had to admit, she was tiring quickly. However, she had her own questions too.
Logan stood and said, “Many thanks to you, Meg. I believe we’ll get a few hours’ rest, then we’ll leave at first light. I suggest we meet at the stables and divide up the men as we choose then.”
Everyone agreed and got up to take their leave. She wouldn’t have it.
“Wait, please.” Meg stood, stepping away from Lennox.
They all turned to look at her. Her voice cracked, but she wouldn’t be ignored. “What about me? You all said you were in my debt, but you have not asked me at all what I want. I need your help. Please. I don’t know where I am, who you all are, or where to go next.”
Logan lifted his chin and crossed his arms. “Tell us and it will be done.”
“I need to find my sister. She’s supposed to be on the Isle of Ulva. Where is that? I have no idea. I have no ship. Little coin left. What do I do? I had a mare, but I had to leave her at the kirk. Please help me.”
Eli came across the chamber while the others gathered around Meg. “What is your sister’s name?”
“Tamsin. She married a man named Raghnall Garvie, but I never met him. Have you heard of him?”
Eli nodded, then smiled. “Spit and slime! Does your sister have one blue eye and one green?”
“Aye. She does. You know her?”
“Aye. It’s a long story, but your sister is well. Her husband has passed on, but she lives on the Isle of Mull with Clan MacQuarie. She’s verra happy, and you’ll be pleased to learn that you have a beautiful niece named Alana. Their chieftain, Thane, is on his way here now. You may speak with him when he arrives.”
Meg fell into the chair and sobbed. She knew immediately that this was her sister.
Tamsin had once said if she ever had a daughter, she would name her Alana.
She’d found her.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lennox
Lennox escorted Meg back to the healing chamber while Eli followed. “I’ll take it from here, Lennox. I wish to apply more ointment to her wound.”
“Much thanks to you, Eli.”
