Page 57 of An Allusive Love
He found Calum at the far end of the garden, a large plaid on his lap. “There ye are. I need yer help to remove a body.” His grandfather rose and headed toward the small wood.
“A what?” Brodie wondered if he’d drank too much. “Of an animal?”
“No, unfortunately. It seems Ross Craigg has revenge on his mind. Gideon and Lissie had taken some fresh air. She thought she heard a child cry in the dark and chased after it, Gideon following. Craigg was hiding with a hired thug, who grabbed Lissie.” Calum paused at a clearing, and Brodie saw the body lying on the ground. “Lachlan heard her scream, thank God. Gideon killed the ruffian. Yer brother ran his sword through Craigg’s side, but he got away.”
“Is Lissie hurt?” He tried to digest this information. Going from sweet kisses to murder was a bit boggling.
Calum shook his head. “Bruised a bit, as is Gideon. They’re both with Lachlan, who took a dagger in the leg from that bloody traitor. By God, the mon has pushed me too far.”
“He’s trying to sabotage the wedding?” It didn’t make sense to wait until after the vows had been spoken.
His grandfather shook his head. “Worse than that. The mon is out for blood. If Lachlan hadna been there, Craigg would have killed Gideon, and possibly Lissie.”
“The feckin’ swine,” rasped Brodie. “He’s mad as a March hare.”
“And needs to be skinned like one. He wants justice? By God, justice he shall have.”
“Ye want me to find him, then?” Brodie’s rage settled like a rock in his belly.
“No’ till first light. Yer grandmother doesna want Nessie and Hamish to ken yet, no’ on their wedding night. So, this will stay quiet until tomorrow.” Calum ran a hand over his face. “First, we need to move the corpse so none of the guests stumble on it.”
“Aye, we dinna need a posse of drunks on the moors at night,” agreed Brodie. They wrapped the dead man in the plaid and carried him to the tool shed. “He canna go far with a hole in his gut.”
“I dinna want ye out there alone. He may have more paid hooligans with him. Maybe we’ll get lucky, and he’ll be dead by dawn.” His grandfather let out a long breath. “I need to get inside. If anyone asks, Lachlan and Gideon shared a bottle and are sleeping it off. Lissie retired early.”
He nodded. “I’ll fetch Mrs. MacDunn for Lachlan.”
“No need. Enid is bandaging him and probably poured enough down his throat to make his sleep for a day.” Calum thumped him on the back. “Go find yer woman and act as if nothing has happened. We’re lucky there is only one casualty.”
Brodie understood. The more people who knew, the harder it would be to keep quiet. Nessie had lived through hell in her short life. That bloody devil would not steal her happiness, not on her wedding night He followed his grandfather back into the great hall, skimming the hall for the silvery shimmer of Kirsty.
“What did ye find out?” Brigid asked from behind. “And dinna tell me ‘nothing’.”
“Craigg tried to cause trouble. It’s been handled, though. Have ye seen Kirsty?”
She shook her head. “No’ since she left with ye earlier. There’s Mrs. MacDunn. I’ll ask her.” His sister dodged between the guests.
He watched the older woman shake her head and point toward the entrance. Mr. MacDunn joined them, shrugging his shoulders.
Brigid returned, worry in her deep blue eyes. “They’ve no’ seen her either and her mother has looked about. She hoped Kirsty was still outside with ye.”
“I’ve no’ seen her since ye fetched me back to the castle. She should have been returned by now.” Foreboding shot down Brodie’s spine. “I have to find her. Tell Grandda where I’ve gone. He’ll understand.”
Heading to the stable, he broke into a jog. Sweat beaded on his forehead.Where are ye Kirsty, love?The question echoed in his brain. He’d find her. And never let her go.
*
Kirstine smoothed herstray curls as best she could. She smiled and licked her lips, where the taste of whisky still lingered from Brodie’s kiss. When he asked her again, later tonight, she would say yes. She began to hum and twirled herself around as she slowly made her way toward the stable. The night air was cool on her skin, but she was in no hurry to return to the crowded hall. Kirstine wanted to savor this moment, this flash in time when the universe came together and all was right in her world.
Aagh.
She paused in mid-spin. Was that a groan?
It came again.
“Who’s there?” she called out. Another soft moan coming from behind the barn. She pulled her shawl over her shoulders and moved toward the shadows. A horse snuffled. Perhaps it was an animal? She’d investigate and fetch Brigid if needed. Squinting into the dark meadow, she asked again. “Are ye hurt?”
A hand clamped over her mouth, wet and sticky, and she recognized the iron-like taste of blood.
