Page 131 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
Chapter Four
“Time is withus. We should be at the castle by nightfall.” Jamie rode in the front of the column with Sean. Well past noon, he’d pushed everyone since first light, stopping only for necessities and to rest their mounts.
“Did Lady Darla give you any spells or powders to help rid us of the ghost?” the man’s tone dripped with scorn. Jamie held back a smirk. Of all his men, Sean was the least to believe in spells and magic. He couldn’t say that about some of the others.
“No, she sent along Lady Laura to help us figure out what needs to be done to appease him.”
Sean gave him a sideways glance. “I did wonder why we were saddled with the lady.”
“Lady Laura will be with us for a week doing whatever it is she does. When it doesn’t work, we’ll thank her for her kind efforts and take her back to Glen Kirk all sweet and nice.” He wasn’t about to mention his biggest reason for removing Laura from Glen Kirk.
How to protect her from Bryce had been in the back of his mind since Darla suggested he bring her to the castle. There wasn’t any way he could keep her at the castle forever. He hoped Herbert could find another way to protect her.
“Lady Darla is sure Evan didn’t kill Angel.”
“Lady Darla is perceptive,” Sean said. “I don’t think the boy killed her either.”
Bryce faded from Jamie’s mind. Instead, he concentrated on Evan. The sooner he got to the bottom of this conundrum, the faster he could return to his farm.
“Where were the wounds? Do we know the condition of the room when they found the bodies? Was there a fight? Who overheard the argument?” Sean’s endless questions didn’t surprise Jamie. They were similar to Laura’s questions.
“Yes, exactly. Everyone happily accepted the explanation and didn’t look any further. It’s been three weeks. The bodies are buried. We’re fortunate no one wanted to go into the pantry. Lord Herbert locked it up, especially when the ghost started to appear. The castle staff uses the storage room underneath the castle, by the well.”
“It will be difficult to get answers, but not impossible. Find out what you can. The staff is our best source and, perhaps, the two families,” Jamie said.
“The families had been close, intertwined would be a better word. It’s hard to figure out who belongs to which family. They did everything together. Now, each blames the other and people in the castle take sides.” Sean shook his head. “You even have to be cautious at the tavern. A word misspoken starts an argument and sends tempers flying.”
“If Lady Darla is right, and Evan and Angel were murdered by someone else, it would resolve the family problems although leaves us with a bigger one, who murdered them. Perhaps that’s what our ghost wants.” Jamie let out a small chuckle. “Our ghost wants justice.”
“How will Lady Laura help?” Sean asked.
Jamie ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not sure. I have no idea how she does what she does and, truth be told, I don’t want to know as long as she doesn’t get in our way. Our job is done once we present her to Herbert. Right now, tell the others we’ll be making a short stop at Annan.”
“I’ll speak to the men and see if they have any information,” Sean said. Jamie nodded. Sean wheeled away and fell in with the men behind them.
Jamie slowed. Lady Laura rode up next to him.
“We’ll stop at Annan for a brief rest.”
“Not on my account. I can go on.” Laura, her chin lifted, stared in front of her.
“Not on your account at all. It’s the horses that have my concern. I’ve pushed them hard. They need to rest before we go the last ten miles. I want to get to the castle before they close the gate for the night. I’ll not sleep on the ground when I can have a nice warm bed.”
“Of course. The horses,” her voice was tight, her tone low. Her knuckles were white from strangling the reins.
At every turn she argued. Except last night. The memories of her warm body cuddled next to him, the fragrance of lavender and spice, the sound of her soft breath sent spasms through his body. Last night she was—Richard’s sister. He straightened in the saddle. His building manhood quickly collapsed.
“I’ve been thinkingabout Evan’s ghost. If we—”
“Laura, when we get to the castle, I’ll bring you to Herbert. You can tell him what you need for your spells and incantations.” Her blood boiled at his dismissive attitude. Spells and incantations. Was that what he thought she was all about? That she didn’t have a brain in her head?
She forced herself to quiet her insides. Yelling at the stubborn man never got her anywhere, besides, she didn’t need his help. Look at him sitting on his warhorse, so sure that his way was the only one.
He treated her like a child, patting her on her head then sending her on her way. He didn’t remember that day when he unleashed his fury on Bryce.
“Is he all right?” she asked Gareth as he marched out of the barracks.
“Stubborn and more stubborn. Won’t even let me help him. See if you can.” He handed her the clean linens. “Except for a few cuts and bruises, he’ll be fine. I’ve never known Jamie to hit a person. I didn’t know he knew how.”
