Page 177 of The Highlander's Irish Bride

Angus shoved a hand through his bristly white hair, making it stick straight up. “The thievin’ makes sense. But the vandalism and fire—that doesna connect.”

“It’s a terrible muddle.” She took his arm and headed for the stables. “But whether he was involved in those crimes or not, Brown is endangering my sister. We have to find her.”

“And we need to warn the lads and get them lookin’ for Brown.”

“Of course, thiswouldbe the day when everyone has gone off in different directions,” she groused as they hurried through the open doors of the stables.

The stable boy came out of the tack room. “Can I help ye, Miss Calvert?”

“Have you seen my sister, Brian?”

“She went out on one of the ponies an hour ago. I saddled Betsy myself.”

Kathleen grimaced. “But none of us are supposed to go without an escort.”

Brian nodded. “I offered to go with her, but Miss Jeannie said she was only goin’ to the distillery to see the cat, and that she had yer permission. It’s but a mile, and the workmen repairing the damage are using that path all day. She’d nae be out of anyone’s sight.”

Kathleen pressed a hand to her suddenly perspiring forehead. “Oh, my God.”

“Och, that girl is too smart for her own good.” Angus patted Kathleen’s shoulder. “Steady on, lass. We’ll find her.”

She nodded and forced herself to think. “Brian, please saddle the mare for me. A regular saddle, not a lady’s.”

The boy eyed her morning dress. “But miss—”

“Hop to it, lad,” Angus barked. Then he cocked an eyebrow at Kathleen. “We’re goin’ to the vicarage, I take it?”

“Yes. The captain has been staying there, so it’s the best place to start looking.”

“I’ll saddle up.”

Angus followed Brian into the tack room. A moment later, Hannah and Davey rushed into the stables.

“She’s nowhere in the house, miss,” Hannah wheezed. “I’m sure of it.”

“I know. She left an hour ago.”

“We found out how she was gettin’ the notes,” Davey said. “The kitchen boy told us the captain’s man was passin’ them to him, to give to Miss Jeannie.”

Kathleen frowned. “The captain has a servant?”

“His batman,” Hannah said. “And a pert fella he is, too. He made a show of courting one of the housemaids. That was why he’d drop by, all casual-like. The kitchen boy’s a bit slow, Miss Kathleen, so he wouldn’t know it was a wrong thing to pass them notes.”

“The captain certainly thought of everything.” When Kathleen found him, shewouldwring his blasted neck.

“Davey,” she continued, “go to the distillery and tell Sir Graeme what’s happening. Since Captain Brown is staying at the vicarage, Mr. MacDonald and I will ride straight there and start looking about.”

“I’ll run, miss. Be faster than waitin’ for a horse.” The footman took off at a dead run toward the distillery path.

“Hannah, does Lady Sabrina have an escort?”

“She took the coach, so there’s a footman and the coachman.”

“Good. If we see her in the village, we’ll tell her what’s happened. You keep an eye out for Jeannie. If she comes back, send word to the vicarage.”

“Aye, miss.”

Brian led the mare out of the stall.

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