Page 52 of Intrigued By A Highlander

“Not often we see strangers here,” he said. “What business do you have?”

“I’m looking for someone,” Knox said evenly. “A woman named Autumn. She once lived not far from here.”

Silence.

Knox could feel it settle over the villagers like a heavy cloak. No exchanged glances. No murmurs. Just a quiet, unspoken understanding passing between them.

The man’s brow furrowed. He exchanged a glance with another villager—a stout woman carrying a basket of freshly washed linens.

“You’re too late,” the woman said with a glance at Knox. “Tell her, Wilbur. Tell her Autumn vanished.”

Wilbur crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. “Vanished just like Rona said. More than a year ago. Left without a word.”

Knox’s jaw tightened, though his expression remained unreadable. “No one’s seen her since?”

A younger man, barely more than ten and four years, leaned against a nearby post, his face half-shadowed by a mop of unruly brown hair. “Some say she ran off in the night. Others say she didn’t leave at all.” His voice held a note of unease.

Knox’s gaze sharpened. “What does that mean?”

Wilbur shot the boy a sharp look, but the young man only shrugged.

“Strange things happen in those woods,” the young man said. “Folks hear things—whispers in the trees. Some claim to see shadows moving where no shadows should be.”

Rona shook her head. “Enough of that nonsense, Owen.” She turned back to Knox, her expression stoic. “If you’re looking for her, I doubt you’ll find much more than an empty cottage.”

“Is her cottage empty or does another occupy it?” Knox asked.

“No one goes near it,” Owen, the young man, said as if in warning.

Knox looked at Wilbur, wanting to hurry this along and get back to Dru. “Where can I find it?”

Wilbur hesitated before nodding toward the tree line. “Follow the path that brought you to the village. Watch for a large, thick oak tree when you come around a bend. Turn on the path you see there, probably grown over by now. It’ll take you there.”

Knox nodded. “Thanks. Has anyone else inquired about Autumn?”

They all shook their heads.

“There is a reward offered for her,” Knox said, looking from one to the other. “Dead or alive, it doesn’t matter.”

That caught them by surprise, clearly upsetting them.

“Lord Torrance searches for her, doesn’t he?” Wilbur asked and when Knox nodded, he shook his head.

“He can’t find what’s not there,” Owen said.

“How well did any of you know her?” Knox asked, needing answers yet needing to get back to Dru.

Rona shrugged. “She didn’t visit the village often but when she did, she was pleasant enough. She and her mum stayed mostly to themselves.”

“Do any of you know about a healer who befriended Autumn’s mum?” Knox asked.

“That would be Mave, but she’s no longer here,” Owen said.

Knox sought clarification. “She died?”

Rona shook her head. “Mave moved on. Claimed trouble was coming this way and she didn’t want to be here when it arrived.”

“Do you know where she went?” Knox asked.

---