Page 97 of The Highlander Who Loved Me

“It’s black as pitch in there,” James said, squeezing his shoulders through the opening.

“Here.” Malcolm handed him a torch. James drew his sword; Malcolm did the same. With James leading the way, they began climbing down the winding stairs. The sight that greeted James when they finally reached the bottom froze his heart. Davina was on the floor, her head bowed low. A cloaked figure was crouched beside her.

“Mother?” Joan cried out in astonishment.

James rushed forward. Davina lifted her head, her eyes widening in alarm. “Careful!” she shouted. “She has a dirk.”

“Aye, and it’s pressed at Davina’s throat,” Isobel proclaimed smugly.

James stopped dead in his tracks. He lifted his torch higher, dismayed to see the frantic madness in Lady Isobel’s eyes.

“It was ye, wasn’t it, Lady Isobel?” James regarded the older woman cautiously. “Ye hired those men to harm Davina, to kill us both.”

“I wasted good coin on those half-wits! They failed at every turn. I needed Davina to remain unwed, to stay under my watchful eye. But she left to be with the McKennas fer Christmas and then she married ye. I thought I was well rid of ye five years ago, James McKenna!” Isobel’s face reddened. “Once Davina married, I knew she’d want to claim her inheritance, to make a home fer herself and her family here. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“But why?” Davina cried with dismay.

“I know.” Reaching inside his pocket, James held out the nugget he had found in the river. “Is this what ye sought?”

Isobel’s head tilted. “Och, so ye’ve finally discovered the secret of Torridon Keep.”

“Aye.” Hoping to distract her, James inched forward. “How long have ye known about the gold, Lady Isobel?”

“Since Davina’s parents died. I came to help nurse them through their illness and discovered her father’s secret.”

“Did ye . . .” Davina’s voice choked with emotion.

“Kill them? Nay. The fever took them, though perhaps I was not quite as diligent in my healing duties as I should have been.” Isobel cackled with delight. “Davina’s father never told us about the riches on this land, never offered to share it with his only brother.” Isobel’s eyes narrowed with bitterness. “Fergus is the laird. ’Twas his right to have this treasure.”

“Is that what Laird Armstrong told ye?” Malcolm asked.

“Bah, Fergus knows nothing of this matter,” Isobel retorted. “He wouldn’t listen to me. Called me a daft fool when I told him about the gold. Well, look who’s the fool now!”

James’s mind was churning, but he knew he needed to keep Lady Isobel talking. The older woman’s left hand was twined in Davina’s hair, pulling her head back far enough to expose her neck. The dirk was pressed firmly against Davina’s throat.

“No doubt Laird Armstrong will change his mind when he sees the gold,” James said in an amiable voice as he took another small step.

Lady Isobel smiled briefly, then narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Dinnae come any closer,” she threatened, pressing the dirk tighter against Davina’s neck. Davina cried out as a thin trickle of blood ran down her throat.

“Mother, please. Let her go!”

Isobel turned her eyes toward Joan and James seized the advantage. He leaped, knocking Davina away from the deadly blade. Then he lunged for Isobel, wresting the dirk from her hand. She spun away and ran toward the tunnel. Malcolm and Joan gave chase, but Isobel reached the tunnel first, disappearing into the darkness.

Suddenly, there was a tremendous crash, followed by a loud scream. A large cloud of dust billowed out of the tunnel. James could feel the ground beneath them shift as pieces of stone dropped from the ceiling. He huddled over Davina, sheltering her with his body, wincing as the rocks rained on his back and shoulders.

“The tunnel is collapsing,” Davina exclaimed.

“Malcolm!” James shouted frantically.

A heartbeat later, a coughing Malcolm appeared, pulling a whimpering Joan behind him. They were covered in dirt and debris.

“Where’s Isobel?” James asked.

“Buried beneath the rubble,” Malcolm replied. “The tunnel is braced with timbers. One of them cracked and the earth above it fell in. Joan and I pulled back, but Isobel kept running. A large beam struck her head and within moments she was buried.”

“I’m certain she’s dead,” Joan added tonelessly.

James looked to his brother and Malcolm nodded in agreement.

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