Page 93

Fuck.

I really do need that drink.

“Okay, but we know that, after the war, your family settled the area where the town is now,” I say, poring over an old census book I found in the back of the small library in Greerloch.

Lachlan brings his mug to his lips, taking a long draught before sighing. “Aye. There used to be a manor a few miles from Hamish’s property. It burned down in the sixteen hundreds.”

“You guys have really bad luck with houses.”

He chuckles. “I’d say we have bad luck with a lot of things, love.”

My stomach clenches at the word. He doesn’t say it often; I’m noteven sure it occurs to him that he does, but I collect each one like keepsakes, each one giving me a burst of butterflies.

“But if my familydidget involved with the kelpie, then it’s safe to assume that, at that point, they had the bridle, yeah?”

“Keep your voice down,” he hisses, eyeing the lingering bodies in the pub, tourists who are still hanging around after the games. “One would assume.”

“So where wasmyfamily when yours founded Greerloch?”

“As far as I know, your family has lived on the same plot of land since the day they bought it from mine.”

“You know, that part has been bugging me.”

“Why?”

“Why would your ancestors sell their land to mine if we had a hand in turning you guys into monsters?”

“Well,” Lachlan says thoughtfully, frowning down into his beer. “I’d venture to say if they had the bridle, there wasn’t anyone that could really tell them no.”

“So, what? They use it to bully your family into giving up part of their land, and then they just…said fuck it and chucked the thing?”

Lachlan frowns. “I…guess?”

“That doesn’t seem strange to you?”

“I turn into a fucking dinosaur after dark,” he grouses. “Nothing really strikes me as strange anymore.”

I wave him off, chewing on my thumbnail as I let possibilities tumble through my thoughts. I can feel something there on the fringe of it all, just out of reach—something I can’t quite grasp. If the bridle went to the MacKays, and the Mackays have never left, then surely—

A cheery “Hello, Keyanna,” sounds from over my shoulder,jarring me from my mental tug-of-war. To his credit, Lachlan only stiffensa littlewhen he notices my cousin standing behind me, no doubt remembering the conversation he and I had the last time we spoke to Brodie.

I twist in my chair, offering him a smile. “Hey.”

“Bit early for a drink, yeah?”

He grins as he says it, letting me know he’s just poking fun, and I cock an eyebrow back at him. “Bit of a pot-meet-kettle situation, don’t you think?”

“I’ll have you know,” he protests, “I’m here for the fish and chips.”

“Best fish and chips this side of Inverness!” Rory calls from behind the bar.

Lachlan cranes his neck. “What did I tell you about eavesdropping?”

“Aye, but I never listen to you. Why would I start now?”

Lachlan frowns, shaking his head as he settles back into his chair, muttering, “Eejit.”

“Oi.” Brodie’s eyes grow round, and he leans over the table with interest. “What’s this?”