Page 91 of A Rogue in Moonlight
“They do. Very good. The caves go deep into the earth, and the loch is above these spaces,” MacIan agreed as they continued downward.
“Under the loch! Woo-hoo!” Jamie hooted, and Lucy echoed him, voices bouncing.
“Hush!” the reverend said sharply.
“I do not want to go under the loch! We will drown!” Annabel said nervously. Fiona took her hand.
“It is perfectly safe,” she assured the girl. “The rock is very, very thick and solid, and it has been here for a very long time.”
“This way,” MacIan said. “Dougal keeps a cave down here. Come on.”
Fiona went forward, keeping the children close. Peering at the cavelets and niches along the natural corridor, she realized Dougal did indeed use this space. The lantern light that MacIan carried showed kegs piled inside various spaces, stacked within the smaller caves. Many were small enough to ride on a man’s shoulder. Some were larger, the sort that would be rolled along.
The containers stored here could be moved quickly to other caves or out to rowboats that would take the cargo to a cutter on the loch—and away over the water before they could be spotted and followed.
“Where is Kinloch?” she asked.
“He will meet us here, if he is not here already. Kinloch!” MacIan called.
“All of this is whisky to be smuggled? Is that why the game is going on today, to cover this enterprise?”
“I believe so.” MacIan shrugged. “I am only here to help you meet Kinloch. I am not a smuggler.”
“Smugglers’ caves!” Jamie said, as he and Lucy ran ahead with Annabel.
“Quiet,” Hugh said. “Miss MacCarran, I regret bringing the bairns with us. But it was best, since they were with you and would tell others where we went.”
Fear spiked through her. “Why did you bring us here?” Fiona rounded on him.
“I told you. To meet Dougal.”
“But he is not here, is he.” Her voice trembled, her heart raced as dread mounted. She called to the children to come back, reaching out again to gather them close. “I should never have trusted you.”
“Of course you can trust me,” MacIan said. “I also thought you might like to see this place because of your interest in fossils and ancient rocks. The walls are thick with ancient imprints, see.” He gestured. “Tiny shells and such, is that not so?”
She was not distracted. “Kinloch did not send you after us, did he?”
He sighed. “Miss MacCarran, I confess. I wanted you to see this cargo stored here. I thought it was important for you to know what a rogue he is. A true smuggler.”
She laughed bitterly. “Rogue and a smuggler! That is no surprise. I know what he does. I also know he cares deeply about the glen and the people here. I know he smuggles cargo to protect his tenants from poverty and unfair taxation. I also know he makes legitimate whisky. Is this legal or illicit stock?” She gestured, fingers shaking.
Even so, she glanced furtively about, wondering how she could get the children out of here quickly and safely. MacIan was convincing,and might be telling her the truth. But her gut sank, twisted, warning her that something was very wrong. She should have paid attention. She should never have followed him, especially with the bairns.
“The spirits produced in his legal still are not aged enough to compete with this lot. These kegs hold nicely aged whisky. Very good and costly stuff. He will make a fortune on the shipment.”
“Where is he?” she demanded. “Why is no one here guarding this?”
“They will be here soon. Come this way.” He turned along another natural path between uneven stone walls. Feeling truly unsettled now, Fiona gathered the children close and whispered to them to turn and run toward the outer entrance as fast as they could go. They whirled without question to pound up the slope toward the outer cave and the glow of the twilight sky.
Spinning, she followed. But Hugh MacIan whirled, shouting, grabbing for her, taking her wrist in a tight grip. Fiona urged the children ahead, and they ran, sliding, rushing. Stumbling on the uneven path, she regained her balance.
Just then, a tall man stepped out of the shadows. He reached out to snatch Lucy first, then Annabel, one under each arm. As the girls flailed and screamed, Jamie ran ahead up the rough, narrow path. Fiona lunged to help the girls, but MacIan had her by the arm, and then grabbed her by the waist, dragging her back toward him.
MacIan barked at Jamie to stop, and the boy ran on, but stumbled, rising to his feet. Fiona saw him fist his small hands and glance around, gauging his chances.
Writhing, she punched at MacIan. The tall, dark man, a lean and looming shadow, dropped Lucy and Annabel in two tumbles, snarling at them to stay. Lucy got to her feet and he pushed her down. Fiona twisted in MacIan’s hold to look up, and gasped, startled.
“Eldin! What are you doing here? Leave the children alone—”
