Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lennox
Hellfire, this lass was going to test him, but he hated to admit that he’d never felt more alive. Meg was gorgeous, smart, feisty, with legs that he hoped to have wrapped around his waist soon enough.
Still shocked that he’d volunteered to marry her to get her out of her betrothal, he found that marriage wasn’t the abhorrent idea he would have called it in his past.
He could picture Meg as his wife, only being a touch away on the other side of his bed, managing the castle, even bearing their children. First, he wished to see her with her hair unplaited. How long was it? Would it go to her waist or was it long and thick enough to cover the round globes of her bottom?
He shook his head, vanquishing the thoughts from his mind.
They were halfway across the sound, no other boats in sight, fortunately.
“That is Loch Aline. And the castle I seek is at the far end of the loch.” He pointed ahead, the landscape beautiful, as it usually was in summer.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Lennox. I’m sure the memories don’t leave you often,” she said, turning back to him as she rowed. They rowed in unison, both facing the loch, and though his strokes were stronger, she kept an impressive rhythm.
He had to stop thinking about the beauty in front of him and decide exactly where to go once they reached the mainland. There would be others around the dock at the end—fishermen, some coming from the small town near the area—but his eyes would be on the castle. He was quite sure that the man named Egan had operated from the MacKinnis Castle many years ago. He’d never seen him there since, but this was a new day.
“Over there, Meg. We’ll hide the boat behind those bushes. I’ve done it often enough.” There had been many times he thought he’d had the desire to chase after the fool, hopeful that coming to the same area would restore his memories, but it never had.
Until recently. For some odd reason, he’d remembered everything in a dream. He prayed that this would help them find Lia.
He hopped out when he was nearly onto the shallow beach, taking the front of the boat up over the sand. He held out his hand to Meg, though he feared she was angry enough to deny him. But she took his hand, and he tugged her close, giving her the most honest explanation he’d ever had. “Lass, being around you jumbles my mind more than anything else. You make me feel like a laddie hoping to get his first kiss. I apologize for muddling my words so. I never intended to insult you.”
She stood in front of him, their gazes locked, and he lost track of his thoughts, so taken by her simple, exquisite beauty, by all the images she conjured in his mind that he had to tear himself away from. He dropped her hands so he could grab his weapon and hide the boat in the bushes, then led the way to the castle down the coastline to the MacKinnis stronghold, Kinlochaline Castle.
He’d visited with his mother many years ago after he’d been found on the shore, but out of respect for her, he’d never mentioned what had befallen him. He’d never told anyone exactly what had happened, mostly because he didn’t remember all the details until years later. His sire had insisted, but he’d told him he didn’t remember. At the time, he’d been telling the truth, but now he remembered, especially a man named Egan.
Lennox and Meg made their way around the coastline and headed to Kinlochaline. To his surprise, they met the clan chieftain, Angus MacKinnis, along the way, so he introduced Meg, then decided to be direct.
“Chief, forgive our intrusion. This is a friend of our clan, Meg. I met someone here many years ago, and I wondered if he was still part of your guardsmen. A man named Egan?”
“Egan?” Angus didn’t try to hide his surprise, scratching his chin as his gaze narrowed. “I surely do recall him, but he’s no longer with us. The fool decided to become involved in some unsavory practices, so I let him go. Probably over a decade ago, if my memory serves me correctly. Anything else I can help you with, MacVey? Care for a brief repast? You are always welcome.”
“Many thanks, but I don’t have time now. But if I may impose, could I borrow two horses? I promise to return them within a sennight.”
“For certes. I know how difficult it is to get those horses across the sea. I think I owe you for the same kindness last autumn.”
“Many thanks to you, Angus. Hope your wife is doing well.”
“She is.” Angus pointed to the rear of the castle. “Stables are in the area behind us. Isaac will assist you. He’s been here a long time.”
“Many thanks.” Lennox set his hand at Meg’s lower back, ushering her across the courtyard and toward the stables. He approached the building and a lad greeted him.
“My lord, may I be of assistance?”
“Aye, is Isaac available?”
A man came to the door of the stable and lifted his chin. “Och, MacVey. How have you been, Chief? And I see you have a pretty lass with you. How can I be of assistance?”
“This is Meg, Isaac. Would you find her a sweet mare and a nice stallion for me we can borrow for a day or two? Angus approved.”
“Of course he would approve. You have to loan horses to your neighbors across the water. ’Tis the only way when you live on the sound. I’ve got two fine mounts for you who get along well, and I’ll send a bag of food with you too.”
Lennox had the urge to take Meg’s hand, so he attempted, but asked, “Do you mind?”
“Nay,” she said.
He led her inside to the back, away from the stable lads, so they could talk privately. “Isaac, I have a question for you. Do you recall a man named Egan?”
Isaac stopped and turned to face him. “The bastard Egan? The one who preyed on young boys just for coin? That one?” Isaac knew exactly who he was speaking of, something that was fresh in his mind.
“Aye. He’s the one. Know you where he is? We have a missing lad nearby and I thought to look him up.”
While Isaac saddled up the two horses, he carried on with his story. “He’s a lying piece of… Your pardon, my lady. Egan’s no good. Chief sent him away many years ago, but he’s still doing his dirty deeds. I heard of it not long ago, half the year, mayhap. He stole a lad from Ardtornish Castle. And if you cannae find the no-good piece of… Sorry, my lady. If you cannae find him there, then go to Drimnin. You’ll surely find him there.”
“Isaac,” Meg said. “You have not seen a golden-haired lass in green anywhere, have you? She’s missing and we must find her.”
“Nay, and I would notice if a lass such as that were about. No lassies around here.”
“Many thanks, Isaac,” Lennox said. “We’ll see if we can find out anything more about him in Ardtornish or Drimnin.”
Isaac picked up an empty canvas bag and tossed it on the floor, stomping on it. “’Tis what I’ll do to the fool if I ever find him again. Someone needs to put a sword through his twisted soul. Too many people turn their heads. Not me. I told the master soon as I saw what he was doing.”
Isaac hadn’t been here when Lennox was, or he probably would have prevented Lennox’s abduction. This was not the time to think on what could have been. It happened, he remembered, and now it was time to find a wee lass before Egan was able to sell her.
Once the horses were ready, Isaac offered Meg a fur. “For your lap, my lady. A gift from me. The nights are cool, as you know. Godspeed to you both. Find the lying bastard.”
They headed out, found the main path, and Lennox led the way toward Ardtornish Castle, near a thriving village. He hoped to find an inn, a good place to question the local villagers and find out if anyone knew anything about Egan or Lia.
They traveled inland through high sun and into the middle of the afternoon when they approached the outer edges of the village.
Aeoineadh Mor was a lovely village, situated not far from Loch Arienes, settled in a fine valley between the mountains of the Highlands. They found the inn and left the horses in the town stables so they could grab a bite to eat.
They had a lovely lunch—lamb pottage with a small platter of fruit—but after questioning, no one had heard of Egan.
Lennox paid the innkeeper, bought some dried meat and cheese for their trip, then headed out. They were nearly mounted and ready to leave when a woman came running out of the inn. “Your pardon, but you are the ones looking for Egan?”
Lennox spun around and nodded at the woman who appeared to work in the kitchens. She latched onto his arm with a grip that told him how upset she was about the situation. “I couldn’t let you go. Egan stole my son away nearly two years ago, but I’ll never forget it. I’ve tried to have the sheriff take him away to gaol, but he always escapes.” She stopped to gather herself, her breath coming out in small hitches.
“Know you where we can find him?” Meg asked.
“Drimnin. I swear that’s where he does most of his work. Sells the bairns to work in Europe for the wealthy. I hate him. Please find him and rip out his heart.”
Lennox nodded. “We’ll do our best.”
“Rip out his heart because that’s exactly what he did to me. Find him.”