Page 56 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
Mary was in the kitchen, squeezing the fabric of her apron hard. "Nay," she replied. "We cannae find them."
Lana rushed through the kitchen door and emerged into the small courtyard. It was a paved patio, with small plants and flowers Mary used for cooking. Genevieve was there, calling for her daughter.
"They arenae here," Lana said.
She could see the whole courtyard, and there was nowhere for two little girls to hide. Her eyes found the narrow path that led around the castle.
"Let's go!" she cried.
She pulled at Genevieve's sleeve, and the maid followed her, looking numb with concern. The whole castle was searching for Skye, but Genevieve's daughter was also missing. Lana felt compelled to help her, hoping that if they found one child they would find the other.
"Where does Clara like to play?" Lana asked. "Let's think like the children."
"What if someone took them?" Genevieve cried. "What if Laird MacDougal came back?"
"Daenae think like that," Lana urged.
Those thoughts were running through her head as well, but she couldn't allow herself to dwell on them. She remembered the angry soldiers who had stormed into the wedding and Laird MacDougal's outraged face. She couldn't imagine two little children having to face them.
"Sometimes Clara plays near the chickens," Genevieve said.
Lana nodded at her, and she took off in that direction. Soldiers were combing the grounds, calling out Skye's name.
"I'm sorry, Lana. I'm so sorry."
"That's enough," Lana said, squeezing Genevieve's hand. "This isnae yer fault."
It's mine.
Lana held back the tears pricking her eyes. She focused on her steps, putting one foot in front of the other as she moved closer to the sounds of clucking and scratching feet.
Ye should never have let her out of yer sight.
"I told ye to stay put."
As Lana and Genevieve rounded the corner, they nearly collided with Daniel and two of his men.
Lana stopped short as her whole body tensed up. "I must do something," she protested. "I cannae sit and wait."
"Now ye will do something?" Daniel asked. His words were dark and dangerous, full of a threat she couldn't understand. "Perhaps ye shouldnae have sat still in the kitchen while me child played by herself. Ye saw what happened yesterday."
He stormed past her, leading his men to the gardens and all the small hiding places a child might enjoy, calling out to his daughter.
"Papa!" Skye threw herself into her father's arms, with tears in her eyes that made his blood run cold.
"Are ye alright?" Daniel asked.
He bent down to put her on the ground before checking her for injuries. Another little girl stood behind her, hovering on the edge of the woods. Daniel saw his men rush over to scoop the girl up.
"Did something happen?"
"Clara showed me her favorite tree."
Skye pointed in the direction of the woods, and Daniel looked up in confusion. His mind was too full of scenarios about kidnappings and injury, a certainty that all was lost.
"A tree?" he asked. He saw Skye's scraped knees and the dirt on her hands. She looked like a girl enjoying the forest. But still, he needed to be sure. "Who… was anyone else with ye?"
Skye looked back at Clara, who was in the guard's arms. She looked spooked, her eyes wide as she shrunk in the arms of the soldier. Unlike Skye, the girl seemed to understand that something was wrong. It wasn't an everyday occurrence for the whole castle to search the woods, calling your name.
